Chapter 277: The Unreasonably Strong An Wang

“What happened?” Chu Danqing rushed over, glancing around as he spoke.

Yang Qianyuan and Li Wanwu are missing; Tang Ziwei is wounded, and his Purple Palace spirit beast, the Celestial White Python, along with the Peach Blossom Spear, are also injured.

The male servants of the Yun Mansion fared worse—every one of them was wounded, and several were dead.

Half of the Diamond Force Spirits and Dragon Horses were slain; as for the Pure Yang Celestials and Yin Dark Maidens, Chu Danqing sensed their residual energy.

They’re dead too.

Fortunately, Yang Qianyuan was unharmed; Chu Danqing had Da Bai heal everyone.

“It was An Wang Yang Qianjing—he attacked,” Yang Qianyuan said after steadying himself.

“Him? How could he kill the Pure Yang Celestials and Yin Dark Maidens? And even finish off half of my Diamond Force Spirits and Dragon Horses?” Chu Danqing’s expression was filled with doubt.

“He’s incredibly strong—and unnaturally so,” Yang Qianyuan said helplessly. “The spirit beast An Wang cultivated, the Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon, belongs to the Heavenly Mechanism lineage.”

“Leveraging the Heavenly Mechanism’s advantages, his first strike killed the Yin Dark Maiden. The Pure Yang Celestial was fast, closed in, fought three rounds—but was caught off-guard and slain.”

“I suspect that thing may no longer be the Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon—it’s a new evolutionary path.” Yang Qianyuan summarized briefly.

The evolutionary paths granted by the Spirit Beast Codex were developed by prodigies themselves—not descended from heaven.

Chu Danqing could also research an evolutionary path for his Heart-to-Heart Lotus Seed, but with his current knowledge, developing one on par with the Reincarnation Nirvana Lotus would take three to five years.

Research isn’t something you think of in one second and then magically produce the result the next.

Natives have an advantage here.

“Where are Li Wanwu and Yang Qianyuan?” Chu Danqing simultaneously re-summoned the slain Pure Yang Celestials, Yin Dark Maidens, and the Diamond Force Spirits and Dragon Horses.

“Captured by An Wang—headed north,” Yang Qianyuan immediately pointed the direction.

As for Heavenly Mechanism divination, An Wang’s Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon also belongs to the Heavenly Mechanism lineage—far stronger than Yang Qianyuan’s Omen Spider.

Not only could they not extract any information, they risked being misled or countered.

It’s better to just go by direct direction.

“Diverting the tiger from the mountain, huff~” Chu Danqing exhaled a long breath.

It seemed An Wang’s original target was Yang Qianyuan, the Emperor of Anyong—yet his plans kept encountering unexpected obstacles, forcing him to act personally in the end.

He must have been tracking Yang Qianyuan ever since his escape, but Yang Qianyuan carried potent spiritual treasures as protection, disrupting the Heavenly Mechanism divination.

By the time An Wang finally located Yang Qianyuan, Prince Ning had already launched his rebellion faster.

Heavenly Mechanism divination isn’t infallible—it always has blind spots.

“Guo, let’s go—we’re rescuing them,” Chu Danqing said.

The trial mission hasn’t failed, so Yang Qianyuan and Li Wanwu are still alive—or maybe dead, but the timer hasn’t run out yet.

“You two head back and find Xiong Mou—the Prince Ning rebels are currently under his command. Qianyuan, you’re imperial family—help him handle it,” Chu Danqing said.

Yang Qianyuan’s expression darkened with confusion—what did he mean, “help”?

He knew nothing about administration, military affairs, or any of that.

After all, he was the Prince of Jiaoying—not a power-holding vassal.

He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped—Guo Ming had already taken Chu Danqing and Da Bao and flown off on their sword.

“Let’s go meet up with Xiong Mou,” Tang Ziwei said. He didn’t know who Xiong Mou was, but he trusted Chu Danqing wouldn’t betray them.

Yang Qianyuan could only nod and boarded the Eight Steeds Ascending Dragon Carriage.

Walking back the same way would take forever.

Besides, among their group, only Tang Ziwei could fight—without protection, they’d never survive long enough to reach Xiong Zhigang.

So Chu Danqing left the Eight Steeds Ascending Dragon Carriage with them.

Guo Ming’s combat power was enough—if even he couldn’t win, the Pure Yang Celestials and the rest were useless.

Guo Ming was a combat tier apart.

“Do you think An Wang might be like the Taichang Emperor or the Holy Mother Empress Dowager?” Chu Danqing asked.

In a Level 1 trial world—especially one with a clear power cap—how could someone appear who could instantly kill the Yin Dark Maiden and slay the Pure Yang Celestial in three strikes?

He must be Level 3.

The base stats of the Yin Dark Maiden and Pure Yang Celestial were already at Level 2’s limit.

Chu Danqing knew this because Guo Ming could do the same.

