Chapter 008: Phantom Pursuit
You all have misjudged him. This is Asa
"What? Su Jian, you actually managed to bring out two? You actually passed? Congratulations, congratulations, let's celebrate!" This reflects the friendly reactions of people like Tang Qiu towards Su Jian.
In fact, Su Jian appeared somewhat embarrassed and said, "I hunted seven. If I hadn't heard you say that, I would have really thought that this exam question was supposed to be this simple."
"Of course," the effeminate Yasa also smiled and said, "Su Jian, I may not have much else to boast about, but this little bit of cleverness is something I have never been willing to fall behind others in."
"Not entirely. In the sky filled with evening glow, the young man, draped in a radiant red light, looked at Yasa with sincerity in his eyes. In fact, the reasons mentioned earlier are all insignificant. Just now, you only had two fire crystals and were worried that I would be empty-handed, wanting to share one with me. For this alone, it is completely worth my assistance to you!"
Observing the reactions of the crowd, the astute young man thought to himself: "You all, despite having such a good background and insight, have misjudged this person. If I, Asa, am not mistaken, the storms that Su Jian will stir up on the continent in the future will likely exceed all of your expectations"
Although it is unclear what exactly Yaza is, according to Tang Qiuyan's emphatic assertion, Yaza refers to the descendants of the hidden human-dragon hybrids in the Divine Wood Kingdom
Su Jian thought of this because he was just astonished by the gloomy expression of Asa, who suddenly displayed a burst of excitement in his chestnut-colored eyes when mentioning the pursuit of good results
Su Jian thought that only a person of mixed human and dragon blood, a lineage often subjected to discrimination, could make this effeminate classmate so eager for good grades. This way, he might gain the respect of both the faculty and his classmates for being a hybrid.
No, no, no! Someone immediately retorted from within the room, "Big guy, you are mistaken! It is not the front that is the most important; the latter phrase 'Exterminate the Dragon Clan, Restore the Divine Land' is our most important objective. Therefore, I believe that all actions should revolve around weakening the Dragon Clan."
"Flame, Flame Claw Lynx..." Upon hearing about such a swift and fierce beast, Asa was momentarily taken aback
Even if it is not for such reasons, emotions in this world are the most complex and the hardest to distinguish in black and white. Even if both parties are consumed by racial hatred, it still cannot prevent a few individuals from knowingly pursuing a passionate romance with members of the opposing sex.
However, according to Su Jian's thoughts, only a beast like the fire-tailed porcupine, which prides itself on its sharp quills and enjoys charging at its enemies, can allow him, who is not particularly strong in martial power at this stage, to easily utilize the Blood Eye and Heart Eye.
"Let me take a look, who could it be—" Just as he was joyfully preparing to peek, at that most critical moment, a hurried sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard
The rarity and value of the excellent crystal core are immediately manifested after being refined by Su Jian.
This is only one aspect. Su Jian said with a hint of pride, "Miss Luo, do you not think that my singing skills have improved again this time?"
If it is said that this is clearly a man in black who has escaped into the male dormitory area, Su Jian would not be surprised at all. On the contrary, he would logically conclude that the leader of tonight's gathering is likely to be a male student or a male instructor
It was precisely because of the relentless pursuit that, not long after, Su Jian significantly reduced the distance between himself and this person
Certainly, the results of Su Jian's two fire crystals in the mid-year assessment of the Tears of the Year surprised many people.
In this way, Su Jian exerted great effort solely to ensure that this cold and aloof ice mountain snow woman could patiently listen to him and engage in conversation with him.
His caution was not in vain; all the way until he approached the side of the gathering house, he went unnoticed.
However, some people feel that it is not so simple based on the spells frequently used in the Zunlong teachings
Moreover, with the night growing darker, Su Jian had not clearly seen the person's face earlier, and now, as he pursued, it was exceedingly difficult to catch up.
By noon on the third day, Su Jian, utilizing his secret blood pupil heart eye, managed to hunt down seven crystal cores, significantly exceeding the academy's stipulated maximum standard of five for "Excellence"
For instance, the previously mentioned Fire Crystal Red Fox is considered a rather cunning and rare demon beast. However, after he skillfully combined swordsmanship and magic, he surprisingly managed to hunt two of them consecutively, obtaining two Grade 5 Fire Spirit Crystal Cores.
