Chapter 41 – The Expedition

Chapter 41 – The Expedition

“That’s not really a bow,” Cheng Yang explained. “It’s more of a symbol of your archer status. It doesn’t even have 1 point of attack power. Think of it like a warrior’s shield – both are special items. A warrior’s shield never wears out, and an archer’s bow doesn’t require arrows.”

Yu Kai looked frustrated. “Doesn’t that mean archers have double the consumption? We need both magic energy and arrows?”

Cheng Yang sighed. “You’re forgetting that your arrows add attack power. With a basic apprentice-level bow, you’re effectively getting +2 attack power. You should be grateful.”

Yu Kai chuckled but didn’t argue. While arrows did cost spirit energy, it was negligible. Two hundred basic wooden arrows only cost 1 spirit energy, making it a great deal.

“Yang, what’s the plan for this morning? Are we continuing to clear Huimin Town?” Liu Hao asked.

Cheng Yang shook his head. “Niu Bing’s team is protecting lumberjacks today. As for you, you’ll be joining me on a mission to Xiangcheng City. We need to open that passage.”

“We’re opening the Xiangcheng passage today?” Yu Kai’s expression changed slightly as he asked.

Cheng Yang glanced at Li Wanshan standing nearby and nodded firmly.

Without further discussion, the group began preparations. Everyone except Cheng Yang visited the alchemy room to stock up on potions. Since they hadn’t used their health potions from the previous night, they focused on replenishing their magic energy potions.

Following Cheng Yang’s instructions, Yu Kai, Liu Hao, and Li Wanshan each purchased several medium-sized magic energy potions – all for Cheng Yang’s use.

Once supplies were secured, Cheng Yang led the group of 150 people out of Luofeng Village. This marked the largest expedition since the village’s founding.

As they traveled, Cheng Yang kept an eye out for herbs to craft more magic energy potions. The early days of the apocalypse meant few recognized these valuable plants, making them abundant. Within two kilometers, Cheng Yang had gathered enough herbs for over forty potions.

Rather than carry the herbs himself, Cheng Yang had a warrior carry them – a small privilege that the warrior seemed happy to provide.

When Cheng Yang suddenly stopped, Li Wanshan asked, “Lord, are we nearing the passage?”

“About two kilometers away,” Cheng Yang replied. “But we need to start our deployment now if we want to succeed.”

“Understood,” Li Wanshan said, thumping his chest. “Just tell us what to do. We’ll make sure the passage opens.”

Cheng Yang outlined the plan: “First, we’ll clear all monster groups in the area. Then you’ll split into four teams, each taking a different direction. Either eliminate or lure away any monsters you encounter. We can’t let them enter this area.”

Yu Kai caught on quickly. “Yang, are you planning to face the demon beasts alone?”

“Exactly,” Cheng Yang confirmed. “It’s safer this way. The group includes late-stage Tier 1 monsters that would be too dangerous for you. Your role is crucial – if monsters block my escape route while I’m leading them on a chase, things could get dangerous. You must prevent outside monsters from breaking through.”

Li Wanshan hesitated. “Lord, this seems too risky. Maybe we should wait a few more days.”

Cheng Yang smiled confidently. “Don’t worry. It’s not as dangerous as it seems. Most are early-stage Tier 1 monsters. My speed is four to five times theirs. Only the late-stage leader poses any real threat. If things go south, I can always retreat. If that leader dares to chase me, I’ll make sure it regrets it.”

Cheng Yang’s confidence reassured the group. Li Wanshan asked, “How much space do you need?”

“At least one square kilometer,” Cheng Yang replied. “With a thousand monsters, we need room to maneuver. Follow specific routes so I can find you when my potions run low.”

Yu Kai assured him, “We’ll coordinate our routes before splitting up. No problems there.”

Cheng Yang nodded and began assigning tasks. He would handle the eastern route alone, while the other four teams, including Zhao Chuan’s, would cover the remaining directions. They would advance six to seven hundred meters before moving north in unison.

The eastern route was uncharted territory for Cheng Yang, potentially hiding large monster groups. The other areas, having been cleared previously, were less likely to harbor significant threats.

As Cheng Yang progressed, he conserved his magic energy potions while gathering herbs. This served dual purposes – stockpiling resources and leveling his herb-gathering skill. The last thing he wanted was to find rare herbs only to discover his skill level was insufficient.

Surprisingly, Cheng Yang encountered no large monster groups, with the largest being around a hundred strong. A single magic energy potion sufficed to eliminate them.

The other teams also progressed smoothly, encountering no groups larger than a hundred monsters. They reached the ravine without incident, suggesting no new monster groups had wandered into the area since Cheng Yang’s previous clearing.

Upon reaching the ravine, the teams kept their distance from the central passage, wary of alerting the massive horde. Through the trees, they glimpsed the densely packed monsters – easily over a thousand strong.

Cheng Yang rejoined the group briefly to exchange information before they dispersed again. Armed with medium magic energy potions from his companions, Cheng Yang approached the passage alone.

Standing before the southern passage to Xiangcheng City, Cheng Yang observed the dog-like creatures with mixed feelings. These Bloodthirsty Jackals, as their name suggested, were both vicious and cunning.

While faster than average, Bloodthirsty Jackals had relatively low health. Against early-stage Tier 1 demon beasts with less than 30 health points, Cheng Yang’s attacks were lethal regardless. However, their speed posed a problem – without magic energy potions, escaping them would take longer, delaying his rendezvous with the others for resupply.

Yet these jackals had to be dealt with to reach Xiangcheng City. Opening this passage wasn’t just about rescuing Li Wanshan’s family – Cheng Yang had his eyes on the city’s resources. Having spent much of his previous life in Xiangcheng, he knew of its treasures – dungeons, wild treasures, and more. While dungeons couldn’t be moved, wild treasures were fair game for anyone strong enough to defeat their guardians.

A smile flickered across Cheng Yang’s face but quickly vanished. First, he had to deal with these Bloodthirsty Jackals. Raising his bone staff, he launched a magic missile that struck a jackal’s head, killing it instantly.