Chapter 167: Ambush! Encirclement!

Roko and his party have already been inside the mountain range for nearly a day.

They are walking along a trail that is barely recognizable as a path.

This trail winds and twists, hidden among all sorts of bizarrely shaped giant plants and rocks.

If not for Zewen and the hunters under his command leading the way, outsiders would find it impossible to locate this place.

"Everyone, be careful!"

Zewen, walking at the very front, lowered his voice to warn the group behind him.

"This area is the territory of the 'Rot-Bone Flower'."

"This flower looks very beautiful, but its pollen is highly toxic and can paralyze the nerves."

"Make sure you do not touch them!"

Everyone subconsciously gripped their weapons tighter, warily scanning their surroundings.

The Storm Knights were a bit better off.

They wore heavy Obsidian Gold Armor and had masks on their faces, which provided a certain level of protection.

But those ordinary soldiers responsible for driving the carriages were quite nervous.

They followed closely behind the knights, not daring to fall even a single step behind.

Roko walked in the middle of the formation, his expression calm.

He could feel that this mountain range was filled with a chaotic and violent elemental energy.

The environment here was extremely unfriendly to cultivators.

Staying here for a long time would slow down the recovery speed of Battle Qi and magic power.

Furthermore, the pervasive miasma would indeed place a significant burden on the body.

"Hart, have the brothers keep the antidote in their mouths, just in case."

Roko said to Hart, who was beside him.

"Yes, Master!"

Hart immediately relayed the order.

The group continued their arduous journey forward.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few low-level Magic Beasts.

But these Magic Beasts seemed to fear the hunters from the Red Leaf Forest.

The hunters simply took some powder made from special plants out from their belongings and scattered it around.

Upon smelling it, those Magic Beasts would keep their distance and flee.

This made Roko marvel once again at the importance of professionalism.

If not for Zewen and his men, the constant harassment from these endless Magic Beasts would have been enough to give them a hard time.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, Zewen, who was walking at the front, raised his hand abruptly.

The entire group stopped instantly.

Everyone held their breath, watching him vigilantly.

Zewen crouched down and examined the ground carefully.

A moment later, he stood up, his expression turning grave.

"What is it?"

Roko urged his horse forward to ask.

"There's a situation."

Zewen pointed to some barely visible marks on the ground and said in a low voice.

"Others have been here."

"And there are quite a few of them, at least two hundred people."

"Judging by how fresh the tracks are, they passed through no more than half a day ago."

Roko's gaze turned sharp in an instant.

"Are they coming for us?"

"Most likely."

Zewen nodded.

"Almost no one knows about this path except for our tribe."

"Since they were able to find this place so precisely, their target must be us."

"Also, look at these footprints."

Zewen pointed to one of the clearer footprints.

"The depth is consistent and the spacing is uniform; these could only be left by strictly trained soldiers."

"They are not ordinary adventurers."

It is an army.

The air seemed to freeze.

A shadow was cast over everyone's heart.

They had only just entered the Black Mist Mountains, and they were already being targeted.

"Interesting."

A cold smirk appeared on the corner of Roko's mouth instead.

"It seems someone is even more impatient than I imagined."

He knew with his toes that this must be the pursuers sent by that old guy, Archibald.

"Are they following behind us, or are they waiting for us up ahead?"

Roko asked.

"Judging by the direction of the footprints, they are heading in the same direction as us."

Zewen replied.

"They are likely planning to set an ambush somewhere up ahead."

"An ambush?"

A glint of something called "excitement" flashed in Roko's eyes.

"I'd like to see who is ambushing whom!"

He turned his head to look at Zewen.

"Is there any place nearby suitable for an ambush?"

Zewen thought for a moment, and his eyes lit up.

"Yes!"

"About five miles further ahead, there is a canyon."

"That place is the only way through on this road."

"Both sides are steep cliffs; the terrain is very treacherous."

"If I were them, I would definitely choose to strike there!"

"Very good."