After he finished speaking about this matter, Luo Xueqiong's mood also fluctuated somewhat
The effeminate youth, at this moment, was still unaware of the storms he would stir up across the land of Shenzhou in the future, and they would be anything but small
Whether it is the snow country, the plum blossoms, or the snow-capped mountains, they are all features of Luoxue Qiong's hometown, and each line of the song expresses the nostalgia for home that transcends thousands of mountains and rivers
As the sun sets in the west, the last trace of twilight disappears from the sky, and the entire weeping plain is once again engulfed in boundless darkness, returning to its rightful desolation and sorrow
In addition to this, Su Jian also discovered a more important point: this highly skilled individual was surprisingly not very familiar with the routes of the Lingjiu Academy
After all, according to his judgment, there are no more than ten individuals in the entire capital city whose agility and martial prowess can match that of this person
Otherwise, with this person's exceptional martial arts skills and agility, how could he possibly be closely pursued without losing him? Apart from being unfamiliar with the route, I truly cannot think of a second reason
The day after teasing Luo Xueqiong, Su Jian suddenly heard some whispers. After careful observation, he noticed that some of his classmates were behaving somewhat differently than usual.
These remarks are extreme, and Su Jian has always suspected that they might be related to the Blood Oath Alliance. Now, he has begun to see some clues, so he will not return to Jinghua City this evening
However, since he is neither a woman, how could he escape into the female dormitory area? Could it really be because he does not know the way, or is there another hidden reason?
Thus, regarding the origins of the Zunlong Sect, there have been numerous speculations. Most people feel that the emergence of the Zunlong Sect is not surprising, after all, those evil dragons are exceedingly powerful, and humanity is barely surviving. The rise of the Zunlong Sect is merely a reflection of the normal weakness of human nature
It turns out that Su Jian heard from the chubby Tang Qiu that this Asa is actually a hybrid of human and dragon
Unlike the Blood Oath Alliance, which has a clear origin, the Zunlong Sect seems to have appeared out of thin air in the past century, with no historical roots that can be traced back!
"There are indeed seven of them." Su Jian did not hide this from him, "I have killed a total of ten demon beasts, among which seven possess fire crystals. The ones with fire crystals are two fire crystal red foxes, three fire-tailed porcupines, one fire cloud marten, and one flame claw civet cat"
I see! Upon hearing this, Yasa suddenly realized and gently clapped her hands, saying, "So Brother Su just doesn't want to steal the spotlight."
Su Jian's achievements cannot be interpreted as the college's grading standards being overly lenient; the standards are established based on the assessment results from previous years
Regarding this matter, I actually only intend to hand over two of the remaining four fire crystals; as for the two of inferior quality, I plan to refine them myself, as it is better to focus on enhancing my own strength.
Therefore, if the Supreme Leader assigns a task that directs him not to focus on the Blood Oath Alliance, but rather to investigate the Zunlong Sect, Su Jian would certainly be even more pleased
Upon encountering a gathering suspected to be of the Blood Oath Alliance, Su Jian did not dare to be negligent and quickly followed cautiously. When he arrived at the martial arts training ground of Lingjiu Academy, shrouded by green bamboo, he carefully concealed his figure and nervously observed from a dim corner.
Yasa's hometown is the Sacred Wood Kingdom, located further south of the Cloud Mountain Kingdom. It is a habitat for many half-dragons.
As the sun tilted in the west, he wandered around Lingjiu Academy, appearing nonchalant on the surface, yet internally he was fully alert, hoping to uncover some concrete evidence
The third beast targeted is a fire-tailed porcupine. Logically speaking, the fire-tailed porcupine is covered in sharp quills that are red and black in color, which is indeed unsuitable for the blood-eyed heart that requires contact.
At that time, the sky was filled with red clouds, casting a reddish-brown hue over the tears of the plain, as if the entire field was glowing with a bright red light
How could this happen? The situation has changed so drastically in an instant, even a cooked duck could fly away, and Su Jian's mood has become extremely dejected
Haha! Su Jian laughed and said, "Yasa, you are indeed overthinking this time. I give you this item purely as a gift for our meeting—alright, alright, I know you definitely won't believe me when I say that." Su Jian looked at Yasa's expression and said with a wry smile
However, Yasa's speculation about Su Jianhuojing's harvest, based on "common sense," was completely incorrect
"Want to run?" Su Jian sneered, "Since I have seen you, where do you think you can escape to?" He immediately exerted all his strength and chased in the direction the shadow had fled.
"Wait for me to get closer and see clearly." With a plan in mind, Su Jian slowly emerged from his hiding spot. Taking advantage of the cover of night, he moved along the courtyard wall, edging close to the rockery, and began to approach the main building of the martial arts training ground
"What is it?" The girl, who was not accustomed to talking much with others, unexpectedly prepared to answer the boy's question seriously.
