Chapter 142

Xu Chen pondered, then decided to let the Hidden Origin Society handle it later.

Given Zhao Qingyun's efficiency, the Hidden Origin Society must have already arrived and surely covered the entire border region.

Once the Hidden Origin Society makes a move, every intelligence organization on this continent will tremble. He asked, "Is there anything else?"

Lu Zhan pointed to a certain area outside Longcheng: "This is the Gale Zone, rich in spirit stones. It originally belonged to us, but now it has been occupied."

"However, due to the extremely fierce gales, they haven't been able to mine many spirit stones." Xu Chen's eyes lit up: "Oh? Approximately how many spirit stones, and how strong are the gales?"

Lu Zhan replied, "Based on my subordinates' reconnaissance, there are likely a million high-grade spirit stones, and the gales are comparable to a perfect Ninth-Rank."

Bu Fengshuang spoke up at this moment: "No wonder we couldn't get it; very few people can enter that place."

Xu Chen smiled: "This place is indeed somewhat interesting."

He remembered that there were many such interesting places along the border.

There were abundant opportunities, yet they were guarded by extremely ferocious dangers; the gales were only one of them.

Lu Zhan continued: "The border environment is extremely harsh, but opportunities are plentiful; one wants to seize them but cannot."

Xu Chen said calmly: "Since I have come to the border, I naturally intend to do something for the empire. The first task is to reclaim the Gale Zone."

Lu Zhan was stunned: "My lord, there seem to be two Ninth-Rank guardians there. They are not military personnel, but their combat power is extremely high."

Xu Chen laughed: "Two is even better. Killing two Ninth-Rank experts right upon arrival would be wonderful. Let's go, take me there."

Lu Zhan's scalp went numb; he knew he couldn't defeat them anyway.

Since Xu Chen wanted to go, he would just lead him there, then slip away immediately after.

After all, no normal person would enter the Gale Zone; he certainly wouldn't.

"Very well. Issue the order: all troops must guard Longcheng and must not leave lightly."

"I will accompany Lord Xu Chen to inspect the Gale Zone. If you encounter danger, activate the Great Protective Array."

"With the top-tier Ninth-Rank Great Protective Array in place, the enemy will find it difficult to ambush us. Understood?"

Lu Zhan shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, the generals immediately bowed with clasped hands: "We humbly obey the Marshal's order."

The Gale Zone.

At this moment, within a hundred li radius, everyone belonged to the Immortal Empire.

Approximately ten thousand soldiers guarded the perimeter around the Gale Zone, standing in neat order with solemn expressions.

The two Ninth-Rank experts were Yuan Gang, at the early stage of the Ninth Rank, and Yuan Jing, at the mid-stage of the Ninth Rank.

Yuan Gang was fat-headed and big-eared, short in stature, yet his belly resembled a ball.

When he walked, his muscles jiggled with great amplitude, shaking as if an earthquake were occurring.

At this moment, Yuan Gang was inside a tent, gnawing loudly on a pig's trotter.

Yuan Jing was the opposite: short and thin, even emaciated, with dark skin.

He was tall, disliked eating meat, and only drank strong wine in large gulps.

Yuan Gang couldn't help but say: "We are both respectable Ninth-Rank experts, yet we are ordered to guard this wretched place. What bad luck."

Yuan Jing said calmly: "Are there not many Ninth-Rank experts around the Crown Prince? If we carefully serve the Crown Prince, the benefits will not be few."

Yuan Gang snorted: "There are many Ninth-Ranks, but I fear none. Once I enter the Martial Saint realm, let's see if Di Zhentian will still make me guard the Gale Zone."

Yuan Jing sneered: "A First-Transformation Martial Saint is still far off; such experts are already honored guests." Yuan Gang grew restless: "Forget it, forget it. Anyway, this duty is easy. Just in time, a treasure of the border is about to emerge, allowing us to get the first pick."

Yuan Jing nodded: "Correct. This Gale Zone seems unimportant, but it is actually located at the center of various opportunity points, allowing instant travel to other opportunity points."

"The Crown Prince must have seen this, which is why he sent us. I heard a late-stage Ninth-Rank expert might arrive later." Yuan Gang was stunned: "Late-stage Ninth Rank? No way."

Yuan Jing narrowed his eyes: "The Crown Prince informed us personally; he is not foolish." Yuan Gasped: "Wow! So the Gale Zone is this important."

Yuan Jing said: "Yes, although I don't know exactly why it is important, we just need to guard it."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Gang sneered: "As for that waste Lu Zhan, rest easy."

Yuan Jing fell silent: "I heard that Xu Chen is coming. On the Golden List, he is at the early stage of the Ninth Rank, yet he ranked ninety-ninth among the younger generation, while we did not make the list."

Yuan Gang laughed out loud: "A seventeen-year-old at the early stage of the Ninth Rank is nothing to fear. We have fought for decades and can kill him anytime."

In their words, there was nothing but disdain and mockery.

What kind of dog thing is this Xu Chen, daring to compare himself with us old Ninth-Rank veterans? Is he worthy? Just as Yuan Gang was about to speak, a calm voice came from outside: "Is that so?"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!" The instant the words finished, Yuan Gang and Yuan Jing's pupils shrank slightly.

Their intelligence network covered the entire hundred-li radius, with ten thousand soldiers and countless experts patrolling back and forth.

Logically, if an enemy entered, they would know instantly.

But the current situation was that no one reported anything.

They didn't even know the enemy's name or how many had arrived.

It was as if the enemy had entered without anyone knowing or noticing.

In an instant, cold sweat covered their backs.

Who exactly has arrived to achieve such a feat?

The two trembled and looked up, seeing only two men and three women appear before them.

One was Lu Zhan, the other was an extraordinarily handsome young man, and behind him stood three women, each breathtakingly beautiful with perfect faces.

At this moment, the one whose heart was equally shocked as Yuan Gang and Yuan Jing was Lu Zhan.

He had just learned what ghostly and divine techniques were.

Wherever Xu Chen passed, the enemy soldiers died mysteriously one by one, unable to even send a signal.

He only saw streaks of afterimages sweeping past, and then those enemy experts vomited blood and died.

He was likely Xu Chen's companion.

But what kind of companion could achieve such a feat?

Xu Chen spoke calmly: "Xu Chen of the Heavenly Venerable Imperial Dynasty has come to pay respects at your camp."

Yuan Gang no longer showed the slightest trace of arrogance; instead, he trembled as he said, "You... you are Xu Chen?" Yuan Jing was shocked, never expecting Xu Chen to truly be seventeen years old.

His expression was complex as he gritted his teeth and asked, "Our people have all been killed by you. What do you intend to do?" Previously, he might have still considered challenging Xu Chen, after all, they were both of the Ninth Rank.

But now, he had not the slightest thought of doing so.

This Xu Chen before him employed methods far too bizarre. Xu Chen spoke: "Regarding the management of the Gales Region, you have two choices. One is to submit to me and have me plant a Death Mark upon you."

"The other is to die right now. Come, choose." Upon hearing this, Yuan Gang and Yuan Jing fell silent.

— Author's Notes —

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