Chapter 35: Conscription Order

"Dao Ming, you're back!" Everyone's faces lit up with surprise and joy.

"Yes, I just returned. Just now, Xiao Wei said you were holding a meeting in the inner courtyard, so I hurried over—I didn't know Master was planning to go somewhere alone?" Xia Daoming asked.

Upon hearing this, Master Yuchi Xiao and the others immediately lost their expressions of joy, each wearing looks of worry.

But Liang Liang Jingtang wore a calm expression: "Dao Ming, you've returned at just the right time. I have some matters to entrust to you—please sit down first."

"Understood." Xia Daoming nodded and sat beside Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang.

The incident at Yao Hua Lou over three months ago had clearly struck Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang hard; once graceful and alluring, she now looked worn down, fine lines of crow's feet appearing at the corners of her eyes.

"This morning, the Xu family issued a conscription order to multiple factions in Li City, demanding troops be sent into Vast Mountain for a mission. I am among those conscripted—this journey may mean life or death.

You are my final disciple. Whether or not you ever reach the fifth-rank realm, I hope you will stay behind to assist your Senior Brother Wei Chi in managing the Qianjiao Martial Arts School —it's at least a way to ensure the school's survival." After Xia Daoming sat down, Liang Jingtang spoke slowly.

"Our Qianjiao Martial Arts School isn't under the Xu family—why must we obey their conscription order?" Xia Daoming replied, first startled, then frowning.

"The Xu family is Li City's only Master-level clan, and their current patriarch, Xu Xu Shangdong, holds the official title of Li City's County Magistrate under the imperial court—they are unquestionably the dominant power. When they issue a conscription order, only the Lin family, Ding family, and Ba Ba Dao Men can even challenge them—who dares refuse?" Liang Liang Jingtang sighed bitterly.

"By acting so tyrannically, don't they fear inciting widespread outrage?" Xia Daoming asked.

"Normally, any faction is conscripted only once every five years, and never their leaders—so even if resentful, all sides accept it.

But this time is unusual: it's been moved up two years, and they're demanding my presence as a sixth-rank Great Wu Shi." Liang Liang Jingtang explained.

"Hmph, what 'unusual'? This is clearly Xu Xu Shisen using official power to settle personal grudges, trying to send Master into mortal danger!" Master Yuchi Xiao growled angrily.

"It's all my fault—if not for me, this wouldn't have happened…" Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang's eyes filled with tears, her face heavy with guilt.

"This has nothing to do with you. Even without the Yao Hua Lou incident, the Xu family would still have chosen me." Liang Liang Jingtang waved his hand to cut her off.

"Correct. The Lin, Ding, and Ba Ba Dao Men are powerful—the Xu family's patriarch doesn't want to fight them to mutual ruin. But as long as he lives, the Xu family can still suppress them.

This time, those conscripted are mostly factions with some ties to the Lin, Ding, and Ba Ba Dao Men, yet aren't their true vassals.

The Xu patriarch wants to force us to declare our allegiance while he still holds power over them—making us fight and die for them.

He also aims to weaken the potential allies of the Lin, Ding, and Ba Ba Dao Men through this mission—a single strike hitting two targets. It has nothing to do with you, Sister Liu." Zhuo Zhuo Xingji chimed in.

"This Xu patriarch is truly cunning and cruel—he's calculated human nature perfectly. If he directly mobilized troops from the three families, it would be like slashing their flesh—they'd rise up and fight to the death.

But by targeting us, the knife doesn't cut them, so it's meaningless to them—they won't lift a finger for us. In doing so, he's successfully sowing discord between us and them." After listening, Xia Daoming finally understood, speaking coldly.

The meeting hall fell silent.

Everyone stared at Xia Daoming in shock.

Xia Daoming came from a small northern town; everyone assumed his insight and judgment were limited.

Moreover, his cultivation base showed no hope of reaching fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, and over three months ago he'd even brought four pretty maidservants at once—leading Liang Liang Jingtang and the others to label him as mediocre.

Yet now, he'd suddenly spoken words so piercingly perceptive.

Instantly, everyone regarded him with new respect, as if meeting him for the first time.

"Did I say something wrong?" Xia Daoming, seeing their stares, shrugged and asked.

Come on—his past life was an age of information overload; these conspiracies were everywhere online!

"You didn't say anything wrong—in fact, you see through this clearly. Originally, I was uneasy entrusting the Qianjiao Martial Arts School to your Senior Brother Wei Chi.

He's upright and loyal, but lacks cunning and experience. Without someone beside him to guide and oversee, the school will inevitably decline.

Now that you're here to assist him, I feel at ease. Though young and unlikely to ever reach fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, your insight and strategic depth are exceptional." Liang Liang Jingtang stroked his beard, his gaze toward Xia Daoming revealing rare approval.

"What mission is Master undertaking in Vast Mountain?" Xia Daoming, unmoved by the praise, shifted the topic.

"Hunt the Ice Rabbit, gather Ice Purple Purple Shouwu." Liang Liang Jingtang replied.