Ah? Su Jian was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "So the market for tears is not doing well? It's no wonder I lack experience."
Is that Brother Su?" When Yasa saw him, she also turned her direction and walked towards him
When Gao Chang heard the news that Diao Zheng had been killed by the Beast Dragon Stalker, he was greatly astonished. With his current understanding, he could not possibly imagine that Diao Zheng had died because of Su Jian
This time it was a great surprise! Su Jian was overjoyed and without a second thought, he hid the porcupine fire crystal in the deepest part of his backpack
Accompanied by Luo Xueqiong's delicate fingers lightly pinching, the pale yellow crystal talismans scattered into fragments, like falling leaves drifting away. In the originally desolate mountains and fields, a gentle breeze carried the youthful singing: "In the land of snow, countless plum blossoms bloom, in the village of white clouds, all is gentle."
Although Su Jian was very confident in his running ability, once he started chasing, he suddenly lost his confidence. Even he did not expect that in this world, there were people who could run faster than him!
Now, like a blank sheet of paper, the youth immediately elevated his martial arts realm to the first level after refining these two brilliantly glowing crystal cores through his cultivation
Therefore, Su Jian did not dare to be negligent, spending almost all his time in the past two days on the pursuit and hunting within the Tears Origin Jungle
Although this statement was still delivered in a chilling tone, Su Jian seemed to bask in the warm sunlight of early spring
The task assigned by the Copper Badge Guard was not overlooked, and naturally, Su Jian would not forget the other important task entrusted by the Commander-in-Chief
Hmm? Luo Xueqiong turned her head and saw Su Jian shouting and making a fuss. Remembering what had happened last time, she couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows, feeling somewhat displeased
It is evident that these lyrics were specifically prepared by Su Jian for the background of Luo Xueqiong
Thank you for the compliment, Miss Xueqiong! Su Jian immediately said with excitement, "Actually, I have some matters I would like to consult you about."
It is indeed the early spring message of longing, as the kingfisher cries, breaking the fragrant sorrow
Miss Luo, Miss Luo! He hurried over, running a bit fast, and was slightly out of breath when he greeted her
The song echoes across the land several times, in dreams the clouds fill the trees, upon waking the moon graces the building
Of course, as for how later the same method was used to bring about the demise of the villain Diao Zheng, such a "trivial matter" is something Su Jian felt need not be mentioned
Therefore, some individuals who have an understanding of the methods employed by the Zunlong Sect speculate whether there is a shadow of the demon clan behind it. After all, the demon clan has sufficient motivation to do so; if they can muddle the standoff between humans and dragons, it would undoubtedly be beneficial to them
Their members were originally the rebels of various kingdoms before the invasion of the dragon race. When the dragon race devastated everything and compressed humanity into the small, barren wilderness of the west, these opponents from the old world united to establish the "Blood Oath Alliance"
When Luoxue Qiong wanted to hand it back, it was already too late. Su Jian seemed to have anticipated this long ago and had quietly stepped back two or three paces.
"Miss Luo, I have newly crafted a sound crystal talisman, and I kindly ask you to take a moment to appreciate it," Su Jian said, not caring whether Luo Xueqiong agreed or not, and forcefully handed the crystal talisman over.
Which bastard ruined my good deed? The angry youth shouted furiously in his heart
Thus, while these discussions had not yet subsided, Su Jian had already taken a newly crafted crystal talisman and resolutely, as if oblivious to those around him, went to seek out Luo Xueqiong again
The doctrines of the Zunlong sect appear to be quite cowardly, representing a blatant form of surrenderism; however, in the apocalyptic era dominated by the great dragon, they have surprisingly made a significant impact among the common people and the military.
At this moment, Su Jian's heart was filled with overwhelming joy. Various signs indicated that there must be a significant figure among this group of people tonight; otherwise, they would not be debating such high-level strategic issues there.
Only to see that shadow turning left and right ahead, managing to shake off Su Jian at every opportunity along the way
It must be said that Su Jian's judgment is extremely accurate. This hidden shadow is indeed the leader who just issued the orders.
In fact, Yasa has not always been so extroverted and generous; however, for some reason, the boy who is deeply discriminated against by society feels an inexplicable sense of sympathy for Su Jian, who shares a similarly humble status.
Su Jian's journey to the Tears of the River was fruitful. However, while he was pleased, the mastermind behind the scenes, Gao Chang, was quite unhappy.