“High probability,” Guo Ming said grimly. “He’s very likely an Apostle’s ally.”

Any fool could see how vital this trial world was for Summoner Apostles.

Whether for growth resources or strategic bonuses, it was tailor-made for Summoners.

Anything Chu Danqing could deduce, other Apostles could too.

They might have already completed their plans.

Otherwise, why would An Wang suddenly rebel?

Strategic bonus output directly correlates with territory and influence.

“How confident are you?” Chu Danqing asked.

“I need to see him to judge—but don’t worry, I brought plenty of consumables,” Guo Ming said. After encountering the Ghost Army in his last trial world, he’d reflected deeply.

Since his own power couldn’t rise fast enough, he’d switched tactics—stockpiling high-grade consumables as supplements.

Due to the Paradise’s restrictions, these high-grade consumables required notarization if given to Chu Danqing—but he could use them himself without spending Paradise Points.

So he could use them freely.

As for giving them to Chu Danqing to use—first, he might not know how, and second, if Paradise deemed it “used,” he’d have to pay again for notarization.

He’d considered bringing a low-grade one to test, but he’d wait until Chu Danqing’s Paradise Points were more plentiful.

With this batch of resources, Chu Danqing’s entire fortune would be drained.

One single Paradise Point was earned at the cost of life and death—how could it be wasted?

“Alright, stay alert—hit him with a barrage of consumables first, test his strength,” Chu Danqing said.

Chu Danqing had another theory: An Wang might not be an ally like Guo Ming, Xiong Zhigang, or Yang Qianyuan.

He might be a follower, like the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.

The difference between a follower and a permanent summon lies in authority and independence.

Da Bao, bound by contract to Chu Danqing, was a permanent summon—he benefited from Chu Danqing’s Summoner bonuses.

A follower’s official term is “Follower”—an independent entity, unaffected by Summoner bonuses, more like a sub-authorized Apostle.

Followers can equip gear, get notarizations, trigger quests, open chests, and possess their own storage space and authority panels.

Some can even enter trial missions independently.

But all Paradise Points and items a Follower gains are under the Apostle’s control.

For Chu Danqing, neither Da Bao nor Guo Ming had these authorities—they could only follow him.

Thus, Apostles who develop Followers aren’t Summoners—they’re Team Apostles.

Which system is stronger? It depends on the person, not the system.

“That’s him,” Guo Ming pointed to a distant black dot.

In his vision, the dot was clear—a stunningly beautiful celestial dragon, its scales like polished ink jade.

But Chu Danqing’s stats were lower, so his vision couldn’t match—his eyes only caught a faint black speck.

“Can’t see it,” Chu Danqing admitted honestly. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t recognize An Wang.”

“I only know Yang Qianyuan and Li Wanwu.”

“An Wang’s spirit beast is an Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon—a long black dragon,” Chu Danqing explained.

Guo Ming studied it closely and nodded. “That’s him.”

“Wait—he sensed me.” Guo Ming’s expression hardened. He was undoubtedly Level 3 too.

“Normal. Heavenly Mechanism types have innate advantages in perception and spirit—if he’s your level, he likely has extra talents or skills,” Chu Danqing wasn’t surprised.

But his power still couldn’t match Guo Ming’s.

“He sensed my strength—he’s accelerating,” Guo Ming remained calm.

The Sword of Zi Shi, the Sword of Chou Shi, the Sword of Yin Shi, the Sword of Mao Shi—all four swords flared with radiant light like boosters.

Guo Ming’s sword-flight speed surged fourfold.

“Whoa!” Chu Danqing felt the G-force so violently he nearly vomited—but he clenched his jaw and swallowed it back.

Mostly because his stomach was empty—if he threw up, it’d be just stomach acid.

As they closed the distance, Chu Danqing finally saw the Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon clearly.

But his focus wasn’t on the dragon—it was on the two people clutched in its claws.

Yang Qianyuan and Li Wanwu.

Standing atop the dragon’s head was a middle-aged man—An Wang Yang Qianjing.

His gaze locked onto Guo Ming, completely ignoring Chu Danqing.

“Chu, fly steady—I’ll kill this bastard,” Guo Ming said, instantly transforming into a streak of sword-light toward Yang Qianjing.

Yang Qianjing smiled—as if he’d foreseen this through Heavenly Mechanism divination.

The Ink Shadow Celestial Dragon’s form dissolved like foam—the sword-streak pierced through empty air.

He opened his mouth: “We’re all from the same place, you—”

But his expression twisted in shock.

Da Gu’s Echoing Gale of Sorrow had finished its chant.

It had locked onto Yang Qianjing.

He wanted to dodge—but four swords had already arrived silently behind him.

Guo Ming, to suppress the slowing of his cultivation progress, shifted focus to intensified combat training.

Whether sparring or practicing sword techniques, he used the highest-tier equipment available in the Guo clan.

The advantage from his previous Heavenly Mechanism divination could not save him from a second strike.

(End of Chapter)