Woo… Boom!
A huge firework exploded in the southern sky.
Zuo Sheng turned his head to look. That was the Startling Swan Gang’s call for help.
It was like a chain reaction.
To the north of the city, Chao Tianwang and the nearby Tangshan Army each set off their own distress flares.
Zuo Sheng looked towards the north in surprise, then chuckled and shook his head.
Cheng Yi the Taoist wasn’t playing it straight, either.
Immediately feeling regretful, he turned back to look at the surroundings which remained quiet.
“Older brother, stop hoping for luck, only by joining forces do we three stand a chance.”
“When older brother figures it out, come find me.”
“My door is always open for older brother.”
Having said that, he turned and quickly left.
The underground space was silent.
The voice of Zuo Sheng faintly carried over.
A few soldiers from the Logistics Army listened closely, then looked at each other in confusion.
“What’s this guy rambling about for so long, what’s the meaning?” Zheng Yuan was puzzled.
Chen Mu shook his head dumbly, “Don’t know, probably a lunatic.”
“Definitely a lunatic!” the rest of the Logistics Army agreed.
“We owe Dawang big time, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble this madman would’ve stirred up.”
“Right? I also think he’s quite mad…” Chen Mu nodded, still shaken.
…
For three continuous days, the entire camp was tense.
The Tangshan Army sent a large number of soldiers to either soothe or suppress, striving to maintain stability at the Laborer Camp.
The Tangshan Army suffered a great loss of laborers.
It is said that the initial target, the ‘A’ Barracks, had more than half its people dead, injured or escaped.
The Startling Swan Gang and Chao Tianwang also suffered heavy casualties.
All three parties were clever, targeting the most inconspicuous yet most important common people first.
As a result, all three succeeded, and all three failed.
Chen Mu sighed deeply.
“Who could have imagined that all this was due to a mere defense map?”
“All because of Zuo Sheng and Cheng Yi, without their stirring of the pot, how could such a ruckus have arisen?”
Thinking of the heavy casualties in the Laborer Camp, Chen Mu furrowed his brows, feeling a sense of guilt.
He too was one of the hidden hands behind these casualties.
Originally, according to his plan, even if the Tangshan Army was attacked by surprise, their strong power meant that while they would suffer losses, they wouldn’t be too great.
Most importantly, it was supposed to create a rift between the Tangshan Army and the Startling Swan Gang.
But Zuo Sheng and Cheng Yi’s manipulation resulted in a vulnerability within the Tangshan Army, allowing the Startling Swan Gang’s surprise attack to succeed, instantly doubling the injuries.
“In times of chaos, it’s always the common people who get hurt,” sighed Chen Mu.
“Better to diligently practice my skill and find the Thousand Mechanism Token sooner.” He wasn’t planning on causing more trouble. What if he stirred up more problems?
…
Due to this chaos, the three factions became wary of each other, but also came to a tacit agreement to halt their fighting.
After resting for five days, settling the chaos and soothing the people’s hearts, they resumed their advance toward Qingshan County.
“The process was tortuous, but it can also be taken as an indirect achievement of the desired outcome,” Chen Mu mused.
He indeed succeeded in slowing down all three parties.
Chen Mu glanced at the Proficiency level.
Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique: 8520/10000 Fifth Rank;
“Almost there.”
…
In the dead of night, with the moon high in the sky.
Along the Bailang River, within the Tangshan Army’s ‘Ding’ Laborer Camp.
A small ten-man squad holding torches weaved through the grayish-white tents on patrol.
At that moment, another patrol troop emerged from the opposite corner.
“Gale!”
“Undetermined!”
After completing their call and response, both sides nodded to each other and quickly passed by.
“What’s going on with the higher-ups, just for a bunch of miserable chaps, is there such a need for strict guarding?”
“This level of patrolling is almost on par with the inside of the Tangshan Army,” a patrolling soldier complained.
The leading corporal, without turning back, said indifferently, “The reduction in laborers is too great, and the people are uneasy; the higher-ups have to do something.”
“If laborers die, just recruit more, there are plenty to be found. Instead, they make us suffer,” his subordinate complained.
Deep into the night without sleep, the armor was hot and stuffy, and mosquitoes were biting; no one was having a good time.
