141: Fourth Generation: Overlord (Thirty-Seven)

When the Great Shang Royal Army's massive fleet appeared over Flowing Cloud Ravine like a dark cloud, the expected fierce resistance did not occur.

Below, the Shen Family's ancestral land remained filled with pavilions and buildings, with spiritual fields and herb gardens still intact, but the entire area was shrouded in an eerie silence.

The mountain-protecting array had long since stopped functioning. The core area was in shambles, with discarded clutter, scattered low-grade Materials, and traces of intentionally destroyed facilities everywhere. Resources that were too late to be taken or of low value were piled haphazardly, and some warehouses had even been set ablaze, with thick black smoke billowing—clearly a final act of sabotage.

The entire Flowing Cloud Ravine looked like a scene that had been hurriedly looted and then intentionally messed up, leaving behind a massive mess.

"Your Majesty, the Shen Family... seems to have fled?" A vanguard general returned to the flagship on a flying shuttle, reporting with a look of astonishment. "Judging by the traces, they left in a great hurry, but they took the core resources and personnel. Most of what's left is what they couldn't carry or was of low value, and they even carried out some destruction."

Third Elder Wang Zhengqing frowned as he looked at the scene below. "Shen Jun is quite decisive. Knowing he couldn't hold it, he chose to slip away like a cicada shedding its skin."

"Leaving this mess behind is intended to delay our time in taking over and reorganizing, buying them a chance to escape."

Ordinarily, for a power to take over such a sabotaged mess with scattered resources that required time to clean and pacify, it would take at least several days or even longer to sort through. This would undoubtedly create a precious window of time for the Shen Family's flight.

However, they underestimated Xu Yuan.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Xu Yuan's cold gaze swept over the shambles of Flowing Cloud Ravine. His face showed no irritation at the enemy's escape, nor any annoyance at having to deal with the mess.

His eyes held only an all-seeing indifference and unquestionable decisiveness.

"Delaying for time?"

"A good idea, but unfortunately, useless."

Xu Yuan didn't even order the fleet to land and take over the ruins.

"The core of the Shen Family is fleeing in haste with a large amount of resources; their speed cannot possibly be too fast."

"There is no place for them within the borders of Great Shang, so the only places they can flee to are other Dynasties!"

"The Shen Family had secret dealings with the Heavenly Wolf Dynasty before, so the direction of their escape is most likely toward the Heavenly Wolf Dynasty!"

Xu Yuan's voice was calm and swift as he instantly made the most precise judgment.

"Third Elder!"

"I am here!" Wang Zhengqing immediately bowed.

"Lead five thousand elite Imperial Guards and all the Shadow Guard immediately. Travel light and pursue them at maximum speed along the main route to the northern border!" Xu Yuan's command was categorical. "No need to engage; just catch up from a distance and identify their specific escape route and final destination. If they split their forces, focus on tracking the core group."

"Understood!"

The Third Elder took his orders without hesitation. He immediately gathered his men and, piloting the fastest spirit boats and flying Magical Artifacts, they broke away from the main fleet like arrows from a bow, racing toward the north!

Only then did Xu Yuan's gaze return to Flowing Cloud Ravine below.

"The rest of you, land at Flowing Cloud Ravine."

"Order the army's civil officials and Ministry of Works Cultivators to immediately begin inventorying and organizing the remaining resources here, repair the damaged infrastructure, post notices to reassure the people, and stabilize the order of this place."

His arrangements were clear and methodical; he wasn't slowed down by the "mess" left by the Shen Family at all.

"The main force of the army will stay here for one day."

"In one day, regardless of the progress of the cleanup here, the main force will set out to pursue the Shen Family!"

He only gave them one day.

One day was enough for the most basic takeover and maintenance of order, but far from enough for a detailed reorganization.

This meant he would rather temporarily give up the rapid integration of some secondary interests in Flowing Cloud Ravine to ensure the main force could quickly pull away, maintain strategic mobility, and provide the strongest deterrence and support to the pursuit force.

