Celestial Human Diagram

Chen Bitong stared at Chen Chuan for a moment, then nodded. He didn’t say much, his expression just grew serious as he gestured to their surroundings. "Captain Chen, you see these?"

Chen Chuan’s gaze fell. He had thought they looked strange from a distance, but now that he was closer, he saw that they weren’t people, but some kind of Modified Creatures.

They were about the size of an ape, hairless, and covered in a thick, leathery hide that looked very tough. They had small, narrow eyes and a protruding snout, its bared maw filled with sharp fangs for tearing.

Chen Bitong said, "These things are called ’White Plagues.’ They’re a biological weapon frequently used by the Old Imperial Family. The Old Imperial Family’s armies take them wherever they go. We dealt with them often on the front lines. They aren’t a huge threat to us, but there are a few things you need to be especially careful about..."

After hearing the explanation, Chen Chuan learned that the Old Imperial Family had developed these Modified Creatures to deal with the new realities of war. They typically advanced with the main army, which would use them to probe for firing positions, fill trenches, or carry explosives to blow up armored vehicles.

The disgusting part was that the creatures carried a pathogen. If even one got past their lines and into the rear, it could cause a large-scale epidemic. Not a single one could be allowed through.

Chen Bitong then looked outside and said, "Captain Chen, they’re coming up again."

Chen Chuan took a few steps forward and peered through the Rift. He saw the Modified Creatures charging out of the mist, approaching the summit from all directions. Their limbs were agile and powerful, making them incredibly nimble on the mountain path, yet they made absolutely no sound.

His gaze swept over them, and in a single glance, he noticed over ten of the White Plagues had bulging abdomens. The creatures had a hollow sac in their bellies, which was usually used for stuffing explosives.

These high explosives could blow up armored vehicles; a close-range blast was no joke. They had to be dealt with beforehand and not allowed to get near. He immediately reached into his pocket and grabbed a few stones.

But before he could act, Chen Bitong suddenly hurled his Long Spear. In an instant, it flew over a hundred meters and pinned one of the White Plagues to the ground. He then threw several more spears in quick succession, intercepting every single explosive-carrying creature without fail.

Chen Chuan relaxed his fingers, then walked to the edge of the Rift, Long Blade in hand. By now, a few creatures had reached them, leaping through the air to pounce inside. Seeing this, he spun around.

A brilliant arc of light flashed. Several White Plagues were bisected in mid-air, and a large amount of blood with a rancid, putrid smell splattered down, leaving corrosive marks on the ground.

But these Modified Creatures felt no fear. More continued to pour up the path.

The creatures’ strengths were their agility, speed, and numbers. On a battlefield, a moment of carelessness could allow them to break through the line. For him, however, they were far from a threat. With each flash of his blade, a large swathe of them fell. Within a few breaths, he had slaughtered every one that had charged up.

But these things were just cannon fodder, and the enemy showed no intention of conserving them. After one wave, another surged forward, once again mixed with a few carrying high explosives.

He didn’t have to worry about those; Chen Bitong would clear them out beforehand with his thrown spears.

’Using Spiritual Power would be the easiest way to clear them out, not even giving them a chance to charge up. But it wouldn’t be worth it for these creatures. Spiritual Power recovers slowly after being used, and we need to conserve it for the attacks to come.’

Physical exhaustion, on the other hand, was a secondary concern. With their resilience, they could sustain high-intensity combat for days and nights without issue. The Fumu’s reproduction wouldn’t last that long, and before long, reinforcements would arrive from the rear to set up a defensive line in front of the Rift.

All they had to do was hold off the enemy’s offensive until then.

About ten minutes later, after repelling more than ten waves of attacks, the creatures finally stopped coming.

By now, the mountain path and the area around the Rift were filled with the acrid stench of blood and other foul odors. The swarms of insects and small creatures that had once flitted about this area were nowhere to be seen.

Chen Bitong’s expression remained serious and wary. He warned, "Captain Chen, they were probably just trying to gauge our strength. Experts will surely follow. Be ready."

Chen Chuan said, "All the better."

He wasn’t afraid of fighting people. In his view, every enemy he faced was just nourishment to push his spirit to a higher level.

In fact, his earlier battle with Chen Bitong had already elevated his spirit to a new level, a leap far greater than any previous advancement. Because of this, he eagerly awaited the powerful opponents from the other side, hoping they could help him reach even greater heights.

Meanwhile, in the military camp at the foot of the mountain, a general in exquisite Armor, a plumed helmet on his head, sat on horseback. He and the Vice General beside him were looking up, occasionally exchanging words.

