Chapter 103: Mirage — The Demon-Suppressing Tower

There are three Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stones sealing the Demon-Suppressing Tower. The stones at markers 302 and 303 both showed cracks of varying severity, damaging the high-energy array above them and causing unrest in the tower. The stone before them also seemed to have been attacked, but the damage was so slight it was almost negligible. So long as the stone itself was not harmed, the array could repair the rest on its own. That was why the Demon-Suppressing Tower had been sealed for more than a hundred years.

"Teacher Xiao Chu, how are they?"

While Zhang Chu examined Hu Sanyi and Wang Peng’s injuries, Zhang Xueying carefully scanned the surroundings and reported the condition of the stone to the temporary command center.

"Both are injured to different degrees, but from the spiritual fluctuations left on them, someone seems to have treated them already. They’re only unconscious now. Nothing serious."

Zhang Chu had checked both men thoroughly.

Hu Sanyi had suffered minor internal injuries, affecting his organs.

Wang Peng had suffered a backlash to his spiritual power, but at worst it was only a mild concussion. He would be dizzy for a short while, that was all.

For a martial artist, these kinds of injuries were as ordinary as meals; a healing pill would be enough to recover quickly.

Zhang Xueying swiftly relayed the discovery of Wang Peng and the others to the temporary command center as well. "Teacher Xiao Chu, do you mean they were attacked, and then rescued by a mysterious person?"

"Only a Spirit Realm practitioner could rescue them from the Godfall Alliance and still set up a spiritual barrier."

"It must have been Old Guan."

Zhang Chu was certain that Guan Zifang had to be in the advanced restricted zone.

Since Wang Peng and Hu Sanyi were not in mortal danger, it must have been Guan Zifang who arrived in time.

"Treat their injuries first."

After a brief discussion, Zhang Xueying handled communications with the temporary command center and prepared to complete the energy-balance test for the three Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stones. Zhang Chu was responsible for saving people.

"The energy-balance tester has been activated at marker 303."

"Marker 302 activating."

"303 activating."

Through coordination with the temporary command center, Zhang Xueying communicated via the sensory glasses with Fan Dayong and Huang Lili, and together with the boundary-marker repair personnel at marker 302, she synchronized the energy test.

The moment the tester activated, a blue beam shot straight into the sky.

Energy data from the Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stones began transmitting automatically, forming a blue energy triangle above the advanced forbidden zone.

About five minutes later, the energy-balance test was complete.

"Xiao Chu, Xueying, the energy test is finished. We’ve basically grasped the condition of the Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stones, and specialists will be sent to repair them. You must withdraw from the advanced restricted zone within twelve hours to avoid any unforeseen danger."

"Understood!"

Fan Dayong, Huang Lili, and Zhang Xueying all replied at once.

Then, suddenly, Wang Peng and Hu Sanyi, who had been unconscious, sat up.

"Xiao Chu?"

"Teacher Xueying!"

Seeing familiar faces, Wang Peng finally let out a breath of relief.

What had just happened had shaken his entire worldview; he had almost lost his life.

"How do you feel?" Zhang Chu helped Hu Sanyi and Wang Peng to their feet.

"Not a big deal. I’m not dead yet."

Hu Sanyi had spent years moving through hunting grounds and killing star beasts; he had seen enough to remain calm, and this little matter meant little to him.

Wang Peng was different.

He had gone from an ordinary man to a Gifted, and his very first mission had already brought him face to face with a strong member of the Godfall Alliance.

It was outrageous.

"Old Hu, did you and the others run into Old Guan?" Zhang Chu asked.

The video conference with the temporary command center had already ended. Just as Luo Zhidong was about to hang up, he heard Guan Zifang’s name.

"Teacher... still on Canglong Mountain? Then the Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stone in area 303 wasn’t damaged because of my teacher?"

"If not for Old Guan, the two of us would have been done for today."

Hu Sanyi explained briefly, and everyone quickly understood what had happened in area 301.

Wang Peng and Hu Sanyi had simply had rotten luck.

