MTLNOVEL chapter 179
179. To Zhou Ling City
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Tian Ling Mountain, Xuan Yun Sect.
A silver-haired girl fed the cranes in front of her pavilion, her cold gaze shifting to the azure sky in the east.
He still hadn’t returned.
Thinking that she had left later than him but returned earlier, it wasn’t like him to dawdle. Perhaps he had received another task along the way, which delayed him, and now there was no trace of him.
As for the eldest senior sister and the fourth junior sister, they had also gone out on missions, and her own master wasn’t in the mountain either. She was the only one left in the entire sect.
Considering the many disciples who had recently gone out on missions, and she being the strongest among her peers, it was quite ironic that she was now feeding cranes in front of her pavilion, looking like a person of leisure, which didn’t match her cultivation level at all.
Mainly because she didn’t know Lin Nuo’s whereabouts. She had been to the place where he was carrying out his mission. The residents there said he had finished and left long ago, and now his whereabouts were unknown. She could only return to Tian Ling Mountain, hoping to run into him.
But after several days, there was still no sign of him, and now she was quite frustrated.
The two cranes in front of the pavilion were particularly proud, and most disciples of Xuan Yun Sect couldn’t get close to them. But when Qin Shili fed them, they immediately became docile.
There was no helping it; if they acted too haughty, they might become ice sculptures in the next second, so they obediently ate their feed without being picky, without any complaints.
At this moment, an elder holding a large white brush walked over lightly, and Qin Shili’s gaze finally shifted back from the distant azure sky.
“Good day, Elder Yuan.”
Qin Shili stopped feeding the cranes and greeted Elder Yuan respectfully.
“Good day, Shili.”
Elder Yuan stroked his beard and chuckled, “Shili, I see you’re distracted, always looking towards the sky. Is something on your mind?”
“I’m not troubled, just a bit bored and restless since I’ve returned.”
“Bored? Your master and I noticed you’ve been frequently taking trials and accepting missions. We thought you might want to stay at Tianling Mountain for a good rest, or perhaps you could practice a new technique.”
“I won’t try a new technique until I’ve made a breakthrough with the old one.”
Qin Shili responded, “Why hasn’t my junior brother returned from his outing? Does Elder Yuan know anything?”
“I’m not sure about that,” the elder replied, stroking his beard. “The mission given to him by Xuan Yun Sect wasn’t difficult. He should have returned by now, unless he’s taken on a new mission. As for your senior sisters, I do know they’ve gone to Zhou Ling City. There’s a call to arms there, gathering capable individuals to form a righteous brigade to fend off the surrounding beasts and bandits. This brigade is set to rise to the level of the royal army.”
“Just some beasts, why such a grand mobilization?”
Qin Shili was puzzled. She had been on many campaigns, slaying no small number of fierce beasts, including celestial-tier ones, and had collected a large number of soul fragments. She just hadn’t decided what to do with them yet.
“Shili, Zhou Ling City is near the sanctuary, and with the beasts rampant, it’s only natural to summon experts for reinforcement.”
“The sanctuary has stood for hundreds of years, and its sorcerers are formidable. In dire times, it’s reasonable to seek help from the strong. However, those who come in response to the call may vary in strength; some might even be opportunists. The truly powerful don’t need a summons to act.”
“That’s true.”
Elder Yuan continued to stroke his beard, chuckling, “Shili, if you find the mountain dull, why not accompany me to Zhou Ling City? It would be good to help lift the siege of beasts there.”
“There’s already a call to arms in Zhou Ling City; they don’t need my help.”
“No, Shili, I have an ominous premonition. This beast attack portends something significant. And who knows, Lin Nuo might also go to relieve Zhou Ling City.”
“Hmm? Would he go?”
Mention of Lin Nuo suddenly piqued Qin Shili’s interest, “But he doesn’t seem like someone who would go for a summons.”
“That’s true, but he would go for the sanctuary. Normally, outsiders aren’t allowed, but in times of disaster, those who come to aid can approach it. To my knowledge, Lin Nuo has never visited the sanctuary. It’s quite possible he would go for it. Now that he hasn’t returned, coinciding with the issuance of the call to arms in Zhou Ling City, isn’t it quite the coincidence?”
Qin Shili pondered, indeed it seemed like a coincidence.
Since Lin Nuo hadn’t returned to the mountain, a trip there wouldn’t hurt. If it’s a minor issue, she could return early. If it’s a major one, all the better; she could gain experience. And of course, encountering Lin Nuo would be ideal.
“Alright, let’s set off.”
Qin Shili agreed, and soon after, she and Elder Yuan summoned their spirit swords and flew away from Tianling Mountain on their swords.
…
Lin Nuo followed Du Lun and the others northward. Along the way, they encountered a small group of beasts, quickly dispatching them and collecting the soul fragments within. Du Lun claimed most of them.
Lin Nuo knew Du Lun was no good, but on the surface, he was a respectable figure with some strength. With the reputation of the second young master of the Lin family, joining the Five-Star Brigade was extremely easy.
Many joined the brigade with a purpose, establishing merit within to spread their fame. Completing missions brought rewards, and slaying beasts allowed them to collect soul fragments with their spirit techniques, used for crafting spirit and mystical instruments.
Following Du Lun’s lead, Lin Nuo and the others reached the northern territory of the sanctuary. At that time, some beasts were active nearby, disrupting the formations set by the spirit masters.
“Newcomer, this is the sanctuary’s domain, and the battlefield is far more terrifying than you can imagine. Right now, there are quite a few beasts here, and we’re limited in numbers. We’ll split up. Good luck.”
Du Lun’s right hand was about to pat Lin Nuo’s shoulder in a friendly gesture, but Lin Nuo instinctively dodged.
He didn’t like strangers touching his shoulder, especially not those who feigned familiarity.
“Alright, then let’s head west.”
“Master Wu, let’s go together for mutual support.”
Following close behind, Liu Shuqin made a request.
Lin Nuo waved his hand:
“No need. This area is vast, and we are few. If we stick together, our combat power won’t be enough to go around. It’s best if my apprentice and I move together.”
Lin Nuo’s gaze shifted to Ling Meng:
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Ling Meng nodded, and immediately followed Lin Nuo’s steps towards the west. The two figures, cloaked in pale grey capes, resembled sorcerers possessing some secret magic, quickly vanishing into the jungle.
“Ke Xin, we must also work hard.”
Liu Shuqin smiled at Su Ke Xin and then headed in a different direction.
Du Lun also led some people in another direction, tracking the aura of ferocious beasts and spiritual energy to fend them off.
Du Lun laid out his spiritual sense in this area. As long as Lin Nuo and his group didn’t wander too far, he could sense their position.
At this moment, near the sacred altar, multiple doors shrouded in dark energy emerged, and in an instant, a multitude of savage beasts appeared, attacking the remaining strongholds nearby and even pressing towards the altar.
“With so many beasts, there must be numerous soul fragments. Even if I offer half to the lord, it would delight him to no end.”
Du Lun chuckled, lifted his spear, and charged into the horde of beasts.
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