Chapter 425

Three barges formed a pin shape, hovering at a low altitude a hundred zhang above the ground, drifting forward at an extremely slow speed.

In the forest below, masses of Black Phoenix Army soldiers gripped heavy shields, standing ready in the outer perimeter; groups of Great Marsh Prefecture militiamen, trembling with fear, hefted heavy tools and felled one ancient tree after another, each so thick it took several people to encircle.

The huge trees crashed down with a tremendous roar, and corvée laborers conscripted from Great Marsh City swarmed in, swiftly lopping off branches, stripping bark, and chanting work songs as they hauled the timber to the rear for processing.

Then cultivators versed in earth-and-stone spells surged forward, quickly casting to level the ground, scooping up the massive underground roots of the felled trees, solidifying the flattened earth into hard rock with spellwork, carving the foundations of various defensive grand formations on the rocky base, and setting up assorted war devices.

In the rear mountains, flames shot skyward as colossal furnaces a hundred zhang high rose amidst the woods, their bodies radiating terrifying heat.

Chunk after chunk of meticulously selected boulders, together with large quantities of metal ore, were dumped into the furnaces, where magical fire swiftly melted them into a viscous slurry; after prolonged magical stirring, the glowing slurry was poured into huge molds, and once solidified it became assorted modular construction pieces of various shapes.

The mold already has numerous array patterns and talisman markings pre‑engraved; when the individual building pieces are assembled according to the diagram, those patterns and markings naturally combine to form a complete grand sealing array.

These modular building blocks, each at least several zhang across, were hauled into the forest and swiftly piled atop the carved rocky foundations, the giant blocks bonded together with molten metal.

In just three to five days, a sturdy fort spanning dozens of mu could take shape in the woods.

These forts boasted formidable defenses, mounting numerous small-caliber Pure Yang Aurora Cannons, many linked heavy crossbows, and extremely long-range, high-powered bed crossbows among other weapons of war.

Each fort could easily monitor any movement within tens of li around it, and linked together they could gradually devour the forest, squeezing the living space of the Wood Spirit tribe.

In the woods, lithe, petite figures would occasionally dart past, flitting like phantoms between tree trunks, at times melding into the timber, then suddenly bursting out from distant shrubs.

Occasionally an arrow would ride the forest's breeze, soundlessly flying toward the Black Phoenix soldiers.

The Black Phoenix troops, rich in combat experience, swiftly raised their heavy shields and easily deflected the arrows.

With Wu Tie supplying logistics, plus the large amounts of armaments Wu Tie and Pai Feng had been extorting from the Secretariat Hall fleet these days, the Black Phoenix troops had gone from matchlocks to cannons, their gear now much finer.

Ordinary Wood Spirits sneaking about in twos and threes could no longer threaten the Black Phoenix soldiers.

But after experiencing that previous sky-shattering, earth-rending blanket strike, the Wood Spirit leadership no longer dared gather large numbers of their people for a mass assault; they could only rely on their racial talents, operating in small groups of three to five to wage guerrilla warfare in the forest.

And guerrilla warfare posed little threat to the steady, methodical Great Jin regular army.

After more than a month, over a hundred forts were scattered throughout the woods, each calling to the others and providing mutual cover like a vast net that completely divided this mountain range.

The Wood Spirits had never faced such an enemy; they often found a clansman suddenly cut off by a newly erected fort, and before those surrounded could break out, Wu Tie would lead his forces to encircle them from all sides and easily crush their resistance.

The Wood Spirits excelled at archery—that was both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness.

If they expended their spare arrows in battle, a Wood Spirit's combat power would plummet seventy to eighty percent; facing fully armored heavy infantry, most would be captured after their mana was drained, becoming Wu Tie's prisoners.

In just over a month, the troops under Wu Tie's command had captured over thirty thousand Wood Spirits, a result that left Pai Feng gaping, speechless for a long while.

When had the Wood Spirits ever made the Black Phoenix Army look so embarrassed?

But with ample supplies, sufficient troops, plentiful provisions, and a relaxed, steady advance, the tactic worked remarkably well against the Wood Spirits.

"'Poor!' Pai Feng, seething inside, grabbed two jugs of liquor and sought out Wu Tie, complaining irritably: 'Your tactics aren't much better than Sima Yu's lot. Advancing fort by fort is just using equipment to bully those unlucky Wood Spirits.'"

