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Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Pursuit and Kill
"Good! Good! Good!"
Gu Jinlai looked at Su Nanxing, repeatedly praising him three times.
Although it took Su Nanxing four Nourishing God Pills to achieve his breakthrough, he had managed to do it within three months at least.
Resistance exists when taking the same type of elixir within a short period of time.
Many people, although having used only three to five Nourishing God Pills to reach Refining God, basically did it at a frequency of one pill per year.
The efficiency of Su Nanxing...
Was considered excellent among all the Refining God Immortals.
"Brother Su’s breakthrough came at just the right time."
Gu Chaoyang also genuinely felt happy.
Their side gaining another Refining God increased their chances of winning by another fraction.
"Please, Master, give your orders."
Su Nanxing greeted respectfully.
"Gather everyone for a meeting."
Gu Jinlai instructed Gu Chaoyang.
"Yes."
Gu Chaoyang responded excitedly and withdrew.
...
Half an hour later.
With a great battle approaching, Gu Jinlai had even put aside the affairs of Qiushan Cave, pulling back the elite originally stationed there and leaving only three hundred new soldiers to maintain operations.
At this time, Su Nanxing, Gu Chaoyang, Nian Buwang, Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, Gu Qingmei, including Gu Junxiu and Gu Junlei who were in charge of logistics, all gathered in the courtyard.
"How is the bullet production?"
Gu Jinlai inquired.
"We currently have over one million six hundred thousand bullets, among them, forty-nine thousand are for the short-range defense cannons,"
Gu Junlei immediately said.
The task of producing one million bullets had been exceeded, and it was enough for a major battle.
After all, even the "Thunder" Gatling, with its maximum firing rate, only reached six thousand rounds.
And at that maximum firing rate, it would not take long for the gun barrels to melt; a firing rate of two thousand rounds per minute under normal circumstances was enough.
"Since we do not wish to waste explosives, we have produced fewer rockets, but we have made thirteen thousand Black Arrows. These arrows pack a tremendous force and are shot out by our squad members using heavy bows. Once they form an arrow rain, they pose a substantial threat to those in Qi Refinement, Gang Condensation, and Hugging Pill realms,"
Gu Junxiu added from the side.
"Good."
Gu Jinlai nodded his head.
There were only ten "Thunder" Gatlings, but there were thirty Martial Artists following the devil’s path.
In addition, there were the elites relocated from the Gu family and those who’d joined from the Meteor Star Guard during this time.
These people numbered in the hundreds.
Yet these fewer than one hundred forty people were now Gu Jinlai’s strongest trump card.
"Lingxiao is our place of rise. We cannot allow the battle to take place in Lingxiao City; otherwise, the entire city would be destroyed. Fortunately, the people from Heavenly Gang Sect are joining forces with Zhang Luu."
Gu Jinlai said, pointing to a location on the map behind him: "We will fight a battle of annihilation here."
"Monument Mountain!?"
Gu Chaoyang gasped.
This was a...
Steep slope that suddenly appeared in a flat area that stretched for several miles, about forty meters long.
It looked like a giant stele lying on the ground, hence it was named Monument Mountain.
This place...
Indeed was the best location for the battle.
"Furthermore, for this battle, I plan to take only one hundred thirty people. Gu Chaoyang, Nian Buwang, your Gang Qi has formed. Stay in Lingxiao City to maintain operations. The limited number of rockets will be distributed by you. If necessary, retreat to the Military Workshop fortifications, collapse the workshop and hide underground, and wait for our reinforcements,"
Gu Jinlai stated.
"One hundred thirty people!?"
Gu Chaoyang, Nian Buwang, and others widened their eyes.
Gu Chaoyang, reacting quickly, immediately said, "Patriarch, according to the information we obtained, Heavenly Gang Sect is sending not only Venerable Daoist Su Bieli and Sect Leader Su Fangzheng, two great Refining Gods, but also more than twenty Hugging Pills, as well as over two hundred experts from the Qi Refinement and Gang Condensation realms. From Meteor Star Guard, Zhang Luu’s side also has masters in abundance, with more than ten Hugging Pills and over one hundred fifty from the Gang Condensation and Qi Refinement realms combined."
He took a deep breath: "That’s just the high-level combatants above Qi Refinement. Besides, Zhang Luu has mobilized six hundred reserve Meteor Star Guards, and Heavenly Gang Sect also ’borrowed’ two thousand elites from the City Lord Mansion! This force... is equivalent to ten Refining Gods!"
"Ten Refining Gods?"
Gu Jinlai waved his hand, pointing directly at Gu Chifeng, Gu Qingmei, Gu Luochen, and others: "I say, these ten, are equivalent to the combat power of twenty Refining Gods!"
Gu Chaoyang’s mind was shaken.
He began to carefully recall the power of the "Thunder" Gatling gun sweeping fire.
Gang Condensation, compared to Qi Refinement, unmatched in slaughter.
Hugging Pill—compared to Gang Condensation—powerful in burst, prolonging life.
And Refining God...
Relied on the fine control provided by Divine Thought, turning a single unit of strength into double, even triple the effectiveness.
Their explosive power, perception greater than that of Hugging Pill, but fundamentally still at the Hugging Pill realm level.
Now, although Heavenly Gang Sect and Meteor Star Guard had many strong combatants, the Refining Gods totaled only three.
As long as they were careful not to let them get close enough to burst forth, the remaining Hugging Pills, Gang Condensation, and Qi Refinement...
Gu Chaoyang suddenly looked up.
"It’s possible!"
"It’s not a possibility, it’s a certainty."
Gu Jinlai reiterated, "This is only because I haven’t raised spirit beasts just yet. If I gave you ten Swift Dragons specializing in speed, mounted with Thunder Gatlings, you could charge through thousands of troops with ease."
Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, and the others’ eyes sparkled with excitement, their blood boiling.
"We pledge our lives to serve you, Patriarch!"
"Good! On the way, I will teach you the tactics to sweep through all the enemies! Let them witness what an invincible army looks like!"
Gu Jinlai looked at Gu Junxiu and Gu Junlei, "Equip them fully, assemble the personnel, and gather at the city gate in three hours!"
"Yes."
Gu Chifeng and the others responded loudly.
"Patriarch, let us accompany you."
Gu Chaoyang suggested.
"Someone must remain to protect Lingxiao City."
Gu Jinlai said, slowly exhaling, "Perhaps the Heavenly Gang Sect has numerous experts, perhaps Meteor Star Guard has many strong fighters, but after nearly a year of preparation, we are not weak. Anyone who dares underestimate us will pay the price. Today, let’s ignite the torch and shine our light over Star State and Red State."
"We will follow the Patriarch’s order!"
...
"Boom boom boom!"
Outside Lingxiao City, two hundred warhorses, bearing equipment and knights, thundered out of the gates.
Simultaneously, Lingxiao City closed its gates. Soldiers, recently trained and few in number from the Gu family, stepped onto the city walls, patrolling and preparing for a major attack.
...
On the other side, hundreds of miles from Lingxiao City.
An elite group of two thousand four hundred people were on the move.
Among these two thousand four hundred elites, four hundred were at the center.
Six hundred knights, riding tall horses, patrolled the area to prevent sudden attacks.
Fourteen hundred armored soldiers marched swiftly forward.
Due to selection criteria where the poorest were at least of Body Tempering Cultivation, they marched in armor with surprising speed.
It was estimated that they would cross a hundred miles in a day and arrive beneath Lingxiao City.
At this moment, a dust cloud billowed at the horizon.
Suddenly a scout reported, the Meteor Star Guard had arrived.
Among the two thousand four hundred, the two leaders, escorted by a dozen experts, spurred their horses and awaited quietly.
Soon, thirteen riders emerged from the front of a nearly thousand-strong troop and reached the site.
"Elder Su, Sect Leader Su."
The two in front of the thirteen riders greeted with a bow.
"Star Master Zhang."
Su Bieli and Su Fangzheng nodded slightly and turned their eyes to another middle-aged man, "And you must be Mr. Zhou."
"Greetings to the two immortals."
Zhou Mingshi, a Heavenly Master, greeted with a bow.
He was here following Zhang Luu, firstly to seek a method to decode gunpowder weapons, and secondly...
to ensure that if Gu Jinlai resorted to Heavenly Master’s secret techniques to turn the tables, they could counteract them.
"Presumably, you are already thoroughly familiar with information about the Ancient Demon. We don’t need to elaborate further. Since all witnesses who saw the Ancient Demon in action have died, we can’t assure that the Ancient Demon doesn’t have other trump cards. Therefore, for caution, we must treat him as we would a Great Demon, without any carelessness."
Su Bieli advised.
"Certainly."
Zhang Luu nodded, "Ancient Demon is monstrous and murderous, having killed our Meteor Star Guard’s garrison commander Shangguan. Today, his death is inevitable."
Just then, a Black Hawk swept through the sky, rapidly descending towards a Hugging Pill behind Zhang Luu.
The Hugging Pill raised his hand to support the Black Hawk, quickly retrieving the information brought by the exotic beast.
After a glance, he hurriedly reported, "Sir, news from Lingxiao City, the Ancient Demon has gathered all his elite and, taking much wealth, has abandoned the city and fled."
"Abandoned the city and fled?"
Zhang Luu was stunned, "He recruited six thousand troops in Lingxiao City, theoretically having the capability to fight, yet he thinks to flee? Could there be a trap?"
"He recruited six thousand troops, yes, but all new recruits, trained for less than three months. How effective could they be? Fleeing the city is the most logical step."
Su Bieli replied as if it was only logical, "Thinking of escaping now? Isn’t it too late? Heh, naive! Did he really think he could rest easy by pinning the deaths of Xiao Tong and Xiao Jiu on Purgatory Sect? Does he take us for fools?"
Zhang Luu pondered.
Gu Jinlai’s biggest weapon was gunpowder.
Yet gunpowder was best for ambushes.
In recent days, he had secretly mobilized hundreds of Meteor Star Guards to roam around Lingxiao City. If Gu Jinlai buried a large quantity of gunpowder somewhere, the Meteor Star Guard would most likely have noticed.
Moreover, putting himself in their shoes, if he were surrounded by a Star Master and many strong fighters from the Heavenly Gang Sect, fleeing the city and taking all valuables would indeed be the wisest choice.
With money and experts, what place couldn’t they make a comeback? Why die stubbornly in Lingxiao City?
"Chase after him, don’t let him escape. With such a large mobilization, if we can’t kill the Ancient Demon, both Meteor Star Guard and Heavenly Gang Sect will become laughingstocks in Star State."
Zhang Luu issued the order.
Then to the Hugging Pill behind, "Black Hawk, keep an eye on the Ancient Demon and his people, and report back to me."
The man known as Black Hawk nodded and released the exotic beast again.
Through the exotic beast, he soon learned Gu Jinlai’s route.
Zhang Luu pulled out a map and quickly made a decision, "Here!"
He pointed to an area called Monument Mountain, "Based on our movement speeds, we can intercept the Ancient Demon here! This is a plain with excellent visibility; any ambush or trap would be in plain sight."
Su Bieli glanced at it, nodding in agreement, then shouted, "What are we waiting for then, march swiftly! Chase him! He thinks he can kill our Heavenly Gang Sect people and run? Not even the King of Heaven can save him today, mark my words!"