Roko nodded.

"Then we shall play them at their own game and launch a counter-encirclement!"

His gaze swept over the Storm Knights and Red Leaf Forest Hunters behind him.

A powerful sense of confidence radiated from him.

"Want to play at ambushing me on my own turf?"

"They are still a bit too green!"

"Play them at their own game?"

Zewen looked at Roko, his eyes full of curiosity.

"What do you intend to do?"

"It's very simple."

The corners of Roko's mouth curled into a confident arc.

He pointed at Zewen and his hunters beside him.

"What are you people of the Red Leaf Forest best at?"

"Stealth and tracking, of course!"

Zewen replied without hesitation, a hint of pride on his face, "In the jungle, we are the top-tier hunters!"

"Exactly."

Roko nodded.

"So, I need you to take your men and break away from the main force."

"Quietly circle around through the woods on both sides."

"Get behind that canyon, occupy the high ground, and form an encirclement."

"And I—"

Roko patted the heavy Obsidian Gold Armor on his body.

"Will take my knights and the caravan to continue along the main road."

"Acting as the most conspicuous bait."

"When they launch their attack on us, you will strike hard from behind them!"

"Let them taste the feeling of being killed by their own prey!"

Zewen's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This plan was simple, direct, but extremely effective!

Utilizing the strengths of both sides to turn the tables and seize the initiative!

"Good! Let's do it!"

Zewen waved his fist forcefully and said excitedly.

"These ignorant fools daring to play at ambushing us Red Leaf Forest people in the Black Mist Mountains is simply courting death!"

"I guarantee they won't even know how they died!"

The plan was quickly finalized.

Zewen immediately took his dozens of most elite hunters and disappeared into the dense forest on both sides like ghosts.

Their movements were light and swift, making almost no sound at all.

In the blink of an eye, they had merged into the dim mountain forest.

Roko looked in the direction they had left, a flash of approval in his eyes.

They were indeed born hunters.

In terms of jungle combat ability alone, even his Storm Knights were far inferior.

"Hart!"

Roko withdrew his gaze and gave a low-voiced order to the Knight Captain beside him.

"Order everyone to be on high alert!"

"Armor on, weapons drawn!"

"There may be a tough battle to fight in a moment!"

"Yes, Master!"

Hart responded loudly, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

The Knights of the Storm Knights immediately sprang into action.

They checked their equipment and gripped their longswords and heavy shields tightly.

A cold and murderous aura began to permeate from them.

The troop began to advance once more.

This time, the atmosphere became even more solemn.

Everyone knew that not far ahead, a death trap was waiting for them.

But strangely, not a single person felt afraid.

In their hearts, there was only a sense of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming battlefield.

Because they trusted their Master.

That young man who could always create miracles!

The five-mile mountain road was not very long.

Soon, a huge and precipitous canyon appeared before their eyes.

The canyon looked as if it had been split open by a giant axe falling from the sky.

The cliffs on both sides were a hundred meters high and steep as if cut by a blade.

In the middle, only a narrow passage remained, wide enough for only two carriages to travel side by side.

A natural, excellent location for an ambush.

Roko reined in his warhorse and looked up at the mist-shrouded cliffs on both sides.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"It seems our 'friends' have grown impatient."

He could feel no fewer than two hundred murderous auras hidden atop those cliffs.

"Everyone, maintain formation and advance at a steady pace!"

Roko's voice reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Do not panic, do not break formation."

"Remember, the armor you wear is the sturdiest on the entire continent!"

"Trust in it, and trust in yourselves!"

"Yes, Master!"

The Knights and soldiers roared in unison.

The sound echoed endlessly throughout the canyon.

The troop slowly drove into the canyon.

Every step felt like treading on the edge of death.

The air was so tense it felt as if it could drip water.

When the entire caravan had completely entered the depths of the canyon.

"Release arrows!"

A hoarse and ruthless roar suddenly exploded from above the cliff!

The next second!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Dense arrows descended from the sky like a black rainstorm!

