Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 148 [Escape] (6400)

Chapter 143 [Escape] (6400)

At night—to be precise, after the logging work was finished, Chen Yan returned to the wooden house, and Mu Wan brought some more food before leaving—according to this time, it was about a few hours after Chen Yan "finished work".

This godforsaken place doesn't really have a concept of day or night.

This place seems to have no sun; it is always pitch black, the forest is always shrouded in mist, and the rivers are frozen solid.

Chen Yan even suspected that the place he was in might be a polar region of this world.

Perhaps this place is experiencing polar night?
As Muwan also mentioned, in this place, there is only a fixed time each year when the night ends, the weather warms up, and the frozen river thaws—at that time, the sun should be visible.

After Mu Wan left, Chen Yan leaned against the pile of branches in the wooden house, which was the warmest place in the whole house.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door of the cabin clicked open, and a figure slipped in from the darkness.

Chen Yan immediately sat up straight, his hands gripping a half-meter-long branch of the strange tree.

One of them had already been sharpened with an axe!

"it's me."

Du Li's voice came from the darkness.

Chen Yan did not relax; he merely gripped the branch warily, gave a soft "hmm," and showed no intention of approaching the other party.

Du Li was equally cautious. After entering the house, he closed the door and stood at the entrance, without venturing further inside.

The two looked at each other in the dim light of the kerosene lamp under the eaves of the wooden house.

After a while, Du Li sighed softly: "I thought I had been abandoned after being out of contact for so long since I went undercover, but I didn't expect to finally wait for you to come and make contact."

Chen Yan remained silent—he truly didn't know what to say, fearing that a single wrong word might give him away.

In this situation, if one's secret is exposed, the other party might kill one to silence them.

A hint of eagerness flashed in Du Li's eyes: "What's the evacuation route planned? You're here to help me evacuate, right? I can't stand being in this place for another day! These stinking, ferocious beasts, I wish I could slaughter them all!"

Evacuation route, plan?
The Beast Clan? Is that the name of this monstrous tribe?

Chen Yan knew he couldn't keep up the pretense any longer—Du Li really thought of him as someone who had come to help him escape.

Fortunately, Chen Yan had spent the whole day thinking and had prepared a response.

"I... I'm not here to help you evacuate," Chen Yan said in a low voice.

"...??!!" Du Li's expression changed, and he suddenly took a step back, pulling a knife out from behind his back.

Du Li stared at Chen Yan: "What did you say! You're not? Then what happened today..."

"You said that pagoda suppresses the river demon?" Chen Yan took a deep breath, knowing that this was a crucial moment. Whether he could gain Du Li's trust depended on whether his next words could deceive the other party.

"I have another mission here." Chen Yan said slowly, trying to keep his voice steady. "Before I came here, my superiors gave me a contact code, saying that there might be one of our people hiding here, but we've been out of contact for a long time and we don't know if he's still alive."

They only gave me this code, hoping, with a glimmer of hope, that it might lead me to a helpful companion who could offer me some assistance.

Du Li was stunned.

Seeing that Du Li did not immediately suspect or lash out, Chen Yan knew that his explanation might have had some effect.

His thinking was clear: if he were to impersonate Du Li's contact person, he would definitely be exposed—he knew nothing about the situation and couldn't make it up.

However, pretending to have other tasks might work.

Du Li's breathing was a little heavy, and his eyes revealed disappointment and helplessness, but gradually, it also turned into a trace of doubt.

"What is your mission?"

"I can't say." Chen Yan shook his head coldly.

"..." Du Li's eyes grew anxious: "I've been lying in wait for half a year! Do you know how I've survived these past six months? These ferocious beasts don't treat us like human beings at all... no, in their eyes, humans are just beasts!"

“I’ve been here for six days now, and I understand what you’re saying very well,” Chen Yan replied.

"So I have to evacuate!" Du Li waved his hand impatiently and said angrily, "My mission is complete! I've made a major discovery! I must evacuate immediately! I need to bring back this important intelligence!"

After a pause, Du Li suddenly took a deep breath, as if he was forcibly suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

After taking two deep breaths, Du Li's tone was gloomy: "It's not that I'm afraid of death! If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have accepted this mission and done this kind of thing. It's just that I've recently encountered a dangerous situation that I can't resolve."

My slave owner plans to sell me... probably to some tribe in the mountains to work as a miner.

If I go to that place, I'll never be able to get out again, and it's also far removed from my mission objective!

I've obtained crucial information, and I must bring this back! If I'm sold to the mines... then everything will be over!

As he spoke, Du Li stared into Chen Yan's eyes: "According to the rules, I shouldn't ask what your mission is. But the situation is urgent now, and the intelligence I've obtained is of extremely high value!"
This wasn't originally my mission, but after arriving here, I inadvertently obtained this intelligence! This intelligence is definitely one of the enemy's top-secret information, consistently classified as such!

