Chapter 104: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road, Saving the Divine Condor
Flowers fall with the wind, water flows to the east; each has its destiny, do not envy others.
Zhang Wangyue often repeated these words, saying them to Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and others.
The head escorts of Fu’an knew that Zhou Yan’s martial arts had improved over the past six months, which was naturally related to a great opportunity, but no one had ever asked Zhou Yan about it.
And in the forest by the Snake Valley in the mountains and fields of Xiangyang, four runners, including Liang Xiaowu, had received an opportunity from Zhou Yan.
Snake gallbladders from the Pusi snake, whether purple or slightly lighter in color, were given to Huang Rong to consume. The remaining snake gallbladders were distributed by Zhou Yan to the runners. Liang Xiaowu practiced external style martial arts and did not understand the Qi Guiding Method of the internal school, thus he could not guide energy to move his Qi and Blood to generate Internal Force. However, snake gallbladders also had the effect of soothing meridians and unblocking collaterals.
For every inch of muscle stretched, strength increased by three parts. The increase in strength drove muscle explosiveness, and unknowingly, the runners practiced martial arts in their spare time, their punches and kicks could generate a powerful wind.
Liang Xiaowu had considerable talent for martial arts. Zhou Yan estimated that by the end of this escort mission, upon returning to Fu’an, he would be qualified to participate in the escort selection.
Mei Chaofeng also benefited. When encountering obscure Taoist terms in the Nine Yin Manual, she constantly sought Zhou Yan’s guidance, embarking on the correct cultivation path. Not only did she completely eliminate her body’s ailments, but her Cultivation also improved.
The Iron Corpse owed no favors. Through the exchange of cultivation techniques, the lower volume of the True Scripture, Heart Crushing Palm, fell into Zhou Yan’s hands.
Zhou Yan knew that Mei Chaofeng had also taught this cultivation technique to Wanyan Kang, but in the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, his Internal Force was weak, and he could not unleash its power.
Zhou Yan felt that this cultivation technique, once mastered, had a similar effect to the Wudang Mian Palm in the world of Heaven Sword from the Legend of the Condor Heroes trilogy. The palm force could penetrate armor and fortifications, transmit force through objects, and upon impact, leave no external mark while causing internal injury.
Unknowingly, Zhou Yan had obtained two martial arts from the Nine Yin Manual. Having mastered several high-level martial arts, he was now most interested in the Yijin Forging Bone chapter and Snake Movement Fox Flip recorded in the Nine Yin Manual.
Unfortunately, this was in the upper volume.
Over several days, Zhou Yan had been continuously hunting snakes in the Snake Valley. Huang Rong had consumed over ten snake gallbladders in total, and with Zhou Yan’s treatment that addressed both symptoms and root causes, the effects were gradually becoming apparent.
Huang Rong’s spirit improved day by day, and she could slowly guide her Internal Force.
Zhou Yan also consumed snake gallbladders to nourish his Qi and Blood and stimulate his Internal Force. In a few days, he gained Internal Force equivalent to a month of Diligent Cultivation. However, he also discovered a problem: ordinary snake gallbladders had limited effects, and purple snake gallbladders from large poisonous snakes were needed.
Time had reached the seventh day of snake hunting.
Zhou Yan now only hunted large snakes with purple snake gallbladders, completely ignoring Pusi snakes as thin as a thumb.
He had not encountered the Divine Condor in the Snake Valley, so he planned to take some time to explore the surrounding valleys to see if he could find the Great Eagle.
At dusk, with the fiery red and orange sunset lingering on the horizon, Zhou Yan emerged from the Snake Valley after hunting five large snakes and headed to the forest camp.
Liang Xiaowu and the Medicine Boy were fetching water and picking wild chrysanthemums and tangerine leaves.
Zhou Yan meditated and cultivated, absorbing the stored Acupoints of the Jade Guanyin, while Huang Rong, after consuming snake gallbladders, slowly circulated her energy to heal herself.
Before the sunset had completely faded, a condor’s cry suddenly echoed through the air.
The sound was slightly hoarse, yet vigorous and desolate.
Zhou Yan leaped to his feet.
Mei Chaofeng, having lived in the Desert for a long time, was familiar with the sound of condors. She exclaimed in surprise, “It’s a condor.”
Huang Rong stopped circulating her energy, stood up, and curiously followed the sound, but she could not see it. White clouds drifted leisurely; she heard its cry but saw no sign of the condor.
The condor cried out again. Zhou Yan heard the sound and felt it was filled with ferocity and anger.
Zhou Yan’s heart tightened. The Great Eagle had encountered an opponent. Was it a python or a person? If it was a person, could it be Gongsun Zhi?
He said to Mei Chaofeng, “Please watch over the camp. I’ll go and investigate.”
