Chapter 19

A crescent moon hung diagonally in the high sky, casting pale light onto the valley. Waterfalls cascaded down, impacting the lake surface with a deafening roar that echoed through the valley, lingering for a long time.

Solitude accompanied the eerie cold, grandeur accompanied the noise, together composing a unique chapter of the moonlit night in the valley.

Tang Yan hid beneath the waterfall, struggling to resist the immense pressure, and continued to temper his body.

After an unknown period, a warm sensation suddenly spread from his abdomen. Tang Yan's heart stirred, and he reached into his chest with difficulty, touching a nearly forgotten wooden tablet. He channeled his spiritual energy slowly into it, and instantly, the tablet emitted a soft glow. A series of intricate characters appeared in Tang Yan's mind.

Phantom Spirit True!

It was precisely the cultivation method of the Yang family martial technique, 'Phantom Spirit True.'

Away from the waterfall, in the valley, several white figures flew over and stopped at the place where Alinda and others had fought during the day.

An old man in a white cloak, a graceful woman, twenty-five white-clad men with fang masks, and thirteen unconscious teenagers.

They were the mysterious organization from the Giant Elephant Academy.

Zhou Linglu removed her fang mask, revealing a flawless, jade-like face. Under the moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, but no one dared to look at her for long, all lowering their heads in reverence.

"The City of Giant Elephants has intervened in this matter, sending eight powerful martial artists, including two troublesome figures, Tang Qiong, a Tang family retainer, and Wei Hongchen, an elder of the Giant Elephant Academy."

Tang Qiong? Wei Hongchen? The two great Martial Kings of the City of Giant Elephants! The faces of all the white-clad men changed, a hint of shock appearing in their hearts.

These two figures alone were enough to match their hunting team.

The old man's expression also became very serious. "Is the information confirmed?"

"The organization just received the information, which was obtained through the City of Giant Elephants' informants. Uncle Hua, should we terminate the mission? Although the operation had some unexpected issues, we still captured thirteen, and other teams should have made some gains. I think we can end it."

Zhou Linglu suggested a retreat, despite her unwillingness. Who would have thought that the Giant Elephant Academy would act so quickly and with such force, even sending a Martial King, six Great Martial Masters, and alarming the Tang family.

Tang Qiong was one of the old patriarch Tang Yanshan's trusted subordinates and one of the five notorious executioners of the Tang family. He was cruel and powerful, and loyal to Tang Yanshan. If both sides met, with Wei Hongchen tying up Uncle Hua, Tang Qiong, the butcher, had the strength to slaughter them all.

At this point, it wasn't the time to be reckless; they really needed to seriously consider whether to stay or leave.

"Why did Tang Qiong get involved? Just because of the Tang family's Tang Ying? A distant relative, is it worth Tang Yanshan making such a fuss?"

"It's... because of the Tang family's second young master, Tang Yan! He's also in this team." Zhou Linglu's face was somewhat strange and cold when she said this.

"Tang Yan? The rascal you mentioned?"

Zhou Linglu gritted her teeth. "Yes, it's confirmed, it's him! The main reason for our mission's failure is his repeated interference, almost getting me killed. This guy isn't strong, but he's extremely cunning and despicable."

Uncle Hua's brows furrowed. "The Tang family's second young master is a well-known playboy in the City of Giant Elephants and a half-finished product. Are you sure it's him?"

"Uncle Hua can interrogate these students; that rascal is Tang Yan."

Uncle Hua's frown deepened. "A mere Martial Master could make our well-planned operation fail repeatedly. This isn't just due to 'cunning and despicable.' This kid isn't simple. It seems we need to re-investigate the Tang family."

Zhou Linglu reminded again, "Uncle Hua, many students have been rescued by the City of Giant Elephants' mentors, and some have been eaten by the beasts in the forest. The remaining ones, including Tang Yan, might not survive in the deep forest. I suggest..."

"No!" Uncle Hua interrupted, his old face resolute. "You should know that this operation was ordered from above, and we were repeatedly instructed not to expose our true identities. According to what you said, the female mentor might have recognized you, which isn't too serious. The most serious issue is that the rascal took the package. If they join Wei Hongchen and others, things will become very complicated. Not only will we be punished, but it might also alert the royal family, affecting..."

"Uncle Hua, what do you suggest?"

"This matter is serious. I think the female mentor won't dare to speak recklessly. Even if she reports, she'll have to wait until they return to the Giant Elephant Academy and find their principal. As for the Tang family's brat... I don't know why Tang Yanshan favors him, but in matters of family survival, Tang Yanshan needs to make necessary sacrifices."

