Chapter 17: Mission
But the words had already been said.
Yang Hong could only keep up the bravado and said, “I’m just afraid that even with your techniques, you still won’t beat me!”
Xu Zhengyang looked at Yang Hong with a mocking expression, then continued, “Since you say that even with techniques I can’t beat you… Then can I use a technique to interfere with you?”
“You…”
It was the first time Yang Hong had encountered someone so shameless. His face flushed red with anger, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
“Hahaha, just kidding.”
Xu Zhengyang stopped while it was still appropriate, walked up to Yang Hong, and said, “I’ll count to three, and we’ll head out. How about it?”
Yang Hong breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.
But he still gave a cold snort and insisted stubbornly, “Hmph, even if you interfere with me, I’ll still win!”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
Xu Zhengyang casually agreed.
Then he opened the Martial Arts Manager and activated the body macro for Skywalking, instantly adjusting his bones, tendons, and breathing to the Skywalking state.
Immediately after.
Xu Zhengyang began to count:
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
As soon as the word “three” left Xu Zhengyang’s mouth, he and Yang Hong both turned into long afterimages, disappearing from in front of the Twilight Shadow Pavilion’s gate!
…
Divine Mechanism Peak stood 5,800 zhang tall!
Xu Zhengyang’s Twilight Shadow Pavilion was located about one-third of the way up the mountain, while the Divine Mechanism Palace was built at the peak.
If they flew.
Even with the slowest flying Paper Crane Talisman, one incense stick’s time was more than enough to get from the Pavilion to the Palace.
But if they ran…
The mountain path was rugged.
Some areas even required a detour.
So although the straight-line distance between the Pavilion and the Palace seemed only three or four kilometers, the actual run…
The distance was at least ten times that!
…
Along the way.
Yang Hong was running ahead, clutching a Light Body Talisman and an Earth Spike Talisman in his palm.
He had already made up his mind.
If Xu Zhengyang cast Light Body Technique on himself, Yang Hong would immediately use the Light Body Talisman too;
If Xu Zhengyang used any other technique to interfere with him, Yang Hong would immediately retaliate with the Earth Spike Talisman!
【Anyway, he never said talismans couldn’t be used…】
So thought Yang Hong.
However…
Yang Hong held the Light Body Talisman in his hand for a long time.
As they neared halfway through the journey, Xu Zhengyang was still relying purely on physical strength to run.
Yang Hong was inwardly shocked and thought:
【Didn’t he just get the Divine Mechanism Art a month and a half ago? How is his stamina so strong, and he’s not even exhausted yet?!】
Thinking about how he had trained bitterly for years.
Yet still couldn’t shake off Xu Zhengyang using body movement techniques alone, Yang Hong began to faintly doubt his own talent:
【Am I really that once-in-a-million body-cultivator genius that Master spoke of?】
…
In the midst of his anxious thoughts, Yang Hong gritted his teeth and pressed on, accelerating multiple times!
However.
Both of them had only trained Skywalking to the first level, the Treading Snow Without Trace stage, with no real difference in proficiency.
So no matter how much Yang Hong sped up, Xu Zhengyang could still follow closely and steadily behind him.
…
More than half an hour later, outside the Divine Mechanism Palace.
Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong were now both soaked as if they had been pulled from the water, their bodies completely drenched in sweat, gasping heavily for air.
At the same time.
Not only were their bodies soaked, but vapor was also rising from their heads, the result of sweat turning to steam.
They both looked utterly exhausted.
The prolonged run had heavily depleted Xu Zhengyang’s stamina, so he took out a Fasting Pill and swallowed it to relieve his hunger.
At the same time, he said, “Junior Brother Yang truly deserves the title of innate expert. Your Skywalking is indeed better than mine. I’m impressed.”
“Hmph.”
Yang Hong turned his head proudly upon hearing this and silently took out a pill to restore his strength.
Seeing that this little performance had already delayed them by more than half an hour.
Xu Zhengyang no longer teased Yang Hong and said, “We can’t meet Master in this condition.”
As he spoke.
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand, casting a Cleansing Technique on both himself and Yang Hong, cleaning them up instantly.
“I have Cleansing Talismans!”
Yang Hong emphasized, then walked ahead, entering the Divine Mechanism Palace first.
…
A moment later.
When Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong both stepped onto the third floor of the Divine Mechanism Palace, they saw that Pei Zhen was currently playing a game of Go with Chen Qiang.
The two were evenly matched.
Both had furrowed brows, fiercely competing over the board, and the hall was filled with an intense and solemn atmosphere.
“Master.”
Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong each bowed to Pei Zhen and Chen Qiang.
“Mm.”
Pei Zhen nodded in response.
But then he noticed the disordered breathing of Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong and frowned, saying, “Ah Zheng, did you get into a conflict with Junior Brother Yang just now?”
“No!”
Xu Zhengyang hurriedly explained, “We were only having a competition to see whose body technique was better—who could run from Twilight Shadow Pavilion to the Divine Mechanism Palace faster. That’s why our breathing is a bit messy.”
“Ran up here?”
Pei Zhen was stunned at the reply, then quickly asked, “Could it be… you’ve already learned Skywalking?”
“I have trained to the first level, Treading Snow Without Trace,” Xu Zhengyang replied.
Pei Zhen was overjoyed to hear this.
But then he quickly showed some dissatisfaction and said, “Since you’ve learned Skywalking, why didn’t you tell me when you came here yesterday?”
“Skywalking has three levels, and I’ve only just begun. It’s not worth mentioning. So I planned to wait until I’d fully mastered it before reporting to Master.”
Xu Zhengyang answered truthfully.
Pei Zhen glanced smugly at Chen Qiang, about to say something, but Chen Qiang spoke up first, asking, “So which one of you won?”
“I did!” Yang Hong said proudly.
“Mm.”
Chen Qiang smiled upon hearing this and said, “A fox monk halfway through can’t compare to a boy who has meditated since childhood.”
As he spoke.
Chen Qiang shot a proud glance at Pei Zhen and continued, “In that case, I’ll assign you a task. Do you have the confidence to complete it?”
“I will not fail the mission!” Yang Hong said solemnly.
“Mm.”
Chen Qiang nodded in satisfaction before explaining in detail, “Our True Essence Sect sits atop the Floating Mist Mountains and is renowned throughout Qingzhou. With such prestige, naturally, the surrounding small clans and sects offer their tribute.
Not long ago.
The Chen family of Lingqu County, who have paid tribute to our sect for over 700 years, sent word that their forbidden ground had been occupied by a Tier 1 peak demonic beast.
They requested that we send someone to slay the beast and exorcise the demon.
Do you have the confidence to go and eliminate this creature?”
“A Tier 1 peak demonic beast?”
Yang Hong couldn’t help but swallow his saliva upon hearing this, but still forced himself to answer loudly, “I am willing to go!”
“Hahaha, good!”
Chen Qiang laughed heartily and explained to Yang Hong with satisfaction, “Although this beast is a Tier 1 peak, it is heavily wounded and won’t live long. Most importantly. It is a water-type beast, but the Chen family’s forbidden ground is inside a cave, greatly weakening its combat strength. If not for this. I wouldn’t have let you wade into such murky waters.”
Xu Zhengyang was puzzled upon hearing this and asked, “If the beast is so weak, why can’t the Chen family handle it themselves?”