Chapter 18: Eightfold perception discerns the finest details, stealth and hidden tracks scout the enemy camp

The surging power flowed ceaselessly within his body!

World!

In Chen Wen's perception!

It became unprecedentedly clear and slow!

The trajectory of water droplets dripping from the rock face, the leaping of torch light in the distance.

Even the faint sound of iron armor plates rubbing together from patrolling soldiers several dozen meters away seemed as if right before his eyes.

With eightfold perception ability, he seemed to possess a god's-eye view.

【Eightfold perception continues to take effect, environmental information processing volume greatly increased.

It is recommended to focus attention to avoid information overload.】

The system's prompt carried a hint of unprecedented solemnity.

Chen Wen took a deep breath, focused his attention, like a precise radar.

Scanning every detail of the distant huge cavern.

He first locked onto the patrol team's route and shift change schedule.

Eightfold observation and memory allowed him to quickly grasp the pattern.

He could even predict the position and blind spots of the next patrol squad.

Next, he observed the condition of the laboring prisoners and the distribution of the overseer soldiers.

The prisoners mostly gathered in the mining area at the cavern's center, while the overseers focused on guarding the entrances to several side chambers and a high platform.

Among them, the guard at a smaller entrance deep inside was especially strict.

Not only were there two soldiers as sturdy as iron towers stationed at the entrance.

The heavy wooden door at the entrance was also wrapped with thick iron chains, and a huge copper lock was hung.

There……

What especially important thing is there?

Or is it holding a special person?

Chen Wen's heartbeat quickened slightly.

The clues from his mother's silver hairpin and his sister's flower ornament all pointed here; that strictly sealed entrance was the biggest suspect!

But how to get past?

Charging straight in would be suicide, even with eightfold ability.

Facing dozens of elite soldiers and possibly existing crossbow bolts, there was absolutely no chance of victory.

He had to sneak past!

This was not the hiding he had previously relied on luck and terrain for, but required genuine, efficient stealth skills!

He recalled the scraps he had learned during the time of the defeated soldiers, and the eightfold learning ability granted by the system.

He carefully observed the soldiers' viewing habits, footstep rhythm, and changes in light and shadow.

Then, he moved.

Like a leopard blending into the shadows, his movements were light, swift, and extremely efficient.

With eightfold strength and control, each of his steps landed on the points that would make no sound.

Each movement precisely timed the moment the guards' gaze shifted.

【Undertaking high-difficulty stealth, concealment skill proficiency greatly increased (x Bonus)!】

Diligence Points (WP)+10…+10… (continuous)】

WP began to jump and increase again!

Even stealth, this kind of "technical work," could earn the system's recognition through extreme effort and focus!

He used the stacked supplies and ore piles.

Even using the temporary visual barrier formed by the prisoner convoy as cover, he inched toward the sealed entrance.

The process was extremely perilous, several times almost brushing past the patrol squad.

All were avoided by him using his eightfold nerve reaction speed to retreat into the shadows a fraction of a second early, holding his breath and focusing, perfectly blending into the environment.

Finally, he successfully crossed most of the open area.

He reached the outskirts of the heavily guarded area, hiding behind a row of massive timber.

The distance to that sealed entrance was less than thirty meters!

In between lay a relatively open area and those two gatekeeper-like guards.

He could not get any closer, or he would surely be discovered.

He needed information.

He needed to know what exactly was inside that cave!

Eightfold vision focused, like a high-powered telescope, meticulously scanning every detail of the entrance.

The door was new, the lock was new.

But the rock around the door frame looked very old, even bearing some blurred, artificial markings.

The ground at the entrance was severely worn, showing frequent passage of people or objects.

His gaze finally settled below the door crack.

There seemed to be a tiny, non-mineral dark fiber lodged there.

What was it?

He strained to look; eightfold vision continually magnified and clarified that minute object.

That seemed to be…… a few extremely fine, dark blue avian down feathers?

There is also…… an extremely faint, unique herbal scent.

It is somewhat similar to the medicinal smell within the killing aura he had smelled before, yet somewhat different, with a hint of strange fishy odor added.

Iron Crow Army…… bird down…… deep blue……

A name flashed through his mind: Iron Crow Army!

Could it be that this name is not merely a description of their black clothes and black armor?

But rather because they are related to some kind of "crow"?

Is this down their emblem? Or some kind of token?

Just as he was fully focused analyzing, the heavy wooden door suddenly swung open from inside!

A soldier wearing attire slightly different from the others, with more azure crystals inlaid on his iron armor,

with a metal visor covering the lower half of his face, walked out, seemingly changing shifts.

The moment the door opened, Chen Wen's eightfold perception caught a faint sound coming from inside the cave!

Not the sound of mining, not a shout.

But…… an extremely faint yet dense "shasha" sound, like countless claws scratching the rock!

At the same time, it was mixed with a stronger, nauseating blend of medicinal smell.

The stench of blood and the foul odor of birds assailed his nostrils!

The two guards seemed accustomed to this, merely turning slightly aside to let the officer pass.

The door was soon closed and locked again.

But in that fleeting glimpse, Chen Wen's eightfold vision saw something on the ground inside the cave

——several broken, deep blue, hard bird feathers, much larger than the down beneath the door crack!

Moreover, the corner of his eye seemed to catch sight of

In the shadows deep inside the cave, it looked as if many…… iron cages were hanging?

A strange association formed in his mind: Iron Crow Army, deep blue feathers, iron cages, scratching sounds……

Could it be that they are raising some kind of raptor in this heavily guarded cave?

What does this have to do with the ore they mine and the killing aura on their bodies?

Although he didn't directly find his family, this discovery is equally crucial!

This reveals a more bizarre and unknown aspect of the Iron Crow Army!

And just then, the silver hairpin in his bosom trembled again!

But this time, it was not pointing toward the cave where the raptors are kept, but slightly toward another direction of the cavern

——there is an upward narrow passage lit by torches.

Several soldiers were escorting a group of exhausted prisoners who had just finished their shift, heading that way.

The silver hairpin pointed to……

someone among the prisoners?

or the end of the passage?

Chen Wen immediately realized that place might be…… the prisoners' camp!

If his family were still alive, they would most likely be in the camp, not in that strange bird cave!

Target changed! Head toward the camp!

He cautiously retreated, preparing to explore along the new route.

【Successfully completed high‑risk stealth reconnaissance, obtained key intelligence. Diligence Points (WP)+100!】

【Successfully completed high-risk stealth reconnaissance, obtained key intelligence. Diligence Points (WP)+100!】

【Current WP: 105】