A field battle during college

On the vast land, a colossal fissure stretches across the north and south. The rift valley is entirely composed of hard, sharp rocks, with water rushing through its bottom. It resembles a slash carved into the earth by a divine sword, extending for thousands of miles.
The thousand-mile-long canyon is connected only by one point: the Ghost Gate Pass of Xiliang. Nestled among mountains, the Ghost Gate Pass stands where, when heaven and earth cleaved the rift, the sky collapsed, mountains were moved, and seas were filled. A giant stone mountain collapsed right onto the rift. But the mountain's hard body did not shatter; instead, it became the only passage between the east and west banks. The riverbed here is fraught with hidden currents and reefs; crossing by boat is almost certain death.

Humans have built the Ghost Gate Pass for millennia, making it impregnable to defend against the western barbarians.
On the gray rocks before the Ghost Gate Pass, countless streams of blood from these barbarians have flowed, staining the gray rocks an even darker brown.

The alien races had three routes to advance eastward into the Nine Provinces: northward to the snowy regions, bypassing the initial point of the rift valley; the central route through the Gates of Hell, where they would face a direct confrontation with the human army of 100,000; and the southern route across the endless ocean by ferry. However, none of these routes were easy.

The snowy regions were harsh, lacking food, and further hampered by the presence of the five tribes of the White-haired People, making the journey long and arduous. At least a million aliens were buried at the Gates of Hell, and countless others perished there; this natural barrier had never been breached. Ferrying was not the alien races' forte; they lacked advanced shipbuilding technology, and their rafts couldn't withstand the harsh seas. There was originally a fourth route: the Southern Barbarian Mountains at the southernmost tip of the continent. However, any group of more than a hundred who entered the Southern Barbarian Mountains never returned intact, and the sweltering, humid climate was enough to defeat even a large army.

The land was originally shared by all races, but as humanity grew stronger over the millennia, conflicts with other races deepened, ultimately leading to a deadly struggle. In the east, the human race rose up in triumph, wiping out the alien races. In the west, the alien races rallied, turning the tide and becoming evenly matched with the humans. Later, the various races united to resist the humans. Faced with millions of alien troops, the humans suffered a crushing defeat on the western battlefield, retreating only to the Gates of Hell. Here, countless alien warriors, even after their lives were shattered, could not even take a step into the Gates of Hell; this natural barrier blocked the aliens' last hope of revenge.

The aliens eventually retreated to the western continent, where many humans remained, subservient to other races and reduced to lowly slavery. The humans in the east established powerful kingdoms, divided into nine provinces. However, some remnants of mixed-race people remained in the north and east, products of interbreeding between humans and aliens. Due to their blood ties, the eastern humans ultimately spared them.

For over a hundred years, the werewolves, bear-men, fox-men, and the even more powerful orcs of the west built vast empires. But it was always a fleeting moment, never lasting long before fading away. Every emperor would mobilize troops to launch a fierce attack on the Gates of Hell to demonstrate their power, but aside from wasting resources and manpower, nothing was achieved.

But this time, the rulers of the western continent were actually the Fox Clan. The Nine-Tailed Fox reigned supreme, and all races surrendered to them, even the once-arrogant Beastmen bowed their heads. Every founding emperor had attacked the Gates of Hell, and spies from the Nine Provinces began preparing for war upon learning of the western unification.

The western gateway to the Gates of Hell was a high slope. When the Beastmen became emperor, they enslaved millions of humans to build a staircase, taking five years to complete a road leading directly to the Gates of Hell platform. Now, this five-mile-long staircase corridor was filled with torches, brightly lit. Large armies of soldiers moved in and out, and slaves carried heavy loads. This corridor was carved out of the rock itself. Marching in the open was vulnerable to long-range catapult attacks from the humans at the Gates of Hell, and the bumpy road made transportation difficult. Even more concerning is the complete lack of secrecy; any soldier on the gates could easily discern the size and equipment of the alien army.

However, this stepped corridor only allowed the aliens to safely transport food and troops to the platform; it remained completely unshakeable against the formidable natural barrier. On the platform, orc soldiers were exchanging fire with human catapults, large quantities of logs being transported to the platform and assembled into stone cannons. However, often ten orc stone cannons couldn't match a single human stone cannon; the quality and power of the two sides were on completely different levels. The greatest threat to humans often came from the agile werewolves, who could easily dodge arrows, move along the walls, and launch surprise attacks to kill the soldiers on the walls.

Chen Chengyu had been serving at the gates for a year and a half and was extremely familiar with the pass. He said to his friend Liu Tong, "Old Liu, I think something's not right. This time, the werewolves aren't climbing the wall at all; they're just sitting below as targets for us. And the orcs on the other side are acting like idiots, firing stone cannons at us. Aren't they just asking for death?"
Liu Tong was a constable in Yizhou. He got into a fight while gambling and beat someone to death with a flurry of punches. Because of his official position, he was given a reduced sentence and sent to hard labor. After several years, he was thrown into the Ghost Gate Pass as a foot soldier. He yawned and shook his head, saying, "What's so strange about it? Wouldn't it be better if they all died down there? We can get a good night's sleep. Even if another 100,000 werewolves came, they wouldn't be enough for the archers on the watchtower." Seeing that his companion didn't agree with his opinion, Chen Chengyu had no choice but to walk away dejectedly and continue observing the alien race below the pass. The other side had been playing around down there for more than two months without a single actual attack. Every morning, it was the same three things: human slaves fired a round of arrows, then the orcs fired stone cannons, and the werewolves roamed around the city and fired arrows from below. Chen Chengyu had heard that the alien race, led by werewolves, had once stormed the Gate of Hell. The two sides fought for three days and three nights; the governor of Jingzhou was killed on the spot, his body never recovered; more than half of the 80,000 defenders were killed or wounded; and General Shi Tongyu, whose meridians were shattered, also perished after less than two days. Finally, the werewolves, their strongest members, were almost entirely wiped out. The Wolf King, in grief and rage, punched a large crater in the three-foot-thick gate before departing in despair. This incident greatly weakened the werewolves, reigniting war in the western continent, and for a long time afterward, they were unable to mount another assault on the Gate of Hell.

These tales were passed down orally from the elders in his family. After his father's disappearance, the vast Chen family fell into the hands of his uncles, leaving his widowed mother and son to be ostracized. To earn a living, they had no choice but to become guards at the Gate of Hell.
Having learned of history, Chen Chengyu couldn't believe the alien race below the gate was so useless; a tribe capable of unifying the continent was no ordinary force. What unsettled Chen Chengyu even more was that the current leader of Ghost Gate Pass was Sima Yangyu. This fellow had fought several battles against the Donghu in the east, winning many victories, and was considered a capable general. Yet the governor of Kyushu had actually sent such an offensive-minded general to guard Ghost Gate Pass—had they lost their minds?

At midnight, the whistle blew again in the camp. Chen Chengyu quickly got out of bed, donned his armor, and hurried to the tent to assemble in the square. This was undoubtedly another training exercise. Sima Yangyu was a diligent general with his own methods for training troops, and the soldiers trusted him. Chen Chengyu stood ramrod straight, but his eyes darted around, the sea of black heads making him tremble with fear. The huge square was almost completely filled with people—a square that could hold 100,000 people, yet it was packed. Ghost Gate Pass had never mobilized its entire force at night except for enemy attacks and expeditions.
Seeing Sima Yangyu standing on the high platform, his face glowing, not at all like someone who had stayed up all night, Chen Chengyu's heart grew even more uneasy.

When Sima Yangyu announced the impending night raid on the alien camp, the entire army erupted in uproar, and it took several shouts from the various officers to quiet them down. Sima Yangyu, clad in golden armor, wearing a dragon-headed golden helmet, and holding a golden snake-hilted sword, looked like a god descending to earth in the firelight. That golden armor was a dragon-patterned treasure armor bestowed by the Emperor of the Nine Provinces, the plates all forged from white iron, then painted with gold lacquer, and engraved with repeated dragon patterns. This was the Emperor's reward for Sima Yangyu's merit in the Eastern Expedition against the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Hu people, where he had slain 150,000 allied troops. The dragon helmet was a gift from the Emperor to Sima's ancestors; if he could achieve another great merit, the Emperor would bestow golden boots upon him, completing a set of imperial golden robes.

