“I also have seventh-level Martial Emperor cultivation. Unless a Martial Saint personally acts, capturing me would not be easy. Count me in for the journey north.”
Sheng Li stepped forward and spoke.
“Hey, none of you try to fight me for this. You all know my combat strength. If I burn my essence blood, even all of you together would not be enough for me to fight.”
Ling Hu grinned as he said this.
Sheng Li could not help twitching the corner of his mouth. Ling Hu’s words were far too arrogant.
After all, he and Lu Chuyou had the highest cultivation among those present, and in the final rankings of the Southeast Domain Youth Assembly, Sheng Li had placed above Ling Hu.
Lu Chuyou had even taken second place.
Still, Ling Hu’s combat power was truly ferocious. Leaving aside whether Sheng Li could beat him after beast transformation at his current realm, if Ling Hu truly fought with a desperate style and burned his essence blood, Sheng Li might not survive a single move.
Not to mention one person, even if everyone present joined forces, they might still lose.
They had all witnessed Ling Hu burning his essence blood in the Forbidden Sea Domain.
Zi Ling shook her head at Sheng Li and Lu Chuyou. “You two need not argue. Ling Hu and I will go. One has immense combat strength, the other can gather information. It is the most suitable arrangement. If anything unexpected happens, you can avenge us later.”
“Three people should go. You would be able to look out for each other better.”
Lu Chuyou remained somewhat worried.
“You two are already top-tier combatants. If we send one more, the rest would lack protection.”
Zi Ling shook her head again.
“Sister Zi Ling, let me accompany you.”
Zi An stepped forward and spoke.
“Our Zi family finally managed to get two people through. If something happens, we do not want both to perish.”
Zi Ling firmly refused. “Besides, we are not going to our deaths. Travelling to Yan Province is full of unknowns and could be even more dangerous. The northward journey is settled like this.”
“You seven divide into two more groups.”
Zi Ling shifted the topic to the others.
Lu Chuyou and the rest could not persuade her otherwise and eventually nodded in agreement.
As for the others, although they had become friends along the way, their bond with Lin Xiao was not that deep, so they could not interject.
Moreover, their strength was indeed inferior, so the decision rightfully belonged to these few.
In the end, Zi Ling and Ling Hu headed north.
Lu Chuyou, Li Luo, and Qu Yuan formed one team and headed northwest.
Sheng Li, Zi An, Huyan Ziru, and Ji Shengchong formed a team of four and headed west.
“Rest assured, we will be fine. You all take care too. When we have sufficient strength, we will gather again, either at Canglong Gate or wherever the commotion arises. I have a feeling Lin Xiao will definitely cause a stir in the future.”
Zi Ling said.
“That fellow would not die so easily.”
Ling Hu laughed. He had an almost mystical confidence in Lin Xiao. He firmly believed that even if they all perished, Lin Xiao would not.
“By then, I hope he can catch up and not fall behind us.”
Sheng Li joked.
“That guy has never let us down. He is already standing at the very peak of Martial Emperor combat power. When he emerges, he certainly will not lag behind.”
Lu Chuyou spoke, then grew serious and cupped his hands towards the group. “Everyone, take care!”
“Take care!”
“We will meet again!”
“Stay safe!”
The others returned the farewells one after another. Having faced countless life-and-death trials together, this sudden parting left an inexplicable feeling in their hearts.
No one knew when they would meet again, or whether the group would still be as complete. Yet, having endured so many hardships, they had shed all sentimentality and said no more.
Immediately, three groups took out their Imperial Sky Boats and sped towards the horizons in three different directions.
Unlike Lin Xiao, who had rushed here hastily through teleportation arrays, each of them had prepared carefully and brought Imperial Sky Boats from the Southeast Domain.
However, the Central Continent was vast. Imperial Sky Boats were far less effective here than in the Southeast Domain. Reaching various powers would not take mere days, but possibly hundreds or even thousands of days.
Compared to teleportation arrays, they were vastly inferior.
Still, Imperial Sky Boats were the pinnacle treasure of the Southeast Domain and did not exist here.
Moreover, they were much faster than flying unaided.
Of course, Martial Saints were an exception.
After the nine had departed, at a concealed spot on the outskirts of the Nanyang Mountain Range, a figure hurriedly entered a cave residence and reported to the Shangguan family patriarch, Shangguan Rui. “Patriarch, they have left.”
“Which directions?”
Shangguan Rui asked.
“The three we tracked with our Shangguan family’s Breath-Seeking Pellets: two have headed north, while the third has gone west towards Yan Province.”
The figure reported.
“No matter how strong they are, they are only youths.”
Shangguan Rui sighed. “But this is good. It gives our Shangguan family a real chance to earn the Ji family’s regard.”
The appearance of these nine had nearly wiped out the elite force the Ji family had sent, and the Shangguan family had also suffered heavy losses.
Yet under Shangguan Rui’s leadership, most of their deployed clansmen had survived.
Moreover, they had managed to administer Breath-Seeking Pellets to three of them.
At long distances, the pellets could not be detected, but within a hundred li radius, they could precisely locate and identify the targets.
With this ability, they could provide enormous convenience to the Ji family.
When that happened, the Shangguan family would receive heavy favour from the Ji family and soar to greatness, with a bright future ahead.
“Summon Elders Shangguan Chang, Shangguan Cen, and Shangguan Wen. They will accompany me north to report to the Ji family. The rest return to the clan.”
Shangguan Rui instructed the figure.
“Yes!”
The figure nodded and quickly withdrew.
At another hidden location, someone from the Ouyang family also rushed to report.
“Report! The four we tracked have departed: two headed west, two northwest.”
The person reported.
“The Ji family is north in Yang Province. Since these people offended the Ji family, heading to Yan Province would be safest. They would certainly make such a choice.”
Ouyang family patriarch Ouyang Yi spoke calmly. “However, Yan Province is still immensely far from here. Reaching it will not be easy for them, and even if they enter Yan Province, they may not escape the Ji family’s pursuit.”
“Young yet already possessing such strength, and knowing we were screening for Lin Xiao, they even wiped out the Ji family members. If my guess is correct, these people are probably all connected to Lin Xiao.”
“The Ji family spared no expense in their search precisely to find those linked to Lin Xiao. These people have delivered themselves uninvited. As long as we pass the information upward and the Ji family locates them, our Ouyang family will earn their favour and rise to prominence in no time.”
Cold light flickered in Ouyang Yi’s eyes. “Shangguan Rui, I wonder if you can keep up this time?”
“Patriarch, then we…”
The subordinate waited for instructions.
“I will personally report to the Ji family. Summon the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Elders to me. The rest return to the clan.”
Ouyang Yi ordered.
“Yes!”
The reporter withdrew.
