This was a protracted battle. Jiang Jie, whose Internal Energy was almost exhausted, had to give up using the Thirty-Six Dragon-Subduing Palms and the Pegasus Meteor Finger, two martial arts that consumed a great deal of Internal Energy. He also gave up using the ineffective thief skills and returned to using Taijiquan.
Brigitte was injured, and Taelan was also injured. Jiang Jie and Renault, one in front and one behind, along with other Warrior and Paladin, established a life-saving line, protecting the wounded, Priest, and a small number of survivors within the defensive perimeter.
Taijiquan consumes very little Internal Energy, and all of Internal Energy remains within the body, in the arms, fists, and palms, without leaking out. The rate of energy consumption is even slower than that generated by the Black Tortoise Longevity Art. Although Jiang Jie was constantly fighting, his internal Internal Energy was actually increasing.
The existence of Internal Energy can alleviate fatigue. Moreover, Taijiquan is a martial art suitable for prolonged battles. Some highly accomplished Grandmaster can even fight continuously for seven days and seven nights on alien battlefields, and become stronger as they fight!
The Black Tortoise Longevity Art and Taijiquan gave Jiang Jie astonishing endurance.
Even though Renault was exhausted and Taelan and Brigitte took over, and even though the other soldiers had already taken turns fighting twice, Jiang Jie was still fighting.
Combat is indeed the best form of training.
Jiang Jie felt that his Taijiquan was becoming more and more fluid and natural. If this continued, perhaps in just a few days he would advance from "beginner" to "somewhat accomplished," greatly increasing his combat power!
Half an hour later, Darion returned riding a griffin, bringing a large bag of holy water and Baron Maxwell.
This High-Ranking Paladin, who was about to become Grand Knight, was extremely powerful. His arrival greatly reduced the pressure on Jiang Jie, and many wounded soldiers were replaced. Darion used holy water to treat their wounds to prevent them from contracting the plague and becoming Undead.
Half an hour later, the soldiers at the northeastern outpost finally arrived. Another hour passed before Dalson's soldiers arrived. The appearance of more than twenty Paladin and nearly two hundred Hearthglen soldiers boosted morale, and with their combined efforts, they finally wiped out all the thousands of Undead outside.
Then, led by Baron Maxwell, they escorted the wounded and survivors, carrying all the uncontaminated food, in a grand procession of more than twenty wagons, heading towards Hearthglen.
Jiang Jie did not go.
From Felstone Field to Hearthglen, it's nearly two hundred kilometers, and at these soldiers' pace, it would take at least a week. He had no time to waste.
Besides, he wasn't even going to Hearthglen in the first place.
Hearthglen is located in a valley with only one passage leading to the outside world. As long as that passage is guarded, no matter how many Undead are there, they cannot break in. It is safe there and he is not needed.
His target was Chillwind Camp.
Two hours later, Jiang Jie arrived at Chillwind Camp.
This is a sentry post, previously guarded by only about twenty Andorhal guards. After the Scourge Plague broke out, the Order of the Silver Hand to garrison here.
As the Undead Scourge ravaged the land, tens of thousands of Undead gathered in Andorhal. The Order of the Silver Hand also deployed a large number of troops there, and even sent a powerful and highly prestigious second-generation Paladin: Grand Knight Sage, the Messenger of Truth, to garrison the area.
Not long after the Lordaeron Conference, Gavinrad Doom, one of the Grand Knight, the second-in-command of the Order of the Silver Hand, whose status was second only to Uther the Lightbringer, also came here.
Because Chillwind Camp is very important, extremely important!
This place, which later became known as the Western Plaguelands," had a total population of hundreds of thousands, and the number of refugees still alive today must be tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands! So many refugees either fled to the western Tirisfal Glades or to the southern Alterac Mountains and Hillsbrad Foothills.
Tirisfal Glades can't accommodate many more people, and with the Undead Scourge ravaging the land, it's the best option for refugees.
It's heading south. To get south, you have to pass through Chillwind Camp.
Chillwind Camp bears the heavy responsibility of protecting refugees during their evacuation, preventing the Undead from invading the south, purifying Andorhal and the entire southern Western Plaguelands, and constantly guarding against Scholomance, which is not far away.
Now, Chillwind Camp Pass has over a hundred Paladin, more than a thousand Warrior who have seen bloodshed, and even a dozen Priest, more than twenty rogues, and a dozen mages. Its defensive strength is almost comparable to that of Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands!
Now, Jiang Jie has arrived here.
A griffin descended from the sky, and Jiang Jie leaped down.
He was greeted by High Priest Meldor, the leader of the Priest squad, a female Priest who was not yet thirty years old.
" Nicholas? I've heard of you. I'm delighted to have you join us. On behalf of Lord Gavinrad and all the soldiers here, I welcome you." Meldor was beautiful and courteous, showing no disdain for Jiang Jie's youth.
"You look exhausted, as if you've been through a battle? Go and rest first. Tomorrow morning we plan to attack Sorrow Hill, purify all the Undead Sorrow Hill, and then capture the Andorhal East Bridge to keep the Undead under control north of the Andorhal River." The high Priest was busy; after saying a few words, he went to treat the wounded soldiers and then had a soldier take Jiang Jie to his quarters.
The accommodations were actually quite basic. Housing in Chillwind Camp was limited, and many were makeshift barracks that had been erected in the last two months. Even the female Priest lived in communal sleeping quarters, so Jiang Jie had no chance of finding anything like that.
He came to fight, not to enjoy himself.
The smell inside was rather unpleasant, so Jiang Jie left the room and found a random spot to begin meditating.
While meditating, he recalled the previous battles and summarized his experiences.
Looking back on the battle at Felstone Field, there were many problems; it was clear that I lacked combat experience.
It's good to recognize your shortcomings, so you can find ways to make up for them and become stronger!
As night fell, Gavinrad Doom returned from the Andorhal Bridge, a vital passage connecting the north and south. It was now occupied by the Order of the Silver Hand, and countless Undead were blocking the other side of the bridge, trying to rush across. Someone had to guard it.
Another Grand Knight, Sage the Messenger of Truth, is responsible for guarding the area.
Like Alexandros Mograine, the Highlord of Tirisfal Monastery, Sage the Sage of Truth was one of the second batch of Paladin. Although his status was not as prominent as Highlord Mograine's, he had always held a high position in the Order of the Silver Hand, and his personal combat strength was not much worse than Gavinrad's.
With him there, along with twenty Paladin and two hundred elite soldiers, guarding the bridge would not be a problem.
Gavinrad Jiang Jie, a favorite of Princess Calia, and personally spoke with Jiang Jie. After learning about Jiang Jie's activities at Felstone Field, his attitude towards Jiang Jie improved even further.
" Nicholas, you're a true young hero! When I was your age, I hadn't even joined the Knights of Stormwind City yet! You saved Taelan and the others; Tirion and Alexandros both owe you a favor!" Gavinrad, straightforward by nature, slapped Jiang Jie with his large hand, causing Jiang Jie's body to sink instantly.
This Grand Knight is incredibly powerful! He's probably not much weaker than an Abomination!