"I wouldn't joke with the boys' lives," Wu Tie said, gulping his liquor with a chuckle, turning to Pai Feng: "Look, the lads are having fun, winning easily, and those Wood Spirit captives usually carry something good—perhaps aged spiritual medicine, or precious gems and jade…"

"In each battle the brothers can pocket a little profit… plus the food and drink are good, the scenery in these woods isn't bad—it's practically a pleasure outing combined with drill, what a fine life!" Wu Tie laughed radiantly: "Besides, all military expenses are covered by the Secretariat Hall… the Secretariat Hall spends money to let us train and earn merit—what a wonderful deal, where else could you find it?"

Pai Feng stared blankly, then laughed as well.

Although I feel a bit uneasy inside, these days of sweet comfort are truly delightful!

The Black Phoenix soldiers had all grown much stouter, with ample cultivation resources raising their average level by a notch; the Wood Spirits' incessant attacks and resistance also gave the troops ample opportunity to hone their skills.

Casualties were light, yet combat power, fighting spirit, and battle awareness rose swiftly.

Even the newcomers who had just joined the Black Phoenix Army bore the demeanor of veteran soldiers.

The Black Phoenix Army was undergoing a rebirth like a phoenix, and as Wu Tie said, all expenses were footed by the wealthy Secretariat Hall—such good days would have been unimaginable to Pai Feng half a year ago.

"It's just a bit inefficient, a little slow," Pai Feng muttered, pointing at the endless stretch of mountains ahead of the flagship, "At this pace, how long will it take us to break through this secret passage?"

"Don't rush, don't rush—be patient. This secret passage is of great importance; if we open it, the benefits will be immense. Spending a little extra time is worth it." Wu Tie said calmly: "This is a splendid opportunity for us to strengthen our power… the farther we push the passage forward, the more soldiers and laborers we need, increasing the logistical strain on Great Marsh Prefecture, which likewise requires more hands."

"We can keep expanding our forces and continually request manpower reinforcements from the Secretariat Hall."

"Using the Secretariat Hall's strength to help us bolster our forces is a good thing, a great one." Wu Tie gazed at the vast, dense forest ahead and chuckled lightly: "Who knows? Once this secret passage is fully opened, our armies might each rival half a Divine Might Legion… then, when we join forces, heh heh!"

Pai Feng stared blankly, then laughed.

She lifted her jug, clinked it against Wu Tie's, drained it in one gulp, and her fair face instantly flushed with two patches of rosy color.

Hundreds of li away, in an extremely narrow deep valley, hundreds of Wood Spirits were frantically fleeing in disarray. Although countless trees and vines surrounded them, a tremendous force in the void severed all wood-type elemental energy, leaving them unable to escape via wood evasion.

A dozen or so tiny skiffs, each only a dozen zhang long, unfurled their wing-like sails and flitted through the valley like nimble insects.

Clad in a set of six-fold refined immortal armor, gripping a six-fold refined immortal heavy crossbow, his face flushed from drink, Sima Yu stood on the prow of a skiff, squinting at the Wood Spirits fleeing in panic some distance ahead.

"Heh heh, you still like to play… hunting mindless four-legged beasts isn't nearly as fun as hunting these Wood Spirits. Hahaha, I, Sima Yu, am also a divine archer!"

Sima Yu laughed a few times, the heavy crossbow discharged, and a continuous volley of metal bolts—each as thick as a thumb and a finger, eighteen inches long—shot through the air.

Several hundred Wood Spirits ahead twisted and turned with agility, barely dodging the bolts; several arrows whizzed past, grazing their bodies, and the wind from the projectiles gouged deep, bone-reaching wounds in their flesh.

The bolts buried themselves in the distant cliff face, causing a massive section of the cliff to collapse, rocks flying everywhere, and the Wood Spirits shrieked in terror—a sound pleasant to hear, like a flock of birds singing.

Seeing his volley of arrows miss, Sima Yu's drunken, flushed face twisted violently.

These Wood Spirits had already had their evasion arts shattered by the powerful guardians beside him, leaving them to rely solely on bodily techniques to hop and flee through the valley; yet even with his six-fold refined immortal heavy crossbow, he failed to hit a single target.

Gritting his teeth, he muttered a curse, then raised his hand to blast the fleeing Wood Spirits with magic—when a low, dull clunk rang out, a tiny skiff came up from behind, with Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others standing on its prow, their faces grim.

"Brother Yu, Sima Lang has sent three successive secret messages… he's asking when we'll finish off Huo Xiong… he says if we don't act, he'll come himself."

Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others wore expressions of helplessness.