“Mm,” Mei Chaofeng replied curtly.
Zhou Yan slung his Iron Bow over his back, carried his Qinggang Sword, and with a graceful posture, employed the Golden Goose Skill. His body moved like a flying duck, like a swallow darting through the forest, swiftly heading towards the direction of the condor’s cry.
Moving at lightning speed for six or seven li, he arrived at the same valley where Night-Shining Jade Lion had fought the Great Eagle. Zhou Yan saw the Divine Condor, and accompanying it were over twenty men in green.
He saw sixteen men in green interchanging positions, and four fishing nets, whether horizontal or vertical, flat or slanted, constantly shifting, trapping the Great Eagle within.
Another eight men in green held fishing nets and observed the formation. In the twilight, Zhou Yan could even see the gleaming blades on the fishing nets.
Zhou Yan’s gaze swept past the Great Eagle and landed on the person directing the fishing net formation.
The man in the lead wore a sapphire blue robe; it was Gongsun Zhi. Beside him stood a short and stout man holding a dragon head cane, whom Zhou Yan also recognized: Fan Yi Weng.
Zhou Yan drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
He did not dare to underestimate the Fishing Net Formation of the Valley of Unfeeling. The Great Eagle was valiant and immensely strong, but this Fishing Net Formation had once captured the Old Urchin in the world of the Divine Condor.
Once entangled by the fishing nets, the Great Eagle would be in danger.
Zhou Yan flipped his left elbow, and the Iron Bow circled in the twilight, appearing before him. With his left hand, he drew a Feathered Arrow from his Quiver, nocked it, and drew the bowstring taut before releasing it. With a “bang,” the Long Arrow on the string vanished into the sunset, flying dozens of zhang towards the man in green holding a fishing net.
After shooting one arrow, he moved parallel to the operation of the “Fishing Net Formation.” Three consecutive arrows whistled into the distance. As he shifted his body, he drew his Iron Bow again, the bowstring humming. Another four Feathered Arrows shot out like lightning.
Zhou Yan aimed at the men in green holding fishing nets to capture the Great Eagle, attacking them by surprise. How could they defend? The men in green, holding fishing nets and stepping in formation, suddenly felt a sharp piercing sensation spreading from their legs. Before they could comprehend what was happening, their bodies were dragged down by the Long Arrows, and they fell. In an instant, six men who were shot fell to the ground one after another, their hysterical screams echoing through the valley.
Zhou Yan shot eight arrows in a flash. The last two Long Arrows were deflected by Gongsun Zhi with the serrated knife in his hand.
But the Fishing Net Formation was broken.
The Great Eagle flapped its wings, kicking up dust and stones, and broke free from the formation. With a cry, it saw Zhou Yan in the distance and ran swiftly, like a Fine Horse, arriving beside Zhou Yan in a blink of an eye. It gently flapped its wings, showing affection.
Gongsun Zhi’s face turned grim as he saw Zhou Yan.
He was skilled in Alchemy. Ever since he first saw the Great Eagle, he knew that the feathered beast was a treasure trove. The large scarlet Flesh Tumor on its head must have been caused by years of eating insects and snakes, accumulating poison.
Gongsun Zhi was covetous and had always been thinking of how to capture the Great Eagle, but each time he mentioned the idea, Qiu Qianchi stopped him.
Finally, taking advantage of Qiu Qianchi’s opportunity to comprehend cultivation techniques, he brought his capable disciples under the guise of gathering herbs and refining medicine to hunt the condor. Little did he know that Zhou Yan would foil his plans again.
Zhou Yan gently stroked the condor’s neck. The Divine Condor was quite docile. He felt that he and the Divine Condor had supported each other through hardships, and now the other had completely accepted him.
The Divine Condor cried out, turned around, and glared at Gongsun Zhi and his men with its scarlet eyes.
Zhou Yan held his bow and said, “Valley Master Gongsun, we meet again.”
“You repeatedly ruin my plans. Do you think I cannot kill you?”
“Then come.”
Zhou Yan held his Iron Bow level.
Gongsun Zhi’s expression shifted as he weighed his options. That beast was immensely strong, and he might not be its match. Many of his disciples had been shot. Given that young man’s cunning, he would definitely not engage in close combat, but would surely use the Great Eagle to distract and shoot arrows from the shadows. Defense at night would be impossible, and if the opponent had other helpers, he would surely be at a disadvantage.
“Kid, we’ll settle this later.”
“Master, I’ll deal with that kid. You capture the Ugly Eagle.”
Gongsun Zhi said in a deep voice, “Saving our men is the priority. Let’s go.”
“Master is considerate.”
Fan Yi Weng felt quite guilty and quickly led the remaining men in green to help the injured disciples. The group slowly retreated.
