385: Irreversible hostage

He arrived at the North Mansion's main gate.

Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan peeked out, looking around.

Across the lake was Red Leaf City.

On the dam, there were still many Stranger watching the North Mansion's Crystal Palace.

The two retreated back into the North Mansion.

Shen Bei grabbed the odd object mask, took a deep breath, and put it on his face, instantly transforming into an Stranger: “However we came, that’s how we’ll have to go back….”

Zhuang Bifan shrugged.

When they came, it was smooth sailing, without encountering any difficulties.

But going back now was different; they also had to carry Gu Jiu.

Although he was covered by a sack, outsiders couldn't see his face clearly.

Especially the golden horns unique to the Royal Bloodline.

But the Cultivators outside were not to be trifled with.

Once Divine Sense swept over, it would be easy to detect Gu Jiu's aura.

Inevitably, some Stranger would ask what was going on.

It was possible that some busybody Stranger would insist on opening it to see.

Then the trouble would be big.

Therefore, the path back must be cautious, like treading on thin ice, taking every step carefully.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Zhuang Bifan had nothing to say and couldn’t offer any help.

He directly entered the mirror.

His mirror also couldn't drag Gu Jiu in; only he himself could enter.

Shen Bei tied up the mirror and held Gu Jiu with one hand.

He did not walk from the platform outside the main gate towards the dam.

Instead, he exited the main gate and quickly entered the water.

It was the moment he fell into the water.

Shen Bei felt his strength unleashed, various attributes soaring, returning to his Peak state.

The pain from his injuries was also reduced.

His mind was clear, and his vision was sharp.

“It still has to be a Martial Artist, this is so invigorating!”

Shen Bei swam underwater for about a minute before surfacing to let Gu Jiu breathe.

After all, Gu Jiu's strength was Sealed by steel nails, making him an ordinary person.

Shen Bei could swim underwater for an hour without needing to breathe.

But Gu Jiu couldn't!

This guy had to stay alive.

This was also the consensus reached by Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan.

Especially after learning that there was a Da Shouzi imprisoned in the Royal City.

As for why they guessed it was a Da Shouzi, it was very simple: to be able to fight Heaven-Shaking Slave, one couldn't possibly not have corresponding strength.

And according to Gu Jiu's description.

Heaven-Shaking Slave and the Da Zhou Dynasty had a good relationship.

As for why it was good.

How this relationship was established, Gu Jiu also didn't know.

In any case, when some humans entered the Royal City, the Royal family would protect and escort them.

Although Gu Jiu didn't know, Shen Bei vaguely guessed why Heaven-Shaking Slave and others had a close relationship with the Royal family.

It might be because… Nine Lives Raven.

It was previously speculated that Nine Lives Raven had nine faces.

This was too similar to the Great Thousand Countenances Technique.

And the Great Thousand Countenances Technique was a secret art of the Royal family, not to be passed down.

Only a select few would know it.

Even those with Royal Bloodline might not be able to learn it.

Reasoning in reverse, Nine Lives Raven might be an Stranger and come from the Royal family of the Da Zhou Dynasty in the underground.

Looking at it this way, Heaven-Shaking Slave, as a member of the Headhunter Tribe, with the existence of Nine Lives Raven, would naturally receive due treatment.

But a BUG would arise here.

Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan also discussed it on their way out of the North Mansion, which was the Apocalypse Sect.

This religion was revered as the state religion by the Royal family.

When it spread to the earth's surface, although it became the Tianqi Divine Sect, the essence was similar.

But why did the Headhunter Tribe and the Apocalypse Cult on the earth's surface still attack each other?

Using the Royal family as a link, the two sides should be one family.

It made no sense logically.

But after analysis by Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan, based on undeniable facts, several situations might exist:

First, the Apocalypse Sect in the underground had no relation to the Apocalypse Cult on the earth's surface.

This also led to the Headhunter Tribe and the Apocalypse Cult being at odds, with animosity between them.

