Chapter 426 Blockade Crisis
really.
The thing in the picture looks exactly like a bat if you ignore the monkey that looks like an old man.
While everyone was thinking deeply, Liang Xin'an said: "Three points can be concluded from the existing information."
"First of all, this thing has never appeared in Wuwang Sea before. Leader Kong and Fan Daniu have already confirmed this. There should be no dispute."
Kong Xiangdong and Fan Daniu both nodded when they heard this.
As people who have been sailing in the Wuwang Sea for many years, they have a very clear idea of what kind of creatures there are in this snowy field.
So it's certain this giant bat has never been seen before.
After all, if such a strange creature had existed in the northern snowfields before, they would not have known about it.
"The second point is that this big bat has an extremely weird ability. It can block a person's perception and control the person's body. This is not the most important thing."
"The most important thing is that it seems to be able to create an area that is isolated from people's perception and attention. Anything that happens in this area is difficult for the outside world to detect, even if it is close at hand."
"That's why there were no signs at all in the two previous disappearances. There was nothing left except a trace of dragging on the ground."
Everyone's expressions were a little solemn.
Because this ability is really weird.
Controlling people's perception and body is okay, but the ability to create an area out of thin air that blocks people's perception and attention is simply incredible.
If this were used on the battlefield, it would be a nightmare.
Imagine that the comrade who was fighting alongside you just now suddenly disappears, and you don't notice anything unusual.
Then a strange creature appeared next to you, and when it attacked you, others couldn't notice anything strange either.
What a desperate situation that must be.
Regardless of the lethality of this method, the blow to morale alone is fatal.
Fortunately, what Liang Xin'an said next made everyone relax a little.
"The third point, and the only good news, is that this creature should only be strong in weird abilities, and its actual combat power is not very high, otherwise it would not be broken by this brother Fan's punch."
After listening to Liang Xin'an's summary, everyone present nodded secretly.
Regardless of anything else, after such an analysis, the situation has become much clearer, at least it is no longer as dark as before.
Then Kong Xiangdong frowned and said, "The question is how to prevent this thing? You know, lanterns have been lit all over the camp, but in the end, we still can't stop this thing from attacking."
"That's because the lighting range of these lanterns is limited!" Liang Xin'an said.
"Through Brother Fan's narration just now, we know that this big bat is flying in mid-air, and the light of the lantern is basically pointing downwards, so naturally it has no effect."
"Is that true?" Kong Xiangdong couldn't help but admire Liang Xin'an's keen insight, and then asked.
"So what do we do?"
"Of course there's nothing we can do if it's someone else, but don't forget what we do!"
Speaking of this, Liang Xin'an turned to look at Huang Liang.
"Senior Brother Huang, I'm going to trouble you next."
Huang Liang smiled and said, "Don't worry, this little thing is not worth mentioning at all."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Kong Xiangdong was a little confused as to what Liang Xin'an and Huang Liang were planning to do, but this confusion was soon solved.
In just half an hour, Huang Liang pushed a small cart into the tent.
"This is a mobile lighting vehicle that I just developed with a few juniors from the Astronomical Engineering Department. Fill it with kerosene from here, and then light the cotton twist to light it."
As he spoke, Huang Liang demonstrated, and sure enough, a huge flame appeared on the makeshift car made of wood, illuminating the huge tent.
Kong Xiangdong circled the lighting truck a few times, then raised his head in confusion.
"It's quite bright, but what if it's windy outside? It's no different from a lantern, it can't light up the night sky at all!"
Huang Liang smiled and said, "Leader Kong, please be patient. Since it was developed by me and a few junior brothers, it's naturally not that simple."
As he spoke, Huang Liang took out another wooden box. After opening it, there was a huge crystal cover inside.
"In fact, this simple thing should be made of glass, but there was really no time, so we had to use expensive natural crystals to make it on the fly."
Huang Liang put the cover on the roof of the car as he spoke. In an instant, the light in the tent increased by at least one degree.