At this moment, Su Jian had not yet fully realized his resentment towards Gao Chang. After his martial arts realm improved, he became obsessed with the practice of martial skills and spells
Thus, the taciturn girl unexpectedly said to the boy, "It is indeed somewhat clever. I never expected that these three peculiar crystals would come together and manage to outsmart that ferocious beast-dragon."
It is evident that, in the eyes of the rulers of the major human kingdoms, the Zunlong Sect, a cult that confuses the hearts of people, is considered far more evil and terrifying than the Blood Oath Alliance
At the beginning, the people in the room were somewhat apprehensive, speaking in hushed tones. However, after a while, it was unclear whether they felt there was no longer any danger, but as their mood relaxed, their voices grew louder.
In legend, the demon race of the Demon Kingdom is inherently opposite to the beings of the continent, possessing a strong desire for destruction. Some spells of the Dragon Cult are fierce and dark, resembling the characteristics of the legendary demon race's spells.
Therefore, Su Jian felt that these lyrics and melodies would surely resonate with Luo Xueqiong's inherent feelings of homesickness
The Zunlong Sect also claims that the current issue is not whether the Dragon Clan should surrender, but rather to strive for a "dignified" position for the new human vassal state within the existing hierarchical structure of the Dragon Empire, which includes the Central Dragon Dynasty, the Upper Dragon Kingdom, the Middle Dragon Kingdom, and the Lower Dragon Kingdom after the surrender.
After a moment, he suddenly burst into laughter, extending his hand to take the three fire crystals, and cheerfully said: "Thank you, Su Jian. I, Asa, a citizen of the Divine Wood Kingdom, am very pleased to make your acquaintance"
This point can also be corroborated in his subsequent chance encounter with Asia.
However, this is of no importance to Su Jian. He has already determined whether these individuals are members of the Blood Oath Alliance; next, he only needs to identify exactly who they are.
Realizing this, Su Jian let out a cold laugh and thought to himself: "I do not have the strength to capture you today; however, getting closer to see your figure and appearance is completely within my capability"
In the sunset, on the wasteland, the androgynous youth with gray hair and chestnut eyes fell silent for a moment
On this day, he was wandering around the academy when he happened to see Luo Xueqiong walking alone on a secluded mountain path of Lingjiu Mountain. Seizing the opportunity, he approached her.
The Zunlong Sect, however, lacks any backbone, advocating for crawling at the feet of the Dragon Clan, which is something that passionate youths like Su Jian cannot accept under any circumstances
Oh? Su Jian was momentarily taken aback upon seeing this. Just as he was about to jump over, he happened to look up and noticed the plaque on the gate not far away. He was immediately startled: "Qixia Cottage? Oh dear, how did he get into the female dormitory area!"
That night, as he had predicted, the several students who had long been placed on Su Jian's list of suspects each pretended to be occupied with their own matters. They made their way around the vast Lingjiu Academy and then, as if by unspoken agreement, headed towards a secluded training dojo.
Perhaps, he thought to himself, my situation is not the worst of its kind
As a persecuted cult, the Zunlong Sect, like the Blood Oath Alliance, also resorts to extreme methods such as assassination; however, there is one notable difference: the Zunlong Sect frequently employs certain forbidden dark spells, which bear a striking resemblance to the spells of the demon realm that were suppressed by the dragon race.
Su Jian was certain that this person would not dare to be ostentatious in the unfamiliar Lingjiu Academy, so he steadily and resolutely pursued him alone, determined to claim this achievement for himself.
Confronted by a room full of radical members of the Blood Oath Alliance, Su Jian moved with utmost caution. In the dim and melancholic night, his tall figure resembled that of a nimble raccoon, skillfully maneuvering past the lookout student, silently approaching his target.
Su Jian clearly heard a loud voice proclaiming: "Destroy the decayed dynasty, restore the true flow." This phrase is already placed before "Exterminate the Dragon Clan" in our alliance's purpose. This indicates that overthrowing the Huaxia Dynasty is the most urgent matter at hand
It appears that the level of the crystal core within the demon beast is not solely determined by the level of the demon beast itself, but is also related to factors such as growth years, activity area, and physical condition
By the way, speaking of word count, last night on Jinghua Street, I had a calligrapher compose these lyrics for me, and it was quite a bargain, only sixty characters for just two wen. Well, performing a good deed each day, this small amount of money, I consider it a contribution from me to the public, so I won't ask that fellow Gai Yingwei for reimbursement
At this time, the sky was already darkening, the red sun slanting in the west, casting a long shadow of Su Jianben's tall and slender figure onto the wild grass.
