Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Layered Interception

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Chapter 467: Layered Interception

Da! Da! Da! 

The crisp sound of horse hooves echoed across the dusky wasteland. 

Jifan turned his head to look at the novice Druid beside him, seeing him reaching out to calm the fiery green steed, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Jifan couldn't help but smile slightly: 

"Don't be too nervous; you won't encounter combat just yet." 

As he said this, he recalled the days of adventuring in the underground ruins of Blood Moon City. 

The 13-year-old boy gave a shy smile. Though nervous, he wasn't afraid at all; instead, he spoke confidently: 

"I defeated 46 classmates to earn this opportunity, so I won't be scared." 

As he spoke, the boy, Xiaogudong, pulled a sleeping owl out of his arms and looked expectantly at Jifan. 

Jifan, recalling Arnold's advice before departure, expressed his trust in Xiaogudong: 

"I trust you've learned how to gather as much enemy information as possible while ensuring this little guy's safety." 

Xiaogudong nodded confidently, took out some jerky from his pocket, and dangled it in front of the sleepy owl. 

Its round eyes immediately opened, revealing an adorable, clueless expression that made Jifan unconsciously raise his brow. 

"My sister gets bored being home alone. Bringing her such a cute little guy should cheer her up..." 

The owl swallowed the fragrant jerky in one bite and began happily scanning its surroundings, remaining motionless below its wings while showcasing excellent observational skills. 

Xiaogudong whispered something into its ear, fed it another piece of jerky, and the fluffy creature soared into the sky, disappearing into the clouds in a flash. 

With his innate animal affinity, Xiaogudong could communicate with creatures without using Druid spells, which was one of the reasons he was selected. 

Waiting felt like an eternity to Xiaogudong. 

He secretly observed the surrounding cavalry and found them motionless, seemingly accumulating strength in silence. 

Even the green steeds they rode stood obediently calm. 

An inexplicable feeling surged from Xiaogudong's heart. 

His eyes began to show traces of fiery passion. 

For every adult in the Bay Territory, soldiers were only met with one sentiment—admiration! 

As for children, it sparked an uncontrollable yearning! 

Thus, for this military campaign mission, Xiaogudong had gone to great lengths and was fortunate enough to be selected. 

Now, as he deepened his involvement, his yearning grew stronger! 

At that moment, the owl spread its wings and descended, landing softly on Xiaogudong's shoulder without making a sound. 

Its round, plump eyes betrayed its love for food as it devoured the jerky and cooed softly into Xiaogudong's ear. 

Jifan curiously observed the scene, patiently waiting for their exchange to end as Xiaogudong nodded repeatedly. 

"The vanguard is 3,000 meters away, numbering 6,500, all wolf cavalry." 

"The central army consists of 35,000, including hundreds of dangerous magical creatures alongside regular soldiers." 

"There's also a smaller squad stealthily hiding on the left..." 

The detailed intelligence filled Jifan with joy. He patted Xiaogudong's shoulder and immediately issued orders: 

"Good job. Head to the back for further observations!" 

"Move out!" 

Staring blankly at their departing backs, Xiaogudong unconsciously stroked the owl and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. 

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! 

Bolts from crossbows flew from a distance, striking down the pursuing wolf cavalry. 

They pushed forward relentlessly but never caught up. 

Jifan drew their attention, leading them in endless circles. 

After days of encounters, he could now easily grasp the wolf cavalry's traits and abilities, utilizing superior mobility and ranged attacks. 

Jifan was confident he could eliminate them all, though it would take considerable time. 

While he distracted the wolf cavalry, the remaining orc army faced the first round of interception. 

The ground was covered with iron caltrops, concealing the barren yellow terrain, causing significant pain and trouble for the advancing orc army. 

The sharp spikes that easily pierced through soles were generously coated with various toxins, dealing a heavy blow to the unprepared orc soldiers. 

Hundreds of orcs collapsed, creating chaos that halted the entire army. 

The expressionless orc general bent down to pick up two pitch-black iron caltrops. 

Scanning the horizon, he saw the land within several kilometers blanketed with these seemingly insignificant metal spikes. 

Under normal circumstances, the metal-starved orc warriors would gladly collect each caltrop to forge armor or weapons. 

A patch of this size could yield tens of thousands of pounds of metal. 

However, these highly valuable metals were carelessly strewn on the ground to delay their march. 

Turning silently, the orc general looked at the carts carrying supplies and siege equipment, took a deep breath, and shouted: 

"Summon the Earth Elementals to clear the path!" 

The orc spellcasters hesitated briefly before obeying the order. 

Three earth elementals, resembling clay golems, swung their massive arms, causing the ground to churn and push the caltrops aside. 

A safe passageway was cleared, and the orc army resumed its march. 

To avoid further ambushes, the orc general dispatched two squads to scout around the area. 

Only after receiving a safety report did he order the army to proceed. 

However, the Bay Territory soldiers who had set the traps wouldn't let them pass so easily. 

"See, at first, don't make the traps too hard. Leave them something solvable." 

"Now they've fallen into the trap, digging their own graves while they're at it." 

The old village chief, Field, smiled as he explained to the eager-to-learn Elio, adding a bit of humor: 

"Don't reveal your true goal too early. Let the enemy feel accomplished for 'uncovering the trick.'" 

"Of course, always set limits on your methods to avoid mishaps." 

"Ultimately, it boils down to two words—don't be greedy!" 

Elio carefully digested Field's teachings, licking her lips in excitement. 

Watching the orc army fully enter the trap, she ordered the soldiers to prepare for retreat while shouting loudly: 

"Catapults, fire!" 

Whoosh! 

A deep mechanical rumble sounded. 

Dozens of jars smeared with blazing oil flew through the air. 

They crashed precisely in the center of the orc army. 

Moments later, volleys of fire arrows followed, igniting the oil. 

"Ah...!" 

"Run!" 

"Fire..." 

"Stay away!!" 

"Don't try to save them..." 

"..." 

The specially formulated blazing oil demonstrated terrifying lethality once ignited. 

Even elite orc warriors weren't spared; those caught in the flames would suffer greatly, if not perish outright. 

Panicked orc soldiers fled in all directions, running straight into the caltrop fields. They collapsed screaming after only a few meters. 

It was only then that the invisibility spell on them faded away. 

The enraged orc general immediately spotted his enemies, not outside the trap area but hiding within it, thousands of meters away. 

No wonder the scouting squads had failed to locate them! 

He finally realized that his supposedly unstoppable orc army had marched into a deadly spider web full of dangers. 

The lethal web was tightening with every step! &