Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 084

East of the city, the old industrial district.

This was once the early industrial heart of Fourth New Nanjing, now only giant, rust-eaten factory buildings, towering abandoned chimneys, and a labyrinthine network of pipes remain. The air was filled with a strange mix of rust, machine oil, and dust, now amplified by a thick scent of blood and the decay of the abyss.

At the heart of this steel ruin, a blood and flesh altar, no less grand than the energy station, pulsed with an ominous dark red light, continuously drawing negative energy from the surrounding area and converting it into evil energy to support the “Blood and Flesh Veil.”

Atop the altar, a gaunt old man, dressed in a blood-red robe slightly different from the previous high priest’s but equally ornate, grimly perceived energy fluctuations from afar through a secret art. He was Blood Bat Elder, a high-ranking official of the Blood Ghost Sect responsible for guarding this place. His strength had reached the peak of Transcendent Eight-realm, second only to the High Priest.

“The energy station and the altar in the north of the city… both lost?!” Blood Bat Elder’s withered fingers clenched abruptly, a flash of disbelief and fury in his eyes. “And destroyed by the same person, in such a short time?! That Ninth-realm guy… what’s his background? Why is the ‘Blood and Flesh Veil’s’ suppression almost ineffective against him?!”

He knew the importance of these two core altars. Their loss not only meant a significant weakening of the “Blood and Flesh Veil’s” power but could also completely disrupt Deputy Sect Master’s entire plan!

This suddenly appearing Ninth-realm powerhouse had become the biggest variable and threat in the entire plan! He must be eliminated at all costs!

But Blood Bat Elder also knew very well that with the terrifying strength the opponent had shown, capable of instantly killing a peak Eight-realm High Priest, he alone with the defensive forces of this altar would likely be unable to resist and might repeat the same mistake.

His eyes flickered sinisterly a few times, and he immediately made a decision! He contacted his colleague, Blood Bat Commander, who was guarding the last core altar in the relatively remote old port area of the city’s south through the Blood Ghost Sect’s secret communication array. This commander was at the peak of the Seventh-realm, known for his speed and eerie blood bat servants.

“Blood Eye! The situation has changed! A strange Ninth-realm powerhouse has consecutively destroyed two core altars and is heading this way! This person is extremely strong, seemingly unaffected by domain suppression. We must join forces to eliminate him!” Blood Bat Elder’s voice was urgent and chilling.

Blood Bat Commander on the other end of the communication had evidently received the news too, his voice tinged with surprise: “Elder, rest assured! I have mobilized all the blood and flesh puppets and parasitic beasts in the port area! As long as he dares to come, he won’t be returning!”

“No!” Blood Bat Elder interrupted him, his tone becoming more cunning and ruthless. “Direct confrontation is too risky! This person can instantly kill Blood Skull; his strength is far from an ordinary Ninth-realm! We’ll try a different approach!”

He quickly conveyed a malicious plan: “With the power of us two, plus the partial energy connection of the two altars, we can set up a sure-kill trap! You do this…”

The two quickly communicated through the secret art, and an insidious and vicious combined trap targeting Xiao Yan swiftly took shape!

The core of the plan was for the slightly weaker Seventh-realm Blood Bat Commander to feign defeat and retreat, luring Xiao Yan to a pre-arranged ambush spot between the two altars—a complex terrain of abandoned giant pipes and warehouses—where a net had already been laid!

At that time, the peak Eight-realm Blood Bat Elder would lead all the elite forces from both altars to encircle him from all directions! And with the temporarily strengthened evil energy domain suppression after the two altars connected (they believed that even if Xiao Yan was unaffected, his companions would be), they would launch a lightning-fast strike! Their goal was to completely bury this major threat here!

The orders were swiftly relayed. Large numbers of blood and flesh puppets, parasitic mutated monsters, and elite Blood Ghost Sect disciples, like a tide, silently gathered and lurked towards the pre-set death trap area. A vast net woven from evil and slaughter quietly awaited its prey.

…

As the Blood Ghost Sect meticulously set up their trap, Xiao Yan was speeding towards the old industrial district in the east of the city at an astonishing pace.

But he was not alone.

After he consecutively destroyed two core altars and War King Lie Yang issued a city-wide command, the resistance forces throughout Fourth New Nanjing were ignited! Countless warriors and powerhouses who had been suppressed and engaged in bitter battles now focused their targets on the ominous red-glowing altar nodes!

Several reinforcement units closest to the North City altar, upon learning of Xiao Yan’s astonishing achievements and movements, immediately converged towards his direction without hesitation!

“Old Xiao! Wait for me!!” A familiar roar, filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster, came from behind!

Zhao Meng, covered in blood, his left arm still in a sling, but his eyes exceptionally bright, was leading a similarly battered but high-spirited small team, chasing at full speed! Beside him was the giant-axe-wielding Second-realm general who had fought alongside him at the crossroads plaza!

Following closely was Lin Tao! The Deputy Commander of the Third Division, while coordinating and commanding, couldn’t suppress the fighting spirit in his heart and personally led a rapid response unit composed of elite soldiers directly under the division to provide support!

Even more surprising to Xiao Yan were three other Transcendent Generals with steady auras and considerable strength, who also joined in with their personal guard teams! One of them had reached Transcendent Six-realm, while the other two were Five-realm! They had evidently been freed from previous battles, heard War King Lie Yang’s command and Xiao Yan’s achievements, and came to assist voluntarily!

