Chapter 429: Azure Forest Xiancheng

After correcting the map, Sun Lingtong discovered that they had already left the scope of the Thousand Peaks Forest by using void traversal to escape and had arrived in the Southern Bean Kingdom.

Checking the situation, the reserve of fire essence had already reached the warning line, and the remaining amount could only open one void traversal. Moreover, the traversal time was very short, and they couldn't go very far.

With such a fire essence reserve, if they returned to the previous state, they might still remain in the scope of the Thousand Peaks Forest and be sensed by the Cave Master of Blood Shadow, thereby launching a pursuit.

The tracking method of the Cave Master of Blood Shadow must be cleared. The Ten Thousand Mile Dragon itself suffered an attack from the Cave Master of Demon Heart and also needed maintenance.

More important than that was Sun Lingtong's current injury.

Sun Lingtong's strategy before was correct; to treat the injury, one must know the specific details, and need a clearer understanding of Old Monster Shi Zhong.

It was just that this time they infiltrated the main mountain gate of the Six-Cave Sect, although they accidentally learned the important intelligence of the mechanical carriage, they did not gain more intelligence about Old Monster Shi Zhong.

As for why the Cave Master of Demon Heart discovered himself, Unlike Ning Zhuo guessed afterward that it was very likely because he had planted "Human Life Hanging by a Thread" on the hooded black-robed cultivators!

Unlike Ning Zhuo did indeed rely on this divine ability to establish many advantages in various aspects. These advantages easily gave people the illusion that the divine ability was invincible.

Now, after the affairs of Linghu Jiu and the Cave Master of Demon Heart, Unlike Ning Zhuo had gradually understood the specific strength of the "Human Life Hanging by a Thread" divine ability.

"Although this divine ability comes from the Three Sects Supreme, if it were really strong and invincible, the territory of the Southern Bean Kingdom would be much larger than it is now."

According to the target provided by Unlike Ning Zhuo, the Ten Thousand Mile Dragon set off again.

Although it did not use the power of void traversal, the flight speed of the Ten Thousand Mile Dragon itself was still considerable.

In about half a day, the two approached their destination—Azure Forest Xiancheng.

Human traces gradually increased, and it was about thirty miles from the Xiancheng when Unlike Ning Zhuo flew out of the mechanical dragon first.

Sun Lingtong still remained in the dragon head cabin; he needed to mobilize his magic power at all times and try other methods to delay the speed of petrification erosion.

Unlike Ning Zhuo still tied the Ten Thousand Mile Dragon around his waist as a belt.

He walked forward on foot, crossing mountains and rivers, his movements light.

Halfway through, the cultivators he encountered increased rapidly.

Not just humans, but also many demon cultivators with exposed chests and savage tribes with rough styles.

Demon cultivators basically didn't have many clothes; they had always been naked in nature to survive when they were demon beasts. Even after becoming demon cultivators and possessing wisdom, this habit was mostly retained.

Demon cultivators preferred loose and elegant clothing, such as robes and long skirts, and many demon cultivators especially liked cloaks and capes.

Their clothes often had rich and colorful decorations, with animal fur, gemstones, flowers, and plants, etc., reflecting their closeness to nature.

The clothing of the savage tribes was mostly animal skin, iron armor, or grass vines with shallow weaving techniques, or even simply using scales.

Savage tribes preferred deep red, earthy yellow, emerald green, and black-gray.

They generally believed that red represented fresh blood, earthy yellow symbolized the earth, emerald green was the mountain forest, and black-gray was the form of all things burned to ashes.

From this, it can be seen that they advocated fighting, bloodiness, bravery, and the connection between individuals and nature.

Their clothing was much tighter than that of demon cultivators, facilitating fighting. The trouser legs were all restrained by leather belts, and the clothing of female savage tribes was simpler and tighter, possessing primitive beauty.