Sima Yangyu drew his sword and pointed west, and the army slowly began to move. Beneath the ten-zhang-high black iron gate were two small archways, normally used for entry without the main gate open. However, the Ghost Gate was a crucial pass; there were no merchants or civilians passing through to the west, making these archways redundant. Tonight, the wind was high and the moon was dark, with clouds obscuring the moon. The two archways opened silently. Soldiers used bamboo frames to hang black cloth, blocking the view from the west, and then quickly ran out through the two archways, each large enough for three people to pass at a time. Once out, they all silently moved to the front and formed ranks, vigilantly observing their surroundings. Soldiers continued to rush out of the archways, and in an instant, a force of five thousand men was assembled. Chen Chengyu was a military household member, always listed as the vanguard in campaigns, but his military merits were calculated three times the normal rate, so military households' sons could easily rise through the ranks if they were capable. All five thousand men wrapped their weapons in black cloth to prevent noise and glare. Once this force successfully launched their surprise attack, they would send a signal, and then the entire Ghost Gate would pour out, heading straight for the alien camp.

Chen Chengyu jogged alongside the troops, his hand gripping his long sword, trembling. Most of the men in this force had never stepped outside the Ghost Gate; beyond the black iron gate lay the alien lands. He often wondered what kind of master could possibly defeat his highly skilled ancestor. His ancestor, a disciple of Qinshan, possessed incredibly powerful internal energy, capable of shattering rocks with a single palm strike and injuring people from a distance. However, in a battle against the aliens, his arm was twisted off. The ancestral tale was that it was broken by an orc, entirely through sheer physical strength.
Having heard these stories since childhood, Chen Chengyu never learned martial arts, because the more powerful a person was, the more dangerous their position would be. A more important reason was his father's unparalleled martial arts skills. Despite being a collateral branch of the Chen family, he overpowered the direct descendants and seized the position of family head. Ultimately, however, he perished in the Western Continent, disappearing without a trace.

Approaching the enemy camp, the group no longer concealed their presence and drew their swords. The werewolves opposite them also spotted the enemy, and dozens of werewolves charged forward. The crossbowmen in the front ranks of the Ghost Gate soldiers unleashed a barrage of arrows. These crossbow bolts, with triangular arrowheads, could easily tear a large hole in a werewolf's body; even orcs couldn't withstand many arrows. Screams rang out as the werewolves were all killed, and the human army split into ten groups, charging towards the alien camp. At this moment, roars and curses echoed continuously from the alien camp, the high-pitched horns blaring endlessly. The first werewolf to catch Chen Chengyu's eye was a creature covered only in fur, with sharp nails extending several feet from its fingertips. The werewolf howled and pounced on Chen Chengyu. Liu Tong thrust his spear forward, tearing the werewolf's body apart. Chen Chengyu swung his longsword, severing the wolf's head.

Not far away, the constable Guan Zhiyong had his shield shattered by an orc. Two mangled corpses lay nearby. The orc, with two spears embedded in his body, staggered towards Guan Zhiyong, carrying a giant axe. Chen Chengyu gave Liu Tong a signal, and the two attacked the orc from both sides. Chen Chengyu ducked to avoid an axe blow, his longsword slicing a gash in the orc's thigh, blood gushing forth. The orc roared, about to raise his axe again, when a spear pierced his mouth and emerged from his neck.

The surrounding alien races were caught off guard, but their innate strength and resilient vitality allowed them to fight the human army to a standstill. It seemed the surprise attack was about to turn into a full-scale assault. Suddenly, Chen Chengyu grabbed a torch from the ground and threw it onto the tent. The leather tent instantly burst into flames, and several werewolves who couldn't dodge in time were caught in the fire, their bodies ablaze, howling and rolling on the ground. As he set the fire, Chen Chengyu shouted at the top of his lungs, "Set it on fire! They're covered in fur, they'll catch fire easily!" Liu Tong also grabbed a torch and shouted the same thing. Moments later, the alien camp was ablaze, and many werewolves were burned beyond recognition. The human soldiers regained the upper hand. Suddenly, a bright light flashed in the sky, and then the black iron gate, which hadn't been opened for decades, slowly opened. A whole column of soldiers stepped out. First to appear were the heavily armored infantry, their armor weighing over fifty pounds; the earth shook as tens of thousands marched in perfect unison. Next came longbowmen, light cavalry, light infantry, and the few heavy cavalry troops available at the Ghost Gate Pass. The primary objective of this pass was defense, not offense; the long stone staircase corridor was completely unsuitable for cavalry. The alien camp was in complete chaos, with no coordination between soldiers.

Chen Chengyu gathered several soldiers and formed ranks on the battlefield, attacking only passing aliens and letting powerful orcs pass. Liu Tong had already changed three spears, and even with blades and spears piercing their bodies, the orcs could still fiercely retaliate. He shook his numb arm and looked at the fleeing aliens, saying, "Chengyu, if the supervisory team sees us cowardly, they'll execute us on the spot." "Nonsense, we outnumber them. If they dare to come, we'll wipe them out.
Don't try to be a hero, look over there." Chen Chengyu pointed to the battlefield in the distance. There, a small team had just fought incredibly bravely, the ten-man squad working seamlessly together, instantly killing a large number of aliens. However, stimulated by the bloodshed, many aliens attacked them. Even the bear-tribe officer joined the battle, and this elite squad couldn't hold out for long before being torn to pieces, with not a single one left.

"Don't kill too many. The orcs are alright, but the werewolves will fight to the death when they get angry. The main force is coming soon. Once the heavy infantry arrives, we can crush these beasts," Chen Chengyu explained to everyone while fighting. "Now, everyone retreat to the stone wall. There's no sound from that camp to the west; those who charged there have probably been slaughtered."
Sure enough, just as everyone retreated to the stone wall, horns sounded from the west. Then came countless roars of beasts, and the earth slowly trembled. First to burst out of the darkness was a white-skinned giant rhinoceros, knocking all the human soldiers in its path into the air, clearly not going to survive. Next came the werewolves, who ran as fast as horses, their claws sparking when they struck the rocks, demonstrating their incredible hardness. The attacking force, which had the upper hand, was instantly scattered, and the lone humans were no match for these beasts.

The predicament didn't last long before it was relieved, as reinforcements slowly arrived, the first to arrive being longbowmen. The extended armor-piercing arrows whistled through the air, halting the advance of the alien races who hadn't yet charged forward. The Xiliang longbowmen's diffused fire was perfectly suited to the terrain of the Ghost Gate Pass; the expansive gray rock platform provided them with ample range. The human bugles sounded, a rallying cry. More than half of the five thousand raiding party had perished, and the remaining warriors moved towards the right flank, reforming their ranks. The aliens still wanted to pursue, but the heavy infantry extended their two-zhang-long spears, forming a sharp wall of soldiers; any aliens daring to charge would be torn to shreds. A giant bear-man clad in heavy armor, followed by a squad of fifty orc infantry, charged straight towards the spear infantry phalanx. The longbowmen focused their fire on this group; even the usually indestructible armor-piercing arrows could only inflict minor damage on these monsters. The bear-man's fur was as hard as iron needles, impervious to arrows. The orcs behind him wore armor, and while arrows pierced the armor, they still managed to penetrate a considerable distance into the flesh. Their bodies, several times stronger than humans, easily withstood the arrows.

The bear-man charged into the battle formation, and a dozen spears instantly pierced his body, causing the human soldiers holding the spears to drop them. Using his momentum, the bear-man smashed a large gap in the spear formation, and before the humans could close in, the orcs rushed in through. Just as the phalanx was about to be breached, in a moment of crisis, several orcs flew out from the formation, leaving bright trails of blood in the air. A captain, his legs bent, planted his horse firmly on the ground, one hand on his hip and the other thrusting out a palm strike, single-handedly sending several orcs flying. However, the formation was already broken, and the bear-man died a gruesome death, impaled by at least fifty spears. If the orcs had been allowed to continue charging through the formation, this phalanx would not have held out for even a moment. The captain clenched his fist and shouted, "Discard your spears!" At least two hundred soldiers in the center of the formation planted their spears on the ground and drew their longswords. The captain also drew his own sword, pointed it at the orcs, and roared, "Gather! Kill!" The soldiers surrounded the orcs in the formation, often a dozen against one. The orcs were incredibly strong; a single soldier could not withstand a single blow from them. However, when several longswords clamped down on their battle axes, even with all their strength, they could hardly penetrate them. Once an orc's weapon was blocked, several longswords would inevitably pierce his body from behind. They specifically targeted vulnerable spots, such as the tendons and groin. An orc could not withstand this for long before collapsing and dying.

