Chapter 70
Shin Jiao listens to the report of the three young women as they recollect what had happened while they were training. They told him about their encounter with the three beasts and how Phoenix was able to fight against a beast king. Then they told him about the weird cultivator who saved Phoenix and how he worked with them in defeating the beast king. Shin Jiao almost didn't believe after hearing that the young masked man readily sacrificed his own safety just to help Phoenix. He now had a good view of the cultivator.
"Master… umm… there is one thing. We… we don't know if we should say this. But it's just that… um…" Serpent said unsure of what she should say.
"Out with it." Fairy (Qian Li) said detecting that something is wrong.
The three girls look at each other while throwing signals of who would talk. Then as the next in command Serpent drew in some breath and stood up. Since she is the one who started the report, then she decided to just tell everything.
"Actually we've searched for Phoenix near the boundary of the middle and outer part of the forest. And when we were about to give up, we came across a field of flowers with a weird scent. When Qilin took some samples, we found out that it is an aphrodisiac which is very potent for any male either beast or human." Serpent said.
"But when we scan the surroundings we found something… We… we found Phoenix about 10 kilometers from our location and saw that she is doing… that… that… thing, with the cultivator." Serpent said with hesitation as she blushed.
Seeing the faces of the girls, Shin Jiao was able to get the story and just nodded his head. Then he stood up and looks at them, but before turning and leaving the room he suddenly asked.
"Do you think she was forced to do it?"
The girls looked at each other and they all nod their heads as if they all had a tacit understanding.
"Master I think she isn't. It seems that Phoenix willingly gave herself to that… that person." Serpent said.
Shin Jiao nods his head and walked out of the room. Then the four girls left inside immediately started to discuss things that happened as the three told the story again to Qian Li and she also told them her encounter in the village.
The next day…
Two figures suddenly appear around 50 kilometers near the vicinity of the underground base. At that time, Shin Jiao and the four members of the Shadow Squad are on the ground testing some new weapons in preparation for the incoming beast tide. As the underground base is in the forest, it is sure that the beast will hit the base. Although they could hide, however what if a very strong beast detected their presence. His people would face sure annihilation if they didn't participate in the defense.
Shin Jiao's idea is for the girls to be snipers and would help those cultivators to take out monsters that are strong. So, although the materials are not that sturdy enough to hold the power like that of the BARRETT still he was able to improvise and created two types of weapons.
The first one is a simple sniper rifle, with the power to use a level 6 beast core, but the problem is heating. So he combined some materials and coated the inner barrel of the gun with a thin layer of the black rock. This would prevent the barrel and the gun from exploding. Then the outer part of the gun is mixed with ice crystal shard, as it is an ore with the ability to absorb moisture in the air and turn them into ice.
This kind of ore is mostly discarded by cultivators and is only useful to mortals for food preservation. If the weapon fires using a level 5 or 6 core, it would take around 5 minutes for it to cool down before another bullet can be fired again.
He decided to call the sniper rifle as the 'Twin Dragon' because of the ice element cooling the rifle and the extreme heat it would produce.
And since they are press for time Shin Jiao was only able to make 2 of them. Then, for the rest of the black stone, he upgraded his wakizashi and turns it into a long Nodachi sword. By combining precious materials Shin Jiao was able to create a long and very sturdy sword, which is able to generate spiritual Qi or natural element and combine it as its attack. With this weapon, Shin Jiao is now confident to face any beast that's on the ground. With the hardness of the black stone, he may not cut a level 6 beast in half but he can penetrate their bodies with a stab.
As the group is setting up their equipment, Qian Li notified Shin Jiao of the incoming visitors. Then from atop the trees, two figures landed on the ground. It was Phoenix and a young man wearing a white mask.
"Phoenix greets master!" Phoenix immediately salutes as she bowed.
"Hmm… I'm glad that you are fine. It seems that you broke your headgear." Shin Jiao realized as he noticed that she is not wearing her headgear for navigation in the forest.
"Sorry, master I was too careless." She answered as she took a glance at the other girls who are looking at the man beside her.
"Master, this is… this is Xi Jung, from the Jung clan." Phoenix said not knowing how to introduce the young man beside her.
"Greetings Phoenix's master! I am called Xi Jung, and I am glad to have your acquaintance." Xi Jung said as he too cupped his hand to Shin Jiao in greeting.
Shin Jiao did the same and didn't say anything else, which made Xi Jung a little helpless on what to do. So he decided to just tell Shin Jiao the truth between him and Phoenix.
"I know you are Phoenix's master. But I came here with her to introduce myself as her Dao companion." Xi Jung said as he removes his mask to politely introduce himself.
Everyone gasped in disbelief and even Shin Jiao almost dropped his jaw. This time he never would have thought that a cultivator would make a mortal woman as his own Dao companion. But Shin Jiao almost immediately gained his composure and looked at Phoenix, who is also at a loss on what to say.
Seeing that her master is looking at her, Phoenix looked down and could not meet Shin Jiao's eyes.
"So you wanted to take Phoenix away? But you see Phoenix is a very important member of our team. And she owes her life to me." Shin Jiao said in an imposing manner.
When Phoenix heard this, her hand shook as she didn't expect that her master would say those things. But then she also expected that her master would resist and she would not blame him.
"This… I… I won't take her away from your group. I just wanted to be with her, I know that mortals have a prejudice against cultivators but I assure you my intention towards her is pure." Xi Jung said as he grabs Phoenix's hands.
The girls who are watching felt their heart flutter. It's like they are watching some love story fantasy being unfold right before their eyes. Then they immediately dream of their master holding their hands like what the cultivator is doing right now to their sister.
"Hmm… I see… if you can defeat me in a fight, I will not hinder your relationship with my subordinate. But if you lose against me, you will serve me." Shin Jiao said as he put both hands behind him and walk towards Xi Jung.
