Chapter 100: Luo Sha Gorge

After breakfast, Chu Danqing practiced steadily for half an hour, and the derivative skill Five Elements Nourishment Art increased by one level.

On the other side, Xiong Zhigang bought a carriage through Yuan Chong, and the group set off again.

It wasn't just them who were leaving; Yuan Chong also packed his bags and headed toward the Canluo Sect for a competition and to arrange the marriage.

This shocked Zhao Mingqian, who couldn't care about anything else and scrambled to run away.

On the road, Chu Danqing couldn't help but tease: "You, you've been entangled."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of horse hooves chasing from behind.

Chu Danqing poked his head out to look, then decisively pulled it back in.

It was Yuan Shanhu chasing after them on horseback, and a gloating expression appeared on Chu Danqing's face.

Zhao Mingqian's bitter smile instantly turned into horror.

"Aren't you following Senior Yuan to Canluo Mountain? The Capital and Canluo Mountain are in opposite directions." Zhao Mingqian truly didn't expect this situation to happen.

"I told my father that I was afraid you were young and ignorant and would be deceived by others, so I came to escort you," Yuan Shanhu said with an "I'm doing this for your own good" attitude.

How could Chu Danqing not know her thoughts? She was just afraid of extra trouble and worried that Zhao Mingqian would be intercepted by someone else on the road.

Wouldn't she be at a huge loss then?

So, gritting her teeth, she decided to follow Zhao Mingqian to the Capital.

Not to mention Chu Danqing, having Xiong Zhigang, who had old experience, was much better than Yuan Shanhu.

Zhao Mingqian looked at Chu Danqing and Xiong Zhigang, thinking of letting them give him some ideas.

Chu Danqing, however, looked at his nose and his heart, calmly condensing the Five Elements Spirit Seal, looking as if he had no time at all.

Since Zhao Mingqian wasn't being treated as a scapegoat, Chu Danqing felt embarrassed to get involved.

Xiong Zhigang also gave a bitter smile: "Miss Yuan, the journey to the Capital is extremely dangerous..."

"Although my martial arts are not as good as my father's, I obtained my mother's Confusing Smoke technique," Yuan Shanhu said proudly: "Even if my father were careless and fell for my smoke, he would have to sleep for a while."

"Besides, I also know the Heavenly Wolf Sword Art and have the ability to protect myself."

Her meaning was that she didn't want to leave. Xiong Zhigang tried to dissuade her repeatedly, but it had no effect; she was determined to follow Zhao Mingqian, having a trend of being like a dog-skin plaster.

In the end, Xiong Zhigang had no choice and could only let it be, allowing her to follow.

Although there was one more person, there wasn't much change.

During this period, because Chu Danqing had been condensing the Five Elements Spirit Seal and practicing with full concentration, he didn't pay much attention to the outside situation.

They were chatting enthusiastically, while Chu Danqing appeared very silent.

Xiong Zhigang and the others could see that Chu Danqing was busy, so not only did they not disturb him, but they also tried to make the carriage ride as smooth as possible.

It wasn't until the five magic orbs completely turned into Spirit Seals that Chu Danqing breathed a sigh of relief.

【Five Elements Spirit Seal (Derivative) LV. MAX】

【Metal Spirit Seal: Summoned object negative status resistance +20 points within a 20-meter range】

【Wood Spirit Seal: Summoned object HP +200 points within a 20-meter range】

【Water Spirit Seal: Summoned object Mana +200 points within a 20-meter range】

【Fire Spirit Seal: Summoned object Attack Power +20 points within a 20-meter range】

【Earth Spirit Seal: Summoned object Defense +20 points within a 20-meter range】

With the Five Elements passive of the Five Elements Spirit Beast Command Art plus the range aura of the Five Elements Spirit Seal, the strength of the summoned objects was improved once again.

The secret art as a derivative skill was maxed out, but the range and bonus of the Spirit Seal depended on the level of the Five Elements magic orbs of the Five Elements Spirit Beast Command Art.