Therefore, given the current special circumstances, I must evacuate as soon as possible!
And you… tell me your evacuation plan and route, let me use it first! Taking my intelligence back is the top priority now!

Chen Yan thought for a moment and slowly said, "I don't have an evacuation plan or route... and neither do you, do you? Like you, after I came in, I have to wait for the follow-up personnel to arrive, so I don't have a way to leave here right now."

“……%￥&……（*&” Du Li suddenly cursed a few words, but Chen Yan couldn’t understand the vulgarity he used. It was probably some kind of slang from the realm.

Du Li's face was full of disappointment. He scratched his hair hard and paced anxiously for a few steps.

Finally, he suddenly looked up: "I can't wait any longer! I'll be sold in two days at most! Then I won't be able to leave! I have to get out immediately!"

Du Li stared at Chen Yan: "According to wartime regulations, which prioritize high-value targets, I now need to requisition you as my evacuation assistant!"

We'll each state our mission objectives and what we'll gain. If I determine that my gains are more valuable, you'll be recruited and assist me in my immediate evacuation!

Chen Yan did not refuse and nodded, saying, "Okay."

"Tell me your mission first," Du Li said coldly to Chen Yan.

“I…” Chen Yan took a deep breath: “The population of this village, the number of villages in their tribe, the estimated total population, the estimated total trade revenue, the scale of their military equipment—and finally, the estimated war potential. My infiltration is a long-term plan.”

When Chen Yan said these things, his heart was actually pounding.

He was obviously talking nonsense, but it was the safest nonsense he could think of.

He felt there was a possibility that his secret might be exposed.

Fortunately, Du Li only gave Chen Yan a strange look and frowned, saying, "What nonsense are they spouting... Didn't they already collect this kind of data last year? Damn it, do those guys sitting on the platform making plans not value the lives of us on the front lines?"
These numbers are collected every one or two years? How many lives are sacrificed each time?

Chen Yan remained calm and said indifferently, "Someone has to do these things."

He breathed a sigh of relief; although Du Li complained, he didn't doubt him.

Du Li nodded, his tone becoming serious: "Then, the value of your mission is far less than what I gain!"

He looked at Chen Yan and said slowly, "I don't need to tell you about my original mission, since I didn't complete it anyway... However, I accidentally discovered something even more important."

"what?"

"About the Divine Tree!" Du Li's eyes gleamed, his tone tinged with excitement. "The Divine Tree of the Beast Clan! Top-tier intelligence from the War Intelligence Division! I've gathered some information about the Divine Tree, so..."

Chen Yan was shocked!
The sap from that sacred tree has extraordinary effects and is indeed very tempting! From any perspective, it is extremely valuable!
“Your value is higher, I’ll listen to you.” Chen Yan nodded readily.

This was originally his plan—to find a way to escape through Du Li.

He didn't intend to recruit Du Li and take the lead himself—he knew very well that he didn't have the ability and didn't understand the situation here enough.

It would be best to let Du Li take the lead.

"Do you have a plan to evacuate?" Chen Yan said slowly, "I've only been here for six days, you are more familiar with and understand this place."

“I’ve thought of a plan, but it’s very risky.” Du Li sighed, “But given the current situation, let’s take a gamble.”

As he spoke, Du Li approached Chen Yan, squatted down on the ground, picked up a stick, and began to write and draw on the ground.

He is drawing a topographic map.

Due to limitations, the drawing is quite rough, but even so, Chen Yan could understand it.

"The village is here. If you go east, you will cross two mountain ridges and find vast forests."

There used to be a river between the two mountain ridges, but now it's frozen over, which has ironically become our chance to escape. We can walk across the ice, cross the two mountain ridges, and enter the forest area behind the mountains.

Then, keep walking for about six or seven days—if everything goes smoothly and we're lucky enough to survive!
Eventually we will emerge from the forest.

As far as I know, there are many of our scouts wandering in the border wilderness. After we leave the forest, that area happens to be the contact zone between the two sides. If we are lucky, we may encounter a scout from our side, who can take us back!

If we're unlucky, we might encounter enemy scouts..."

Chen Yan remained silent, quietly gazing at the rough map.

Du Li slowly said, "So, it's a gamble with our lives! When we escape, we might be hunted down and caught. We might get lost in the dense forest, we might encounter wild beasts, and there's also the bitter cold and thirst... Anything could take our lives!"

Even those two mountain ridges have tribes of ferocious beasts from the mining area; if we encounter them, we're doomed.

Even if everything goes smoothly, and we are lucky enough to reach our final destination and escape the forest.

But in that place, waiting for our scouts was a matter of luck.

You'll only encounter them if you're lucky; if you're unlucky, you'll encounter their scouts.

Of course, it's more likely that we'll encounter nothing and just wait to die in that place!