The most important thing is that a huge and bright aperture also appeared on the top of the tent.
Not only that, Huang Liang used his hand to move a device on the cover, and the aperture slowly moved accordingly.
"I have calculated that as long as eight of these lighting trucks patrol according to specific routes, the entire camp can be covered in all directions without blind spots." Huang Liang said confidently.
Kong Xiangdong became excited instantly, "Then when can we make other lighting cars?"
"Don't worry, when I came, those junior brothers were working non-stop. The key is that this thing is not difficult. This first one is made of crystal for testing, and the others can be made with ice cubes. , at most, just change it every day."
really.
For the Tiangong Branch people who are accustomed to making various large-scale machinery, such a lighting truck is not difficult, so the remaining seven were built in just over two hours.
The most critical component, the light guide, is also made of ice as Huang Liang said.
When eight lighting trucks appeared in the camp and lit up the entire night sky, it also caused quite a commotion among the people in the camp.
What happened to Fan Daniu had already spread. Although the lives of those people were not in danger, they were so frightened that they could not get out of bed in a short time.
This also makes the sensitive nerves in many people's hearts become increasingly tense.
Although no one dared to say anything publicly, the discussions in private never stopped.
"Have you heard that Fan Daniu almost died?"
"I've heard about it a long time ago, saying it was a big bat. I wonder how big a bat can be to drag away so many people without anyone noticing."
"What bat? I heard it's a flying monkey, and this monkey can also talk, and it likes to eat human brains. At that time, Fan Daniu almost had his Tianling Cap lifted off, so he tried his best to resist."
"I also heard from the old man that such monkeys are made of condensed resentment and come to seduce people's souls. They are extremely powerful."
For a moment, everything was said. The camp could no longer be described as panic, it was simply shrouded in a gloomy ghostly atmosphere.
Under such circumstances, the appearance of these eight lighting trucks naturally caused quite a stir.
Especially the illuminated night sky gave people a sense of security, and their panic gradually calmed down.
I have to say that Liang Xin'an's suggestion really hits the mark.
After these lighting trucks came on stage, no more disappearances occurred in the camp in the next few days.
People's hanging hearts finally gradually relaxed.
But just when people were rejoicing, in the big tent in the center, Kong Xiangdong, Jing Rou, Huang Liang and Liang Xin'an were sitting together, with unprecedented serious expressions on their faces.
"Are you sure our camp is blocked?" Jing Rou couldn't help but ask.
Kong Xiangdong nodded solemnly, "Yes, because according to the usual practice, the supply caravan should have arrived yesterday, but until today there is still no news."
"Is it possible that something unexpected happened to this supply caravan on the way, which delayed the date?" Jing Rou said.
"Impossible. First of all, this is already the edge of the northern snowfield, and there is not much danger. Secondly, even this kind of supply caravan is usually divided into three teams to prevent the entire army from being annihilated in an accident. "
"As for the delay date..." Kong Xiangdong paused and then continued.
"In this land of northern snowfields, no one dares to joke with time, because one day is often the difference between life and death, so anyone who wants to do this business must regard the date as more important than life. .”
"And the caravan I am working with is an experienced old trading company. It has never been delayed no matter what accidents it encountered over the years. But now there is suddenly no news. This can only prove that something happened to them all."
"But then you can't be sure that we are blocked!" Jing Rou asked unwillingly, while Huang Liang and Liang Xin'an also listened quietly.
Even though they were members of the Jiazong sect, in this land of snow in the north, their experience was not richer than that of ordinary people, so they had to ask Kong Xiangdong.
Kong Xiangdong sighed, "Because as early as yesterday, I had quietly sent people out to investigate, but... no one came back."
In an instant, the expressions of the people in the room became even uglier.
For them, a confrontation with real swords and guns is not scary, but the feeling of not being able to see where the enemy is and having to defend passively is really awkward.
