Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Rooftop,

a shadowy figure passed through without making a sound.

His attire was ink blue, almost blending into the night sky, and his presence was as imperceptible as dead wood and stone; none of the Inner Qi Realm martial artists constantly surveilling the grocery store noticed him.

In just a few breaths, the figure had left the tight surveillance net and moved several miles away, silently observing from atop a tall building.

"Lord Chen Chen, the target has not stepped out of the door thus far."

Long Shi's gaze fixed on the iron-clad army ahead, his breath hitching, barely able to catch his breath.

Five men made a squad, ten a platoon—here there were ten platoons, over a hundred men!

Apart from the leading Chen Chen, the handsome young man Hei Jin, and the old man in black robe—all with Internal Qi Perfection—the aura of every squad leader and platoon leader was no weaker than his, with the squad leaders being even stronger, being warriors of Minor Completion of Internal Qi!

Indeed, every single soldier was a muscular giant at the peak of physical training.

The strongest personal guard platoon even consisted entirely of Inner Qi Realm martial artists!

Yet, Chen Chen did not even spare a glance at Long Shi, the one-armed leader of the Wild Wolf Gang.

With a wave of his hand, a scout clad in night gear emerged soundlessly from beneath the eave of a nearby roof.

Long Shi was startled; he had never noticed anyone there.

The scout, skilled in his movements, kneeled on one knee: "Reporting to the general, the thief has not left."

"That's good to hear."

A smug smile appeared on Chen Chen's face as he turned to the old man in black robe, Sect Elder Chou, "Sect Elder Chou, let's see how my Black Cloud Division compares to Zhou Kun's troops from the Fierce Tiger Village, shall we?"

It seemed he knew Zhou Kun and had studied military strategy with him.

"Far beyond them," Sect Elder Chou responded without minding Chen Chen's pride.

"Haha!"

Chen Chen laughed heartily, "That goes without saying. That son of a bitch Zhou Kun was no match for me back when we were at the military academy of the Marquis's Manor, and he still isn't now!"

While they talked, their soldiers had surrounded the nearby grocery store, with spears pointed and strong bows and sturdy crossbows ready to shoot, not even a bird in the sky could escape.

"Young Master Jin, would you like to duel with Jiang Ding? After all, he has the potential to be in the top ten of the Dragon and Phoenix List. A battle with him might lead to a breakthrough in your martial arts," Chen Chen said leisurely.

"No need for a wild beast in a cage," 'Black Flame Blade' Hei Jin replied with a cold expression.

He knew that the other party was showing off their military power.

If I surround you with a big army, what good is being in the top ten of the Dragon and Phoenix List?

Forget a mere list; if the army were bigger, even a Xiantian would have to be killed by sheer force of numbers!

Chen Chen gave a meaningful look.

Long Shi immediately understood and commanded his men to bring forward an old man with a shaky rosacea-ridden nose.

"Elder Zhang, you're always delivering water to the grocery store. Think of your whole family!"

"If you succeed, you'll be rewarded two taels of silver," a Wolf Guard said viciously.

"The old man understands."

Trembling, the rosacea-nosed elder approached the front door of the grocery store and began knocking loudly.

"Manager Jiang, Manager Jiang, I've come to deliver your water. The Wang family was in a rush today, so I brought your water first."

"Manager Jiang..."

Sect Elder Chou nodded slightly as he watched.

This Chen Chen, though somewhat conceited like a scholar, was extremely cautious in his military command. Not only did he call the two of them to identify any lapses, but he also maximized every last advantage. He had the makings of a capable leader.

"Manager Jiang, please come out for a moment, I'll put the water inside for you…"

Elder Zhang's knocking grew louder and more insistent, but the people inside seemed as deaf as could be, not responding at all, causing him to sweat profusely from anxiety.

A bad feeling arose in Chen Chen's heart.

"Breach the door!"

He ordered sharply.

"Yes!"

