44: Return to the Fortress

Xie Yunzhou looked at Xun Xiuyuan, who was slaughtering the Shadow Demon camp below, and thought to himself, "This kid's stamina is really impressive. He's surrounding hundreds of people by himself, chasing, killing, and collecting bodies, without showing any signs of his vital energy depleting."

"It's a pity his mental strength is a bit low. If it reached three thousand, the Ling Tian Pagoda in the Lingtian Relic would be incredibly advantageous for him."

After carefully calculating the time, there was less than a month until the Lingtian Relic opened.

"I don't think so. When one first advances, their affinity for the power of heaven and earth increases, and their perception improves, so it's normal for mental strength to grow faster."

"It's probably impossible to reach three thousand within a month." Xie Yunzhou suppressed his thoughts.

After killing the exotic beasts again, Xun Xiuyuan came to Xie Yunzhou's side. "Grandpa Xie, let's go straight back to the fortress. My wristband already has a signal. If we go any further, there will probably be very few exotic beast camps left."

Xie Yunzhou leisurely said, "There are still some, but you can come back by yourself later. I need to go back to the city."

Xie Yunzhou's wristband had already rung several times, clearly indicating that there were matters to attend to in the city.

Next to Xie Nanqiao stood the Lu Family Five Brothers, chattering away.

"Do you think Brother Xun will be surprised when he comes back and finds out we're all soldiers from the Sixth Regiment?"

"Do you think you're some big shot? 'Surprised'? What kind of situations hasn't Brother Xun seen?"

Xie Nanqiao then spoke, "If Xun Xiuyuan knew that there were such wastes as you five in the regiment, he would truly be surprised, considering you've just advanced to Martial Marquis."

Xie Nanqiao, who hadn't smiled in a long time, had learned that Xun Xiuyuan was on his way back. She actually started joking with the Lu Family Five Brothers.

"Miss Nan Qiao, can you tell me how you cultivate? You were a Martial King a few days ago, and now you're already Innate?"

Lu Yutian asked seriously.

"Hehe, I just practice casually. It's not difficult at all, so I don't like cultivating. There's no challenge whatsoever," Xie Nanqiao thought for a moment and said earnestly.

The Lu Family Five Brothers were speechless, and all the questions they had wanted to ask were stifled.

Yes, Xie Nanqiao's talent was absolutely top-notch.

It was just that because of her status as the Xie Family's cherished daughter, no one deliberately urged her to cultivate, so she often worked in fits and starts.

Even so, she was still one of the outstanding individuals of the younger generation.

This time, because of Xun Xiuyuan, she hated her own weakness and her inability to rescue Xun Xiuyuan.

Only then did she calm down and cultivate diligently. In less than a month, she went from a peak sixth-grade Martial Marquis directly to Innate. This talent was incredibly powerful and truly remarkable.

Leaving aside Xun Xiuyuan, the cheat, among humanity, in the past few hundred years, those under twenty who reached Innate could be counted on two hands.

A black dot suddenly appeared in the distance. By the time everyone looked again, the black dot had vanished, and at the same time, two people appeared on the City Pass.

It was Xie Yunzhou and Xun Xiuyuan.

Xie Nanqiao turned and saw Xun Xiuyuan, and immediately felt wronged.

This was the first time she had been so sad since her mother passed away, and the first time she had missed someone so much.

Xun Xiuyuan looked at Xie Nanqiao. Even with just a few encounters, Xie Nanqiao had left a very deep impression on him.

Cute, lively, straightforward, enthusiastic.

With so many people watching, he couldn't let this girl take the initiative again.

He stepped forward and embraced Xie Nanqiao. Xie Nanqiao immediately burst into tears, as if everything she had done had been rewarded.

Xie Yunzhou looked at the two embracing and coughed.

Xie Nanqiao ignored the old man, not caring who he was.

Xie Yunzhou helplessly said, "Nan Qiao, Grandpa will go back first. There's something in the city."