Second, the Apocalypse Cult and the Headhunter Tribe existed in parallel, similar to the East and West Factories.

One aimed to assist the Stranger in occupying the earth's surface through ideological transformation.

The other aimed to overthrow earth's surface countries purely through military force.

If played well, it could be said to be complementary.

But problems might arise during execution, and the Apocalypse Cult's combat power became increasingly high.

The Headhunter Tribe became increasingly good at enticing members to join…

Originally two different directions of business, there was an overlap.

In such a situation, internal strife was bound to be triggered.

After comprehensive analysis, Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan leaned more towards the second situation.

Currently, the only unknown was who the leader of the Apocalypse Cult was.

Several bishops, however, had been exposed.

Among them was Oleg.

In a nutshell, Gu Jiu must live to be exchanged for a hostage.

After all, this guy was a member of the Royal family, with extremely high status.

And Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan were not capable of going directly to the Central Continent.

They might be captured before even getting close.

That would be like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandpa, one after another sending themselves to their doom.

The best solution was to hand Gu Jiu over to the country and let the country deal with it itself.

Such matters were not something Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan, with their limited abilities, could handle.

Shen Bei continuously swam and surfaced.

Getting further and further away from the dam.

Initially, some Stranger gestured at Shen Bei.

But these Stranger didn't meddle, only confused for a while, then continued to focus their attention on the North Mansion.

About half an hour later.

Shen Bei looked back and completely lost sight of the dam, only then letting out a sigh of relief.

An hour later.

He successfully landed on the opposite bank.

Shen Bei shook off the water from his body.

He surveyed the surroundings, a landscape full of mountains.

After resting for a while.

Shen Bei circulated True Qi, lifted his body, and slowly ascended into the air.

Walking was clearly unsuitable in such mountains.

He still had to fly to cover the distance.

“Old Bi!”

Shen Bei shouted.

“What's up?” Zhuang Bifan, chewing on an energy paste, poked his head out and asked.

“I suddenly remembered something.”

Shen Bei made small talk: “You heard about how I was coerced by Bai Wei and became bait, right?”

“I have some impression.” Zhuang Bifan nodded.

“At that time, Bai Wei used a spell, and with a whoosh, appeared inside the car, ignoring the obstruction of the car door and roof, like a wall-passing technique. Do you know about this?”

“Move Heaven and earth's surface—Anchor Point Teleportation.” Zhuang Bifan continued without hesitation: “It’s more commonly called Anchor Point Teleportation or Teleportation.”

Shen Bei oh-ed.

So this thing was instant movement.

“Anchor point… does it still need positioning?” Shen Bei seized on the blind spot and asked.

Zhuang Bifan nodded: “Of course, to put it simply, an anchor point can be imagined as a spatial portal, appearing instantly.”

Shen Bei sniffed: “No wonder she appeared suddenly, it scared me then. If we knew this spell, wouldn’t we just whoosh and be back?”

“Uh…” Zhuang Bifan shrugged: “You’re thinking too much, there’s a distance limit, it can only move within a ten-kilometer range.”

Shen Bei cursed: “That’s so trashy?”

“Don’t insult people.”

“She can’t hear, why are you anxious? Wait––”

Before Shen Bei finished speaking, he suddenly remembered and burst out laughing: “You, Zhuang Bifan, also have a similar teleportation.”

Zhuang Bifan snorted: “They’re pretty much the same.”

“Then you’re even trashier.”

Shen Bei scoffed: “You’re only one kilometer.”

“What’s the rush?” Zhuang Bifan raised his chin: “I’m only Sixth Grade, by the time I reach Martial God, it’ll probably be around ten kilometers too.”

Shen Bei waved his hand.

He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to extort Bai Wei’s Anchor Point Teleportation.

But now it seemed it wasn’t very useful.

His own Magnetic Pole Cyclone Yuan Skill, once the Watt level of Cultivation went up, the Lightning Pole Teleportation would be even more effective than this thing.

Let’s continue on our way!