Lin Sheng shook his head slightly as he watched Shui Zhi, Bai Can, and the third person burst into the cave. He understood that the commotion caused by his seclusion must have been considerable.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Lin Sheng said with a smile.
However, in the eyes of Shui Zhi and the other two, he looked far from fine.
Not only was Lin Sheng’s face pale, but the exposed skin still bore faint, un-dissipated greenish-black Texture, and the aura emanating from him was quite weak, looking as if he was seriously injured.
“We brought a lot of Medicinal Pills for healing this time, do you want some…?”
Bai Can asked hesitantly.
“No need. How long have I been in seclusion?”
Lin Sheng shook his head and asked.
“Uh… about three days.”
“Three days?”
Hearing this answer, Lin Sheng’s face showed a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected to stay in the cave for so long.
No wonder the three couldn’t sit still.
“We’ve been delayed for quite a while. Let’s pack up and get ready to depart.”
Lin Sheng instructed, and the three immediately responded, turning to leave the cave to make arrangements.
Half an hour later, the convoy was already passing through the forest at the foot of the small mountain.
In the rearmost carriage, Lin Sheng sat cross-legged, feeling the energy within his body.
This extremely pure energy, in his perception, was somewhat similar to the energy refined from miscellaneous blood after the Heavenly Serpent Bone Exchange Secret Method.
However, the difference was that this energy could specifically strengthen his body according to his will, unlike the Heavenly Serpent Bone Exchange which improved in different directions depending on the Realm of Breakthrough.
Compared to that, he still preferred the energy after shedding the demonic remains.
Although he could clearly feel this energy within his body now, there wasn’t much of it.
The reason was that shedding the demonic remains also required time.
As time passed, the energy of the demonic remains would gradually be digested.
Since he had decided to focus on his Physique, this energy continuously integrated into his muscles, slowly strengthening them.
Now, the amplification effects of the Heavenly Gifted Spiritual Spring and Tianluo Divine Drink had significantly weakened compared to before his seclusion, and were probably about to be exhausted.
“I wonder if I can increase my attributes a bit more before they are completely depleted?”
Lin Sheng muttered to himself.
At this moment, his body was constantly growing stronger every second. He had to admit, this feeling was quite captivating.
Seven days later.
After crossing rugged mountain roads, a sizable city appeared in their sight.
A dozen dust-covered riders stood by the roadside, looking at the distant city.
“Bai Lu City is here. We’ve left the Northern Wilderness and are now in the Northern Lands.”
Shui Zhi held a map, comparing it to the city ahead, and said with a smile.
“Finally! After walking for so long, we’re finally going to enter a city.”
Bai Can shook his head, a smile on his face.
It wasn’t just them; almost everyone in the convoy was in high spirits upon seeing Bai Lu City in the distance.
During their days in the Northern Wilderness, to avoid unnecessary trouble, they mostly traveled through mountains or small paths, passing through countless desolate places. Eventually, for convenience, they even abandoned their carriages, keeping only their mounts for travel.
Humans are, after all, social creatures. Being in the mountains for a long time was still a bit awkward.
Of course, Lin Sheng was an exception.
No matter where he was, he spent most of his time immersed in cultivation, paying little attention to the outside world.
A single seclusion for cultivation would last several days, so in his view, time passed very quickly, and he didn’t waste much effort, but rather gained a lot.
“Young Master, there’s an organization stronghold in Bai Lu City. Let’s stay there for now.”
Bai Can rode to the back of the team and said to Lin Sheng.
“Alright.”
Lin Sheng opened his eyes, glanced at the so-called Bai Lu City, and nodded in agreement.
He didn’t care about these trivial matters. At this moment, most of his attention was focused on himself.
Over seven days, the energy accumulated in his body after shedding the demonic remains grew, and the efficiency of improving his Physique also sped up considerably.
Although there were still no substantial changes, Lin Sheng could feel that his body seemed to have subtly touched a Bottleneck and was slowly trying to break through it.
Soon, dust flew as a dozen riders galloped towards the distant city.
Half an hour later.
With the pre-arranged reception, the group smoothly entered the city.
Bai Lu City, Fengrui Pharmacy, backyard.
“Bai Lu City stronghold leader, Hidden Star Envoy Bai Shu, greets the esteemed sirs.”
A short, stout middle-aged man, smelling of herbs, respectfully bowed deeply to Lin Sheng, Shui Zhi, and the others.
“Rise.”
Lin Sheng’s gaze fell on the man as he spoke calmly.
Five layers of Bones Transformation cultivation, not bad.
After all, in Southern Qi, the Dark Star rarely operated, and the number of stationed personnel was pitifully small. To have such cultivation was already beyond his expectation.
