Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Slaughter
"Lord Fang, the army’s Generals are in the center of the main force. I’m afraid it will be very difficult to strike."
From the thicket, Elder Ning of the Ning Family stared at the tents within the massive army and spoke in a hushed voice.
"Going in directly would be no different from a suicide mission. My lord, do you have a clever plan?" Elder Wang of the Wang Family also asked in a low voice.
Fang Xing quietly watched the 20,000-strong army below the slope. Hearing the questions from the two family Elders, his expression remained completely serene.
"First, scout out how many hidden sentries there are. Do not alert them. Just confirm the number of sentries," Fang Xing said.
Hearing this, the others nodded, then split up and melted into the darkness.
The Perception Power of a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Soon, the five of them returned one after another to Fang Xing’s side.
"There are three to the north," Elder Wang said in a low voice.
"Two to the south," the Vice Gang Leader of the Juyi Gang also reported on the sentry situation.
"None to the east for now."
"Two to the west."
Elder Sun and Elder Ning reported their findings at the same time.
’Seven hidden sentries...’
Listening to the reports, Fang Xing nodded slightly.
"My lord, what’s our next move?" Elder Ning asked in a low voice.
"Wait!"
"It’s still too early. There’s no rush," Fang Xing said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, the few people beside him fell silent, quietly observing the army below the slope.
...
The night deepened.
At Qingshui Bay, in the open field, the clamor of the army gradually subsided. Most of the figures had retired to their tents to rest, leaving only the soldiers on patrol duty.
The firelight flickered.
All was still and silent.
In the thicket on the slope, Fang Xing and his group were as still as statues, seemingly one with the night.
Although the dead of night was cold, with their physical conditioning, even being in a land of ice and snow would have little effect on them.
The physique and vitality of a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist had basically reached a state where they were immune to all illnesses.
In the thicket, Fang Xing looked up at the sky. Dark clouds obscured most of the starlight. His gaze turned toward the army on the slope below, yet he remained perfectly still.
Without an order from Fang Xing, the other five also made no move.
Time trickled by.
In the thicket, Fang Xing roughly calculated the current time.
’It’s about the third quarter of the Hour of the Ox now.’
"Prepare to move."
Fang Xing lowered his voice, and the five people beside him instantly became fully alert.
Looking at the army not far down the slope, Fang Xing turned his gaze to the five people beside him.
"Elder Wang, Elder Ning, Elder Sun, the three of you will eliminate the hidden sentries first."
The three of them didn’t hesitate. They nodded slightly and melted into the darkness.
"Lord Fang, should we make our move directly then?"
The Vice Gang Leader of the Juyi Gang looked at Fang Xing and asked in a low voice.
Fang Xing watched the army. "No rush. We’ll wait until they’ve dealt with the sentries before we move."
Hearing this, the two waited patiently.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three returned.
The seven hidden sentries within the army had been eliminated without a hitch.
For a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist dealing with ordinary people, there was no problem at all.
Seeing the three return, Fang Xing immediately gave the order to advance.
The six of them approached the army like ghosts.
At their speed, the distance was nothing, and they arrived in moments.
The night was a natural cover. Dressed in black and with their auras retracted, they seemed to merge with the world around them.
They stopped less than a hundred feet from the army’s outer tents.
Looking at the army tents, now so close at hand, Fang Xing’s gaze penetrated into the depths of the encampment.
Calming his mind to extend his Perception, Fang Xing used his Extraordinary and subtle Perception Ability to quickly get a rough idea of the situation.
The fluctuations of a Martial Artist’s qi and blood were distinct.
This was especially true for powerful Martial Artists; a strong Perception Ability could easily pick up on the qi and blood fluctuations of the Martial Artists within the army.
Having perceived the general situation, Fang Xing’s gaze shifted toward the direction with the strongest fluctuations of qi and blood.
Judging from the auras of the qi and blood fluctuations, he could basically determine that this was the direction where the Generals were located.
And in the very center of the army, within the largest main tent, the fluctuations of qi and blood were the most intense.
Withdrawing his gaze, Fang Xing looked at the five people beside him and gave a direct order.
"To the south, Elder Ning, Elder Wang, and Elder Sun will act together."
"To the north, Gang Leader Xu and Gang Leader Jiang will act together."
"You have one incense stick’s worth of time at most. Regardless of success or failure, once the time is up, you must retreat."