“In this desolate wilderness, a hundred miles from anyone, where can we recruit?” The squad leader rolled his eyes in disdain.
“We’re just a bunch of small-time soldiers. If some real tough guys did show up, we wouldn’t stand a chance,” a subordinate said with an ugly expression.
“No worries, soldier against soldier, general against general—real masters will depend on those wearing Jade Bracelets,” the squad leader said, chin up, gesturing toward a huge tent in the distance.
“Stop complaining and finish the patrol so we can go back to sleep,” the squad leader urged.
“Everyone, keep your eyes wide open—not just for the outside, but also for these laborers.”
“There were deserters among the laborers from the ‘A’ Camp, and those on patrol got involved and ended up getting beaten.”
“If even one laborer escapes, everyone, from the first to the last, will get at least ten lashes with the military cane,” the squad leader reminded them.
The soldiers didn’t take it seriously: “With the intensity of our patrols, unless it’s a fly, no one could escape. You’re purely overthinking it!”
Chen Mu turned his head to look at the soldiers walking past him.
This guy’s still cursing people out?!
His surroundings were enveloped in black smoke; standing right next to the patrolling soldiers, they couldn’t see him at all. It was the marvelous capability of ghosts to alternate between tangible and intangible, to conceal oneself.
Chen Mu frowned for a moment, then shook his head.
Forget it, what’s the point of getting annoyed with a foot soldier?
Then, he silently stretched out his right foot.
Thud!
The soldier face-planted into the ground.
Chen Mu strolled leisurely out of the military camp.
The night sky was indeed beautiful tonight.
…
Da Liang, year 642, May 23
Like usual, Chen Mu came to a secluded bend by the Bailang River.
He threw down the lure, but didn’t rush to prepare extra food.
Instead, he found a large rock to sit on. Black smoke churned in his hands as a white jade-colored Bigu Pill appeared.
“The last one.”
He popped it into his mouth and swallowed it, then began to adjust his breathing.
He maintained a rhythm that had almost become instinct for five months, just starting up.
In his mind, the Divine Intent Diagram of the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique began to emerge.
By the time he reached the Divine Intent Diagram phase, the Breathing Method had become more like a switch.
Its effect was to resonate with the Divine Intent Diagram in the mist, keeping it manifested.
Wisps of coolness continuously emerged from the base of his skull.
Black Soul Strength began to slowly spread downward.
At a certain moment, Chen Mu suddenly felt a moment of clarity in his brain.
The once-obscured Divine Intent Diagram suddenly shone brightly.
It was like a flame behind frosted glass—blurry, but dazzling and bright.
A familiar, warm and moist sensation spread throughout his body, filling his heart with a sense of comfort and safety reminiscent of when he was in the womb.
Chen Mu opened his eyes.
After more than five months, he finally brought forth the Shell Soul of the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique.
“If I can’t master it this time, I’ll run out of food.”
The Bigu Pill 3.0 was completely consumed.
He had even prepared a little extra at the beginning, and it was just barely enough.
“Fortunately, I succeeded!”
Not only that, but the Soul Strength of the other six Shape Cultivation Techniques surged simultaneously.
With a thought, Chen Mu made the seven Divine Intent Diagrams appear in his mind…
Like water released from a sluice, black Soul Strength crazily surged from the soles of his feet, thighs, waist, chest, arms, and hands.
He was quickly enveloped in black Soul Strength. From a distance, he even looked like he had put on weight!
Chen Mu grabbed a thick layer of Soul Strength covering the back of his hand.
“Indeed, it’s a special substance.”
Before it was too thin, clinging to the skin as if it was the skin itself.
Now that the Soul Strength was substantial, forming at least a finger’s thickness, its true nature was evident.
“Now I have the courage to explore Qingshan County,” Chen Mu thought cheerfully.
In this short period, the Tangshan Army and other factions had been advancing steadily and systematically.
If they found the Thousand Mechanism Token before him, then he would really stand no chance at all.
Chen Mu, in a good mood, pulled up the gray wall, but when he saw the lowest entry, he froze on the spot.
Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique: 3/10000/Sixth Rank;
Spiritual Armor?
This… can still be practiced?!
He suddenly understood that he had vastly underestimated the potential of the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique!