Our Discord Server: .gg/PazjBDkTmW
In the peach blossom forest.
Hundreds of elderly soldiers, with their weapons in hand, were training in combat skills among the trees.
Even though they were no longer soldiers of Great Yan, years of military training had beco instinctive in their blood. Hundreds of people ford battle formations, charging and fighting in an orderly manner, showing great discipline.
This was a silent army, with no one speaking, but they cooperated seamlessly with each other.
On the other side, dozens of martial artists sat quietly under the trees, not speaking. The forest was quiet, but their eyes t frequently, so smiled, so pondered, each with different expressions.
Several ters away, a three-ter-high wild boar, the size of an elephant, had been cut into pieces and was being roasted over the bonfire, filling the air with the scent of at.
When Qiao Mu returned to Peach Blossom Villa, this was the scene he encountered.
"After spending about a month in Taotie City, they have mastered the Spiritual Sound Conducting Technique," Qiao Mu nodded.
"Is Mr. Qiao back?"
"Senior Qiao?"
Several voices could be heard, so near the ears, while others were transmitted through the Spiritual Sound Conducting Technique, directly appearing in Qiao Mu’s mind.
After half a month, the people at Peach Blossom Villa had slightly improved their martial arts skills compared to before, but the difference was not significant.
However, they all seed to be in good spirits, with abundant energy and vitality.
After all, practicing martial arts takes ti and effort.
So of them had made progress in their martial arts, with a few breaking through to a higher level, mainly due to their previous accumulation of skills.
"Is this wild boar… a monster?" Qiao Mu glanced at it.
Hai Siyuan handed over a freshly roasted large piece of at on a stick, smiling and saying, "Being located amidst the mountains here, unlike the large cities like Linhe City, it’s inevitable to encounter monster attacks."
"Has this mansion been attacked by the monster?" Qiao Mu asked casually.
In the mansion, there are currently three hundred white-headed soldiers, and dozens or hundreds of skilled fighters from the Southwest Province.
Although there are no exceptional martial artists among them, not to ntion ordinary monsters, even powerful demons would be defeated.
"One week ago, a monster did attack, but not this one," Hai Siyuan chuckled.
"The taste of the wolf demon from a week ago was quite good… After tasting the flavor of monsters, many brave individuals have volunteered to go hunting these days."
These veteran soldiers have all gotten stronger, looking completely different from their weak and thin selves in the Hundred-mile Desert.
The most significant change is seen in Hai Siyuan and Li Changshi.
Li Changshi, over eighty years old, had half of his face damaged by Etching Bones Li Fire. Due to longstanding injuries from battles, he could no longer go to war in his old age.
However, at this mont, he looks rejuvenated, with fewer wrinkles on his damaged face.
"Why does it seem like everyone advances quicker in their practice of the ‘Human Path Sutra’ than ?" Qiao Mu thought to himself.
But then he felt at peace with it.
These old soldiers were not your usual martial artists.
As for Qiao Mu?
Ignoring talents, pioneers naturally don’t progress as fast as those who co later along the path.
When Hai Wuya spent thirty years studying at heavenly prison, he only managed to return from the 9th rank to the 7th rank…
"Enough chit-chat, now that you’re back. Let’s talk through martial arts first."
Qiao Mu didn’t say much either, he didn’t even enter the manor, just sat under the peach tree and began discussing martial arts.
During his trip to Taotie City, he was just getting so food for the fat cat, but ended up eting Qing Li. Over these days, he gained a new understanding of ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’. ??????ǒ??Ε??
Qing Li wished to learn from her teacher and had no intention of keeping any secrets.
"In this world of martial arts, there are techniques that rely on physical strength and techniques that focus on inner strength…" Qiao Mu started teaching martial arts under a tree.
Soon, the white-headed soldiers and martial artists from the rivers and lakes gathered around.
Only the fat cat nad Impermanence jumped off Qiao Mu’s shoulder. It showed no interest and lazily sunbathed under the peach blossom tree.
With a gentle breeze, the tree branches swayed, and sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the fat cat. It lay there lazily, stretching out its paws to groom itself, appearing very relaxed.
For so reason, as Qiao Mu watched the fat cat grooming itself, he suddenly felt a rare sense of peace in his heart…
"Hmm?" He quickly noticed the slight change in his mood and then looked around at the crowd.
Indeed, he saw others also experiencing a subtle change, with relaxed brows, a sense of peace, and a strong spirit.
