The area surrounding the main ammunition depot was more heavily patrolled, with layers of overlapping perimeters.

  The patrols moved in tighter coordination, with officers personally inspecting the sentry posts at regular intervals.

  In addition to the soldiers, some transcendent beings were stationed alongside the regular troops.

  They made no effort to hide their presence, exuding an oppressive aura as they moved.

  When the soldiers looked at them, they instinctively restrained their words and actions, their gazes revealing respect and awe.

  At this moment, the seven black-clad figures hid in the shadows.

  Their steps were extremely slow, almost every movement calculated to ensure they didn’t trigger any potential alarms.

  Elo stood quietly at a distance, his transcendent perception spreading like a tide, silently and imperceptibly penetrating the area.

  Barrels of gunpowder, shells, fuses…

  A vast amount of deadly weapons were stacked into walls, the strong scent of gunpowder lingering in the air, as if even the night wind was tainted with the scent of smoke.

  The most eye-catching were the specially designed gunpowder barrels.

  They were placed quietly deep within the ammunition depot, their surfaces coated with dark fire-resistant layers.

  These explosives were far more powerful than ordinary munitions, and if detonated, they could destroy the entire main ammunition depot.

  This was the lifeblood of the entire siege battle, every shell and every barrel of gunpowder was fuel for the battle.

  But at the same time, it was also the best target for the seven black-clad figures.

  However, to easily destroy this place—was nothing short of a pipe dream.

  In the depths of the shadows, nine faint life forces quietly emerged;

  Like ripples forming at the bottom of a deep lake, gently disturbing the stillness of the darkness.

  Elo's transcendent perception spread silently like a tide, precisely locking onto every hidden presence.

  They were concealed in the dark, like hunters lying in wait in the forest, waiting for their prey to walk into the trap.

  This concealment was far from simple optical refraction or physical obstruction; it was a deeper form of aura obliteration—

  They used transcendent means to completely close off their presence, rendering all life with low perception unable to detect even the slightest trace.

  —It was as if they had never existed in this world.

  Clearly, the attacking force had already anticipated the defenders' assault.

  They had long been lying in wait, ready for their prey to step into the trap.

  These nine individuals each had their own unique presence, each radiating their own sharpness.

  The five knights carried a battle aura that surged like boiling blood, flowing like magma—fierce and direct;

  The two mages bore deep and intricate magical energy, like a tide lurking beneath the tranquil sea of stars, unfathomable;

  The priest exuded a golden holy power, warm and solemn, like the morning light piercing through the mist, with a divine aura that commanded submission.

  As for the last one, he stood out particularly in Elo's transcendent perception.

  He had almost retracted all his sharpness into the silent darkness, motionless as stone, silent as the night.

  —But the more concealed he was, the sharper he seemed.

  He was like a blade buried deep within its sheath, yet still exuding a subtle, chilling edge—

  —lying quietly in the corner of the battlefield, but compelling others to instinctively keep their distance.

  —He was sharp like a blade, cutting through everything.

  Although he tried his best to conceal himself, that faint, deep, and subtle fluctuation in his aura still couldn't escape Elo's perception.

  Elo's mind shifted:

  —This person is not weaker than the leader of the black-clad figures.

  So here comes the question—did the seven figures in black know this was a trap?

  They exchanged no words. Their movements were silent, their coordination flawless—

  on the surface, it was impossible to tell if they were aware.

  But Elo's instincts told him—they knew.

  They likely knew from the very beginning that they were walking into an ambush, and they knew that they would inevitably be surrounded.

  —But so what?

  Just because there’s an ambush, should they turn back?

  Just because there’s death ahead, should they give up?

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  —Of course not.

  There are things in this world that must be done, even if you know they won’t lead to an ideal outcome.

  They wouldn’t retreat like those so-called “smart people” who are quick to compromise.

  Instead, they would persist like “fools”—unyielding, unrepentant, to the very end.

  —History has never lacked such people.

  Regardless of nationality, race, faith, or ideology,

  there are always those who would march toward death without hesitation for what they believe in.

  Even if the ending is already written, they still choose to walk the path.

  The result is one thing, but whether or not to do it, and how to do it, is another matter entirely.

  And that—that is what Elo admired.

  —Foolish, and yet... unmistakably endearing.

  Perhaps, as Elo thought—these seven black-clad figures were also "foolish yet endearing" individuals.

  So, having sneaked this far, it was already difficult to continue moving stealthily.

  Their enemies were not ordinary soldiers, but transcendent beings on par with them.

  They were fully aware of this, which is why the leader of the black-clad figures decided—strike first!

  He took a deep breath, his aura shifting dramatically.

  In the next instant—

  "Do it!"

  This was not just a command; it was a shockwave of sonic force!

  "Boom—!!"

  The sound exploded with thunderous force, sweeping through the area like a storm, instantly sending out an invisible shockwave!

  Within a 15-meter radius, every soldier's body suddenly trembled;

  as if their brains were struck by a heavy hammer in an instant, their faces turning pale, collapsing straight to the ground!

  Their consciousness was instantly overwhelmed by the shockwave, their minds going completely blank as if the “pause button” on their brains had been pressed forcibly, and they silently fainted!

  And the residual shockwave of this sonic attack just happened to cover Elo's location.

  However—Elo had no reaction.

  He didn’t even furrow his brow. He simply stroked his chin and mused to himself:

  —Could this be the legendary [Lion's Roar technique]?

  Not sure if it’s that, but anyway, that’s what he decided to call it for now.

  And the Lion's Roar sonic attack clearly wasn’t an indiscriminate strike.

