Chapter 186: Thundercloud Storm

Three days later.

In the main hall of Azurewater Keep, Lei En sat high in the lord's seat, a large map of the Earl of Glamorgan's domain spread on the table before him, with Pan Xi Er and Ba De Meng on his left and members of the Dragonstone Mercenary Corps such as Ai Mi Li Si on his right.

Xi Ka Liu Si and Ao Tuo stood behind him, like two towering statues.

Although they had been seen often these past days, Ai Mi Li Si, Pan Xi Er and the others were full of curiosity toward these Ma Ku La Ge people, repeatedly casting glances at the two.

Even without sparring, one could sense their extraordinary nature.

If it were only Xi Ka Liu Si and the Ge Long who had chastised Zhuo Ao that day, it would be understandable, but every barbarian around Lei En seemed to possess terrifying power and had undergone an inexplicable transformation within a single day.

They monopolized a training ground, exercising there daily and forbidding outsiders from watching.

Aside from Lei En himself, no one knew their backgrounds.

Lei En could read their thoughts, but it was not yet time for an Extreme Warrior to act, so he asked, "Lady, have your people not returned yet?"

"Not yet," Ai Mi Li Si replied, "they should be soon."

Lei En decided that from today onward he would reclaim his domain.

Within the Earl of Glamorgan's fief, the most important place was, of course, Azurewater Keep, symbolizing the lord's rule; next were two ports, followed by the Yeluo riverside commercial district and the airship landing field. Capturing these points would almost secure the entire domain.

The remaining estates, factories, soul‑cultivation farms, plantations, and fields could be dealt with later, tidied up one by one.

Lei En now aimed to seize the two ports.

One lies to the north, Mo Du's largest port, situated at the mouth of the Empire's first great river Na Qu Mo He and at the confluence of Mo Du's inland Yeluo River, called Hai Bu Li Qi Gang.

The other, Yang Shui Port, is on the southern coastline of the fief, bordering Heaven Bay, relatively new—only a few decades old—and farther from the castle.

Combined, the cargo throughput of the two ports exceeds two‑thirds of Mo Du's maritime trade, making their importance self‑evident.

Mo Du's nobility would never relinquish them willingly; taking them by force would not be easy.

Lei En had not yet decided which port to assault, so he ordered Ai Mi Li Si to send scouts; a few shadow warriors from the Dragonstone Mercenary Corps were dispatched at dawn, each heading to one of the ports.

As soon as Ai Mi Li Si finished speaking, a gaunt silhouette entered from outside.

She hurriedly asked, "Lang Di, how is the situation?"

"Captain, my lord," Lang Di saluted both; he is a fourth‑rank shadow warrior, and replied, "I circled Hai Bu Li Qi Gang twice, saw the heavy cavalry of Marquis Ji Liu's family, numbering over fifty. They were very alert, so I dared not get too close and found no other issues."

"Over fifty heavy cavalry..." Ai Mi Li Si's expression grew solemn.

Heavy cavalry, also called heavy‑armored knights, are similar to silver‑armored knights, but their mounts are generally larger and heavier, and a collective charge is unstoppable.

From intelligence obtained from Ao Xi Li Ya, Lei En learned that Marquis Ji Liu's family had trained a massive force of heavy‑armored knights, over five hundred in total, sending a tenth to garrison the port—a truly lavish expenditure.

The other Yang Shui Port, under the control of the Earl of Ak Lan Te, had certainly dispatched heavy troops to guard it.

"My lord?" Ai Mi Li Si asked Lei En.

Lei En pondered for a few minutes, unwilling to wait any longer for the Yang Shui shadow warrior's report; as long as there were no traps, attacking either port would be the same.

Hai Bu Li Qi Gang lay closer to the castle, only a dozen or so li away, allowing a swift strike and reducing the enemy's reaction time.

"Set out at once for Hai Bu Li Qi Gang," Lei En said without hesitation.

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison and immediately proceeded according to the prior plan.

The Dragonstone Mercenary Corps dispatched one hundred centaurs and thirty Iron Guard, leaving the rest behind the castle to guard against a possible raid on the home.

The Extreme Warrior Corps, silver‑armored knights, and Secret Fire Guard were all mobilized.

The castle gates opened, and squads of centaurs sprinted out; such a commotion instantly drew the attention of street onlookers, who ducked to the roadside, eyes filled with awe.

At the front of the formation, four centaurs hoisted the Augustus family's banner, a vivid red field bearing a gold war hammer crossed with a crescent moon, fluttering in the wind.

Ai Mi Li Si and her human mercenaries were carried by the centaurs, running in the middle.

Lei En's weight was too great for the centaurs to bear; he was eager to run to keep up, but that would diminish the earl's dignity, so he had to sit in a carriage and follow at the rear of the column.

Thirteen Extreme Warriors, like Lei En, were too heavy and lacked suitable mounts; being tall, they couldn't fit into the carriage and had to run on their own.

Fortunately, the twenty‑li distance was not far for Extreme Warriors; their speed kept pace, and they expended little stamina.

Moments later, Hai Bu Li Qi Gang was reached.

The port was built along an open coastal stretch, extending three to four li; from afar one could see hundreds of vessels docked—large steamships, private yachts, fishing boats, and ferries—coming and going on the water. Semi‑mechanized cranes, powered by steam engines, loaded and unloaded bulk cargo, while workers bustled incessantly. The port teemed with inns, taverns, and shops, a bustling scene of prosperity.

