Chapter 97

Tongyou Peak and Pinxiu Peak.

In recent days, Pinxiu Peak has almost become the focus of the entire Tongyou Peak. Even the beast tide outside Tongyou Peak has not been as captivating as the mutant swallows that have been nesting on Pinxiu Peak.

"They have built nests, they have indeed built nests on our Pinxiu Peak!"

Shang Quan stood at the edge of the peak, looking down at the mutant swallows flying up and down on the cliff below, his face beaming with joy.

Shang Xia gently stroked a swallow, a thread of Two-Principle Essence slowly entering its body. He smiled and said, "Uncle Quan, you've been coming here almost every day for the past few days. How could you not know they would build nests here?"

Shang Quan waved his hand and said, "It's different, it's different! Although these swallows have been circling around Pinxiu Peak for the past few days, they haven't truly chosen a place to build their nests. I was still anxious."

As Shang Xia raised his arm, the swallow on it chirped and flew down the cliff to join the nest-building. Shang Quan continued, "You don't know, the other secondary peaks, even the main peak of Tongyou, have used every means to attract the swallows to build nests there. They've used all sorts of spiritual materials and snacks, even going out to catch insects. It's a real mess, and they don't care about their dignity at all!"

Shang Xia waved his hand, and soon another swallow landed on his arm. He smiled and said, "This isn't surprising. After all, it's about treasures like the Jin Yun Box and the Qian Kun Bag. Everyone is envious, and they all want to attract the swallow flock to their territory."

Shang Quan also said, "It's more than that! The early detection of the beast tide is all thanks to these swallows. And during the return to Tongyou Peak, you led everyone to avoid so many dangers. Do you think the others are blind?"

Shang Xia again gently stroked the swallow, transferring a thread of Two-Principle Essence into its body. He said, "There are plenty of birds in the Two-Worlds Battle Zone, and some are even more powerful than mutant swallows. They can go catch them themselves."

Shang Quan sneered, "If they could catch them, do you think the others have been eating for free in the Two-Worlds Battle Zone for the past twenty years? The bloodline of the Four Spirits Mountain Wind Swallow Tribe has declined to the point of near civil war."

Shang Xia sighed, "Unfortunately, the mutant swallow flock was hunted by wolf eagles and later swallowed by a giant snake. Dozens of them died. In the past few days, those that should have returned have been found by the thunderbird, leaving only about a hundred and twenty left."

Shang Quan also sighed, "Indeed, it's a great pity! The collection of swallow down was already very slow, and now it will be even slower!"

Shang Xia was speechless, but he suddenly remembered, "I remember that Yun Yifei seemed to have caught a wolf eagle when we returned to Tongyou Peak a few days ago?"

"Dead!"

Shang Quan said with a mocking tone, "The Yun family's intentions are almost written on a sign on Yuxi Peak! Unfortunately, the wolf eagle stopped eating and died after entering Tongyou Peak."

Shang Xia raised an eyebrow and said without any emotion, "What a pity!"

Seeing Shang Quan standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down, Shang Xia suddenly asked, "Uncle Quan, many people have come to Pinxiu Peak in the past few days, right?"

Shang Quan turned and smiled, "You already know?"

Shang Xia gently patted the back of the swallow, signaling it to leave, then patted the feathers that had fallen on his clothes and stood up. "In the past few days, while I have been adjusting their chaotic essence and calming their emotions, and also helping the thunderbird guide the lost swallows back, I'm not deaf or blind. I can still feel such obvious scrutiny."

"It's not really scrutiny. They just look from a distance, not wanting to disturb you while you gather the mutant swallows from outside Tongyou Peak."

Shang Quan explained and smiled, "After the news of the mutant swallow down spread, the craftsmen on Tongyou Peak went crazy, all wanting to see these swallows. Of course, the appearance of the thunderbird is also very attractive, and some people are interested in its feathers. Don't forget that the cultivation secret technique of 'Mixed Yuan Thunderhand' was provided by you to the academy!"

Shang Xia snorted, "Are these people so idle? The beast tide outside Tongyou Peak hasn't retreated. Why don't they go out and hunt some fierce beasts?"

Shang Quan laughed, "Don't worry, the family will handle these things and won't bother you."

Shang Xia was still not satisfied, "These people's intentions are not just that. They must also want to understand how I tamed the entire mutant swallow flock and why these swallows follow me into Tongyou Peak!"

This time, Shang Quan did not speak.

