385 Fourteen Kings! Working Together?
Xiang Mingfeng’s words mirrored those of the former boss Qin Huai had met. He seemed to be promising a significant advantage, but it was shrouded in vagueness. Furthermore, his performance and skill in making this promise were subpar.
Qin Huai surveyed the crowd at a distance and speculated, “If I’m not mistaken, the people surrounding this stone tablet forest should all be future kings.”
The people around the stone tablet forest didn’t make any conscious effort to conceal their auras. Being a bearer of the king’s force himself, Qin Huai was particularly attuned to the faint pressure emanating from them.
“Indeed, most of the individuals here are familiar faces, the top prodigies of Qingzhou City. They’re all future kings.”
“I’ve fought a couple of the unknown ones,” Xiang Mingfeng confessed.
Qin Huai glanced at the stoic Xiang Mingfeng, contemplating She Wanshan’s invitation. Surely Xiang Mingfeng didn’t bring him over after a round of fighting?
Xiang Mingfeng’s words stirred something within Qin Huai. Fourteen individuals, fourteen future king-tier warriors…
Once, his trump card was deemed unbeatable. However, it might lose its effect in the level-two array of the bronze realm. Here, the king’s force was common like cabbages.
Fourteen individuals. If one included Yun Qi from the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang, the total would be sixteen. But considering that Qingzhou was rumored to house nearly a hundred million citizens, Qin Huai found some comfort.
“I am.” Qin Huai nodded in acknowledgment.
“I have grand plans. I wish to involve everyone within this array,” Xiang Mingfeng revealed. “As you can see, Brother Zhou, future kings are quite common in the bronze realm.
“Throughout history, numerous kings have failed to comprehend the ancient scripture… Most fought solo, depending on their strength to understand the power of the ancient scripture.
“It’s evident that this is a ludicrous notion. The ancient azure illusion scripture differs from all cultivation techniques in Qingzhou.” Xiang Mingfeng wore a grave expression as he continued, “We must work together to have a chance of getting out.”
Qin Huai nodded in agreement with Xiang Mingfeng’s words. From the outset until now, his progress could be attributed not only to his hard work but also to the support of various benefactors.
For instance, there were the saviors from the Sacred Heart sect, the adopted brothers from the county governor’s mansion, and the Blood Poison Gang. All of them had put their lives on the line to assist Qin Huai.
“Brother Xiang, what’s your plan?” Qin Huai inquired.
“There’s no rush. I’ve already dispatched a junior brother into the level-one array to persuade those people above,” Xiang Mingfeng disclosed in a low voice.
“Is it Senior Brother Guo Ze from Lion Spirit Mountain?” She Wanshan’s eyes sparkled.
“Yes, along with Junior Martial Sister Liu Fang from the Blue Sea Pavilion,” Xiang Mingfeng added.
Qin Huai listened quietly as the two familiar names were mentioned. Both of them were renowned figures frequently discussed in the outer city.
Liu Fang was a well-known admirer of their senior brother. Despite her constant attention, he remained as impassive as a block of wood, impervious to either water or fire. Nevertheless, when a real problem arose, the first person he thought of was Senior Sister Liu Fang.
“Besides my fellow disciples from Wuji Mountain, I have the closest relationship with Junior Sister Liu Fang and Guo Ze. Naturally, I’ll seek out those I know best,” Xiang Mingfeng stated stoically.
His relationship with Guo Ze, born out of shared trials and tribulations in their early years, was as strong as brotherhood. Given the gravity of the situation, Xiang Mingfeng was most comfortable entrusting them with the responsibility.
“There should be a fair number of seniors from our sects in the level-one array, so communication shouldn’t be that hard,” he commented, “Choosing the two of them also took their status into account…”
The trio discussed the plan further before immersing themselves in cultivation, striving to grasp the mysteries of the ancient azure illusion scripture.
…
In the level-one array, a shadow blanketed the ground.
At the heart of the bronze realm, an imposing bronze wall stood erect, its cryptic runes pulsating with an indefinable power.
In the dense forest, a group of elderly men congregated. Their white hair billowed in the wind, signaling their advanced years. Wearing beast skin, they stood beneath the colossal bronze wall, their eyes reflecting a mix of greed and anger.
“Those youngsters surely have an intriguing plan,” the elder from Wuji Mountain voiced, sounding like he was about to die.
“Working together to explore the mystery of the bronze realm,” mused the elder from the Ghost Ox sect, his body bent like a shrimp as he leaned on his crutches. “With dozens of king’s force experts joining forces, we might indeed discover a way out.”
“We were truly foolish. We only thought of this path after almost a hundred years. Those young ones figured it out the moment they entered.”
“The Wuji Mountain juniors are indeed exceptional,” the elder from the Blue Sea Pavilion remarked, his tone somber and devoid of joy. “But even if we find a way out, that opportunity is destined not to be ours.”
The others murmured in agreement. A wild glint gradually took over their eyes.
They were the oldest inhabitants of the bronze realm. More than a century old and teetering on the brink of death, they had passed their prime years here, from their sprightly twenties to their current old age. They had invested almost their entire lives here.
Despite their efforts, they hadn’t broken through the visceral realm nor progressed to the next level. All they could do was wait for the inevitable end, devoid of potential and bereft of a future.
“The same old rules,” the elder from Wuji Mountain stated.
They too had considered banding together, but by the time they thought of it, they were already over a century old and had failed to comprehend the force in the ancient scripture.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