Earlier, Sima Lang had also told them he intended to personally take out Wu Tie, and for that he had demanded a hefty payment from Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others.

In the end, before Sima Lang could act, Zhao Xiong had already taken a series of posts in the Secretariat Hall; with the Hall intervening, Sima Lang was confused about what had happened, and since Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others hadn't given him a single copper coin, he temporarily held back his killing intent.

After all, Sima Lang was a member of the Sima clan's imperial line, the very core of the royal family, and the most likely heir to the throne of Prince Ao.

Thus Sima Lang quickly learned of the Secretariat Hall's scheming; annoyed as he was, he also hoped Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others would bring him good news, since everyone bore a grudge against Wu Tie.

But after waiting several months, Sima Yu and his crew had sent back not a scrap of news.

'Huo Xiong' was also doing just fine, energetically leading his troops through the woods each day to capture Wood Spirits in large swaths.

Seeing this trend, not only would killing Huo Xiong be difficult, he might even become a martial hero of the Great Jin Ministry of War!

"What can be tolerated, what cannot? Sima Lang cannot bear it, so these past days he has been issuing successive official documents, pressing Sima Yu and the others to act."

Sima You withdrew his hand resentfully, stamped his foot hard, and the flying vessel instantly hovered in midair.

Sima Xin and the others' flying vessel caught up; they easily leapt onto Sima You's flying vessel and handed him three blood‑red jade talismans. Sima Hu said in a low voice, "Brother You, what should we do? Sima Lang is my paternal cousin; I know his temper—if he flies into a rage… his name contains the word 'wolf,' but his disposition is no different from a mad dog!"

Sima You gave a derisive chuckle, pointed at Sima Hu, and said lazily, "Why bother with him? This guy really thinks he's somebody."

He lifted his head, Sima You pointed toward the south, and said coldly, "Remember what our biggest mission is this time? Killing Huo Xiong is merely incidental…… What matters is that we must open this secret passage."

"Do you know how to fight, or is Huo Xiong capable? With him taking the front for us, how much trouble have we saved our brothers? How many risks have we avoided?"

"If we kill Huo Xiong, will you go into battle personally, or will I personally lead troops to scout the forest?"

"Alright, send a reply to Sima Lang saying we're hard at work plotting to kill Huo Xiong…… but Huo Xiong also has a million elite troops around him, so we can't act just yet. Just brush it off…… Let Huo Xiong keep working for us—what a great thing!"

He gave a strange, grating laugh, and Sima You said leisurely, "Once we actually open this secret passage, then we'll take out Huo Xiong…… tsk tsk, with the newly formed army for the conquest of Da Wu, we could at least secure a position as an army commander…… By then, my elder brother's claim to the throne of Ye Wang will be about fifty‑sixty percent assured, as long as we get rid of my older brother…… hehe."

He firmly patted the shoulders of Sima Xin and Sima Hu, and Sima You smiled, saying, "We're all brothers of the same family—how could I shortchange you?"

Sima Xin and Sima Hu looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

A hundred li away from them, at the valley's end, hundreds of panicked fleeing wood spirits swiftly leapt onto the peak of a mountain and respectfully knelt before an old man whose hair was extremely long, almost dragging on the ground.

"Grand Elder…… we failed to lure the enemy chief…… that bastard is too crafty."

The wood spirits' speech was clear and pleasant; their wording and phrasing were about fifty‑sixty percent similar to the language used by Wu Tie and the others, clearly sharing a common origin.

The old man lightly nodded: "It doesn't matter if we weren't fooled; we've retreated for many days, and the jungle's rainy season is about to arrive. They'll soon learn just how terrifying the rainy season jungle is."

"When they come, they need not go back. They will be the finest offering we present to the mountain and river deities."

The old man smiled; every strand of his hair emitted a faint green light, his breath subtly merging with the surrounding forest—with each inhale and exhale, it seemed as if the entire woods swayed gently in rhythm with his breathing.

Such an aura could be called terrifying.

Hosts of wood spirits quietly emerged from the forest, bowed deeply to the old man, then swiftly vanished into the woods, disappearing in small groups of three or two.

Sima You didn't realize he had inadvertently escaped a calamity; laughing and joking all the way, he returned with Sima Xin and the others to the rear base camp.

Their flying vessel had just entered the camp when suddenly several thumb‑sized water droplets fell from the sky.

Then the crystal‑clear water droplets linked into an unbroken line of water, like gigantic whips lashing down fiercely from the heavens.

The entire forest was instantly shrouded in mist; the rainy season in this savage wilderness had finally arrived.