CHAPTER 300: CHAPTER 297: GUARD CHANGE_1

After the officer from the Canghai Ancient Court had delivered his orders and left, Zhao Yun and his two companions emerged, disguised themselves, and donned the outfits of ordinary soldiers.

"Great General, please!"

Zhao Yun wore a serious expression. To reach the passageway, he still needed the cooperation of the Great General of Huang’s Court.

"Send the order! Sound the drums!"

The Great General of Huang’s Court nodded, flew onto the commanding platform, and the soldiers standing nearby urgently began drumming, producing a deafening noise that carried far into the distance.

The Azure Dragon Army and the Ding Yang Army all changed into the armor of Huang’s Court and formed neat ranks.

As for the White Tiger Army, it remained hidden in the camp, a dagger poised to strike at the crucial moment.

Dozens of miles away, the general who had just read out the orders climbed a watchtower. Gazing towards the Huang’s Court encampment and seeing no abnormalities, a smirk touched his lips.

"March!"

On the commanding platform, the Great General of Huang’s Court drew his war sword and commanded loudly.

The army began to move. Zhao Yun and Lv Bu concealed themselves within the ranks, restraining their auras and observing their surroundings.

After more than an hour, the army arrived at a makeshift parade ground at the entrance to the passageway. They were allowed to pass only after a strict inspection, finally reaching the area outside the passageway entrance.

But it wasn’t time to enter yet. They had to wait for the arrival of the Fourth Army Group of the Canghai Ancient Court.

Four watchtowers, nine patrol teams, and a Nine-Cycle Saint King stationed here, but luckily, no Formation has been set up. This is good news!

The Canghai Ancient Court’s camp is directly opposite the passageway, fifty kilometers away. That’s a bit far, probably to avoid the cold temperature...

Zhao Yun silently analyzed, his mind racing, pondering how to annihilate the Canghai Ancient Court’s forces after capturing the passageway.

The Nine Army Groups were the most elite forces of the Canghai Ancient Court and its very foundation. As long as these Nine Army Groups were destroyed, the Canghai Ancient Court would be unable to mount large-scale army battles.

"The Fourth Army Group is here! What are you louts waiting for? Make way, quickly!"

While Zhao Yun was deep in thought, a rough voice boomed in everyone’s ears.

Zhao Yun looked up to see a squad of patrolling guards shouting loudly among the troops, constantly pushing people aside to clear a passage over three hundred meters wide.

Soldiers from the Fourth Army Group of the Canghai Ancient Court marched orderly through the passage, kicking up clouds of dust that settled on the soldiers of the ’Azure Dragon Army’ and ’Ding Yang Army’, whose eyes burned with suppressed anger.

As main combatant soldiers, when had they ever endured such humiliation? But for the sake of the grand plan, they could only bear it!

Runes? They must be to resist the cold!

Zhao Yun observed the soldiers of the Fourth Army Group. They were all dressed in black armor covered with arcane runes that emitted a soft, precious glow and a faint warmth.

It must be said, the overall strength of the Canghai Ancient Court is truly formidable; they managed to develop armor that resists the cold in such a short period. Truly resourceful!

Huang Zhong, standing beside him, was filled with envy. He also silently cursed the Canghai Ancient Court. They have cold-resistant armor and don’t even think to share it! I’m freezing to death!

To avoid suspicion, they had suppressed their cultivation and dared not circulate their Spiritual Energy. After standing in the cold for a while, Huang Zhong felt his old leg ailment flaring up.

Seeing Huang Zhong’s shaking legs, Zhao Yun chuckled silently. However, he couldn’t help but be intensely curious about Ghost Immortal Ridge. Where is this cold air coming from? It can make even a Saint King feel unbearable!

"Huang’s Court forces, hurry up and follow! Once inside, obey all commands, or you will be killed without mercy!" a general at the Saint Realm shouted loudly from the watchtower, his voice cold and ruthless.

The army began to move and entered the passageway. A gust of howling, bone-chilling wind blew past, causing even Zhao Yun to shiver involuntarily.

They walked for an hour before reaching the entrance of the tunnel. Caves had been carved into the surrounding mountainsides, each housing a furnace to ward off the cold.

The Third Army Group, which had been on defense the previous day, and the Raging Wind Royal Court Army, were resting inside these caves.

The observant Huang Zhong noticed that members of the Canghai Ancient Court were assigned ten to a cave, while Royal Court members were packed a hundred to a cave. Damn it, the Canghai Ancient Court is too black-hearted!

"Time to change guard! Huang’s Court forces will be responsible for sentry duty, one post every ten steps. The Fourth Army Group will handle the magic crystal cannons and patrol the city wall..."

The General of the Fourth Army Group, seemingly unaffected by the cold, flew into the air. Facing the biting wind, he shouted his commands.

As expected, the Royal Court soldiers were once again mistreated.

The dirty, tiring, and unimportant tasks were all assigned to the Royal Court soldiers, while the Canghai Ancient Court soldiers had it much easier, entrusted with key defensive positions.

Only after all posts were assigned did the guard exchange begin. The shivering soldiers of the Raging Wind Royal Court, as if seeing their saviors, hurriedly departed.

Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong were assigned to guard duty on the city wall, from where they could see the Qin Army camp on the opposite side.

Both of them were waiting.

The wait wouldn’t be too long, as a prolonged delay would affect the Qin Army’s combat effectiveness.

But it also couldn’t be too short, as they had to wait for the Third Army Group to completely evacuate. Otherwise, a surprise counterattack from them would ruin the plan.

An hour later, the armies changed guard again, and the freezing soldiers returned to the caves to rest.

The heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the gorge. Just before stepping into a cave, Zhao Yun gave Huang Zhong a subtle nod.

The latter’s eyes lit up. He abruptly turned, pulling a giant bow from his storage space. Forged from the sinews and bones of a flood dragon and carved with dragon motifs, it looked majestic and fierce.

"Die!" Huang Zhong muttered fiercely, his arms straining as he drew the Flood Dragon Bow into a full moon. A continuous stream of Spiritual Energy condensed into a blood-red arrow, radiating a brilliant light.

"Hmm?"

The General of the Fourth Army Group, who was inspecting the camp, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if something lethal had fixed its gaze on him. He hurriedly looked around and saw Huang Zhong, bow drawn and arrow aimed.

WHOOSH!

The blood-red arrow tore through the air, carrying a heavy Evil Qi, piercing the endless Void at a speed the naked eye couldn’t perceive.

This arrow was a divinely inspired shot!

"Oh, no!"

The complexion of the Fourth Army Group’s General changed drastically as he felt the shadow of death looming over him.

He tried with all his might to dodge the arrow but found his legs wouldn’t obey him. He could only watch as the blood-red arrow grew larger and larger in his vision, until it finally vanished.

"This... such formidable archery!" the General’s body shuddered. He spoke in shock as his previously bright eyes slowly dulled, losing all signs of life.

In his forehead, there was a bloody hole from which residual destructive power lingered, annihilating all life force.

The soldiers of the Fourth Army Group watched their leader fall, their faces blank with shock. For a long moment, they couldn’t react, wondering if what they had just witnessed was a dream.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Countless arrows pierced the air.

After Huang Zhong fired his first arrow, the soldiers of the Ding Yang Army began to draw their bows and release their lethal volleys.

The Fourth Army Group soldiers, still reeling in shock, were struck by arrows and pinned to the stone walls. Warm blood stained the rock, their eyes wide with bewildered confusion, seemingly unable to comprehend how they had died or where their enemies had come from.