Xiao Hongxiao stepped with small hurried strides, catching up to Shen Chonghong and then slowed down, following behind him.

“Where are we going now?”

Seeing that he continued walking silently, Xiao Hongxiao couldn’t help but find a topic to talk about.

The figure in front suddenly stopped and turned, and Xiao Hongxiao nearly bumped right into his chest.

After halting her steps, realizing the distance between them was a bit too close, Xiao Hongxiao hurriedly stepped back two paces, a little shy and at a loss.

“You didn’t bring any magical artifacts?”

Shen Chonghong glanced at her and spoke.

“Hmm?”

“Magical artifacts… I brought them!”

With a flash of light from Xiao Hongxiao’s hand, she produced two curved sabers gleaming with cold light.

Seeing this, Shen Chonghong was somewhat surprised.

He did not expect that the Hundred Refinements Valley, which other cultivators regarded as poor, would provide a storage bag to a disciple at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

“Are we heading straight to hunt demon beasts now?”

Xiao Hongxiao asked, gripping her double sabers with doubt.

“No rush, we must first gather our people.”

…

The current number of cultivators in the Shen Family had reached over seventy, but some were spread across the four cities for defense. For this demon hunting, not many cultivators could be dispatched, and other forces were needed.

Leading Xiao Hongxiao to the Clan Court, Shen Chonghong found Lu Zhiyuan and briefly explained the demon beast invasion.

Lu Zhiyuan nodded and looked at Mu Chang and Mu Yan beside him.

Both of them had reached the late stage of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and at their rate of improvement, they should soon achieve the Realm of Perfection.

If they could find compatible innate spiritual qi by then, the Shen Family could have two more Fetal Breathing cultivators.

“You two will now be under the command of the young master.” Lu Zhiyuan said solemnly.

Mu Chang and Mu Yan slightly bowed with folded hands.

With the people gathered, Shen Chonghong didn’t delay, directly instructing the two to rally all the Barbarian Race young men captured during the past assault on the Hundred Beasts Mountain Water Smoke Stone Vein.

During that time, a total of nine Barbarian Race cultivators and over two thousand Barbarian people were captured at Water Smoke Stone Vein.

The family kept a thousand strong men, while the remaining thousand were divided among several large affiliated clans.

Over the years, a thousand strong Barbarian Race individuals have been trained by cultivators like Wu Yi.

Mu Chang and Mu Yan were the nominal commanders of this Barbarian Race unit.

When the Clan Court conducted audits and inspections of each affiliated clan, they would dispatch some from this unit to accompany them.

The two took their orders and left, bowing as they did.

About a quarter of an hour later, seven hundred Barbarian soldiers, clad in sturdy armor and wearing grimacing masks, exuding a dense evil qi, rushed to the entrance of the Clan Court.

Upon arrival, these Barbarian soldiers quickly formed into ranks and respectfully shouted:

“Greetings, young master!”

Suddenly seeing these warriors akin to humanoid fierce beasts, Shen Chonghong felt a bit astonished, his eyes flashing with a sharp gleam!

Due to their bloodline, these Barbarian soldiers were intrinsically stronger than the average people of Yu Country.

Shortly after arriving at the Shen Family, Shen Wenxing, considering their special physique, imparted to these Barbarians the first volume of his own Body Refining Technique, the “Azure Dragon Force.”

Having received the Body Refining Technique for years, these Barbarian people’s strength had greatly improved.

“Young master.”

“Two commanders.”

Nine from Wu Yi’s group stepped out from the ranks, approached Shen Chonghong and the others, and respectfully cupped their fists.

Shen Chonghong nodded, saying, “I remember this unit originally had a thousand people. Why are there only these left now?”

With braids atop his head, Wu Yi turned around, glanced at those soldiers, and answered while bowing: “Reporting to the young master, after the family head imparted the Body Refining Technique, we often led them into the mountains to battle wild beasts and demon beasts.”

“Unless facing demon beasts, to temper their will and awaken their potential, the lads fought with bare hands, without armor or weapons.”

“Over the years, those three hundred lads either died in battle or were left injured or disabled.”

“These remaining seven hundred warriors survived from countless fierce battles.”

Shen Chonghong’s heart trembled slightly as he slowly walked toward these Barbarian soldiers, while Xiao Hongxiao followed, eyes filled with curiosity.

She examined the armor on these Barbarian warriors and the weapons in their hands, her eyes showing a trace of wonder, wanting to speak but ultimately holding back.

Shen Chonghong scanned through the ranks of seven hundred soldiers before him, noticing that a small portion of them had already reached the Second Realm of body cultivation, while most were still at the late stage or peak of the First Realm.

For Body Refining Cultivators, reaching the late stage of the First Realm was already comparable to those just entering Qi Cultivation.

Body cultivators at the Early Stage of the Second Realm could generally be regarded as equivalent to those at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

Though the realms of these seven hundred soldiers before him were generally not high, their combat strength shouldn’t be weak.

After all, Wu Yi had mentioned, these seven hundred men had survived countless brutal combats with wild and demon beasts.

Looking at the soldiers before him, Shen Chonghong suddenly understood why his father had not dispersed them to guard the towns over these years.

These seven hundred soldiers could grow into a formidable backbone for the Shen Family in the future.

“Two commanders, let them set off.” Shen Chonghong said, eyes narrowing slightly.

…

Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm.

Amidst the towering clouds, surrounded by a sea of clouds churning, Shen Chongming was immersed within, with electric light enveloping his head and entire body, thunder roaring!

Having entered this peculiar space of the mural again, he did not, like last time, remain in place without daring to take a single step.

This time, upon entering, he had been moving for quite some time within this thunder-filled, mist-shrouded void, and the strange pond hidden within the void clouds finally revealed part of its true form.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep