Chapter 92

After Shang Xia and the Thunderbird reunited, with the help of the mutated swifts, he discovered that the martial artists of the Four Spirits Mountain had completely lost their organization, scattering all over the mountains and fields.

Moreover, he noticed a strange phenomenon: most of these scattered martial artists from the Four Spirits Mountain did not immediately choose to return to the Four Spirits Mountain, even when they were not being pursued by the Mystic Peak. Instead, they seemed to be deliberately wandering in the wilderness of the Two Realms Battle Zone.

Although he did not know what had happened, the current situation was extremely advantageous for Shang Xia and his companions.

Guided by the mutated swifts, Shang Xia and his group were always able to accurately track the movements of these isolated or small groups of Four Spirits Mountain martial artists. After roughly assessing their strength, they would decide whether to take action.

As a result, the efficiency of the five-person team was extremely high. They had killed no fewer than seven or eight martial artists of the Wu Yuan and Wu Ji realms, and even managed to slay three Wu Yi realm martial artists.

It was worth noting that in the previous major battle, the Mystic Peak had lost no more than ten Wu Yi realm martial artists.

The Four Spirits Mountain had lost more Wu Yi realm martial artists, but it certainly did not exceed twenty.

For both the Mystic Peak and the Four Spirits Mountain, Wu Yi realm martial artists were the backbone of their forces. The loss of each Wu Yi realm martial artist was a significant weakening for their respective factions.

However, Shang Xia's group's achievements were somewhat peculiar. Most of the foreign martial artists they pursued and killed were from the Wind Swallow Tribe.

When Yun Yifei noticed this characteristic, Shang Xi also said, "Indeed, and these Wind Swallow Tribe members are mostly 'common blood.'"

Yun Zhidai thought for a moment and said, "No wonder it's easier for us to kill them. I've heard that every 'pure blood' of the Four Spirits Mountain is equivalent to a martial artist who has comprehended martial arts in our world. In battles between martial artists of the same realm, our martial artists often suffer at the hands of the 'pure bloods.'"

Sun Haiwei, somewhat resentfully, said, "That's not necessarily true, they just have more people!"

In a certain sense, the growth of martial artists with the bloodline of the Cang Ling Realm was indeed easier than that of martial artists in the Cang Yu Realm.

Seeing the conversation about to veer off course, Yun Yifei smiled and said, "Alright, alright, Xia, you haven't explained what's going on yet."

Sun Haiwei and Yun Zhidai both stared intently at Shang Xia.

To be honest, when the Thunderbird landed on Shang Xia's shoulder, the two of them were quite shocked.

When they learned that the Thunderbird had a large group of mutated swifts under its command, and that Shang Xia could communicate with the Thunderbird to use the entire group of mutated swifts to track the Four Spirits Mountain martial artists, they were even more amazed, allowing Shang Xia to enjoy the feeling of being admired, especially by beautiful women.

Shang Xia "uh"ed, scratched his head, and said, "Actually, I'm not entirely sure, but I have some speculations."

Without waiting for others to ask, Shang Xia continued, "Firstly, the bloodline of the Wind Swallow Tribe may have some connection with the mutated swifts. In their eyes, these Wind Swallow Tribe martial artists are the easiest to find. Secondly, it might be a matter of grudges!"

As he spoke, Shang Xia told the women about how the Wind Swallow Tribe might have found and destroyed a mutated swift colony.

Yun Yifei laughed after hearing this, "I've heard that the internal conflict between 'pure blood' and 'common blood' in the Wind Swallow Tribe is quite intense. In this major battle at Mystic Peak, only a few 'pure blood' martial artists from the Wind Swallow Tribe came, while the 'common blood' lost one Fourth Heaven, and we've killed three Third Heavens. Adding those who might have been killed by others, the 'common blood' of the Wind Swallow Tribe must have suffered a significant blow. Do you think we're actually helping our opponents?"

Shang Xi sneered, "Perhaps the 'pure blood' of the Wind Swallow Tribe is using us to eliminate their rivals."

Shang Xia, who had personally participated in this matter, was the most aware of the situation.

However, he couldn't say it outright, so he smiled and said, "Anyway, the ones who died are from the Four Spirits Mountain, and their overall strength has been weakened."

Yun Yifei also smiled, "Indeed, killing these isolated Wu Yi realm martial artists not only yields spoils of war but also earns us merit points at the academy. Why not do it?"

Seeing that Sun Haiwei and Yun Zhidai had almost fully recovered, Shang Xia stood up and smiled, "Shall we continue?"

Just as they were about to mount their horses, a long, resonant sound suddenly filled the Two Realms Battle Zone.

The moment Shang Xia heard this sound, he felt his internal yuan qi losing control, and his entire body became drowsy.

Almost instinctively, Shang Xia activated the Taiji diagram in his dantian, quickly stabilizing the turbulent yuan qi and regaining his clarity.

Almost simultaneously, Yun Yifei shouted, "A divine weapon has entered the realm! Quickly, focus your mind and control your internal yuan qi."

Shang Xia glanced at the others, somewhat surprised, and saw that everyone, including Shang Xi, had fallen into a state of silence.