Thus, Su Jian elaborated in detail on how the three symbols interact in the dense forest, diverting the wandering beast dragons along this tranquil mountain path
Having eliminated the potential threat posed by Diao Zheng, Su Jian was finally able to focus on hunting for the Fire Crystal.
"Yasa, you really heard it right." At this moment, Su Jian had an apologetic expression, scratching his head as if he had done something wrong
Amid the heartfelt calls of the youth, Nuo Xueqiong quickened her pace, and in the blink of an eye, she turned around the foot of the mountain, disappearing into the vast wilderness.
As if in response to him, a very friendly and enthusiastic voice from outside the courtyard suddenly called out: "Is that Teacher Di? So late, where are you going?"
This minor miscalculation caused him to experience quite a shock afterwards
"Alright, then I will tell you the real reason." Su Jian looked at Yasa, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat serious, "Yasa, do not forget, I also hold the identity of a Xuanwu Xiwei official. I am a public servant, and for the sake of fulfilling my duties, it is better to remain low-key. I do not wish to attract such extraordinary attention."
Good lad! Su Jian reacted swiftly, immediately thinking, Could it be that leader? Only he would have the courage and responsibility to stay behind and observe
This sentence was like a command, and immediately, the ten or so members of the Blood Oath Alliance in the room streamed out through the side door on the other side
After this clear exchange of words, the people in the room fell into a chaotic debate, making it difficult for Su Jian to hear clearly
Oh? Who is that... standing there in a daze at the edge of the tears, contemplating whether to leave? Su Jian then noticed a figure slowly emerging from the thicket in the distance
Initially, he was concerned about a possible misjudgment, but once the indoor gathering commenced, Su Jian confirmed that this was indeed a secret meeting of the Blood Oath Alliance
With the sword in hand and the secret techniques such as Blood Eye and Heart Eye at his disposal, Su Jian discovered that hunting those relatively low-level fire-type spirit beasts was not particularly difficult
In the aftermath of the regret at Luoxueqiong, Su Jian, who was also on his way back, comforted himself in his heart: "It's alright, what Luoxueqiong said to me this time contains far more words than just a simple 'hmph' from last time. There is progress, there is progress!"
The moment Su Jian saw him, he happened to see Su Jian as well. In the brief moment of surprise, the shadow reacted swiftly, immediately turning over and rising, its figure swiftly disappearing into the night.
The Zunlong Sect repeatedly claims that while this approach may appear spineless and lacking in courage, it is, under the stark contrast of power between the two sides, the most pragmatic strategy to ensure the survival of the race.
I feel the same way. Su Jian handed over three crystal cores and exchanged a high-five with Ya Sa, marking the beginning of their friendship
What is going on? Upon hearing the news, Gao Chang was both shocked and angry, "This Diao Zheng is indeed a useless coward, unable to handle such a trivial matter, he deserves to be killed by the Dragon Clan"
However, after pursuing for a while, Su Jian discovered an interesting fact: this person was fast not because of innate talent like himself, but rather due to exceptionally high martial arts skills developed through training.
This mid-term assessment in the Tears of the Abyss lasts a total of four days, but excluding the travel time on the first and last days, the actual time available for hunting the Fire Spirit Beasts is only one or two days
Moreover, he also knew that at the innermost part of Qixia Cottage, a tranquil courtyard had been specially designated for the female instructors to reside, named "Xianxia Bieyuan." Correspondingly, the male dormitory area was called "Yunqi Zhuyuan," while the place where the male instructors lived at the back was named "Yunhe Bieyuan"
Su Jian's impressive results can indeed be attributed to his secret technique of Blood Eye and Heart Eye, which is particularly well-suited for tackling such examination questions
Among all the people, only the reactions of two individuals were relatively unconventional
However, this is merely a thought; compared to the frequently active members of the Blood Oath Alliance, the disciples of the Zunlong Sect conduct themselves in a very low-key manner, appearing quite mysterious, and are not at all the kind of targets that a lowly figure like Su Jian, a mere Xuanwu Guard, is qualified to investigate
Su Jian has always been eloquent, and the story of how he set up a talisman to escape from the jungle is itself thrilling and dramatic. Therefore, when Su Jian recounts it in vivid detail, it naturally comes alive with rich imagery and dramatic twists, making Luo Xueqiong feel as if she is experiencing it firsthand
"Is there a mistake? That black-clad lackey, having just enrolled for a few days, actually managed to scrape through with a passing grade? Must have cheated!" This reflects the instinctive reaction of individuals like Gao Chang towards Su Jian.
