139: Chapter 139 Eastern Regions' Unorthodox Methods? We'll Teach You a Lesson with Your Failed Battles!

[The murmurs of the crowd ceased abruptly.]

[Hundreds of gazes turned toward you.]

[Deacon Zhao pressed his hands against the stone railing, leaning his upper body forward until he stopped at the edge of the steps.]

[Deacon Zhao stared fixedly at you.]

[This deacon released the stone railing and walked down the high platform step by step.]

[His grey robes hung low. With each step down, his spiritual pressure rose by a fraction. He unleashed his Foundation Establishment Level 9 cultivation.]

[Deacon Zhao stopped six paces away from you.]

[Deacon Zhao's gaze swept from your hair bun down to your sword.]

["The Eastern Region?"]

[Deacon Zhao drawled.]

["What is a cultivator from a place where spiritual energy is thin doing here at the Talent Recruitment Platform in the Central Plains?"]

[Deacon Zhao tilted his head to look at the shattered beast puppets on the platform.]

["The two from just now, did you bring them?"]

[You did not speak. You held the jade token vertically in your palm, the seal-script character 'Xuan' facing Deacon Zhao.]

[Someone below the platform chuckled.]

["A sect from the Eastern Region? Never heard of it."]

["A Protector? A Protector with Golden Core Realm cultivation? Even a core disciple of any random second-rate sect in the Central Plains would be in the Golden Core Realm, right?"]

[Huo Quji gripped the hilt of his chiyan sword tightly with his right hand. Huo Quji turned his head to look at you.]

[You raised your hand and pressed it onto Huo Quji's shoulder. The pressure was light. Huo Quji's hand released the sword hilt.]

[Deacon Zhao scoffed lightly.]

["Answer me. Ling Qingmeng, Huo Quji, just registered using loose cultivator tokens. Yet they are actually disciples of the Tianxuan Sect."]

[Deacon Zhao enunciated the words heavily.]

["Passing off the false as true, what is your intention?"]

[Ling Qingmeng rested her hand on her short sword scabbard and looked at Deacon Zhao. She did not speak.]

[You spoke.]

["The two of them took the stage as loose cultivators to test the screening standards of your noble sect's Talent Recruitment Platform."]

[Deacon Zhao narrowed his eyes.]

[You continued.]

["If even our own disciples had to rely on the sect's name to pave the way for participation, that would truly be a disgrace to the Tianxuan Sect."]

[The laughter below the platform ceased.]

[The female cultivator beside Deacon Zhao lowered her head to flip through a jade slip, using her wide sleeve to cover her lips.]

[Deacon Zhao did not laugh.]

[Deacon Zhao took a step forward. Six paces became five. He increased his spiritual pressure by another level.]

["Well said."]

["A disciple from the Eastern Region comes to the Central Plains and wants to visit our Xuantian Holy Sect with just a single jade token?"]

["Your Tianxuan Sect doesn't even have a branch altar in the Central Plains. What do you have to show for yourself?"]

[You withdrew the token into your left hand and reached into your sleeve with your right.]

[You produced a silk letter.]

[The letter was sealed with the special spiritual sigils of the Tianxuan Sect, with a vermilion seal in the bottom right corner.]

[You presented it with both hands.]

["A personal letter from the Deputy Sect Leader of the Tianxuan Sect, Master Daoist Qingxuan."]

[Deacon Zhao did not take it.]

[The female cultivator stepped forward half a pace and took the letter with both hands. She turned it over to examine the sealing spiritual sigils, then brought the seal close to a spiritual light identification array to verify it.]

[Two breaths later, the female cultivator looked up at Deacon Zhao.]

["The seal is genuine. Daoist Qingxuan..."]

[The female cultivator lowered her voice.]

["This name is recorded in the Central Plains Cultivation Chronicles. Deputy Sect Leader of the Eastern Region's Tianxuan Sect, late Nascent Soul stage. A hundred years ago, he single-handedly charged into the Cangwu beast tide and slew a Tier 5 Nascent Soul beast."]

[Deacon Zhao took the letter, opened it, and scanned it.]

[His finger paused on the silk surface for two breaths.]

[Deacon Zhao closed the letter.]

[Deacon Zhao tossed the letter back to the female cultivator.]

["Master Daoist Qingxuan's handwriting proves that your Tianxuan Sect has considerable sincerity."]

["But sincerity is not the same as qualification."]

[You did not reply. You waited for Deacon Zhao to finish.]

[Deacon Zhao's gaze swept over your steady hands.]

[His gaze passed over the scattered puppet fragments on the platform in turn.]

[He spoke.]

["Deacon Zhao. I watched more than half of the twenty-plus groups of candidates at the Talent Recruitment Platform from below."]

[Deacon Zhao crossed his arms.]

["What have you observed?"]

[You raised your hand and pointed to the shattered scorpion shell on the left side of the platform.]

["The twelfth group, that pair of sword cultivators. They cleared eight targets in fifteen breaths, but missed two venom spiders."]

[Deacon Zhao did not speak.]