In a short time, Xiao Yan had gathered an extremely powerful force around him! Including himself, there were seven Transcendent Generals (Xiao Yan Ninth-realm, Zhao Meng First-realm but experienced, Lin Tao Second-realm, one Six-realm general, two Five-realm generals, and the Second-realm giant-axe general from the crossroads), and nearly a hundred elite warriors, all at least Seventh-realm or above!

“Old Xiao! You’re incredible! You pulled off two big ones!” Zhao Meng caught up, excitedly punching Xiao Yan on the shoulder (this time with a bit of force). “Now the whole city knows to prioritize hitting the altars! These damn Blood Ghost Sect bastards won’t be jumping around for long! We’re here to help you! Where’s the next altar? Let’s take it down together!”

The other generals also stepped forward, expressing their respect for Xiao Yan and their willingness to fight alongside him. While they were shocked by Xiao Yan’s strength, they were even more inspired by his heroic feat of turning the tide!

…

Feeling the powerful force gathered around him and the high morale of his comrades, Xiao Yan’s heart warmed. He was no longer fighting alone!

He informed everyone of their next target—the altar in the old industrial district in the east of the city. The large group immediately adjusted their direction and advanced at full speed towards the target area.

However, just as they were about to approach the outskirts of the old industrial district, Xiao Yan’s powerful perception, far surpassing his peers and perhaps even touching the threshold of the War King realm, keenly detected something unusual!

The energy fluctuations ahead, though still evil and chaotic, seemed… too deliberate in their arrangement and flow! Some areas that should have been defensive strong points had weaker energy readings; while some seemingly inconspicuous abandoned pipes and warehouse areas subtly emitted signs of large biological energy concentrations!

Moreover, the oppressive force of the evil energy in the air seemed particularly “weak” in a specific direction, as if… deliberately luring them deeper?

“Something’s wrong!” Xiao Yan’s steps suddenly halted, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “It’s an ambush!”

He immediately informed Zhao Meng, Lin Tao, and the others of his discovery and deduction—that the enemy had likely already known of his movements and was using the power of the altars in the east and the old port area in the south of the city to set up a combined trap for a joint elimination.

Hearing this deduction, everyone was startled, then their expressions turned grim.

“Damn it! These bastards are really cunning!” Zhao Meng cursed.

Lin Tao frowned and said, “Two altars working together… their forces will probably be very concentrated, and there might be a higher-ranking commander in charge. If we force our way in…”

“Force our way in? Heh heh…” A cold smile played on Xiao Yan’s lips. “They want to ambush me? Then let them taste being attacked from the inside out!”

He quickly formulated a counter-encirclement plan in his mind and issued orders in an undeniable tone:

“Zhao Meng! Lin Tao! And you!” He pointed to the Six-realm general. “The three of you, each take a portion of the elite warriors, and immediately flank from the left and right! Your target is the enemy’s rear! Don’t rush to attack, lie in wait, and wait for my signal! Once I engage, you immediately launch a full-force assault, create chaos, and try your best to attract and tie down their main force!”

“Yes!” The three immediately took the order.

Xiao Yan then looked at the Second-realm giant-axe general from the crossroads and the other two Five-realm generals: “The three of you, follow me! We will form the sharpest spearhead, from the front, along the ‘deliberately’ left weak route, and pierce straight through! Attract everyone’s attention!”

“Understood!” The three generals’ eyes also burned with fierce fighting spirit!

“Remember! Our goal is not just to destroy the altar, but to wipe out the enemy commanders who set the ambush!” Xiao Yan’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. “Is that clear?”

“Clear!!”

“Good! Move out!”

With a single command, seven generals leading nearly a hundred elite warriors split into three groups, like three arrows released from a bow, quietly pouncing towards that steel ruin filled with the aura of death! A counter-ambush battle was about to unfold!

…

The prelude to the battle was drawn by Xiao Yan’s frontal assault team!

Like a tiger descending from the mountain, he didn’t immediately draw his Mountain Shaker Blade but instead concentrated his Transcendent Ninth-realm power into his fists, leading the charge. He bravely rushed into the steel labyrinth of abandoned pipes and giant warehouses, following the path that the enemy had “carefully designed” to appear weakly defended!

The Second-realm giant-axe general and the two Five-realm generals behind him followed closely, each unleashing their strongest combat techniques, like three sharp daggers, tightly trailing behind Xiao Yan, the “main blade,” tearing through the sporadic resistance they encountered along the way!

Their assault speed was incredibly fast, their momentum like a rainbow, as if they had truly fallen into the enemy’s “lure-them-in” trap, recklessly plunging headfirst into the core of the pre-set ambush!

Sure enough!

Just as they penetrated to the center of the ambush, where the tall warehouses and intricate pipes formed a natural encirclement!

“Attack!!!”

A chilling roar echoed from the top of a towering warehouse!

It was the peak Eight-realm Blood Bat Elder, who had been hiding in the dark, believing himself to be in control of the situation!

Following his command!

Boom!

From all directions, enemies who had been lurking for a long time surged out like a tide!

Hundreds of blood and flesh puppets with bloodthirsty red eyes rushed out from the shadows of the warehouses! They knew no pain, no fear, like the most loyal cannon fodder, fearlessly charging towards Xiao Yan and his group!

Dozens of strange-looking parasitic beasts, emitting a foul stench, emerged from above the giant pipes and amidst the ruins! They let out ear-piercing roars, launching surprise attacks from all angles!

Further away, the dark red light from the two core altars suddenly intensified! A wave of evil energy, even denser and more viscous than before, instantly enveloped the area like an invisible force field!