Inside the stone chamber of Water Curtain Cave, time seemed to suddenly thaw at that moment.
The firelight began dancing again, crackling softly; the waterfall thundered in their ears like rolling thunder, shaking the air.
The cave was filled with a complex mix of dry grass, earth, and a faint metallic scent of blood.
Lin Mo opened his eyes.
He lay on a bed of dry grass, wearing the leather armor stripped from the bandit chieftain, with the heavy Ghost Head Great Saber resting beside him.
Around him, fifty-nine clones lay sprawled in all directions.
They maintained the postures they had held when logging off—some lying down, some sitting—as if insects frozen in amber.
The next second—
All the clones shuddered simultaneously and opened their eyes one after another.
Lin Mo did not waste any time. He immediately brought up his status panel to check:
[Name: Lin Mo] [Level: 5 (170/500)] [Class: Lord (Legendary)] [Status: Healthy] [Essence Blood: 300/300 (Full)]
Completely restored! He did not feel the slightest trace of weakness!
"Good." A sharp glint flashed through his eyes as he immediately sat up from the bed of dry grass. "While I'm at full strength, replenish our forces at once!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Mo sat cross-legged and gathered his mind.
"Create twenty clones!"
[Essence Blood -10], [Essence Blood -10]...
That familiar sensation of extraction came one after another, as if tiny straws were drawing the essence of life from within his body.
Ripples like waves on water spread densely through the air, circle after circle, layer upon layer.
"I..."
The first naked figure had just finished taking shape and had yet to see its surroundings clearly.
Lin San, Lin Xi, and the others, who had been prepared in advance, swiftly rushed forward.
They tossed over simply cut pieces of cloth. "Shut up! Hurry up and wrap yourselves!"
The creation process proceeded smoothly, like standardized work on an assembly line.
The cave was soon packed with twenty newly created clones.
Lin Mo slowly opened his eyes and rose to his feet, his face pale.
His essence blood had fallen to 100/300, and the status panel now displayed the [Mild Weakness] marker.
"Our total force is now seventy-nine." Lin Mo looked around at the sea of identical "selves," took a deep breath, and quickly ordered, "Lin Yi, follow the plan we made last night. Immediately form twelve scouting teams of five and set out to survey the area within fifty li!"
"Yes!" Lin Yi accepted the order in a deep voice and began rapidly dividing the groups and calling roll.
Three minutes later, sixty clones had assembled and split into twelve teams.
Each team carried dry rations, waterskins, and weapons, fully equipped and ready to depart.
"Remember," Lin Mo said sternly as he stood at the cave entrance.
"Use Water Curtain Cave as the center and scout outward in a fan shape.
Focus on finding defensible locations with water sources and arable land.
If you encounter danger, withdraw immediately. Safety comes first!"
"Understood!" the twelve teams answered in unison, their voices echoing through the cave.
"Set out!"
Lin Mo himself remained behind in the cave with the nineteen remaining clones.
The first team was the first to emerge from Water Curtain Cave, followed by the second, then the third...
Just as the fourth team stepped out of the cave, something suddenly changed!
"Loose the arrows!"
A furious shout exploded from the woods on the left!
Sssht, sssht, sssht—!
More than a dozen arrows shot simultaneously from three directions, their sharp whistles piercing the air!
"Enemy attack—!"
Lin Sixteen shouted sharply, but before he could finish, three arrows had already punched through his chest with three wet thuds! Black poisonous blood sprayed out.
[Clone Death ×1]
"Take cover!" Lin Er reacted extremely quickly, rolling behind a huge rock beside the cave entrance.
But the arrow rain was too dense and came from tricky angles. Two more clones failed to dodge in time and fell with arrows in them.
[Clone Death ×2]
"Kill—!"
More than twenty figures pounced from the woods like wolves and tigers, their blades flashing with chilling light in the morning glow!
Leading them was a burly, one-eyed man standing eight chi tall, his face covered in slabs of muscle and a heavy Mountain Splitting Axe in his hand. He was none other than the Great Chieftain of Black Wind Stronghold!
"Boys! Cut these demonic beings down for me! Avenge the Second and Third Chieftains!"
Inside the cave, Lin Mo had already clearly sensed everything happening outside through the Consciousness Link.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he then ordered in a low voice, "Everyone inside, get out! Support our brothers outside!"
As soon as his words fell, the nineteen clones who had stayed behind, together with the following teams that had yet to leave the cave, transformed into streaks of swift shadows and surged out of the entrance like a tidal wave!
The clones outside had already met the vicious bandits head-on. The clash erupted, and the sound of close-quarters slaughter shook the mountain forest!
The Great Chieftain charged at the forefront. His Mountain Splitting Axe swept in a fierce arc and hacked toward the nearest clone!
The clone hurriedly raised his saber to block—
Clang!!
The deafening collision of metal sent sparks flying in all directions!
The clone was knocked back three steps, the web between his thumb and forefinger split open, and blood flowed freely.
The Great Chieftain was a Valiant Soldier, and his Strength attribute far surpassed that of ordinary bandits!
"Die!" The Great Chieftain pressed his advantage, sweeping the axe blade sideways!
Splat!
The clone's head flew into the air, while black poisonous blood gushed from the severed neck like a fountain. Several drops splashed onto the Great Chieftain's fine-iron leather armor.
[Clone Death ×1]
Sizzle—!
The fine-iron leather armor actually began giving off wisps of white smoke, corroded with several tiny holes!
"Poisonous blood?!" The Great Chieftain's expression changed drastically, suspicion and shock flashing in his single eye. "You're remnants of the Five Poisons Cult?!"
He abruptly retreated a step and shouted harshly, "Loose the arrows! Don't let them get close!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
The archers fired another volley!
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