Chapter 171: 160 Approach

After investigating the death of Yue Shenwei from the Yue family, even Shangguan Qingrong wasn’t confident he could take the opponent down by himself.

The son of a wealthy family does not sit in a hall in peril; given his status, there’s no way he will seriously go up and fight head-on with the likes of a Mountain-tamer Tiger.

No matter how small the risk, he wouldn’t take it.

Because it was meaningless to him.

But now, the situation was different if two people could go up together.

The Ninth Grade, at the end of the day, is just marginally stronger than the Eighth Grade in terms of power.

This increase isn’t much.

If two well-coordinated individuals can go up on stage and use weapons together…..

Perhaps they could take advantage of the Mountain-tamer Tiger being entangled, and directly shoot him with a crossbow!

“Really.” The Mountain-tamer Tiger said flatly, seemingly indifferent.

Soon, Shangguan Qingrong consulted with Prefect Yue Hanquan and others, and sent two stout bald men onto the stage to accept the challenge.

In Wushan Prefecture, there are many families weaker than the three major ones, some of which have highly skilled members.

The two bald men in front of them are the Zhou family brothers, Zhou Xunlang and Zhou Xunbao, second only to the three major families.

The two brothers also have outstanding talent, born with great strength and solid foundations. The family-heritage Cyan Bell Leg Technique they practice is among the top-tier techniques in Wushan Prefecture.

Both brothers are of the Eighth Grade, and when they join forces, their power surpasses an average Ninth Grade.

Now, with the fall of the Huang family, the Zhou family is one of those standing up, attempting to carve up the business realms of the Huang family.

Zhou Xunlang is the head of the family, and this time he stood out with the aim of gaining support from the Shangguan and the Prefect’s families.

With the support of both families, they could rapidly expand and rise in Wushan Prefecture.

Though they might not become another Huang family, there is a promising hope for them to become the third strong family, next to the Shangguan and Yue families.

So this battle is crucial for the Zhou family, determining whether they can advance further and enter a whole new level.

The two walk onto the stage.

And clasp their fists together.

“Zhou family, Zhou Xunlang, Zhou Xunbao! We’ve long heard of the famed Mountain-tamer Tiger, and today we’ve come to seek guidance.”

The Mountain-tamer Tiger glanced at the two calmly.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

The Zhou brothers simultaneously move apart, their muscles rapidly bulging, and from their sleeves emerge two silver short knives.

With one left and one right, the blades cut horizontally.

But the truly hidden deadly move is actually the poisonous spikes stealthily extending from the soles of their right feet.

The blade glitters rapidly approach the Mountain-tamer Tiger, Ding Yu.

The reflection from the blade even dazzles his eyes slightly.

Meanwhile, a poisoned crossbow arrow, hidden under the cover of the crowd, aimed secretly in the direction of the Mountain-tamer Tiger.

“Boring.”

Suddenly, a voice spread out.

The Mountain-tamer Tiger expressionlessly thrust both palms forward instantly.

His palms, like bronze pillars, brushed past the blades, and in a moment, slapped onto the arms of the Zhou brothers.

Bang! Bang!!

Their arms simultaneously shattered, snapped, and protruded outward.

In that flash, the Mountain-tamer Tiger’s speed was so fast that they couldn’t react at all.

There was no chance for the hidden footwork, and the distant crossbowman was useless.

Even Shangguan Qingrong was momentarily dazzled, and the outcome was already decided.

The Zhou brothers let out a miserable howl, lifting their legs in time to sweep horizontally to block any potential pursuit, then dispersed to retreat.

From start to finish, the Mountain-tamer Tiger, Ding Yu, just made one move.

Then stood quietly watching them, with no intention of pursuing.

“Tired of playing?”

He spoke coldly.

“Wushan Prefecture, once a mighty and grand city in my mind. The masters of the entire Dinghe Road might all be gathered here.”

“And now?”

He raised his hand, crossing them over his chest.

“Is this it!?”

The crowd stirred.

Someone stared at him, unwilling to accept it, cursing in a low voice.

Someone looked toward Shangguan Qingrong, hoping they’d teach the arrogant guy a lesson.

Their gazes gathered on the Ninth-Grade expert, Shangguan Qingrong, at this moment.

“I’ll test him!”

Shangguan Hao, feeling youthful and hot-headed, couldn’t restrain his temper. Without waiting for his father’s command, he bolted forward onto the stage with a leap.

