24: Chapter 23 An Qingyi

"Damn, Xiao Ye, that's awesome. Your Old Bear hasn't been impressed by anyone, but you're the first."

"The Captain's strength might truly be enough to rival the Old City Lord."

"Brother Ye... would you like Mei'er to warm your bed tonight? I'm very skilled, I guarantee you'll be satisfied." Ye Mei batted her eyes, looking as if she were waiting to be savored.

Ye Xiu ignored the adoring gazes of the crowd.

Instead, he walked straight up to An Qingyi: "Tell me, what's your situation?"

An Qingyi's face was somewhat pale.

After taking a deep look at Ye Xiu.

She spoke: "I am a Cultivator from the Nine Heavens Taoist Sect in Yunzhong. After the revival of Heaven and Earth, the nine great Yao Kings led an army of Yao Beasts to attack Yunzhong. After a month of intense fighting, we were at a disadvantage. Half a month ago, the Yao Beast army breached the outer city. The situation is currently critical, and I hope to see the Sect leader of the Qingcang Daoist Sect."

"Qingcang Daoist Sect? ...No rush. Since you're here, let's meet the military leadership first."

Ye Xiu's expression was grave. An attack by the nine great Yao Kings was indeed quite troublesome. He beckoned to the others and then led An Qingyi toward the military district where Sikong Wentian was located.

There was silence along the way.

The eight of them moved very quickly, and in just ten minutes, they reached their destination.

Sikong Tianwen had been monitoring the battle outside the frontier. He wasn't surprised to see them arrive, and after hearing An Qingyi's detailed description, he gave a soft sigh.

"Ten years ago, I sat and discussed the Dao with Sect Leader An. I never expected to hear such tragic news today. Sigh."

"Senior Sikong, Yunzhong is currently in imminent danger. This Junior hopes to see Immortal Master Zhang of the Qingcang Daoist Sect."

An Qingyi had heard the legends of Sikong Wentian, but for those who Cultivate, prejudice against Martial Artists was already carved into their marrow.

Even though the other party's cultivation was far superior to her own, it did not mean her internal prejudice would disappear because of it.

Sikong Tianwen nodded and instructed Ye Xiu: "For this rescue operation, you will represent the military and accompany Miss An. All actions must prioritize the safety of the citizens."

Ye Xiu didn't say anything. After taking An Qingyi out of the military district, he immediately flew toward the Qingcang Mountains in the outer city area.

"You are a Martial Artist? Why are you so strong?"

On the way, An Qingyi couldn't help but ask. The previous battle had opened her eyes.

"It's that you are too weak."

An Qingyi was stunned, then remained silent.

The two moved very quickly. The journey of about two hundred li took only a few minutes to reach the gates of the Qingcang Daoist Sect.

An Qingyi didn't follow proper etiquette to ask for entry; instead, she unleashed her aura at full power.

Soon, a high-ranking member came out to investigate.

"Miss An, you actually traveled from Yunzhong to Tianfu City?" The middle-aged Taoist showed a very surprised expression when he saw An Qingyi outside the gate.

"Elder Yu, Yunzhong is calling for reinforcements. Quickly, take me to see Immortal Master Zhang."

"What?"

Elder Yu was shocked and didn't dare to waste time, immediately leading the two toward the main hall.

Before the Spiritual Qi revival, the Qingcang Daoist Sect originally only had a few dozen Disciples. However, after the revival, more than three thousand people in Tianfu City had awakened their Spiritual Roots.

Although these three thousand people did not all gather at the Sect to Cultivate.

There were still over two thousand, which made the originally small Qingcang Daoist Sect somewhat crowded.

Supreme Hall.

After hearing An Qingyi's description, Immortal Master Zhang pondered for a moment before instructing his seven Disciples: "You will accompany Miss An to Yunzhong for rescue."

"As you command, Sect Leader."

The seven middle-aged Taoists in the main hall immediately nodded and accepted the order.

Ye Xiu looked at the youthful-faced, white-haired Immortal Master Zhang and was greatly shaken. This old Taoist was extraordinary; other than being visible to the naked eye, he couldn't sense any Qi from him at all.

This was a situation that hadn't even occurred with the Old City Lord, Sikong Wentian.

Leaving the main hall.

As the group of nine was about to take to the sky, they heard a familiar female voice shout a vulgarity among the Disciples watching the excitement outside the hall.

Liu Qingyan?

Ye Xiu's face darkened. This sharp-tongued woman was actually watching from the crowd.

"Qingyan, how dare you! Apologize at once." Elder Mo looked furious as he reprimanded Liu Qingyan in the crowd.

"...It's actually you..."

Liu Qingyan walked out of the crowd. Looking at Ye Xiu in his military uniform, she looked incredulous.

She had originally just come to watch the excitement, but after the nine people came out, one familiar figure made her very confused, so she had shouted.

Ye Xiu's face was somewhat gloomy. He could naturally guess what this sharp-tongued woman was thinking.

He glanced at the gazes gathered on him. He tried to keep his facial expression as natural as possible.

Then he forced a smile: "Classmate, Cultivate well. Don't waste the Sect's cultivation efforts. No need to apologize, I assume you didn't mean it."

Before Liu Qingyan could speak, Elder Mo immediately intervened: "Qingyan, General Ye won't hold it against you, but for offending a Great Xia general without cause, you are punished to face the wall at the Cliff of Reflection for one month."

After speaking, the group of nine soared into the sky and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

"General? This bastard actually became a general?"

It took Liu Qingyan a long time to come to her senses. Looking at Ye Xiu, who had already disappeared into the horizon, the expression on her face was quite colorful.

Above the clouds. The nine were flying at high speed.

Elder Mo had a look of apology on his face as he spoke to Ye Xiu: "My Disciple is naughty. I hope the General will not take it to heart."

"It's fine. Liu Qingyan and I were classmates, so it's normal for us to bicker."

Ye Xiu said dismissively. He really didn't take the matter with Liu Qingyan to heart.

Back in school, calling each other bastards was their standard greeting.

Elder Mo smiled and stopped dwelling on the topic.

Half an hour later.

An Qingyi, who was leading the flight, had a very pale face. Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth; clearly, the injuries she had suppressed earlier were beginning to flare up.

Seeing this, the seven Taoists immediately took turns channeling Spiritual Qi to her.

The seven of them were all powerful. As Immortal Master Zhang's eldest Disciple, Elder Song even showed signs of a Breakthrough to the [Mingdao Realm].

Even though the consumption from healing along the way was huge, when they arrived at Yunzhong half a month later, the seven Taoists still maintained their Peak state.

This made Ye Xiu have to admire them.

These Cultivators could not only wield the power of Heaven and Earth, but their own Spiritual Qi strength was likely much stronger than the physical force of an average Martial Artist.

This was almost the template for Dual Cultivation of strength and technique.

After half a month of traveling, the nine finally arrived in the Yunzhong area.

Ahead was the frontier war zone, where Yao clouds covered the sky. The thick smell of blood could be clearly smelled even from a thousand meters in the air.

The expressions of the nine were very ugly.

This Yunzhong, which originally had a population of over one hundred million, had likely lost nearly half.

This red land stretching for a hundred miles made it hard for everyone to suppress their anger. The death of their own kind would ignite the fury of their kin.

The nine didn't speak. Their combat power erupted, and like nine rays of light, they charged straight into the Yao cloud area.