"Oh?" Yasa looked at him in surprise, "What’s the matter, Brother Su? Although I am quite dissatisfied with this result, to be frank, obtaining two monster cores in this tearful wilderness cannot be considered too little, can it?"
"Not just a few," Yasa said with a bitter smile, shaking his head, his face full of frustration. "In fact, up to now, we have only managed to obtain two in total"
Due to the refinement of two fire-type crystals, he began to focus on developing fire-type combat techniques among the ten elements of gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, illusion, and darkness
"Hmph," this is the aloof Lei Bingfan, "only two? One word, weak! After such a long time of two days, this is the result obtained, truly a waste of that Blood Song good sword!"
And this carefully prepared song has effects that go beyond this. When Luo Xueqiong began to regain her senses, she unexpectedly asked Su Jian, "How is this crystal talisman different from the last one?"
"On the contrary, Brother Su," Yashabin said politely, "how many have you hunted? I mean, even if you haven't hunted a single one, that would be quite normal for a novice like you. If that is the case, I can share one with you."
As he approached, Su Jian looked him over and asked with some surprise, "Yasa, why do you look so downcast? Is it that you didn't manage to obtain many crystal cores?"
He believes that although the Blood Oath Alliance acts extremely and frequently creates bloody incidents, whether it is assassinating officials or ambushing the Dragon Clan, it is at least for the sake of the human race to exist with greater dignity on this continent in the future
The girl in white, who seemed to be forever indifferent to the affairs of the outside world, actually listened attentively without missing a single word
Therefore, when he cut open the ribcage of the fire-tailed porcupine, he discovered that it was actually a grade B fire crystal, two levels higher than the crystal core of the fire crystal red fox he had encountered earlier
Although this may seem like a minor detail, it is highly beneficial for Su Jian in narrowing down the possible range of this individual
This high-ranking individual shows no sign of mourning for the death of his own follower, but instead blames him in his heart for his incompetence and believes he deserved it, lamenting only that he has lost a subordinate. From this perspective, the character of this high-ranking individual is remarkably vile; if one were to apply the principles of martial arts to assess him, he would undoubtedly reach a level beyond the sacred.
However, many years later, when Su Jian made an effort to recall this experience, to remember the details of his first meeting with King Asa, who shook the entire continent, he found that he could only remember the blood-red sunset of that night... he could only remember the world, rendered as if bleeding everywhere by the vast glow of the clouds...
However, just as he was about to catch up, he saw the person suddenly leap forward and actually vault over a section of the courtyard wall by the roadside
Initially, she habitually maintained a degree of reserve; however, at least in that moment, she was genuinely impressed by Su Jian's ingenuity
Upon a second thought, Gao Chang felt a bit gloomy: "Alas, what a pity. This dead fool is indeed a coward, but he was also a skilled fighter. Just like that, he is gone, and I have lost a good enforcer. Well, well, you Su Jian! Truly despicable!"
The sudden sound of footsteps, though not particularly loud, seemed especially jarring and resonant in the ears of the members of the Blood Oath Alliance, who harbored ulterior motives, on this tranquil night.
It is evident that they are not facing such a situation for the first time; as they leave, their footsteps are light, their speed swift, and in the blink of an eye, they have orderly scaled the wall and vanished into the vastness of the night.
Brother Yasa, over here!" Su Jian shouted while vigorously waving his hand at him
Su Jian's judgment is exceedingly wise
Luo Xueqiong was momentarily taken aback upon witnessing this. It is true that she rarely encountered someone as assertive as Su Jian, leaving her momentarily unresponsive. By the time she regained her composure, Su Jian's crystal talisman had already been grasped in her hand.
As soon as he approached, Su Jian immediately leaned forward, preparing to peek inside through a small ventilation window in the corner of the dojo to gain a clear understanding.
"Really, really... seven, seven pieces?" At that moment, Yasa suddenly seemed to lose the ability to speak.
"... ... Boring!" Luo Xueqiong said this and was about to turn and leave.
In the absence of any knowledge on Su Jian's part, Gao Chang's hatred for him deepened once again
"So little?" Su Jian exclaimed.
Yasa looked at Su Jian sincerely, her expression completely genuine
In fact, just by looking at Asana's alternative gray-brown hair color, one can tell that he is likely not of pure human lineage
The girl, who was originally unpretentious, was surprisingly quiet at this moment. She listened quietly to the boy, absorbing much for a long time
It must be said that Su Jian's intentions were well-placed
Upon reflecting on this, Su Jian felt a considerable sympathy for Asa in his heart
"What a rogue," the girl in white thought to herself with a hint of resentment, and with a touch of helplessness, she casually waved her hand and refined the crystal talisman.