“First, prepare a few guest rooms and food, then present the specific situation of the strongholds here in Southern Qi.”
“Yes, sir, Bai Shu has already arranged everything.”
Bai Shu looked up, glanced at Shui Zhi, Bai Can, and Jin Yang, then his gaze fell on Lin Sheng, a bright smile on his face, and he respectfully responded.
Clearly, this young man in front of him was the highest-ranking person in the group.
However, after just one stick of incense, food was already prepared in the side hall of the pharmacy’s backyard.
Lin Sheng looked at the intelligence report of the Southern Qi strongholds in his hand, his gaze quickly scanning over it, then he nodded slightly.
“I didn’t expect Southern Qi to have so many personnel. There are actually ten Hidden Star Envoys.”
According to the intelligence, the Dark Star had five strongholds in Southern Qi.
Each stronghold was guarded by two Hidden Star Envoys, while each had roughly ten Gray Star Envoys, and the number of Star Apprentices below them was even greater.
Although these people were not powerful experts, many things didn’t require strong forces to accomplish.
These strongholds had been in Southern Qi for twenty to thirty years and had already established themselves.
According to Luo Yin’s intention, if Southern Qi was to be used as a retreat, it needed to be well-planned, preferably far from the front lines, and also consider local forces.
For example, Western Xinjiang, where the Tianluo Sect was located, normal people would generally not choose that place.
Lin Sheng handed the intelligence report to Bai Can beside him, just as he was about to discuss specific matters with the others.
Bai Shu rushed in, speaking as he ran.
“Sirs, there’s… there’s a messenger bird from the organization!”
“Young Master, I’ll go see.”
Shui Zhi immediately got up, his figure flashing, and he was already outside the courtyard. Soon, he returned with a message tube in his hand.
“Young Master, it’s a message from Divine Lord Luo Yin.”
As he spoke, he handed the message tube to Lin Sheng.
Opening the bamboo tube, it contained two letters.
Lin Sheng’s gaze swept over them. One was addressed to him, and the other had the name Huyan Ji written on it. Unlike previous letters, these two letters each bore a dark green leaf emblem.
This dark green leaf emblem represented Li Shenjun.
Clearly, these two letters were written by his Master.
He paused at the name Huyan Ji, then directly opened the letter addressed to him.
【To My Disciple: There are three islands in the Misty Sea Area outside Donghai Prefecture in Southern Qi that can be developed as a retreat for the organization; also, take the second letter to Huyan Ji. If you encounter trouble, you can seek his help.】
The letter contained little content, only a few sentences and some location coordinates.
He handed the letter to Shui Zhi, his gaze falling on Bai Shu as he asked,
“Do you know about a Misty Sea Area outside Donghai Prefecture?”
“Reporting, sir, this subordinate is not aware of it, but there is a stronghold within Donghai Prefecture that should know about the Misty Sea Area you mentioned.”
Bai Shu immediately replied respectfully.
“What about Huyan Ji? Do you know this person?”
Upon hearing Huyan Ji’s name, Bai Shu’s body trembled, and he said hesitantly,
“Does sir refer to Supreme General Huyan Ji of the Nanqi Military Department?”
“Supreme General?” Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
Bai Can interjected at this point.
“Young Master, Huyan Ji is a Master second only to the Military God Tang Zhong in the Nanqi Military Department. Many years ago, he was already a Three Realms Grandmaster.”
“A Three Realms Grandmaster, no wonder…”
Hearing this, Lin Sheng nodded.
By now, Shui Zhi and the other two had each read the letter, and their faces were filled with surprise.
“Young Master, what do we do next?”
Shui Zhi put down the letter and looked at Lin Sheng.
“Since Master has sent a message, regarding the acquisition of properties in Southern Qi, you, Shui Zhi, will be responsible for the islands. First, find their location based on the coordinates, and then we’ll make arrangements for the subsequent development.”
“Alright.” Shui Zhi responded readily.
“As for delivering the letter, I can go myself.” Lin Sheng quickly made arrangements.
Shui Zhi had been in Donghai Prefecture before and was quite familiar with maritime affairs, so it was a suitable choice for him to handle this matter.
Regarding the letter delivery, judging from the tone of the letter, Li Shenjun and this Southern Qi Supreme General should be acquainted, otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned seeking his help if they encountered trouble.
As a disciple of a Divine Lord, it was only natural for him to deliver it personally.
They did not stay long in Bai Lu City.
After just one night, Lin Sheng departed the next day with Jin Yang, Bai Can, Nong Yu, and a few Hidden Star Envoys, heading towards the front-line military department.
