Chapter 478

Shandong, outside Yuncheng County, a desolate mountain trail.

The night was as dark as ink, with only a waning crescent moon hanging in the sky, casting a bleak, clear light.

Two black shadows moved like ghosts, silently weaving through the rugged rocks—none other than Chen Wen and Qian Gui.

The two had just left a nearby hidden outpost, where part of the special supplies transferred from the Chen dynasty were stored, including a small amount of the core components of the 'Dispelling Malignance Device' used to counter Yuneng Pollution, as well as the latest improved miniature stabilizer by Zhao Lao Nian, which could more effectively simulate the False Song Fortune Momentum fluctuations.

My lord, over at Liang Mountain, Shi Dun reports that the Martial Lecture Hall has held three sessions, the Three Major Disciplines have been initially implemented, the troops' morale is sound, and the people's hearts are gradually turning toward us.

Qian Gui reported in a lowered voice, but his eyes warily swept the surrounding darkness.

However, the local prefectural and county authorities seem to have also noticed the movements at Liang Mountain, mustering troops, and may act soon.

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

Through Shi Yong, he could clearly sense that in the direction of Liang Mountain, a steadily coalescing Fortune Momentum, bearing a clear Northward Aspiration will, was growing—like a bonfire lit in the darkness, not blazing but steadfast and warm.

But at the same time, he also sensed that several streams of cold, murky Nether Energy were accelerating and converging in the outskirts of Liang Mountain and across the broader Shandong route, like hyenas scenting blood, gathering from all directions toward Liang Mountain.

The Iron Crow Army will not stand by and let Liang Mountain slip from its control.

Chen Wen's voice sounded unusually calm in the night wind.

Their means of upholding 'history' are nothing more than guidance, infiltration, and eradication. Guidance is now difficult, infiltration is blocked; next, they will likely resort to more direct eradication.

As soon as he finished speaking, his steps came to an abrupt halt.

Almost simultaneously, Qian Gui also sensed the abnormality, his hand already resting on the short blade at his waist.

The surrounding air seemed to suddenly solidify, carrying a viscous chill.

Insect chirps and bird calls had ceased at some point, leaving only a deathly silence.

The waning moon's light seemed to be swallowed by an invisible force, and the surrounding darkness grew ever thicker.

They're here.

Chen Wen whispered, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

Although his Cow Horse System was only level 3, his keen sensitivity to efficiency and energy flow allowed him to detect danger earlier than ordinary people.

Especially regarding this Yuneng Pollution, which is utterly opposed to Fortune Momentum, his Shi Yong functioned like the most precise alarm.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

They did not come from bows or crossbows, but from something far more sinister—several pitch-black, inconspicuous short bolts shot out from deep in the woods on either side of the road!

They were extremely fast; the arrowheads glowed with an unnatural dark sheen in the weak moonlight, exuding a chilling aura, aimed straight at Chen Wen and Qian Gui's vital points!

They were extremely fast; the arrowheads glimmered with an unnatural, dark sheen in the faint moonlight, carrying a chilling, yin-like aura, aiming straight for Chen Wen and Qian Gui's vital points!

Qian Gui gave a low shout; he recognized these— the arrowheads were laced with the Iron Crow Army's special strange toxin, which not only festers flesh and blood but also saps the spirit and weakens the constitution.

He moved like lightning, his short blade flashing with several arcs of cold light, precisely cleaving the two bolts aimed at him.

The blade and bolt collided with a clear tinkling; the bolt was deflected, but Qian Gui's wrist holding the knife felt a sudden numbness and soreness.

The individuals firing these bolts possess astonishing arm strength!

Chen Wen did not meet them head-on.

His footwork shifted illusorily, his body twisting at an unimaginable angle like a fish, narrowly evading three bolts aimed at his vital spots.

One bolt grazed his sleeve; the fabric where it touched the arrowhead instantly began to blacken and brittle, showing the poison's potency.

At least five, working in tacit coordination, are the Iron Crow Army's Nether Shadow Guard.

Qian Gui instantly assessed the situation, his tone grave.

Specializing in assassination and sabotage, they fear no death. Their physiques are strange, their strength and speed far surpassing ordinary people, and they seem to have an extremely high tolerance for pain and injury.