Yet, the thunderous sound of horse hooves shattered the scene.

As centaur silhouettes appeared on the streets, the entire port boiled over like a pot on fire, a frenzy of chaos.

Several towering bell towers stood within the port; guards rang the great bells, issuing warnings.

A group of black knights surged out of the port, blocking the main gate.

Their armor emitted a faint energy glow, both exquisite and heavy, and they rode towering, robust dragon‑horn warhorses—more precious than silver‑scaled horses and bearing traces of dragon bloodline; each horse bore a pair of horns on its head, with strength and endurance comparable to beasts.

Over fifty heavy‑armored knights quickly formed ranks, each wielding lances over three meters long, as if confronting a great foe.

"Stop!"

A command rang out, and the centaurs halted three hundred paces from the heavy‑armored knights, the surrounding open street ideal for a charge.

Lei En dismounted from the carriage and walked to the front of the column.

Ai Mi Li Si leapt down from Zhuo Ao's back, approached him, and whispered.

Zhuo Ao let out a disgruntled hum, but upon seeing the thirteen Ma Ku La Ge standing beside Lei En, he quickly turned his head, too frightened to speak further.

"Sir, shall we attack?" Ai Mi Li Si asked.

Lei En shook his head, "Wait a few minutes; it is not yet time to attack."

Although the centaurs held a numerical advantage, having run twenty li from the castle left them far from peak stamina, requiring a rest.

A distance of three hundred paces was ample for the centaurs to charge.

Lei En gazed toward the opposite port gate.

The equipment of these heavy‑armored knights was exceptionally fine; Marquis Ji Liu had poured great wealth into them. Each knight was a Level 3 Iron Guard, with only four Elements in their souls, all identical: Level 2 Strength, Stone Skin Technique, enduring stamina, and tenacity.

Clearly, these heavy‑armored knights were cultivated from childhood as super‑humans, not recruited from outside.

Only true great nobles can afford this way of forming a legion.

The Silver Star Title: Duke's Silver Armor Knights are formed that way.

They fuse identical magic soul, possess the same Element, use identical equipment, train various combat techniques over the long term, obey orders, fight in unison, forming a truly extraordinary army.

Such an army's combat power compared to a mercenary corps is unknown how much higher.

If in the wild, the same number of Centaurs face this Heavy cavalry, the Centaurs may have some advantage at the start with bows, but once the Heavy cavalry seizes the chance for a frontal charge, the Centaurs will be crushed.

"I wonder whether the bullets of Lambo's Spear can pierce their armor?"

Lei En thought to himself.

His gaze fell on the leader of the Heavy armored knights.

The person was entirely wrapped in enchanted armor, face unseen, and his Dragon-horn warhorse was taller and sturdier than those of other Heavy armored knights.

The Soul Eye saw that this was a high-tier Iron Guard, advanced into a Steel Knight.

Lei En drew the Investiture parchment from his ring; this action caused a stir among the opposing Heavy armored knights, who seemed inclined to retreat.

He couldn't help but smile, knowing these people thought he was about to pull out a Machine gun.

Just as he was about to repeat the old trick—read out his identity and command, ordering the opponent to leave within five minutes—Lei En suddenly sensed something and looked up at the sky.

In the clear sky, a few dark clouds drifted in, thickening at a visible speed, with faint rumblings of thunder within.

Lei En's face changed instantly.

He has lightning affinity; he sensed lightning elements within a kilometer converging wildly toward the sky, the surrounding air drying, an inexplicable chill wind blowing, and fine hairs on his skin standing up.

Someone is casting a spell, and it's a lightning spell with an extremely high ring count!

Ao Xiliya's voice sounded in his ear: "This is the Seven-ring Spell Thundercloud Storm, retreat quickly!"

"There's no time to retreat," Lei En said, his expression grim.

It was a trap; no wonder the opposing Heavy armored knights only guarded the Port, letting the Centaurs charge to 300 steps away, putting themselves at a disadvantage—they were acting as bait.

Within seconds, the dark clouds covered the sky, resembling the scene before a storm.

With such a wide-range spell, I could escape through Ao Xiliya's Portal, but it would be hard for the others.

The Centaurs panicked, and their formation became somewhat disordered.

"Lord?" Ai Mi Li Si asked anxiously, fearing that if the spell fell, few of her mercenary corps would survive.

At that moment, Lei En seemed frozen, motionless.

"Quiet!"

Lei En barked, the Voice of All Things already maxed out, his eyes scanning the Port back and forth, trying to locate the caster.

The Seven-ring Spell requires a legendary Mid-stage Wizard to cast; the broader the spell range and larger the scale, the longer the preparation. Once formed, the caster must maintain it; unless everyone teleports away, the retreat path will be locked by the spell and continuously attacked.

The best solution is to interrupt the casting.

To gain a better casting view, the opponent must stand higher, unable to hide.

In the Soul Eye, intense magical flux emanated from the top of a Tall building in the Port.

"Got you."

Lei En immediately ordered: "Charge! Charge! Charge!"

"Everyone rush into the Port, Extreme Warriors, crush your enemies!"

Thirteen Extreme Warriors raised their great swords, stepped forward, leading a charge against the Port's Heavy armored knights, shouting loudly: "Advance for Ao Gu Si Du!"

The Centaurs were inspired by their momentum and immediately began to sprint.

After Lei En gave the command, he pointed to the building's rooftop; a Portal opened before him, and he stepped through without hesitation.

(End of Chapter)