Immortal Martial Academy - Chapter 42

As the military surveyed the surroundings, Wu Xianyao aboard his battleship also sprang into action.

“Little Panda, deploy the nano drones to map the area and infiltrate the Fifth Stronghold. I need a comprehensive terrain map of the Fifth Stronghold.”

“Captain, nano drones have been released, mapping the terrain now.”

In the center of the battleship, a three-dimensional map gradually formed, including even the military’s own battleships within its scope.

It was evident that Xiao Lin’s research capabilities were formidable, at least matching those publicly known by the military’s technology standards.

The Fifth Stronghold appeared on the 3D map, currently located approximately ten kilometers away from the battleship’s position.

From the military battleship, squads began deployment. Stealthily, they assassinated nearby Alien Scouts and concealed their bodies without a trace.

Additionally, the battleship released black boxes emitting sounds mimicking Xenobeasts’ roars.

Undeniably, the military had meticulously planned various aspects.

Three Academy Teams entered the battlefield, dispersing across different locations.

Wu Xianyao, stationed on his battleship, focused solely on his team’s movements rather than monitoring others’. Observing their direction, he slightly frowned; it led towards an outer small stronghold.

The Fifth Stronghold had numerous surveillance points, and to approach the central stronghold, breaking these smaller outposts was crucial.

Observing this, Wu Xianyao began to grasp Chen Beixuan’s plan. Ahead of one such small outpost lay a small lake, surrounded by its patrol perimeter encircling the central Fifth Stronghold.

Crouched in the grass, Chen Beixuan reviewed various updates from the military channel, formulating his strategy.

“The main corps will launch their assault tomorrow morning. For now, we need to determine their patrol timings and stealthily infiltrate to gather intel. Once the corps’ attack begins, amidst the chaos, we’ll rescue the Hundred Battles Squad,” Chen Beixuan whispered, touching the bracelet on his wrist.

It was nighttime, and 5th Rank powerhouses rarely ventured out at this hour. Chen Beixuan was gambling that no 5th Rankers would be active at this time, making infiltration easier with the aid of Stealth Bracelets.

“Keep track of the Stealth Bracelet usage time; conserve it wisely,” Chen Beixuan advised over the Battle Team channel.

After familiarizing themselves with the patrol schedules, they prepared to sneak into the Fifth Stronghold.

Following a group of Black Rat Aliens, the grass rustled slightly as the six-member squad bypassed the first warning point undetected.

Ahead of them lay a freshwater lake. Stealthily, they submerged and reached its bottom, where the six members deactivated their Stealth Bracelets.

“Hey! Xiao Lin’s craftsmanship is truly unbeatable; even underwater breathing works flawlessly,” Li Junlin commented over the channel.

“Armor should have basic features like underwater respiration; without it, what’s the point of calling it armor?

Alright, we’re still at least three kilometers away from the central stronghold. Their warning strongholds seem to be approximately one kilometer apart, based on my observation.

The challenge lies in locating any hidden surveillance points. Stay alert and avoid impulsive actions.” Chen Beixuan stood at the lake bottom, scanning upwards.

Jiu Xian’er and Lan Yuecai were also observing under the water. “Captain, I’ve spotted something!” Lan Yuecai pulled Jiu Xian’er back, preventing this glutton from entering the nearby cave.

Upon receiving the message, Chen Beixuan approached Lan Yuecai and noticed a watery cavern, similar to those found beneath rivers.

As all squad members remained underwater, they couldn’t predict what might lurk inside the cavern. They now looked expectantly towards Chen Beixuan for guidance.

“I’ll go ahead and check it out first,” thought Chen Beixuan, considering the academy’s communication signal. So far, he hadn’t encountered anything that could disrupt it effectively.

Entering the underwater cave, Chen Beixuan activated his armor’s night vision mode. Based on the current flow, he realized he was moving against the stream.

Upon reaching a fork with three paths, Chen Beixuan hesitated before choosing the route following the downstream flow.

After approximately ten minutes, Chen Beixuan spotted light ahead. Cautiously approaching, he discovered a vast underground space filled with various members of the Rat Clan Alien Race walking about.

Realizing the situation, Chen Beixuan stealthily retreated and headed back upstream. After roughly half an hour, he encountered another source of light.

Sneaking closer, he found himself facing a massive underground lake, complete with a waterfall above it. Hearing the commotion, Chen Beixuan discreetly vanished from sight.

“Ah! Why doesn’t the boss let us kill those gifted ones?” Chen Beixuan overheard the complaints of the Rat Clan Aliens above him.

“Eating the gifted can enhance our aptitudes, but we cannon fodder likely won’t get to partake. If you had tried anything, chances are you’d be a dead rat by now,” responded another member of the Rat Clan.

“Hmph! I just don’t understand. As a 3rd Rank myself, consuming one gifted might have elevated me to the 4th Rank. With all my accomplishments over these years, shouldn’t I at least receive a gifted as a reward?”

“Sigh! My young master, haven’t you considered that your branch of rats doesn’t have as good a relationship with the leader as boss’s lineage?”

“I just don’t understand; we all serve the leader, yet why do those of us who diligently work never receive benefits, while the ones skilled at flattery keep advancing?”

Listening to this conversation underwater, Chen Beixuan sighed, realizing that workplace politics exist not only among humans but also within rat societies.

However, hearing this information made it worthwhile for him, as he now had a rough idea that they were likely not far from Central Stronghold 5.

Instead of returning immediately, Chen Beixuan used the communication channel to summon his entire team to join him.

The location was well-hidden and safe, although staying submerged underwater might be uncomfortable, primarily due to psychological factors. However, with their armor, not a single drop of water could reach them.

Soon, Li Junlin and the others arrived. After sharing the findings over the communication channel, Chen Beixuan decided to split the team into two groups.

One group would head towards the Rat Clan’s campsite, while the other would remain here, waiting for an opportunity to discreetly explore the surroundings and gather more intelligence.

Li Junlin, Lan Yuecai, and Linyang formed one group, while Chen Beixuan, Linyue, and Jiu Xian’er comprised the second group.

Chen Beixuan’s path was highly dangerous, with potential 5th Rank beings lurking nearby, making him uneasy about Li Junlin joining that group.

On the other side, Li Junlin, accompanied by Lan Yuecai and Linyang, observed the vast space below, occasionally filled with gathering rodent aliens, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement.

“I’ll go scout ahead; keep watch for any changes around us,” said Li Junlin as he peered down. Seeing the converging rodent aliens disperse, he seized the opportunity, unfurling his Heavenly Wings to descend while activating his Stealth Bracelet simultaneously.

A sudden appearance of a 2nd Rank rodent alien startled Li Junlin momentarily, but he remained composed. The Stealth Bracelet effectively hid him from detection by the rodent alien.

Li Junlin marveled at its usefulness, thinking, “What a fantastic item!”

Avoiding the rodent, Li Junlin began exploring the cave system, discovering interconnected tunnels throughout. Numerous Black Rats were present, with the highest being only 3rd Rank. As he ventured deeper, his expression grew increasingly grim, realizing there must be over a hundred thousand Black Rats within these caverns. If war commenced tomorrow, the Eighth and Ninth Legions would be swiftly overwhelmed.

Despite his concern, Li Junlin maintained composure and took action, discreetly deploying the marble bombs collected the previous night at strategic intervals.

Xiao Lin’s weapons truly proved superior, as the marble bombs could be remotely detonated, set on timers, or even used as concealed projectiles.