Liu Tong watched in disbelief from afar. A single group of alien races had slaughtered so many humans that corpses littered the ground. How could they possibly continue this battle? Chen Chengyu, sensing his thoughts, stomped hard on his foot and said, "What are you afraid of? There aren't many giant bear-men among the alien races. That group was probably their leader. We wiped them out this time. Even if they escaped back, they wouldn't escape death. That guy was planning to take everyone down with him." Liu Tong winced in pain from the stomp. "Chengyu, wouldn't it be better if we stayed at the Gates of Hell? Why did you have to come down and fight them hand-to-hand, General? These alien races are terrifying!" "Terrifying? My grandfather once fought against the Ghost People. Those guys were impossible to kill except by burning them to ashes. In recent years, the alien races in the west have become increasingly powerful, constantly finding new ways to attack. If we continue to passively defend, the Gates of Hell will eventually be breached."
Chen Chengyu thought to himself, "This might be the reason why the court sent a general skilled in attack to defend the city!"
The alien race on the platform was quickly wiped out, with the remnants fleeing for their lives towards the stone staircase corridor. Guerrilla General Li Chengming stood beside Sima Yangyu, the two watching the battle unfold. The orderly central army stood quietly on the platform, the well-trained soldiers awaiting their commander's orders. Sima Yangyu now faced a difficult choice.
The Emperor of Kyushu had appointed him as the garrison commander of the Gate of Hell, tasked with seizing opportunities when the aliens attacked. Now, with this surprise attack having decisively defeated the alien vanguard, if he pressed his advantage, he might achieve another great feat, and even invading the Western Continent was not impossible. However, the west was too mysterious. Throughout Kyushu's millennia of history, countless capable generals had emerged, yet they had only managed to keep the western aliens outside the Gate of Hell, unable to advance an inch.

Sima Yangyu took out his token and said to Li Chengming, "Chengming, I appoint you as the vanguard general, leading ten thousand men to pursue the alien race. If you discover a large enemy force, remember not to engage in prolonged combat, and immediately return to report. If there is no inhabitant below the stone steps, establish a stronghold there and report back quickly." Li Chengming dismounted and knelt, replying, "Understood!"
Chen Chengyu watched the ten thousand men walk down the stone steps and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. This general must have been too successful in fighting the Hu people, daring to station troops in the Western Continent. The Ghost Gate Pass garrison was not the Divine Machine Battalion, wielding unparalleled skills and killing without a trace. Nor was it the Zhao Family Army of Yanzhou, filled with experts who could fly and escape. This was the first time that the Nine Provinces had used ordinary troops to attack the Western Continent; past painful experiences had terrified their leaders.

Li Chengming led his troops down the stone steps in a grand procession, very curious about what the land opposite, forbidden to the people of the Nine Provinces for thousands of years, was like. His years of military experience instilled a cautious habit, prompting him to slow his advance and send out scouts. However, halfway through their march, the troops were attacked by a foreign race. Werewolves surged down the stone steps, crashing against the iron wall of human soldiers. In the narrow alleyways, the superior equipment of the humans finally proved its advantage. The massive, seven-foot-high shields, wielded by three men, were impenetrable by any race except the giant bear-men.
Behind these shields were crossbowmen, their heavy short arrows incredibly powerful at fifty paces, capable of piercing two werewolves in succession. The human army descended the blood-soaked stone steps, finally setting foot on the western continent forbidden to the people of the Nine Provinces after a fierce battle.

The Nine Provinces' army was organized into armies, with squads under each army, and units under units. Two hundred men formed a unit, headed by a commander. Ten units formed a squad, headed by a squad leader. Armies were led by generals appointed by the Emperor of the Nine Provinces; commoners were forbidden from overstepping their bounds. Five squads of soldiers stood in neat square formations at the entrance of the corridor, beyond which stretched a vast, flat plain. However, when Li Chengming stepped out of the corridor and saw what lay before him, he nearly fell off his horse. Ten miles away lay a sprawling camp stretching for dozens of miles, one after another. Smoke billowed from the camps, and countless alien tribesmen were charging in, brandishing giant axes and spiked clubs.

"Crescent Formation, array!" Chen Chengming roared, drawing his sword and pointing it to the sky. The commander drawing his sword signified a fight to the death, a fight to the bitter end.

"Chen Guang, Zhao Mu! Report to the commander-in-chief immediately! Below the stone steps, the alien race has amassed a million troops, their camp stretching for dozens of miles. Chen Chengming is holding them off. We urge the commander-in-chief not to act rashly and to urgently report to the Emperor for reinforcements!" Upon receiving the order, the two turned and ran. As they reached the top of the steps, they both glanced back. The dashing guerrilla general sat firmly on his horse, unmoved as a mountain. His aura inspired the soldiers around him, and they all fell silent, their killing intent palpable.
However, both knew this was the last time they would see Li Chengming. The alien army charging towards them was countless, their roars filling the air.

Sima Yangyu, upon receiving the report, coughed up black blood, let out a long shout, and ordered a retreat. The black iron gate had barely closed when countless werewolves surged up the stone steps, howling and wailing at the gates of hell. Some even reached the city walls, attempting to climb them. Human soldiers fired arrows, riddling them with bullets before finally suppressing their arrogance.

Looking at the dense swarm of werewolves below the city, Chen Chengyu knew that the werewolves had finally recovered their strength. He wondered just how powerful the fox-people who had conquered the mighty werewolf clan were. Could Ghost Gate Pass survive this catastrophe?

Chapter Two: Urgent documents, like snowflakes, rushed to the

Emperor

's court, all urgent military matters requesting reinforcements. The Emperor and the governors of the Nine Provinces were utterly shocked. Sima Yangyu, born into a prestigious family, was highly skilled in martial arts and exceptionally cunning. During his campaigns against the Donghu, he had achieved numerous victories, with defeating superior numbers becoming a hallmark of his tactics. Yet now, leading 100,000 armored soldiers to defend this strategic pass, he had been utterly defeated and desperately pleading for reinforcements. Few doubted Sima Yangyu's abilities, but such a defeat proved the opponent was truly formidable.

From the messenger soldiers, they learned that the number of werewolves alone exceeded the scale of the werewolf invasion of Ghost Gate Pass years before, and the numbers of orcs and giant bear-men had also increased dramatically. Unlike the vanguard that had led the charge, the subsequent troops were significantly better equipped, with almost everyone wearing armor. Nearly half of the million arrows fired at the Gates of Hell had been used, and the ground beneath the city was littered with corpses, the bodies of the foreign tribes piled layer upon layer, yet this still couldn't halt their advance. However, the Nine Provinces had been at peace for a long time, and apart from the

Emperor's personal guards, there were few usable troops left. The governors and prefects of the Nine Provinces rarely gathered together in the court. The Zhaowu Army in the north, belonging to the Zhao family, possessed numerous skilled warriors and was a formidable force, but the Baiyi Five Tribes harbored wolfish ambitions; if they were to launch a surprise attack southward, the consequences would be unimaginable. Finally, the Emperor ordered three of the four personal guard armies to be withdrawn, leaving only the south. One hundred and fifty thousand men marched in a mighty torrent towards Xiliang, and the entire Nine Provinces, like a spinning millstone, rapidly converted various supplies into war preparations and transported them to the front lines.

Chen Chengyu, due to his outstanding performance in successive battles, had been promoted to squad leader and given the title of Commandant of Guide. However, while it sounds good to say he was effective in combat, in reality, he was effective at preserving his life. Chen Chengyu understood the characteristics of the alien races very well, often leading his soldiers to unexpected victories. The key was that he often appeared to be leading from the front, but while his men suffered heavy casualties, he remained alive and well. Liu Tong often lamented, "Good people don't live long, but evil ones live for a thousand years." Sure enough, five more captains had died in battle today, and he was still perfectly fine.

"Never engage orcs head-on; those things can unleash a full-force attack even when they're on their last breath. If you don't have five or six men with you, go find a werewolf to play with your sword." Chen Chengyu often earnestly instructed Liu Tong, and his insightful advice impressed even this veteran soldier who had returned to his position as captain.