Without hesitation, Chen Yan nodded and said, "Let's do it this way. It's the only option anyway, there's nothing to hesitate about." Chen Yan was also eager to leave this monster village...

He knew perfectly well that staying here would mean certain death!
The weak wooden bowl was utterly powerless to protect itself... and after offending the Blackrock Overseer, it was clear that the Blackrock Overseer wielded far more power in the village than the weak and isolated wooden bowl.

The supervisor from the heart made no attempt to hide his malice towards him, and could find a pretext to kill him at any moment.

A wooden bowl... is of no use!
If I stay, I will surely die.

"Then it's settled." Du Li also made up his mind, took a deep breath, and said, "From now on, you will be my assistant!"

"When are we leaving?" Chen Yan asked.

"How about tomorrow night?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment, then looked at Du Li and said, "I have a suggestion."

"You said."

"Since we've decided to run, let's not wait! If conditions allow, let's run tonight! Anyway, it's still a long time before the villagers wake up and go to work!"

"Now?"

Du Li was stunned for a moment; he hadn't expected Chen Yan to act so decisively.

"You'll be sold, and neither of us knows when the deal will happen. What if it's tomorrow? Then everything will be over."

And why aren't you running now? Or do you need to pack something?
We have no reason to waste another night.

Du Li gritted his teeth: "You're right! We really don't need to waste another night! Let's leave tonight! But I do need to pack some things... I started preparing for the evacuation a month ago, and I've been stockpiling food for it. I need to go back and bring my food supplies with me."

Otherwise, we won't get far at all.

Afterwards, Du Li and Chen Yan agreed that they would each set off separately and meet at the edge of the woods east of the village entrance.

Chen Yan and Du Li were very familiar with that place; it was the area where Chen Yan cut down trees every day—the private property of the wooden bowl.

However, Chen Yan raised his concerns: although it was "rest time" and the monsters in the village were all asleep, he would still inevitably be discovered if he ran out rashly, as those monsters had very keen senses.

Du Li looked at Chen Yan with a puzzled expression, and then he took out something that made Chen Yan's heart pound wildly!
One talisman!!
"Where is your equipment?" Du Li asked Chen Yan.

"It's lost," Chen Yan replied calmly. "There were some special circumstances."

Du Li didn't delve into it—perhaps it was just a matter of time, and he didn't have time to ask in detail.

Du Li handed the talisman directly to Chen Yan: "I only have two invisibility talismans left, this one is for you!"

Chen Yan sensed that Du Li had developed some doubts about him, but fortunately, these doubts were not enough to overturn Du Li's trust in him—after all, there was the secret code "Pagoda Suppresses River Demon" as a backup.

After Du Li left, Chen Yan immediately examined the invisibility talisman carefully.

In this place, there is no vital energy between heaven and earth, and one cannot activate the vital energy in one's own body, so the cultivator becomes a useless person.

Chen Yan's talismans are all stored in his storage equipment, so he can't take them out at all!
Moreover, even if it were taken out, it would be useless... because there is no primordial energy in the world.

But as soon as Chen Yan held the talisman in his hand, he immediately sensed a trace of energy fluctuation within it!
This talisman actually has its own stored vital energy?
Also!

Chen Yan quickly calculated in his mind: In places where there is no Yuan Qi outside, only equipment with its own Yuan Qi reserves can be used!

So... this doesn't really count as a talisman anymore.

Or is it more like a scroll?
Essentially, all talismans are simply runes drawn on a piece of paper. When used, the runes attract the vital energy of heaven and earth to complete their spells.

But Chen Yan actually also had a "scroll-type" talisman.

The "Mother's Love is as Solid as a Mountain" talisman that Gu Qingyi gave at the end was actually a kind of scroll.

That woman sealed the [Formless Calamity-Breaking Slash] directly into the talisman.

It stores up all the vital energy and strength.

Strictly speaking, it was no longer a talisman, but a scroll.

·
The talisman in Chen Yan's hand was not made of talisman paper, but rather seemed to be some kind of leather.

After touching it a couple of times, Chen Yan stopped wasting time studying it.

He turned around and began digging in the corner of the cabin.

After digging for a while, he unearthed his personal equipment: an alchemy furnace and a thumb ring.

These things were brought into this world by myself, and luckily, after I was caught by the wooden bowl, the wooden bowl had no interest in them and didn't care.

Perhaps in the eyes of the young Muwan, who had never been to the battlefield, it was nothing more than a rotten stone.

The item wasn't taken by the wooden bowl; instead, it was tossed to Chen Yan.

Chen Yan dug a hole in the wooden house and carefully buried the item inside—he didn't dare wear it when he went out to work during the day, for fear of being seen by other knowledgeable monsters.

After putting on the items, Chen Yan estimated the time in his mind.

Chen Yan gently tore the leather talisman open and slapped it onto his body...

