"We are now like turtles in a jar; tell me, how do we escape? Are we supposed to sprout wings and fly out?"
Having spoken, Chen Xiong collapsed weakly into the command chair, looking at the extraordinary people whom he usually regarded as honored guests, revealing unabashed despair for the first time.
These high masters who could summon the wind and rain in the past now seemed powerless in the face of the Southern Army’s mysterious talisman magic.
At this moment, the elderly leader, dressed in a dark yin-yang magic robe, suddenly had a flash of brilliance in his cloudy eyes,
and urgently spoke: "Commander! Your Supervisor Document sealed by the Jade Seal from the previous dynasty’s decree of Qingzhou! Quickly take it out!"
Seeing Chen Xiong in shock, the elder excitedly explained: "That Supervisor Document bears the red seal of the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, containing a strand of legitimate destiny of the nation!
This object is extremely righteous and may temporarily counteract the great talisman art of the Southern Army, tearing open a gap in their encirclement!"
"Then we will gather all elites and, taking advantage of the chaos in their talisman magic and the disordered military spirit, seize the opportunity... to break through and escape!"
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, a terrifying light exploded in Chen Xiong’s despairing eyes.
He suddenly stood up, "Quickly! Bring me my Seal and Document!"
The city of Jiang occupied a vast area, with the east side adjoining the continuous mountain ranges.
To cover this secret escape, Chen Xiong did not hesitate to leave over forty thousand troops stationed in the city to draw the Southern Army’s main force.
He personally led a few thousand elite soldiers, stealthily slipping out of this isolated city encircled like an iron barrel, under the cover of dense night through a secret tunnel known only to a few trusted aides.
"We’ve got out!"
Someone exclaimed quietly.
Hundreds carried windproof oil lamps, the faint flames flickering in the night breeze, barely illuminating the long-abandoned rugged mountain path.
The team proceeded silently but swiftly.
After several hours of arduous trek, the outline of a plain vaguely appeared ahead.
An aide familiar with the terrain came close to Chen Xiong, lowered his voice, unable to conceal his excitement.
"Commander, we’re almost there! Ahead is Wang County; if we capture the military vehicles there, we can rush along the official road directly to the capital!"
Hope seemed to be at hand.
The next second, countless points of light suddenly lit up in the darkness ahead; they were a dense array of oil lamps, numbering thousands, illuminating the exit of the mountain path as bright as day!
Hundreds of Southern Army military vehicles were quietly parked on the flat open ground.
The headlights turned on simultaneously, their cold beams piercing the night, accurately spotlighting Chen Xiong and his group emerging from the mountain path.
Deputy Mo, along with several skilled individuals dressed as Taoists, was leisurely standing at the forefront of the convoy, as if they had been waiting here for quite some time.
"Commander Chen," Deputy Mo’s voice echoed in the silent night sky, "It must be hard for you at such an old age, having to traverse mountains and ridges in the dead of night."
He made a ’please’ gesture, pointing towards the military vehicle doors open behind him, his tone suddenly turning cold: "The mountain road is hard to travel, why not switch to our vehicles?"
"Commander Lu specifically instructed—to personally escort you on your final journey."
Chen Xiong froze in place, his face ashen.
He hadn’t expected that his final escape route had been calculated by the Southern Army’s high master.
"Commander, apologies! Borrowing your vital blood for a moment!"
In the instant Chen Xiong’s mind was lost, the elder in the yin-yang robe’s eyes flashed with harshness, and a claw-like hand abruptly seized Chen Xiong’s wrist!
Before he could react, a sharp dagger swiftly slashed across his palm.
A stream of crimson blood immediately gushed forth.
Chen Xiong cried out in pain, both startled and enraged.
But the elder in the yin-yang robe had no intention of stopping; he urgently unfolded the Qingzhou Supervisor Document symbolizing the previous dynasty’s legitimacy, sealed with the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, pressing it unhesitatingly onto the fresh blood on Chen Xiong’s palm!
"Majestic destiny, guided by blood! Imperial decree here, embodying a thousand miles of destiny — open!"
The elder’s hair and beard stood on end, muttering chants, his tone ancient and urgent.
In an instant, the document stained with Chen Xiong’s vital blood and the elder’s curse power seemed like a dormant dragon suddenly awakened.
"Buzz!"
A condensed gold column bursting with regal dragon energy explosively erupted from the document, soaring to the sky!
The intensity of the light instantly dispersed the darkness for miles around, illuminating the entire mountain range as if it were daytime.
An ancient intimidating aura descended mightily!
"Fire!"
"Protect the Commander’s breakout!" Chen Xiong’s elite commander shouted loudly upon seeing this.
Almost simultaneously as the command was issued, a gunshot pierced the night sky.
The bullet was not aimed at the military vehicle but accurately hit a Taoist standing beside Deputy Mo in the leg!
"Ouch! Damn it... why did the Commander’s divine talisman not work?!"
The Taoist screamed in pain, looking at the ineffective protective talisman on his chest, and scrambled back behind the military vehicle, avoiding the bullets.
Another knowledgeable elder’s face changed drastically, urgently shouting: "No! It’s not the Commander’s divine talisman failing!"
"It’s the legitimate energy of the dynasty condensed by the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, the ultimate righteous force; we practitioners naturally must retreat!!!"
Deputy Mo instantly reacted, promptly crouching, retreating behind the thick military vehicle armor with several masters, while yelling at the surrounding soldiers.
"Attention all! Free shooting, cover yourselves!"
The Southern Army, previously confident in victory, was now forced to withdraw in the face of the blinding gold light.