["The reason for the omission was not their reaction time. It was their attack rhythm. After they slew the fifth wolf puppet at the seventh breath, there was a pause to catch their breath, causing a break in the attack rhythm. A gap opened in the left flank of the encirclement. The two venom spiders slipped out from the left flank."]

[Deacon Zhao's gaze shifted from you to the platform, then back.]

[You pointed your finger toward the right side of the platform.]

["The nineteenth group. A failure in coordination between the two. One wolf puppet rushed out of the martial training array."]

["At the start, the loose cultivator on the left stood two feet too far forward. The loose cultivator on the right was forced to move back to adjust the angle. This led to a vacuum in the center line."]

["The error in positioning came first. The error in reaction came later. You cannot reverse the root and the branch."]

[The female cultivator beside Deacon Zhao quickly flipped through the jade slip, checking the annotations.]

[The records were no different from what you said.]

[The female cultivator stopped her pen and looked up at Deacon Zhao.]

[Deacon Zhao did not express an opinion. He crossed his arms even tighter.]

[You crouched down. You took a piece of charcoal from your sleeve.]

[You drew three concentric circles on the rough bluestone floor.]

[You marked the outer circle as Sentinels. The middle circle as Group Attack. The inner circle as Nest Mother.]

["Deacon Zhao. The Xuantian Holy Sect's nest-clearing operation at the Western Border mine resulted in the loss of your own disciples."]

[Deacon Zhao's arms loosened from his crossed position.]

["Who told you that?"]

[You ignored Deacon Zhao. You pressed your index finger on the outer circle.]

["When the sentinels on the outer circle of the demon nest receive an alarm, they contract the defensive line. The demon beasts in the middle circle will actively rush out to surround and kill the invaders, forming a counter-attack vortex."]

[Your finger slid into the middle circle.]

["The attacking side is entangled by the group attacks in the middle circle. Spiritual energy consumption accelerates. The frontline disciples cannot break into the inner circle in time."]

[Your finger pressed onto the inner circle.]

["The Nest Mother escapes through the passage behind the inner circle during the chaos. The nest-clearing team is then counter-surrounded."]

[You stood up.]

["Three times. You have failed more than three times."]

[Deacon Zhao's jaw tightened.]

[Deacon Zhao took a step forward. He fully unleashed his Foundation Establishment Level 9 spiritual pressure, pressing down on you, but you remained completely calm.]

["How did you discover the details of the sect's internal battle losses?"]

[Deacon Zhao's volume dropped very low.]

["I don't need internal information."]

["The three-layer configuration of demon nests and the patterns of battle losses are universal."]

["The Tier 4 Lizard King nest in the Eastern Region has the same three-layer structure."]

[You took a fist-sized miniature jade token from your storage bag.]

[A projection of the Lizard King's skull emerged on the surface of the jade token. Four sword marks ran across the skull. The spiritual energy imprint infused by Master Chiyang swirled around it.]

["I led the disciples of the four halls of the Tianxuan Sect to complete a Tier 4 demon nest clearance at Qingfeng Ridge. Zero losses. Total annihilation."]

[Deacon Zhao took the jade token. He poured spiritual energy into it to verify. The imprint was real and could not be forged.]

[Deacon Zhao held the jade token, his thumb rubbing over the sword marks on the projection.]

["Zero losses?"]

["Zero losses."]

[Deacon Zhao returned the jade token.]

[Deacon Zhao stepped back. He withdrew his spiritual pressure.]

[You took the opportunity to speak.]

["I am here to see Elder Wen Huaian of your noble sect."]

[Deacon Zhao looked at you.]

["Elder Wen holds a revered position. How could you see him just because you want to?"]

["Elder Wen traveled to the Eastern Region in his early years. He once rested and healed his injuries for three months at the former site of the Tianxuan Sect, Mingyue Peak. The senior who hosted him at that time was the third-generation elder of the Tianxuan Sect, Xu Henian."]

["Elder Xu used his own spiritual spring to repair the cracks in Elder Wen's dantian, and he did not take a single cent."]

[Deacon Zhao did not speak.]

[The female cultivator beside him spoke in a low voice.]

["The performance of this group is top-notch. This Protector's analysis of tactics is even more detailed than the records."]

["If this Protector can solve the nest-clearing problem at the Western Border mine—"]

[The female cultivator paused for a breath.]

["Elder Wen is currently agonizing over this matter."]

[Deacon Zhao was silent for three breaths.]

[Deacon Zhao spoke.]

["The Western Border mine clearing team sets out in three days. You will accompany them as an Eastern Region guest consultant."]

["If you can prove your tactics are effective, I will write a letter of recommendation myself."]

["Agreed."]

[You accepted the condition.]

[Deacon Zhao turned to leave.]

["One more thing."]

[Deacon Zhao stopped. He turned halfway.]

["I will have full command of the clearing team. Your people will listen to my orders."]

["If anyone fails to obey orders and causes battle losses, the responsibility will not be mine."]

[Deacon Zhao turned his whole body.]

["You certainly dare to set conditions."]

[You looked directly at Deacon Zhao.]

