Chapter 30: Going their own waysTranslated and Editted by: La0o9

A night quickly passed as the Eastern sky lights up.

Today there is no rain.

The sun slowly rose, hanging from the cloudless blue sky above.

Gu Qing Shan’s figure suddenly appeared in a dense forest area.

The serpent demon’s corpse still lying at his feet, about 200 meters away, numerous arrows are still stuck deep on tree branches and trunks.

Spending one day in the other world and one hour will have passed in Reality, but going back to the other world from Reality and not even a second has passed.

What a strange flow of time.

Gu Qing Shan checked his inventory bag, inside it was still full of snake blood, teeth and his other loots.

The most valuable things are the snake livers, he himself had already eaten one, the other is silently sitting in the Inventory Bag, occasionally emitting a dim light.

This truly is a good thing to have, right now Gu Qing Shan can still feel his body’s blood essence increasing nonstop, almost rivalling that of a Martial Cultivator.

Should he learn some martial artist Skills?

Gu Qing Shan thought for a bit.

No, don’t worry about these things yet, I still have to return to the outpost.

I still haven’t eaten anything today, although Zhao Lu is useless in combat, his cooking skills are quite something.

Gu Qing Shan packed up his stuff, quickly followed the path to go back.

On the way he didn’t make any stop, avoiding demon beasts even if he saw them.

Hunting demon beasts for a whole night, created a new Mobile Mech right after returning to Reality, meeting Anna, fighting a Grandmaster, meeting the President and Martial Saint, go on TV, right now even he feels a bit tired in both body and spirit.

This time in the other world, he might as well spend a day to reorganize himself.

When he came back to the outpost, Zhao Lu was standing at the outpost’s gate, seemingly waiting for him.

As soon as he saw Gu Qing Shan, he quickly spoke: “Brother Gu, not good”

“What happened?”

“Yesterday so many demons appeared at night”

“Hm? What exactly happened?”

Gu Qing Shan’s expression tensed up and tried to ask.

Zhao Lu doesn’t really understand military terms so even after a while couldn’t explain what he saw.

Gu Qing Shan couldn’t do anything but be patient and questioned him slowly, for every 3-4 questions, Zhao Lu would give an answer from memory.

After a few minutes, Gu Qing Shan finally pieced everything together.

The demon’s dispatch yesterday wasn’t the main army, only small squadrons of unique demons.

These squadrons all have intricate equipment and considerable strength, in Zhao Lu’s own words: “Looks scary as hell, even fiercer than the ones from before”

The demon squadrons all used their highest speed, and passed by the outpost gate on their way.

To ensure both mobility and secrecy, the demons’ numbers aren’t too overwhelming, they also acted in silence.

If Zhao Lu hadn’t woken up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, he wouldn’t even have found out.

After hearing Zhao Lu’s story, Gu Qing Shan remembered the Faceless Giant and Bloodthirsters that appeared yesterday, becoming even more suspicious.

The demon army dispatched so many elite troops, but what for?

“This is the last year of peace right?” he spoke questioningly.

“Yeah, the last year of peace” Zhao Lu nodded in agreement.

Gu Qing Shan became even more confused.

He has confirmed over and over that this is the first time that war broke out, both demons and humans are still testing each other’s strength, both sides still haven’t dispatched their strongest troops for an all-out battle.

These demons that only appeared during the later stages of the war, all suddenly showed up here at once.

Gu Qing Shan went silent and began to seriously recall the details of the past.

He’s already feeling a sense of unease.

During the past life, he was the supreme commander of China’s national guild, as well as the World Alliance Army’s strategic General, so he’s especially sensitive to military dispatches. (1)

He has carefully spent time to research each and every single military campaign that happened in the game.

Before, he had only just returned, plus his cultivation was so low, as well as the wounds on his body, so Gu Qing Shan had placed more attention on himself.

But now when the situation changed again, he’s once again using the eyes of a strategic General to seriously consider everything.

Gu Qing Shan threw away all useless thoughts and begin compiling the facts.

