Chapter 249

Cao He mentioned some details about the Northern Wastes, such as which tribes were on good terms and which had strained relations.

While he didn't know the Northern Wastes inside out, he was at least quite familiar with them.

"I see." Tang Luo gave a slight nod, adopting the demeanor of an enlightened monk, which made it inappropriate to withdraw, "Cao benefactor, I have an idea."

"Please speak, Master." Cao He said.

"I intend to make a trip to the Northern Wastes." Tang Luo said, "To see exactly how this Great Witch comes into being."

"Ah?" Cao He was startled, then said, "No, Master, this is too dangerous."

"Benefactor, there's no need to panic." Tang Luo said, "I do not intend to travel with you; my companions will escort you to Zhongdu and deliver the news. As for me, I will venture into the Northern Wastes alone; if fortune favors me, I might prevent the 'Great Witch's emergence,' or at least obtain more detailed information—either way, it would be a good thing."

Cao He's face immediately showed some embarrassment.

Just now, when Tang Luo said he wanted to go to the Northern Wastes, he had thought of many things in a moment.

He had imagined these otherworldly people suddenly deciding to seek refuge in the Northern Wastes, never expecting that the monk before him would actually choose to go there to block the Great Witch's emergence.

"Master." Cao He's expression turned solemn, "If the news leaks, the Northern Wastes are likely outwardly lax but inwardly tight at this moment—extremely dangerous."

The implication, however, was to persuade.

If extraordinary individuals and events arise to aid the Great Yin, then going to the Northern Wastes to die pointlessly would be too regrettable.

Besides anything else, the fact that the other party casually saved his near-death self with this method—perhaps even the immortal masters of Longya Dao Men could not compare.

Moreover, judging by his words and conduct, he also had no relation to that group of lustful monks from the Great Joy Temple.

He truly was a high monk who had descended from the mountains into the world.

"I still ask Cao benefactor to take some trouble and draw a map for me." Tang Luo, however, did not respond to the topic, continuing on his own, "Please draw a map for me."

"Master——" Cao He looked at Tang Luo's calm expression, realizing such a monk was not someone he could persuade, and reluctantly agreed, "Very well, but the Northern Wastes are full of dangers; Master, please be extremely cautious. If the situation becomes hopeless, please withdraw in time."

Tang Luo nodded slightly.

Cao He intentionally avoided disturbing the guests' conversation and asked the shopkeeper for paper and pen, then returned to his room to draw the map.

Tang Luo's side then began sharing the quest.

Kong Ming, A Fei, Fu Fengxue, and Zhang Xiu ping all directly accepted this quest.

He Yishan said with his mouth that this wasn't a good quest, but his body was honest—he took it on as well.

Wei Cheng'en naturally would not take it again.

Jin Gang and Tang Yu han, however, did not immediately accept it, seeming to be thinking it over.

"Master, may I accompany you to the Northern Wastes?" Jin Gang asked.

"I am also interested in the Northern Wastes matter." Tang Yu han said.

"Going is not impossible, but you may not be able to keep up with my pace." Tang Luo said, "Sometimes I need to travel swiftly, which would be more tiring."

He alone would certainly move faster; bringing two people would definitely slow him down.

But Tang Luo was not in a hurry to refuse; aside from the quest, what mattered most to him was acquiring merit power.

Traveling with others is also a good thing.

"I will certainly not hinder the Master." Jin Gang patted his chest loudly.

Tang Yu han said: "No, please rest assured, Master."

He Yishan gave a barely noticeable sneer, still thinking she was some aloof woman, not realizing he was just after her healing skills, having shamelessly clung to her.

"Master, Master, hey." Wei Cheng'en let out a laugh, tinged with mockery.

Since we're going to part ways anyway, Tang Luo didn't promise him any benefit—instead, he lost face, and Wei Cheng'en, narrow-minded, couldn't let this anger go.

But he momentarily forgot that this single mocking remark had ended up mocking everyone else as well.

Kong Ming and the others knew Tang Luo's strength; a single "Master" was enough to earn respect. Zhang Xiu ping had heard of Tang Luo's name, saw everyone's attitude, and didn't mind raising Tang Luo a little.

Multiple paths—what if we get injured and need treatment? A single "Master" is no loss.

Wei Cheng'en's mockery dragged everyone else in, seemingly implying they were currying favor and seeking fame through flattery.

Tang Luo showed no reaction; going forward, his interactions with Wei Cheng'en and Kong Ming et al. would likely not be pleasant.

By mid-morning, after buying some dry rations, the group split into two routes and set off again.

The money used along the way naturally came from those Northern Wastes people.

Kong Ming's side even gave Tang Luo a horse; after all, they were heading south, and the road would only grow more prosperous—after a few days of hardship, they could reach An City.

Conversely, Tang Luo and his group entering the Northern Wastes needed horses.

Three people, three horses—riding is currently the least energy-consuming and fastest way to travel.

After traveling for several days, they had already left the borders of the Great Yin State and entered the region of the Northern Wastes.

In winter, water and grass are sparse; at first glance, it doesn't look like a "waste," but more like a desert.

The trio's current target is a tribe's long-term settlement, named the "Blaze Tribe." Although named Blaze, they actually dislike conflict.

They prefer trade, previously had close contact with the Great Yin, and can be considered a fairly strong medium-sized tribe.