“Kasong!!” Shangguan Qingrong was instantly shocked, reaching out to pull, but it was too late.

His son had already rushed far ahead, too late to stop him.

Shangguan Qingrong gritted his teeth, and followed suit.

No matter what, he couldn’t let anything happen to his son.

“Didn’t you just say you could take on two? My son and I will come to learn a thing or two.”

Despite his age, with declining prowess, as long as he uses the Extreme State, he could share much of the burden off his son.

A commotion broke out around.

The Ninth Grade even wants to take on two….

This truly is shameless.

But the Mountain-tamer Tiger, Ding Yu, seemed indifferent, with only a slight ripple in his eyes.

“This is fine, too. Before, I seriously underestimated myself.

It’s just right for you both to come together; perhaps it will make me experience an unprecedented pleasure….”

On stage, the three of them simultaneously gathered their strength and suddenly charged at each other.

*

*

*

Golden Wing Pavilion Headquarters—Ten Thousand Miles Manor.

Zhang Rongfang faced both Qingsu and Bao Ning with one hand behind his back, dealing with their joint attack effortlessly.

His one hand either struck as a fist or palm, with rapid movements.

Every move easily exploited weaknesses in their techniques.

His body technique was even more exaggerated.

No matter how they pursued, the moment they were about to reach him, they always lost sight of him at the critical moment.

It seemed as if they were about to touch him, but at the last moment, their strike hit nothing.

This contradictory sense of disparity left them utterly frustrated.

Before long, Zhang Rongfang used a palm to repel Bao Ning, turned to evade Qingsu’s blade light.

Then gently extended a finger to tap on Qingsu’s forehead.

The three of them simultaneously stopped.

“Too weak. Your abilities are not enough to hold your current positions steadily.”

Zhang Rongfang said blandly.

Both of them remained silent.

Zhang Rongfang was just in a normal state, yet he allowed them one hand and permitted them to use weapons.

But still, the fight ended within ten moves.

“The situation at the Golden Wing Pavilion in Wushan has left us seriously lacking experts after the last incident. We need to promptly recruit new forces.”

Zhang Rongfang inquired.

“Do you have any good candidates?”

Qingsu shook her head.

“I’ve just taken over various industries under Bai Ying, and I’m not fully familiar with them yet. I’m not sure at the moment.”

“Wushan’s experts… two Ninth-Grade experts died in one breath. Sea Dragon’s Cyan Horn and the Huang family’s Huang Yixi were both exceptionally powerful Ninth-Grade experts.” Bao Ning had some understanding.

“Now they’ve all been killed by the lord. But we can invite some potential talents without any background to join us.”

“You have insight into this, so give me a list.” Zhang Rongfang ordered.

“Yes.”

“By the way, my lord, there’s new intelligence about the Silver-faced Cicada in Tan Yang. I’m not sure if you’re interested,” Qingsu suddenly said.

She knew well that the chaos in Tan Yang and the killings by the Silver-faced Cicada were vaguely related to the Golden Wing Pavilion.

Therefore, she mentioned it at this moment.

“What? Tell me,” Zhang Rongfang knew of the Silver-faced Cicada.

This expert on the dark ranking is definitely a Super Grade, and very likely one of the strongest among them.

“The Silver-faced Cicada has slaughtered many branches of the Black Ten Sect, and now he’s being hunted by a major figure sent from above in the Black Ten Sect, the Holy Heart Envoy Xiao Yurong,” Qingsu said.

“Holy Heart Envoy…?”

“Yes, one of the major figures overseeing an entire route in the Black Ten Sect, usually there are two, one being the Holy Heart Envoy, the other the Master of the Divine Dao Altar General Altar.

The Holy Heart Envoy is already at the pinnacle of the hierarchy within the Black Ten Sect. Such a character personally hunting down the Silver-faced Cicada entails dangers we cannot imagine,” Qingsu sighed.

Zhang Rongfang remained silent.

A top figure overseeing an entire route.

How large is a route?

Like Dinghe Road and Wushan Prefecture, there are five such cities, with Wushan being the largest.

Additionally, there are over thirty small to medium-sized cities, and no fewer than a hundred surrounding towns and counties.

The ability to oversee such a vast area shows that both the strength and wisdom of these figures are absolute top-tier.

And being at such a high status, yet daring to personally pursue an expert from the dark ranking like the Silver-faced Cicada.

It shows that this Holy Heart Envoy’s strength is unquestionably extraordinary.

