Divergence

The measure of success harvested was the measure of blood, sweat, and toil poured in!

After three or four hours of relentless, grueling practice, Jian Shang not only had a deeper understanding of the information in his mind, but his gains had also become far more apparent.

His other cultivation techniques and skills had not improved much, but both Northern Di Horsemanship and Basic Spear Arts had reached the realm of "Thorough Integration."

Practice made perfect; train a skill ten thousand times, and its meaning would reveal itself. Now, with the Pear Blossom Wrought-Iron Spear in hand, Jian Shang vaguely felt as though it were an extension of his arm. Riding a warhorse was likewise as effortless and natural as walking on level ground. This was not merely due to the advantages of an Otherworlder—it also came from Jian Shang's persistence.

It could be said that with Jian Shang's diligence and bitter cultivation, even without the miraculous information appearing in his mind, he would still have undergone immense transformation in reality.

Basic Spear Technique, Realm, Thorough Integration, 13728/99999;

Northern Di Horsemanship, Realm, Thorough Integration, 11933/99999;

One would never know without looking. Even Jian Shang had not realized that in just three or four hours, he had trained up such formidable figures. Perhaps it was because interest and focus had come together.

However, advancing further required one hundred thousand proficiency points, while the next level would require a million. This was no longer something that could be achieved overnight. It required long stretches of time and an iron will. More importantly, it required unceasing accumulation—the principle of piling grains of sand into a tower and gathering scraps of fur into a robe.

"Barbarian scouting cavalry!"

Everyone turned toward the voice in confusion. Even Jian Shang, who had been riding alone at the front, turned back to look. Only after waiting a moment did Yang Ning slowly speak in a grave tone.

"Barbarian scouting cavalry?!"

The group grew startled and wary. Jian Shang blurted out in confusion, then looked into the distance in every direction.

It was pitch-black. Let alone Barbarian scouting cavalry, there was not even a hazy shadow in sight.

It was roughly the end of the Hour of the Pig, around eleven at night. Though a slanting moon hung in the sky, the night remained dim. Even with Jian Shang's transformed strength, his visibility was less than a hundred meters.

Jian Shang guessed that although Jiang Yao, Yang Ning, and the others possessed some strength, they were only comparable to regular soldiers. Their combat power could not possibly exceed his, after he had cultivated Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations to the realm of "First Glimpse of the Way." If he could see nothing, could Yang Ning truly see so clearly? Could he even tell they were Barbarian scouting cavalry?

"We'll go around them. Little Yang, lead the way!"

While Jian Shang was still doubtful, Jiang Yao gave the order without hesitation. No one else spoke, clearly placing immense trust in Yang Ning.

"Uh..."

Jian Shang was somewhat taken aback, still unable to let it go.

Yet based on his trust in Jiang Yao's character, he did not speak up to object. After all, they knew Yang Ning best. It certainly could not be him.

"It's too late. We've already been surrounded! They seem to have come prepared, and they're targeting us!"

The moment Jiang Yao finished speaking, Yang Ning shook his head and replied solemnly.

"No way, right? We're merely refugees, not even deserters. What could we possibly have that others would covet? Is it worth the Barbarians going to such lengths?"

Sun Ji's thoughts spun rapidly as he asked in bewilderment. After a pause, he suddenly looked toward Jian Shang.

If Sun Ji remembered correctly, Jian Shang had said that he had encountered some fortuitous opportunities and gained unexpected wealth. Not every Otherworlder was like that, which was why they had ultimately not risked heading to the battlefield to profit from the dead.

Could Jian Shang have taken or obtained something important from the Barbarians? Sun Ji guessed.

Naturally, Jian Shang, whose powers of observation were not weak, understood what Sun Ji's gaze meant.

But not only Sun Ji—even Jian Shang himself could not make sense of it. The only possibility seemed to lie with him. Jiang Yao, Sun Ji, and the others had given the Barbarians no reason to pursue them relentlessly, even after three or four hours.

For a moment, the quicker-witted Sun Ji and Shi Jin looked at Jian Shang with considerable dissatisfaction. They clearly thought Jian Shang had treated them as bodyguards while keeping silent, dragging them into a disaster that had fallen from the sky.

"They're here!"

Their exchange had lasted only a few breaths. In the dim night, the vague silhouettes of cavalry had already appeared in the distance. Jiang Yao tightened his grip on his hundred-forged steel saber and warned them in a low voice.

"They really are Barbarian scouting cavalry?! What incredible eyesight!"

Jian Shang's strength was indeed slightly greater than Jiang Yao's and the others'. They could only make out blurry silhouettes, but he could already roughly discern the targets. He could not help looking at Yang Ning in astonishment.

He had not expected Yang Ning, who seemed almost invisible and without any presence, to have hidden himself so deeply.

"They really are targeting us? Which direction is the weakest?"

Though everyone was tense and vigilant, Jiang Yao still somewhat doubted whether the Barbarians truly targeted them. He looked toward Yang Ning and asked for his judgment.

"They are indeed targeting us. Every direction is about the same!"

Yang Ning frowned as he observed their surroundings, then slowly answered. After a pause, he suddenly blurted out, "They're the Barbarians who chased us into the mountains during the day!"

"Ah?!"

The group was astonished. Could they really be this persistent, like lingering ghosts that refused to disperse? Then they all looked toward Jian Shang, while some privately guessed:

Could it be... those Barbarians saw Jian Shang accidentally reveal his Golden-Silk Inner Armor during the day, and pursued him out of greed for the treasure?

"There are no absolutes in this world, nor can anything be perfect. There must be a flaw! In my judgment, the rear should be the weakest point of the Barbarian encirclement. Since they managed to catch up, they know the direction we're traveling and will certainly focus their defenses ahead to block us! Since we came from behind, ordinary people would instinctively assume we would not turn back!"

Sun Ji calmly pondered the situation and swiftly analyzed it.

"Fine, then..."

There was no time to lose. By now, they could already hear the thunder of flying iron hooves and vaguely distinguish the appearance of the Barbarian scouting cavalry. Jiang Yao swiftly agreed and was about to give the order.

"*@#&... You dared kill my elder brother. Before, greater matters weighed on our minds, and my Haozhe Tribe is not skilled in mountain forests, so we did not pursue you. Did you truly think you could survive by luck?"

All was silent beneath the night wind. A burst of incomprehensible foreign speech rang out, followed by heavily accented, somewhat awkward, and barely coherent words.

"Uh..."

Everyone suddenly understood. These Barbarian scouting cavalry had come in pursuit for revenge, not for any other reason.

Since the enemy had come prepared, they could not fight head-on. Jiang Yao and the others pulled on their reins and were about to turn around...

"Do you trust Little Yang's eyesight?"

Jian Shang's thick brows furrowed as he suddenly asked. After a pause, he continued, "I trust Little Yang's eyesight. Since he says every direction is about the same, then they are about the same! Since we have decided to enlist, this is a trial before us. We cannot shrink back the moment we encounter setbacks!"

At this point, Jian Shang tightened his grip on the Pear Blossom Wrought-Iron Spear and said resolutely, "When two armies meet, the brave prevail. Besides, we are breaking out, not fighting to the death. Since Little Ji can make such a deduction, the enemy, as regular troops with unwavering resolve who invaded the Divine Land from thousands of miles away, are no ordinary people. They may have guessed the same thing! Taking ten thousand steps back, since every direction is about the same, charging forward bravely is the proper course. I suggest we maintain our route and carve a bloody path through!"

"Hm?"

No one had expected Jian Shang to propose the complete opposite of Sun Ji's suggestion at such a time, and they could not help feeling torn.

"I'll go first. If you're willing to follow, I'll bring up the rear. You break out, and I'll catch up afterward. I won't linger to fight!"

Seeing that everyone was still hesitating while the Barbarians had already closed to within a hundred meters from every side, Jian Shang pulled his reins and turned his horse around once more.

As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored everyone's reaction. He clamped his legs around the horse's flanks, flicked the reins in his hand, and shot forward like an arrow loosed from the bow, charging straight ahead with the bearing of one who would press onward without retreat.

*****

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