Wiping the spear in his hands, the bloodstains had dried, and dark brown patches covered the tip, which would easily rust if not cleaned promptly. Standing on the city wall, Liu Tong looked around to make sure no one was watching before approaching Chen Chengyu and whispering furtively, "Chengyu, they might be sending a reconnaissance team across the rift. We have no idea how many reinforcements the aliens have left. All the spies we planted there have been wiped out, and we haven't received any reports for over two months." Chen Chengyu stared at the orcs below, who were setting up catapults. The walls of Ghost Gate Pass were already shattered, and the outer city wouldn't hold out for more than a few days. He pointed to the aliens below and said, "See? The orcs have humans with them. The fox clan has learned to use human intelligence. Although the werewolves and orcs are numerous, they are too obsessed with brute force. If the Wolf King had also had humans build these sophisticated catapults for them, they might have been able to breach the outer city last time." Liu Tong asked, "What about the outer city?" "It's definitely gone!" "What do we do? Stay and wait to die?"
"Go be a scout..." Chen Chengyu's reply sent a chill down Liu Tong's spine. What difference was there between that and suicide? The ancient natural defenses couldn't hold off the alien race, and now they wanted to go to the other side and fight in the open? However, Chen Chengyu ignored Liu Tong's questioning and went straight back to his tent. The news of the eliminated spy reaching the ears of a low-ranking officer like Liu Tong indicated that the discipline of the garrison had loosened. The intense fighting and high casualty rate of the past few days had exhausted Commander Sima Yangyu, leaving him no time to suppress these rumors. There were reports that the Northeast, West, and Northeast armies were rushing to the gates of hell, but what did it matter? The outer city could only hold out for ten days at most, while the main army would take at least a month to arrive.
Chen Chengyu smiled helplessly. These tens of thousands of garrison soldiers were destined to stay and die with Sima Yangyu; that arrogant fellow would never desert in the face of battle. Rather than be buried with him, it was better to join the scout team and fight for a chance of survival.

At this moment, Chen Chengyu regretted not having properly learned martial arts back then. The Chen family had a long history and was considered a prestigious family in Xiliang, with many talented members and a strong martial spirit. Each generation's patriarch was chosen through a martial arts competition. Chen Chengyu's grandfather had learned several magical arts and was sent to fight against the ghost people in the Southern Barbarians, losing a leg in the process. His father was a brave warrior who dominated Xiliang, but after going there with a group of hidden agents, he never returned. Chen Chengyu himself simply didn't learn martial arts and only focused on physical training, and as a result... he encountered the most tragic battle in history at the Ghost Gate Pass.

The Ghost Gate Pass was built on a narrow mountain road and was originally a prosperous city. A thousand years ago, various tribes still coexisted on the land, and although wars were frequent, trade still existed. The fastest route for trade between the Western and Eastern Continents was through the Ghost Gate Pass, and the merchants who traveled there brought a lot of money and people.
The Ghost Gate Pass was initially built on a wide gray rock platform, where the terrain was flat and water was readily available. It wasn't until humanity began to rise in power, and the human empires of the eastern and western continents grew increasingly strong, that the military purpose of the Ghost Gate Pass began to emerge.

The outer city's main structure consists of the ruins of cities built by various races over the years. The massive stones, weighing thousands of pounds, were so heavy that only orcs could lift them, providing a solid foundation for the outer city. The upper brick layers were primarily constructed by humans over the years; the marks left by the fox and wolf tribes have long since faded. The Ghost Gate Pass was initially inhabited by the weakest tribe on the land, the foxes. Small tribes, often driven from other areas, would eventually come to the Ghost Gate Pass to do some small-scale trade. Later, as the Ghost Gate Pass prospered, the foxes were driven out of this strategically important location.

As for the inner city, that was the true strategic advantage of the Ghost Gate Pass. It was a narrow mountain path, no more than ten zhang wide, along which humans built numerous fortresses and defensive structures. The inner city was the greatest barrier against invasions of other races into the eastern continent, while the outer city served as an outpost. If only the inner city was held, it would be impossible to send scouts to the western continent for reconnaissance. The alien army had been attacking for months, and the garrison at Ghost Gate Pass hadn't gone out to scout for a long time, remaining unaware of the million-strong alien army standing outside.

Inside the Dragon and Tiger Hall in the inner city, a secret meeting was being held. Sima Yangyu sat at the head of the table, with a group of generals below him. General Shi Huaxiong, kneeling on the ground, reported: "Preliminary statistics show that our army suffered 3,426 dead, 2,195 seriously wounded, and countless lightly wounded today. We used 69,000 arrows and 572 barrels of tung oil..." Sima Yangyu suddenly raised his hand, stopping Shi Huaxiong's report, and said grimly, "Don't mention those numbers. Just show me the report later. I want to know the enemy's casualties. This place is impregnable; they should at least break through some defenses before letting us in!" Shi Huaxiong was taken aback and continued, "Reporting to the commander, according to incomplete statistics, we annihilated 17,000 enemies today, mostly werewolves. There are still many corpses below the city that cannot be counted; we can only calculate by area, so the number will vary greatly." Sima Yangyu's face grew even darker upon hearing this. To have the enemy defeated with such a natural barrier, resulting in a 1:2 casualty ratio, almost made him explode instantly.
If he hadn't been in command today, witnessing firsthand those werewolves, usually covered in black fur, now donning armor, he would have surely slaughtered several officers to vent his anger. Orcs traditionally wear leather armor, but their bulky bodies are unsuitable for sieges. Werewolves, however, possess the highest reproductive rate, immense strength, and agility; their claws can even scale vertical city walls without any tools.

"Immediately select a reconnaissance team. I need them to gather sufficient intelligence when the Imperial Guard arrives." "Yes, sir!"
Shi Huaxiong replied, kneeling on one knee and clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Chen Chengyu bribed the selection officer without any frills to enter the reconnaissance battalion, and even recommended Liu Tong as his squad leader. Normally, the selection criteria for the reconnaissance battalion required a special skill; martial arts, hunting, healing, etc., were all within the scope of selection. Someone like Chen Chengyu, lacking any particular skill, should have been impossible to select. However, the target of this reconnaissance was the shrouded Western Continent, with countless alien armies besieging the city; participating in the reconnaissance battalion was practically a death sentence. Therefore, when selecting candidates, it was often through bribery to have names removed; those who volunteered like Chen Chengyu were truly rare.

"Wang Yi, Pan Mingxiao, Zhang Daniu, Guo Ergou..." A captain called out names from a high platform, and those called shouted "Present!" from below. Chen Chengyu was also called, and while he was overjoyed, Liu Tong wore a bitter expression. For him, going to the west or staying at the Gate of Hell meant certain death. Next, they split into teams to depart.

Chen Chengyu's team consisted of fifteen people, led by Ao Ziqian, the strongest Kunshan disciple. Below them were Fu Yuchun, skilled in illusion; Rong Mafei, a master of stealth; Qin Yifeng, a sharpshooter; and others. There were more than a dozen similar teams, their exact numbers kept secret, but all composed of exceptional individuals. The group crossed a river in a narrow canyon north of the Gate of Hell. The current appeared swift, but the water beneath was calm. Centuries ago, humans installed iron chains underwater, allowing anyone with an airbag to cross the Grand Canyon in a quarter of an hour. This method, though elaborate, was only used when an alien army attacked the Gates of Hell. Ao Ziqian, dressed in tight black clothes with a steel sword strapped to his back, was the first to jump into the water from the cliff. His other highly skilled teammates followed suit, except for Chen Chengyu and Liu Tong, who slowly climbed down the cliff and then followed the iron chains to the riverbed.

At this point, a huge rock blocked the current, causing the river to surge. However, once on the riverbed, the current slowed down considerably due to the rock, and any able-bodied man with an airbag could cross the river using the iron chains. When they reached the other side, twelve people were already waiting. The twelve and Chen Chengyu exchanged glances, and finally Ao Ziqian asked, "Didn't you see Chen Buxin?" "Huh?" Chen Chengyu glanced behind him a few times, then stared at the soaking wet Liu Tong.

Liu Tong said, "Could he have run away?" Chen Chengyu said, "I clearly saw him jump into the river just now."
Ao Ziqian shook his head and said, "Then he must have been swept away by the water. You guys hurry up and get ashore. Rong Mafei smelled the werewolf's scent; this is their patrol area." Just as everyone was climbing up the cliff, Liu Tong happened to turn his head and see a figure on the eastern cliff. This discovery made him regret it to the core. It turned out that Chen Buxin's jump into the river was just a pretense; he would go ashore and hide after everyone else went into the water. All the reconnaissance teams crossed the river in different ways, some on the water and some by air, but they would never cross at the same location. Each team's mission was also assigned by a different commander, so even if they were captured, they wouldn't be completely wiped out.

The eastern end of the Western Continent is very dry. The snow-capped mountains in the middle block the humid air currents from the western sea, and the vegetation is mainly shrubs and weeds. This is the homeland of orcs and werewolves. They have lived on this great grassland for generations, and whenever one of the races prospers, they will launch a war to conquer the continent. The bear-men live in the Great Snow Mountain, where only their fur and fat can withstand the harsh environment. The western hills are lush with trees and vegetation, long inhabited by the fox clan and humans. Now, the fox clan rules the western continent, and their political center is undoubtedly on Fox Mountain in the far west. To reach it, one must cross the territories of the two most ferocious races on the western continent. Leaving the Great Canyon, vegetation gradually increases, and occasionally, wild cattle and grassland horses can be seen.