Xun Xiuyuan released Xie Nanqiao, turned, and said to Xie Yunzhou, "Grandpa Xie, I'm truly grateful to you this time. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have been able to escape from that Po Kong Realm Shadow Demon."

Xie Yunzhou secretly thought, "If I hadn't gone, you wouldn't have been targeted by that Po Kong Realm fellow."

But he said, "You're Nan Qiao's boyfriend, so you're considered part of my Xie Family. Why be so polite among family?"

"Let's set the tone first. Where can you run off to, you rascal? My Nan Qiao really has good taste."

Xie Nanqiao's face flushed when she heard her grandpa's words.

"Nan Qiao, are you still staying at this fortress?" Xie Yunzhou asked Xie Nanqiao.

"Grandpa, I won't go back for now. You can leave if you have something to do. I have a wristband now, so give me your wristband number. I'll find you if I'm in danger."

Xie Nanqiao first urged her grandpa to leave, then asked for his help. These two contradictory things came out of her mouth without any sense of incongruity.

Even Xie Yunzhou indifferently gave his wristband number to Xie Nanqiao.

Xie Yunzhou said nothing more and left the City Pass directly.

As Xie Yunzhou left, Xun Xiuyuan heard Xie Yunzhou's voice in his ear.

"Kid, take good care of Nan Qiao! If your mental strength can reach three thousand within a month, have Nan Qiao tell me, and I'll give you a great treasure."

Xun Xiuyuan didn't pay much attention to Xie Yunzhou's words. A great treasure? Could it be greater than his own system?

Three thousand mental strength in a month. If he delved deeper into the exotic beast-occupied territory again, it should be very easy to achieve.

After Xie Yunzhou left, the Lu Family Five Brothers immediately came forward and started chatting with Xun Xiuyuan.

Lu Wenxiu watched the vibrant young people chatting happily and quietly left the City Pass.

Jiaolong City.

City Lord's Mansion.

Wang Family.

The Wang Family Head, who had emerged from seclusion, had a pale complexion. Since a battle with the leader of the exotic ghosts, his injuries had not healed, and his face remained pale.

However, what no one knew was that during that battle, while he was injured, he was also attacked by the Shadow Demon Clan's Emperor.

Wang Junlin knelt in the main hall.

The family head, Wang Tianyou, slowly asked, "How many ningshen crystals did that Xun Xiuyuan obtain?"

"Yes, Family Head. I reported this matter as soon as I returned."

Wang Junlin was puzzled. This matter had passed a long time ago, so why would the Family Head suddenly ask about it? He had already been punished for it.

"Get up. That Xun Xiuyuan has already gone to the abyss. I don't know if the ningshen crystals are on the surface or on him."

"The City Pass he was in before was Yuncheng Pass, right?"

"Yes, he was in Yuncheng Pass when he participated in the Ningshen Mystic Realm," Wang Junlin respectfully replied.

"Take a few Innate experts to the surface, go to Yuncheng Pass, and clarify everything about Xun Xiuyuan. Investigate his family, why he advanced so quickly, and so on," Wang Tianyou calmly instructed.

"Yes, Family Head!" Wang Junlin replied and slowly exited the main hall.

After Wang Junlin left, Wang Tianyou muttered to himself, "An Immaculate Realm junior, and he even managed to escape from my lair. He still has the nerve to ask me to arrange people to kill him. A bunch of useless people."

He then recalled the information that mentioned Xie Yunzhou's solo raid on Shadow Demon City.

Xie Yunzhou's visit was likely a coincidence. He shouldn't have known about Shadow Demon City being empty. Could it be, as Mu Tuo said, that I leaked the information?

However, Xie Yunzhou's strength had grown extremely fast. Mu Tuo and Mu Jin could only barely protect themselves even when working together. If another Shattering Void Realm appeared in the Xie Family, then the Emperor's plan would be completely ruined.