Chapter 106 - Jing Family Conflict (1) (1/2)

Chapter 616: Changes [V6C146 - Sorrow of a Silent Parting]

At this moment, the old general said, ”Young Master Jingzhan, Young n.o.ble Qingyun's power is outstanding, but he hasn't secured victory just yet. Otherwise, why wouldn't the family just give him the Storm Pearl directly? What's the point of setting up these rankings? It's surely because they're worried about public outrage.

”Moreover, the combat squads dispatched by the various clans will be arriving in a few days. The profits this time have moved many people, and with how big the empire is, there are hidden tigers and dragons everywhere. Who knows which expert would jump into the fray? Young Master, muddy waters are a good thing. As I see it, we need to try hard in harvesting contributions and not go back so soon. That way, our contributions won't be publicly known.”

”That'll only drag things out a bit, what's the use?” Li Jingzhan was apparently vexed.

”There might be some changes if we drag it out for a bit. For instance, if Young n.o.ble is really interested and has acc.u.mulated enough contributions, we could consider switching allegiance to the third branch. Why would we need to stay suppressed under the second?”

Li Jingzhan's expression transformed radically. In the end, he said through gritted teeth, ”Fine, let's do it that way!”

It was at this time that a clamor arose outside of the tent. Li Jingzhan looked up and shouted, ”What's with the ruckus? Scandalous!”

A personal guard rushed into the tent despite Li Jingzhan's angry glare and cried, ”Young Master, things don't look good. There's a beast tide charging over!”

Li Jingzhan shot up and delivered a prompt slap. ”What's so big about a beast tide? I've killed no small number of them, haven't I? Set up the autocannons and slaughter them.

Li Jingzhan had brought hundreds of elites from the Li family private army. He had come well-prepared with ample firepower and ammunition. The combat strength of this unit had long since been proven in battle. They had annihilated three dark race hunting sub-parties in the past month—at least in terms of head-count, these sub-parties weren't inferior to Li Jingzhan's group.

As for beasts and midgets, their main threat lay in their numbers and indefensible poison. Organized elite troops were the nemesis of these creatures—as long as there was sufficient ammunition, large bore autocannons could practically mow them down.

In order to deal with these beast hordes, Li Jingzhan had brought six high-speed autocannons and vast amounts of ammunition. In the past month, the storm of metal spewed out by these cannons had killed at least several thousand midgets and beasts.

Li Jingzhan heard the familiar rumble of the autocannons. As far as he could remember, the stream of flames would mow down large swathes of beasts as though they were gra.s.s.

However, the personal guard didn't back down even after being struck. He kept on shouting, ”Young Master, it's not the same this time! Run quickly!”

He hadn't even finished speaking when his expression froze. Afterward, he looked down to find a spear tip poking through his chest.

It was a wooden stake, the most common type found throughout Misty Wood. After birth, the midgets would cut down the leaves and branches of the giant tree and sharpen them into wooden spears. Afterward, they would use a mixture of their own saliva and some unknown plant juice to coat the stake in poison. And thus the powerful poison that brought both factions no end of trouble was born.

Li Jingzhan's eyelids twitched as he glanced at the spear tip, and his brain went completely blank.

He was very clear about this personal guard's strength and was also familiar with the grade of his armor. Even Li Jingzhan himself would need to attack seriously in order to pierce this guard's armor, but now, it had been pierced through by a wooden spear right in front of him.

In his memory, the spears thrown out by these midgets could barely cut through the chainmail of his guards. They were far from being capable of penetrating the entire body.

A whistle rang out at this point as another spear shot toward Li Jingzhan. The latter responded at lightning speed, immediately drawing his sword and cutting the projectile into two. But just this movement caused the sword to tremble and emit a low drone. The strength behind the spear was so powerful that Li Jingzhan swayed slightly backward.

Both shocked and furious, the man slashed the tent open and rushed out.

In a short moment, the entire camp was already in ruins. Many soldiers had been nailed to the ground by the incoming spears. Some of the stakes had pierced right through their s.h.i.+elds and into their chests.

The air was filled with whistling sounds as numerous spears flew in from the distant woods and landed in the camp. One beast after another charged out from the mist with several human figures moving in their midst.

”W-What are those things?!” Li Jingzhan was shocked as he looked at the incoming beasts and aboriginals.

These native ent.i.ties retained their familiar appearance, but they were no longer midgets. They had grown to twice their previous height and were now comparable to a young human. There were numerous red veined patterns on their bodies with golden specks mixed in. Moreover, those that possessed more golden specks were evidently more powerful.

The beasts had also grown larger than before and also possessed the same pattern of red veins and golden spots. Their speed, strength, and build all saw a sharp increase—even the autocannons could only produce b.l.o.o.d.y holes on them, a far cry from the past where they would be blasted into a b.l.o.o.d.y mess.

Ten meters away, a boar-shaped mutant beast was charging against the hail of bullets, and it only died after taking a dozen shots from the autocannons.

”This…” Li Jingzhan's hands and feet turned cold. He was truly at a loss about what to do.

The beasts and midgets charging over weren't exactly great in number—only several hundred in total. However, their combat strength had undergone a complete transformation and was enough to drown their entire squad.

At this moment, the old general dragged Li Jingzhan away and fled in the opposite direction of the beasts.

”No, let me go. My soldiers are still in the camp.” Li Jingzhan struggled.

”They're lost, Young Master. You must live today in order to make a strong comeback in the future!” The old general allowed no explanation as he towed Li Jingzhan away.

Before long, the clamorous camp became deathly silent.