Qin Yifeng's eagle constantly circles in the air, screeching warnings at the first sign of trouble. Dozens of tribes are scattered across the wasteland, with human settlements to the north and south. Due to the harsh living conditions there and their inferior military strength, they have had to settle for less. This group's route is to bypass the Great Snow Mountain to the north, seek help from the local humans, and then attempt to enter Fox Mountain, the sacred land of the fox clan, to gather intelligence.

A large tree stood in the wilderness, its trunk charred in several sections—marks of lightning strikes. Chen Chengyu and his companions had just driven away the monkeys that had been living beneath the tree before setting up their tents for camp. Traveling in the Western Continent with the gear of the Eastern Continent would be suicidal, so the group's primary task was to disguise themselves as local humans. However, even if they managed to blend in, life wouldn't be easy. In the Eastern Continent, humans were the victorious kings, having slaughtered all other races and monopolized the continent. In the Western Continent, however, various races coexisted, and humans were the weakest, often bullied. Human women were reduced to sex slaves for the men of other races; almost every military camp had a brothel composed of human women. However, the humans of the Western Continent were much stronger than those of the Eastern Continent, allowing them to endure far more hardship and suffering; otherwise, they would have been wiped out long ago.

Fifty miles south of where Chen Chengyu was resting, a group of about fifty werewolves were marching, summoned by the Wolf King to fight at the Gates of Hell. The leader was a werewolf much taller than his kind, clad in iron armor that clanged as he walked, and carrying a battle axe riddled with dents and grooves on his back. The wolf leader, Narisong, sniffed the air, sneezed, and then fixed his gaze northward.
Suddenly, Narisong howled, and Kiriwara shouted to the werewolves beside him, "There are humans to the north! This is the territory of the great werewolves, and humans are not allowed to set foot here. Let's go and capture them; perhaps we can trade some snow beef with the Warlord." The pack instantly erupted in excitement, baring their sharp fangs and howling towards the sky.

Rong Mafei sprang to his feet with a start, and the eagles in the sky cried out in alarm; everyone realized something was wrong. Ao Ziqian remained calm and composed, glancing at everyone before saying, "The first battle is about to begin. We're lucky this time; they're werewolves. We have a chance to repel them. Don't panic. Use this tree as a fortress and wait for them to come to us. Qin Yifeng, you stay in the tree and prepare to shoot the werewolves as soon as they enter your range. Ma Rongfei, go outside and lie in ambush. When the werewolves engage us in close combat, you can then flank them from the outside. Fu Yuchun, try to prevent the werewolves from getting too close; at least let Qin Yifeng shoot as many as possible." As for the others, Ao Ziqian coldly swept his gaze across them and said indifferently, "Hold your weapons and try not to get too close to me. Fight side by side, advance and retreat together; we still have a long way to go." Fifty miles is a distance the werewolves can cover in half an hour. Na Risong narrowly dodged an arrow, breaking out in a cold sweat. A mournful cry came from behind him; one of his kin had already been shot down. The fact that humans had archers was not unexpected for Na Risong, but such accuracy at such a distance was truly unimaginable. Seemingly aware of Na Risong's abilities, the arrows behind him deliberately avoided him, targeting his tribesmen behind him. When the humans came into view, the werewolves' fur stood on end, and for a moment even Qin Yifeng's arrows couldn't penetrate it. This fur-raising technique was extremely energy-consuming, lasting only a quarter of an hour. Such precious time wasted on the road infuriated Na Risong, who howled in anger. However, the werewolves had almost exhausted their technique's duration and still hadn't reached the humans, instead drifting further and further away.

Watching the menacing werewolves circling outside, Chen Chengyu couldn't help but laugh. In contrast to Chen Chengyu's ease, Fu Yuchun was covered in sweat. This kind of group illusion was extremely mentally taxing; if it weren't for the werewolves' relatively poor mental capacity, he wouldn't have lasted even half a quarter of an hour. Finally, Fu Yuchun collapsed to the ground, exhausted. The werewolves realized they had been circling their enemy the whole time. Na Risong roared and charged into the crowd, swinging his battle axe. The werewolves behind him followed, but their pace was much slower than before, as they were briefly weakened after using their physical techniques.

"Keep it two to one, don't get separated." Chen Chengyu leaned against Liu Tong's back, the two gripping short spears.
"How do we fight? I've never faced an alien race head-on before!" "Like fighting a human, beat them to death."
Na Risong's unstoppable axe strike was easily blocked by Ao Ziqian. At this moment, Ao Ziqian's body emitted billowing white smoke, a sign that his true energy was circulating at full power. The ordinary-looking steel sword suddenly emitted a faint light, like a divine weapon, and then shattered the massive axe weighing dozens of kilograms into pieces. The wolf's head was severed from its body in an instant, but the remaining werewolves were unmoved, instead their bloodlust was ignited, and more werewolves charged towards Ao Ziqian.

A werewolf charged at Liu Tong, startling him so much that he hastily drew his pistol. His hasty attack lacked accuracy, only piercing the thigh. The werewolf howled in pain, about to retaliate with its claws, when another pistol pierced its neck.
Chen Chengyu pulled out his pistol and shouted to Liu Tong, "Draw your weapon immediately! Don't hesitate! You block, I'll attack!"

Liu Tong quickly agreed, blocking another cleaver. Not all werewolves were unarmed; some were armed. Chen Chengyu seized the opportunity to thrust his pistol into the werewolf's stomach. The werewolf's resilience was formidable; even a lacerated abdomen wouldn't kill it immediately. Severely wounded, the werewolf unleashed even greater power, bending Liu Tong's pistol with a single blow and even splitting his hand. Seeing his opponent was formidable, Chen Chengyu immediately released his pistol and ran to Ao Ziqian's side.

The battle there was even more intense; Ao Ziqian, like a god descending to earth, wielded his steel sword with unparalleled skill. His footwork was incredibly agile, often thwarting the combined attacks of several werewolves from all sides, allowing him to kill a few more. However, he wasn't completely invincible; his leather armor was torn in several places, occasionally revealing a bloody wound. The wounded werewolf, dragging a short spear, collapsed after only a few steps. Chen Chengyu grabbed a crossbow from under a tree and fired several shots at the werewolves surrounding Ao Ziqian, finally creating an opening. Breaking through the werewolf encirclement, Ao Ziqian caught his breath, the white smoke around him thickening. With a roar

, Ao Ziqian leaped back into the wolf pack, instantly becoming a bloody mess. Chen Chengyu quickly put down the crossbow, pulled the short spear from the werewolf, and rushed to rescue Liu Tong, who was being chased and hiding everywhere. Three werewolves were fighting Liu Tong; if it weren't for the chaotic scene and the fighting crowd, he would have been torn to pieces long ago. Chen Chengyu threw his pistol, pinning one of the werewolves to the ground, then rushed forward to block them. Liu Tong had several claw wounds on his body, blood dripping from them. Finally, Chen Chengyu came to his rescue, but his body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
Chen Chengyu picked up a broken sword and exchanged a few blows with two werewolves, but he couldn't hold his own, forced to defend and dodge.
The soldiers in the reconnaissance team were either skilled in some kind of supernatural ability or had excellent martial arts skills; very few were as incompetent as Chen Chengyu and Liu Tong. Just as Chen Chengyu was cornered by the werewolves, a soldier jumped out and fought off his opponent, a single slash breaking through the werewolves' defenses, finally allowing Chen Chengyu to breathe a sigh of relief. Looking at the overall situation, only a dozen or so werewolves remained, most of them wounded, while three humans lay dead, their fates unknown. All the werewolves surrounding Ao Ziqian were dead; none had escaped. The remaining werewolves were terrified and fled for their lives. Liu Tong was wounded in the shoulder, with three bloody gashes from the werewolves' claws, and his hand was split open, bleeding profusely.

Almost everyone on the battlefield was injured, except for Chen Chengyu, who remained unscathed. However, his kill count was undeniably impressive; a soldier with no martial arts skills had killed more than six werewolves and escaped unscathed—his luck was simply phenomenal. Ao Ziqian quickly organized his men, hastily bandaged his wounds, and ordered them to advance north.
"Captain, we need to head west. The east is close to the Grand Canyon, the road is flat and easy to travel, and the climate is dry; many of the alien forces advancing south choose this route. Heading west into the depths of the wasteland, especially now in summer, the weather is unpredictable and complex, and the chances of encountering reinforcements are slim," Chen Chengyu said to Ao Ziqian.

