Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The campfire crackled at the makeshift outpost.

Feng, the strategist, had his hands tied behind his back and was forced to sit on a cold rock.

Lin Feng sat cross-legged opposite him, slowly wiping the bloodstains from the Broken Mountain Blade with a piece of deerskin. The blade reflected the flickering firelight, and also his expressionless face.

There were no instruments of torture, no roars, only this suffocating silence.

At first, Feng Moushi tried to remain calm, his eyes darting around, but under that deathly, oppressive gaze, cold sweat gradually seeped from his forehead, and his body began to tremble involuntarily. He knew that the killing god before him was someone who truly dared, and truly would, without hesitation, kill him.

"Mr. Feng," Lin Feng finally spoke, "you should know that I have little patience and don't like wasting words. Your master abandoned you and ran away, using you and these pieces of junk to attract pursuers. To him, you are useless now."

Feng Moushi's lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

"But you're still useful to me." Lin Feng stopped wiping his knife. "Tell me, which path did Prince Lin and 'Earthfire' take? When and where was the so-called 'sacrifice' held? What is the exact location of the entrance to 'Dragonfall Valley' in Fulong Ridge?"

"I...I really don't know, Lord Lin!" Advisor Feng cried, his voice trembling. "Only the Prince and his closest guards know the route. I was only responsible for...coordinating the transfer of these supplies; I truly know nothing about the details!"

"Don't know the details?" Lin Feng's voice suddenly turned sharp, and the Broken Mountain Blade was half-drawn from its sheath with a "clang".

"My patience is reserved for those willing to cooperate. Your only way out is to spill everything you know. As for whether Prince Lin will avenge you... do you think he'd care about the life or death of a pawn when he's in dire straits himself?"

These words were like the last straw, breaking down Feng's psychological defenses. He completely collapsed, crying, "I'll talk... I'll talk! Lord Lin, spare my life!"

"Your Highness and Lord 'Earthfire' parted ways yesterday afternoon on a hunter's path ten miles north of Eagle's Beak Gorge, heading towards the back of 'Dragon-Severing Cliff,' the main peak of Fulong Ridge... I really don't know the exact route!"

"The sacrifice... the sacrifice will be held in the 'Dragonfall Valley'! It should be on the night of the full moon in three days! The valley entrance... the valley entrance is behind the Broken Dragon Cliff, behind a waterfall surrounded by three thousand-year-old 'Blood Cypress' trees! There is a deep pool below the waterfall, and an entrance to the pool from the bottom, but it can only be opened by a special method at a specific time! I overheard all this from a drunken guide from the Crimson Feather Tribe, I don't know if it's true or not!"

"As for the ritual content... I've only heard that it requires gathering three sacred artifacts: the 'Crimson Feather Staff,' the 'Ghost Chariot Statue,' and the 'Starfall Core.' Then, through a special ceremony, on the night of the full moon, the 'Dragonfall Eye' is opened to welcome... to welcome the descent of some 'ancestral spirit' or 'divine power'..."

Strategist Feng spilled out everything he knew, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

Lin Feng listened attentively, exchanging quick glances with Chen Heng, Bai Xiaohe, and the others. This information was extremely valuable; although it couldn't confirm everything, it was enough to outline the general picture.

"Take him away, but don't let him die." Lin Feng waved his hand. Two Duan Yue guards dragged the limp strategist Feng away.

"Should we wait for reinforcements from the capital, or mobilize more troops from the northern border?" Bai Xiaohe suggested. With only a hundred or so people, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock to launch a strong attack on a natural stronghold guarded by the elite of the Chiyu tribe and the "Chiyuan" guards.

"It's too late." Lin Feng shook his head. "We must act immediately! The objective isn't a direct assault, but a surprise attack, sabotage, and capture of the leader!"

He stood up and looked around at his generals: "Issue the order: depart immediately in one hour. Destination—Dragon-Slaying Cliff!"

"yes!"

In the afternoon, they finally circled around to the back of Broken Dragon Cliff.

"Attack! We can hear water ahead!" the scout reported.

The group moved stealthily, using the trees for cover as they approached. The sound of water grew louder and louder, like a stampede of horses. Passing through a dense thicket of vines, a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before them!

A white ribbon-like waterfall cascaded down from a black cliff dozens of meters high, crashing into a bottomless emerald pool below, roaring like thunder, and the water vapor billowed into mist.

Around the waterfall stand three enormous ancient cypress trees, towering majestically.

"The entrance behind the waterfall that Strategist Feng mentioned should be there! But we don't know how to get in." Chen Heng pointed to the black rock wall, half-hidden by the curtain of water, that was faintly visible behind the waterfall.

"The entrance must be extremely well hidden, and there will likely be mechanisms or special methods to open it," Bai Xiaohe said. "It's unwise to force our way in. We need to find out about the guards around us first, and then figure out a way."

"Chen Heng, take your men and spread out. Search all possible hiding places or camps within a one-mile radius, and record the terrain. Be careful not to alert them," Lin Feng ordered.

"yes!"

The scouts dispersed back into the woods.

It wasn't until the sun was setting that Chen Heng began to bring back news.

"The defenses have found no fixed outposts or camps within a mile radius. However, there are fresh lookout marks and simple bunkers on the high points to the northeast and southwest of the waterfall, which should be the locations of mobile sentries, but no one is there at the moment."

"It's getting late, it's not advisable to explore any further." Lin Feng made a quick decision. "Retreat five miles and find a more secluded spot to set up camp. We'll rest for the night."

The group quietly retreated and found a sheltered mountain hollow in the dense forest further away to set up a hidden camp. They did not light any fires, ate only cold food and dry rations, and took turns keeping watch and resting.

As night fell, Fulong Ridge was completely swallowed by darkness.

Lin Feng leaned against a rock, closing his eyes to rest, but his ears were picking up every strange sound in the forest. Bai Xiaohe sat not far away, gently wiping her soft sword.

Suddenly, a faint, rhythmic, muffled drumbeat, seemingly coming from underground, drifted into my ears! Interspersed within the drumbeats were also indistinct harmonies, like chanting yet also like roaring!

Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes and met Bai Xiaohe's gaze, who had also woken up with a start.

The sound of drums! The chanting! Just like what the people on duty heard last night! And it seemed to be coming from the direction of Broken Dragon Cliff and the waterfall! Although it was extremely faint, masked by the sound of the waterfall and the wind, with their keen ears, they could not be mistaken!

Is it a rehearsal for a sacrificial ceremony? Or a prelude to some kind of ritual?

"They're down there! Or the entrance is nearby!" Bai Xiaohe whispered, her eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Not bad." Lin Feng gripped the hilt of his sword, gazing towards the waterfall in the darkness. The roaring sound of the water seemed to have become a veil concealing some great secret.