Chapter 243: 221 Again, Part 1

“Someone, come here!”

Princess Yongxiang stood up, having carefully examined the injuries of the two men. It seemed like a technique from the Great Dao Teaching, yet not quite.

The injuries contained several different types of force.

There was a force similar to hitting a bull across a mountain, a frontal impact force, and a force resembling the shockwave from a hard fist or palm imprint.

On the injuries, there were clear palm and fist imprints, indicating the attacker must have had broad and solid hands.

But she wasn’t very sure.

She only ever practiced one martial art, the Grand Martial Manual. She was unfamiliar with the martial arts of other schools.

Had it not been for the close relationship between the Great Dao Teaching and the royal family, she might not even recognize the basic features of these injuries.

Soon, two white-bearded old men, one tall and one short, rushed out from the woods.

Their eyes widened with shock upon seeing the bodies on the ground.

They recognized the two on the ground.

Before the convoy set out, these expert guards memorized each person’s details.

But now, lying on the ground were the two close attendants responsible for guarding the Commandery Princess in the convoy.

“Commandery Princess, what happened?” one of them asked gravely.

“Examine them, see what martial arts were used,” Princess Yongxiang demanded sternly.

The other man saluted, approached, squatted down, and began his inspection.

His fingers kept turning over the wounds, examining both the chest and back, also observing the facial and eye changes of the corpses.

After a while, he stood up and slightly bowed to Princess Yongxiang.

“Report to the Commandery Princess, these two appear to have been hit directly by a limit-breaking skill similar to hitting a bull across a mountain, triggering the death through the explosion of their back’s vital points.”

He paused.

“This limit-breaking skill has very distinctive characteristics. Many sects have similar techniques. But also having direct punch and palm impact, along with shock damage.

Only the Sensing Sect and Great Dao Teaching should have that skill.”

“The Sensing Sect’s Unrivaled Fist limit-breaking skill has such an effect. The Great Dao Teaching’s Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual also has similar limit-breaking skill.”

“The Sensing Sect’s Unrivaled Fist, Great Dao Teaching’s Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual?” Princess Yongxiang stood still, pondering.

“Are you saying those black-clad people were from the Sensing Sect? Then why would they come from so far to ambush my two close attendants? Such high-level expertise that can cause this kind of damage indicates they would at least be Super Grade External Medicine.

And my two close attendants are only at Seventh or Eighth Grade level. Why this disparity…” Yongxiang said gloomily.

“Apologies, Commandery Princess, you may not be very familiar with the body strength of a Super Grade,” an elder suddenly interrupted.

“These two close attendants are not only Seventh or Eighth Grade; they are at least Super Grade. Their muscle, fascia, bone strength, and toughness far exceed Ninth Grade levels.”

“Super Grade!?” Yongxiang was startled.

“You mean the two of them were always Super Grade, but hid this from me? Disguising themselves at my side!?” She suddenly felt a chill in her heart.

“Indeed.”

Yongxiang was speechless.

She suddenly felt her journey to Citong might not be as peaceful as she imagined.

Such a big incident occurred right at the beginning….

“Were these two lurking by my side, originally problematic, or did they eventually develop ulterior motives?” She had no clue.

Deep in thought, Yongxiang was silent.

“Conduct a thorough investigation of the rest of my team; I don’t want anything similar happening again!”

“Yes!”

The two elders hurriedly bowed with clenched fists.

An hour later.

After the convoy was attacked by black-clad men, they finally regained the runaway white oxen and carriage.

Only one carriage remained; the others were dragged off and smashed by the white oxen, which were also injured.

The group continued tidying up, bandaging wounds, and burying bodies.

Yongxiang led her team to carefully inspect several black-clad corpses, finding no clues.

Many of these black-clad people were at Third Grade level, with two Ninth Grades and five Super Grades leading them, their strength far beyond ordinary people’s imagination.

After a literati beside Yongxiang reviewed the strength levels of all the assailants, the group felt sweat trickling down their backs.

Such an array; there are scarcely any forces in the country capable of mobilizing them.

Super Grades aren’t common.

Especially the one able to match Princess Yongxiang, a Three Emptiness level Super Grade.

Such high-level experts are usually elite aces of each force, not easily dispatched for assassination tasks.

And in the country, there aren’t many forces with Three Emptiness level Super Grades.

Once the convoy regrouped, they packed up lightly and continued on their way.

After the attack, the convoy lost considerable accompanying supplies and had to travel light.

They began to replenish their supplies upon reaching Yongxi Town.

A group of people rested, bathed, and took a day to recuperate before continuing onward.

*

*

*

“Dead!?”

In a dilapidated Buddhist temple deep in the mountains.

The black-clad leader from earlier, Elder Wang, was looking glumly at the two people before him.

These two weren’t his subordinates, but representatives from other forces in the Thousand Teachings Alliance.

This time, we’re just acting together for the assassination.

“But they were two Super Grade! Dead!? Hadn’t they already been alone with Zhang Ying? How did they die??”

Old Wang’s eyes were grave, faintly suspecting something.

One person had straw-yellow hair and a strong physique.

The other wore a long string of golden earrings, which were conspicuous even when clad in black clothing and wearing a mask.

