396: Chapter 406 Old Grudges

Only then did the two of them shrink their necks and slip into the room.

"Hall Master, among the batch of newcomers we brought, three are already able to independently repair the Spirit Gathering Array," Zhao Tiezhu reported.

Su Ming nodded.

"According to the rules, increase their monthly allowance." Su Ming picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The atmosphere inside the room was familiar and busy.

Su Ming did a round of inspection, pointing out several details for improving the Formations.

Half an hour later, the apprentices and craftsmen dispersed one by one.

Only Wang Defa and Su Ming remained in the discussion hall.

Wang Defa walked to the door, poked his head out to glance at the courtyard, and then pulled the door shut tightly.

He walked back to the table, lifted the teapot, and refilled Su Ming's cup with hot water.

The water poured into the cup, making a crisp sound.

"Hall Master." Wang Defa lowered his voice and leaned in closer.

"I heard that over at the Logistics Hall, they've been looking for candidates recently."

Su Ming set down his teacup, his gaze landing on Wang Defa's face.

"What do you mean?"

Wang Defa pulled up a round stool and sat down at the side of the table.

"Daxing and Northern Mang have been at war for four years now."

Su Ming's fingers paused on the tabletop.

The Daxing Kingdom—that was his homeland before his exile.

"The Sect has always refrained from interfering in Mortal wars," Su Ming said in a steady tone.

"Reasonably speaking, that's the case." Wang Defa's brow furrowed. "But this time is different."

He lowered his voice as if afraid of being overheard.

"On the Northern Mang side, they've somehow acquired a troop of Iron Cavalry."

Wang Defa gestured with his hands.

"It's said that this cavalry is impervious to blades and spears, and untouched by fire or water. The Daxing army collapses the moment they make contact."

"They've already lost sixteen cities in a row; even the capital of Daxing is about to fall."

Wang Defa stole a glance at Su Ming's expression.

"The Logistics Hall suspects that there's involvement from Cultivators on the Northern Mang side."

Wang Defa spoke tentatively, "The Sect plans to send someone down the mountain to mediate this Karma."

Su Ming did not speak.

In his Sea of Consciousness, Lin Yu's voice drifted out.

"Impervious to blades and spears, untouched by fire and water? That doesn't sound like a Mortal army."

Lin Yu analyzed, "It's either low-grade Corpse Puppets or runic armor using solidified Formations."

"Regardless of which it is, the shadow of a practitioner lies behind it."

Lin Yu paused for a moment. "Disciple, Daxing is your home. This Karma is something you cannot avoid."

Su Ming lowered his eyes, looking at the slightly rippling tea in his cup.

This debt indeed needed to be settled.

Su Ming looked up and faced Wang Defa.

Wang Defa swallowed hard and emboldened himself to continue.

"Hall Master, you hail from Daxing, and you have some old grudges over there."

"If you were to take this assignment, you could settle your Karma and also earn great merit for the Sect."

Wang Defa slapped his thigh. "It's killing two birds with one stone!"

Su Ming remained expressionless, merely watching him quietly.

Wang Defa felt a bit unnerved by the gaze and gave a dry laugh.

"I was just thinking out loud, Hall Master. Please don't take it to heart."

Su Ming withdrew his gaze, his fingers resuming their tapping on the table.

"Old Wang," Su Ming began.

"Yes! At your command, Hall Master!" Wang Defa immediately straightened his back.

"What is the specific procedure at the Logistics Hall?" Su Ming asked.

Wang Defa's eyes suddenly lit up, the fat on his round face trembling.

"Hall Master, are you... thinking of taking it?"

Su Ming did not answer directly.

"Just looking into it," Su Ming said indifferently.

Wang Defa immediately understood and patted his chest.

"Don't you worry, Hall Master! Leave this matter to me!"

Wang Defa stood up. "I'll head to the Logistics Hall right now to inquire and get back to you tonight!"

Su Ming nodded and stood up to straighten his robes.

