Chapter 74: Hidden Worries and Unease
Chapter 74: Hidden Worries and Unease
The biggest difference between the mid Epiphany Stage and the high Epiphany Stage was external Sword Qi manipulation.
Only a cultivator at Seventh Grade or above could control Sword Qi, as their spiritual power was strong enough to support the energy release. That was why Seventh Grade cultivators were so much stronger than Sixth Grade ones.
With Flying Sword and Sword Qi, attacks were not only faster and more powerful but also enhanced area damage.
But what frustrated Lu Hangzhi was that after practicing The Path to Divinity, the almost dried-up puddle in his Spiritual Power Pool could not sustain external Sword Qi release.
Seriously!
Lu Hangzhi felt like spitting blood, thinking this Superior-Grade Spell Technique was so unrewarding.
Luckily, even though his cultivation dropped, the silver-white spiritual energy made his Flying Sword far more lethal than that of ordinary Seventh Grade cultivators. Furthermore, his Divine Sense Range increased, and the spiritual power required to control the Flying Sword was much less. This did not disgrace the Superior-Grade Spell Technique.
The battle on Two Realms Mountain continued.
After the Demon Beast Mist stopped advancing, attacks from the mountain peak never ceased. All monster beasts recklessly charged the Second Defense Line formed by the Reinforcement Department.
The strength of Two Realms Mountain’s Reinforcement Department was fully displayed.
Enduring countless monster beast assaults, they steadily advanced. In less than half an hour, they pushed the Beast Tide back into the Demon Beast Mist and began placing new Matrix Towers in the occupied areas.
“Safe and sound at last.”
“The Demon Realm’s escalating attacks over three years were actually to accumulate Brain-Eater Demon Worms for this assault. Luckily, nothing went wrong.”
In the northwest, three Spirit Coalescence Elders cleared a patch of Demon Beast Mist from an occupied area. One of them took out a miniature tower, placed it carefully at the center of the war zone, and activated it from a distance.
Buzz!
The little tower glowed brightly and expanded, quickly forming a new Matrix Tower.
The three entered the Matrix Tower calmly.
“Now that we’ve repelled the Demon Beast Mist, the monster beast attacks on Two Realms Mountain should calm down for a while. There likely won’t be large-scale offensives.”
“I hope so.”
“If that’s true, the newcomers from our sect today are really lucky.”
“Heh heh.”
They did not notice that just as they entered the Matrix Tower’s control hub and the door was closing, a shadowy figure slipped through the narrow gap.
Then…
The Matrix Tower closed, isolating itself from the outside.
“What was that?”
The three Spirit Coalescence Elders immediately noticed the intrusion and their faces turned grim.
Before they could speak, a terrifying aura surged within the Matrix Tower!
Soon, two elders’ bodies were dragged out of the Matrix Tower by the third person and thrown into the Demon Beast Mist. That person then turned and went back inside.
The crystal walls inside the Matrix Tower reflected a pale, eerie face. The figure looked toward the foot of Two Realms Mountain, a mysterious and chilling smile on its lips as it sneered:
“Jie jie…”
“After feeding on fellow clan flesh and blood for three hundred years, I’m finally out.”
“Wait for me, old comrades… this world will soon be ours.”
…
As the front line was taken over by the Reinforcement Department, Sector 112 enjoyed rare peace. Everyone tried to digest the gains from the battle.
Lu Hangzhi returned from the Matrix Tower’s second floor to his private Training Room on the first floor. He worked hard to adapt to the changes brought by his advancement and practicing The Path to Divinity, turning them into controllable power.
He stayed in the Matrix Tower for a whole day, undisturbed and focused.
It was quite ironic.
On his first day at Two Realms Mountain, the battle was fierce like an apocalypse, as if all hardships of a lifetime had befallen them. Then, on the second day… Two Realms Mountain became calm as a dormant volcano, with only occasional fireballs landing.
The next few days were the same.
Two Realms Mountain became peaceful. Only a few scattered monster beasts were thrown down the insane Sky Passage, amusing everyone. The Demon Beast Mist and all monster beasts were pushed back near the mountain peak…
Hundreds of War Zones were recovered, Matrix Towers were reset, and the First Defense Line received tens of thousands of new recruits in a single day, joining the Reinforcement Department to solidify the defenses.
However, at this moment, there was much debate in Two Realms Mountain’s Reinforcement Department:
“No! I firmly oppose withdrawing all elite forces now! This crisis ended too smoothly. There’s much we still don’t understand… Until all dangers are eliminated, I think it’s unwise to rashly remove the backbone of our defenses.”
The speaker was none other than Southern Region Inspector Envoy Chang Baimei. The other three present were also Two Realms Mountain Inspector Envoys, holding high positions and great authority.
In response, one of them sneered:
“White-brow, you’re not the only one who cares about Two Realms Mountain’s safety! You know how many resources it takes just to keep the entire Reinforcement Department running per day? For each extra day, the major sects have to pay a steep price.”
