Bewildering Array

Chapter 42 Bewildering Array

The mountain road was rugged, with small hills undulating like waves.

The team advanced laboriously through the mountain forest. The Military Academy students, who had seemed somewhat weary from the bumpy ride, now demonstrated stronger qualities than the Overseeing Bureau Inspectors.

These students, with their rich nutrition and intense daily training, possessed superior physical fitness compared to the Inspectors. Despite wearing heavy stab-proof vests and traversing the mountains, they all persevered without showing excessive fatigue.

Li Fei, Lu Changwu, and a dozen other scions of the Overseeing Bureau were quietly positioned at the forefront, closely following Lu Sheng and several Registered Martial Masters from the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau.

Being at the front might seem dangerous, but it was actually safe, as the most elite combat power of the entire team was concentrated there. Moreover, if a good opportunity arose, Li Fei, Lu Changwu, and the others could participate immediately and gain merit.

Such preferential treatment was naturally due to Lu Sheng leading the Overseeing Bureau contingent.

"Liu A'si, how much further?"

Lu Sheng asked the guide, his forehead beaded with sweat and his breathing slightly labored.

The guide, Liu A'si, was an honest mountain dweller with rough skin and chapped marks. Hearing this, he quickly turned around and said cautiously, "Official, it should be not far ahead."

To eradicate the influence of the Tranquil God Sect, the Overseeing Bureau had posted numerous leaflets in all the villages and strongholds around Xing City, reminding people to be vigilant against the cult and encouraging them to report any suspicious activity, with rewards offered.

Liu A'si was an ordinary hunter from Mount Luo Stronghold. A few days ago, while hunting in the mountains, he had inadvertently discovered a stronghold with an altar bearing symbols identical to those of the Tranquil God Sect on the leaflets. With the idea of claiming a reward, Liu A'si went to the Overseeing Bureau in the city to report it, which led to this operation.

The Overseeing Bureau repeatedly interrogated Liu A'si and secretly investigated him in Mount Luo Stronghold, confirming that he was not a problem and that there were indeed traces of the Tranquil God Sect left in Mount Luo Stronghold. Only then did they report to the City Lord's Mansion, contact the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau, and launch a large-scale operation.

The group continued to advance, and after a few minutes, mist gradually appeared in the mountain forest, and the temperature plummeted.

Li Fei suddenly felt that the Steel Armor Implant in his body was somewhat restless, slightly uneasy, which immediately caught his attention.

Since the Steel Armor Implant had begun to stir, getting closer and closer to the Body Breaking Stage, he had found that his perception of danger was becoming more and more acute. When boxing at Qingyuan Fist Fortress, he could sense where his opponent was going to attack him, sometimes without even looking.

The Illustrated Handbook of Implants that Hao Yi had given him only mentioned that this type of Implant could enhance the body's defense, but it did not mention that it would also enhance one's perception.

Li Fei guessed that this should be the difference between a Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor and an ordinary Steel Armor Implant.

"Something's not right."

Just as Li Fei felt a sense of crisis, Wang Ping, the leader, suddenly spoke.

Wang Ping was a Registered Martial Master of the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau and the supreme commander of this operation. As soon as he spoke, everyone around him stopped.

"Sir?"

Lu Sheng looked at him.

Wang Ping looked at the mist ahead: "This mist is a bit strange."

With that, he walked towards a large tree nearby and suddenly struck out with his palm, a stream of red gas visible to the naked eye gushing out from his palm.

This gas carried scorching heat, and Li Fei could feel the heat even from a dozen meters away.

"Innate One Qi?"

Li Fei thought to himself.

Only those who reached the Body Breaking Stage could be considered formal Martial Warriors, and those who reached the Qi Transformation Stage could be called Martial Masters. Wang Ping was a Registered Martial Master appointed by the imperial court, so he naturally possessed Innate One Qi.

The red Innate One Qi dissolved all the white mist around the tree, and white smoke rose from the trunk, making a sizzling sound.

After the white smoke dissipated, Wang Ping walked to the tree and squatted down to examine it.

The people around him gathered around.

Li Fei saw some strange marks carved at the base of the tree, with traces of red powder remaining on them.

Wang Ping took a bit of the red powder with his hand, smelled it in front of his nose, and then stood up: "It really is a Bewildering Array."

Hearing this, Lu Sheng quickly asked, "Sir Wang means that the surrounding mist is created by an array?"

"Yes, someone has set up a Bewildering Array here. It seems that the headquarters of the Tranquil God Sect is indeed here," Wang Ping said.

Lu Sheng frowned upon hearing this and immediately called Liu A'si over:

"When you came here before, was there any mist?"

If this Bewildering Array had always been there, how could Liu A'si, an ordinary person, have broken through it and discovered the headquarters of the Tranquil God Sect? And if this Bewildering Array was only recently constructed, does it mean that the Tranquil God Sect has become aware of something? "I don't know, there was no mist when I came here before."

Liu A'si said with a nervous expression.

Lu Sheng stared at him for a while, not finding anything wrong, before turning to look at Wang Ping:

"Sir, I'm afraid there's something fishy about this."

Wang Ping looked calm and said casually, "The Bewildering Array also needs regular maintenance. It's possible that when this person came, it happened to be during the array's maintenance period, so he easily discovered the Tranquil God Sect's headquarters. Of course, it's also possible that this array was only recently constructed, and the Tranquil God Sect people have become alert. But regardless of which it is, we're already here, can we really turn back?"

"This…"

Lu Sheng hesitated.

Wang Ping said confidently, "Don't worry, watch me break the array."

After speaking, he turned to look at Li Fei and the others, "Everyone, stay far away and cover your ears."

Li Fei immediately did as he was told, retreating while covering his ears.

The others also followed suit.

Finally, Wang Ping stood alone at the very front, taking a deep breath.

This breath was very long, like a whale drawing in water.

His chest puffed up high, and his neck also became thicker. Then, he opened his mouth wide and exhaled violently:

"ROAR!!!"

It was as if muffled thunder resounded in the mountain forest. A visible red aura spewed out from Wang Ping's mouth, then spread in all directions, bringing with it a gust of wind that shook the surrounding trees!

The surrounding Overseeing Bureau Inspectors and Military Academy students looked at Wang Ping with horrified expressions, finding it hard to believe that a human could make such a sound.

Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger. Wang Ping's roar was like a tiger roaring in the mountains, causing a great wind to rise, giving Li Fei goosebumps and instinctively creating a sense of crisis.

He fixed his eyes and saw that the surrounding mist seemed to have been swept away by the strong wind, dissipating rapidly.

"A Martial Warrior's vigorous Qi and blood can disrupt the ritual of spells, thereby breaking them."

The words Hao Yi told him floated in his mind, and the scene before him perfectly confirmed this statement.

With Wang Ping's roar, the Bewildering Array before everyone's eyes was broken! After the mist dissipated, several figures appeared on the hillside ahead, holding hunting muskets in their hands.

"Encountered the enemy!"

An Overseeing Bureau Inspector warned loudly.

"Charge!"

Lu Sheng gave an order and waved for everyone to rush up.

Clang—

Li Fei drew his saber.