For so reason, there seed to be a subtle force at work, soothing the minds and spirits of those in the peach blossom forest, making them more focused and giving them a sense of calmness.
Qiao Mu furrowed his brow and then focused his eyes on the chubby cat licking its fur at his feet.
After so thought, he reached out and stroked the chubby cat a few tis, feeling its smooth and silky fur, which surprisingly made him feel relaxed and content.
"You mischievous little sprite, you really know how to charm the heart…" Qiao Mu jokingly scolded.
Initially, he wondered if this chubby cat, who had eaten the Gold Ingot Demon’s demon body, might turn into a lucky cat that brings wealth.
But now, it seed to have inherited the Gold Ingot Demon’s ability to charm people’s hearts.
Thinking back carefully, when Qiao Mu was imprisoned in Nan Province Heyang City, this chubby cat often accompanied the dying prisoners and indeed provided so comfort to their spirits.
However, after consuming the Gold Ingot Demon, this ability was enhanced, now subtly influencing a large circle of people around, including Qiao Mu, who was a skilled martial artist.
The essence of "charming the heart" is to disturb others’ emotions and spirits.
In the capricious hands, this ability seed to have a different purpose.
"In the future, don’t make a fuss about becoming a Cat Worshipper." Qiao Mu playfully ssed up the fur of a chubby cat by petting it in the opposite direction, then sat beside it watching the cat frantically lick its fur, feeling his mood improve.
After half an hour, Qiao Mu finished his martial arts practice, but Long Shankong and other martial artists ca up.
"Senior Qiao, we are here to bid farewell," said Long Shankong.
Earlier, these travelers from the Jianghu were injured in a battle at Xishan Village, with their initial intention being to treat their injuries at Peach Blossom Villa.
Who knew that staying there for so ti, they were drawn to Qiao Mu’s martial arts teachings under the tree, and their injuries unknowingly healed.
Although they wanted to stay longer, these travelers all had families, friends, and sects. If they quietly settled in this mountain villa, they might be mistaken for dead and had to eventually leave.
"It’s up to you to stay or go. I just have one request, a kind of reward for all the martial arts teaching these days, do sothing for ," said Qiao Mu.
"If Senior Qiao asks, we will definitely do it," everyone said.
"In the future, if you make progress in your learning…" Qiao Mu began.
"If the martial arts learned at Peach Blossom Villa are spread to disciples or fellow martial brothers in the sect, it’s better than letting them go to waste," he added.
Long Shankong and the others were first surprised, then they all felt sothing stir within their hearts.
How co the rules of this Qiao family mber are different from the traditional prestigious clans.
The prestigious clans treasure their martial arts skills and rarely pass them on to outsiders. Even if an outsider disciple learns it occasionally, they hardly ever pass on the true essence of it.
Even if one receives the true essence, they must vow to never disclose the skills, otherwise if everyone in the clan mastered them, it would lose its value.
…………..
Half a day later, in a teahouse in Linhe City.
Long Shankong and several martial arts experts sat in the teahouse hall, preparing to gather information by eavesdropping on the conversations of the other patrons.
After staying at Peach Blossom Villa to recuperate for over half a month, Long Shankong’s first priority when the martial artists from the jianghu erged was to inquire about the latest happenings in the Southwest Province, so as not to fall behind.
When they arrived at the teahouse, they found the lobby empty, with few custors chatting.
Moreover, the pedestrians on the street were walking hurriedly, with anxious expressions.
"Why is everyone looking so anxious? It’s written all over their faces, isn’t it?" said the familiar teahouse owner.
"The Feather King Army is about to arrive, and in a few days, they will be at our doorstep. Can you bla them for being panicked?"
"But you martial artists have your skills, so there’s no need to be too alard," the teahouse owner shook his head and said.
"The Lord of the Manor has issued a recruitnt order in the city, enlisting local volunteers to defend the city. Even you martial artists are welco," the teahouse owner added.
Typically, the court officials had little regard for the common martial world, but this ti their attitude had changed.
"This is quite rare… But, are there really people willing to go?" Long Shankong asked in amazent.
"How many people are actually going?" another custor in the lobby chid in.
"The Feather King Army is much more famous than the royal court here in Linhe City, the largest city in Southwest Province. The taxes are quite high here, not to ntion taking care of those divine animals…I an, taking care of those sacred bulls and horses."