  At least, the seven black-clad figures were completely unaffected. They stood firm, as solid as rocks.

  The only movement was probably just a slight lift of their eyelids, as if they were slightly annoyed by the leader's loud voice.

  At the very moment the black-clad leader decided to strike first, that figure from the attacking side...

  Hmm...

  Elo wasn’t quite sure what to call him, since he knew nothing about the man’s background.

  But there was no doubt—he was the most powerful Transcendent present.

  So, for now, Elo simply referred to him as—the BOSS.

  In any case, just before the [Lion’s Roar Technique] burst forth, the BOSS suddenly opened his eyes!

  He sensed that the enemy was approaching. He tried to locate the position of the black-clad figures, but he was a step too late!

  Boom!!

  —The [Lion’s Roar Technique] had already gone off!

  Although the BOSS and his companions were unharmed, the BOSS’s face darkened so much it seemed like water could drip from it.

  He could guess that the defending side would try to cause trouble,

  but when the enemy truly slipped in like a ghost—and even turned the tables by launching the first strike—

  his mood turned indescribably foul.

  Elo couldn't help but speculate on what the BOSS was thinking at that moment:

  —Is this a public restroom?! Just come and go as you please?!

  —I haven’t even said 'welcome,' and you’re already attacking?!

  —Is this even reasonable?!

  Elo couldn't help but stroke his chin, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the BOSS's mood was probably quite complicated.

  —Though he knew the BOSS probably wasn’t thinking this much, Elo enjoyed imagining others' inner thoughts for his own amusement.

  The long-awaited prey had indeed arrived, but this group couldn’t even be bothered with a greeting;

  They started with their skills right away—definitely not showing any respect to the ambushers.

  —If it were me, I’d probably be looking pretty displeased as well.

  Although Elo had let his imagination run wild with a bunch of random thoughts, in reality—

  It had only been less than 5 milliseconds.

  In fact, the soundwaves from the [Lion’s Roar Technique] still hadn’t fully dissipated.

  The siege BOSS wasn’t shaken by the sudden attack. Instead, he quickly made a decision.

  Through [Spiritual fluctuation], he gave orders to all the hidden subordinates:

  —Proceed according to plan!

  —The others may be ignored, but their leader must die!

  Elo could fully understand why the siege BOSS would order the “leader must die.”

  It wasn’t for the BOSS’s dignity, nor purely for tactical reasons, but because:

  —The value of this leader was simply too high!

  How much does it cost to cultivate a strong individual?

  —The time cost is the most fundamental.

  From an age perspective, the leader is around thirty years old, meaning his growth has accumulated over at least thirty years.

  A full thirty years—how many such thirty years can an ordinary person have in a lifetime?

  —The resource cost is even harder to estimate.

  The imparting of knowledge, the training environment, the investment in education—these are all necessary.

  Considering that he comes from the [Xian Dao Bloc], it’s highly likely that his growth involved consuming a great deal of precious transcendent herbs and medicines.

  —The cost of experience and battle accumulation is equally crucial.

  Theory can be taught, but real battle experience can only be gained through life-and-death confrontations.

  He must have gone through countless battles, faced countless life-or-death choices, and every encounter was a refinement of tactics, adaptability, and intuition.

  The cost of failure is often brutal, and only those who survive truly deserve the title of “strong.”

  —The cost of culture and faith shaping cannot be ignored.

  A strong individual’s growth is not only about increasing strength but also about shaping their faith.

  Why did the[Xian Dao Bloc] cultivate him? How did they ensure he wouldn’t betray them?

  How can one make a powerful person find balance between loyalty, ambition, ideals, and reality?

  All of these require long-term ideological shaping and a sense of identity, or else the result is merely a powerful ticking time bomb.

  —But the most terrifying factor isn’t any of these—it’s talent and luck.

  Not everyone, under the same conditions, can grow into a leader-level strong individual.

  Some people are born with higher transcendent talent. They have a far greater understanding of transcendent knowledge than ordinary people, and they can progress rapidly, even crushing their peers in a short time.

  But such individuals are destined to be extremely rare—one in a thousand, one in ten thousand, or even one in a million.

  However, even possessing powerful transcendent talents doesn’t guarantee one will be discovered.

  In the vast sea of people, is there anyone who can truly see their talent?

  Even if they are discovered, will they have access to more resources during their training?

  No matter how high the talent, without proper cultivation and guidance, can they truly grow into a top-tier powerhouse?

  Furthermore, transcendent resources are always extremely limited.

  How many precious transcendent knowledge, rare transcendent medicines, and powerful transcendent weapons are available?

  Even for a genius, how many opportunities in a lifetime can they seize to compete for these resources?

  It’s all of these factors that truly determine the value of a strong individual.

  So, just how valuable is a true powerhouse?

  Elo shook his head and couldn’t help but think:

  —Priceless. Their existence is a miracle in itself.

  So, here’s the question—since they’re so important, why are they on the battlefield?

  The answer is simple:

  —They are not carrying the future of the world, nor are they the key force driving the progress of civilization.

  —In the eyes of the true strong, they are nothing more than super soldiers on the battlefield.

  But even as mere soldiers on the battlefield, they are still extremely valuable super soldiers.

  If it were Elo, he would also stop at nothing to eliminate them.

  This isn’t out of hatred, nor does it have anything to do with personal grudges.

  It’s simply because—killing them would weaken the enemy to the greatest extent.

  Because they understood this so well, the moment the BOSS gave the order, the eight nearby immediately launched a decisive attack!