Chapter 208: Devil Clan Camp: The Crisis of Infiltration

Shen Yan had just moved his hand away from the phone screen, the thermal imaging map still lingering on his retina. He was about to speak when the ground suddenly shook violently.

It wasn’t the wind—it was the Earth Vein being stomped apart.

Three Dark Shadows closed in from different directions, the clanging of their armor sounding like iron pots being struck, pounding painfully in their heads. Immediately after, the iron gate in the northwest corner burst open with a roar, spewing black mist. Dozens of Devil Clan soldiers raised their halberds and formed ranks, instantly sealing off their retreat. Above, several crow-like creatures circled, their eyes glowing green. Wherever their gaze fell, skin prickled with numbness.

“We’ve been exposed,” Shen Yan whispered.

Luo Li immediately stepped in front of the little demon Ake, her tail bristling, a ball of fire floating in her palm. Yu Xiaotang had already torn two Talisman Papers and stuck them to her sleeves. Pei Yue silently pinched a Silver Needle between her fingertips, while Ye Zhao’s sword was already half-drawn from its sheath.

“Don’t scatter,” Shen Yan said quickly, stuffing his phone into his pocket. He closed his eyes for a second, and a three-dimensional battlefield model flashed into his mind. “The guard is weakest in the three o’clock direction. Break through there first.”

Before he finished speaking, the nearest patrol squad had already charged within ten paces, sweeping their long halberds.

“Move!”

Before Ye Zhao’s sword left its sheath, a Sword Qi shot out, cleaving through the three-man formation. Pei Yue flicked her wrist, sending three Silver Needles into the ground. Spiritual Power spread, and a faint cyan Barrier rose, blocking poison darts flying from the side. At the same time, she stomped her foot, and lightning crackled along the needle threads, shocking two ambushing Devil Clan soldiers into convulsions.

Luo Li raised her hand, and fox fire soared into the air, burning toward the patrolling Devil Crow above. The flames reflected in her vertically slit pupils as she said coldly, “If you dare touch Ake, I’ll burn you to charcoal before you can take him away.”

Yu Xiaotang crouched and drew runes, muttering, “Immobilize, trip, headshot—let’s go with a combo!” Three yellow Talisman Papers instantly activated, sticking to the chests of four enemy soldiers ahead. Their movements abruptly halted, like a glitching animation.

Shen Yan stood at the center of the five, his hands rapidly tapping in the air as if typing on a keyboard. He initiated the preloaded Program 【Team Sync v1.2】, briefly aligning the Spiritual Power Frequencies of the five. In an instant, the trajectory of Ye Zhao’s Sword Qi, the flow of Pei Yue’s needle threads, the rhythm of Luo Li’s flames, and the circulation of Yu Xiaotang’s Runes all became perfectly synchronized.

“Done,” he gasped.

But before they could catch their breath, the camp gate shook again. This time, it wasn’t a squad—it was an entire row of heavy-armored soldiers, each carrying a chain hammer. With every step they took, the ground trembled. The leading officer leaped onto a high rock, driving his axe into the ground. Black mist churned, corroding the earth like asphalt.

Shen Yan’s expression changed. “Not good—he’s cutting off the Spiritual Power circuit!”

He immediately called up the Terminal in his mind, urgently coding an 【Anti-Poison Shield】 Program. This thing couldn’t be deployed directly—it needed a carrier. He turned to Pei Yue. “Give me a needle!”

Pei Yue didn’t ask why, pulling one out and handing it over.

Shen Yan took it, green light flashing at his fingertip as Code was injected into the Silver Needle. He shouted, “Stab the Earth Vein Node, now!”

Pei Yue understood, darting forward and striking three cracks in quick succession. The Silver Needle ignited upon entering the soil, spreading a green light like a net that forcefully held back the poison mist.

“It’s working!” she called back.

Shen Yan nodded, turning to Ye Zhao. “You lure that captain. Don’t actually fight—just make him chase you in circles.”

Ye Zhao frowned. “What are you planning now?”

“I want him to slam his axe into the ground three times.” Shen Yan grinned. “Trust me, we’ll max out the damage output.”

Ye Zhao snorted coldly, her sword flashing as she charged straight toward the towering rock. The general indeed flew into a rage, swinging his axe to meet her attack. After a few exchanges, Ye Zhao deliberately left an opening, then turned and fled. The general chased relentlessly, his axe slamming into the ground three times, leaving three deep cracks.

Shen Yan’s eyes lit up. “Luo Li! Follow up with fire!”

