The gulf between glances

This was a clan gathering open to all members of the Chen Lineage. The patriarch and respected elders sat on the stage, while ordinary clan members watched from below.

Chen Lingfeng sat in the main seat, calmly meeting the gazes of hundreds of people.

Chen Hao stood to his left, his gaze dark as he stared at the repulsive figure in the crowd.

As the light swept across the crowd, it brought scrutiny, doubt, worry, and anger, devoid of the flattery and fawning of the past.

In that instant, he thought of his former Night's Night Watchers subordinates, who were strikingly similar to those before him.

"Lingfeng, I've watched you grow up. You've always been decisive since you were little. Why did you lose your temper today?" Fifth Master said, sitting to the side, trying to persuade him. "Now that everyone is here, why don't you tell everyone what you think?"

Chen Hao sneered, "What's there to say? This bastard must have acted on his own initiative, stole Lord Jiang's things, and ended up being chased until he had nowhere to run but to our house for protection. If you ask me, as long as we hand him over, the Jiang Lineage won't say a word."

Feeling the gazes coming from all directions, Chen Jiale flushed red. "Xiao Hao, you—"

"What Jiale did was at my behest," Chen Lingfeng said, causing a stir among the audience.

"Dad, you—" Chen Hao looked at his father in disbelief.

"That item is a copy of the game 'Age of Empires'," Chen Lingfeng said calmly, his voice sweeping over the crowd.

"Age of Empires?" The elders looked surprised, while the younger generation of adventurers looked blank, clearly having never heard of the name.

After the invasion of the Spirit Realm, countries around the world have unanimously strengthened their review of cultural and entertainment products. In particular, the decline in technology has made personal computers a luxury, turning computer games into a legend.

"Is it that Age of Empires copy that was all the rage a century ago?!" Fifth Master sat up straight, looking at him in surprise.

"Yes, it's the legendary dungeon that drops the Village Building Token." Chen Lingfeng nodded. "And this dungeon is brand new, and it can be used three times!"

"Three times----" Third Master stroked his beard, his breathing becoming rapid.

"All kinds of combat units, craftsmen, functional buildings, everything is available." He continued speaking to himself, "With this copy, we have the hope of expanding Chen Lineage Village by one or two times, or even four or five times, while also possessing the training techniques for one or two types of combat units and a group of craftsmen who have mastered various skills, thus building Chen Lineage Village into a major force of considerable importance, instead of what it is now, a guard dog huddled in a tiny area!"

Everyone present was stunned and speechless.

"Hmph! Don't put it so high and mighty!" Third Master snapped out of his daze and snorted coldly. "Don't forget that the Spirit Realm is the domain of the lords. This instance is so important, do Lord Jiang would let us off so easily?"

"Of course not. But are we afraid?" Chen Lingfeng chuckled. "I've already placed the tracking device in Lin Xu's territory as instructed by the Jiang Lineage. It won't be long before the two families start fighting. Do you think he'll still have time for us then?"

Moreover, my move completely caught the Jiang Lineage off guard. They're only just realizing that we've already infiltrated Chen Lineage Village, cutting ourselves off from reality. How will they find us? And who can find us?"

He stood up and paced back and forth on the platform, one hand behind his back and the other waving powerfully, full of self-satisfaction. "Once we finish the dungeon, Chen Lineage Village's power will have skyrocketed. What can Jiang Shiyan do if he attacks? A lord's authority can only be applied within his territory. Does he think he can take over Chen Lineage Village?!"

In that instant, he could almost see a future of fertile plains, towns standing tall, a hundred thousand armored soldiers, and thousands of iron cavalry, asking the world who would be the hero!

He looked up at the sky with his head held high, and a cloud drifted by. He glanced at it subconsciously, and the familiar purple color made his blood freeze instantly.

Above the clouds, a pair of cold gazes descended, meeting face to face.

Sometimes, the journey from heaven to hell takes only a second!

Ah~

A scream snapped Chen Lingfeng back to reality, followed by another shout that made his face change drastically, "It's terrible! The ghost horde has stormed the earthen fortress!"

"What a great day! Everyone's here!" Through the Evil Eye's vision, Lin Xu saw hundreds of adventurers holding a grand gathering in the open space in the center of the earthen fortress.

He saw his acquaintance Chen Lingfeng, who was standing on the high platform, gesturing wildly and full of energy.

Right behind him, young Chen Hao looked at his father with shining eyes and admiration.

"It's good that everyone's here, to avoid trouble later." Lin Xu calmly glanced at the dazed Chen Lingfeng. "Enter through the main gate. Apart from the villagers, no one else is allowed in!"

He had no interest in listening to their arguments; he was only there to put an end to their past grievances—including those between him and Chen Lingfeng, as well as those between his lover, Jiang Wanqing, and the Jiang Clan and Chen Lineage.

The entire earthen fortress has only one gate, which is a thick wooden plank inlaid with iron, sturdy and durable, and even possesses magical power.

But it was no use. The Ghost Bride flashed and tore apart the magical protection attached to the door, her illusory body passing through the wooden door.

A few seconds later, the door slowly opened.

The first to act were the Red-Robed Ghosts. A flash of red light appeared, and the ghost horde had already passed through the narrow gate and rushed into the earthen fortress.

Ah~

The first scream startled the Chen Lineage from their argument. The adventurers, alert to the danger, immediately displayed their composure and attempted to resist, taking advantage of the complex terrain within the fortress.

This earthen fortress is a semi-civilian, semi-military facility. Through the designer's meticulous design, it maximizes military function while making life as convenient as possible, and can maintain a high level of defense even if the fortress gate is breached.

But it was no use; the Red-Robed Ghosts were spirits, and they could move freely between the walls.

Although the earthen fortress was equipped with a special protective array, it could not withstand the all-pervasive attacks of more than three hundred ghosts.

Ah~

Screams echoed within the earthen fortress, the last struggles of the adventurers trying to resist.

For some time now, Lin Xu would use the treasure cauldron to temper his soul whenever he had free time, and also to temper the souls of the Red-Robed Ghosts.

The earliest batch of Red-Robed Ghost have now advanced to level 3, and given their ghostly characteristics, ordinary adventurers who encounter them will die.

The silent Daoist soldiers filed in; compared to the eeriness of the Red-Robed Ghost, these heavily armored soldiers were the true killing machines.

The runic heavy armor was almost indestructible, while the battle halberd could pierce anything.

The cramped space of the earthen fortress limited the Daoist soldiers' movements, but it also blocked the Chen Lineage's escape route.

Chen Lingfeng hid in the earthen fortress, listening to the screams of his people, his face turning deathly pale.

The moment he saw the group of Red-Robed Ghost, he recalled the terror of that night.

"Lin Xu----" He gritted his teeth and forced out the name, his eyes almost reddening with fear and hatred.