Chapter 68: Narrow Road Encounter·Blood‑Stained First Encounter

As the valley deepened, the light grew dimmer.

Steep rock walls on both sides were covered with slippery moss.

Only a narrow line of sky light shone down, casting a bleak illumination.

A stream trickled along the valley floor, its water sounds making the surroundings even more quiet.

A suffocating silence!

That icy killing intent became clearly discernible here.

Like an invisible poisonous snake, it coiled around everyone's hearts.

Even with Chen Wen's mental resilience granting a buffer, the sense of oppression remained heavy.

Chen Wen gave a hand signal; the squad immediately halted and took cover behind rocks and bushes.

He held his breath, focused, and pushed his sixteenfold sensory enhancement to the limit.

The wind carried an extremely faint metallic scraping sound, and……

A uniform, almost inaudible heavy breathing rhythm.

"Just ahead at the bend."

Chen Wen lowered his voice, his eyes sharp as an eagle.

"About five men, tightly guarded—undoubtedly the Iron Crow Army. Prepare for battle!"

The team members' hearts leapt to their throats.

At last they were about to face the ghost‑like enemy spoken of in rumors!

No one retreated!

Only the knuckles gripping their weapons turned white from strain.

And their eyes burned with fighting spirit.

Chen Wen's mind raced, instantly forming a tactic.

"Listen, the enemies are individually strong and work together seamlessly."

"We'll use crossbow bolts for a first strike to disrupt their formation."

"Afterward, I'll give you my full support!"

He took a deep breath, his will surging!

Ability Granting!

——All‑covered, double effect, focusing on nerve reflex and killing‑intent resistance!

Focused granting!

——Zhang Dage, quadruple effect, focusing on explosive power and precise strikes!

The familiar warm current surged through his body once again.

But this time, the feeling was completely different.

With doubled reaction speed, the world seemed to turn into slow motion.

Every minute movement of the enemy was clearly captured.

And that mental shield grew tougher, suppressing the invading killing intent to a minimum.

The key squad member singled out felt an explosive force surging within.

His gaze locked onto the shadow behind the rock corner.

"Fire!"

Chen Wen gave the order!

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!"

Ten crossbow bolts shot forth like snakes leaving their holes!

They precisely struck the five dark silhouettes that had just revealed themselves around the corner!

However.

The Iron Crow Army's reaction was faster than imaginable!

Almost at the instant the crossbow mechanism sounded.

Those five, as if of one mind, instantly shifted sideways, raised shields, and blocked!

Their movements were uniform, as if performed by a single person!

Most of the crossbow bolts were deflected by the sturdy iron‑clad wooden shields, emitting a muffled "duk‑duk" sound.

Only two bolts luckily pierced the shield gaps.

They struck an Iron Crow Army soldier in the shoulder blade and thigh.

But they did not deprive him of combat ability.

"Form up! Meet the enemy!"

A hoarse, icy command rang out from the enemy ranks, devoid of feeling.

Five Iron Crow Army soldiers instantly formed a small battle formation.

Shields forward, long blades slightly extended.

Intense killing intent surged like a substantive shockwave toward Chen Wen's squad!

Even with double resistance.

The team members still felt their breath catch, their motions involuntarily slowing by a beat.

"Kill!"

Chen Wen knew he could not hesitate; he charged forward first, his longsword cleaving straight at the foremost shield‑bearer!

The squad member who had received the quadruple grant followed like a shadow, his aim aimed straight at the wounded enemy.

Clang!

Chen Wen's blade slammed hard into the enemy's shield, sparks flying everywhere!

A huge recoil force surged!

Chen Wen's arm went slightly numb, his heart secretly startled:

Such strong power!

This is just an ordinary soldier?

His 16-times strength actually couldn't break the shield in one strike!

And the injured Iron Crow Army soldier targeted by the 4-times core team member, although his movement was restricted.

But his sword technique remained vicious and tricky, actually fighting evenly with the core team member in 4-times state.

But he was clearly at a disadvantage.

The remaining team members also shouted and charged up, mixing in battle with the other three Iron Crow Army soldiers.

The battle went into white-hot intensity from the start.

The Iron Crow Army soldiers' individual combat power is terrifyingly strong, their sword technique simple and efficient.

Every move goes straight for the vital points, and their coordination is flawless.

Often when one is in danger, someone nearby immediately comes to assist and break the encirclement.

The killing aura they emit not only affects the opponent's mind.

It also seems to slightly boost their speed and strength.

Chen Wen's team, relying on the reaction and resistance brought by the 2-times ability granting.

And with their numerical advantage, they barely managed to hold off, but the situation was extremely perilous.

One team member blocked a little slowly, and the enemy's long blade sliced his lower ribs, instantly staining his armor with blood.

Another team member's weapon was nearly knocked away by the enemy's shock.

Can't drag it out!

Chen Wen knew that a prolonged battle would mean defeat; the enemy's ice-cold fighting machine likely had endurance far beyond ordinary people.

He suddenly exerted force, swinging open the shield-bearer's defense in front of him.

A flash of blade light, straight thrust at his throat!

That shield-bearer actually didn't dodge or evade, merely tilting his head slightly and taking the blow with his shoulder armor.

At the same time he backhanded a slash at Chen Wen's wrist!

Trading injury for life, utterly ruthless!

Chen Wen was forced to change his move, and the battle fell into a stalemate.

And the injured Iron Crow Army soldier suppressed by the 4-times core team member.

Finally revealing an opening, he was split in the chest by a blade!

Stumbling backward, yet he still stubbornly tried to counterattack.

"Capture him!" Chen Wen roared.

That core team member understood, daringly surged forward, using his shoulder to block the enemy's dying strike's blade.

At the same time he discarded his blade and lunged, tightly locking down that heavily wounded Iron Crow Army soldier!

Retreat!

Seeing the captive in hand, while the remaining four Iron Crow Army soldiers' assault grew even more frenzied.

Trying to rescue their comrade, Chen Wen made a swift decision.

"Alternate cover, quick!"

The team members struggled to repel the enemy and helped up their injured comrade.

With the captive, they swiftly retreated along the way they came from the valley.

Those four Iron Crow Army soldiers did not pursue deeply, merely standing in place.

Their icy gazes watched them disappear into the forest, as if completing some procedure.

After running several li, confirming the enemy wasn't pursuing, the team finally halted in a dense forest.

Each one wounded, panting, hearts still trembling.

The captured Iron Crow Army soldier's injury was extremely severe; the blade wound in his chest was deep enough to see bone, blood continuously pouring out.

But his face showed no expression of pain, only a deathly cold stillness.

His gaze stared blankly at the sky, as if this body did not belong to him.

Chen Wen looked at the disheveled team; one member had a deep wound under the ribs, needing immediate treatment.

The core team member who captured the prisoner also had blood flowing from his shoulder.

Is this the strength of the Iron Crow Army?

Just five soldiers made their reinforced team pay such a price to barely scrape a bitter victory.

The 【Growth Progress Bar】 in his mind surged violently at this moment, jumping from 48% straight up to 55%!

Combat command under high pressure.

Extreme application of ability granting.

And the personal realization of the Iron Crow Army's terrifying strength all turned into precious growth nourishment.

But Chen Wen's face showed no hint of joy, only immense solemnity.

He crouched down, looking at the dying captive, and asked in a low voice:

"Who are you? Why did you slaughter the village?"

"Who is the master behind you?"

The prisoner's eyes slowly turned, gazing blankly at Chen Wen, lips moving, emitting a weak and intermittent sound, like sleep-talking.