Chapter 57

"This time, it seems a major battle is inevitable. I wonder how many will still be alive after this battle!"

Shang Xia stood in the hall of the patrol riders, listening as one by one, the measures for the battle were discussed and formulated, eventually forming a complete battle plan. A sense of impending conflict and oppression arose within him.

However, this oppressive atmosphere did not make Shang Xia feel timid; instead, it made him feel an overwhelming sense of excitement from within.

After Shang Xia provided crucial information to the high-ranking martial artists of Tongyou Peak twice, they quickly made the judgment that the Rose Society and the martial cultivators of the Four Spirit Mountains would join forces.

Although there was still no news about Liu Jitang and his team, the hall of the patrol riders was now filled with a sense of determination to win.

No one mentioned the idea of abandoning Tongyou Peak anymore.

The defensive forces of Tongyou Peak would not only not be weakened but would soon be strengthened.

The captains, enforcers, and managers who had received their tasks left the hall to make arrangements.

One by one, messages were sent to Tongyou Academy through extraordinary channels, both as reports and as urgent requests.

Seeing that there was nothing left for him to do, Shang Xia left the hall and prepared to return to the Shang Building to continue his cultivation.

Although a major battle could break out at any time, Shang Xia still felt it necessary to make a last-minute effort to improve his strength, even if it was just a little.

Moreover, having just advanced to the Wuji Realm and begun to touch upon the Wuji Realm—no, the Liangyi Realm—inheritance, he was at a time when his cultivation and strength were rapidly advancing.

If not necessary, Shang Xia did not want to delay even a moment.

Unexpectedly, before Shang Xia could leave the patrol riders' compound, Shang Quan hurriedly caught up with him and brought him back to the hall.

At this time, most people in the hall had already left, leaving only Ji Wenlong, Shang Ke, Ji Min, Yun Yishu, and the head of the Merit Department, Shang Bing.

"Shang Xia, I heard you have a mutated sparrow. Why don't you show it to us? Are you afraid it will fly away?"

Upon seeing him, the head of the Merit Department actually joked with him.

Shang Xia was momentarily at a loss.

In people's minds, the head of the Merit Department, who always maintained a cold and stern image, when did he ever joke with a student like this?

Shang Ke gestured for him to come over and asked seriously, "The mutated rain sparrow you tamed, can you be sure it will still listen to you after such a long time? This bird is very important, and it cannot fail at a critical moment. This could directly affect the safety of Tongyou Peak."

Shang Xia was taken aback for a moment before he subconsciously replied, "Of course it will listen!"

Shang Ke nodded at Ji Wenlong.

Ji Wenlong said directly, "Ji Min, you stay here. Old Shang, Brother Shang, and Little Yun, let's take Shang Xia to meet the old sparrow."

...

The Four Spirit Mountains were located a thousand miles away from Tongyou Peak in the Two Realms War Zone.

Unlike Tongyou Peak, which was surrounded by several smaller peaks, the Four Spirit Mountains consisted of four peaks of similar size.

These four peaks had been the bases of the four bloodline tribes of the Cangling Realm in their rivalry with Tongyou Academy for nearly twenty years.

This time, Ji Wenlong and his group were visiting the most precipitous and steep of the Four Spirit Mountains, Yanling Mountain.

A thousand miles was just half an hour's journey for Ji Wenlong, who could ride the air.

For martial artists like Shang Ke, Shang Bing, and Yun Yishu, who had condensed their martial will, a thousand miles could be covered in a little over an hour.

However, with Shang Xia, who had just formed the "Liangyi" essence, in tow, the journey took nearly two and a half hours.

This was because Shang Ke, unable to bear it, began to teach him the Shang family's secret light body martial technique, the "Cenci Step."

Otherwise, the time spent on the journey would have been even longer!

Shang Xia had long wanted to cultivate a light body martial technique. This idea had taken root when he was being pursued by Yan Ming of the Fengyan Tribe.

Previously, in the scripture cave, Shang Xia had not found a suitable light body martial technique, as the ones stored there could not compare to the Shang family's "Cenci Step."

Most light body martial techniques were either agile, excelling in nimble movements, or swift, excelling in long-distance travel.

Of course, there were some that combined both.

However, it was difficult to excel in both.

The "Cenci Step," as a Shang family secret, was once rated by Kou Chongxue as the second most agile in Tongyou City, only surpassed by the Yun family's "Qianyun Nongqiao."