To be honest, in the past few days, the Shang family has also been under some invisible pressure regarding the mutant swallows.

If Shang Xia had only brought back one swallow at first, it could be explained as a coincidence.

But then, Shang Xia not only maintained basic communication with the thunderbird but also used it to control the entire mutant swallow flock, gathering intelligence, and avoiding dangers. Many people have seen this.

More importantly, in the case of the beast tide, all the birds and beasts in the Two-Worlds Battle Zone should have gone mad, but the swallow flock following Shang Xia did not.

To be more precise, the mutant swallows initially showed signs of madness but were calmed by Shang Xia, avoiding the influence of the beast tide!

This is quite intriguing!

After returning to Tongyou Peak, Shang Xia no longer concealed his ability to neutralize the influence of the beast tide on the mutant swallows.

In the past few days, he has been calming the swallows' anxious emotions on the peak, making it clear that he is using his own essence to counteract the effects of the beast tide.

So, what is special about the Two-Principle Essence that Shang Xia cultivates? Why does it have such a miraculous effect?

Is his ability to neutralize the influence of the beast tide limited to mutant swallows, or can it be applied to all fierce birds and beasts?

Is his ability to tame the entire mutant swallow flock also due to the special nature of his essence?

Can this method be generalized?

In the Two-Worlds Battle Zone, one-third of the dangers come from the foreign martial artists of the Cang Ling realm, and one-third come from the fierce birds and beasts lurking in various places.

If Shang Xia's method can be generalized, even if only to a small extent, the annual casualties of Tongyou Peak in the Two-Worlds Battle Zone would be greatly reduced!

The Two-Worlds Battle Zone has been open for twenty years, and all the creatures here, whether they encounter martial artists from Cang Yu or Cang Ling, are indistinguishable and relentless in their attacks!

The only achievement so far is that the World Affairs Department has used a few pigeons from outside the boundary to breed some hybrid pigeons that can transmit messages between Tongyou Peak and Tongyou City, but only for message transmission.

All of this has made some people very curious about Shang Xia!

If it weren't for the protection of the academy's higher-ups and Shang Bo's display of power during the battle on Tongyou Peak, the pressure on Pinxiu Peak might be even greater.

In fact, not only are others suspicious, but Shang Xia himself is also unsure of the reason.

He initially thought it was due to the "Three Profound Two-Principle Art," but he quickly dismissed this idea.

Although the "Three Profound Two-Principle Art" is extremely difficult to cultivate, it is not unique to the academy.

At least Shang Xia knows that Jia Yuntian, the steward who is secretly in the academy, cultivates this art.

Another possibility is the Taiji diagram in Shang Xia's dantian, but he cannot verify this himself.

Additionally, don't forget that Shang Xia advanced to the Two-Principle Realm under the dual illumination of the sun and moon, finding inspiration from the celestial energy.

Does this ritualistic advancement also trigger a change in his essence?

Or perhaps, all these possibilities combined to give his essence this unique change?

If so, the special nature of Shang Xia's Two-Principle Essence is full of randomness and uncertainty, and others cannot replicate it.

"But the problem is, others have to believe what you say!"

Shang Quan could only shake his head, but he still smiled, "But who doesn't have secrets in their cultivation? No one will force you on this, at least not openly."

Shang Xia nodded, understanding his uncle's meaning: open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against!

"Let's not talk about this, it's annoying!"

Shang Xia changed the subject and smiled at his uncle, "Uncle Quan, since I brought back the mutant swallow flock, does the family have any rewards?"

"Knew you wouldn't forget this!"

Shang Quan first laughed and scolded, but then flipped his wrist, and a jade token flew toward Shang Xia.

Shang Xia caught the jade token and felt the essence in his palm, saying, "Another third-stage martial token?"

Shang Quan was dissatisfied, "What do you mean 'another'? Do you think third-stage martial tokens are cabbages? This is a third-stage 'Suspended Spear' martial token, sealed with a thread of Uncle Ke's martial will. Its power is not inferior to a fully accomplished Martial Realm martial artist's attack, and it can save your life in a critical moment!"

Shang Xia knew the power of third-stage martial tokens. A martial token from his aunt Shang Xi once helped him avoid continuous attacks from the Martial Realm martial artist Sang Youqi on the iron chain bridge.

Shang Xi was only at the first layer of the Martial Realm, while Shang Ke had reached the third layer, almost at the threshold of the