Free Web NovelChapter 569: Chapter 569: Pursuit
[Host: Zhang Yuan]
[Realm: Tier Six (True Gang)]
[Divine Nest: Level 6 (7%)]
[Host: Level 5 Black Giant Ant (1%)/32 times Strength]
[Host: Level 5 Jade Mantis (1%)/Intermediate Sword Technique Profound Communication]
[Host: Level 5 Golden Grasshopper (1%)/32 times agility]
[Host: Level 5 White Dragon Loach (1%)/Intermediate Water Profound Communication]
[Host: Level 5 Red-eyed Crow (1%)/Intermediate Profound Spirit]
[Host: Level 5 Golden-furred Mouse (1%)/125 cubic Storage Space]
[Host: Level 4 Gray-toothed Lynx (78%)/Basic Profound Beast]
[Qi Blood: 2810/2820]
[Source Material: 2876]
[Luck: 9+3]
He closed the Divine Nest panel in his vision, and Zhang Yuan refocused his attention on the road ahead.
The prior input of thirty thousand Source Material points had allowed the Golden-furred Mouse to successfully advance to Level 5, doubling his Storage Space to an impressive 125 cubic units.
This volume was enough for Zhang Yuan to accommodate more and larger items!
The Evolution Level of the Gray-toothed Lynx had also greatly increased, and if this campaign against the robbers was successful, and they could capture more Source Material, it would be sufficient to elevate it to Level 5, reaching the level of an Intermediate Profound Beast.
By then, the abilities of this fierce beast would undoubtedly experience a minor leap.
Thinking this, Zhang Yuan reached out and patted the neck of the Gray-toothed Lynx under him.
The fierce beast immediately let out a low growl and suddenly sped forward, dashing out of the canyon in the blink of an eye.
A vast expanse of gently undulating mountain wilderness unfolded before Zhang Yuan’s eyes.
In the distance, he could already see the snow-capped Great Snow Mountains!
This different natural atmosphere filled Zhang Yuan with great joy.
This was his second departure from the West Plain Dao Camp leading three hundred Daoist Soldiers, and their current position was already outside the county territory, even beyond the borders of Daqian.
The road ahead, worn down by years of passage by horse-drawn carriages, was the only route leading to the Western Regions.
For centuries, countless caravans and travelers have traversed this path, laboring back and forth for miles to make a living.
"Dao General Zhang!"
At that moment, Wu Ziyu caught up from behind at full speed.
A member of the Wu Family, he said in a deep voice, "We’re almost there!"
Zhang Yuan nodded without saying a word.
This time, apart from the three hundred Daoist Soldiers, Wu’s three members, along with a Tier Four caravan guard, joined the journey.
Initially, Zhang Yuan had no intention of bringing these folks, but Wu Ziyu insisted and expressed willingness to follow his orders.
Thus, Zhang Yuan reluctantly agreed.
In fact, Wu Ziyu and his two companions had a cultivation of Tier Five, more than qualified to serve as Deputy Generals of the Dao Camp.
They would not drag the team down.
Additionally, Zhang Yuan brought Mo Wei along.
Sun Yujiang, on the other hand, stayed in West Plain City to oversee the Dao Camp and coordinate the assistance that would arrive soon.
Once Zhang Yuan encountered any problems or needed support,
Sun Yujiang would mobilize upon receiving the Talisman signal.
It was a contingency plan.
The third Deputy General, Feng Hui, though he had pledged allegiance to Zhang Yuan, would not be entrusted with any important responsibilities.
Previously, Zhang Yuan had instructed Feng Hui to investigate Ling Xiaohua secretly in West Plain City, but there were no leads even now.
This person’s ability to get things done was genuinely lacking.
Zhang Yuan shifted his gaze, slowed down, and rejoined the team behind, continuing forward.
About half an hour later, the team arrived near a hillside area.
This location was sheltered from the wind, and there was a babbling creek beside it, undoubtedly an excellent spot for camping.
Indeed, signs of former camps were evident everywhere, and discarded trash could be seen among the wild grass.
There were even some broken arrows and swords.
Zhang Yuan’s gaze scanned over, seeing that this camp had recently experienced a fierce battle.
If you peeled back the grass, traces of bloodstains might be visible underneath!
This was precisely where the Wu Family caravan was attacked.
According to the Tier Four guard who had accompanied them, they were suddenly attacked by robbers in the middle of the night.
The sentries on patrol issued no warning, leading to the caravan being caught off guard.
They suffered heavy losses right from the start.
The robbers attacked from all directions, their actions deadly and ruthless.
This Tier Four guard was the fastest to react, sensing danger, and immediately escaped from his tent, decisively activating a Secret Technique to escape.
Even so, he was struck by a poisoned dart.
If it weren’t for the antidote elixir he carried, this Tier Four guard would have perished with his companions!
Recalling that night, he was filled with gritted teeth and suppressed anger.
Zhang Yuan quietly listened to his account, then walked around the camp.
Finally, he ordered, "We will camp here for tonight."
The sun was about to set, and there was certainly no way to search for robbers at night; they had to wait until tomorrow.
For Zhang Yuan, the biggest difficulty of this mission lay in finding the culprits.
Robbers, unlike bandits, had no fixed hideout; they were adept at using multiple hideouts, and moved swiftly within their ’hunting grounds,’ resting at various strongholds.
These could be farms, villages, or even caves.
Capturing them was not easy.
Unless there was an insider!
Zhang Yuan had no insider within the robbers, but fortunately, he had the Red-eyed Crow, a superb scout.
Previously, during the clean-up of bandits and rogues within the West Plain County, the Red-eyed Crow played a crucial role.
This Intermediate Profound Spirit, from high above, could monitor areas within dozens, even hundreds, of miles, unable to escape its lock-on once entering its vision range.
So far, the Red-eyed Crow had been circling above Zhang Yuan’s head with no discoveries.
This indicated the robbers were operating farther away, or possibly resting at some stronghold after a major heist.
After establishing the temporary camp, Zhang Yuan called Mo Wei and Wu Ziyu together to discuss the next plan of action.
He had an initial idea but wanted to hear his companions’ opinions as well.
Wu Ziyu indeed provided a suggestion.
A few dozen miles ahead lay He Kou Ji, a place established by local herders, traveling merchants, and various displaced individuals. It was a chaotic and mixed environment.
Many merchant caravans traveling between the Western Regions and West Plain would rest and trade at He Kou Ji.
For decades, few robberies or attacks on He Kou Ji occurred.
Because it also served them for supplies,
even a fencing channel.
This meant He Kou Ji was the best place to gather information or trace the whereabouts of robbed goods!