"Haha! I know that you are confident in your skills, but I am a cultivator. And you are just a mortal, I… I'm not belittling you or something but it's a fact that as a cultivator my strength is superior to yours." Xi Jung said shaking his head.
When Phoenix heard the challenge issued by her master, she paled, especially when she heard Xi Jung's reply. She knows that both men are strong, but she already knows how strong is her master is, so she immediately steps forward.
"Master please forgive my shortcomings, I will do all you ask just don't hurt him," Phoenix begged as she immediately dropped to her knees.
She didn't know if Shin Jiao would kill Xi Jung by saying those words. But she didn't want to lose Xi Jung, she truly loves him with all her heart.
"This silly girl, stand up! What did I tell you about kneeling?" Shin Jiao said a little exasperated.
Xi Jung immediately lifted Phoenix by her arm and helped her to stand up. He then saw that she is crying, which almost broke his heart. He carefully wipes her tears away and smiled towards her trying to assure her that everything is fine. Xi Jung is confident with his skills and cultivation, and that he won't lose to a mortal like Shin Jiao.
Shin Jiao didn't mind the two love birds as he relaxedly walks towards the center of the field where Xi Jung followed. Qian Li walk towards Phoenix side and held her hand.
"Why do you worry too much? Master is not that kind of person you know. If he truly loves one another, master won't obstruct you. But now is not the time for that as we are preparing for war and we need a lot of fighters." Qian Li said trying to calm Phoenix down.
As the five girls treat each other as sisters the other three also came over and console Phoenix. With the help of her sisters-in-arms, Phoenix was able to calm down.
As the two men face each other, the forest seems to fall into silence. Then Shin Jiao put forth one of his hands and in a taunting manner gestured Xi Jung to attack.
"This is a very cocky mortal. I don't want to hurt Phoenix's master so I will just make him faint using my spiritual pressure." Xi Jung thought.
He then immediately spreads his spiritual Qi to surround Shin Jiao and build great pressure around him. But before he could rejoice, he noticed that Shin Jiao didn't seem to notice the pressure he is exerting.
"You have to attack me. Your spiritual pressure is too low." Shin Jiao said as he gestured once more in a taunting manner.
Feeling a little offended, Xi Jung realized that there is something wrong with Shin Jiao. He could not believe that a mere mortal can resist his spiritual pressure. With a suspicion that Shin Jiao might be a cultivator hiding his cultivation though he didn't know how he is doing it.
Xi Jung gritted his teeth and immediately rushed in to attack. He disappears from where he stands and immediately reappears in front of Shin Jiao. With a simple punch directed to Shin Jiao's shoulder, Xi Jung is confident that with this punch he would not do too much damage to Shin Jiao physically. At most he could just break some of Shin Jiao's bone which could be easily mended with a bone mending pill.
With that, he just put forth that simple punch. But then he found that his hand is unable to move and he felt a very strong hand gripping it.
"You are trying to underestimate me? Again!" Shin Jiao said as he flicked Xi Jung's hands along with his figure.
To Xi Jung's astonishment, he was flicked a couple of steps towards his previous position. This time he knows that he got the wrong idea, the man in front of him is not a common mortal man and that his conjecture that Shin Jiao is a cultivator became strong. So he didn't hold back anymore and used his cultivation and infused spiritual Qi to his arms and once again dashed towards Shin Jiao.
"This guy is different from normal cultivators. He seems to be stronger than his level. And right now his cultivation is only at the late-stage gold core realm, but his aura seems to have reached the primary-stage of the infant soul realm. Phoenix is really lucky to find this guy. Hmmm…" Shin Jiao thought as he observes Xi Jung, then an evil thought suddenly pops out of his mind.
The guy in front of him seems to be head over heels with Phoenix, and his underground base is still weak. If this guy could stay and help with the base, they can have another powerful ally. But the problem is, how can he keep the guy? Then in the corner of his eyes, he eyed Phoenix and a smile appear on his face.
Phoenix while watching the fight suddenly felt a cold shiver running down her spine. She didn't know why but it seems that someone is going to try and pull some tricks on her. Then he gazes turn to Shin Jiao who is smiling at her.
As Xi Jung draws closer, though in truth his speed is very fast, however for Shin Jiao he is moving like a normal person. So with just a side step, Xi Jung missed him.
Xi Jung didn't give up and delivers a couple more punches which Shin Jiao easily evaded. After some time, Xi Jung has already started to breathe heavily. He had expended too much energy in that exchange.
"Sigh… you're spiritual Qi is strong and your dantian and meridian is not normal. But the thing is that you don't know how to conserve your strength and optimize your Qi." Shin Jiao said as he patted the non-existent dust on his robe.
"Alright, I can give you another chance." Shin Jiao said as his gaze turns towards the girls.
"I will let you fight…" Shin Jiao said as his finger started to circle in the air.
"Wait! Senior, I know that you are exceptional. But for me to fight against a mortal woman, I don't think I can accept that." Xi Jung immediately interjected.
"Sigh… you're too naïve, you know that. Okay, Phoenix… Fight your boyfriend." Shin Jiao said as he slowly walks towards Phoenix not minding the dumbfounded look on Xi Jung.
"Ma… Master, I…" Phoenix wanted to protest but…
"Don't tell me you want the other girls to shame him? Don't worry, he can't hit you and you can't hurt him no matter how hard you try. Just don't use any weapons." Shin Jiao interjected.
Then as if understanding what Shin Jiao wanted to happen, Phoenix nods her head.
"It seems that the master wanted to try Xi Jung's resolve. I hope that he could pass the master's test." Phoenix thought as she changed into a new exoskeleton with the help of the other girls.
Then the two lovers faced each other in the center of the field.