They covered the caravan below, blanketing the area!

"Raise shields!"

Hart roared!

The Storm Knights reacted extremely quickly!

They immediately raised their heavy shields high above their heads!

"Clang, clang, clang, clang!"

Countless arrows struck the shields and armor made of Obsidian Gold, emitting a series of crisp metallic clashing sounds.

Then, they were helplessly deflected and fell to the ground.

The monstrous defensive power of the Obsidian Gold Equipment was displayed to the fullest at this moment!

Only a few ordinary soldiers responsible for driving the carriages, lacking heavy armor protection, were unfortunately struck by arrows and let out screams.

But most of them remained safe and sound under the protection of the Knights!

On the cliff.

Barton, the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group who was in charge of the command, saw this scene and his eyes widened.

"This—how is this possible?!"

He could not believe the scene he was seeing.

What he had fired were armor-piercing arrows capable of easily penetrating ordinary iron armor!

Yet, striking those pitch-black armors below, they couldn't even leave a single mark!

"What kind of armor is that?!"

Barton's heart was stirred by surging waves.

"Commander! Their equipment is too bizarre! Arrows are useless against them!"

An adjutant said anxiously.

"Useless?"

A trace of ferocity flashed across Barton's face.

"Then use rocks! Smash them for me!"

"I don't believe they are made of iron!"

At his command.

Boulders the size of millstones were forcefully pushed down from the cliff by the mercenaries!

Carrying a whistling wind, they smashed fiercely toward the caravan below!

"Scatter! Watch out and dodge!"

Roko roared.

However, the canyon road was too narrow.

There was simply not much room to dodge.

Seeing a boulder about to smash into a carriage filled with Strong Liquor.

Once hit, the carriage would be destroyed, the Strong Liquor would spill, and this mission would be half-failed.

Just at this critical, hair-trigger moment!

Roko moved!

He suddenly leaped up from his horse!

A powerful Battle Qi of a Silver-rank Knight erupted from his body with a boom!

"Get out of the way!"

He roared, and the longsword in his hand ignited with golden flames!

It was his Holy Sun Battle Qi!

"Blazing Sun Slash!"

A dazzling golden sword beam shot into the sky!

It precisely slashed onto the falling boulder!

"Boom!"

A loud noise!

The hard boulder was instantly slashed into fragments filling the sky!

This sword strike stunned all the mercenaries on the cliff.

"Silver-rank Knight!"

Didn't the intelligence say that Roko was just a fledgling young noble?

How could he be a powerful Silver-rank Knight?!

Damn Archibald!

What kind of bullshit intelligence did he give!

However, before he could react from the shock.

"Kill!"

A sky-shaking battle cry suddenly rang out from behind him!

Barton turned around suddenly.

He saw that, at some unknown time, dozens of figures like ghosts had emerged from the mountain forests behind him and on both sides!

It was Zewen and his Red Leaf Forest Hunters!

They launched the most fatal surprise attack from the rear!

Poisoned arrows silently harvested the lives of the mercenaries one by one!

Sharp hunting knives slit the throats of one unprepared mercenary after another!

The formation of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group fell into instant chaos!

"No! We've been tricked!"

Barton's face turned pale instantly.

He finally understood that he was the prey being surrounded!

"Everyone! Don't panic! Hold the line! Counterattack! Counterattack!"

Barton roared, trying to reorganize the defense line.

However, it was already too late.

Just as they were being kept busy and overwhelmed by the Red Leaf Forest Hunters.

Roko below also seized this opportunity.

"Storm Knights! Attack!"

He sounded the horn of counterattack!

"Kill!"

One hundred Storm Knights were like fierce tigers released from a cage.

Along a hidden path that had long been cleared by Zewen and the others.

They launched a fierce charge toward the top of the cliff!

They were going to coordinate with the Red Leaf Forest Hunters to finish off this group of mercenaries who didn't know life from death.

Thoroughly, strangle them here!