Max level only meant that the number of Spirit Seals that could be condensed reached the limit.

After all, the Spirit Seal itself was refined from magic orbs, and its essence hadn't changed; it just belonged to a variant of the magic orb.

The level increase of the Five Elements magic orbs would naturally enhance the effect of the Spirit Seal.

Next, only the secret art of the Five Elements Nourishment Art remained not maxed out.

The quality of this secret art was not as good as the Five Elements Spirit Seal, but the improvement method was bound to cultivation, which would take time.

Chu Danqing estimated that before arriving at the Capital, it should also be able to be cultivated to the full level.

"Mr. Chu, have you succeeded in your cultivation?" Xiong Zhigang cared first.

He was sitting in the carriage with Chu Danqing, so the changes in the magic orbs were naturally seen in his eyes.

"Succeeded; Dabao and the War Tiger and the others have become stronger again." Chu Danqing didn't plan to deny it.

There was nothing to hide.

"That's truly great. About three miles ahead is Luo Sha Gorge," Xiong Zhigang said: "It wasn't originally called this name."

"Later, a female bandit called the Jade-Faced Luo Sha occupied this place and forcibly changed it to this name."

"Ordinary people passing by have to pay a toll."

"If it's merchants or officials, it's even more troublesome. Now that I am notorious, I'm afraid I need your help, Mr. Chu, to get through."

Hearing this, Chu Danqing scratched his head; he heard the words, but didn't quite understand.

"You mean, a bandit not only blocks the road to rob but also doubles down on officials." He knew that forest bandits were everywhere, but this was stepping on the face of the imperial court, and they were still living well.

He had heard of an imperial court that was far-reaching in its compensation to outsiders but heavy-handed internally, but this was the first time he had seen one that was soft both internally and externally.

"Luo Sha Gorge is easy to defend and hard to attack, and the mountain road is rugged." Yuan Shanhu hadn't been there but had heard of it, so she added: "Government troops have tried to suppress them several times but failed."

"That Jade-Faced Luo Sha has high martial arts skills. Whoever dares to lead troops to suppress the bandits, the Jade-Faced Luo Sha would come down the mountain at night and take their head."

"After a few times, it was left at that." Yuan Shanhu didn't have a good impression of the forest bandits.

Luo Sha Gorge and Yuan Manor were nearly a hundred miles apart. Yuan Chong had visited the mountain and fought with the Jade-Faced Luo Sha, which was how Yuan Shanhu knew about it.

The winner was naturally Yuan Chong, which made Luo Sha Gorge and Yuan Manor keep to their own business later on.

Yuan Manor was not small and was wealthy, so it must have been targeted.

Without financial resources, they couldn't support Yuan Chong, the Iron Palm Flying Dragon.

Practicing martial arts not only required leaving production but also resources; without enough family foundation to support it, one simply couldn't practice it.

Not to mention that there were more than just Yuan Chong and Yuan Shanhu practicing martial arts in Yuan Manor; many Yuan family members also practiced martial arts to strengthen their bodies.

Unlike forest bandits who didn't engage in production and lived by plundering, Yuan Manor could be self-sufficient.

"Trash." Chu Danqing directly cursed the imperial court; he wasn't a native and wouldn't have a sense of awe.

"Little Chu, ahead, messy, people, bad." Dabao suddenly poked his head in and gave Chu Danqing a reminder.

Dabao only recognized Chu Danqing and didn't recognize anyone else, so he would only tell Chu Danqing if there was anything.

Once these words came out, the old servant immediately pulled the reins, and Zhao Mingqian and Yuan Shanhu also became vigilant.

"The battle formation is not small; they couldn't wait and were already prepared outside Luo Sha Gorge." Chu Danqing didn't ask how far away it was; Dabao couldn't describe it.

"It must be aimed at you, Grand Coordinator Xiong."

Chu Danqing still remembered that he had a C-level side quest to escort Xiong Zhigang to the Capital.

On the way to the Capital, it was hard to have peace.