The soldiers immediately carried out the command, with one soldier wielding a heavy axe fiercely splitting open the gate, closely followed by a line of soldiers filing in.

"Breach!"

The sergeants surrounding the grocery also started to work at the same time, and neither the thin wooden boards nor the low walls piled up could resist, sending wood chips and stones flying in all directions.

A large group of heavily armored soldiers poured into the small grocery store.

"First unit, no thief tracks found."

"Second unit, no thief tracks found."

"Third unit…"

Each unit chief loudly reported back, and Chen Chen's expression of satisfaction disappeared, becoming so gloomy that he could drip water, "Turn this place upside down, check for any hidden passages."

"Yes!"

Over a hundred incredibly strong soldiers immediately got to work, dismantling beams one by one, along with counters, tables, boards, and even tiles being swiftly cleared out.

Soon, the grocery store was reduced to just a bare patch of ground.

The sergeants glanced back, seeing no new orders, and began to dig the earth, excavating several meters deep without finding anything.

"Damn it! One!"

Chen Chen enunciated each word as if squeezing them through his teeth, staring daggers at the scout in front of him, as well as Long Shi.

Cold sweat the size of beans poured from the scout's forehead as he swore to the heavens, "General, my brothers and I have not been negligent! Our eyes haven't left this courtyard for even a breath!"

"Chen Sir, my Wild Wolf Gang's men have also not discovered…"

Long Shi's face turned pale, and his body shook uncontrollably.

Before he finished speaking, a head had already been sent soaring into the air, blood spurting three inches high.

Chen Chen sheathed his blood-stained longsword, his voice devoid of emotion, "I'll take the punishment from Lord Hou personally. Do you understand?"

"Understood, General."

The scout turned deathly pale, his hands trembling as he kowtowed on the ground, "Considering the hard work I've put in over the years, I beg the General to take care of my family."

"As long as I am alive, your family won't starve," Chen Chen said solemnly.

"Thank you, General!"

The scout drew his bright longsword, sliced it across his throat with force, blood splattered, and his body fell to the ground.

"The rest of you, into the Sin Camp!"

Chen Chen said coldly.

"Yes!"

There was a silence you could hear a pin drop, only the sound of breathing, the pleading of the scouts, and the wailing of the Wild Wolf Gang martial artists.

"What a pity, he was a brave man."

Sect Elder Chou looked regretfully at the corpse on the ground, "You should have acted during the day. This man had strong light-body skills and concealment techniques, just like at Fierce Tiger Village. It's the same this time."

"I've erred, and I ask for Sect Elder Chou's forgiveness," Chen Chen said, his face devoid of the arrogant pride, bowing deeply, "According to your words, elder, where might the thief have gone? Has he already made good his escape?"

Sect Elder Chou lightly uttered three words.

"Blue Luminous Butterfly!"

…

In the distance,

Jiang Ding withdrew his gaze and took a step, quickly heading towards the city gate.

The night was deep, the city gates were already closed. The city walls were brightly lit, with soldiers constantly patrolling and guarding, almost in a state of war, without any laxity that's common in other cities.

Jiang Ding stopped.

The city wall stretched around the city for more than a dozen kilometers— it was impossible for every section to be so heavily guarded.

He scanned the area with the drone's camera, and as his figure moved, he arrived at a section of the wall patrolled by only a few soldiers at intervals of dozens of meters.

With a light tap of his toes, he leapt several meters high, barely touching the city wall. His sword silently drew from its sheath, lightly touching the wall. The tip went an inch deep into the wall, he exerted a slight force, and his body soared several meters again.

Repeating this several times, Jiang Ding stood atop the twenty-plus-meter-high city wall.

Under the dim firelight, his camouflage clothes changed color for shielding. With the Minor Completion of Internal Qi's Art of Small Concealment fully activated, the mere physically fit soldiers had no clue.

Jiang Ding glanced left and right, took a leap from the top of the wall into the space beneath, free-falling and pausing in the air several times, his figure completely vanishing from sight.