If the dispatch wasn’t the main demon army, then whatever happens isn’t happening on the main battlefield.

Then the possibility of a direct attack can be ruled out.

If so, would it be a raid?

Gu Qing Shan closed his eyes and reviewed the map in his map again.

His own squad was stationed at the frontline, right now already considered the fallen sector.

In the vicinity, would there be any humanity strongholds or fortresses that are worth the demons dispatching their strongest elite squadrons to attack?

The closest humanity stronghold is right outside the border town, about 1000 kilometers away.

So there’s no humanity targets that are worth a raid around this area.

If so, he can also rule out the chance of a raid.

After ruling out two possibilities, Gu Qing Shan became even more nervous.

Could it be, an assassination operation?

Gu Qing Shan silently thought.

During this one year, there were many strong cultivators of humanity that died in battle.

During the sudden outbreak of war, which important human cultivators were assassinated by the demons?

Names rushed through Gu Qing Shan’s mind one after another.

As he recalls, he’s also ruling them out one by one.

Suddenly, Gu Qing Shan remembered two people.

Two shockingly brilliant people, two figures that stood out in history.

Many historians later came to the conclusion that if either of them were to not die before the war fully broke out, the direction of history could’ve been turned.

Gu Qing Shan suddenly asked: “What month and date is it today?”

Zhao Lu scratched his head and answered: “The 7th of June”

Gu Qing Shan’s heart jumped, that’s it!

The Holy Gates Grand elder, formation Grandmaster Gong Sun Zhi, fell in battle on the 8th of June.

Heaven’s Limit Sect, Heaven’s Limit Saintess Ning Yue Xi, fell in battle on the 9th of June.

Gong Sun Zhi was surrounded by 3 million demons and died of exhaustion inside his own formation.

Ning Yue Xi was surrounded by 5 demon generals and fought a hard battle for one day and night before dying.

Many players that saw this history record was completely flabbergasted, unable to understand.

Because formations are known to be the best at hiding and evading, even at its weakest it could trap the enemy.

Of all the clans and sects, Gong Sun Zhi was a man who brought formation to its very limit, a formation Grandmaster that almost rivalled the heaven itself.

With his skills, accidentally trapping himself inside to be surrounded by millions of demons is completely nonsensical.

Heaven’s Limit Saintess Ning Yue Xi death was particularly tragic.

Heaven’s Limit Sect was one of the strongest sects in the world of cultivation, Ning Yue Xi being so young yet she was already its Saintess, her cultivation and talents are both considered top-notch in the whole world of cultivation.

Such a talented and brilliant girl, was surrounded by 5 demon generals, fought for a whole day and night, finally died of exhaustion.

If she could just send out any message at all, within that one day and night, there definitely would have been strong people who came to her rescue.

But right until the moment she died, no one in humanity’s top brass even noticed that she had been fighting the demon army for one day and night.

A great cultivator once confirmed, if Gong Sun Zhi hadn’t died, the first campaign’s results might not have been a loss; and if Ning Yue Xi hadn’t died, in just a few dozen years, she would’ve had the ability to rival even the Nine Hells Demon King, changing the fate of humanity.

But that is only a sigh of grief, as history had already happened, and the people in later years saying “what if…” didn’t change a thing.

Gu Qing Shan paced back and forth, silently thinking.

Today is already the 7th of June, in just 2 days, both of these legendary characters will have died one after another.

The reason the demon army dispatched their elite squadrons, is probably this.

The place where these two legends died was…

Gu Qing Shan silently recalled, very quickly remembered and cross referenced with his mental map.

Sure enough, the place was not far from here, about 100 kilometers.

That’s right, Gu Qing Shan could feel his thoughts cleared up.

If two human cultivators as powerful as them showed up in demon territory, it would definitely cause the demons to rush to surround and eliminate them.

This level of an encirclement battle, with Gu Qing Shan’s measly qi training stage 5 cultivation, he couldn’t even get close.

Even the weakest demons on the outer ring used for alert could easily kill him.

For him, the only thing that he could do would be to take the chance and run back to humanity’s area of control.

