Chapter 93

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

A wu fu in Yun Yifei's hand transformed into a wisp of cool mist, gracefully dissipating as it drifted toward Tongyou Peak.

The wu fu in Shang Xi's hand, at the moment of his escape, turned into a golden, inch-long spear, vanishing in an instant toward Siling Mountain.

"We have already informed the deputy mountain masters of Tongyou Peak and Siling Mountain; they should have a way to warn everyone!"

Yun Yifei nodded the head of the Chiyun Beast, making room for Shang Xia.

Shang Xi also said, "We have done what we can; let's leave the rest to fate! Xia, lead the way, let's return to Tongyou Peak!"

Since they needed to return to Tongyou Peak as quickly as possible while also relying on the thunderbird to guide them and avoid potential dangers, Shang Xia took the lead this time.

"Perhaps this is also an opportunity!"

Shang Xia gradually increased the speed of his horse, casually stabbing a creature that was neither cat nor leopard, which had leaped onto the horse's back, and said, "If our side's martial artists can return smoothly, or at least most of them can, think about it—won't the martial artists of Siling Mountain scattered in the wilderness be in big trouble?"

"Hey, that's a Lingxi Cat. A good pelt is a first-grade spirit material; don't waste it."

Shang Xi, following closely behind, bent down and scooped the two-foot-long creature into the bag on the Chiyun Beast's back.

The bags on the backs of the five Chiyun Beasts were now bulging, indicating that Shang Xi and the others had a bountiful harvest.

Yun Yifei's expression turned serious, "Lingxi Cats are usually very alert and flee at the first sign of danger. Although they are not second-grade, even martial artists at the Wu Yi realm would find it difficult to capture them. Now they are actually daring to attack us, which suggests that the beast tide is indeed coming."

Yun Zhidai asked from behind, "Shang Xia, will your birds be affected by the beast tide?"

This question hit the crux of the matter, which was also what Shang Xi and Yun Yifei were most worried about.

If the birds were also affected by the beast tide, the worst-case scenario would be that they led the group into the encirclement of the beast tide, leaving them no time to cry.

"No!"

Shang Xia said without turning his head, his tone firm.

As he spoke, another rain swallow swooped down and landed on his shoulder.

Shang Xia, while riding, gently stroked the rain swallow.

The rain swallow flapped its wings and let out a clear chirp, seemingly with a hint of joy, then darted ahead and disappeared.

"What are you doing? Several rain swallows have landed on your shoulder. Can you really understand what they are saying?" Sun Haiwei asked curiously.

"Haha, maybe they like me!"

Shang Xia laughed and made up a reason.

In fact, at first, Shang Xia himself was also puzzled.

This started when the thunderbird first warned him.

At that time, the thunderbird's own essence energy was already showing signs of disorder. While warning Shang Xia, it was also extremely anxious and frightened, similar to the signs of a martial artist losing control of their essence energy and going into a state of madness.

Shang Xia subconsciously stroked the thunderbird, trying to calm it down.

During this process, the thunderbird's disordered essence energy naturally resisted Shang Xia's touch, and Shang Xia naturally used the Two Instruments Essence Energy in his body to counteract this resistance.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Shang Xia's Two Instruments Essence Energy emerged, the thunderbird's disordered essence energy dissipated like snow in the sun.

Not only did the essence energy calm down, but the thunderbird's anxiety and fear also disappeared, and it even seemed more clear and lively to Shang Xia.

After that, the thunderbird led the way, guiding Shang Xia and the others to a safe path, while the mutated rain swallows in the sky kept landing on Shang Xia's shoulder one after another.

Each time one landed, Shang Xia had to use his Two Instruments Essence Energy to stroke it, calming its essence energy and dispelling the madness and anxiety caused by the beast tide.

This was only possible because of his abundant essence energy; otherwise, with about two hundred mutated rain swallows in the group, Shang Xia would have been drained.

...

Outside Siling Mountain, Shang Bo silently showed the golden spear transformed from a wu fu to the other three.

Liu Qinglan was the most anxious, but Shang Bo seemed to have anticipated her question and had already used his life-bound sha light to create a barrier around them.

"We need to return quickly!" Liu Qinglan said immediately.

Shang Lübing pondered for a moment before speaking, "Beast tide? Can it be confirmed? How did they discover it?"

It wasn't that Shang Lübing didn't believe Shang Xi's message; it was just too unbelievable that a few martial artists at the Wu Yi realm could determine the arrival of a beast tide.

"Old Shang, we need to talk about your matter when we return!"

Ji Wenglong first gave Shang Lübing a somewhat unfriendly look, then turned to Shang Bo, "Does the message say that your grandson discovered the beast tide? If it's him, I believe it."

After he said this, not only Shang Bo but also Liu Qinglan and Shang Lübing were somewhat surprised.

Due to certain unspoken reasons, the relationship between Ji and Shang was not particularly good.

More precisely, Ji Wenglong had always been critical of Shang Bo.

