CSMCDB - Chapter 157
Chapter 157
The two teachers were very easy to talk to and agreed immediately. After all, even if Wen Yuncheng hadn't suggested it, they were already planning to check on the situation in the battle zones.
The Huanling Continent's strategy of setting up fortresses as strongholds for a purely defensive war was clearly a delaying tactic. But… while it was easy to understand why the Empire needed time, what were they plotting? Such an obvious arrangement made everyone feel that something was amiss. This was a blatant conspiracy, and the key to it… was very likely the Dragon Race on Dragon Island, who hadn't allowed a single one of the Empire's Star Emperors onto the island since the passage to Huanling first opened.
The Empire had been constantly discussing countermeasures for Dragon Island. They kept trying to find that Star Saint-level senior, but after searching the entire continent, there was still no sign of him. …Unless he was unwilling to appear, or something was holding him back, preventing him from showing himself.
All of this was a major headache for the Empire.
After the two teachers agreed to the matter of attacking the Fu strongholds, Wen Yuncheng shamelessly proposed a strategy where she would be the main one reaping the kills, while the others would focus on interception and protecting her. Lin Jinyu, guessing at Wen Yuncheng's special circumstances, naturally had no objection. Qiu Fei and Yan Ling were, at most, a little speechless. "If you want to show off… then go ahead and show off."
Wen Yuncheng wanted to say something but held her tongue. She really didn't want to show off! She wasn't trying to steal the spotlight; she just, just wanted her teammates to give all the kills to her…
[…Isn't that explanation the same as no explanation?] 1947 couldn't help but roast her. [Are you going to scout the stronghold first this time?]
Scouting… Although she had a detailed map, it was still better to infiltrate and observe the Fu organization's internal structure to better block their escape routes and reap kills. Ah, if only she could make hundreds or thousands of her EZ-8 Self-Destructors, and if they were on a timer instead of a countdown, with no time limit. In that case…
[You'd be reported.] 1947 was exasperated. [Don't you think you're already monstrous enough for your rank?]
Wen Yuncheng hummed noncommittally, brushing it off, and turned to set out with Lin Jinyu and the two teachers. With four Star King-level experts and one Star King-level demonic beast, annihilating a small stronghold was overkill, especially if it only had one Star King.
"We'll hold them for you, but if you can't finish the entire battle in thirty minutes, we'll step in," Yan Ling said, setting a time limit. After all, if Wen Yuncheng needed to bombard the place for three days to kill all the members, they couldn't just lock down the area for three days, could they? Making such a huge commotion to wipe out a Fu stronghold, only for it to drag on for so long… even if a passing Star King or Star Venerate saw them, they would look on with contempt.
Well, given the current situation, there probably weren't any Star King-level experts idle enough to just be passing by.
After arriving at the target town, Wen Yuncheng told Lin Jinyu she was going to scout and asked her to stay near the summoned Number One to protect it.
Of course, in her heart, Wen Yuncheng thought this would give Lin Jinyu a sense of participation. Little Ice Mountain would still be worried, but she wouldn't be as angry. The effect… seemed to be quite good. At least Lin Jinyu didn't freeze her with a cold aura or give her a cold look.
Wen Yuncheng activated her disguise and took a stroll around the stronghold marked on the map. The number of members inside wasn't particularly high, maybe thirty or forty people, and there seemed to be only one at the Star King level. The stronghold had an array outside to conceal auras, likely to avoid detection. There was no trading area or other facilities inside, but there were cultivation rooms. Perhaps because of the Huanling Continent's invasion, these Fu members all seemed worried. Wen Yuncheng even eavesdropped on their complaints and discovered that not all Fu members were eager for the Huanling Continent to come and overthrow the Empire to conquer the Starry Sky Continent.
"…I don't know what the higher-ups are thinking. They keep saying how great things will be for us after the Huanling Continent subverts the Empire, but what if the Huanling Continent turns their swords on us then?"
"I used to dare to leave the stronghold and wander around, but now no one dares to wear the organization's clothes. Some don't even dare to carry their tokens on them."
"The higher-ups told us to wait here for orders. I think they see us members who aren't even at the Star Spirit level as a burden and have already abandoned us."
"Yeah, I heard the people in the large strongholds have started to relocate…"
Wen Yuncheng listened to their complaints in silence. These guys… hadn't been brainwashed that severely? But fundamentally, it was probably because they were part of the "abandoned" faction and had to bear greater risks than before in the Fu organization's upcoming operations for very little reward. Wen Yuncheng felt a bit of sympathy for them, but mostly, she felt they deserved it.
After finishing her reconnaissance, Wen Yuncheng swapped places with Number One and recalled it. She returned to Lin Jinyu's side. "There aren't many people, only one Star King. Tomorrow's battle should be pretty easy," Wen Yuncheng said. "And I overheard them complaining. Really… a bunch of people who never showed a shred of regret or wanted to quit the organization while they were doing evil things."
"The Fu organization just left these strongholds unattended? They've been abandoned?" Lin Jinyu quickly guessed what Wen Yuncheng had heard. She said, "That's very normal."