This was the case with the previous disappearances, but I didn't expect that just after this problem was solved, something like this happened again.
"How long can the reserves in the camp last?" Liang Xin'an asked in a deep voice.
"There is still plenty of food and drink, but there is not much kerosene for lighting. This caravan is mainly bringing us kerosene, and this is what happened."
After listening to Kong Xiangdong's words, even the most calm Huang Liang could not sit still.
Because now everyone knows what kerosene means to the camp.
Once the fire oil is cut off and the camp is plunged into darkness, there is no need for foreign enemies to invade. Just the collapse of morale is enough for everyone to drink.
"I will go back and think about it again to see if I can reduce the consumption of kerosene as much as possible while ensuring the brightness." At this time, Huang Liang could only make this statement.
No one said a word.
Because everyone understands that this is actually just a psychological comfort.
After all, no matter how much improvement is made, kerosene must be consumed.
As for changing to other fuels.
Not to mention that the coal is not bright enough after being ignited, and that thing is used by people to keep warm. Once this reserve is exhausted, people can freeze to death without a sneak attack by ghost monkeys.
Just when everyone was at a loss what to do, Liang Xin'an suddenly said: "I do have an idea."
"What do you think?" Kong Xiangdong asked immediately.
"Before, eight lighting trucks were lit to cover the entire camp, but this was such a waste."
"Now that we are using less kerosene, it is better to gather people together. This way we can prevent sneak attacks, and secondly we can reduce the consumption of lighting vehicles."
Naturally, everyone had no objections to this proposal.
However, Huang Liang is older and more mature after all, so he added: "Remember to handle this process naturally, especially not to reveal the news that the camp has been sealed off and isolated, so as to avoid causing unnecessary commotion."
"Don't worry, I'm measured." Kong Xiangdong said.
In fact, his sea-driving people and the disciples of the Guanzong Sect were okay, but the key was the other people who stayed.
Most of these people are sea-driving people belonging to other forces, and some even stay with their leaders.
They either wanted to follow Kong Xiangdong to defend against the enemy out of loyalty, or they stayed because they wanted to fish in troubled waters to see if there was any profit to be made, but they did not expect to encounter such a thing.
Once these people learn the inside story, it will easily lead to riots.
And if the situation is in chaos, the camp will probably be doomed.
Kong Xiangdong moved very quickly, quickly gathering people, and then gathered them into several large tents in the central area in the name of preventing sneak attacks and saving fuel resources.
In this regard, except for a few people who complained, others basically followed the instructions obediently.
After all, compared to the inconvenience of sleeping in Datongbu, your own life is the most important.
After people gathered together, the task that originally required eight lighting trucks now only required three.
Kerosene consumption has been reduced by more than half.
But it's not an option to just sit back and have nothing. After all, the kerosene will eventually run out.
If Zhao Ya hadn't arrived with anyone before this, wouldn't he have to wait to die?
For this reason, Liang Xin'an suggested leaving the camp to explore the situation outside.
Jing Rou echoed without hesitation: "Count me in!"
Then he said to Huang Liang and Kong Xiangdong: "Leader Kong, Senior Brother Huang, you two are guarding the camp here. Xin'an and I will go outside to see what's going on."
Huang Liang didn't stop him, he just nodded solemnly and said, "Then you two must be careful."
"Don't worry, I have a real thing with me. I want to see what can survive the bombardment of this thing."
As she spoke, Jing Rou took out an extra-large handgun from her pocket.
This thing is said to be a gun, but in fact it is almost like a cannon.
Not only that, Jing Rou also prepared a bag full of items such as flares and thunderbolts.
If something weird really dares to attack, Jing Rou promises to give the opponent a big "surprise".
Huang Liang built an improved version of the lighting truck. Not only can it provide lighting, but it also has a place to set up crossbows and firearms, and key parts are also well defended.
After making preparations, Liang Xin'an and Jing Rou pushed the lighting truck and left the camp under the watch of everyone.