Other tea drinkers also nodded in agreent.
Even though the Feather King Army has its secrets, it can’t be worse than the Great Yan Imperial Court, right?
"Are you local martial artists from the martial world?" A tea drinker in the hall examined Long Shankong and the others and asked.
"Recently, there was a lot of talk about the legacy manual ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’ left behind by the Spear Saint. If you are part of the martial world, you must have heard about it too, right?" they inquired.
"Yes, that’s true," Long Shankong replied.
"I heard…," the tea drinker inquired, "that the descendants of the Spear Saint were all wiped out? They say a group of martial artists raided Xishan Village, took the ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear,’ and slaughtered everyone, leaving no survivors. Is this true?"
Long Shankong blinked in surprise and said, "Is that so? Who told you such a thing?"
"Well, this rumor is spreading everywhere in the city… If it weren’t for the imminent arrival of the Feather King Army, these teahouses and taverns would probably be discussing this non-stop…"
In the past, the Spear Saint was a respected and honorable person. Who would have thought that his descendants would bring trouble upon themselves by inviting danger into their ho?" The tea guest sighed.
Long Shankong and the others didn’t argue, but instead subtly tried to find out where the tea guest had heard the information from.
When they left the teahouse, they felt heavy-hearted, no longer as carefree and peaceful as they were at the mountain villa.
"Obviously, soone is spreading rumors," Long Shankong whispered.
"Compared to a martial artist who inherited the Spear Saint’s teachings and selflessly passed on the Spear Saint’s book ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’ to others… a group of martial artists invading Xishan Village to steal the secrets, this incident has surely captured the public’s attention."
As for these people involved clarifying the situation?
Long Shankong didn’t even consider it.
Regarding the Xishan Village incident, apart from their group of survivors, there are also cultivators from the Yunxiao Sect.
It’s clear that a mber of the Qiao family wouldn’t spread such rumors, so the source of this rumor is probably…
"Whoever clarifies, is like revealing their identity, maybe an Immortal Gate cultivator will co knocking soon." Long Shankong said helplessly:
"We are being unfairly blad, and we can’t argue back…"
……………….
Xishan Village.
This mountain village halfway up the mountain, is now deserted, the whole village empty.
Qing Li walked around this mountain village, holding the Feather King mask in her hand, her face showing little emotion, just walking by herself, neither fast nor slow.
She walked from one end of the village to the other, and back, without saying a word, just unconsciously slowing down her pace.
The mountain wind blew, and the loose wooden door slamd shut, making a loud noise.
The mountain wind ca again, the wooden door slowly creaked open, the creaking sound echoing far in the mountains.
Qing Li looked at the wooden cabin and felt sothing strange, she started walking faster without realizing it.
As she approached the door, a squirrel suddenly ran out of the house in a panic, disappearing into the bushes in the blink of an eye.
Qing Li looked up and saw a portrait of Spear Saint and an ancestral tablet hanging in the hall of the house. The half-lted candles on both sides were crooked and moldy spots had appeared on the white buns placed in front of them.
Qing Li remained silent, squeezing the mask in her hand unconsciously until her knuckles turned slightly white.
She walked up to the ancestral tablet of Spear Saint and threw the Feather King mask to the ground, shattering it with a stomp.
"At this point, whether I am called ‘Feather King’ or ‘Qing Li’, what’s the difference?" she said slowly to the portrait.
"Feather King…." a figure appeared at the door behind her, it was her loyal follower, Jade Carp.
Jade Carp’s expression showed so sympathy. Since Feather King had taken off the mask and co to Xishan Village, the identity she had been hiding was no longer a secret.
The reputation of Demon Spear Qin Li was well-known, and so was that of Feather King.
"It’s ti to go," said Feather King slowly. "Within three days, the army must reach Linhe City."
"And about Qiao Pian… I heard that he lives in a villa near the capital, teaching martial arts."
"Feather King," Jade Carp sounded a bit anxious.
"The matter of Xishan Village seems to be complicated. The Qiao family mbers have always been honest, it’s unlikely they would wipe out the entire Xishan Village for a manual."
"In my opinion, there may be soone else behind this…"
Jade Carp kept analyzing non-stop beside him, and Qing Li didn’t interrupt her, just listened quietly until she finished speaking before speaking:
"Jade Carp, don’t think I’m too foolish." She turned around and walked down the mountain:
"It’s ti to go to war."
Reviews
All reviews (0)