Chapter 581: Operation Frostbreak Begins (3k)
After listening to Su Jiu’s explanation, not only did Nami agree to follow, but Evelyn also agreed to accompany Su Jiu to the problematic thirteenth city. Evelyn’s reason was that she hadn’t found a corresponding missing Snow Demon.
Exiting the abandoned industrial city, Su Jiu’s newly formed team of three plus a monkey didn’t linger. After changing into Black-clad Bishop attire, they took a train towards the westernmost city.
While en route, Su Jiu retreated into her ring space, continuously practicing to optimize the “Drawing Sword Slash” skill, thinking it could be linked with other skills.
This was a skill learned when her level was still low. This once-secret skill was now falling behind in terms of damage. When fighting the Great Corpse God, she felt it was rather useless.
Her long-range means had shifted from herself to relying on external objects like “Fusheng.” This was not a good trend.
She tried many methods, but was still helpless due to the low multiplier of the Drawing Sword Slash skill. Even with her high stats, she could only unleash 150% of its power. Compared to high-base, high-multiplier armor-piercing skills like “Dream of Blossoms,” it was too weak.
“However, the String Sword (Hidden Sword) from the String Moon Swordsmanship can be paired with Dream of Blossoms to form ‘Hidden Killing Dream of Blossoms.’ Due to the inherent inclusiveness of the String Moon Swordsmanship, can it be mixed with Drawing Sword Slash…”
In this phantom dojo, Su Jiu thought this and slightly raised her hand, holding an iron sword in a reverse grip. Her arm trembled slightly, and she swung it, the sound of air rippling.
“Swoosh!”
Immediately, a blood-golden slash was seen mixed with a phantom that flew towards distant trees, eventually disappearing into nothingness.
Looking into the distance, Su Jiu could feel that the phantom’s damage was only thirty percent of the solid hit. This ranged skill directly cut the phantom sword, which originally had seventy percent damage, in half.
“String Moon isn’t suitable, so what about the opposite, Full Moon?”
Realizing this was not working, Su Jiu pondered for a moment, gripped the iron sword tightly, and raised it high above her head. She brought it down heavily, and a nearly ten-foot Full Moon slash shot out like a halo.
The blood-golden halo, like a millstone, emitted a terrifying aura in mid-air. The aura was incredibly strong, its power subtly approaching the follow-up poke of Dream of Blossoms.
“As expected, the String Moon Swordsmanship’s strength lies not in combat, but in its integration. Now, without beast pets like bows and arrows for ranged attacks, at least there’s a continuation.”
Su Jiu muttered to herself before exiting the ring state. Her gaze fell outside the window, where patches of sugar beet fields were already visible. She knew they were not far from the occupied thirteenth city.
…
After another half a night, the train finally squeezed into the southwestern part of Bear Country. The city’s scent, from the finished wheat fields and sugar beet plains, transformed into the colorful hues of a charming small town.
Beside the small town, Su Jiu and the others got off the train again, preparing to acquire a car to drive into the westernmost city, lest they appear too ostentatious.
This nearby city was the most laxly guarded place. It was also the last place where hostages were delivered according to the interrogation of the Black-clad Bishop. Starting from here was undoubtedly the best approach.
The three people and a monkey obtained a civilian’s car and swaggered along the country road into the city. Although this city was also an industrial city, its city walls looked less imposing than those of the previous cities, but the patrolling soldiers were exceptionally numerous.
Soon, soldiers appeared and signaled to stop them. Two soldiers on either side tapped on the car window and said in a low voice, “Routine inspection. There have been many disappearances in the city recently, and there’s a requirement that all new arrivals must undergo ten days of inspection before leaving.”
Nami slid down the window, revealing their Black-clad Bishop attire. Just as the Snow Guard was about to say something else, a voice from behind them rang out: “Let them all through. I know them; they’re friends and relatives of the local mayor.”
Hearing the voice, Su Jiu also looked in the direction and saw a middle-aged Snow Guard smiling solicitously at them.
Upon hearing they were friends and relatives of the mayor, the two Snow Guards dared not obstruct them further. They immediately moved aside, making a respectful gesture to let them pass.
The car slowly drove forward, while the middle-aged Snow Guard’s eyes showed a hint of suspicion. He quietly dialed his earbud communicator.
“Some people don’t seem like Snow Guards. Their aura feels like rats from the Ancient God Sect.”
Nami, driving, glanced at the middle-aged Snow Guard behind them through the rearview mirror. She paused briefly on his hand with its viper tattoo and suddenly spoke.
She was already at War God level, so sensing this was easy. It would be strange if she couldn’t.
“After all, as soon as they saw our clothes, they let us pass.”
Su Jiu nodded, recalling the situation in Huayang, and smiled as she commented:
“And to be precise, it’s rats mixed with normal people. The local guard system has likely been infiltrated. Those normal Snow Guards are probably left there as cover; it’s their usual trick.”