Unlike Ning Zhuo noticed that they often held axes, hammers, and carried spears and bows on their backs. The stronger their strength and the higher their status, the more decorations they would have on their bodies. These decorations were mostly animal teeth, bones, fur, etc.

The necklaces, wrist guards, etc., they wore were all huge, as if the bigger they were, the more they could show their own glory and strength.

These cultivators, like Unlike Ning Zhuo, were all heading to Azure Forest Xiancheng. Some were in a hurry, burying their heads in the journey, while others were walking together, talking and laughing.

Unlike Ning Zhuo looked into the distance at Azure Forest Xiancheng as if seeing a river rising and falling.

The terrain of Azure Forest Xiancheng was not flat; it was built between hills, and the distribution of buildings was adapted to local conditions, scattered and orderly.

Unlike Ning Zhuo looked into the distance and could find the winding streets and tortuous building complexes in the Xiancheng.

Beside the Xiancheng, several military camps had also been built.

One on the east side, heavily guarded, red flags flying, fierce qi rolling, clearly practicing fire-element magic techniques. The camp gate of the one on the west side was wide open, people coming and going, demon cultivators and savage tribes mixed, and the noisy sound waves came in waves.

Vaguely, one could see several other military camps further away.

? cO

When it was ten miles from the Xiancheng, there was a ban in effect, not allowing cultivators to fly. If one wanted to enter the city, one could only walk on foot.

In normal times, it was naturally not like this. But now it was a special period, the great army of the Southern Bean Kingdom was constantly gathering, and the vanguard army had already stationed at the foot of the Thousand Peaks Forest. After that, there were several important towns, and then it was Azure Forest Xiancheng.

As the first Xiancheng closest to the Thousand Peaks Forest battlefield, it would bear the important responsibility of the rear.

Therefore, under military control, the air here had already begun to be banned, strictly preventing peeping and sneak attacks from high altitude.

Unlike Ning Zhuo followed the flow of people and arrived at the city gate.

The city guard army guarded the city gate, requiring each person to pay fifty low-grade spirit stones to enter the city.

"If you want to join the army, you don't have to enter the city. Several military camps outside the city are recruiting talent! Among them, the Bai Yu Camp has the highest reward, twice as high as the lowest Red Flower Camp."

The city guard army shouted loudly from time to time.

Among the cultivators entering the city, quite a few heard the reminder of the city guard army and left the team directly, turning to go to the military camp.

Unlike Ning Zhuo paid the entry fee and officially stepped in, walking into Azure Forest Xiancheng.

The vegetation in Azure Forest Xiancheng was lush, and there were colorful flowers and plants and strange plants everywhere.

The houses in the city spread in curves, scattered and distributed, uneven, although not neat, but had a unique flavor.

Unlike Ning Zhuo couldn't help but take a deep breath. What he swallowed in his mouth and nose was moist and warm air, mixed with the fragrance of flowers and plants. Clearly, the climate here was very pleasant.

Gradually moving away from the city gate, Unlike Ning Zhuo did not head to the city center but drilled into the curved and narrow small streets.

On both sides of the street were ancient wooden buildings, with trees providing shade. Various shops, teahouses, and restaurants, these buildings were almost all wood, and bamboo was more common. On the roofs or walls of the houses, there were grass braids or vines covering them.

Unlike Ning Zhuo quickly found the location where intelligence was sold.

A moment later, he brought several jade slips, left the dark alley, and came to a restaurant, filling his stomach while checking the purchased intelligence.

The intelligence was roughly divided into three parts.

One part was about the Thousand Peaks Forest, one part was about the crusade army of the Southern Bean Kingdom, and the last part was about Azure Forest Xiancheng.

In the intelligence of the Thousand Peaks Forest, the first thing Unlike Ning Zhuo saw was the Ginseng Beard Dragon King. This was the most powerful god in the Thousand Peaks Forest, whose main body was a dragon-bearded ginseng. In the Thousand Peaks Forest, it possessed Soul Transformation-level combat power. It was the most powerful enemy that the dynasty's crusade army had to face on the surface.

