The two sides engaged in a fierce battle. It had to be said that the soldiers' strength was indeed formidable, and their coordination was remarkably tacit. Even when facing enemies three to four times their number, they did not falter.
Zhou Yan watched the battle from the sidelines with a cold gaze, having no intention of intervening. He knew that Gao Shun would certainly be able to handle the current adversaries.
Zhou Yan was well aware of Gao Shun's capabilities. While his strength might not be sufficient yet, he was a general with a divine skill, more than capable of dealing with these divine monsters.
However, Zhou Yan did not dare to be careless, as he worried the officer might seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on him. Therefore, Zhou Yan kept a close watch on the officer's movements. If there was any sign of trouble, Zhou Yan would not hesitate to attack him, even if it meant sustaining injuries to eliminate the fellow.
As Zhou Yan observed the ongoing conflict, he noted the soldiers' exceptional tactical acumen, particularly their close-quarters combat skills. They were incredibly proficient, their techniques sharp and swift, often cleaving opponents in half with a single strike.
Yet, Zhou Yan believed that as Gao Shun's strength grew, these ordinary soldiers would no longer be a match for him, let alone the common folk.
As Zhou Yan had predicted, under Gao Shun's relentless assault, the soldiers began to show signs of defeat. Though they fought bravely, they were far outmatched against a fearless berserker like Gao Shun. Soon, a significant number of them were slain by Gao Shun.
The officer couldn't help but frown at the gruesome scene unfolding before him. He had not anticipated Gao Shun possessing such formidable combat power.
"Truly a relic of an ancient barracks that has endured for thousands of years," Zhou Yan murmured to himself. Earlier, during the battle, he had spotted numerous broken weapons and even a corpse. The body had decomposed, yet it remained remarkably intact, a testament to the unparalleled valor of those who had fought here in their time.
"RUMBLE!"
A deafening roar echoed, and the officer, unable to withstand Gao Shun any longer, was impaled through the throat by Gao Shun's sword, falling lifeless to the ground. The remaining soldiers attempted to flee, but Gao Shun pursued them relentlessly, dispatching each one.
Moreover, soldiers continued to arrive from all directions. Zhou Yan realized this was more than just a single military encampment; there were undoubtedly numerous soldiers lying in ambush, likely to prevent enemy soldiers from other nations from entering this ruin.
However, Zhou Yan paid them no mind. His priority was to leave this place as quickly as possible. He had no desire to die here, especially at his young age, and certainly not in this desolate spot.
As Zhou Yan dodged the soldiers' attacks, he moved forward, his retreating figure being recorded by the soldiers.
"Look, that human isn't dead, and he's heading towards the center of the ruins. Could there truly be some great treasure within this place?" one soldier mused curiously.
"Perhaps, but this matter must wait until the General awakens. This fellow is no threat; let us first gather the others," another soldier agreed, nodding.
"Yes!" the entire group shouted in unison.
Zhou Yan paid no attention to the soldiers behind him, focusing solely on moving forward. His mind, however, was occupied with other thoughts. He was contemplating how to escape this predicament, as they were now surrounded. The enemies here were undoubtedly more numerous, with many more likely lurking nearby.
Zhou Yan's urgency in moving forward was also a tactic to lure out these hidden forces, hoping to use their strength to help him break free from his confinement.
After formulating a plan in his mind, Zhou Yan stepped forward. The ruins spanned a vast area, and the architectural style was peculiar, resembling something akin to a European aristocratic manor.
After walking for some distance, Zhou Yan suddenly realized he might have taken a wrong turn. He immediately stopped and carefully surveyed his surroundings, discovering that the area had once been a palace. However, time had taken its toll, with the walls covered in moss and cobwebs, indicating that the palace had been unused for a considerable period.
"It seems this place is not as simple as I imagined," Zhou Yan remarked, gazing at the palace. He felt an intuition that regardless of the type of ruin, it would hold valuable treasures, and this one would be no exception.
Suddenly, Zhou Yan noticed a door. The walls of the room were adorned with all sorts of weapons: swords, spears, staffs, axes, hooks, forks, bows, crossbows, catapults, and even cannons. It was a veritable arsenal.
"This is an armory!" Zhou Yan exclaimed in surprise. He had not expected to find such a place within these ruins.
As Zhou Yan examined his surroundings, he found some clues. Most of the weapons were severely rusted, and many were damaged. However, there was a spear. This spear looked peculiar because it was made of iron, not wood.
Zhou Yan held the spear, turning it over and giving it a few practice swings to gauge its weight and length. The spear weighed an astonishing eighty to ninety catties, significantly heavier than the daggers he had used before.
While Zhou Yan was engrossed in his inspection, a sense of danger suddenly washed over him. He looked up and saw a group of skeleton cavalrymen mounted on tall steeds standing on a distant rooftop. The armor of these skeleton riders bore a dragon emblem, exuding a majestic and imposing aura, clearly indicating they belonged to a powerful faction.
The skeleton cavalry also noticed Zhou Yan. They urged their steeds forward, charging towards him while shouting.
"You scoundrel, stealing our things!"
"Seeking death!"
"Damn human, meet your end."
...
In an instant, a horde of skeleton cavalry charged towards Zhou Yan. Their target was clearly him, as he was carrying the most weapons, naturally drawing their ire.
Zhou Yan smiled faintly and said, "You want weapons? Let's see if you have the skill for it. Come on."
Zhou Yan provocatively challenged them, his sharp blade gleaming with a dazzling light.
Seeing Zhou Yan's arrogant demeanor, the cavalrymen became enraged and swarmed towards him.
"Hmph, you trash are not worthy of fighting me!" Zhou Yan snorted, then swiftly turned and fled, the soldiers in hot pursuit.
As Zhou Yan ran deeper into the ruins, he repeatedly turned back to shoot at the pursuing soldiers. Although their numbers were vast, his arrows were sharp. Once struck, they were almost certainly doomed. Even if they managed to evade the arrows, Zhou Yan's relentless volley of attacks prevented the soldiers from closing in, resulting in many of them being wounded by his arrows.
Soon, Zhou Yan managed to shake off the soldiers. At this point, he could clearly see the scale of the ruins.