My Misfortune Crushed Instances

After Li Rui left the south gate of Central City, it wasn’t like the vast sea where fish could leap freely.

There were still more enemies ahead. He had to bypass the area around Hundred Li Crossing, reach the spot where the river narrows, find a way to cross it, and then head north again to Yellow Earth City.

The reason he had to save time even on his favorite looting phase was to break through directly before the enemy’s communication and catch them off guard.

It turned out this was the right approach. After he dashed out of Central City and ran over a hundred li, he encountered two slightly larger defensive strongholds, but the Westerners inside made no attempt to stop him.

The most important reason was that they hadn’t received any interception orders and didn’t even know this team was the enemy.

Additionally, as per Ju Ye’s suggestion, Li Rui collected some banners of the Demon Race from the city’s garrison, having a group of ghostly knights carrying them.

Because the battle was fierce with the Polar Alliance to the south, anyone who saw this group would think they were reinforcements sent by Central City to the frontline, until Hopkins and Randall led their forces here and realized they were tricked.

By this time, Li Rui had already reached a position downstream on the Liangshui, where he could cross the river.

It was here that he encountered his first wave of resistance after heading south.

The Liangshui River here split into several tributaries, no longer wide like upstream, allowing for wading, making it a key defensive area for the Western Kingdom.

After so much time, the dedicated Prophet defending the south had already judged that an enemy army might appear from the rear, so even though they saw the Highland Demon Race’s banner, they did not let them pass directly.

Seeing the other side ready to intercept and question him, Li Rui did not order a halt or attempt to bluff his way through but planned to start fighting directly instead.

"Everyone be ready, from here on, we must fight our way through."

Li Rui jumped off the Giant Force Beast, who was instructed not to participate in the direct charge but to follow behind, protecting the loot snatched from Central City, along with Yuan Erliang and Kawina.

The rest of the team charged with the ghostly knights.

A few hundred meters from the enemy lines, the ghostly knights suddenly accelerated, tossing aside their banners, and that overwhelming Evil Qi surged again.

The Western Kingdom’s garrison across the way was already prepared; they didn’t scatter and formed a line of defense at the front, as usual, with the Highland Demon Race holding shields.

"Hold strong!"

"We have the strongest shields! Crafted by our master engraver, nothing can break through them. When they get close, it will be their death!"

The Demon Race leader shouted within their ranks.

Behind him were the Western Kingdom’s Extraordinary, also waiting to strike once the cavalry charge was mitigated.

The Highland Demon Race’s shields were not invincible, but they could absorb at least one round of skills. After all, the other side had few people, primarily undead, with only three Extraordinary, plus an unknown giant ape.

But as the undead cavalry approached, the Highland Demon Race defending the frontlines gradually began to panic.

Not because of Evil Qi or anything else, but because they recognized a certain familiarity about the charging cavalry.

This place was a critical point. Most of the stationed Demon Race were seasoned veterans, increasingly convinced they had seen that ghostly aura somewhere before.

"Divine Power Cavalry."

A shield-bearing demon mumbled, instantly igniting the battlefield.

Though they were veterans, the Royal Court’s twelve heavy cavalry forces of yesteryear were even more formidable. This squadron of over a hundred Demon Race cavalry was commanded only by the former king, the elite among elites of the Highland Demon Race.

The events of ten years ago were no longer discussed, but rumors had long buried those knights, now reappearing in ghostly form, seemingly to exact revenge?

As the Demon Race’s morale wavered, the ghostly cavalry broke into the defensive line at an incredible speed.

Boom—

The flames from the hooves burned those who dared block their path into blue ghostly fire, breaking the line instantly.

Several Western Extraordinary were astonished, having recognized the formidable presence of these undead cavalry but hadn’t expected them to be so powerful that the supposedly battle-hardened guards were instantly breached.

They wanted to move personally to intercept, but before they could, a figure, trailing golden light, charged forth.

Li Rui, wielding Thunder Shocking Earth, opened a path and charged into the lines.

This skill, even slightly enhanced, couldn’t be caught by the Blood Barber. Though the enhancement wasn’t high yet, the enemies were not formidable figures either.

With a thunderous crash, the Extraordinary scattered, leaving the targeted one slain on the spot.

The humans and Demon Race guarding this place were gripped by despair, unsure why such terrifying foes advanced from the main camp’s direction.

The crucial point was that the ghostly cavalry were deadly and fast; escaping was not an option.

Just as they thought today would be their last, an unexpected turn occurred.

Li Rui led the ghostly knights and the massive ape to shatter the Demon Race line, swiftly killing a Human Extraordinary, then departed without a second glance, without delaying for even a moment.

"Pursue, should we?"

A Human Extraordinary asked.

The commander guarding the area shook his head, "No pursuit. I haven’t received any orders."

Someone beside him exclaimed, "But Jonathan was killed by him!"

The commander coldly replied, "That’s why I don’t want you to be killed by him too."

...

Li Rui led his group, breaking through this layer of defense without pausing, only slightly reducing speed after getting a distance away.

He crossed the river, feeling quite at ease.

"Once across the river, head north. It won’t be long before we meet our people."

Rossi and Vince were delighted.

"That’s great."

Their most important task was to ensure Kawina’s safety. Being out here on their own was dangerous, so they naturally hoped to settle down soon.

Moreover, once they reached Dragon Country’s camp, they could help in the Secret Realm battles, earning some spoils too.

Kawina said, "We’ve traveled such a long way."

She was looking at a map from the Giant Force Beast’s basket.

Descending from the cold highland to the east, reaching Central City, conquering the fortress, and slaying the acting commander, then moving south, bypassing at least two checkpoints, and breaking through a defensive line.

Now, they were going to cross the river and head north.

"Once we reach Dragon Country’s camp, your commander will surely be surprised."

She said to Li Rui, "You remind me of someone who was active around our place before."

Li Rui was scanning the distant view through a scope, casually asking, "Who?"

"I don’t know, it was years ago. He appeared suddenly, like you, from the chaotic lands, fighting from Western Country’s border all the way to the Polar Alliance in the north, then east to near Dragon Country, and disappeared."

"Back then, no force could rival him, but as you say, he was like a fleeting flower, and after that, there was no news."

Li Rui had never heard of such a person, wanting to ask more but suddenly noticed signs of activity in the distance.

"Found it!"

Not having time for gossip about past events, he wanted Ju Ye to lead the group to advance quickly and reunite.

But as he focused on the scope’s view, his expression suddenly changed.

What was supposed to be the Dragon Country’s territory was now scorched earth, with no familiar figures, only Extraordinary from the Polar Alliance.

Li Rui was truly a bit frustrated.

After enduring countless hardships, struggling out of the enemy’s encirclement, only to find that home was gone.