But in recent years, as friction between the Northern Wastes and the Great Yin increased, border trade ceased, leaving only small-scale "smuggling" of two or three cats.

The Blaze Tribe was also affected; several shamans left one after another, and their strength declined severely.

However, the Blaze Tribe is relatively close to the Great Yin, and there are still several hidden operatives, so Cao He suggested Tang Luo's trio try their luck there.

As for who the hidden operatives are, Cao He was not at liberty to say more.

"Master, something's wrong."

As they approached the Blaze Tribe's settlement, Tang Luo and his companions saw no one at all.

Yet traces of people's lives around them were extremely evident.

"Let me take a look." Tang Yu han said, and suddenly a pair of gray steel wings appeared behind her, over five meters wide, semi-transparent, with sharp edges showing a cutting intent, like countless daggers and blades.

The wings fluttered slightly, and Tang Yu han shot into the sky, quickly disappearing from view.

"You can fly." Jin Gang said, his tone somewhat envious.

For the gods and demons who walk the world, free flight also holds considerable appeal—unfortunately, among the many skills, the ability to fly is relatively rare.

Not long after, Tang Yuhan reappeared, folding her wings and vanishing without a trace.

This skill is called "Iron Wings," a status skill that, once activated, allows the pair of "wings" to disappear or appear at will, enabling flight or use in combat.

Appearing transparent, it is actually solid in reality.

"The Flame Tribe is under attack, the situation is dire, and the attackers are also a tribe—the totem on their banner looks like a stone." Tang Yuhan looked at Tang Luo and asked, "Master, what do you think we should do?"

Soon we should be able to see how strong this Tang Xuanzang is and what his character is like.

"Naturally, we fight." Tang Luo laughed, spurring his horse forward.

"Kill!" Jin Gang roared.

Tang Yuhan said nothing, immediately following.

Soon, the three saw a scattered crowd fighting in small groups—some rode horses at full gallop, drawing bows and shooting arrows, occasionally clashing in close combat.

Others fought on foot, with many corpses lying on the ground—both human and equine.

Besides bows and arrows, every kind of blade, spear, staff, and club was in use.

One could see that some people had smeared their faces with pitch-black grime, as if daubed with a piece of black stone.

That must be the tribe whose totem faith is a stone.

Cao He had mentioned several tribes that take stone as their totem; though the Flame Tribe is weak, it is still far inferior to those.

But after all, they still have three tenths of their strength left—whoever dares to strike them is likely the Stone Tribe.

"Master, which side should we help—or should we kill them all?" Jin Gang's face showed killing intent.

"Heaven values life." Still a hundred meters away, Tang Luo dismounted, "The poor monk seeks to cease hostilities—you two may do as you wish."

Jin Gang froze for a moment, wondering what that meant—what does "do as you wish" mean in terms of killing?

In that daze, Tang Luo had already arrived on the battlefield.

Only a few of the tribesmen noticed a white-clad figure suddenly appear, unsure which side he belonged to, when they saw strange luminous patterns emerge behind the white-robed man.

The illusory head of a ferocious giant beast appeared, jaws gaping.

Dragon's Roar!

The sound of tiger's roar and dragon's chant echoed through the heavens.

Those still fighting around them blinked, their bodies shuddered, and one after another collapsed.

Those shaken by the dragon's roar were directly injured and fell unconscious.

In just a few seconds, once the dragon's roar ceased, no one on the field could stand—even the horses were all unconscious.

"Cease hostilities… so this is how one ceases hostilities." The muscles on Jin Gang's cheeks twitched twice.

As long as everyone is knocked down, no one will keep "fighting"—this is ceasing hostilities, and there's nothing wrong with it.

It's just that Tang Luo only knocked unconscious this portion of the people.

Before them, faintly visible, was a semi-urban area with the semblance of a city—also a battlefield.

Though the earlier dragon's roar had some reach, it could not possibly knock out everyone there.

Tang Luo did not stop, walking straight into the city.

Jin Gang hurried to follow, while Tang Yuhan lagged slightly behind the two.

The situation inside the city was even more tragic than outside.

If the Flame Tribe outside was merely at a disadvantage, inside the city it was nearly a one-sided massacre—the Flame Tribe's able-bodied forces were almost exhausted.

What remained was a one-sided slaughter and cleanup.

All able-bodied men were being hunted down, and even somewhat older children could not escape.

As for women, they could preserve their lives—merely existing as spoils of war, their fate was not much better.

"The Dharma is boundless."

Tang Luo intoned a Buddhist chant and unleashed the Spartan War Cry.

Jin Gang and Tang Yuhan instantly felt a surge of mighty power welling up.

"Hahaha!" Jin Gang laughed loudly, lunging first—regardless of who it was, anyone before him holding a weapon received a punch.

Some were knocked unconscious by his blows; others were killed outright with a single punch.

Tang Yuhan casually took a sword—she knew no swordsmanship, but her movements were graceful and agile, and with each casual swing of her blade, a faint flash of blood appeared.

Those cut by her sword, regardless of wound severity, instantly turned pale and fainted.

Some died outright.

Tang Yuhan's face was similarly somewhat pale, but the redness of her lips became all the more pronounced.

Her charm greatly increased, making hearts sway.

Tang Luo then held the Drifting Wind Bone Sword, which transformed into a bone whip, which he swung casually like a dragon churning waves.

The three advanced together, and no one was a match for them in a single exchange.