Just after reaching the vicinity of the Salt Lake, they ran into members of the Godfall Alliance attacking the Vajra Demon-Suppressing Stone.

A fierce battle followed. The enemy was a two-star Spirit Realm practitioner, and he easily wounded both men.

Hu Sanyi was already preparing to close his eyes and wait for death when Guan Zifang descended from above.

A four-star dual-force martial artist was terrifyingly formidable; with a single palm strike, he sent the Godfall Alliance expert flying.

The enemy had been completely outmatched.

In the end, he had been forced to unleash a spiritual explosion bead in desperate retreat.

The two wounded men were caught in the blast and fainted on the spot.

When they woke, they saw Zhang Chu and Zhang Xueying.

"Xueying, take the others and withdraw first."

After hearing Hu Sanyi’s account, Zhang Chu made a decision.

He needed to find Guan Zifang.

The other party had triggered a spiritual explosion bead in desperation, which would be extremely damaging to a Spirit Realm practitioner.

Guan Zifang was probably injured now.

This nominally convenient teacher of his had at least helped him obtain the spiritual bead in the Star Beast Tree Hollow. He could not simply stand by and watch him die.

"Xiao Chu, now that we know it was the teacher in the advanced restricted zone, you must find him."

At that moment, Luo Zhidong in the video became anxious as well.

He had not seen Guan Zifang for ten years.

The last time had been during the non-incumbent martial arts tournament, when Luo Zhidong received a call from Guan Zifang and learned that he had a conveniently acquired little junior brother.

But he had known nothing about Guan Zifang still being on Canglong Mountain.

If he had known earlier, then the first thing he would have done when the Demon-Suppressing Tower came under attack would have been to ask Guan Zifang to step in.

"Have Hu Sanyi and Wang Peng go first. I’ll go with you," Zhang Xueying said firmly, her attitude clear: whatever was said would not matter; they would advance and retreat together.

"Xiao Chu, with our friendship, do you think I can leave you behind by yourself?"

"And me! Brothers advance and retreat together!"

Wang Peng and Hu Sanyi also stated their position on the spot.

Seeing how resolute the three were, Zhang Chu did not refuse.

"Dean Luo, send me the exact location of the Demon-Suppressing Tower. I suspect Old Guan chased the Godfall Alliance people there."

Very soon, the navigation route to the Demon-Suppressing Tower appeared on the sensory glasses of the four of them.

They set off at once.

Along the way, they encountered many star beasts, as well as two waves of beast swarms, all of which Zhang Chu single-handedly crushed.

The Demon-Suppressing Tower was located on High Ground 009, on a cliff known as Hanging Gourd Mountain.

The four of them passed through a misty forest and climbed the cloud-piercing mountain.

"Ding-dong. Navigation complete. You have reached the destination. It is straight ahead."

The moment they reached the summit, the navigation on the sensory glasses automatically shut off.

They looked around.

The lonely peak seemed to rise directly into the heavens, while a rolling sea of clouds churned on all sides.

"Xiao Chu, what is that? Is it the Heavenly Palace above the clouds?" Wang Peng cried out, pointing ahead.

The other three followed his finger.

There, a nine-story black-and-gold demon tower hovered above the clouds, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

"Teacher Xueying, this should be the Demon-Suppressing Tower, right?" Hu Sanyi drew a sharp breath.

After so many years in the mercenary company of the Gale Squad, he could finally be said to have seen the world today.

"Doesn’t look like it."

Zhang Chu studied it for a moment and shook his head. "It’s the refraction of light, commonly called a mirage. Still, the Demon-Suppressing Tower should be right beneath the sea of clouds."

Boom!

At that very moment, the mountain beneath them shook violently.

A high-density cloud of energy then tore through the sea of clouds and gathered overhead, and the hovering Demon-Suppressing Tower was instantly shattered into mist.

A spiritual explosion bead?

The four of them quickly adjusted their gear and descended at once by means of their high-altitude climbing ropes.