"There are even more orc tribes deep in the wasteland, and some beast-like savages. These guys are endless," Rong Mafei retorted from the side. Years ago, he had also followed a caravan deep into the western continent to do business, but before they even crossed the Great Snow Mountain, they were robbed clean by werewolves.

"Things are different now. The intelligence we received before setting out indicated that the alien race had amassed a million troops outside the Gates of Hell. Such a large army must have drawn a large number of strong men from various tribes in the wasteland. Once we enter the wasteland, we shouldn't engage them in prolonged battles; we should just pass through quickly. They shouldn't react too aggressively. On the contrary, the eastern road is too easy to encounter the alien race's regular troops. Our team is small, and we can't fight them many times." Ao Ziqian, listening from the side, nodded secretly, thinking that the affairs officer was indeed skilled in personnel selection. Although this guy's martial arts skills were weak, he was quick-witted and good at devising strategies for the team. In the end, Ao Ziqian agreed to Chen Chengyu's plan, and the group headed northwest. Of the three who fell, two died and one was seriously injured. In this kind of reconnaissance team, there was no way to treat the wounded. In the end, they could only give him a dignified blow and bury him.

Liu Tong's injuries were relatively minor; as long as he didn't encounter any battles, he would recover in five or six days. The group traveled westward, occasionally encountering orc tribes along the way, but none of them provoked them. A few warriors on their wild rhinoceroses would watch them leave their territory before returning.

Chapter Three: The Settlement

. Five uneventful days passed, until the morning of the sixth day when things finally took a turn for the worse. A massive settlement lay before the group, inhabited by humans, werewolves, orcs, and a small number of bear-men and fox-men. The settlement was vast, stretching for dozens of miles, making it difficult to bypass. Fortunately, the various tribes there seemed relaxed upon seeing outsiders and showed no intention of attacking. Ao Ziqian led the group to a human shop, bought a few pieces of silver from the shopkeeper, and began gathering information.

"Boss, we're merchants from the east, our first time here, and we didn't bring any goods. We're just scouting around, seeing what profitable businesses are available." The shopkeeper ran a butcher shop, its storefront hung with various kinds of meat, and inside, several tables were set up where small groups of humans were eating. In the height of summer, the shop owner was shirtless, his chest covered in thick chest hair, revealing clearly defined, well-defined muscles. His tall, muscular physique was comparable to that of the strongest man from Yizhou in Kyushu.

"Merchants from the east wouldn't take this route. You only see merchants without goods during wartime. You'd better hurry, today is market day. You can't kill freely here in Abru. After three days, when everyone goes home, you'll be in big trouble." Chen Chengyu stepped forward before Ao Ziqian could speak and whispered, "Brother, we are indeed a caravan. It's easier to do business during wartime. Bison hides are very scarce in Kyushu right now. We crossed the river directly from the Grand Canyon, bought our goods, and will return from the north." The shopkeeper nodded, then shook his head, saying, "With so few people, we can't do any business. We'll be eaten by the orcs before we even reach the snowfield."
"Alright, the Sun Chasing Tribe in the northwest has some connections with my family. I can hire some guards there. This is just a small token, please accept it, brother. We'll stay for two days and then leave." The shopkeeper took a piece of silver from Chen Chengyu, looked around, then tucked it into his belt, nodded, and said nothing more. Chen Chengyu gave Ao Ziqian a wink before entering the shop and sitting down. As soon as they entered, Ao Ziqian grabbed Chen Chengyu's hand and whispered, "Chengyu, what's going on here? Explain it to me clearly." Chen Chengyu, wincing from the pinch, couldn't speak, but struggled to break free as he explained, "This is Abuluo, a market town on the outskirts of the Great Snow Mountain. It belongs to the Bear People's territory, but has long been occupied by various races. Humans have a very low status in the Western Continent; usually, trespassing into someone else's territory results in being killed or captured as slaves. This shopkeeper isn't a native of the Western Continent; he's probably from Xiliang. His physique suggests he was a soldier, possibly a remnant of a soldier who marched west. We should try not to provoke him. After we eat, we'll pay three times the price and then go to another human inn to stay." "You're a citizen of my Nine Provinces, and you're betraying us?" Ao Ziqian's voice involuntarily rose, then he quickly lowered it. "Should we recruit him? We're unfamiliar with this place, having a local familiar with it would be much easier." "Absolutely not! People who have faced death so many times have no integrity whatsoever. We'd rather spend a fortune to bribe the natives than recruit someone like him." Fu Yuchun suddenly interjected, directly opposing Ao Ziqian's idea.

Rong Mafei also joined the discussion, tapping his finger on the table to signal everyone's attention. "Master Fu is right, Cheng Yu has a good eye. We shouldn't get too involved with this kind of person; his background is too complicated." Chen Chengyu nodded in agreement. Seeing that everyone agreed, Ao Ziqian stopped insisting, ate the meat soup, paid three times the price, and left. Because it was market day, even during the war, Abru was thriving, with a large market every few miles. There were people of single races and people of mixed races. Chen Chengyu suggested that Ao Ziqian specifically target the mixed races, as it would be easier to blend in there.

From the markets, it was clear that the living standards of the people in the Western Continent were indeed very low. The slaves traded here are mostly human women; male humans have no market competition and are even less competitive than an underage orc. The primary use of female slaves here is for sex. Orcs and werewolves have extremely high libidos, and they can spend half a day having sex with a female without getting tired. Due to years of war, each tribe has suffered heavy losses of able-bodied men, forcing many women to go to the battlefield. As a result, female werewolves and female orcs who have experienced war are no longer beautiful; instead, fair-skinned human women are more likely to arouse their lust.

Upon entering the market, Ao Ziqian signaled for everyone to split up and gather information. Chen Chengyu led Liu Tong to the slave trading platform and, looking at the naked women inside, said, "When I was a child, my uncle told me that the women of the Western Continent are more beautiful than those of our Kyushu. They have blonde hair, blue eyes, high noses, and full breasts and buttocks, and they have great stamina." Liu Tong, standing beside him, stared wide-eyed. He used to be just a captain, and his annual salary was only enough for two or three nights with a top courtesan in a brothel. He had never seen such a sizzling scene before. Several women were strapped to wooden frames, their ankles chained to the ground, their upper bodies bent low, their plump buttocks protruding, revealing their full vulvas covered in vaginal fluid.
Beside the naked women sat an iron box; occasionally, werewolves or orcs would walk by, tossing in coins before engaging in sexual acts with these female slaves in the street. The aliens' penises were much thicker and longer than humans'. A penis, as thick as an arm, plunged into the wet, sticky vagina, causing the naked woman's brow to furrow. However, after a few thrusts, the naked woman began to moan ecstatically, completely immersed in the pleasure of intercourse.

A small mound bulged high in their crotches, causing several bystanders to drool. Chen Chengyu scratched his crotch and said, "My uncle wasn't lying to me; the women of the Western Continent are really something." Liu Tong rummaged in his pocket, pulled out a silver ingot, and wanted to try it too, but Chen Chengyu stopped him.

"Are you crazy? Don't touch this junk, you'll catch a disease." Liu Tong patted the orc who was having sex with him and asked, "Why isn't he afraid?" "These women have all been refined, their bodies have been soaked in drugs, making them very sensitive and resilient. But they often don't live long because frequent sex destroys their health. Another problem is disease. Orcs in the Western Continent rarely live past thirty, werewolves even shorter, twenty-three, and we can live up to a hundred. Look at that guy, he's almost dead. He'd rather die a passionate death than an old man. Do you want to learn from him?" These words finally scared Liu Tong away, and he obediently put the silver ingot back at his waist. Actually, there were many inaccuracies in these words. Apart from the fact that werewolves rarely live past forty, orcs could live to sixty or seventy. Of course, in the war-torn Western Continent, it was difficult to live to that age. Another issue was that these women were indeed prone to carrying diseases. They had been refined with drugs, so they weren't afraid of these diseases, but with so many people frequently having sex with one woman in the market, it was hard to guarantee that one of them was infected.