Besides that, there were the Six-Cave Sect, the Pale Savage Elephant group, the Azure Moon tribe, the Ancient Vine tribe, the Hundred Poison tribe... these powerful force organizations.

In the crusade army, Unlike Ning Zhuo saw the data of the vanguard army, the intelligence of the marshal of the entire great army, and the four generals currently stationed near Azure Forest Xiancheng.

They were Lu Chi, Xu Dali, Shuang Jing, and Mu Lan.

Among them, Lu Chi commanded the Fire Cloud Army, which was the one Unlike Ning Zhuo saw when he entered the city, with fire clouds burning in the camp, practicing fire-element magic techniques. Xu Dali was a mixed-blood of savage and demon, in charge of the Savage Demon Army. This army lived up to its name, all composed of savage tribes and demon cultivators. Shuang Jing commanded the Bai Yu Army, currently stationed on the west side of Azure Forest Xiancheng. Unlike Ning Zhuo entered from the east gate and did not see it.

But he heard the shouting of the city guard army, encouraging foreign cultivators to join the Bai Yu Army, because this army gave the most salary.

And the one used for comparison was the Red Flower Army commanded by General Mu Lan. According to the intelligence, this army had the smallest scale and the least reward.

In addition, there was another general named Sun Gan, who was leading the elite Golden Halberd Army, setting off from the capital, and would arrive here in a few days.

The Golden Halberd Army was one of the forbidden armies, and Sun Gan was one of the commanders of the forbidden army. Although the number of this army was small, its combat power was particularly powerful.

The Southern Bean Kingdom King sent this army out, revealing his determination to conquer the Thousand Peaks Forest!

The intelligence about Azure Forest Xiancheng allowed Unlike Ning Zhuo to quickly understand this Xiancheng.

The tallest building in Azure Forest Xiancheng was the Thousand Azure Accumulated Wood Tower, a treasure that integrated thousands of kinds of wood.

There were two temples, which were the Tree God Temple and the Beast King Temple.

These two gods received the support of the Southern Bean Kingdom more than a hundred years ago. They were once small gods, but now their faith had spread throughout the Thousand Peaks Forest.

The Southern Bean Kingdom King launched a war against the Thousand Peaks Forest, and these two great gods were the help.

From this, it can be seen that the Southern Bean Kingdom King had begun to lay out more than a hundred years ago, and this attack on the Thousand Peaks Forest was definitely not a temporary idea, but had been planned for a long time.

"Found it! In the intelligence about Old Monster Shi Zhong, it is rumored that he entered the path of cultivation from the identity of a ten-thousand-year-old earth essence, obtained a strange encounter, and integrated a fragment of the Treasure-Dividing Rock. Therefore, he mastered a divine ability, named Stone Casting Earth Treasure."

"This divine ability can turn all things in the world into stone materials, and then use the years to temper them, causing the stone materials to gradually turn into precious treasure materials. Most of these treasure materials are metals, jade, spirit mines, etc."

To this point, Unlike Ning Zhuo achieved his goal.

Since the Southern Bean Kingdom wanted to launch a large-scale crusade against the Thousand Peaks Forest, it must have done a lot of research on the Thousand Peaks Forest and mastered a lot of intelligence.

Now, Sun and Ning were temporarily unable to approach the Thousand Peaks Forest, so they started from the enemy side of the latter to search for intelligence about Old Monster Shi Zhong.

Sun Lingtong frowned: "Stone Casting Earth Treasure? It turned out to be a divine ability, no wonder I couldn't resolve it, and it became more and more difficult to resist, because even magic power could be petrified."

"Divine ability is above magic technique, but isn't Old Monster Shi Zhong dead? Why can the divine ability still play a role?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Old Monster Shi Zhong is probably dead. Whether it is the Six-Cave Sect or the intelligence on the Azure Forest Xiancheng side, they all say that this Old Monster Shi Zhong is at the Nascent Soul level."

