[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-278":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269924,4431,"Chapter 278: Ambush","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-278",278,"\u003Cp>Seeing the scene inside the little mirror demon suddenly shatter, Li En felt a hint of helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems he noticed? No, not necessarily—only that he sensed the mirror demon’s surveillance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That high mage seems to be a spellcaster; his sensitivity to spatial fluctuations is normal, but directly tearing into the shadow plane where the little mirror demon resides is indeed excessively powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He only sensed the surveillance—he probably didn’t notice us, the hidden operatives nearby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a familiar to scout for watchers is perfectly normal; the one controlling this ‘familiar’ might even still be on the ground—Julian may not have realized Li En’s group had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li En never liked placing his safety in the hands of his opponent’s stupidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack directly. Even if he saw us, organizing a defense will take time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more waiting. Don’t give him time to prepare—launch the assault now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t we get support from above?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The little mirror demon can only transport small supplies, and its limitations and costs are immense. The big mirror demon, while gaining stronger interdimensional mobility, has also become more materialized and fixed in coordinates—it requires dedicated escorts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delivering just some supplies holds virtually no meaning for us now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En sighed. There was nothing more to say—it was simply a matter of the brave prevailing in a narrow path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin. Follow the plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numerous “bottles” were transported over from the little mirror demon—gifts from the alchemists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, it’s our turn to strike. Don’t worry—it’ll be quick, no long wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, no long wait was needed; this long day had barely reached its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even underground, the cultists maintained normal biological rhythms—it was now clearly deep night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a day of labor and bustle, as they entered the safer zones of their minds, exhaustion and satisfaction surged forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huhuh.” The tired, the full, the deepest sleepers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the images transmitted by the little mirror demon revealed one after another sleeping cultists and half-beasts, the attackers knew the moment had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Invisible spellcasters, stealthy thieves who had followed along, and even an unknown-class Radiant Guard all entered stealth mode. They would ignite this area, turning it into a sea of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacking side, holding the initiative, always retained a certain advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me lend a hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En frowned as the black dragon’s wings unfolded, and slowly, black feathers appeared along their outer edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the origin of the earlier “Archangel’s Descent”—another ability Li En had long awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【One Flower, One Feather (Gold-Rank Bloodline Ability): As King of Birds, when he calls, ten thousand birds answer his summons.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same ability Red Feather Arrow had demonstrated many times—a basic instinct Li En gained the moment he acquired Hawk Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ability to convert epidermal cells, shattered bones, and scales into feathers.” In itself, it was nearly worthless, but like Hawk Eye, it was the foundation of the entire Hawk skill tree—and even the gateway to his combat skill tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En shook his armor, and dozens of black feathers fell off. As they floated in his palm, they twisted and transformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, they coalesced and contorted into three tiny black hawks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Feather Arrow was far more powerful—she could tear open a single wing and transform it into dozens or even hundreds of birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These little ones could serve as weapons, scouts, and even partially channel supernatural abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En narrowed his eyes, and the three little hawks each opened their eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their pitch-black pupils carried the authority of dragons and vertical slits, resembling Li En’s own too closely—and his will subtly connected with theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this what it feels like? My head feels like it’s going to explode.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already with his second thought-line engaged—he’d likely lose precise control if they went any farther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand how Red Feather Arrow managed to control a “flock”—just processing this much visual data alone should have overloaded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each little black hawk lifted a sealed alchemical vial and took to the air—they would be swift, stealthy arsonists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could also serve as Li En’s eyes—though he felt dizzy, as if he couldn’t process it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like I need to ascend my bloodline soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En didn’t release all three hawks—one remained perched on his shoulder, becoming his extra distant eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Controlling just two hawks already forced him to relinquish control of his own body, passively slipping into spectator mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>",743,"2026-06-19T21:45:42.084Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bd9e21b3cbb13eb2a272885922ad1719fc0837befafcf3c91efa431c9e092972","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-279","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-277",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]