Before embarking on the journey home, Su Jian decisively refined the two inferior fire crystals.
In fact, this originates from the crystal core of the Celestial Sea of the Xianqiong Star, which is quite rare. The seven identical Fire Spirit Crystal Cores held together in Su Jian's hand truly radiate with myriad rays of light, resembling a spray of red flames. The flame-like red is dense and translucent, truly magnificent
Two young men, moved by friendship, stand tall, silently vowing in the red glow of the sunset to carry this rare and sincere friendship with them for the rest of their lives
As she walked away, Su Jian naturally felt regretful. However, when Luo Xueqiong had gone quite far, she suddenly realized: "Ah, in that song, the lyrics actually have quite a teasing implication! Hmph, I was caught off guard and ended up being flirted with by him."
Naturally, Star Flow Technique is the "high-level combat skill" that all people in Shenzhou yearn for at this moment, so Su Jian pays special attention to the lessons taught by the fire element Star Flow Technique instructor, Qin Yu
After successfully obtaining a porcupine, Su Jian eagerly set out to specifically search for a fire-tailed porcupine. However, his luck took a turn for the worse, as he only managed to find one over a long period of time, and the crystal core he extracted after capturing it was not of grade B, but merely of grade D, which was slightly better than the worst grade E.
"This, this..." Yasa was initially taken aback, but soon regained her composure and repeatedly declined, saying, "Su Jian, how can I accept this?"
Moreover, he felt a familiar aura emanating from the young man in black that was very comforting to him
Moreover, when the final phrase "should be more charming" has already wafted away in the mountain breeze, Luo Xueqiong still gazes with sparkling eyes, silently lost in thought as she looks at the distant mountains and nearby trees
However, now that he has clearly seen him escape into the female dormitory area, Su Jian is truly at a loss.
Upon hearing this, Luo Xueqiong pondered for a moment and then asked, "Is it possible that the method of production has been improved, allowing this singing crystal talisman to emit sound for a longer duration?"
Ha! Following closely behind, Su Jian was simply overjoyed, "Are these rebels planning to hold a meeting? Haha, it seems that the opportunity for me, Su Jian, to achieve merit and be rewarded is coming!"
Logically speaking, the Dragon and Human clans are like fire and water, where it is either you die or I live, so how could there be a possibility of intermarriage? However, if viewed from a different perspective, one would find this situation quite normal: after any large-scale racial war, there are always such unspeakable yet inevitable tragic consequences. Among the common war crimes, one is the uncontrolled soldiers violently assaulting the women of the enemy.
For Su Jian, who vowed to enhance his strength, the most direct significance of improving his martial arts realm is that his primordial spirit and meridians become more powerful, and the refined crystal energy he harnesses becomes purer, resulting in a more ferocious and stronger burst of energy in battle
This area is precisely the accommodation zone for female students of Lingjiu Academy, known as "Qixia Cottage." Although Su Jian has never entered, how could he be unaware of this sacred place in Tang Qiu's heart
In an instant, the previously lively chatter fell silent, and the room became deathly quiet. Soon, a deep voice calmly and coolly said: "Don't panic. Leave in groups quickly"
The underground organization "Zunlong Jiao" that is prevalent in various kingdoms adopts such a compromise and surrender approach. Zunlong Jiao advocates for a compromise with the dragon race and, if necessary, can surrender to the dragon race, becoming an autonomous prefecture under their rule
However, some people believe that there is not much to think about; this Dragon Cult is simply sent by the Dragon Clan, "You are all overthinking it!"
Unlike the previous professional opposition to the imperial court, after the establishment of the Blood Oath Alliance, its leaders redefined their purpose in response to the new situation, which became a sixteen-character motto: "Destroy the decayed dynasty, restore the pure stream; exterminate the dragon clan, revive the divine land"
Su Jian determined that this student most closely matched the characteristics of a Blood Oath Alliance member. He intended to trace this person to uncover what activities they would be engaged in tonight
In Su Jian's heart, between these two officially recognized cults, there is actually a greater hatred for the Zunlong Sect
It is precisely because of the ease of contact that the third fire-tailed porcupine he hunted turned out to be a medium-level demon beast! This is equivalent to Su Jian relying on his blood pupil and heart eye to hunt a high-level demon beast beyond his level!
It turns out that the saying "the King of Hell is easy to deal with, but the little ghosts are troublesome" holds true. Whenever Su Jian returned to his post during his spare time, Gai Yingwei would coldly speak to him, asking how much information he had gathered about Luo Xueqiong.