Besides the naked women, several dressed women were bound on the platform. Their looks and figures were even more beautiful than those below, and they were youthful and vibrant. A fox spirit on the platform was constantly lecturing on the advantages of his slaves, speaking with great eloquence. These women were all captured from the northern snowfields, ensuring their safety. Women from the Wanfang Forest in the south were unpopular in the Western Continent because many of them possessed witchcraft and could often kill an entire tribe overnight. In the far south of the Western Continent lies a coastal forest with a complex climate and numerous poisonous creatures, currently inhabited by dozens of human tribes. Slave-hunting groups had once gone south to capture many beautiful women, but the tribes that bought these women suffered poisoning incidents. Ultimately, female slaves from the south lost their market in the Western Continent.

With no women to do, Liu Tong wandered around aimlessly, the silver ingots he had just put in quickly turning into various kinds of medicine and furs. Chen Chengyu remained standing outside the fence, tossing a few silver ingots in his hand. This was a story his uncle had told him. In the Western Continent, if you didn't know the market price but wanted to buy something, you would throw money at the vendor. The vendor, not knowing what you wanted, would introduce each item to you one by one. When they came to the one you liked, you could buy it if the price was right. This was a very limited method of communication, so much so that some small vendors were unaware of this rule.

The fox-man glanced at Chen Chengyu and continued hawking his wares. But by noon, the fox-man hadn't sold many female slaves, and in anger, he picked up a leather whip and lashed the naked women below the stage a few times to vent his frustration. The business of selling female slaves had been very difficult lately. The Fox King had summoned the entire continent's army to attack the Gate of Hell, causing a large number of young men to leave their homes, resulting in a decline in purchasing power.
For hundreds of years, successive kings of the continent had attacked the Gate of Hell, but all had returned defeated. Even the most powerful wolf king of decades ago met his end at the Black Iron Gate, which gives you an idea of just how formidable the Gates of Hell truly are.

After lunch, under the blazing sun, the number of pedestrians on the road dwindled. Chen Chengyu ate something and then found a shady spot to continue tossing coins. Liu Tong, meanwhile, was savoring a jar of honey. This kind of pure, fragrant honey was hard to find in Kyushu; most of what was available on the market was adulterated with sugar.

"Chengyu, what are you still sitting here for? Boss Ao has us gathering intelligence everywhere, and we haven't done anything productive all morning," Liu Tong asked casually, secretly wanting to just sit there all day.
"We're gathering intelligence now. Look, there are very few people buying slaves, proving that the purchasing power of the Western Continent is weak. But there are so many female slaves in the enclosures; merchants wouldn't do business at a loss, which proves that it used to be very popular. The sudden decrease in purchasing power is because the war has taken away a large number of young men, leading to insufficient purchasing power.
Just from this enclosure, we can understand that the mobilization efforts of the Western Continent are very large. If it drags on too long, it will cripple the production of many tribes, leading to famine in winter." "In addition, there are very few weapons traded in the market, and ironware is even rarer. When we fought against the alien races at the gates of hell, we saw them fighting us in full armor.

Ironware, which is not common among the common people, is being used on a large scale in the army, which means that a third-party force must have intervened, giving the alien races a revolutionary leap in equipment." Liu Tong unconsciously stopped talking, even drooling from his mouth. The other person had sat for half a day and said a lot of things, while he had wandered around eating and drinking without saying a word. In the past, when they fought together, Liu Tong only thought that Chen Chengyu was lucky and always managed to escape misfortune in dangerous places. Today's conversation finally convinced him; that keen insight and analytical ability were the foundation of his reputation. A commoner with no martial arts skills rising so quickly to the position of squad leader during wartime was no fluke.

The fox-man was finally exhausted from shouting; normally, he could shout all day without feeling tired. However, today his efforts were completely disproportionate to his gains. He had only sold four low-quality goods all morning, not even enough for a pot of meat to eat back at his tent that evening.
The naked women chained to the wooden frames were just a gimmick, generating no profit; the medicinal herbs spent on them often resulted in losses. In the Western Continent, fox-men were now considered noble. After the Fox King unified the land with his unparalleled wisdom, humans, whose martial prowess was as weak as the fox-men, had an even lower status. Therefore, this fox-man was unwilling to do business with Chen Chengyu. However, dignity couldn't fill his stomach; these female slaves needed to be dressed, fed, and clothed daily, costing him money for each day they stayed. Out of desperation, the fox-man babbled at Chen Chengyu.

The languages of the Eastern and Western Continents were different, and there were also language barriers between the various races. Generally, people who frequent the market can understand some common language for communication. Chen Chengyu didn't know what the other person was saying, but he wisely remained silent and pointed to the female slaves on the platform. Of course, he didn't point to any specific one, but rather pointed to the entire row. Encountering someone who didn't understand the common language, the fox-man was even more helpless, but money was king, so he reluctantly played the subservient role for now. The fox-man started counting from the beginning, holding up a finger to price each female slave he pointed to; one finger represented one silver ingot in Chen Chengyu's hand. When the fox-man pointed to the third one and held up five fingers, Chen Chengyu shook his head, pointed to the female slave on the platform, then to the silver ingot in his hand, gesturing that it wasn't worth it.

The fox-man stared wide-eyed at Chen Chengyu, and when he saw that the silver ingot was larger and of better quality than those usually used by other tribes, he finally realized he had encountered an expert. To be precise, he thought he had encountered an expert. Chen Chengyu had no idea how much slaves cost in the Western Continent. The emperors of the Nine Provinces had long abolished slavery, with only some powerful clans still keeping slaves. The fox-man gestured across the best row of female slaves on the stage, then held up one finger twice. Chen Chengyu understood that each of these female slaves was worth one silver ingot. Among these female slaves was one who was very tall, nearly six and a half feet, half a head taller than Chen Chengyu. Her skin was very white, but her complexion was bluish, suggesting malnutrition. Strangely, she had blue eyes but black hair, a rare combination considered ominous in both the Eastern and Western Continents. However, since she was placed in the best row of slaves, she must have something special. This female slave was very beautiful, unforgettable at first glance, and had a perfect figure. Her tall stature was also suitable for being a sex slave for werewolves or beastmen. However, what Chen Chengyu valued most was her race.

Blue eyes are a distinctive feature of people from the Western Continent, while black hair is very rare. This girl clearly bears signs of mixed race, likely a hybrid of the Northern White-haired people and those from the Western Continent. The reconnaissance team needs a guide; the local natives are difficult to communicate with, and the Kyushu people who have integrated into the local culture are unreliable. Slaves are an excellent choice; they have lost their freedom and dignity. A promise of freedom might earn them genuine loyalty. Finally, Chen Chengyu pointed to the mixed-race female slave. The fox-man first raised his eyebrows, his almost gaping mouth clenching tightly together. He nudged the female slave and quickly walked to Chen Chengyu to take the silver ingot.

The female slave suddenly spoke, fluently in Kyushu language: "I'm not worth a silver ingot. You can ask the boss to add another prostitute. The one on the outermost edge is my sister." Hearing that the female slave could speak Kyushu language, Chen Chengyu was overjoyed. However, outwardly, he feigned composure, pointing to the prostitute the female slave had mentioned and gesturing for her to take it. The fox-man hesitated for a moment before agreeing, ordering his men to untie the prostitute. He had held the two sisters in his hands for over half a year. When he first captured them, their beauty had overjoyed him, and he had held onto them tightly, reluctant to sell them. Normally, such beautiful female slaves would be in high demand in the Western Continent. However, orcs and werewolves were wary of hybrids, as they shared many similarities with humans from the south. Several buyers had offered high prices, but none met the fox-man's desired price. Later, almost no buyers inquired about the sisters, and the fox-man tried several times to lower the price, but to no avail. In a fit of rage, the fox-man turned the elder sister into a prostitute, chaining her to a wooden frame to be abused. After sleeping with her for one night, the fox-man deeply regretted it; a merchant going against money was like a religious blasphemy. The fox-man then carefully raised the younger sister, placing her among the best slaves to be sold slowly.

Today, finally, a buyer was willing to take her, and she could fetch a fine silver ingot—a quality only found in the Eastern Continent. The older sister who had been turned into a prostitute was now useless. Prostitutes generally didn't live past five years, and they aged rapidly by the third year. Giving one away for free wasn't a loss.

Liu Tong watched Chen Chengyu return with two beauties, his jaw almost dropping to the ground. He remembered Chen Chengyu scolding him that morning for not going to sleep with these female slaves indiscriminately, and now he'd bought two by the afternoon. Just as he was about to speak, Chen Chengyu retorted, "These are guides. Slaves are sometimes more reliable." A god, Liu Tong's first thought was, this guy can even make something out of taking a dump. When the older sister was untied, she was already delirious. She had been violated by at least ten beastmen that day, her vulva gaping wide, leaking copious amounts of murky fluid.
"Master, can you get my sister something to eat? She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday." The newly bought female slave knelt before Chen Chengyu, begging her master in a humble manner.