"Ice Rabbit? Ice Purple Purple Shouwu?" Xia Daoming blinked in surprise.

He knew the Ice Rabbit well.

It was the beast required to brew his Jin Wu Return Yuan Decoction.

And the Ice Purple Purple Shouwu—he'd just managed to acquire one hundred-year specimen on this trip.

Its medicinal power was fierce, yet an excellent tonic—unfortunately, he'd only been lucky enough to find one.

"According to Wen Wu Yue, the decoction brewed from Ice Rabbit and Jin Wu Grass can help a seventh-rank Great Wu Shi break through to eighth-rank, and greatly enhance an eighth-rank's cultivation."

Could the Xu family also possess Jin Wu Grass, hence designing this mission? And what about the Ice Purple Purple Shouwu—why specifically demand this potent herb? After his initial shock, Xia Daoming fell into deep thought.

"Juvenile Ice Rabbits are Level One Mid-rank beasts; they can grow into Level One High-rank beasts—hunting them is extremely dangerous.

Ice Purple Purple Shouwu is a potent herb with fierce medicinal properties, yet can be consumed directly. Ice Rabbits feed on Ice Purple Purple Shouwu; wherever Ice Rabbits roam, Ice Purple Purple Shouwu typically grows.

Since the Xu family wants to hunt Ice Rabbits, they'll naturally also collect Ice Purple Purple Shouwu nearby." Seeing Xia Daoming frown in thought, Liang Liang Jingtang, assuming no hidden meaning, offered this explanation.

"I see." Xia Daoming nodded, momentarily relieved, then added: "The Xu family must know the Ice Rabbits' habitat.

Otherwise, Vast Mountain stretches tens of thousands of miles—dense forests, towering peaks. Searching for Ice Rabbits there is like looking for a needle in a sea. Not to mention the toxic mists, swarms of insects and snakes, and powerful beasts lurking throughout.

If you search aimlessly, you'd likely die before even glimpsing an Ice Rabbit."

"Of course! Thirty years ago, the Xu family once organized expeditions into Vast Mountain to hunt Ice Rabbits—and they only operated near the outer edges.

Deep within Vast Mountain, legends say Level Three and even Level Four beasts dwell—beings more terrifying than Grand Masters. Entering the depths to hunt Ice Rabbits would be suicide.

Knowing it's a death sentence, even if the Xu family is powerful, those conscripted would rather rebel than obey." Liang Liang Jingtang replied.

"But even the outer edges are perilous. A juvenile Ice Rabbit alone is equivalent to a fifth-rank—or even higher—Great Wu Shi. You'll need at least a few more companions.

As for the Qianjiao Martial Arts School, you yourself said Junior Brother Xia has exceptional insight and strategic depth. Letting him manage things temporarily shouldn't be a problem." Wei Chi Xiao took over.

"Our Qianjiao Martial Arts School has no fifth-rank Great Martial Master to stand guard—what kind of reputation is this? Enough. Don't argue further—I've made my decision. I'll go alone." Liang Jingtang waved his hand, cutting him off.

"Xu Shixiong Master Yuchi, besides our side, who else will be going?" Xia Daoming glanced at the others, hesitated, then asked.

"I don't yet know the exact names, but besides the Xu family, at least seven or eight other factions will be involved, and the Xu family will surely send some Great Martial Masters along.

Moreover, there will certainly be at least one seventh-rank, possibly even an eighth-rank Great Wu Shi leading and overseeing the mission. With so many traveling together, you needn't worry excessively." Liang Liang Jingtang replied, a trace of melancholy hidden in his eyes.

He knew well—among all those conscripted, he was likely the only one without a companion.

"Xu Shixiong Master Yuchi is right—this mission is perilous. Having one more ally nearby means one more chance of survival. I wish to accompany Master." After weighing his thoughts, Xia Daoming rose to his feet.

The moment Xia Daoming spoke, the meeting hall fell silent again.

Everyone stared at him in astonishment.

Master Yuchi Xiao and the other three had been Liang Liang Jingtang's disciples for years, bound by deep bonds and shared interests.

Even so, facing such peril, they'd needed great courage to even consider volunteering.

But Xia Daoming had only joined Liang Liang Jingtang's school less than a year ago, and his cultivation was merely fourth-rank—his decision to volunteer stunned them all.

Instantly, Master Yuchi Xiao and the others' gazes toward Xia Daoming shifted again.

"I'm deeply moved by your loyalty! But your strength is still too low—Vast Mountain isn't safe for you yet." Liang Jingtang waved his hand, signaling him to sit, his melancholy vanishing.

Though his school lacked outstanding disciples, this genuine filial devotion—how many school masters could claim such loyalty?

"My strength isn't as low as you think." Xia Daoming smiled faintly, and five distinct qi currents—each with unique properties from different meridians—emerged from his body, intertwining into a powerful aura.

Having entered sixth-rank Great Wu Shi, Xia Daoming's Dragon Concealment Technique had grown more refined, effectively suppressing the qi of his sixth meridian.

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