Unconsciously, Zhang Rongfang recalled the statue he had seen before, as well as the secret intelligence about the hidden sect’s Spiritual Veins.

Recalling the scene when the Silver-faced Cicada met with the Celestial Maiden, he couldn’t decide which side this person belonged to.

“My lord, important intelligence!” Suddenly, a masked figure approached quickly, kneeling on one knee to report.

“Bring it up!” Bao Ning said in a deep voice.

By regulation, intelligence is under the jurisdiction of the Black and White Eagles.

The Spiritual Envoy further manages and restrains the Black and White Eagles.

Thus, intelligence must be handled by them first.

Receiving the scroll, Bao Ning glanced over it quickly, and his expression changed slightly.

“My lord, the main pavilion is unable to dispatch support for the time being, there’s been an issue above, they are gathering forces and can’t be distracted. They want us to resolve it ourselves.

Additionally, the main pavilion warns us that the Sea Dragon is sending Merfolk. They want us to remain hidden and low-profile for now,” he said heavily to Zhang Rongfang.

He also handed over the scroll.

Zhang Rongfang took it, scanned it once, and remained silent.

The reply from the main pavilion indicated that rewards would be settled in half a year, and they couldn’t attend to it for the time being.

It evidently was a very troublesome situation.

The Merfolk, as mentioned in the scroll, is the title for top-tier experts within the Sea Dragon organization, at the Super Grade level.

“Have all the remnants of the Huang family been dealt with?” Zhang Rongfang asked aloud.

“Nearly all, only a few are left. They are out traveling and studying, and it’s temporarily difficult to address,” Bao Ning responded.

“That’s sufficient. Let’s see what intentions this Merfolk Envoy from Sea Dragon has….”

Zhang Rongfang didn’t need to think to know that this person was specifically here to investigate the disappearance of Cyan Horn.

Naturally, his strength is definitely greater than Cyan Horn’s!

“Hide for now. If we can’t avoid it, and he wishes to confront me, let him come. I’m waiting.”

Now that the Golden Core is formed, with the Critical State and Triple Mountain upon him, unless the opponent is as freakish as the Celestial Maiden.

Otherwise, no matter who comes, they will have to fight it out first!

*

*

*

A thousand miles away, the Bright River of Tianshan.

“Three laughs send spring away on the autumn wind, seven words change summer for winter’s flow.”

“Yesterday had no high songs, today parting is certain….”

“Looking at parting, forgetting parting….”

A small boat drifted down the Bright River, heading towards the Great Capital.

A man on the boat, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, held a broad-bladed longsword in his hand.

Clang.

He gently drew the sword, scrutinizing the pattern on the blade.

“Do you think, perhaps separation is just for the next reunion?”

The blade remained still, only reflecting a faint light.

“Forget that you cannot speak….” the man gently sheathed the sword, looking up at the river surface.

The sunlight slanted across his chiseled face, a rugged, untidy visage full of stubble.

One glance showed a man indifferent to grooming.

Suddenly, a delighted smile appeared on the man’s face.

He stood, gazing into the distance toward the shore.

There, amidst the sea of reeds, stood a woman in a white dress, delicate in stature.

Her black hair fluttered in the wind, her face stiff and expressionless. Yet her eyes seemed exceptionally lively.

“Old friend reunited, unseen for decades, are you well?” Her voice carried over the wind to the man’s ear.

“Whether well or not, what difference does it make?” the man laughed, “I just didn’t expect, after all these years, you’re still the same.”

“I also didn’t expect, just one letter, and you’re the first to arrive,” the woman’s eyes held a gentle smile.

“To have someone to live and die with, isn’t that good?” the man laughed heartily.

“That’s true,” the woman’s voice softened. “If this succeeds, the Imperial Tutor will be unharmed. If it doesn’t….”

“If it doesn’t, then the world can let later generations fight again. It’s just a life, if it’s spent, then it’s enough,” the man laughed.

“You…” the woman was taken aback, then she too smiled.

“Always the same you are.”

“Unfortunately…. if we fail, perhaps the world’s only hope would indeed fall on Saint Emperor Meng Qian,” the man’s smile faded.

The woman did not reply, but there was something indescribable flowing in her eyes.

Meng Qian, the top of the dark ranking, had been missing for over a decade.

If he were still around, maybe…. things wouldn’t have come to this.

Perhaps, originally, there might still have been hope….

But sadly….

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