This rating itself proved the excellence of the "Cenci Step."

In fact, the "Cenci Step" also combined the swift path, and in this regard, even the Yun family's "Qianyun Nongqiao" could not compare to the "Cenci Step."

With the guidance of Shang Ke, a Wuji Realm expert, and the comments of Yun Yishu and Shang Bing, also Wuji Realm experts, Shang Xia quickly mastered the basic steps and saw a noticeable improvement in his speed, reducing the burden on the Wuji Realm experts.

Of course, Shang Xia's progress in the "Cenci Step" was still at the beginner level. With continued practice, he would see significant improvements in both agility and speed.

Since Shang Xia began cultivating in the Wu Yuan Realm, he had not practiced many of the Shang family's martial techniques. The "Cenci Step" was probably the first Shang family technique he had practiced.

When they were a hundred miles away from the Four Spirit Mountains, the five of them began to conceal their presence and choose secluded and complex terrain to avoid the patrols of the Cangling martial cultivators.

When they were fifty miles away from the Four Spirit Mountains, and could see the four towering peaks in the distance, Ji Wenlong suddenly had five silver-gray martial talismans in his hand, which he distributed to each of them.

Shang Xia held the silver-gray talisman, feeling its material, and realized it was made of some soft metal.

He also observed the talisman's lines but found them more complex than what he currently knew, making it impossible to discern its purpose.

"This is a Concealment Talisman. It can hide your form, making you hard to detect!"

Shang Ke's voice sounded in his ear, explaining the purpose and usage of the Concealment Talisman.

Shang Xia followed the others, first infusing his essence into the talisman and then pressing it to his chest.

As his form gradually distorted in the light, the four of them disappeared one by one.

"This Concealment Talisman will only last me an hour, so try to reach an agreement with the old sparrow within an hour after we meet her!"

This was the first time Shang Xia had heard Ji Wenlong speak during the journey.

His tone was sharp and commanding.

If it were Shang Xia, he would have only been able to nod in agreement, not daring to argue.

However, Shang Ke and Shang Bing seemed to be used to Ji Wenlong's way of speaking.

"It will be hard to convince that old lady in just an hour!"

"You know how stubborn that old sparrow is. She never acts without a clear benefit. We're coming to her in such a secretive manner, which shows we lack confidence. She will definitely drive a hard bargain!"

Ji Wenlong immediately snorted, "Then I'll talk to her!"

"No!"

"Forget it!"

Their voices rang out almost simultaneously, and Shang Xia, though he couldn't see, could imagine the expression on Ji Wenlong's face at that moment.

Yun Yishu remained silent. Shang Ke and Shang Bing could joke with the always domineering and stern Ji Wenlong because they were of the same generation. As a junior, Yun Yishu did not say much.

As Shang Xia was lost in thought, an invisible hand suddenly patted his shoulder, and Yun Yishu's voice sounded, "Shang Xia, the negotiation with the old lady is up to you!"

Shang Xia: "..."

The group continued forward, avoiding several more patrols from the Four Spirit Mountains, and arrived at the entrance of a hidden valley near Yanling Mountain.

At this moment, Ji Wenlong suddenly said, "She's already here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a light laugh came from the valley, "Since you're already here, come out and meet me. Do you want me to come and fetch you myself?"

Ji Wenlong's form appeared first, and he walked into the valley.

Shang Xia saw that the silver-gray talisman in his hand was still intact, just removed from his body.

Shang Xia also removed the talisman from his chest and found that it was not damaged and could still be used, though the essence within was gradually dissipating.

At this moment, Shang Ke and Shang Bing also revealed their forms and followed Ji Wenlong into the valley.

Only Yun Yishu remained invisible, and Shang Xia could not even locate him.

"You go in first, I'll stay outside to support you!"

Yun Yishu's voice sounded in his ear, but Shang Xia could not sense any essence fluctuations.

This was a secret technique of the Yun family, the foundation of the Yun family's influence in Tongyou Academy.

Shang Xia quietly placed the Concealment Talisman in his sleeve and followed Shang Ke and Shang Bing into the valley.

In the distance, he saw an amiable old lady standing on the other side of the valley, holding a long staff and smiling as she observed the group approaching.

However, Shang Xia's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the old lady's back.

There, a familiar figure was glaring at him with a look of intense hatred.

Their gazes met in mid-air, and Shang Xia inwardly exclaimed, "Why is this woman here too?"

...

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