Zhou Linglu, wise and astute, understood immediately. "Uncle Hua means to pressure the Tang family and the Giant Elephant Academy?"

"We can prepare three plans. First, we continue searching the forest for these few who escaped. Once found, we kill them immediately. Second, find a reason to summon the principal of the Giant Elephant Academy and the old patriarch Tang Yanshan to the capital, cutting off the possibility of the female mentor and Tang Yan reporting to them, then find a suitable opportunity to eliminate Tang Yan and the female mentor. Third, arrange for the organization to dispatch more powerful people to ambush Tang Qiong and Wei Hongchen on their way back to the Giant Elephant Academy, killing everyone and completely covering up the matter.

The second and third plans are dangerous and require detailed planning. Report them to the organization for discussion. If they feel the matter is serious, they might take it seriously. Our current focus is still on the first plan, to capture them as soon as possible before Tang Qiong and others discover them."

"Let's do as Uncle Hua says. I'll arrange for the message to be sent back to the organization. I believe they will accept it."

Uncle Hua gazed at the distant mountains under the night sky. "The Mystic Forest has undulating terrain, ancient trees that block the sky, and extremely similar landscapes and trees. The deeper you go, the easier it is to lose direction. They are fleeing aimlessly, making it more difficult for us to track them."

"I have a suggestion."

"Speak!"

"Fully activate the Water Curtain Heavenly Flower to expand the search range."

Uncle Hua's brows furrowed, showing some hesitation, but he ultimately accepted the suggestion.

Five minutes later, the old man, Uncle Hua, sat cross-legged in the center of the valley. Zhou Linglu and seven other Great Martial Masters stood ten meters away, and the remaining nineteen third-stage Martial Spirits were scattered fifty meters away, sitting in specific positions, forming a strange formation.

"Water Curtain Heavenly Flower..." Uncle Hua closed his eyes and focused, channeling his spiritual energy. White mist enveloped his body, and Zhou Linglu and others also channeled their spiritual energy, forming similar mists around them.

With the full effort of twenty-seven people, white mists formed like activated array points. The valley's natural energy converged towards them, a small part dispersing among the nineteen third-stage Martial Spirits, most gathering around Zhou Linglu and the seven others, and about thirty percent concentrating on Uncle Hua.

As the energy in their bodies gradually filled, the speed of their spiritual energy circulation increased, and the surrounding mists began to spread rapidly.

After a moment of calm, the spiritual energy suddenly surged wildly, and everyone's faces turned pale, their brows furrowed, as if enduring some pain.

The natural energy converged faster, rushing into their bodies, and the white mists filled the entire valley, spreading faster and faster. In just ten minutes, the mists covered a three-kilometer radius and continued to expand.

Within the range of the white mists, every blade of grass, every tree, every rock, and every beast, whether resting or hunting, appeared in the minds of Uncle Hua and others as if in a mirror.

They saw the intertwined ancient trees, the flowing rivers, the beasts fighting, the vigilant mercenaries, and some terrifying beasts awakening.

But they still didn't find the shadows they were looking for.

With a thought from Uncle Hua, all the martial artists in the valley channeled their spiritual energy at full speed, doubling their speed. The mists in the forest continued to expand, from three kilometers to four, and then to five.

The natural energy around the valley accelerated, rushing into their bodies with a forceful impact. A few of the powerful third-stage Martial Spirits struggled to hold on, blood seeping from their seven orifices, their expressions in great pain.

As the mists expanded, the mists in the valley became so thick that they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces, and then...

Splash!!

The mists condensed into droplets, forming water lines like a rain curtain covering the entire valley.

The Water Curtain Heavenly Flower was activated!

The mists in the forest expanded even further!

All the white-clad martial artists were carefully sensing and searching, not missing any blade of grass or any clue. The white mists, light as a feather, could penetrate anywhere without hindrance.

Hmm? Wait!

Uncle Hua's expression suddenly changed, and the white mists in the east gathered towards a certain area. There, a black-clad man with a paper figure on his back was brutally slaughtering several mercenaries. When the mists spread over, it was the moment he killed the last mercenary, using extremely cruel methods.

At the same time, the pale paper figure behind the man suddenly opened its eyes, and a ghostly wail spread out, instantly evaporating the mists within a hundred meters.

The lock on that area fell into darkness.

"That is..." Uncle Hua's brows furrowed deeply, his eyes showing some concern.

The paper figure seemed... alive? It was a dark aura!

Is it him? Ren Tiancang!! How did he come to the Great Zhou Empire, and how did he appear in the Northern Mystic Forest?

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