“Being cautious is fine, but being overly nervous is wrong! From the start to the end of the battle, we’ve been on high alert for five days. This period of calm clearly shows the most dangerous time has passed. Insisting further is just pointless waste. I doubt… any major sect, even your White-brow’s sect, would agree to such senseless expenditure.” He lazily spread his hands and let the other two Inspector Envoys decide:
“What do you two think?”
Chang Baimei looked gravely at his two colleagues:
“That sneaky monster beast in the Demon Beast Mist never reappeared. I think that’s suspicious! And, don’t you find it strange that so many Brain-Eater Demon Worms suddenly appeared at Two Realms Mountain?”
The two exchanged bitter smiles:
“Baimei, we respect you for all your contributions to Two Realms Mountain over the years, but you must know our losses were huge. Just the hundreds of Matrix Towers nearly emptied Yuding Sect’s savings over the years. Mobilizing all Reinforcement Department personnel costs an astronomical number of contribution points daily. How many sects can sustain that?”
“Also, that monster beast you mentioned — I think that’s alarmist. The Sky Passage can’t let Mystic Light Stage beings through. If there were one, we’d surely know.”
After that, the three made their decision:
“I think we should recall the entire Reinforcement Department today, leaving only the routine teams behind. But we can remind Tower Guards to stay alert.” The three Inspector Envoys voted.
Three against one.
The Reinforcement Department’s withdrawal from the War Zones was inevitable!
Chang Baimei shook his head helplessly:
“I hope my worries are unnecessary.”
He stood up and left.
…
The withdrawal order quickly spread throughout Two Realms Mountain. Reinforcement teams in all War Zones received the news and prepared to hand over to the new True Disciples from various sects.
Gu Lie led his surviving forty-plus subordinates and withdrew from Sector 112 first.
Since Revered Qin and Revered Mo had received praise from Inspector envoy Chang Baimei, Gu Lie didn’t dare act out. He behaved very properly these days, not even glancing at the female cultivators like Nangong Jun and Zi Ying, acting like a righteous cultivator.
After Gu Lie left, Mo Li came out of the Matrix Tower for the first time to hand over duties to Revered Qin.
The three-day probation turned into six days. Mo Li, with his impressive third-class merit, officially became a full Tower Guard. He was about to return to the Reinforcement Department for a new assignment to guard another area.
The True Disciples from Xuanxin Sect were somewhat saddened.
Revered Qin smiled and said:
“Revered Mo, your Xuanxin Sect’s talented disciples have endured the hardest time and are truly experienced. If you want to take them with you, feel free. After all, you know them well, and it’s reassuring to have familiar people elsewhere.”
“If I took them all, would you be willing?”
Mo Li joked, which was rare for him.
Revered Qin laughed heartily:
“Of course not all. We’re life-and-death friends after all — leave one person for me. Let Hangzhi stay; I quite like him! Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him. Not a single hair on his head will be harmed.”
Among the crowd, Lu Hangzhi was not surprised by Revered Qin’s suggestion.
They had actually discussed this a few days before.
In Two Realms Mountain’s Reinforcement Department, factions were common. Almost everyone formed cliques. Being an isolated Venerable One without friends was quite dangerous.
Revered Mo and Revered Qin were life-and-death friends who trusted each other and planned to support one another.
Lu Hangzhi was the perfect link.
Firstly, his strength was undeniable. Secondly, he could share Spirit Honey, improving safety in both War Zones.
Lu Hangzhi had already agreed with both Venerable Ones and was mentally prepared.
Indeed.
In front of everyone, Mo Li agreed without hesitation:
“Hangzhi staying is fine, but I really want to take one more person with me.”
Revered Qin smiled and looked at Cheng Fei:
“Him? Then you’ll have to ask if he’s willing. I respect his decision.”
Cheng Fei was clearly surprised that Mo Li wanted to take him along when leaving, and together with the Xuanxin Sect disciples…
“What do you say?”
Mo Li walked up to Cheng Fei, patted his shoulder, and said:
“I can’t promise much, but safety won’t be a problem.”
Cheng Fei’s eyes lit up. He glanced at Nangong Jun standing behind Mo Li, then made a firm decision:
“I wish to follow Revered Mo.”
Mo Li was very satisfied!
He took one last look at Lu Hangzhi and instructed: “One month from now, I’ll wait for you at the Dual-Realm Mountains Market.”
“Yes.”
Just then, a group of True Disciples hurried over from a distance!
“Venerable One, sixty-two True Disciples from Penglai Island are here to take up post in Sector 112. Awaiting your orders.”
The speaker was a young Seventh Grade peak cultivator, not yet eighteen, with handsome features, bright eyes, and an outstanding aura — clearly a top True Disciple in his sect, comparable to Hu Bugui.
Looking at these clean, tidy young men and women, a stark contrast to Two Realms Mountain’s ruggedness, Lu Hangzhi unconsciously recalled when he and the others first arrived at Two Realms Mountain.
He felt deeply emotional.