"It probably was in seclusion, impacting the Soul Transformation level, but failed and died."

"The divine ability it mastered is somehow always playing a role. But I think the divine ability is not actively effective, so the power is not great."

"Otherwise, with our small bodies, it would be impossible to carry it until now."

Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly: "Unlike Ning Zhuo, what you said is right!"

Sun Lingtong was in a dilemma: "Then, now that I know this is a divine ability at work, how should I solve it?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo sighed: "This is indeed beyond our ability limit, we can only seek help from others. According to the intelligence, there is a physician in Azure Forest Xiancheng who is extremely accomplished, named Iron Crutch Imperial Physician, who was once the imperial physician of the Southern Bean Kingdom King. Why don't we go to him for a consultation and see."

"Sigh..." Sun Lingtong also had no good way, so he had to say, "Being able to be an imperial physician is indeed powerful. Let's go see him."

Unlike Ning Zhuo ate a quick meal and packed a portion to take away.

He sent the meal into the Ten Thousand Mile Dragon to feed Sun Lingtong.

Unlike Ning Zhuo kept walking through the alleys, following the intelligence, crossed most of Azure Forest Xiancheng, and finally came to the Tieyi Medical Hall.

The facade of the medical hall was not large, and the door was deserted, completely not the scene of a famous physician.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was a little suspicious and walked to the door of the medical hall.

A small boy sat on a small stool, inside the main gate, and after seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo, he waved his hand: "You are an outsider coming for medical treatment, right?"

"Yes." Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded.

"Can't see it anymore, my master has decided to join the army. The medical hall closed yesterday, and only I am stationed here, informing you people." The small boy said a piece of bad news.

Unlike Ning Zhuo then pursued: "May I ask, where is Master Zhang currently?"

"Oh, he is in the military camp outside the city. However, it is impossible for you to find him for medical treatment. My master's personality, I think you have heard of it, he is very stubborn."

"Quite a few people have tried to find him in the military camp, but none have succeeded."

"If you ask me, you might as well find other physicians to see."

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded, thanked the small boy, and grabbed a handful of spirit stones to stuff to him before leaving.

"A bit difficult to handle." Sun Lingtong said.

He also read the intelligence.

In Azure Forest Xiancheng, the strongest physician was definitely Zhang Zhongyi. Besides him, others were ordinary, and the possibility of treating the divine ability was very small.

"Just go to the military camp to find him." Unlike Ning Zhuo still did not give up.

He left Azure Forest Xiancheng from the west gate and saw two military camps, almost standing side by side.

The Bai Yu Military Camp was magnificent, and the camp was surrounded by white jade stone walls. The rejection horses were tall, and they were not ordinary wooden stakes, but carved from white jade, with many talismans on the surface, and the aura was as stable as a mountain.

The watchtower was tall, and even during the day, it emitted strong light, scanning the surroundings.

On the golden pillar flagpole, the Bai Yu Army flag fluttered. The army flag was based on bright white jade, embroidered with dragon patterns inlaid with silver silk, and the dragon eyes flickered as if they could spread their wings and fly at any time.

The camp gate was even more exaggerated, composed of two thick white jade door panels, each inlaid with a large number of high-grade spirit stones.

A group of cavalry galloped in the camp. Their movements were neat and uniform, and every warhorse was equipped with an exquisite white jade saddle, with gemstones as bright as stars inlaid on the saddle, giving people a noble feeling.

The camp gate was even more extravagant, composed of two thick, heavy white jade door panels, with a large number of mid-to-high grade spirit stones embedded in each panel.

A group of cavalry galloped through the camp. Their movements were uniform and synchronized, and every warhorse was equipped with an exquisite white jade saddle, with stars-like brilliant gems embedded in the saddle seat, giving a sense of nobility.