["If Deacon Zhao had absolutely no trust in me, you wouldn't be standing here talking to me."]

[Deacon Zhao stared at you for three breaths.]

[He raised his right hand and waved it toward the female cultivator behind him.]

["Arrange a guest courtyard. Assemble at the Martial Drill Plaza at the hour of the Dragon in three days."]

[Deacon Zhao flicked his sleeves and left.]

[The three hundred or so loose cultivators below the platform were silent, one after another giving way to make a path.]

[Ling Qingmeng walked to your side.]

["The piece has fallen."]

[You put away the jade token.]

["The first move."]

[Huo Quji followed, his voice very low.]

["Protector, how did you determine just now that they had failed the nest-clearing three times?"]

[You did not answer.]

[Ling Qingmeng spoke.]

["The Protector did not inquire. It was deduced."]

[Huo Quji scratched his head.]

["Deduced? How do you deduce that?"]

[Ling Qingmeng did not explain.]

[You glanced at Ling Qingmeng. Ling Qingmeng met your gaze and slightly raised her chin, as a response.]

[The three of you followed the Xuantian Holy Sect disciples through the main street of Dongyang City and checked into a guest courtyard in the west of the city.]

[The guest courtyard was far superior to an inn. It was a private, detached courtyard covered by spiritual energy arrays. In the courtyard, there were stone practice platforms and a spiritual spring pool.]

[As soon as Huo Quji entered the courtyard gate, he set his eyes on the spiritual spring pool.]

["The spiritual energy concentration in this pool is twice that of our Tianxuan Sect's spiritual spring—"]

["Don't soak in it."]

[You walked past the spiritual spring pool.]

["There are surveillance array patterns in the spiritual spring. If you soak in it, your spiritual root attributes and meridian paths will be completely exposed."]

[Huo Quji retracted his hand, which was halfway extended.]

["That underhanded?"]

[You pushed open the door of the main room.]

["Guest courtyards are just a courtesy. Anyone who stays here has their background completely checked by others."]

[Ling Qingmeng looked around the four corners of the courtyard wall.]

["There are two miniature sound-transmission arrays embedded under the eaves."]

[You nodded.]

["Don't remove them. Speak normally. For core deployments, use pen and paper."]

[Night fell. The main room was brightly lit.]

[You closed the door tightly. You spread an old sheepskin scroll on the table.]

[The charcoal touched the paper.]

[The battle map of the Western Border mine took shape.]

[The improved version of the Qingfeng Ridge four-hall combined attack tactic—specialized for Tier 4 demon nests in the Central Plains.]

[Outer circle: Use large-scale lightning-type slaughter to replace one-by-one elimination, compressing the sentinels' retreat time.]

[Middle circle: Use fire-type spiritual shields to build a moving barrier. Cut off the charge paths of group-attack demon beasts and utilize the counter-attack vortex in reverse.]

[Inner circle: You personally break in. The Qiankun Yin-Yang Sword will strike directly at the Nest Mother. The power of the Army-Breaking Explosive Killing Array will be increased by twenty percent in the enclosed nest.]

[Nest Mother. The core hunting target.]

[You wrote an annotation: The root cause of the first three failures was that no one reserved enough combat power in the middle circle to break into the inner circle.]

[The charcoal drew an X on the position of the Nest Mother.]

[You put down the charcoal. You blew out the extra oil lamps. You left only one.]

[The night wind outside the window carried the hum of the patrol defensive arrays from afar.]

[It was past midnight. No one was walking outside the guest courtyard.]

[In the direction of the north of the city, a cyan spiritual light lit up on the communication tower of the Xuantian Holy Sect's main mountain. A communication talisman pierced through the clouds and fell into the deacon's residence in Dongyang City.]

[Deacon Zhao's desk.]

[The communication talisman unfolded on its own. The handwriting on the paper was deep and vigorous.]

["Eastern Region Tianxuan Sect? Let this person come."]

[Signature: Wen Huaian.]

[Deacon Zhao put down the communication talisman. His fingers rested on the edge of the desk.]

[It had been no more than two hours since the Elder Council Hall received the jade slip.]

[Deacon Zhao turned over the back of the communication talisman.]

[There was an extra line of small text at the end, in a lighter shade of ink.]

["First, observe this person's performance in the Western Border."]

[Deacon Zhao folded the communication talisman and tucked it into his sleeve.]

[Deacon Zhao extinguished the lamp.]

[He muttered to himself in the darkness.]

["Someone from the Eastern Region... with tough bones."]

[Guest courtyard in the west of Dongyang City.]

[You sat cross-legged on the couch. The sheepskin scroll was folded under your pillow.]

[You closed your eyes to regulate your breathing.]

[Beyond the sound of the wind in your ears, you captured an extremely subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy.]

[The high-frequency vibration of the communication talisman spread from the direction of the north of the city, penetrating the entire Dongyang City.]

[Someone was communicating. The direction was the main mountain.]

[You opened your eyes.]

[Your lips moved silently, uttering two words.]

["Wen Huaian."]

[Three days later. Western Border mine.]

[The first assessment.]