Chapter 384 - 381: A Desperate Situation

Chapter 384: Chapter 381: A Desperate Situation

The sound of artillery fire continued outside, but the atmosphere inside the laboratory was heavy. The students, in particular, who had never experienced any real danger, were clearly shaken to their core.

Although Yang Caide and the other instructors kept trying to console them, some things couldn’t be fixed with words.

For these students, who had grown up sheltered like flowers in a greenhouse, this baptism of blood and fire was something they would have to adapt to on their own.

"Everyone’s injuries have mostly healed. Let’s head to the Elder Hall; it’s safer there," Feng Hao said, looking at the group.

Yang Caide nodded lightly and began organizing the students to move out.

Leaving the laboratory, the group moved as quickly as possible toward the Elder Hall of the Main Combat Department. The path was littered with corpses, a gruesome sight that shook everyone to their core.

Even Yang Caide, an instructor, found it hard to bear. "These bastards from the Root Cutting Cult. From now on, I’ll kill every single one I see."

"This isn’t the time for that. We need to get to the Elder Hall and regroup as soon as possible." Feng Hao sighed, then turned to Xie Kuangfeng beside him. "Teacher Yang, Brother Kuangfeng, you two take everyone first. I’m going to check on the Thief God Hall."

"Do you need help? Our injuries are mostly healed," a few of the more eager instructors asked.

"No, that’s alright. I have my Shadow Secret Skill, so it’s more convenient for me to act alone," Feng Hao replied, shaking his head.

"Alright then. Be careful on your own." Yang Caide gave Feng Hao a deep look, and after a few more words of caution, she led the teachers and students of the alchemy department away.

After watching them disappear into the distance, Feng Hao looked up at the crimson sky, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Activating [Shadow Escape], he vanished on the spot, rushing toward the Thief God Hall like a darting spirit fox.

Through the [Thief’s Mark], Feng Hao could clearly detect the nearby members of the Thief God Hall. Just as he had predicted, the Root Cutting Sect’s attack was aimed squarely at the Five Provinces Academy, so the Thief God Hall hadn’t been heavily affected.

But now, with the entire Five States City engulfed in the flames of war, the Thief God Hall could no longer expect to be spared.

In short, when Feng Hao arrived at the Thief God Hall, a large number of thieves, both young and old, had already gathered, fully armed. At their head were Sub-Palace Master Lei Yun and a group of other branch leaders.

Seeing Feng Hao approach, the entire hall immediately fell silent. Lei Yun strode forward and asked, "Xiaofeng, what’s the situation at the Five Provinces Academy?"

"The specifics are still unclear, but it’s certain that this attack is aimed at the academy," Feng Hao said with a frown. "I came here mainly to ask for reinforcements and to see if there’s any way to contact the outside world."

"Sending reinforcements isn’t a problem," Lei Yun said, his brow furrowed with worry. "But as for contacting the outside world, we don’t have a way either."

"You can’t?" Feng Hao’s face fell, and his heart grew even heavier.

The Root Cutting Sect had clearly come prepared. With Five States City’s current strength, it definitely couldn’t hold out for long. The key was to notify the major sects to send support; otherwise, the situation would only get worse.

"For now, the only options are to fight our way out or find a way to break the blockade array outside the city." Lei Yun mused for a moment, then turned to the head of the Array Department beside him. "Lao Liang, do you have any idea what we’re dealing with?"

"This array is clearly modeled after an ancient restrictive formation, but it’s different from the one at the Five Provinces Academy. I’m not very confident I can break it."

"So, fighting our way out is our only option?" Lei Yun’s expression hardened, and he immediately began issuing orders. "All thieves, listen up! Split into two groups. One group will go to the academy to provide support. The other will scout the various city exits. If you find a suitable point to break through, report back to me immediately."

"Understood!" Hundreds of thieves instantly accepted their orders and split into two groups to move out.

In an instant, the Thief God Hall was empty, leaving only Feng Hao, Lei Yun, and a few other branch leaders.

"This attack by the Root Cutting Sect is no small matter. You should probably lie low here for a while," Lei Yun said, looking at Feng Hao hesitantly.

Feng Hao gave a wry smile, understanding Lei Yun’s good intentions. ’If I hide here today,’ he thought, shaking his head, ’I won’t have the face to participate in the Thief Scion’s Battle.’

"But..." Lei Yun started to say something, but Feng Hao cut him off.

"No buts. I’m leaving." With that, Feng Hao activated [Shadow Escape] and departed.

Lei Yun and the others exchanged a look and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. "That little thief... he really has the air of a Thief Scion. It’s a shame this turmoil is so fierce. Who knows how long Five States City can hold on?"

"Indeed. We thought we might live to see a Thief Scion emerge from our Wolf Country, but instead, we’re faced with this disaster," the other branch leaders beside him added with bitter smiles.

Hearing this, Lei Yun sighed bitterly. "I just used my bloodline ability to do a rough scan. There are about ten thousand Root-cutting Mages in the city, all of them fifth-rank or higher. Among them are dozens of experts at eighth-rank and above. And that’s just inside the city. The number of experts outside will only be greater."

"Sigh... I wonder what the Root Cutting Sect is after. Why did they suddenly attack our Five States City?"

...

Meanwhile, after leaving the Thief God Hall, Feng Hao didn’t rush back to the academy to regroup with the others. Instead, he changed direction and headed back toward the general store.

The once-bustling commercial street had been ravaged by artillery fire. Countless lanterns and colorful ribbons lay scattered by the roadside, completely stripped of their New Year’s cheer.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The continuous sound of artillery fire echoed in his ears, and he easily dodged the occasional shells that came crashing down.

As he neared the general store, he saw a group of True God Sect followers besieging the [Treasure Pavilion] from a distance. Feng Hao gave them a quick scan: there were twelve people in total, including two Seventh Rank experts, while the rest were all Sixth-rank.

Inside the [Treasure Pavilion], Xue Qingshan, his daughter, and several experts from the Holy Hall were fighting for their lives, but the situation looked dire.

Feng Hao had only just arrived when one of the Seventh Rank experts detected him. It couldn’t be helped. As powerful as [Shadow Escape] was, it wasn’t very useful against High-level Mages, unless he encountered an expert who had severed their own sensory roots, like last time.

"Huh? Where did this fourth-rank nobody pop up from? Someone go and get rid of him," the Seventh Rank expert sneered, curling his lip, not taking Feng Hao seriously in the slightest.

Hearing the Seventh Rank Mage’s order, a Sixth-rank Mage immediately abandoned his assault on the [Treasure Pavilion] and charged toward Feng Hao. "Brat, lie down and die!"

Seeing the Tier Six Cultist charge at him, a cold smile touched the corners of Feng Hao’s mouth as the Su Mu Dagger instantly appeared in his hand.

It was a joke. He was now wielding a Divine Soul Weapon; an ordinary Sixth-rank Mage was no match for him at all.

He used a Chained Shadow Dash to close the distance and met the attack with a [Rapid Shadow Slash]. The poor Sixth-rank Mage had no idea how terrifying Feng Hao was. By the time he realized it, a horrific dark energy was already rampaging through his body, his Qi Blood and life force visibly draining away.

"My Lord Bishops, save me! This kid has a Divine Soul Weapon!" the Sixth-rank Mage cried out in horror, hastily begging the two Tier Seven Bishops for help.

Unfortunately for him, Feng Hao’s [Lunar Pierce] had already locked onto the back of his neck.

PFFT!

Under the terrifying damage of [Lunar Pierce], the Sixth-rank Mage’s voice cut off abruptly, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide in death.