Chapter 541 - 326: Suspicion of Promotion

Chapter 541: Chapter 326: Suspicion of Promotion

Zhuo Feiming, however, reached out, igniting a golden flame in her hand. The back half of the blade instantly melted into liquid, from which a wisp of purple energy was violently wrenched free.

The silvery-white liquid from the melted Cyan Lotus Sword formed into three needles. Zhuo Feiming’s hand seals shifted as she split the purple energy into three parts, injecting one into each needle.

"This can be used to track Sima Hong’s location. You’ll get a reading if he’s within a thousand li!"

Ye Shuping offered his analysis. "This Cyan Lotus Sword was shattered by Sword Intent. From this, we can deduce that Sima Hong must have been near you on the day the sword broke. I suspect he didn’t want the Cyan Lotus Sword to be discovered, so he resorted to this desperate measure, hoping you would die at the hands of the Illuminati as a matter of course."

"Unfortunately for him, Tang Shengquan and Kong Sheng were both in Tianning County that day, so Sima Hong had no chance to act and was forced to leave. After that, it would have been even harder for him to make a move on you. The risk of exposure was too high, so he likely abandoned the plan altogether."

Yu Fei was utterly astonished. ’These two truly are the pinnacles of the martial world.’ Senior Sister Zhuo Feiming had effortlessly fashioned a powerful tracking device from the remnants of the Cyan Lotus Sword, while Ye Shuping had deduced the events of that day with perfect clarity.

"Wait a minute, Teacher. Are you saying that during the Illuminati attack on Tianning County, both Tang Shengquan and Kong Sheng were there?"

Yu Fei’s expression turned grim. So many teachers and elders had died in Tianning County that day. A whole group of low-level Martial Artists had struggled to fend off the Illuminati’s attack, and these two Grandmasters were just watching from the sidelines?

Ye Shuping sensed Yu Fei’s emotional shift and spoke slowly.

"Tang Shengquan and Kong Sheng had their reasons for not intervening. Kong Sheng’s subsequent investigative report confirmed it. They had detected an unknown eighth-realm enemy lurking nearby, so they didn’t dare make a move. They were maintaining a stalemate."

Yu Fei still wasn’t convinced. ’A Grandmaster and a Sword Dao Grandmaster, and they were afraid of one eighth-realm enemy who wouldn’t even show their face?’

He voiced his doubt directly.

Just then, Zhuo Feiming explained, "I know about Tang Shengquan. He’s very old. He’s more of a research-oriented Martial Artist. Hmm... while his realm is high, his actual combat power is inflated. And although Kong Sheng cultivates the sword, he can’t fight enemies above his realm. My guess is they wanted to wait for Sima Hong to reveal himself, then take him out with a surprise attack!"

Zhuo Feiming elaborated, "Yu Fei, the Martial Dao is a path of self-interest; it’s different for everyone.

"Even if Sima Hong hadn’t been lurking there, you couldn’t blame them if they ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing. Objectively speaking, the Illuminati’s invasion had absolutely nothing to do with them. If it weren’t for the report Kong Sheng submitted later, none of us would even know what happened."

Yu Fei took a deep breath, reining in his emotions. On second thought, he suddenly asked, "I remember hearing that Sima Hong’s combat strength rivals that of a Martial Saint, right?"

"That’s right. Very few Grandmasters can contend with a Martial Saint. Even among the students I’ve trained, not many have achieved such a feat. Xiaoming is one of them, which is why I value her so highly,"

Ye Shuping affirmed.

"According to his public records, Sima Hong once single-handedly held off a rank-nine blood fiend. His combat strength is on par with an ordinary Martial Saint.

"If he had really made a move, Tang Shengquan and Kong Sheng would likely have perished as well."

Yu Fei had read about blood fiends in the archives. They were another type of enemy, from the Blood Crystal Realm.

Despite Ye Shuping’s assertion, Yu Fei was still deeply unsettled, though his initial anger had faded.

’It’s true, though.’ In a way, Tang Shengquan and Kong Sheng had saved his life. If the two of them hadn’t been a constant threat to Sima Hong, a top-tier Grandmaster would have had countless ways to eliminate a mere second-realm rookie like him.

"So, what’s our next move?" Yu Fei asked.

This just added another crime to Sima Hong’s name. If it weren’t for him, Kong Sheng and Tang Shengquan would have had a chance to save all of Tianning County. There never would have been so many casualties.

Ye Shuping contemplated for a moment before turning to Zhuo Feiming.

"Find an opportunity to speak with Tang Shengquan. I recall he was quite interested in the Calamity Sword back in the day; perhaps he found something. Also, investigate what really happened that day by speaking to those who were there."

"And Yu Fei... focus on your training. The sooner you reach Gang Qi Perfection and advance to Grandmaster, the more I’ll be able to rest easy."

With that business concluded, Yu Fei told Zhuo Feiming about the Yulin Army battle group he had just established.

"You started a battle group?"

"Yes, Senior Sister. I was hoping you could do me a favor. I’d like to temporarily register my battle group’s missions under the Shenxiao Army and operate under you."

Zhuo Feiming couldn’t hide her curiosity.

"You’re only a junior, right? Tell me about your members."

Before Yu Fei could answer, Ye Shuping laughed. "This kid managed to win over two of the graduating senior Celestial Pride Classes this year. In the future, it’s estimated the other three classes from his year will join him as well."

Zhuo Feiming’s eyes lit up. "That’s a foundation of at least ten Martial Saints in the future! If you keep developing, you’ll have the makings of a super-legion!"

"How did you get them to follow you, kid? I was unrivaled in my year, but in the end, very few were willing to stick with me, sigh."

Yu Fei rubbed his chin and said uncertainly, "Maybe I’m just a likable guy?"

"Get lost!"

Zhuo Feiming rolled her eyes at him.

"You’re the one asking your Senior Sister for a favor. If you’re not going to be nice about it, I might not agree, you know!"

Just then, Ye Shuping chuckled. "Xiaoming, you were strong back in your day, but not as ridiculously so as Yu Fei is now. His combat power alone is greater than all the others combined. On top of that, he’s not short on merit points and is very generous. This latest trip to the Demon Mountain Realm also put everyone else in his debt. That’s how he managed to bring so many people together."

Zhuo Feiming suddenly looked at him suspiciously. "In his debt? Don’t tell me you arranged that, Old Sir?"

"Arrange what?" Yu Fei asked, not understanding.

Ye Shuping just chuckled. "I didn’t do a thing. It was purely a fortunate coincidence."