Chapter 1857: A Chance Encounter with the Garrison

「Defend! 」

He Lian Xiu immediately ordered his troops to assume a defensive formation.

「Hahaha, useless! 」

At that moment, a young lord of the Third Layer Mid-stage walked out with an evil smile, followed by two Martial Cultivators of the Fourth Layer Mid-stage.

The soldiers surrounding them also appeared one after another.

Their cultivation levels were roughly similar to theirs; most were at the Second Layer Late-mid stage, with a few at the Third Layer Early stage.

Those two Martial Cultivators had far greater Divine Soul Power than He Lian Xiu, so they detected them early, allowing the soldiers to surround them.

He Lian Xiu wasn't worried about those soldiers, nor even about that young lord of the Third Layer Mid-stage.

What he was worried about were those two Martial Cultivators of the Fourth Layer Mid-stage.

Those two Martial Cultivators were already beyond their ability to handle.

She immediately took out a Transmission Talisman and called for help from Yu Xiaofeng.

「Little lass, which unit are you from?

How did you end up here? 」

The young lord asked.

「What does it have to do with you? Is this mountain range yours? 」

He Lian Xiu countered.

「Oh dear, you've got quite a temper! 」

The young lord laughed.

He then continued saying: 「This mountain range is indeed not ours.

But this is the defense zone of the border garrison, so it's naturally under our control! 」

「So what?

We are also troops of the Western Region.

You can come, and so can we! 」

He Lian Xiu merely wanted to buy as much time as possible.

The young lord snorted contemptuously and said: 「Who can prove you're troops of the Western Region? Who knows if you're spies from the Southern Region? 」

「Then how do you want to prove it? 」

He Lian Xiu asked.

「Put down your weapons and come back with us to the army for investigation.

Once we verify your identity, we'll let you go. 」

He said naturally.

「On what grounds should we put down our weapons?

And I even called you a spy! 」

He Lian Xiu would certainly not listen to him.

「Bold! This is the Eldest Young Master of the garrison's Grand Leader, Meng Zhangxing! You dare call him a spy.

I think you're tired of living! 」

A captain of the opposing soldiers shouted to stop them.

「Don't be so fierce, don't scare this little lass! 」

Meng Zhangxing stopped that captain and said to He Lian Xiu with a grin: 「I'll be frank with you, I've taken a liking to you.

Just obediently follow me back; I will absolutely not mistreat you in terms of food, clothing, and provisions. 」

「You wish! A toad wants to eat swan meat! 」

He Lian Xiu looked at him with contempt.

「Hmph, do you think you have the strength to refuse? 」

Meng Zhangxing gave a cold snort and threatened: 「You'd better consider clearly—whether to let your soldiers die here or to come with me willingly. 」

He Lian Xiu glanced at those soldiers in golden armor and said contemptuously: 「With this lot, you think you can kill us? 」

He Lian Xiu knew a fight was coming, so he deliberately insulted the golden-armored soldiers to provoke them into attacking first, buying as much time as possible for Yu Xiaofeng to arrive.

At this moment, Yu Xiaofeng, together with Xiao Yunfang and others, was leading two squads of soldiers rushing here.

But the mountains are high and the forests dense; He Lian Xiu only knows their approximate location, so it will take them time to get here.

「Young master, first hand over this trash to our Golden Armor Guard!

That soldier captain indeed also refused to back down and requested battle.

「Alright! Since they look down on our Golden Armor Guard, let them see your strength.

However, those few women—make sure to keep them alive for me! 」

「Yes! 」

The captain answered with an affirmation, then ordered the soldiers to charge forward.

These golden-armored soldiers also had considerable individual strength.

Moreover, their equipment and weapons were all third-tier, not inferior to He Lian Xiu's group.

They should be an elite unit within the garrison.

Although their individual strength was strong, against He Lian Xiu's group in such a formation, they naturally had no advantage.

Their soldiers charged forward, and in just one encounter, He Lian Xiu's group killed over thirty of them.

Moreover, He Lian Xiu's group launched a counterattack, instantly killing half of those over a hundred, then scattered to pursue them.

He Lian Xiu also took the opportunity to devour the souls of several soldiers.

"Huh?"

"You've got some skill! Even the Golden Armored Guards aren't a match for you!"

Meng Zhangxing never expected that the strongest Golden Armored Guards in the garrison would be killed so horribly by these people.

He also began to worry at this point, suspecting that these soldiers' origins might not be simple.

But since they've already attacked, he absolutely cannot let these people go.

"What are you two just standing there for? Hurry up and attack!"

He rebuked the two mid-stage fourth-realm Martial Cultivators behind him.

"If you don't attack now, the Golden Armored Guards will be wiped out by them!"

Meng Zhangxing shouted.

But those two Martial Cultivators had no reaction.

"What's wrong with you two?"

Meng Zhangxing flew into a rage and turned to look at those two Martial Cultivators,

Only then did he realize that those two Martial Cultivators were staring blankly ahead, motionless.

"Huh?"

"Are they dead?"

Meng Zhangxing probed with his Divine Sense and discovered that those two Martial Cultivators were already dead.

He gave them a light push with his hand, and they both collapsed.

He hurriedly examined the corpses and found that one had a dagger wound to the heart in his back.

The other had no wounds at all.

At this point, He Lian Xiu had already led his men to wipe out the Golden Armored Guards completely; even their captain didn't escape their combined attack.

"Captain, take the female soldiers and leave first! We'll cover you!"

A male soldier suggested.

"No, I'm the captain; I can't let you give your lives for me."

Moreover, they have mid-stage fourth-realm Martial Cultivators; we can't escape even if we wanted to.

"If we get captured, remember to give us a quick death!"

He Lian Xiu said, drawing his Outstanding Cloud Blade, had the soldiers reform their ranks, and then charged back.

When they returned, they happened to see Meng Zhangxing shoving those two Martial Cultivators to the ground and examining their wounds.

Seeing that those two experts had been taken down, He Lian Xiu found it even harder to let Meng Zhangxing off.

Without time to wonder how those two Martial Cultivators died, he immediately led his men to surround them.

Only then did Meng Zhangxing realize that trying to run was already futile.

"I'm the son of the garrison's Leader; if you kill me, you won't escape either!"

Meng Zhangxing had no choice but to use his father as a shield.

"Kill!"

He Lian Xiu showed no mercy, directly ordering the soldiers to attack.

Don't think that Meng Zhangxing, being a mid-stage third-realm cultivator, could handle it; facing their encirclement, he could defend the front but not the rear, and was repeatedly struck by several spears.

But the armor he wore was also a high-grade divine artifact; even after being hit by several spears, it was largely unharmed.

"You can't kill me either; how about I leave my Storage Ring with you and let me go?"

Meng Zhangxing began to negotiate with He Lian Xiu.

"Hmph, I don't believe your armor can't be pierced! Keep attacking!"

He Lian Xiu was utterly unmoved.

Meng Zhangxing also grew anxious, knowing that if this continued he would definitely not be able to hold out.

"Capture the thief by first capturing their leader!"

Thinking this, he immediately released his Soul and surged into He Lian Xiu's Sea of Consciousness.

At this moment, his clone also released a strand of Soul and followed into He Lian Xiu's Sea of Consciousness.