Fang Xing looked at the five of them, his voice low.
Hearing Fang Xing’s arrangements, the group nodded lightly.
The surprise attack was an assassination mission. Time was limited. If they couldn’t succeed within one incense stick’s time, then more time wouldn’t help.
Once surrounded by the full force of the army, there would be no escape!
"Move out!"
Fang Xing waved his hand. As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot like a phantom.
’So fast!’
Watching Fang Xing’s rapid disappearance, the five were shaken. They too began to close in on the army tents from two different directions.
His Wind God Step had nearly reached the realm of Returning to the Essence. When he moved, he was as fast as a shooting star, swift as the wind.
In the blink of an eye, Fang Xing used the cover of night to dart into the midst of the army tents.
His Demon Suppression Treasure Saber lifted a tent flap, and he quickly slipped inside.
"PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!"
Saber Qi sliced through the air. A moment later, the smell of blood wafted out from the tent as Fang Xing swiftly departed, heading for another.
With his Perception Ability fully unleashed, he rapidly located fluctuations of qi and blood, prioritizing the elimination of Commanders at the Dark Force Level.
Killing Dark Force experts, especially when aided by a Divine Weapon like the Demon Suppression Treasure Saber, was almost effortless.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had taken care of more than ten Commanders of the Dark Force Level.
However, things did not continue to go so smoothly.
Just as he dealt with a Dark Force Commander and stepped out of the tent, a panicked shout rang out.
"Enemy attack!"
"Enemy attack!"
The frantic cries exploded like a clap of thunder, instantly resounding throughout the army camp.
’The south.’
Hearing the direction the sound came from, Fang Xing’s gaze sharpened, and he immediately sprinted toward the main tent.
Since the alarm had been raised, he had to eliminate the highest-ranking Generals in the shortest time possible.
The main tent housed the Vice Marshal of the White Lotus Rebel Army!
Killing one Vice Marshal was more effective than dealing with several Generals.
He moved like a gale.
In the space of a few breaths, he arrived before the main tent.
Just then, the flap of the main tent was thrown open, and a burly man appeared in Fang Xing’s sight.
"SWISH—!"
The Demon Suppression Treasure Saber in his hand moved. Power surged into it, and the blade emanated a chilling light as he struck with lightning speed.
"PFFT—!"
The sharp tip of the saber tore through skin, and the scent of blood filled the air.
"THUD!"
The burly man clutched his neck with one hand as blood gushed out. He collapsed in front of Fang Xing with a look of disbelief in his eyes.
Combining his Perception Ability with a surprise attack from the Demon Suppression Treasure Saber, the single strike had gone straight for the throat.
Even the reactions of someone at the Peak of Neutralizing Force couldn’t have dodged it.
There were no flashy moves; everything was smooth and seamless, executed in a single, fluid motion.
Just like that, the Vice Marshal of the White Lotus Rebel Army died unexpectedly under his saber.
A scarlet light entered his body. Fang Xing raised his saber, flickered, and swiftly vanished from before the tent.
The camp was in chaos as figures appeared one after another.
In the dark of night, Fang Xing moved like a ghost, pushing his Wind God Step to its absolute limit.
Wherever he went, figures fell.
Like a god of death in the night, he reaped life after life.
His Enhancement Points skyrocketed!
Stream after stream of scarlet light flowed into his body.
"WOO! WOO! WOO!"
The heavy sound of a horn blared, and countless figures sprang into action.
Hundreds of figures appeared from the left and right, instantly surrounding him.
"Kill him!"
From among them, a General gave the command. At his order, the hundreds of men charged from all directions.
"SCHWING—!"
Fang Xing remained calm and composed. He raised his hand and slashed, unleashing an astonishing wave of Saber Qi that mowed down the hundred charging men.
"SWOOSH—!"
His figure flashed, vanishing like a wisp of Qingfeng, and in the blink of an eye, he was before that very General.
The General’s expression changed in alarm. He immediately tried to channel his Power, but before he could even strike, with a PFFT, the sharp edge of the saber pierced straight through his heart.
His movements came to an abrupt halt.
The thick, cloying scent of blood filled the air.
"THUD—!"
Pulling out the Demon Suppression Saber, the General’s body collapsed onto the cold ground.
"WHOOSH—!"
With a single bound, Fang Xing vanished from the spot, melting back into the night.