Seeing the young man, who had a "fateful smile" with her, take out two of this "huge" quantity, Luo Xueqiong was also taken aback and thought in surprise: "Oh? This person is indeed a rogue, and he has no skills. In just a few months since enrollment, I didn't expect he actually passed the assessment."
After attending the courses taught by Teacher Qin, Su Jian discovered that Qin Yu not only possessed an elegant demeanor but also delivered lessons in a clear and accessible manner, making him an exceptional teacher
A branch is hard to send to the snowy mountain top, a beauty adorns her hair, it must be even more charming
It turned out to be that discipline teacher, Di Zimo. Su Jian let out a bitter laugh, and he had no mood to listen to the ensuing conversation. He quickly slipped out of the courtyard, but just as he exited the courtyard wall, he noticed a shadow lurking in a corner not far away.
As he approached closer, Su Jian discovered that this person was indeed Asa.
Do you still not believe me? Su Jian, seeing his "unmoved" demeanor, became anxious as well. He took out the seven bright fire crystals, spread them out in his open palm, and displayed them to Yasa.
The Blood Oath Alliance, which Su Jian is fixated on, is a product of the Dragon Clan's invasion of the continent and the subsequent catastrophic defeat of the Human Race
At this moment, with his current abilities, he cannot discern the bloodline of Su Jianlong, the Bloodline of the Dragon. However, due to his own mixed heritage of human and dragon, Yasa naturally feels a sense of closeness to the dragon blood aura of Su Jian.
Oh? Luo Xueqiong is indeed intrigued by his words
That night, he fixed his gaze firmly on a student suspected of being part of the Blood Oath Alliance
Not only did he decline, but this cunning gray-haired youth also confidently speculated on Su Jian's intentions: "Indeed, Su Jian, you are quite right. I just saw you using a scheme against Diao Zheng, and now you are using this to silence me. This is quite wise of you. But really, it is unnecessary. Perhaps you have heard that I tend to think a lot, but that does not mean I have a narrow mind. Please take it back." Perhaps you have heard that I tend to think a lot, but that does not mean I have a narrow mind. Please take it back.
Although Su Jian secretly cursed this person for being lecherous, shameless, and brazen, the higher the official rank, the more oppressive the authority. Faced with a narcissistic individual like Gai Yingwei, he had no choice but to prioritize the matter of Luo Xueqiong above the cases of the missing persons and the activities of the Blood Oath Alliance.
What? Yasa seems to have completely missed what Su Jian said afterward, staring at him blankly. "I... I didn't hear wrong, did I? You said seven? Never mind, never mind, I must have misheard, it must be one..."
"Could he be cross-dressing as a man? Impossible," Su Jian denied this speculation. "With his physique and demeanor, if he were a woman, then I must be blind.
"Bored?" Su Jian, however, replied without showing any emotion, "It is precisely this kind of boring crystal symbol you mentioned that saved my life from the hands of the dragon clan during the trial of tears a few days ago. How did I manage to do that? Don't you want to hear about it?"
What is the difference ... ... Did Miss Luo not hear it?" Su Jian looked at her, trying to engage the young girl in conversation.
Under such a principle, the methods employed by the Blood Oath Alliance have become increasingly extreme.
Interestingly, as Taoism states, "the solitary Yang does not endure, and the isolated Yin does not give birth," there exists a radical organization like the Blood Oath Alliance that harbors hatred towards the Dragon Clan, as well as sects that intend to compromise with the Dragon Clan
At the moment when Yasa was even more shocked, he saw Su Jian pick out three and hand them to him: "Here, Yasa, these three are for you, to make a 'distinguished' set, consider it a gift for our first meeting."
So, where are you from? Where is your home? How many people are there in your family? Do you have any siblings? If so, how many? Are both of your parents still alive? What are your hobbies in your spare time? Do you prefer music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or practicing martial arts and fighting... Hey, Miss Snowy Sky, don't go, you haven't answered a single question yet...
On that afternoon, Su Jian arrived at the vast wasteland of grassland on the edge of the Tears Plain
On the mountain path, amidst the gentle breeze, time unknowingly passes as the youth vividly describes his surroundings
Su Jian was completely oblivious to these evaluations. For a person with firm beliefs and goals, the opinions of others will not have much impact.
Of course, obtaining this intermediate fire crystal did not come without a cost. Just now, in order to evade the spines of the charging porcupine, he jumped to the side with a bit too much force. As a result, he successfully avoided the porcupine's spines but inadvertently crashed into a thicket of thorns, getting several thorn pricks in his thigh, which was extremely painful