Chapter 113: The Hunt Begins
. Finally, the team reached the outskirts of the Great Star Dou Forest.
Here, towering, dense trees obscured the sun, creating a vast ocean of green.
Sunlight struggled to filter through the foliage, casting patches of light on the ground.
The air was filled with a damp, mysterious aroma, mingled with the faint fragrance of grass and the scent of an unknown danger.
Marquis Song Yao sat upright on his sleek, tautly muscled black steed, his posture as imposing as a towering mountain. With an overwhelming sense of oppression, he led the Third Battalion with a menacing momentum to the outskirts of the Great Star Dou Forest.
Although it was spring, the forest still held a lingering mass of snow, gleaming coldly under the gentle sunlight.
The deeper into the forest, the less greenery there was, as if a chill still lingered in this mysterious land.
Upon reaching the designated location, Marquis Song Yao halted the team. He reined in the reins and stood at the front, gazing silently at the enigmatic forest before him.
Marquis Song Yao acted swiftly. His deep and powerful voice resonated like a huge bell at the edge of the empty forest: "All brigades, listen up! Quickly spread out in a fan shape outside the forest. Be sure to keep your distance and form an impenetrable encirclement!"
With this order, the soldiers moved in unison like machines controlled by a precise program, and quickly rushed to the designated location.
Their footsteps resounded, each step firm and steady.
Under the Marquis's methodical command, the distances between the various divisions were precisely controlled, ensuring swift response and coordinated operations, while also successfully establishing a vast, impenetrable encirclement.
Wielding sharp weapons and fierce gazes, the soldiers kept a close eye on the elite non-spiritual masters of the army deep in the forest. Squadrons of approximately thirty to fifty men formed themselves into action.
Carrying the heavy responsibility of pioneering exploration, they advanced cautiously, like daggers, deep into the forest.
These elite soldiers wore stern expressions, their gazes like searchlights, warily scanning their surroundings.
Their weapons were gripped so tightly that their knuckles turned white with exertion, ready for any crisis. With
every step, they carefully observed the marks on the ground, the shape of the trees, and the subtle, unnatural scent in the air, never missing a single detail that might indicate danger. Midway
through the march, a squad leader suddenly raised his hand, signaling the troops to halt.
He slowly squatted down, his eyes fixed on a series of peculiarly shaped footprints on the ground. His brows were twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川". He said solemnly, "These footprints look like they were left by some kind of soul beast, and they are very fresh. Everyone, be alert and be careful!"
The team members instantly understood and quickly formed a tight defensive formation, standing back to back, with their weapons pointed in all directions, watching the movements around them vigilantly.
They knew that in this perilous forest, any subtle sign could be a life-or-death warning.
Meanwhile, the army's spirit masters sprang into action.
Besides Marquis Song Yao, the team commanders, and their experienced instructors, the other spirit masters formed teams of seven. Drawing on their unique abilities, they moved through the forest with the swiftness of ghosts.
Some spirit masters possessed exceptional talents, keenly sensing the surrounding atmosphere and detecting potential dangers.
Others excelled in tracking, using the slightest clue to pinpoint the movements of spirit beasts.
However, they remained mindful of the Marquis's instructions and stayed within the elite squad.
In the event of danger, they needed to reunite with the elite squad immediately and fight together.
A spirit master, galloping ahead, suddenly, as if sensing something, stopped abruptly, raising his hand to signal his teammates.
The seven spirit masters instantly connected, quickly gathering together and adopting a battle formation,
their eyes gleaming with tension and excitement. For a spirit master, a head-on confrontation with a powerful spirit beast is both a life-or-death test and an excellent opportunity to break through and enhance their strength. Meanwhile,
the laborers transporting food and fodder, the chefs responsible for logistics, and the doctors who healed the wounded, followed closely behind the Marquis, forming a relatively safe logistics support team.
Laborers, hunched over, labored, pushing carts laden with provisions, trudging forward step by step.
The cooks, mindful of their surroundings, mentally planned how to prepare a warm, delicious meal for the soldiers, ensuring they could eat safely despite the harsh conditions.
Doctors, carrying packages filled with medicine and medical equipment, their eyes filled with concern, kept a constant eye on the soldiers ahead, ready to provide prompt and effective treatment to the wounded.
As the advance grew, the soldiers grew increasingly vigilant.
Marquis Song Yao rode his horse, surveying the ranks. His gaze, like a cold star in the night sky, sharp and observant, closely monitored the progress of each squad.
Wherever his gaze passed, the soldiers seemed to be inspired, their morale soaring.
"Maintain formation, do not panic! All squads must maintain close communication. Report any developments immediately!"
The marquis's voice rang out again, as resolute and powerful as a bell, a shot of confidence in the soldiers.
The messengers rode their horses, shuttling back and forth between the various squads at lightning speed, conveying the Marquis's orders promptly and accurately to ensure the entire army's actions were in unison.
During the advance, the elite squad ahead was suddenly attacked by a group of ordinary beasts.
These were a pack of starving wolves, nimble and fast as lightning. They pounced on the squad with their fangs and claws bared.
A roar erupted from their mouths, as if threatening to tear the humans before them to shreds.
Seeing this, the squad leader immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hold the formation! No one is allowed to move without authorization! Follow my command!"
The soldiers quickly gathered together, tightly linking their shields, forming a solid defensive line to resist the frenzied attacks of the spirit beasts.
Meanwhile, the teammates behind them, longbows in hand, found the right moment and fired fiercely at the wolves.
The nearby spirit master teams, hearing the commotion, rushed to support them like arrows from a bow.
However, upon realizing it was just an ordinary pack of wolves, they did not waste their spirit energy, but instead watched the soldiers hunt the wolves.
Upon learning of the battle ahead, Marquis Song Yao gave the order without hesitation: "Increase vigilance and continue the steady advance! We must not give these starving creatures a chance to breathe!"
The army continued to advance, each step cautiously but with unwavering determination.
The trees in the forest grew thicker, the light growing dimmer, as if invisible eyes were watching them from the darkness, a perilous aura overwhelming them.
During the advance, the army encountered numerous terrain challenges.
In some places, the terrain was rugged and uneven, filled with huge rocks and deep ravines, presenting a significant obstacle to the advance.
Marquis Song Yao personally dismounted and directed the soldiers to clear the path.
His figure, busy and resolute among the troops, was like an unyielding banner, inspiring the soldiers' morale.
Through mountains, they cut paths; across rivers, they built bridges.
The soldiers worked together, some using ropes to tie huge rocks and collectively moving them.
Others used tools to fill in ravines. Everyone chanted in unison, step by step clearing a path full of hope for the following troops.
As time quietly passed, the army advanced further and further, gradually passing the edge of the forest and entering the outer zone—the outer zone of the spirit beasts.
The atmosphere here grew increasingly mysterious and dangerous, a gloomy, oppressive haze hanging heavy in the air, making it hard to breathe.
Marquis Song Yao's eyes revealed a solemn look. He knew that the real test had just begun, and what lay ahead might be an unprecedented challenge.
"Everyone, be alert! We have entered spirit beast territory and could encounter powerful beasts at any moment. All teams must be prepared for battle. Life and death depend on this!"
The marquis issued another command, his voice filled with undeniable authority.
The soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons, their hearts racing.
In this mysterious forest, the soldiers of the third battalion, led by Marquis Song Yao, marched forward towards unknown danger step by step.