This was a well-known fact among the high-ranking martial artists of Tongyou Academy.

Shang Bo's expression became even more serious, "So this is true?"

Liu Qinglan also said, "A group of mutated rain swallows, a rare occurrence! Since that's the case, let's return! Anyway, the protective array of Siling Mountain cannot be broken now."

Shang Bo looked at Ji Wenglong, "We will definitely return..."

Ji Wenglong continued, "You go first. Instructor Liu, return to Tongyou Peak as quickly as possible, ring the Tongyou Bell, and gather all the disciples outside..."

...

On Tongyou Peak, the beacon fire was lit, signaling the nearby martial artists to return quickly.

More than a hundred miles away, behind Shang Xia and the others, over twenty Tongyou Peak martial artists had gathered.

Most of these people were fellow disciples they encountered on their way back. After receiving their warning, they followed them back to Tongyou Peak.

However, some people dismissed Shang Xia's warning and continued to search for and kill the scattered martial artists of Cang Ling.

Shang Xia and the others could do nothing to help them and could only continue to lead the group back.

With the thunderbird and the rain swallows guiding the way, Shang Xia and the others managed to avoid most of the dangers and obstacles that could delay their journey. This further solidified the determination of the Tongyou Peak martial artists following them, and more and more Tongyou Peak martial artists joined them, making their group grow like a snowball.

However, with so many martial artists moving together, the noise was significant. Even though Shang Xia could avoid some potential dangers, he couldn't prevent them from being attacked.

Fortunately, the attacking beasts had not yet formed a large-scale assault, and they were mostly attacking in small groups. Shang Xia often received early warnings before the attacks.

After repelling an attack by a group of rats, a martial artist with a chunk of flesh bitten off his leg cursed, "When did ground rats, which usually hide in the dark, dare to attack us in broad daylight? It seems the beast tide is indeed coming, and these beasts are all going mad!"

At this point, almost no one in the group of several dozen martial artists doubted the imminent arrival of the beast tide.

Shang Xi and Yun Yifei exchanged a look and jumped off the Chiyun Beast. Shang Xi shouted, "Injured ones get on the horses first, don't delay the group's progress. If we don't return to Tongyou Peak before the beast tide arrives, you know the consequences!"

There were other patrol riders or martial artists with mounts in the group, and most of them complied, giving up their mounts.

Patrol officer Wu Tinghai, who had somehow joined Shang Xi and Yun Yifei, said, "It's a pity that there is no Fourth Heaven expert on Tongyou Peak now; otherwise, the Tongyou Bell could be rung, and all the academy-born martial artists would receive the warning."

Shang Xi and Yun Yifei were protecting Shang Xia while following him. Hearing Wu Tinghai, Shang Xi said without turning his head, "There's nothing we can do about that. The message has been sent, and they should have received it. Although the Tongyou Bell cannot be rung, the beacon fire on Tongyou Peak should have been lit, and people within dozens of miles can see it."

Yun Yifei added, "We have done our part; the rest is up to fate."

Wu Tinghai sighed but was soon drawn to Shang Xia, who was leading the way with the mutated rain swallows.

"Our outer dormitory chief is likely to earn great merit this time, and it will be a tremendous achievement!"

...

Outside Siling Mountain.

The simultaneous departure of the four Fourth Heaven experts from Tongyou Peak restored the calm to Siling Mountain.

After an unknown amount of time, the figure of Yan Su'e, a Fourth Heaven expert of the Wind Swallow Tribe, appeared outside the protective array of Siling Mountain, seemingly to confirm whether Ji Wenglong and the others had truly left.

However, just as she moved ten feet away from the array, her face suddenly changed. She planted her swallow bone staff and drifted back into the array.

At the same time, a four-colored blade light appeared from behind a few white clouds hundreds of feet away, heading straight for Yan Su'e's back.

This was not the end; a long spear descended from the sky, aiming for Yan Su'e's head.

Although Yan Su'e had just entered the array, she faced a powerful attack from two Fourth Heaven experts, one at the fourth level and another suspected to be at the fourth level. The array was not enough to protect her.

In a critical moment, the old woman could no longer pretend to be injured. She let out a strange cry, and a giant essence energy rain swallow formed behind her, merging with her body, making her look like a bird-headed, winged monster.

"Thud—"

The array of Siling Mountain was first cut open by the four-colored blade light.

Although the array was rapidly repairing itself, the nine points of light on the spear tip merged into one and shot through the opening before it closed.

"Boom—"

The essence energy rain swallow behind Yan Su'e shattered, and the old woman was hit so hard that she spat blood and almost fell from the sky.

The protective array of Siling Mountain, as if just reacting, suddenly glowed brightly, blocking the aftermath of Ji Wenglong and Shang Bo's combined attack.

"Lang Xiaoyun, Ran Bili, you two just stood by and watched me get ambushed!"

Yan Su'e's mournful cry echoed over Siling Mountain.

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Another chapter will be posted tonight.