Chapter 289

And before the Yuan Mountain Baptism began.

Suke Dynasty, Water River Region.

This is the location of the Suke Dynasty's largest Suke Mine.

The accompanying troops were too slow, still on the way to the Suke Dynasty, while Shen He and the others had first brought Cha Ku and rushed to the Suke Dynasty.

Suke Stone, as the national stone of the Suke Dynasty, has a huge mining scale here, and even a small city named Su City was built not far from the mine.

Cha Ku led Shen He and the others into Su City, then turned back, smiling, and said.

"Old Shen, everyone, you've worked hard coming all this way; the mine is not far ahead, don't rush, let me first give you a welcome feast to wash away the dust."

Shen He raised his hand: "Forget it, important matters come first, we can put off eating."

The task of handling the Suke Stone was given to him by Shen Qing, and it was also his first such major task; he resolutely decided to give it his all.

Throughout history, many have ruined things by eating; he cannot let this happen to himself.

Cha Ku naturally obeyed Shen He's order, immediately leading the way: "Exactly, exactly, important matters come first."

"Then follow me; the person in charge of the mine for my dynasty is in the palace ahead."

They quickly approached the palace while also observing the surroundings.

They could of course fly straight there, but the Shadow Guard's vigilance does not allow it.

Shen He and the others kept scanning both sides of the street, gradually they really noticed something, and their faces turned ugly.

A middle-aged man approached Shen He: "Old Shen, have you noticed anything?"

Shen He didn't turn back, his voice flat: "How about you?"

They glanced at each other and all nodded.

Now it was Cha Ku's turn to be dumbfounded: "Sirs, what did you discover?"

Shen He glanced at him, grabbed him, and used a bit of Primordial Qi to muffle sound: "Look at the pastry seller at the street corner, the tea vendor in black clothes behind the left hand, and the food stall on the right—all have problems."

Cha Ku looked closely several times but saw no problem, swallowed, and said: "Old Shen, do they really have any issues?"

Shen He's eyes turned cold: "These people are all Japanese pirates; your Suke Dynasty has plenty of them."

Hearing this, Cha Ku broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead: "This... this is impossible; my Suke Dynasty's relations with the Japanese pirates have always been bad."

"Could Old Shen possibly..."

Because of the relations between Great Wu and the Japanese pirates, and since the Suke Dynasty is a vassal of Great Wu, the Suke Dynasty's relations with the Japanese pirates are also bad.

Shen He released his arm, a flash of cold light in his eyes: "I've spent over three hundred years in the Shadow Guard, specializing in this line of work; I couldn't be mistaken."

"Moreover, I wasn't referring to you; they are all disguised infiltrators, surely with some scheme."

Cha Ku came to his senses, only feeling a chill down his spine: "Does Old Shen mean this group of Japanese pirates is also after the Suke Stone?"

Shen He nodded: "The Martial Emperor summoned all the Martial Saints of the world to Great Wu for deliberations; even those who didn't come explained their reasons to the Martial Emperor, except this group of Japanese pirates, who gave no reason and didn't come."

"Moreover, in this Yuan Mountain Contest, as far as I know, no Heavenly Pride of the Japanese pirates has come."

"Moreover, if the Japanese pirates were involved with Evil Spirits, they might indeed have discovered the Suke Stone even earlier than us."

Several middle-aged Shadow Guards came to Shen He's side: "Old Shen, why don't I go capture a few tongues to ask?"

Shen He said nothing, lowered his head to think for a moment, then shook his head: "No need for that trouble; capturing tongues now would startle the snake."

"Anyway, our relations with these Japanese pirates are also bad; a thousand years ago, after the Martial Emperor and the Founding Ancestor unified Great Wu, they intended to act against the Japanese pirates."

"As a result, the Evil Spirits came and actually saved their lives; moreover, this group of Japanese pirates has never been at peace since, and now the Martial Emperor happens to be free—if they truly are involved with Evil Spirits again, then it's perfect; we can settle new and old grudges together."

Saying this, Shen He looked back at the few Shadow Guards following him: "You two, go fast; return immediately to the Capital City and inform Young Master Shen Qing and the Martial Emperor and his entourage."

Then he pointed at another two people: "You two, immediately head to southern Great Wu to covertly gather troops, meet at the Great Wu border, and when the Capital's reinforcements arrive, give these Japanese pirates a surprise."

"As for me and Cha Ku, we will continue to lie low here and gather information."

Capital City.

Shen Residence.

One day has passed since the Yuan Mountain Baptism; Shen Qing quietly sensed his Blade Dao Domain.

As of now, the Blade Dao Domain is Shen Qing's strongest domain; even the earliest comprehended Slaughter Domain cannot compare, and pure Blade Intent can almost cut through anything.

Moreover, Shen Qing has now comprehended three domains and can attempt the Martial Emperor's path of domain fusion; the first step is domain superposition.

Just then, a person came running in haste to Qilin Mountain—none other than Shen Dong, who had accompanied Shen He to the Suke Dynasty.

Shen Qing withdrew his Blade Dao Domain: "Shen Dong? Weren't you supposed to go to the Suke Dynasty? How did you come back so quickly?"

Shen Dong raced all the way without stopping, finally rushing back to the Shen Residence today; his Primordial Qi was exhausted, his face turned pale, and he could barely stand.

Shen Qing extended a palm of Primordial Qi to seize Shen Dong and placed him on a chair.

Shen Dong caught his breath: "Young Master Shen! The Suke Dynasty has a situation; I'm back to report!"

"We have discovered many traces of Japanese pirates in the Suke Dynasty!"

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes: "Japanese pirates?"

Shen Dong nodded vigorously, about to explain, but Shen Qing cut him off: "Wait a moment."

Shen Qing called out to Zhu Wu and Shen Wendao on the consciousness network.

In less than three breaths, on the sky above Qilin Mountain, two ripples appeared, and Shen Wendao and Zhu Wu rushed here.

The Qi Fortune incarnation, the Purple Qilin, lifted its eyelids and glanced, full of dissatisfaction, then used its two claws to cover its own ears.

Meeting every day on Qilin Mountain? Is this a teahouse?

Are you still not letting the Qilin sleep?

The two landed, and Shen Dong hastily performed a salute: "Greetings to the Ancestor, greetings to the Martial Emperor."

Shen Wendao spoke: "So what is the situation?"

Shen Dong spoke, explaining the whole story from beginning to end.

The Martial Emperor let out a cold snort: "These damned things, if not for the evil invasion a thousand years ago, we would have wiped them out long ago; I never expected they'd still dare to be arrogant now."

My descendants are also good-for-nothings, always scheming, always stirring up internal strife, letting these beasts live an extra thousand years.

Perfect, I finally have some free time, so let's go see what they're actually up to.

Just then, Shen Qing spoke up: "Please wait, I have a question: what cultivation level is the strongest among the Japanese pirates?"

The Martial Emperor glanced at Shen Qing, understood his meaning, and said: "The strongest right now is a fifth-level Martial Saint."

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes.

I've long wanted to take on the Japanese pirates; my karmic power requires killing and plundering, and my slaughter armor and slaughter totem also need killing to grow stronger.

It's time to go stock up.

Before, I wasn't strong enough, so I let you live a bit longer; now I am strong enough.

Shen Qing is about to begin Heaven-Earth Longevity!