The familiar fluctuations of vital energy almost brought tears to Chen Yan's eyes. Feeling the vital energy enveloping his body, Chen Yan's figure disappeared rapidly.

Invisibility charm!
·
The invisibility talisman not only visually conceals one's form, but also hides Chen Yan's aura.

The products from this realm are indeed of superior quality!
After praising it in his heart, Chen Yan didn't dare to waste any more time and immediately left with his things. However, before leaving, Chen Yan carefully wiped away the rough terrain map that Du Li had just drawn on the ground with his foot!
·
Chen Yan arrived at the meeting point without any problems.

At the easternmost edge of the village, in the woods, there are many tree stumps left on the ground—the result of Chen Yan's work over the past few days.

Looking at these tree stumps, Chen Yan felt a bit conflicted – he had actually been a slave for several days.

He hid behind a tree and waited quietly.

However, an accident happened very soon!
·
Suddenly, a commotion and commotion erupted in the village!

Then more and more lanterns lit up, followed by exclamations and sharp whistles!
Chen Yan's heart sank: Du Li must have been exposed!

Sure enough, just as Chen Yan was about to turn around and run away, he saw a figure dart out of the village at lightning speed. It was Du Li!

Right behind Du Li, a group of monsters rushed out with various weapons. Although many of the monsters were still in a state of chaos, shouting and yelling, some of them had already set their sights on Du Li and chased after him!
Even more strangely, a monster swung a stone lock bound with rope in its hand, spun it around a few times, and then threw it at Du Li.

Du Li ran frantically, but soon his body jolted violently, and he fell forward, spitting out blood.

He was hit in the back by a flying rock and fell to the ground. Although he tried his best to get up quickly, the monsters behind him were getting closer and closer.

Du Li's face was contorted with rage, and he suddenly roared, "Let's die together! Let's die together!!"

As he ran forward, he suddenly raised his right hand and slashed hard at his left elbow!
With a snap, this ruthless man actually chopped off his left arm at the elbow!

As blood splattered, Du Li gripped his left forearm, tearing at the flesh with both his hands and mouth, pulling out the forearm bone...

Upon closer inspection, however, it wasn't bone at all, but rather a section of something that gleamed with a metallic sheen...

sword?
Du Li gripped the sword in his right hand, his face growing increasingly crazed. With a roar, he threw the sword into the air, muttering something unintelligible...

Suddenly, the sword shone with golden light!
The intense fluctuation of vital energy sent a jolt through Chen Yan, who was hiding behind a tree!

Flying sword?!
This guy actually had a flying sword hidden away!!

·
The flying sword drew a circle in mid-air, sparkling with golden light, before rushing towards the pursuing monsters.

After a golden light flashed by, the two monsters at the forefront were swiftly swept past by the flying sword, their heads detached from their necks and sent flying into the sky!
Blood spurted from his cavity, yet his body still managed to run forward several steps before finally collapsing.

The flying sword flashed with golden light and crashed headlong into the horde of monsters chasing after it, immediately followed by painful screams and howls.

But some monsters have already drawn their weapons and are fiercely slashing at the flying swords!

Ding!
No one knows which monster swung its axe at the flying sword. The golden light on the flying sword was immediately scattered, but the flying sword still followed the axe upwards and cut off the monster's arm.

Then the other monsters realized what was happening—this race of monsters was indeed fierce and warlike. As more and more monsters used their weapons to slash, the golden light on the flying swords trembled and visibly dimmed.

Du Li had already run quite far and was about to reach the rendezvous point when he shouted, "Come help me! My flying sword doesn't have much energy left; it'll be useless once it runs out!"

Just as Chen Yan was about to appear to provide assistance, he suddenly heard a sound of something cutting through the air!

In the darkness, a shadowy figure shot over. Du Li was running when he suddenly jolted!
An arrow had already pierced his back and shot out through his chest!

Du Li coughed up blood, staggered forward, and fell to the ground!

It lay right at Chen Yan's feet!

His eyes widened, and he rolled on the ground, but he could no longer get up.

From the hole in his chest, copious amounts of blood gushed out, steadily taking his life!
Du Li's eyes widened suddenly, and he roared in a trembling voice, "Help, help me, please help me..."

In the midst of the monster horde, the flying sword's golden light dissipated, and it was finally smashed down by a monster's hammer, shattering into pieces on the ground.

From the crowd, a tall figure swiftly stepped out; it was the village chief!
The leader monster, draped in a cloak, held a longbow in his hand and coldly stared in their direction.

Chen Yan stood behind the tree, his hair standing on end.

He sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from this leader monster!
What truly unsettled Chen Yan was that the monster leader's gaze wasn't fixed on Du Li on the ground, but rather...

That look, it was as if it was looking at me?

But I was clearly invisible!

·
(End of this chapter)