Chapter 29

After all, with more people, things are easier to handle. They quickly found three climbing points, but after confirmation by Du Hongchen and Zhi Chiyi, two of the climbing points were unsuitable, leaving only one route that was somewhat feasible. However, this climbing point was already close to the stone fortress.

Du Hongchen and the others hid behind a large tree, from where they could already see the stone fortress on the cliff wall. Zhi Chiyi said, "No, they will easily spot us!"

Wen Yan said calmly, "Be careful. As long as you can get up, a few hunters are no match for you."

Du Hongchen nodded and said, "After you get up, you can ignore those hunters. Throw down a rope, and once the cleanup team comes up and controls the stone fortress, it will be easy for us to capture Tiger Cliff Fortress."

Zhi Chiyi felt a bit regretful. This route was too dangerous. Even with the Secret Ring Armor, if he fell from a height, he would likely suffer serious injuries. However, thinking about the conditions Du Hongchen had offered—being transferred from Baijiazhai to manage a region outside—it was much better than staying in Baijiazhai. He said, "I'll give it a try."

Du Hongchen nodded and said, "Go, be careful. Is the rope ready?"

Zhi Chiyi nodded. The rope was already stored in the Wheel Storage Space, so he didn't have to carry the heavy rope. He didn't go out directly but followed the boundary between the forest and the cliff wall, avoiding the line of sight from the stone fortress, and then approached the cliff wall. By this time, the snow had lessened, and the visibility had improved.

Du Hongchen nodded and said, "Chiyi is still quite cautious."

Wen Yan said, "Master, if this succeeds, Master might be able to enter the Inner Gate and get a better position."

Du Hongchen's face showed a hint of a smile, and he said, "I hope they don't mess up." His gaze swept over Ying Xiao and Ying Dafei, making them break out in a cold sweat.

Zhi Chiyi began to climb the cliff wall. He had already carefully considered this route several times and had thought of solutions for the key points, especially the two places with ice formations that needed to be removed. The ice formations themselves were not a problem, but how to remove them without alerting the sentries on the stone fortress was a big issue.

With his formidable skills, Zhi Chiyi quickly reached the first checkpoint. As a Secret Wheel Master, he was far beyond the level of a Ten Thousand Wheel Master, and such a cliff wall was usually no challenge for him. However, this time was different. First, it was snowing, and the weather was harsh. Second, he had to avoid the sentries' surveillance and not make much noise, which limited his performance.

This checkpoint was a two-meter-wide ice wall that he needed to cross horizontally to find a way to continue climbing. In an instant, Zhi Chiyi pressed one hand against the ice wall, and a flash of fire appeared. In just a few seconds, his hand was embedded in the ice wall. He tried it slightly, and his entire body hung from it.

The ice wall was about one-third of the way up the cliff. Zhi Chiyi quickly crossed it and sighed in relief. With the Fire Wheel Force, he easily melted the ice wall and found a support point.

Du Hongchen praised, "What a smart guy, he crossed it so easily."

Zhi Chiyi also felt a bit proud. He continued to climb, gradually slowing down. He had reached two-thirds of the cliff's height, where the second checkpoint was. This was a series of small ice walls formed by small water flows before the snow.

Wen Yan said, "It looks like... there's no problem. Zhi Chiyi will definitely make it."

However, Zhi Chiyi encountered a problem. The cliff wall slightly protruded outward, and he couldn't find any support points. From below, he couldn't see that the cliff wall was tilted outward. If he couldn't find a support point, he would have to break through the cliff wall, which would certainly alert the sentries on the stone fortress. At this moment, he saw something and was pleasantly surprised.

It was a metal ring. Zhi Chiyi's first thought was that this must have been left by someone who had entered Tiger Cliff Fortress before. He tried to hook the ring with his hand and pulled down hard, finding that the ring was firmly nailed into the tilted rock. He couldn't help but smile, thinking, "This must be heaven helping me to destroy Tiger Cliff Fortress!"

Hanging from the ring, Zhi Chiyi found it still secure and felt truly relieved. To save energy, he naturally used Wheel Force.

As the Wheel Force surged into his arm, the ring suddenly flashed. Zhi Chiyi immediately realized what was happening. He screamed in agony, "This is too damn treacherous!" It was a very simple trap, a Wheel Force Ring Trap. If Zhi Chiyi hadn't used Wheel Force and relied on his own strength, the trap wouldn't have been triggered. For an ordinary person, the ring would have been very safe. But once Wheel Force was used, the Wheel Force Ring Trap would explode instantly.