"I'm heading back first."

Walking out of the Repair Hall, Su Ming returned toward Star Gazing Cliff.

"Master, what do you think?" Su Ming asked in his mind.

Lin Yu's voice soon rang out.

"This assignment is a hot potato." Lin Yu's tone was unusually serious.

"Once a Mortal war involves Cultivators, it inevitably involves the division of interests. The mastermind behind Northern Mang might have a fairly high cultivation level."

"But you must settle the Karma of Daxing," Lin Yu changed his tone.

"Cultivation emphasizes clarity of mind. If your old grudges aren't settled, they will surely become a Heart Demon during your Core Formation in the future."

Su Ming nodded; he thought so too.

"Besides, if that Iron Cavalry is using Formation armor, it'll be a ready-made research sample for you," Lin Yu added.

Su Ming entered his Immortal Cave and sat cross-legged on the stone bed.

He took out a sheet of white paper and used Spiritual Qi to outline a map of the territories of Daxing and Northern Mang.

The red lines represented Northern Mang's offensive, which had already approached the heart of Daxing.

"The distance is too great; the Sect's communication network won't cover it." Su Ming looked at the map.

"Once I go there, I'll have to rely entirely on myself."

Three days later.

Su Ming changed into the purple true disciple daoist robe that symbolized his status.

He stepped out of his Immortal Cave and flew toward the Logistics Hall.

The Logistics Hall was built on the mountainside of the Cloud Hidden Sect's main peak, and it was crowded with people year-round.

Su Ming landed on the plaza in front of the hall.

The Seven-Star Flowing Cloud pattern on the purple robe shimmered in the sunlight.

Seeing this attire, the Disciples on the plaza stopped in their tracks one after another, clearing a wide path.

Su Ming looked straight ahead and stepped through the main gates of the Logistics Hall.

The gray-robed deacon in charge of reception was looking down at some files.

Catching a glimpse of purple from the corner of his eye, he looked up sharply.

Recognizing Su Ming's face, the deacon immediately came out from behind the desk.

He cupped his hands and bowed low.

"True Disciple Su! Why have you come in person!"

The deacon's face was filled with a respectful smile. "Does the Peak Master have some instructions?"

Su Ming raised a hand to signal him to rise.

"I've come to ask about the situation with the Mortal war."

Su Ming got straight to the point.

"I heard that Daxing and Northern Mang are at war, and the Sect is sending someone to mediate?"

The deacon was stunned for a moment, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"That is indeed the case."

He gestured for Su Ming to follow, leading him to a private inner room to the side.

The inner room was elegantly decorated. The deacon closed the door and poured a cup of spiritual tea.

"Daxing and Northern Mang have been at war for four years." The deacon stood to the side, not taking a seat.

"For the first three years, both sides had their wins and losses, but half a year ago, Northern Mang suddenly gained a bizarre Iron Cavalry."

The deacon lowered his voice.

"That cavalry requires no fodder and knows no fatigue. When Daxing's blades and spears strike them, they don't even leave a white mark."

Su Ming picked up the teacup but did not drink.

"The Sect hasn't sent anyone to investigate yet?"

"The Sect is indeed looking for a candidate to mediate, but this assignment... no one is willing to take it."

Su Ming set down his teacup.

"Why?"

"It's a thankless task," the deacon said with a bitter smile.

"Spiritual Qi is thin in the Mortal realm. When Cultivators go there, their cultivation recovers extremely slowly."

"Moreover, there aren't many contribution points to be earned from this. Disciples from every peak are avoiding it as much as they can."

The Logistics Hall had been having a headache over this matter for half a month.

The deacon looked at Su Ming, his heart pounding.

Why was this rising star of the Formation Peak asking about this?

Su Ming sat in the chair, his eyes fixed on the tea leaves floating in the cup.

The inner room fell into a brief silence.

A moment later, Su Ming looked up, his gaze meeting the deacon's.

"This mission, I'll take it."