This decisiveness far exceeded Shen Jun's expectations!

The Shen Family thought they could delay Xu Yuan for several days with a "mess," but they didn't realize Xu Yuan wouldn't fall for it.

He directly split his forces to pursue, and the main force only made a brief stop, completely disrupting the Shen Family's plan to gain time... The core group of the Shen Family, in an atmosphere of sorrow and panic, was racing toward the northern border along a predetermined secret route, using the cover of night and their familiarity with the terrain.

They were aboard several fast Family spirit boats, pinning all their hopes on leaving Great Shang territory as quickly as possible and entering the sphere of influence of the Heavenly Wolf Dynasty.

Shen Jun stood at the bow of the leading spirit boat, looking back toward Flowing Cloud Ravine, which had long since disappeared from sight, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The pain of abandoning his ancestral heritage still tore at his heart, but a sliver of hope also rose—the mess they left behind should be enough to delay Wang Yuan for a few days, right?

With just a few days, they could cross the border and find a moment to breathe.

"Patriarch, at this speed, in two more days, we will reach 'Black Wind Canyon.' Once we pass through there, we will be in the Heavenly Wolf Dynasty's sphere of influence."

An Elder responsible for route planning stepped forward to report, his tone carrying a hint of relief after surviving a disaster.

Shen Jun nodded slightly. Just as he was about to speak, his brow suddenly furrowed, and his powerful Late Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense swept backward like mercury spreading over the ground!

At almost the same time, the expressions of several other Foundation Establishment Stage Elders in the group changed drastically!

"There are pursuers behind us!" Elder Shen Li cried out in horror, his voice filled with unbelievable alarm. "How can they be so fast?! Back at Flowing Cloud Ravine..."

Before he could finish, dozens of small points of light flickering with spiritual energy were seen approaching at an alarming speed in the distant night sky!

The style of that spiritual light was clearly that of Great Shang's standard-issue flying Magical Artifacts!

And judging by their speed, they were much faster than their heavily laden fleeing spirit boats!

"It's Wang Yuan's pursuers! They didn't delay at Flowing Cloud Ravine at all!" Shen Jun understood instantly. His face turned as pale as paper, and the sliver of hope in his heart was completely shattered, replaced by bone-chilling cold and despair.

Wang Yuan's decisiveness and ruthlessness far exceeded his expectations! The opponent wasn't even willing to spend an extra day to fully take over Flowing Cloud Ravine, sending out elite pursuers immediately!

"Speed up! Full speed ahead!" Shen Jun roared hoarsely, no longer caring about the wear on the spirit boats or the consumption of spiritual energy, ordering all the spirit boats to push their speed to the limit.

However, the fleeing spirit boats were already burdened with many people and resources; how could their speed compare to the Great Shang elites who traveled light and were specifically meant for pursuit?

The distance between the two sides was closing rapidly!

Seeing the pursuers about to enter attack range, the Shen Family group fell into chaos, and panic spread.

Just then, a streak of azure light suddenly accelerated from the ranks of the pursuers behind, surpassing the other flying Magical Artifacts. Like a comet striking the moon, it flashed a few times and blocked the path directly in front of the Shen Family's fleeing group!

A powerful Late Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure was released without reservation, acting like an invisible barrier that forced the Shen Family's spirit boats to slow down and even come to a halt.

The azure light dissipated, revealing the solemn figure of Third Elder Wang Zhengqing.

Standing with his hands behind his back in the Void Realm, he calmly looked at the Shen Family members before him, who were facing a great enemy, his voice clearly carrying through the night sky:

"Patriarch Shen, Your Majesty has ordered you to stay."

Plain words, yet they carried unquestionable authority and... a hint of cold killing intent.

Shen Jun looked at Wang Zhengqing blocking the way, and his heart sank to the bottom.

He recognized this man: the Wang Family's Third Elder, with a Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation. His strength was by no means inferior to Shen Jun's in his prime!