Luo Li was already prepared. Channeling her Demon Power, she sent foxfire rushing along the three cracks. With a thunderous boom, the accumulated rot gas underground was ignited, causing a section of the rock wall to collapse and neatly block the main force’s advance route.

“Beautiful!” Yu Xiaotang clapped her hands. “Shen Yan, that move of yours was more precise than a Talisman Array.”

“Of course,” Shen Yan said smugly. “This is precise crowd control, not random explosions.”

No sooner had he spoken than distant horn blasts sounded. More demon soldiers gathered within the camp, their blade glints forming a continuous line.

Shen Yan’s heart sank. He knew they couldn’t delay any longer. His Mental Power was nearly depleted, and the Source Code Interface began flashing a yellow light, displaying the notice: 【Core Module Running Anomaly】. But he couldn’t stop.

He took a deep breath, closed all Background programs, and kept only three running: Perception, Link, and Compile.

“Listen!” he raised his voice. “We’re not here to kill! We’re here to make them remember—those who dare touch the Demon Clan must pay the price!”

As these words fell, he pressed both hands down forcefully. Green light erupted from his fingertips as he rapidly typed out seven segments of Commands.

【Group Slow】【Energy Interference】【Visual Confusion】【Action Lock】【Center of Gravity Shift】【Neural Latency】【Consciousness Blur】

Seven layers of debuffs were stacked and released, spreading like a Virus. Over thirty demon soldiers ahead suddenly slowed their movements, their steps stumbling. Some spun in place, others collided with each other.

“Now!” Shen Yan roared.

The four women moved simultaneously.

Ye Zhao’s sword light cascaded like a waterfall, sweeping across and forcing back the enemy on the front line. Pei Yue seized the chance to channel healing Spiritual Flow, restoring everyone’s condition. Luo Li reignited her Demonic Fire, sealing off the flank. Yu Xiaotang bit her finger and drew blood patterns on the last piece of Talisman Paper, activating 【Phantom Decoy】. Instantly, five false targets appeared, causing the enemy to waste their Magical Artifacts firing wildly.

With one counter-push, the first assault was broken.

Demon soldiers lay fallen across the ground; the remaining few scrambled to retreat. But deep within the camp, the war drums continued, clearly indicating that stronger opponents were still preparing.

Shen Yan knelt on one knee, blood seeping from his forehead, his breathing ragged. He felt as if his mind had been hollowed out. His phone screen flickered black and then lit up again, the System repeatedly popping up windows: 【Warning: Mental Power Below Threshold. Recommend Terminating Operation】.

“Hanging on…” he murmured.

Ye Zhao sheathed her sword and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Can you still manage?”

“Whether I can or not, I have to,” he looked up at her and smiled faintly. “Didn’t you say you’d always be the first Executor of the Code I write?”

Ye Zhao was taken aback, the tips of her ears turning slightly red as she turned her face away. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Pei Yue came over to check his condition, her brow furrowed tightly. “If you keep pushing yourself like this, you’ll damage your foundation.”

“It’s fine,” Shen Yan waved a hand. “As long as you all keep outputting, I can keep writing.”

Luo Li stood not far away, her tail gently wrapping around his wrist, transmitting a thread of warmth. “Don’t die here. Ake still needs you to name him.”

Yu Xiaotang bounced over and stuffed the last Candied Hawthorn into his mouth. “Eat something sweet. Programmers need energy to Debug.”

Shen Yan bit into it, the sugar shell crunching crisply.

In the distance, the camp gate opened once more.

A new squad was forming ranks, more orderly and silent than before. Leading them was a heavily armored demon general, gripping a massive serrated axe. The blade was etched with runes, faintly resonating with the Earth Vein.

Shen Yan spat out the sugar crumbs and wiped his mouth. “Looks like the main event is here.”

He slowly straightened up, raising his hand again to tap the void.

Ye Zhao suddenly stepped forward, blocking his path, her sword already drawn.

“This time,” she said, facing away from him, “let me pave the way first.”

Shen Yan watched her back, silent, only weaving the Code faster.

Pei Yue moved to the left, spinning Silver Needles between her fingers. Luo Li reignited her Demonic Fire, while Yu Xiaotang tore off the last three Talisman Papers, biting her fingertip to replenish the blood patterns.

The five formed their formation once more.

The demon general took his first step, shaking the earth.

Green light flickered at Shen Yan’s fingertip, lines of Command generating.

The giant axe was raised high.

(End of Chapter)