Chen Chengyu told Liu Tong to get her some honey, then lifted the female slave's chin and asked, "What's your name?"
"Narentuya." "Where's your sister?" "Urina." Liu Tong fed Urina a few mouthfuls of honey with a pained expression, then, seeing her beautiful face, unconsciously fed her a few more mouthfuls. He took out some dried biscuits, mixed them with water, and fed them to Urina little by little.

"Cheng Yu, you took it upon yourself to buy two slaves, which might offend Boss Ao." "Haha, what's there to be afraid of? This is the Western Continent, where official authority can't be used. When we left, we were on the verge of death for at most seven days. If we're still thinking about killing each other here, then we might as well all die here together." Chen Chengyu smiled. "Don't worry too much. As long as everyone works together for the common good, the team won't fall apart. We've only been here a few days; we're still a long way from completing our mission!" Liu Tong tilted his head, looking doubtful. "Cheng Yu, do you think we can complete the mission? We're going to Fox Mountain, the Fox King's hometown. With just a few of us?" Chen Cheng Yu patted Liu Tong's shoulder, reassuring him, "Things will work themselves out. As long as we get some useful intelligence, we don't even need to go to Fox Mountain." Narentuya listened to their conversation, her face first hesitant, then filled with terror.
These two were actually spies from the Eastern Continent! She had just escaped a fire, only to fall into an iceberg.

Recalling the silver ingot Chen Cheng Yu had just produced—its quality was definitely only found in the Eastern Continent—Narentuya broke out in a cold sweat.

"Master, are you distinguished guests from the East?" Chen Chengyu was taken aback, then replied, "That's right. I bought you to be my guide. I'll set you free after the job is done." Upon learning the truth, Narentuya became even more terrified, her face contorted. "Master, you must leave quickly! That silver ingot will soon expose your identity. No one in the Western Continent, except for the great nobles, can afford such fine silver." Upon receiving this shocking news, Chen Chengyu was also dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. Liu Tong had just left when it was time to assemble, and he was looking around at his teammates. In the distance, the fox-man was happily touching the silver. Such high quality could be exchanged for several ingots of the same size from the Western Continent. Today, he had actually shaken off his bad luck and found a silver ingot from the Eastern Continent, something only the great nobles could afford. The fox-man suddenly stopped. A silver ingot that only the great nobles could afford was actually on a lowly human. He looked at Chen Chengyu in the distance. His clothing was clearly different from the local barbarians, appearing more elaborate and cleaner. The fox-man silently retreated to his tent and summoned his men for a discussion.

Chen Chengyu looked elsewhere, but his peripheral vision remained fixed on the fox-man's movements. When he saw the fox-man furtively watching him before pretending to walk away, he became even more certain that his identity had been exposed. Even the wisest can make a mistake; he hadn't expected things to go wrong over money.

"Come with me or go back there, which do you choose?" Chen Chengyu asked, pulling Narentuya along. If she chose to stay, he would kill her with a single blow.

Narentuya hesitated for a long time. Escaping with this master was almost certainly a death sentence. But returning to that slave circle would be worse than death, and her sister was gradually losing her mind; soon she would become a mindless body. Finally, she gritted her teeth and nodded, "Take my sister with me, let's run." Just as she was about to call Liu Tong back, Chen Chengyu stopped her. "Don't make a sound. My friend has someone to meet him. He shouldn't be exposed with me. Let's run first and search for them in the wilderness." The two used plenty of clean water to wash Urina's body, washing away the filth, and then fed her some calming herbs, finally bringing her back to her senses. When she woke up and saw her sister, her face lit up with joy, revealing a bright smile. Then, when she saw Chen Chengyu, she became blank again.

Narentuya shook her and said, "Sister, we've been bought. Now our master is taking us away."
Urina swallowed hard, hesitating to speak, and after several attempts, she finally said, "Won't I be chained to the wooden frame again?"
"No, your master is taking us away." Having been tortured for so long, Urina's initial movements were very unnatural, and she could barely walk on her own. The three of them walked and stopped until nightfall before finally leaving the settlement. After a short rest, Chen Chengyu insisted on continuing their journey. Urina's mobility was also much better than during the day, and she moved faster.

By midnight, all three of them were exhausted, and Urina collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. Hearing the distant howls of wolves, Chen Chengyu knew the fox-people had led their troops in pursuit. He had originally planned to travel further, away from the settlement, but Urina was no longer able to cooperate. Chen Chengyu opened his bundle and pulled out a fire-thunder bomb—a high-grade military item, only distributed for important missions. He cut off some hair, tied it to the bomb, and placed it in the grass. Once the fuse was removed, the bomb would explode with the slightest touch, possessing immense close-range lethality. This weapon was powerful but expensive; the gunpowder inside was worth as much as silver. Carrying
Urina on his back, the three walked a little further. Finally, even Chen Chengyu collapsed from exhaustion. He stared blankly at the southern horizon; his survival depended on that fire-thunder bomb. Half an hour later, a loud explosion echoed in the distance, followed by continuous howls. The fox-people's hunting wolves had bitten through the fire-thunder bomb, and within five zhang (approximately 10 meters), men and horses fell.

In Chapter Four,

Dulatu led his orcs down from the city walls. His hundred-man squad was reduced to less than twenty men, half of whom were wounded. The notorious "Gate of Hell," a place of utter despair for all races, once again demonstrated its power. Humanity, with fewer than seventy thousand soldiers, held off a million-strong allied army. The black iron gate was virtually impenetrable; countless orc suicide squads pushed battering rams against it, yet the earth-shaking impacts failed to budge it. After the fall of thousands of orcs, the commander finally realized that breaching the gate was impossible.

The werewolves once again exploited their advantage, engaging the humans in a tenfold battle for the city walls. But each time the surging tide of werewolves threatened to engulf the humans above, sparks would erupt from the center, spreading out and creating waves that pushed the werewolves off the walls. These were the strong humans, who could often withstand dozens of werewolves single-handedly. With a single race proving ineffective, the commander attempted a combined attack. The werewolves initially engaged in a fierce battle on the city walls, suppressing the humans' ranged attacks, while the orcs then scaled the walls using ladders. This tactic was initially effective; the orcs, stronger and more individually powerful than the werewolves, easily tore through the human defenses on the walls, and fewer than ten orcs could hold off a single strong human.

However, when Sima Yangyu's personal guard was deployed, the tide of battle turned again. Those five hundred men all possessed martial arts skills, were clad in heavy armor, and armed with standard spears, repeating crossbows, and longswords. Their seamless coordinated attacks were a nightmare for the allied forces.
Dulatu couldn't imagine how five hundred men could exert their full fighting power on the narrow city walls. The personal guard operated in groups of fifty; whenever a section of the wall was occupied by the alien races, they would use their lightness skills to scale the battlements and cut them off from the middle. Then, the ten groups would take turns coordinating, ensuring that every warrior's weapon was aimed at the enemy.

Sima Yangyu lasted seven days longer than Chen Chengyu had anticipated; his talent in warfare truly deserved the title of genius. A general skilled in plains warfare devised countless defensive tactics in just a few days, his personnel deployment and troop coordination flawless. Now, less than 40,000 defenders remain, half wounded, yet still capable of formidable fighting power. The allied forces of the alien races have already decimated the city walls with over 150,000 corpses, riddling the outer walls with holes, yet they have made no progress.

Dulatu dragged his weary body step by step towards the main tent. It was the orcs' main camp, and his father, Lakshen, was inside. The tent was vast, with a massive set of animal bones in the center—from an ancient beast of unknown age, its bones petrified. Dulatu entered the tent and knelt on one knee, pounding his right arm against his chest, then bowed his head in silence.

Lakshen sat on the main seat draped in a blood-red lion skin, his weary face looking down at his son. "You don't need to be like this. It's not your fault that the war has come to this. The Sadula family needs to continue. Go back now and give me a few more grandsons." Dulatu's green face instantly turned red, and he roared in the tent, "Then I will be a disgrace for the rest of my life. The Sogen family will laugh at us Sadula people as cowards." Lakshin's withered hand slammed weakly against his chest, and the tent suddenly exploded like a ball, the air blasting wildly and violently scattering the items inside. Lakshin coughed, clutching his chest, and raised his voice, "Ideribuhe has no sons left to laugh at you. This morning, he was the last and youngest to be killed by Sima Yangyu on the city wall. His guards risked their lives to retrieve his head. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, the chieftain of the Sogen tribe will have to change his surname."

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A field battle during college

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