In the woods, five blurred figures slowly emerged.

They were clad head to toe in specially made black night attire, wearing expressionless metal masks that revealed only pairs of icy, lifeless eyes, as if devoid of any human emotion.

They held powerful bows and crossbows, wore poisoned short weapons at their waists, and moved almost soundlessly, like true shadows.

Without a word, the five Nether Shadow Guards, like puppets on strings, launched another attack.

They formed two-man teams, each lunging at Chen Wen and Qian Gui, while the remaining one hid in the darkness, holding a peculiarly shaped mechanism aimed at the battlefield, waiting for an opportunity.

It's a suppression-type spring device—watch out!

Chen Wen warned, feeling an invisible pressure weighing down, making the circulation of qi and blood slightly sluggish.

This is not any kind of technique, but a device crafted by the Iron Crow Army using Nether Energy Crystal Ore and special materials, capable of interfering with the condition of living beings within a certain area.

Chen Wen's resolve was firm; the resilient strength stemming from Heaven rewards diligence, existing within him due to the Cow Horse System, operated on its own and offset most of the negative effects.

He gave a low shout, not retreating but advancing, actively moving to meet the two Nether Shadow Guards lunging at him.

He did not choose to clash head-on.

The eightfold effect of level 3 mainly enhances his own efficiency, endurance, and thought speed, without altering absolute strength; facing these specially altered, death-defying foes, a direct clash is not the best tactic.

But one thing differs from before—his foundation, including his life essence, had been reconstructed upon breaking through 128-fold; likewise, the five retainers who had long followed him and received the baptism of Fortune Momentum at that time also possess physiques far beyond those of ordinary martial artists.

Qian Gui's basic strength, speed, and reflexes had long surpassed the realm of ordinary experts.

This is also one of the reasons they dare to face the Nether Shadow Guards head-on now.

Chen Wen's movements were ghost‑swift, weaving through the Nether Shadow Guards' storm‑like assault.

Eightfold thought speed let him clearly track each attack's trajectory, angle, and the subtle flow of force.

Eightfold bodily control enabled him to perform evasions that surpassed human limits.

At the same time, he fully exerted Shi Yong.

In his perception, these Nether Shadow Guards were enveloped head‑to‑toe in thick, constantly churning Nether Energy, as if wearing an invisible veil of impurity.

But within that impurity's core, there appeared to be a relatively weak energy node, usually located at the chest or the back of the neck—the key to sustaining their movement and connection to Nether Energy!

This is not a fantastical 'core'; it is more like the energy hub of a precision device or a physiological weak point.

Qian Gui! Strike their Chest Center or Heavenly Pillar—that's their weak point!

"Qian Gui! Attack his chest or the celestial pillar! That is their vital point!"

Chen Wen, in a gap of his dodging, shouted loudly.

Qian Gui, hearing this, was invigorated.

He, as the leader of the Office of Peace and Stability, highly skilled in martial arts and experienced, having previously fought these Dark Shadow Guards, felt their defense was strange and hard to inflict effective damage.

At this moment, receiving Chen Wen's reminder, plus his own strengthened foundation, he instantly erupted with astonishing combat power.

Changing his short blade technique, he no longer sought wide-area damage, but like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, he specifically attacked the opponent's chest and nape!

One Dark Shadow Guard clearly did not expect Qian Gui to suddenly change his move and his speed and strength to surge; when he tried to block, he was already a beat late.

Puchi!

The short blade precisely pierced his chest at the Shanzhong acupoint!

No blood spurted; only a thick black smoke with a pungent, foul odor welled out from it!

That Dark Shadow Guard's body suddenly stiffened, the dead light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and his movements became stiff and sluggish.

Qian Gui felt the blade seemed to pierce something hard, as if damaging a key device inside his body.

Qian Gui, pressing his advantage, flicked his wrist, the short blade sliding upward to slit the opponent's throat.

This Dark Shadow Guard finally ceased moving entirely, collapsing straight down.

On the other side, Chen Wen also seized the opportunity.

With eightfold thought speed boosting him, he spotted a tiny opening in a Dark Shadow Guard's attack, lowered his body to dodge the sweeping poisoned dagger, and with his right hand's fingers together like a sword, gathering all his strength, he jabbed lightning-fast at another Dark Shadow Guard's cervical Tianzhu acupoint!

