Chapter 74: It's Too Late

The flame monster is a creature of pure fire energy. The powerful Li Fire Talisman used to defeat the tentacle monster was naturally ineffective. Chu Yunsheng flipped through the ancient book repeatedly and could only choose an ice energy talisman, which would effectively counter the flame monster's fire energy.

There are many types of third-stage energy talismans, but few can fully recognize the characters. After much selection, Chu Yunsheng chose the Ice Collapse Talisman. This Ice Collapse Talisman is not the most powerful ice energy talisman of the third stage, but it is easy to inscribe, allowing Chu Yunsheng to produce a large quantity. He didn't know if the nine fog sources would each have a flame monster, but he had to prepare at least nine Ice Collapse Talismans.

Inscribing a second-stage energy talisman at the One Yuan Heaven realm consumes a vast amount of energy, and inscribing a third-stage energy talisman at the Two Yuan Heaven realm also consumes a huge amount of energy.

The nine high-level third-stage energy talismans required an even more massive amount of energy. Chu Yunsheng had to consume a large number of energy absorption talismans to barely complete the inscriptions.

He then upgraded the original first-stage Six Jia Energy Talisman to the second stage. The method for inscribing the third-stage Six Jia Talisman was still beyond his understanding, and he had little time to study it.

The Six Jia Talisman provides all-around protection, especially effective against energy attacks. When used in conjunction with battle armor, it significantly increases the chances of survival.

The divine weapon energy talisman on the Qianbi Sword, the ice energy talisman on the bow, and the fire weapon energy talisman on the gun were all upgraded to the second stage by Chu Yunsheng. Although he had already understood the method for inscribing some of the third-stage energy talismans, he did not have enough energy to upgrade all of them to the third stage.

Chu Yunsheng did not change the two second-stage material storage talismans, as the energy inside was still sufficient to last for some time. With the mindset of saving where he could, he planned to inscribe third-stage material storage talismans later.

There was also a rather peculiar beast sealing talisman, which required an even larger amount of energy, three times that of the Ice Collapse Talisman. However, its function was extremely powerful. A third-stage beast sealing talisman could seal a dying monster into the talisman, and after being repaired by energy, the talisman holder could release the monster to assist in battle.

Chu Yunsheng gritted his teeth and inscribed one, planning to capture a flesh worm and seal it inside.

Facing the flame monster, even at the Two Yuan Heaven realm, Chu Yunsheng had only one word: escape! The Ice Collapse Talisman was to delay the flame monster's attack speed, not to kill it. Similarly, if he could seal multiple flesh worms as cannon fodder, their powerful suction could slow down the flame monster, increasing his chances of escape.

However, this was just a thought. Chu Yunsheng did not have enough energy to inscribe more beast sealing talismans. He still needed to retain at least ten fully charged energy absorption talismans to replenish energy during battles.

At this moment, several soldiers supported a bloodied young soldier, who was wearing a steel helmet, as they rushed into the hall. Colonel Du was urgently called over by Advisor Tao.

The dying soldier, with blood streaming from the corners of his eyes, mumbled through blood bubbles, "To, to, 218th Regiment, Colonel Du Qishan, the, the division command's order, in, in my pocket, it's, it's too late, too, too late!..."

"What's too late? Little brother, little brother!" Colonel Du shook the bloodied soldier.

The soldier's head drooped on Colonel Du's arm, his broken eyes still bloodily open.

"Colonel, he, he's already dead!" Advisor Tao checked the soldier's breath and said softly.

Colonel Du nodded, remembering the division command's order. He immediately searched the dead soldier's blood-soaked clothes, pulling out a crumpled, bloodstained paper from the inner pocket. Colonel Du unfolded the paper and quickly scanned through it, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"Call Chu Yunsheng immediately, no, I'll go myself!" Colonel Du stuffed the paper into his pocket, pushed aside Advisor Tao, and rushed to Chu Yunsheng's room.

"You mean the rear defenses of Shen City have completely collapsed!? The Red Armor Bug army is right in front of us!" Chu Yunsheng jumped up from his chair in shock!

"That's right! Three hours ago, the division command sent nearly a company of troops into the fog to search for us. The main force of the division command has already bypassed Kun City and is now in a town five kilometers away, giving us only six hours to break out of the fog city. If we can't, the division command will abandon these scientists and retreat directly to Jinling City!" Colonel Du's voice was cold.

"Adding the three hours they spent searching for us, we only have two hours left! We must act immediately!" Colonel Du stood up again and said.

Chu Yunsheng, who had no time to rest, immediately activated his battle armor, drew the Qianbi Sword, and said, "Urge the professors to quickly complete the map and the sequence for destroying the fog sources. Colonel Du, immediately arrange the awakened warriors; I'm ready to go!"

Colonel Du did not hide the facts from the 130 or so gathered awakened warriors. They were now at the most dangerous moment. If they couldn't break through, the Red Armor Bug army would soon invade the fog, sweeping everything away, and everyone would die!

The professors in the meeting room were frantically making the final calculations, and all the exhausted old men were called back to join the calculations.

Under Colonel Du's constant urging, at 8:40 PM, the scientists finally completed their calculations. There were only two hours and twenty minutes left until the division command's deadline at 11:00 PM!

Including the military, a total of nearly 150 awakened warriors were divided into two groups. One group, consisting of nearly 100 people, was the largest and equipped with Colonel Du's strongest firepower support, to break the fog sources one by one with Chu Yunsheng. The other group protected the families of the awakened warriors and the scientists, moving them to the last sequence of the fog zone.

The attack force was commanded by Captain Ban Shijun, a military awakened warrior, while the relocation force was commanded by Colonel Du.

This Captain Ban Shijun was the officer who had previously spoken up for Yao Xiang. They had fought together multiple times, and their relationship was quite good.

Just as Chu Yunsheng and his team were about to act, Advisor Tao brought in a group of people from outside. As soon as they entered the hall, they immediately demanded to take command from Du Qishan!

Colonel Du, furious, said, "Who are they!?"

At this critical moment, someone was causing trouble. Colonel Du almost lost his temper and wanted to shoot them!

Advisor Tao quickly held back Colonel Du, saying, "Colonel, these are some officials from Kun City who have been hiding near the grain station. They have a large number of guns and police forces."

Colonel Du snorted, "What officials? My 218th Regiment only follows orders from the military, not from local authorities."

An official with glasses stepped forward and said in an official tone, "This is Colonel Du, right? Comrades, you've worked hard. As a local official, I am very grateful for the military's participation in the rescue efforts, which we have been looking forward to for a long time..."

Chu Yunsheng, anxious and impatient, was irritated by his rambling. These people had probably been hiding in a remote grain station and only received Colonel Du's message late, but they arrived just at this critical moment. When the monsters arrived, they were unable to lead the citizens in resistance, and now, at the first opportunity, they wanted to take command. They were a bunch of fools.

Colonel Du pushed away Advisor Tao, drew his gun, and said coldly, "No more nonsense. If you want command, you'll have to step over my dead body. I am a military man in life and a military ghost in death. Unless it's an order from the military, I won't comply. Captain Ban Shijun, let's go!"

The official with glasses turned pale and gave a signal to the armed police behind him, blocking Colonel Du again. "Colonel Du, we don't need command, but we need to borrow some of your people. A few old leaders are still trapped near the grain station. These old leaders have influence not only in Jinling City but also in the capital. Rescuing them would benefit both sides. I hope you will consider this carefully!"