“Not clear, but our guess is, it might have been additional Super Grades from Great Dao Teaching accompanying for protection!” The straw-yellow-haired man replied solemnly.

“Additional accompanying experts??” Old Wang’s eyes turned icy.

Two Super Grades, and two Commandery Princess insiders; it was supposed to be foolproof, kill and resume disguise, to further maximize influence.

But now….!?

“To be able to crush two in an extremely short time, it must at least be Internal technique or even Three Emptiness Super Grade, but the Three Emptiness Internal technique of Great Dao Teaching is limited, where did more Super Grade experts come from??” Old Wang questioned, puzzled.

Each force’s Super Grades are actually countable.

Like Great Dao Teaching, Super Grades are almost all from high-level elites.

And at the Three Emptiness Level, at least provincial-level leaders, such experts, where would they easily be dispatched to protect a Daoist?

That Zhang Ying, having an Internal technique Super Grade like Chen Han, was already of considerable high standard.

Even in Thousand Teachings Alliance, each force’s Super Grade experts are just so few; the larger ones have ten or so, while smaller ones have only a few. Every one is extremely cherished.

And Thousand Teachings Alliance, it’s said to be a thousand teachings, but actually, altogether there are only seventy to eighty secret sects.

Seems numerous but scattered across Great Spirit, it becomes incredibly scarce.

Now, losing two…. Old Wang’s heart throbs painfully.

Those two were experts from his faction’s Earth Pavilion….. had been lurking in Zhenyi Sect for years, with great difficulty transferred beside Princess Yongxiang…

“So now that they’re dead, what’s the result?! We’ve suffered such great losses, there must be a resolution!” Old Wang’s tone was sinister.

Losses for Earth Pavilion are considerable while other participating factions suffered little.

He naturally wouldn’t settle for this.

“Old Wang, it’s been said before, your direct approach won’t work.

From the start, it shouldn’t have been so rigid, Princess Yongxiang is potent, with two Internal technique Spiritual Veins beside her, a Three Emptiness Spiritual Vein, there’s no advantage in frontal assault.

Only seek other methods.

Luckily we still have a chance!”

He paused.

“Within Princess Yongxiang’s convoy, there’s still one insider. This time, not for your Earth Pavilion to execute, our Blood Path Teaching will act alone!” The straw-yellow-haired strong man stated coldly.

“What do you intend?” Old Wang asked solemnly.

“For great achievements, there must be sacrifices; where there’s no cost, there’s no reward. Only by breaking the pots and sinking the boats can the strongest potential explode.” The straw-yellow-haired strong man grinned.

“You mean….” Old Wang suddenly understood his implication.

This is about using that insider as a pawn suicide attacker…. ruthless, these Blood Path Teaching guys, not only treating themselves inhumanly, but also disregarding others’ lives, they’re madmen!

*

*

*

Time flies, and a month passes by in a blink.

This time, Princess Yongxiang didn’t stir any trouble, but remained obediently in her carriage, traveling along.

The damaged carriage was replaced with new ones in subsequent towns.

The injured white cows were also replaced with several ordinary black cows.

A month on the road, after the previous attack, everyone raised their vigilance.

Making the subsequent journey extraordinarily peaceful and serene.

Zhang Rongfang could finally rest quietly and cultivate for a while.

The convoy has now entered the Great Spirit Ping Province territory, once through most of Ping Province area, they’ll reach the final destination — Cituogang Port.

Currently, the sun shines brightly, flocks of birds fly continuously above the convoy, circling and spiraling.

The chirping sounds are like a vegetable market, extremely noisy.

The black cows in the convoy occasionally emit restless long moos, evidently not as enduring as the white cows, showing signs of fatigue.

It’s noon now, the sun hangs high, increasingly humid and hot.

After consulting the Commandery Princess, the convoy begins to slow down, seeking a place to start a fire and prepare food.

Zhang Rongfang and his companions follow behind.

On this journey, eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew, the four appear significantly wearier than before. Their bodies also bear much dust.

Zhang Rongfang’s white Daoist robe, now far less pristine than before, appears somewhat gray.

“Speaking of this long trek, why does the Commandery Princess insist on using ox carts rather than horse carriages?” Zhang Rongfang glanced at the black cows tied to a tree ahead, somewhat perplexed.

“Daoist, you might not know.” Chen Han replied, “During long travels, even minor jolts can amplify significantly, becoming a key factor affecting rest.

Whereas ox carts are much more stable than horse carriages. Hence generally for long journeys, ox carts are used.”

“I see.” Zhang Rongfang understood.

He had once seen the scenery inside the Commandery Princess’s carriage from outside.

Inside contained not only a bed but also a heater, wardrobe, desk, dressing table, almost a small study combined with a bedroom.

And the newly added carriages in the convoy, one specifically stores food and drink supplies.

One specifically stores various speciality small items the Commandery Princess whimsically buys.

Only one holds the convoy’s daily supplies and miscellaneous items.

Moreover, the convoy carries a chef dedicated to cooking meals, a female masseuse specializing in massage, and a band of dancers specializing in dance and music.

For just one Commandery Princess, such extravagance, imagine the true princess of Great Spirit, what grand scenes would unfold??

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep