CHAPTER 535: CHAPTER 101: ZHUSEN MOUNTAIN

When Yue Jinghua and a few others left Fengdan County, they had more than enough provisions prepared.

The so-called abundance naturally included provisions for Jin Nuo’s group of over a hundred as well.

This miser Yue Jinghua also considered taking the opportunity to promote the local specialties to Wo Hua Imperial City, so before departure, she nearly crammed the entire Desire Gourd full.

Now, with Yue Jinghua’s improved spiritual power cultivation, the Desire Gourd was no longer what it used to be; just its storage space alone had a hundred square meters, enough to fill four or five storage rooms on the "Titan."

It was precisely because she felt that fresh water and food were plentiful that Yue Jinghua took in Jin Nuo and his party.

Little did she know, she had overlooked one factor: Jin Nuo and the others, taking advantage of the Cultivation Room on the Titan to intensify their training, had become more earnest in their cultivation. Coupled with Chi Xi’s exquisite cooking skills, this naturally led to the Imperial Soldiers’ appetites opening up, with each person’s food consumption at least doubling.

Over time, everything on the ship, from fresh water to food, even the beer Yue Jinghua secretly hid, was completely consumed by the unscrupulous Imperial Soldiers.

If they were currently on land, Qian Luo could set up a Transmission Array to transport some supplies from their territory, but now that everyone was thousands of meters in the air, even landing would require a great deal of effort.

"These Imperial wolves reincarnated from starving ghosts," Yue Jinghua gritted her teeth and started to complain, but upon seeing Jin Nuo and the Imperial Soldiers’ imposing manner, she was taken aback.

Jin Nuo and his men, unlike their dispirited expressions during the air raid, had, in just a short seven days, benefited from the delicacies and the enhancement of the Cultivation Room, causing these Imperial Soldiers to be invigorated, and each of them seemed to have grown more robust.

Their demeanor was like an unstoppable precious sword; the same group of over a hundred from seven days ago, now standing together, presented a completely different new scene.

Jin Nuo’s method of military training was indeed effective.

If there is a chance, she must let him and Feng Buhui exchange and discuss some training methods with each other.

Yue Jinghua withdrew the angry words that had almost left her mouth.

He who takes the king’s coin becomes his man, and he who enjoys the king’s feast becomes his vassal.

Jin Nuo also knew that in recent days, the brothers’ insane training and bottomless appetites had stripped the "Titan" clean. After seeing Yue Jinghua, even someone as thick-skinned as him could only laugh sheepishly and awkwardly offer his apologies.

"Little Brother Yue, I am truly sorry. Since there is no food left on the ship, and we still have three to four days’ journey to the Imperial City, why not we land first and hunt nearby. About a half-day’s travel from here, we will reach Black Bear Ridge; that area is abundant in meaty and succulent Dark Beasts, we could just go and catch some to bring back," Jin Nuo suggested.

The closer they got to Wo Hua Imperial City, the more familiar Jin Nuo became with the local terrain.

In fact, Black Bear Ridge is also the closest hunting ground to Wo Hua Imperial City, with lush vegetation. Many Nobles and young scions of prestigious families had their first experience of slaying Dark Beasts during hunts in this very place.

Yue Jinghua thought about it and agreed to Jin Nuo’s suggestion.

She ordered Qian Luo to adjust the Dark Array and made the Titan slowly descend.

Just as the Titan entered the territory of Black Bear Ridge, in a distant mountain ridge shrouded in mist and clouds to the west, the moonlight had already silently descended.

Under a bright full moon that shone like a wheel, several black dots pierced through the clouds.

Several large Flying Profound Beasts were swooping down, alighting in front of a white temple built of Moon Pattern Long Stone.

The temple resembled the Temple of Athens from modern Greece with its dome and colonnades, where countless orchids and fragrant herbs bloomed brilliantly.

In front of the temple, a man and woman were anxiously waiting; upon hearing the sound of garments slicing through the air, the beautiful woman with tears in her eyes raised her head.

The moonlight was like frost, a pale expanse, yet it paled in comparison to the woman’s skin, her eyes redder than cinnabar, staring intensively at the coffin accompanying Zong Shaoqing.

The woman stumbled forward and approached, supporting the coffin; with a wave of her sleeve, the coffin lid sprang open.

Lying within the coffin, Sha Xi appeared lifelike, yet her face, once full of vitality, had forever lost its color.

Around her neck, there was an additional wound resembling a red line.

Despite Zong Shaoqing’s utmost efforts to repair the wound on Sha Xi’s severed head, Divine Pattern Sha Yan couldn’t help crying out in grief upon seeing that wound.

Throwing herself onto the coffin, her tears falling like rain and voice choked with sobs, she intermittently murmured, "My child... your death... was so tragic."

After crying mournfully for a while, she grasped Zong Shaoqing’s robe tightly, her eyes filled with hatred: "Zong Shaoqing, who killed Xixi? You promised me you would take good care of her; why did my Xixi die without reason?"

"The Goddess acted against advice and insisted on entering the Ancient Heroic Tomb, ultimately perishing at the hands of the Chaos Mantis," Zong Shaoqing responded indifferently, allowing Divine Pattern Sha Yan to question him.

Sha Xi was Divine Pattern Sha Yan’s only offspring, her sole heir; Sha Xi died mysteriously, and the Chaos Mantis vanished without a trace after killing her.

"You’re quick to wash your hands of it, Zong Shaoqing. Do you know about my plea to the Great Elder to betroth Xixi to you?" Divine Pattern Sha Yan glared at Zong Shaoqing, sensing beneath his spring-warm visage a heart of utmost coldness.

"You’re overthinking things, Divine Pattern Sha Yan. My feelings for Xixi were like those for a sister; I too am saddened by her death. Please, contain your grief," Zong Shaoqing said impassively.

A barely perceptible vibration of Dark Energy surrounded him, and Divine Pattern Sha Yan felt a numbness in her hand, involuntarily releasing her grip.

The Sixth Hall Elder behind her hurried forward, attempting to smooth things over: "Junior Minister, you have traveled continuously and must be exhausted. Your master has sent word that once you return, you should seek him out."

"I am grateful for the Sixth Elder’s concern. I shall take my leave first," Zong Shaoqing said, nodding slightly before striding away.

As she watched him move away, Divine Pattern Sha Yan fumed, "He’s just an abandoned child of unknown parentage. I can’t fathom what the Great Elder is thinking, providing for his food and clothing, and bestowing upon him the honor of Divine Son. This young man has become increasingly disobedient over the years. I should have taken action sooner. If he breaks through to the Dan Realm, our plans..."

At this point, Sha Yan looked around cautiously.

"Do not mention his origins before others again. Whether the Great Elder truly cares for him, I have my doubts," the Sixth Elder said, his courteous demeanor instantly hardening now that Zong Shaoqing had gone far.

Grieving for his dearly departed daughter, he said, "The murderer who killed our Xixi cannot be easily forgiven. I will issue the order; if anyone spots that abominable creature, they are to kill it without mercy. Should anyone harbor or indulge it, even if they are God himself, they too shall be killed."

"Yes, we cannot let the murderer who killed Xixi off lightly. When you send out the message, also declare that if anyone finds this Chaos Beast or provides significant leads, I will personally inscribe a Holy Rune for them," Divine Pattern Sha Yan stated fiercely, her expression dark and ominous.