They were surrounded by more than ten Duty Samurai and over a hundred elite Soldiers. Besides them were seven or eight military advisors. A trusted standard-bearer sat proudly on his horse to one side, holding a large, now-ceremonial banner that fluttered in the wind.

They were currently discussing how to retake the Rift.

If not for the fact that the highland ahead was the most suitable place to open a Rift, they would never have chosen this location. It was just asking for trouble.

And now, they had indeed run into a problem.

However, since they knew for sure that it led into Central City, they had no intention of giving up.

Although the mist obscured the details, they had been able to confirm from the previous attacks and the recent probes by the White Plagues that only two individuals up ahead possessed any significant strength.

Jibei Dao Central City was currently in dire straits. Intelligence from within the city was constantly flowing to them, so they believed that Central City being able to spare two people near the Fighting Master level to guard this spot was already its limit. There wouldn’t be any more reinforcements in the short term.

In other words, as long as they eliminated these two, the gate into Central City would essentially be open.

Previous assaults, whether by the vanguard or the Duty Samurai, had all failed, which spoke to the enemy’s formidable power. So this time, the Vice General decided to personally lead the team to take the position.

After their discussion, the Vice General spurred his horse forward. With a wave of his hand, three of his personal attendants galloped past him, charging up the mountain ahead of him.

A few minutes later, Chen Chuan, standing at the edge of the Rift, sensed something. He glanced out and could faintly make out two figures appearing on the mountain path through the mist.

These two weren’t wearing armor, just old-fashioned clothing from a bygone era. They wore black trousers and tight-sleeved, cross-collared short jackets. One had a red silk ribbon tied in their hair, while the other wore a jade-inlaid headband. Both looked sharp and efficient.

The one on the left was a woman holding two tassel-hung long blades. Her face was rather delicate. On the right was a man in his thirties, holding a silver-plated long spear.

However, he had a feeling there was a third person hidden in the shadows, currently out of sight.

Chen Bitong walked up and took a look. "That’s the attire of a general’s personal guard," he said. "They are usually the descendants of disgraced officials, subjected to strict and cruel training from a young age. Only by performing meritorious deeds can they have their crimes lessened. If they achieve great merit, their entire clan can sometimes be pardoned. As a result, their will to fight is incredibly tenacious. Their appearance means our opponent is at least an Assistant General."

"Although that’s the lowest rank of general, anyone holding that position is a Fighter capable of channeling external forces with their spirit. But be careful. They won’t be as restrained in their attacks as I was."

A question suddenly occurred to Chen Chuan. He asked, "Teacher Chen, I remember that most of the Old Imperial Family’s territory is in the Merging Land. If Pure Essence is sealed by the World Ring, then where do their Fighting Masters come from?"

Chen Bitong said, "They have dealings with the entities on the other side and worship something that allows them to not only obtain Pure Essence but also bypass the restriction through certain rituals and methods.

"As far as I know, many corporations secretly support the Old Imperial Family to get what they need. Even some nations have back-channel dealings with them to facilitate the training of their own Fighting Masters, and in return, the Old Imperial Family provides them with technology and resources.

"The Old Imperial Family’s survival to this day, and the continued existence of other toppled old empires on the other side, is inextricably linked to this support. Some people need them to exist."

Understanding dawned on Chen Chuan. Just then, he heard the sound of hoofbeats from the mist below. From the sound of it, the horse was treading the mountain path as if it were flat ground. It was as if horse and rider were one, and they were gradually accelerating, exuding a faint, oppressive pressure. Despite coming up from below, they gave off an unstoppable feeling.

Chen Bitong said gravely, "They’re here."

Before the rider appeared, the two attendants who had been standing there earlier shot forward, their expressions turning fierce. One after the other, they charged into the Rift.

The delicate-looking woman was in the lead. Her Dual Blades left their sheaths with a CLANG. After entering the Rift and seeing Chen Bitong and Chen Chuan, she immediately slashed toward Chen Chuan, who was standing in front.

Chen Chuan calmly watched the Dual Blades approach. He reached for his hilt but didn’t move. Just as the blades were about to strike, his eyes flashed up. A brilliant streak of light shot past, and the woman, along with her blades, was split in two.

The man with the spear charged out from behind her. Seemingly ignoring his comrade’s death, he took advantage of the moment Chen Chuan swung his blade and thrust his spear forward.

However, Chen Chuan sidestepped and lunged forward, simultaneously bringing his Long Blade back around from its upward slash. But just as the blade was about to reach the man’s neck, a Foil suddenly shot out from the shadows to his side, aiming straight for his eyes.

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