His fingertips touched the icy hard feeling (apparently a metal neck guard), yet a condensed force had already penetrated!

That Dark Shadow Guard's whole body shuddered violently, his movements instantly becoming uncoordinated, like a jammed gear, and his actions halted abruptly.

Chen Wen, without pausing, turned sideways and delivered a heavy elbow strike, slamming hard into the chest of another Dark Shadow Guard who had momentarily distracted due to his companion's injury.

Eightfold strength focused at a point exploded, combined with his reconstructed stronger physical foundation; even though the opponent's physique was special, he was struck back staggering, a clear bone-crack sound coming from his chest.

The Dark Shadow Guard hidden in the darkness, seeing the situation unfavorable, immediately triggered the mechanism!

Several steel needles, whistling sharply, shot out, covering the area where Chen Wen was!

At the same time, he himself swiftly drifted backward, apparently intending to withdraw.

"Want to run?"

Chen Wen gave a cold snort.

As the steel needles approached his body, he triggered the eightfold efficiency of the "Cow Horse System"!

It was not applied to attack, but to——dodge and dash!

His body burst forth with astonishing speed and coordination, leaving several afterimages in place, narrowly evading all the steel needles, and shot toward the Dark Shadow Guard trying to flee like an arrow released from a bow!

That Dark Shadow Guard clearly did not expect Chen Wen to break free of the lock and close in so quickly; in a fluster, he raised his hand's mechanism to block.

Chen Wen did not dodge or evade, he threw a punch, plainly smashing onto the mechanism!

Crack!

The mechanism made of refined steel was actually deformed and shattered by that punch!

Chen Wen's punch momentum not spent, he heavily imprinted it onto the opponent's chest!

"Puh!"

That Dark Shadow Guard spat out a mouthful of blood tinged with black vapor, his body flying backward like a severed kite, striking a large tree, sliding down softly, and fell silent.

The battle began and ended in a flash.

Five Dark Shadow Guards, three dead, two seriously wounded (the one struck on the Tianzhu acupoint also lost combat ability).

Qian Gui caught his breath, looking at the corpses and prisoners on the ground, his expression grave.

"These ghostly things are indeed troublesome. If not for our foundation being different now, plus your lord's insight into their weakness, tonight we might have to pay a price." He previously could kill Dark Shadow Guards, relying precisely on the foundation strengthened by the Fortune Momentum's baptism, and Chen Wen's precise locating of their weak point.

Chen Wen did not relax his vigilance; he walked up to the Dark Shadow Guard whose acupoint had been struck, attempting to pull off his mask.

However, the moment his fingers touched the mask, a strong yin cold backlash surged along his fingertips!

At the same time, his mind's "Causality Fragment" ability passively triggered, several blurry, fragmented images flashed:

——A figure wearing a similar mask silently infiltrated a certain village on the outskirts of Bright Mountain……

——Another shadow, was contacting a minor clerk of the Yuncheng County Office……

——And another, seemed to have infiltrated the official granary of Aid Prefecture……

"Not good!"

Chen Wen's face changed.

"Their target is not just us! This is a feint, and also a probe! Meanwhile, others have gone to the outskirts of Bright Mountain and to prefectural and county offices!"

He immediately said to Qian Gui:

"Clear the scene, extract a confession. I must go to Bright Mountain at once!"

He could sense that the Yuneng Pollution carried by those Dark Shadow Guards acting separately was eroding and interfering with the nascent, pure "Northward Aspiration" Fortune Momentum of Bright Mountain.

If not cleared in time, a major change may occur!

Qian Gui also realized the seriousness of the problem, and solemnly replied:

"Yes! My lord, be careful!"

Chen Wen delayed no further, his form flickered, he vanished into the darkness, and raced toward Bright Mountain.

His internal "Growth Progress Bar", after experiencing that dangerous yet effective battle just now, seemed to have subtly advanced a bit.

The night grew deeper; the killing intent did not dissipate with the elimination of these few Dark Shadow Guards, but instead, like spreading mist, it enveloped the rising Bright Mountain.