As for Shui Zhi, he led the other few directly to Donghai Prefecture.
Although the message this time didn’t reveal much, Lin Sheng keenly sensed that the Dark Star’s situation in Northern Yan was likely more severe than he had imagined.
It might even be that they didn’t have much hope for Southern Qi, otherwise, they wouldn’t have given up Southern Qi as a retreat and chosen desolate islands at sea instead.
As for the other letter to Huyan Ji, he didn’t open it to check, but he could roughly guess its content, probably urging Southern Qi to put pressure on Northern Yan.
“I wonder what the situation is like in Northern Yan?”
Lin Sheng murmured to himself.
Time flowed quietly, and in a blink of an eye, another three days passed.
Northern Yan.
Huanghai Road, Hanhai City, City Lord’s Mansion.
Bang—
Xiahou Qi crushed a scarlet Medicinal Pill in his hand and casually sprinkled it into the pond in front of him.
The fragrance emanating from the top-grade Medicinal Pill immediately drew out countless finger-length sea fish, resembling loaches but with long whiskers, from the calm surface of the pond, fiercely vying for it.
At a glance, these loach-like sea fish were tightly packed together on the water surface, densely numbering over a hundred.
Although these sea fish were small, they exuded a strong aura, all of them being high-level Spirit Beasts.
However, their aura appeared extremely violent and chaotic.
Under the stimulation of the Medicinal Pills, these sea fish frantically competed, and soon, several Medicinal Pills were snatched clean, but the competition did not end there.
Instead, their target shifted from the Medicinal Pills to the minority of their kind who had swallowed the Medicinal Pills.
In just over ten breaths, blood stained the pond.
Seeing this scene, Xiahou Qi’s face showed a hint of a smile.
Scarlet patterns flickered on both sides of his cheeks, and several long whiskers grew between his jowls, slowly swaying.
He turned around, his gaze falling on several figures in the small courtyard.
“I don’t care about Heishui Dao and Grand Capital City itself, but in Huanghai and Fulong Tao, I want no Dark Star personnel left alive. Do you understand?”
Hearing Xiahou Qi’s words, the faces of the several figures in the courtyard varied. Besides Xiahou Qi, there were six people in the courtyard. The aura on these six people was hidden but unreleased, yet each of them gave a profound and unfathomable feeling. They were all Grandmaster Realm experts, and Three-Eyed Rakshasa Xiang Kong was prominently among them.
“City Lord Xiahou, that Green Robe Divine Lord has always been in Fulong Tao, plus Luo Yin, Yu Mian Chan, and others, it might be difficult to achieve that, especially that Green Robe Divine Lord. Who would have thought he was hiding his strength…”
It was Xiang Kong who spoke. He clasped his hands together, as if recalling an unpleasant memory, his words tinged with difficulty.
“Hmph, what about that old geezer? Last time, this City Lord was careless. This time is different. If I meet him again, I will definitely avenge my previous humiliation.”
Xiahou Qi snorted coldly, the scarlet patterns on both sides of his cheeks solidified, and a bloodthirsty glint flickered in his eyes.
“Besides, he’s just a useless person who’s sometimes good and sometimes bad. What’s there to be wary of!?”
Last time, he, Xiang Kong, and another Grandmaster expert ambushed Luo Yin and the other two. Although the three escaped, they were severely wounded.
Afterward, Xiang Kong and the other Grandmaster tracked the three, while he remained in Fulong Tao, waiting for the fish to enter the net.
Unexpectedly, an unexpectedly large fish arrived.
Also a Peak Three Realms Grandmaster, he was completely no match for him. This situation made him both shocked and angry, and in the end, he could only leave unwillingly.
From embarking on the Martial Dao until now, he had rarely suffered defeat for hundreds of years.
He never expected to lose to a madman, which he naturally couldn’t accept.
So, he simply absorbed the preparations he had originally made for Breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster Realm.
Although he couldn’t Breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster, his strength had significantly improved compared to before.
Of course, this was not without cost.
He caressed the long whiskers swaying between his jowls, his gaze cold as a blade.
“Li Shenjun!! And the one who ruined my great plan, just wait, this City Lord will repay it a hundredfold…”
*
*
Whoosh—
A muffled horn blast sounded from the city wall.
Heavily armored soldiers with spears lined up, forming a military formation.
Behind the military formation, soldiers holding crossbows had already raised them, pointing diagonally into the sky.
And in front of the military formation, ferocious and violent Beast Transformation Warriors surged forward like wild beasts.
“Fire—!”
The horn sound ceased, followed by a muffled roar.
Amidst the urgent and dense sounds of breaking wind, arrows with scarlet fire light rained down from the sky like a fiery downpour.