Chapter 164: Crisis Descends

Sun Licheng was currently feeling deeply frustrated. Just a moment ago, a desert dweller reported that a major crisis had erupted along the logistics supply line between Date Palm Oasis and Blue Sea Oasis. Numerous skeletal soldiers had suddenly emerged from the sands near the transport convoy, launching fierce attacks on the giant lizards and desert dwellers.

Although these skeletons possessed limited combat prowess and had not caused heavy casualties, they severely damaged the morale of the desert dwellers, throwing military supplies into chaos.

"Hunsunaibu, have there always been skeletons in this region?" Sun Licheng asked, turning to Hunsunaibu.

"As far as I know, there were none previously. Teacher, do you know something about this?" Hunsunaibu shook his head and redirected the question to his own master, the High Shaman Abner.

Abner reflected for a moment before replying, "Long ago, there were legends of the undead within the tribe, but I have never witnessed them firsthand. According to the tales, these skeletons are controlled by necromancers. Yet, in this Sea of Death Sands, what could possibly attract the attention of a necromancer?"

"I see. It appears that the mastermind lurking behind the drying up of the oases can no longer restrain themselves and has decided to step out. They must have detected that we are accumulating strength and preparing to wage war against the Megalithic Mountains, prompting them to disrupt our operations by sabotaging the supply lines," Sun Licheng nodded as comprehension dawned on him.

"What should we do then? Our numbers are growing steadily. If the food supply cannot keep pace, the army will descend into chaos," Clark said.

Sun Licheng cast his gaze toward the map hanging inside the large tent, tapped it with his finger, and addressed the gathering: "The crucial point now is that we cannot allow the enemy to continue their reckless sabotage unchecked. Our forces are limited, making it impossible to defend such an extended supply line. In my view, the most viable course of action is for me to lead an expedition immediately and disrupt the enemy's plans."

"That plan is feasible, but Boss, how many men do you intend to take with you?" Clark pondered before asking.

Sun Licheng thought for a moment and replied, "I will take eight hundred men first. The rest of the troops will set out once the final batch of supplies arrives."

After a brief discussion, the group agreed that this strategy was sound. Once Sun Licheng drew the skeletons' attention away, the logistics route would reopen. With food supplies secured, the remaining force of over a thousand warriors could swiftly launch their offensive.

Early the next morning, accompanied by the resounding notes of horns, Sun Licheng led eight hundred camel cavalrymen, guided by Hunsunaibu as the vanguard, while he and his wife Caroline commanded the main force, marching toward the Megalithic Mountains.

To ensure the element of surprise, Sun Licheng's entire force was equipped with the finest camels and carried enough rations for fifteen days, striving to reach the Megalithic Mountains with the utmost speed.

Throughout their journey, the desert sun grew increasingly fierce, baking the entire landscape until it resembled a steamer, while distant sights continuously warped and distorted in the shimmering air.

"Lord Sun Licheng, please let the men rest," Hunsunaibu urged, riding his camel up beside Sun Licheng. They had already marched over a hundred kilometers.

Sun Licheng turned his head, observed the profound exhaustion etched upon the soldiers' faces, and nodded, issuing the order to halt and rest.

"Hunsunaibu, has anyone among your people ever encountered the undead or skeletal soldiers?" Sun Licheng lifted his water skin, took a sip, and asked.

"Everyone has heard tales of their appearance, but truly no one has ever seen them. It is said that the Sea of Death Sands is far too scorching for the undead to manifest often. This situation is utterly bizarre; what on earth are those undead plotting?" Hunsunaibu drank some water and replied.

"It is a pity that the God of Knowledge and Diplomacy refuses to divulge any information. However, whatever the undead are up to, it certainly bodes no good," Sun Licheng said with a helpless sigh.

"Sun Licheng, can these weapons of ours deal with the undead?" Caroline, standing beside him, suddenly asked. Young as she was, even as an ogress, she still harbored deep fears regarding creatures of death.

"Ordinary weapons are sufficient against skeletal soldiers, but they are useless against ethereal undead that can fly. Those creatures have no physical form. Once you spot any undead, you must immediately take cover behind me and raise the special shields I have given you. They are inscribed with purification magic circles I created, which can protect everyone from the threat of death aura," Sun Licheng smiled and explained to Caroline.

"Remember, everyone must ensure that the energy within the shields remains fully charged. The moment you notice the energy running low, bring them to me for recharging," Sun Licheng added.

During their last encounter in the mercury mines, it was only thanks to Handy and a massive stash of magic crystals that he managed to defeat the skeletons and undead left behind by the necromancer.

Now, Handy was nowhere to be found, and Sun Licheng's supply of magic crystals was severely depleted, leaving him no choice but to use pigments to draw purification magic circles on wooden shields. Manual craftsmanship could never match the precision of a robot; the magic circles he drew were far less standardized than those crafted by Handy, and the process was agonizingly slow. Up to this point, Sun Licheng had managed to produce fewer than fifty shields.

"Ah, I can only hope the enemy does not possess an overwhelming number of undead," Sun Licheng murmured inwardly as he gazed into the distance.

"What? Those damned fools have already set out from Blue Sea Oasis?"

Inside a cavern within the Megalithic Mountains, the necromancer roared in fury.

Just moments before, a skeletal eagle had flown back to report that Sun Licheng was leading over eight hundred desert warrior tribesmen, mounted on camels, charging straight toward the Megalithic Mountains.

"They must not be allowed to reach this vicinity."

The necromancer paced back and forth within the cavern a few times before making a decisive resolution.

Chanting a loud incantation, he summoned dozens of armed skeletal soldiers to rise from the ground shortly thereafter.

"Go, launch a sneak attack on their camp tonight and make them feel the terror of death!" the necromancer commanded the skeletons in a booming voice. The pinpricks of fire in their eye sockets flared briefly before they marched out of the cave with a rhythmic clacking sound.

"Order the troops to halt and prepare to pitch camp!" Sun Licheng instructed the nearby messenger.

This was their fourth day on the march. Aside from encountering a few scattered desert dwellers, the journey had been remarkably tranquil.

Upon hearing that Sun Licheng and his forces intended to dredge the underground river and restore the oases, the desert dwellers they encountered eagerly requested to join their ranks.

Sun Licheng warmly welcomed their petitions. He streamlined the force, sending the elderly and weak onward to Blue Sea Oasis while incorporating the young and able-bodied into the cavalry corps.

By that very afternoon, Sun Licheng's troop strength had surpassed one thousand men.

Hearing that they could finally rest, the exhausted cavalrymen dismounted briskly and began preparing their evening meals.

"Hunsunaibu, have the men continue producing shields. During my night watch, I will draw the purification magic circles; we must accelerate this work," Sun Licheng said to Hunsunaibu while chewing on a piece of dried meat.

The latter nodded and departed to relay the orders.

Nights in the desert were bitterly cold, but due to the extremely low humidity, visibility was exceptionally high.

Sun Licheng used a specialized brush to sketch purification magic circles onto the shields while simultaneously releasing his perceptual awareness to monitor the surrounding area.

The tranquility of the past few days had not lowered his guard. He sensed that a sinister plot awaited them ahead.

According to the memories bestowed by the Earth God, nighttime provided a strengthening aura to creatures of death. If he were a necromancer, he most certainly would dispatch troops for a surprise assault.

Consequently, he had taken charge of the night watches throughout these past few nights.

"Let us hope tonight remains a peaceful one," Sun Licheng thought to himself as he looked up at the two large moons—one silver and one red—shining in the sky, before resuming his work on the magic circles.

Suddenly, he sensed a faint tremor rippling through the distant ground, as if something was approaching.