"Yeah, very normal… They don't even dare to leave the stronghold. That's good. Tomorrow, I'll watch them all get blown to bits." Wen Yuncheng huffed and mentally calculated the experience she would gain. The haul should be pretty good this time. If only killing Fu organization members gave as much experience as killing people from Huanling. What a pity~
The next day, the two teachers joined forces to lay down a containment array. Wen Yuncheng released her C-03 Air Wing to begin the bombardment, while she herself sat majestically upon the Mechanical Throne, which was held aloft by a Floating Magnetic Disk.
The sole Star King, discovering the attack on the stronghold, immediately tried to flee. However, the moment he rushed out, Lin Jinyu's sword intent locked onto him. Her Profound-rank longsword erupted, and with a slash carrying a frosty aura, she severed the man's right arm. Of course, that was with Lin Jinyu holding back. Given that she was ambushing him as he fled, combined with the Flowing Cloud Sect's ghost-like movement techniques, she could have easily taken his head with a single strike.
Wen Yuncheng hurried over, launched a magnetic pulse, and then pierced the man's throat with a steel spike to collect the points.
640+50 experience. This guy was only a 2nd Layer Star King? No wonder he was so weak.
Wen Yuncheng controlled her throne from the air, observing the situation and directing the Air Wing's bombardment. Recalling the internal layout she had seen the day before, she called in an Airstrike Support from above, scaring a large group of people into fleeing in a terrified scramble, only to be ruthlessly bombed by the Air Wing.
The two teachers were also very helpful, only maintaining the array to trap the members who tried to escape and not delivering any killing blows. They left all the kills to Wen Yuncheng. Wen Yuncheng summoned a gale to lock onto her targets, then placed a spiritual brand on each member she saw. The unfortunate members marked by the brand were annihilated by endless firepower within seconds, leaving no corpse behind.
A total of 37 members.
One 2nd Layer Star King, twelve Star Spirits, twenty-one Star Lords, and three Star Masters. The "Eradicate Fu" mission yielded 11,850 experience. Combined with the "Heart of a Victor" mission, the total experience gained was 13,700.
The rewards were just average.
After confirming there were no survivors, the group began to clean up the traces and collect the spoils of war. Then, they transmitted the coordinates of the stronghold to the Empire, and someone would come to take over the ruins.
Thus, Wen Yuncheng began her unrestrained tour of sweeping through strongholds. The Fu strongholds within the Empire's territory were taken down one by one, with not a single survivor left to spread the news. As a result, the remaining strongholds had no idea that after the Empire's initial purge when the Huanling invasion began, someone would still be coming to attack them.
Yan Ling and Qiu Fei worked tirelessly, setting up containment arrays for their disciple. Lin Jinyu could still help defeat Star King-level enemies and leave the final blow to Wen Yuncheng, but the two teachers were completely reduced to tool-people whose only job was to set up arrays and prevent enemies from escaping.
Tool Yan and Tool Qiu exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of helplessness in the other's eyes. Once upon a time, the two little ones were just following behind them, cultivating. But after graduation, their progress had been lightning-fast, and now they were about to catch up to them.
Qiu Fei thought back to the innocent Lin Jinyu who knew nothing and would ask her about friendship and emotional problems all day. Then she looked at her disciple now, who was wholeheartedly serving Wen Yuncheng, her gaze locked on her even when not in battle. She sighed. Honestly, if it's like this… why aren't you two married yet?
"Is Tao Jingyun still at the academy?" Since they were idle, the two tool-people started chatting.
"Yes, she's the headmaster, after all. As for the battle zones, her grandfather went to fight, so naturally, she doesn't have to go," Yan Ling replied.
"I see." Qiu Fei sighed. Her family only had one Star Venerate, who hadn't been summoned yet.
"If you need anything, you can go directly to the auction house and find that kid Yan Ci," Yan Ling said in a low voice. "I'm preparing to advance to Star Venerate next month, so I'll be gone for a while."
"???" Qiu Fei stared at Yan Ling, thinking she was joking. However, after Yan Ling gave her an extremely unrestrained smile… Qiu Fei clenched her fists and unilaterally ended the chat. Damn it. Their cultivation had always been a back-and-forth rivalry, but now, not only was her cultivation level about to be surpassed by her disciple, but she was also being surpassed by Yan Ling. Could it be—Yan Ling was a late bloomer?
One stronghold after another was cleared. There weren't many small, domestic strongholds left that the Empire had tabs on. Wen Yuncheng took down nine in a row and was thoroughly satisfied.
Host: Wen Yuncheng
Race: Human
Age: 22
Class: Mechanical Overlord
Level: 64
Experience: 31835/89000
Points: 13785
2nd Layer Star King, achieved!
Of course, Wen Yuncheng was always wearing her Illusion Dream. Therefore, her advancement was not noticed by her teachers, who were also Star Kings. Wen Yuncheng didn't want to provoke the two of them, especially since there were no points to be gained from it.
With their business concluded, the two teachers temporarily returned to the Imperial Capital. Yan Ling needed to break through to Star Venerate, after which she planned to check on the situation in the war zones. Qiu Fei, on the other hand, intended to request a leave of absence from the academy and go to the war zones with her family's Star Venerate.
Wen Yuncheng also planned to head to the other battle zones. She smiled as she looked at Lin Jinyu, meeting her serious eyes. Before she could even state her plan, she heard Little Ice Mountain say decisively:
"You are not allowed to approach the fortresses using your disguise."
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