Take the chance when the demon’s attention is still focused on the two legends and run away from this fallen sector.

Gu Qing Shan quickly made his decision.

Under a situation like this, as long as he runs the opposite direction of where they are, he should be able to avoid most dangers.

A journey from this outpost to the stronghold outside border city would take about one day and one night.

It isn’t a short journey, and the dangers he could face on the way are numerous, but still much better than staying still at this outpost that’s about to be destroyed.

If he wants to go, he has to take this chance when the two legends are still in battle with the demon army to leave as quickly as possible!

Gu Qing Shan didn’t even rest, quickly checked the items on his body.

Snake blood, snake teeth, snake liver, all here; the military bow is still in good condition, not many arrows left, so he will have to replenish them before he leaves.

The military machete won’t do much, but at least it’s a weapon, for the off-chance that he might get into close combat.

“Pack up quickly, we have to leave now”

Gu Qing Shan cleaned up his items, also telling Zhao Lu to prepare

“Leave? Leave where?” Zhao Lu opened his eyes wide and asked.

He was still holding the newly seasoned dried demon beast meat, about to dry it out under the roof.

“Leaving this fallen sector, towards humanity’s stronghold, of course” Gu Qing Shan answered.

Zhao Lu hesitated: “But… but we already found the spirit stones, using the formation, we can just hide here for another while”

Gu Qing Shan spoke: “This Invisibility formation is effective for demons before Golden Core realm, above that, just one glance and they’ll be able to see through it”

He continued: “The demon called Faceless Giant from a few days ago, it already discovered us, but because it was on a mission, plus we were just ants to it so it didn’t bother to do anything”

Zhao Lu took a step backwards, then another, shaking his head: “Brother Gu, why are you telling me lies, what good is there to lie to me”

Gu Qing Shan kept patiently explained: “If I’m not wrong, this area will soon become a battlefield, if we still want to live to have to quickly leave”

Zhao Lu: “Didn’t you just go out to hunt beasts? How do you know these things?”

Gu Qing Shan answered: “Just looking at the demon dispatches and I already know, don’t worry, this is the only thing I won’t be wrong about”

Zhao Lu kept shaking his head: “You’re wrong! You have to be wrong, the outside is too dangerous, I can lose my life at any time! If you want to leave so much then go, I’m not leaving!”

Gu Qing Shan thought about the Healing pills he received from him, sighed and tried to convince him again: “Come with me, this place won’t hold, losing your life will just be a matter of time”

Zhao Lu still shook his head: “Going outside is more dangerous, the outpost has a formation, this place is very safe, and the human main army will soon reclaim this place anyways”

Gu Qing Shan tried to convince him again, but seeing Zhao Lu’s firm attitude, plus the begrudging look in his eyes, he gave up.

“I hope you understand your choice” Gu Qing Shan serious said once more “when the demons come, it’ll be too late for you to regret”

Zhao Lu stood firm, not saying a word.

Gu Qing Shan seeing that reluctantly turned around and left, not looking back at the outpost any longer.

Finally, when Gu Qing Shan’s back couldn’t be seen anymore, Zhao Lu spat out

“Bullshit! Going out is more dangerous, those soldiers all died in the mouth of demons because they left in the first place”

“Everyone else is in the dead pit now, only I’m alive”

“I thought you were reinforcement, but turned out to just be a newbie that got lost, fooling me into taking care of you for days for nothing”

“Ridiculous, if you want to die then go by yourself, trying to lie to me”

Zhao Lu angrily got back into the outpost.

Note:

(1) China: in the raw it also said China, so I assume the author meant that China is a real country in this world and not that he made a mistake. Seeing how Gu Qing Shan was essentially considered a low-life criminal in the Confederate in the past life as well as how Impartial Goddess does thing, him becoming a strong character in the game wouldn’t have changed that fact. The other 2 big nations also wouldn’t have discovered or valued his talents too much, so it makes sense that he would be at another country (remember, it’s an established fact that there are more than just 3 countries in this world, just that there are 3 big ones that more worth mentioning more than the others)