Shang Xia thought for a moment, not wanting to stand out, and pretended to be working hard to stabilize his internal yuan qi.

However, just a moment later, another long, resonant sound echoed through the heavens, breaking the initial sound's control over the area.

The moment this new sound reached Shang Xia, it felt like a stream of clear water, instantly calming the restlessness inside and outside his body, making his mind clear and transparent.

Shang Xia's heart stirred, and he slowly opened his eyes, just in time to see Yun Yifei and Shang Xi also letting out a sigh of relief, their expressions relaxed.

"Fortunately, our Mystic Academy also has a divine weapon to guard it!"

As she spoke, Shang Xi and Yun Yifei stood up, and at this moment, Sun Haiwei and Yun Zhidai also stabilized their internal yuan qi and regained their clarity.

Shang Xi said, "If Dean Kou is seriously injured and Deputy Dean Yun has not appeared in the Two Realms Battle Zone, then the one who just used the Yuxue Sword to intimidate at the Two Realms Passage must be Deputy Dean Yun."

Yun Yifei shook her head, "How could we possibly have the right to know such matters?"

By "divine weapons and sharp weapons," it actually refers to two major categories of weapons. Sharp weapons are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades, but Shang Xia knew little about divine weapons, only that they were roughly divided into "Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang" grades. However, he did not know how these grades were distinguished, nor the differences between divine weapons and sharp weapons.

He believed that even Shang Xi and Yun Yifei, who were present, might not know clearly.

Shang Xi suddenly realized something and said, "I think I understand why these scattered Cang Ling martial artists have been lingering in this area and not returning to the Four Spirits Mountain."

Without waiting for others to ask, Shang Xi continued, "It's likely that several Fourth Heaven experts from the academy have reached the foot of the Four Spirits Mountain. These Cang Ling martial artists are afraid of being caught in the crossfire of the Fourth Heaven martial artists' battles, so they have been wandering in the wilderness."

Indeed, Shang Xi had guessed the situation quite accurately.

Yun Yifei agreed, "That must be it. Otherwise, the Four Spirits Mountain would not have used a divine weapon to intimidate first. Although the academy quickly responded, if I'm not mistaken, the battle between the Fourth Heaven experts will not continue."

Yun Zhidai quickly asked, "So, these Cang Ling martial artists wandering in the wilderness will soon be able to return to the Four Spirits Mountain?"

Sun Haiwei stood up, "What are we waiting for? Let's take advantage of the fact that they haven't all returned and quickly eliminate a few more!"

The four women looked at Shang Xia, but suddenly heard several noisy chirps from above.

Looking up, they saw the Thunderbird transform into a silver light, diving from the circling mutated swifts above and landing on Shang Xia's shoulder, chirping frantically.

For some reason, the four women could sense a hint of urgency and even a touch of madness in the Thunderbird's chirps.

Shang Xia subconsciously rubbed his ears, which were buzzing, and his expression became serious, "Danger? Great danger? Danger everywhere? Even you are affected?"

Shang Xia tried to understand what the Thunderbird was trying to convey, but they were of different species.

No matter how intelligent the Thunderbird was, it could only communicate simple and understandable messages with Shang Xia.

Perhaps because of the large amount of information, the Thunderbird became confused, agitated, and even showed some signs of aggression.

However, Shang Xia still interpreted a danger signal from the Thunderbird's behavior, and this danger seemed to be widespread, even affecting the mutated swifts.

Shang Xia quickly looked at Yun Yifei and Shang Xi, "Something seems off. We've already made significant gains. I suggest we proceed with caution, take what we've got, and return to Mystic Peak now."

Yun Zhidai hesitated, "Are you sure? Could the information be inaccurate?"

Shang Xia smiled, stroked the Thunderbird's feathers, and the Two Instruments yuan qi in his palm calmed the agitated Thunderbird. He then said seriously, "I trust it!"

Despite this, Shang Xia was somewhat annoyed. It would have been better if he had brought Yan Ni'er this time.

In terms of communication, Yan Ni'er could express herself more clearly.

However, Yan Ni'er was now focused on incubating eggs, and it was unknown when the four eggs would hatch into baby swifts.

Shang Xi and Yun Yifei exchanged glances, and finally, Yun Yifei smiled, "Xia's point is not without merit. However, we don't have to return the same way. We can take a detour and return via another route. We might even encounter a few more straggling Cang Ling martial artists along the way."

Shang Xia thought about it and agreed. Just as he was about to speak, dozens of mutated swifts suddenly emerged from the distant forest, circling above Shang Xia, filling the air with their noisy chirps.

Shang Xia was slightly stunned and turned to look at Yun Yifei and Shang Xi, "Many dangerous things are emerging from the depths of the mountains and wilderness, heading this way."

Yun Yifei was also stunned, but Shang Xi seemed to remember something and exclaimed, "A beast tide?"

Yun Yifei's face turned pale, and she said with a trembling voice, "Quick, warn Deputy Dean Ji and the others, warn Mystic Peak. We need to get back, quickly, quickly!"

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Fellow Daoists, Happy Qixi Festival!