“It’s good that your Dragon Country organizations are familiar with the Ancient God Sect. We here haven’t received any special training…”
Hearing Su Jiu’s knowledgeable reply, Nami felt respect for her foreign colleague again. She smiled and replied, then changed the subject, asking with some confusion, “By the way, what should we do when we get there? Should we go directly to the rendezvous point?”
“Something like that, but before that, I need to do something important,” Su Jiu smiled and looked out the window.
“Something important?”
Nami looked puzzled. Even Evelyn, who had always been indifferent, leaned in slightly. This was the first time she had heard that this National Master had something important to do.
“Yes, something important I’ve been preparing for for nearly two months…”
Hearing this, Su Jiu’s gaze shifted to the sky, where light snow had begun to fall. Her pupils became distant and deep. She then exhaled a breath, and the pent-up emotions finally erupted with a whisper:
“It’s time to launch Operation Frostbreak.”
Looking at the guards ahead moving with a strange aura, Su Jiu smiled faintly and began to contact Chen Jia’er and the others, who were stationed there, using her phone.
“What’s the situation now?”
After trying many times, she finally managed to connect in a passage within the city, listening to the rustling sounds from the phone.
“The Ancient God Sect has begun to occupy the city and is intercepting signals… But Jia’er, as you instructed at the train station.”
Li Yi’s voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying the firm resolve unique to the military. He didn’t sound like a student, but rather like a warrior.
“There are many different people lying low underground. They have identified the Ancient God Sect’s eyes and ears within the city. We have people within both the city’s military and the Snow Guard. As long as you give the word, we can conduct a decapitation strike at any time and occupy the main urban area.”
Holding the phone in one hand, she gently tapped the window with the other. The glass reflected the girl’s beautiful face and the thoughtful look in her eyes: “Can you tell me the situation within the city? How many powerhouses above War God level are there?”
“There are two Black-clad Bishops as peak combat forces. The rest are unknown. However, according to a spy’s report, there is a mysterious person in the mayor’s office who wears clothing different from that of ordinary Black-clad Bishops, wearing a black straw hat and a straw cloak…” The voice on the other end paused briefly before replying.
“Ferryman.”
Su Jiu’s eyes deepened slightly. Then, she smiled faintly, glancing surreptitiously at the Elder of the Ninth Clan, a Snow Demon she had lured here. Perhaps in normal circumstances, she would have feared the other party a little, but now…
With two Beginner War Gods and one Intermediate War God, taking down a Ferryman would be more than enough.
“Wait for me to make the first move. Everything will signal with the explosion at the mayor’s office to annihilate and decapitate those target members of the Ancient God Sect.” She now had a plan and replied to the phone.
Immediately after, she looked forward, showing a cold smile, and quietly said to Nami, who was driving:
“Target the mayor’s office, find that sole Ferryman.”
Nami nodded, knowing Su Jiu was on the phone, so she remained silent and continued driving, watching the navigation.
On the other end of the phone, after responding, they asked curiously, “Captain, how many people do you actually have? Although our side has three more High-Rank Battle Kings than the enemy in terms of high-end power, the rest are potentially still Black-clad Bishops…”
Hearing the question from the phone, Su Jiu said softly, “Four.”
“Four…”
Just as the voice on the other end was about to say something more, she added with a soft smile, “Three War Gods and me, personally carrying out the first step of Operation Frostbreak.”
“Purification.”
…
In some underground location, figures were bustling, and lights seemed to flash. There were several square wooden tables on which were familiar faces of Su Jiu and figures wearing various guild outfits.
“Everyone, prepare to carry out the assassination plan.”
A rather delicate figure suddenly stood up, tapped her earpiece, placed her hands on the table, and scanned the surroundings solemnly.
“Assassination plan?”
An elder with a Dragon Country face frowned slightly. He rose slightly, revealing the gear medal on his chest, as if reminding.
“Miss Chen, according to feedback from our informants, there’s a suspected presence of War God level powerhouses in the mayor’s office. I believe we should wait for the War God powerhouses to arrive before making plans.”
The other guild members also nodded, somewhat agreeing with the elder’s words. Although they were in a state of wartime preparation ahead of time due to the Chen family’s mediation, it didn’t mean they would all listen to Miss Chen.
Chen Jia’er’s gaze fell on the elder who had stood up. She suddenly smiled, closed her eyes, and shook her head slightly, her voice drifting out softly:
“The top combat power has arrived. The spark is about to ignite the prairie.”
“The top combat power has arrived?”
Everyone’s faces showed varying degrees of astonishment. War God level powerhouses were extremely rare even in their own country. Had someone truly rushed over to ensure a stable operation?
Just as everyone was racking their brains to figure it out, Elder Mo, behind Chen Jia’er, seemed to have thought of something. His eyes widened slightly, and he suddenly exclaimed:
“Could it be that Miss Su, who foresaw the Ancient God Sect’s conspiracy and formulated the plan, has already arrived locally?”