Compared to the Seven Heroes of Tiger Ravine, the Jade-Faced Luo Sha not only had many people and was well-prepared but also had stronger strength.

He suspected it was very likely the work of the Qiutan Party or the Secret Service Factory behind the scenes; otherwise, how could they dare to be so arrogant.

Chu Danqing estimated that this time he would inevitably have to let Guo Ming help him again.

For a time, gongs and drums were noisy, and firecrackers were ringing; they heard the movement from far away.

A woman riding a large jujube-red horse led a large number of forest bandits to block their path and set up a formation.

"Xiong Zhigang, you really made me wait," the Jade-Faced Luo Sha pulled the reins, her tone quite arrogant.

However, her appearance was beautiful; Zhao Mingqian was stunned when he saw her, secretly thinking why such a beauty would be a bandit.

Only Chu Danqing and Dabao didn't have much feeling.

In the modernized world where the former was located, makeup and beauty filters were like changing heads, so it wasn't rare at all.

The latter was relatively pure, simply having low intelligence and ignoring it directly.

"Three thousand taels of gold, and you only hired these stinky fish and rotten shrimp?" The Jade-Faced Luo Sha scanned the circle, her face showing disdain.

Chu Danqing didn't hesitate and directly threw a Spirit Sight Art to scout.

The other party was impolite in her speech, so why would he be polite?

【Jade-Faced Luo Sha】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100%】

【Mana: 550】

【Strength: 10】

【Agility: 10】

【Constitution: 10】

【Spirit: 10】

【Perception: 10】

【Skills】

【Luo Sha Heart Art LV. 45】

【Jade-Faced Sword Art LV. 45】

【Lotus Shift Step LV. 45】

【Basic Melee LV. MAX】

【Melee Mastery LV. 1】

【Basic Sword Art LV. MAX】

【Sword Art Mastery LV. 1】

Chu Danqing's behavior was immediately detected by the Jade-Faced Luo Sha, which angered her on the spot.

"Hmph, you thieving rat-eyed bastard, you're definitely not a good thing." As the Jade-Faced Luo Sha spoke, she directly drew her long sword, her whole body leaped up, and she drifted toward him like a lotus flower.

The long sword went straight for Chu Danqing's vital points.

Dabao blocked in front of Chu Danqing at the first moment, activated the Rending Claws, and without any hesitation, met her head-on.

Instinct and intuition versus sword technique skills; Dabao was naturally inferior.

The Jade-Faced Luo Sha's skill panel was far superior to his.

At the same time, Chu Danqing also summoned all his summoned objects to launch an attack.

In an instant, they caught the group of Luo Sha Gorge forest bandits off guard.

They didn't expect the Jade-Faced Luo Sha to start fighting before she had even finished her harsh words.

This time, the Single-Horned Flood Dragon showed its power; range, expansion, and spreading toxin spells fell among the forest bandits, quickly causing mass casualties.

It was just a pity for the Repeating Crossbowmen; without the Single-Horned Flood Dragon's enchantment, the crossbow bolts turned back into ordinary physical attacks.

However, it was precisely because of his coordination that Dabao was able to delay the Jade-Faced Luo Sha.

"Despicable, actually daring to sneak attack!" After the Jade-Faced Luo Sha deflected the crossbow bolts with her long sword, she glared at Chu Danqing with wide eyes.

However, Chu Danqing ignored the other party and directly activated the Blood Oath Covenant to summon Guo Ming.

【You summoned the covenant object, this time consuming Paradise Points × 1000】

【Covenant object has responded】

【Covenant object summoning cognition rationalization modification complete】

A vortex appeared, and Guo Ming's figure emerged.

"Brother Chu, dead or alive?" He had the experience from last time, so this time he went straight to the topic.

It wouldn't be too late to chat after solving the enemy.

"All dead, leave none behind." Chu Danqing wouldn't show mercy just because the other party was good-looking.

Regardless of what the enemy looked like, a dead enemy was the best enemy.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 101 =====