Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

In the eyes of Sun Zhengheng and the Feathered Forest Guard, the military achievements of Wang Chen are simply inconceivable.

In reality, dealing with these elite and formidable horse bandits, he didn't even use one-tenth of his strength.

After stepping into the seventh tier, Wang Chen's perception greatly increased. Darkness was no obstacle at all for him, so no matter how covert the horse bandits' movements were, they could not escape his insight.

With only a Mysterious Weapons longbow, occupying a vantage point, Wang Chen could make a thousand steps around him his hunting ground.

He just had to imbue his arrows with mana, then their range and velocity would rise to a terrifying level.

The vast majority of horse bandits last night died without understanding why, all because of this!

But after resolving the crisis of the horse bandits' night raid, Sun Zhengheng and the Feathered Forest guards didn't let their guard down, because everyone believed that the real test was still to come.

"According to the local guides, our current location is still five days away from West Sea Prefectural City."

During the midday rest, Sun Zhengheng called a temporary meeting, gathering all the officers of the Feathered Forest Guard to discuss.

He pointed at the map hung on a wooden frame and said: "Fifty miles out is Lianyun Mountain, I fear the horse bandits will assemble their main force there to launch an attack on us."

Lianyun Mountain is a mountain range lying across the West Sea Great Prairie, also a place where prairie horse bandits nest and hide.

The route of the matrimonial entourage doesn't need to go through this great mountain, but to approach Lianyun Mountain means coming close to the horse bandits' lair, and the possibility of conflict breaking out is significantly high.

Because once past Lianyun Mountain, they would be very near to West Sea Prefectural City.

Sun Zhengheng was certain the earlier harassment by the horse bandits was to prepare for this decisive battle!

"Can't we take a long detour?"

One of the Feathered Forest officers gestured on the map: "Avoiding Lianyun Mountain?"

"That would mean taking a lengthy detour."

Sun Zhengheng said with a wry smile: "We don't have time, the princess's wedding date is set, and if we miss it..."

He didn't speak of the consequences, but was there any need to say them out loud?

The Feathered Forest officers collectively shrank their heads.

"How about we take the initiative to attack!"

Another officer clenched his teeth and said: "Dispatch two thousand Elite Cavalry to find the horse bandits' main force, and crush them!"

Take the initiative to strike?

Everyone couldn't help but exchange looks of incredulity.

"No!"

Sun Zhengheng decisively rejected: "Our forces are limited, we absolutely mustn't divide our troops, and we don't know the exact number of horse bandits. If they unite, the consequences are unimaginable!"

The proposition of this officer was indeed valorous, but not practical.

One must know that on the West Sea Prairie there are tens of thousands of horse bandits, and although many of them are "part-timing" local herdsmen, each is skilled in horseback archery and has a wealth of combat experience; they are not easy targets to handle.

Should the two thousand Elite Cavalry fail to inflict damage and sustain major losses, it would be disastrous for the matrimonial entourage!

As the leading commander of the entourage, Sun Zhengheng couldn't take such a huge risk.

He involuntarily turned his gaze towards Wang Chen who was sitting on the side: "Protector Wang, do you have any suggestions?"

Everyone's eyes focused on Wang Chen, filled with expectation and trust.

"My suggestion?"

Wang Chen smiled: "It's simple, just continue forward according to the plan, no need to detour. Once we encounter the horse bandits' force, you all hold formation and stand firm, I'll handle them all by myself."

What?

Sun Zhengheng and the Feathered Forest Guard couldn't believe their ears, doubting they had heard wrong.

Wang Chen wanted to take on the horse bandits alone?

That could be enemies numbering over ten thousand!

Even a novel wouldn't dare to write it like that!

Sun Zhengheng was dumbfounded: "Protector Wang, this is no joking matter."

"I'm not joking."

Wang Chen said indifferently, "You don't have to worry. If I can't handle them, I can still make it back."

Sun Zhengheng was speechless.

Wang Chen was truly too self-confident. In his eyes, the amassed bandits were nothing more than a bunch of buffoons, not worthy of serious consideration.

To say that Wang Chen was too reckless would be incorrect. His statement wasn't entirely wrong. A Martial Ancestor at the peak of the fifth tier wasn't so easily killed. As long as he wasn't completely trapped, escaping from the midst of an army wouldn't be a huge problem.

"That's settled then."

Seeing that Sun Zhengheng had nothing to say, Wang Chen simply spoke for him: "Dismissed. Everyone, prepare well."

Everyone's gaze turned to Sun Zhengheng again.

Sun Zhengheng waved his hand, forcing a smile, "Well, then that's that."

Although he was the Commander of the Feathered Forest Army, within this troop, Wang Chen's status was higher than his, beyond his command.

And the only person who could order Wang Chen around was Princess Qingyun.

The problem was, Princess Qingyun was Wang Chen's apprentice!

Sun Zhengheng felt a headache coming on just thinking about it and decided to stop worrying about it. It was just a matter of facing the soldiers when they come and countering the water with earth when it arrives!

The marriage envoy continued to advance.

By noon the next day, the undulating mountain range appeared in everyone's sight.

Lianyun Mountain had arrived!

The atmosphere within the troop suddenly tensed up. Sun Zhengheng dispatched dozens of riders for scouting, searching for any possible main force of Horse Bandits, to prevent being caught off guard.

Whistle～

An eagle soared across the Firmament, circling relentlessly above the marriage envoy.

Its abnormal behavior caught everyone's attention.

"Horse Bandits' trained eagle!"

Sun Zhengheng looked up, uttering in a deep voice, "The enemy is likely close by!"

Horse Bandits of the prairie were fond of raising falcons for scouting enemies, and it worked extremely well.

Beep～

As soon as his voice fell, a sharp whistling sound came from afar.

Everyone's face changed in unison.

That was the warning whistling arrow sent out by the scouts, indicating the direction of the enemy and that the situation was quite severe!

Sun Zhengheng immediately raised his arm and yelled, "Halt the advance, form a defensive formation!"

The voice, infused with Qi Energy, instantly spread throughout the entire troop, clearly into everyone's ears.

The hearts of the people in the marriage envoy all tightened.

The convoy stopped, and under the command of the Feathered Forest Guard, they quickly began forming a defensive wagon fort, then all the large shields and Heavy Crossbows hidden under the wagons were taken down.

These sturdy shields were used to protect those inside the wagon fort, while the Heavy Crossbows were mounted on top of the wagons for defense.

Since everyone was prepared, the whole process was orderly, without any chaos.

Just as the wagon fort had been set up, the scouts that had been sent out returned one after another.

All the news they brought back was bad!

These Knights had discovered at least five Horse Bandit groups, totaling three to four thousand in number, and these Horse Bandits were rapidly gathering in the same direction.

Due to the huge disparity in strength, the scouts didn't dare get too close, but it was certain that the Horse Bandits of the West Sea Great Prairie had united, preparing for a big move.

Just as everyone had previously speculated!

And the last scout to return was riddled with arrows, his entire body soaked red with fresh blood!

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The second update is delivered.