Zhi Chiyi was hanging from the ring, and the cliff wall was tilted outward, leaving him with no support. The most terrifying part was that the Wheel Force Ring exploded when he was most relaxed and least alert. Even if he were as skilled as Du Hongchen, he would have been caught off guard. This was too malicious.

The sound of the Wheel Force Ring exploding wasn't loud, but Zhi Chiyi's scream was deafening.

"Ahh... Ahh..."

He screamed as he fell from the cliff wall.

Du Hongchen cursed and immediately rushed out. He couldn't just watch Zhi Chiyi fall to his death. Losing a few Ten Thousand Wheel Masters or Thousand Wheel Masters wouldn't bother him, but losing a Secret Wheel Master was a significant responsibility. Secret Wheel Masters were the backbone, and losing one was a major event.

The fall from the cliff wall was very fast, but fortunately, there were no protruding rocks below. Otherwise, the impact would have killed him before he reached the bottom.

Du Hongchen instantly released a powerful wind. The wind was unique, like countless rings, from small to large, instantly enveloping Zhi Chiyi. As he spun rapidly in the wind, Zhi Chiyi became dizzy and let out a loud scream.

But this spinning wind reduced the impact of his fall.

Thud!

Zhi Chiyi hit the ground. The impact was easily absorbed by the Secret Ring Armor, but when he stood up, he was unsteady, staggering and mumbling, "Damn... too damn treacherous... Ah... I'm dizzy... damn!"

Slap!

Du Hongchen slapped him hard.

Holding his face, Zhi Chiyi finally regained his senses. He immediately understood that Du Hongchen had saved him. Shaking his head, he said, "Thank you... Uncle Du..." Even after being slapped, he still thanked him.

Du Hongchen asked, "What happened? Why did you suddenly fall?"

Zhi Chiyi was extremely angry, "Damn... there was a trap on the cliff wall! A Wheel Force Ring... too malicious!"

Du Hongchen was surprised, "A Wheel Force Ring? Only a Secret Wheel Master can set that up. Does Tiger Cliff Fortress have a Secret Wheel Master?"

Ying Dafei wanted to speak but didn't dare to interrupt.

Wen Yan said, "Speak!"

Ying Dafei said, "Tiger Cliff Fortress can't have a Secret Wheel Master... Our Eagle Clan has been in conflict with Tiger Cliff Fortress for hundreds of years, and we've never seen a Secret Wheel Master there."

Du Hongchen glared at the cliff top. If the ambush failed, they would have to launch a direct attack, which would be extremely difficult given the terrain.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle sounded from the top of the cliff, an alarm.

Zhi Chiyi's face turned pale. He understood the meaning of the whistle. It was a call to arms, and with the advantage of the terrain, even an ordinary person could match a Thousand Wheel Master. A single rock could crush anyone on the bare cliff wall, except for true experts.

Soon, figures began to move on the cliff top.

Hu Cangya led a large group and asked, "Why the whistle?"

The guards at the stone fortress were Hu San and Ke Dao. Hu San said, "Uncle, someone tried to climb up, but they fell!"

Hu Cangya looked down and could vaguely see figures in the forest. He asked, "Who are they?"

Ke Dao said, "I don't know. This person must be very skilled. When they fell... we saw someone release a strange wind, and the person didn't die. They got up and went into the forest."

Hu Cangya's face changed. He said, "People from the Eagle Clan? Or from Baijiazhai?" Only these two places would know the details of Tiger Cliff Fortress. The Eagle Clan could be provoked, but Baijiazhai was absolutely not to be provoked.

Hu San said, "I don't know..."

Hu Cangya quickly made a decision. He said, "Prepare rocks, mobilize everyone, and bring rocks and logs up. Also, boil water..."

These were preparations that Tiger Cliff Fortress had long made, strategies set by their ancestors. The cliff top immediately became bustling. Everyone in Tiger Cliff Fortress, except those under five and over sixty, had to participate. The task for children aged five to eight was to start fires and boil water. The ice and snow on the ground provided an abundant water source.

Du Hongchen thought for a moment and said, "Ying Dafei, go and call out! Tell Tiger Cliff Fortress to surrender!"

Ying Dafei had no choice but to step out. Using Wheel Force, he shouted, "People of Tiger Cliff Fortress, listen! I am Ying Dafei from the Eagle Clan. We are joined by experts from Baijiazhai. Surrender immediately! Lower the basket immediately!" He kept shouting.

Soon, a loud and unified response came from the top of the cliff: "Get lost!"

Everyone shouted the same word, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The people of this wilderness might be simple and have little experience, but they were not lacking in courage. They would never surrender without a fight when attacked.

Du Hongchen's face turned cold, and he said, "They don't know what's good for them!"