chsdbacks Chapter 124: Retreat to the Western Poison Forest?
Chapter 124: Retreat to the Western Poison Forest?
After a brief moment of surprise, Zhang Ping felt that Miao Caixin's decision was reasonable.
Southern Xinjiang was originally located in the south of the former territory of Wei and Zhao, but now its eastern and northern borders have been occupied by demons.
The only possible escape routes are west or south.
The southern border is desolate, bordering the sea. Choosing to retreat south would only mean finding some isolated islands overseas to eke out a living. There are neither Gu worms nor the resources needed for cultivation.
The seas of this era are not like those of the previous one. There are sea monsters in the sea that are far larger than the strange beasts on land, and they can easily stir up huge waves!
The ocean is their world; ordinary martial artists simply do not have the ability to go to sea.
There was once a martial artist at the Marrow Transformation Realm who wanted to explore the sea, but he disappeared without a trace. Some say he flew to another continent, while others say he exhausted his strength and fell into the sea, becoming food for sea monsters.
The latter accounts for the majority.
Therefore, the only option for the royal family was to retreat westward.
Even though the Western Poison Forest is treacherous and filled with poisonous obstacles, there is always hope of getting out, and there are also many cultivation resources inside.
There are also drawbacks, namely that it requires the consent of the exotic beast race of the Western Poison Forest.
So it seems that Miao Caixin was prepared all along?
Zhang Ping glanced at the woman thoughtfully. Contacting Xi Du Lin would take considerable time, especially now that a cooperation had been established.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Were there many people who retreated?"
Miao Caixin shook her head: "Not many. Although demons are scattered in the wild, they are very sensitive to blood and qi. If the group is too large, it will be dangerous. The first batch only has a hundred people."
After she finished speaking, she patted Miao Lele beside her.
Miao Lele hung her head and did not react to her mother's hand pressing on her head.
"Lele, when you get there, you must listen to the elders. You can't be willful."
"I understand." Miao Lele's voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz, and there was no trace of joy in her escape.
"Mother, can't you really come with us?"
Miao Caixin is the Queen of Southern Xinjiang, and she cares deeply for her people. Miao Lele is just her daughter, and she doesn't want her mother to stay in the capital and face danger any longer.
Upon hearing her daughter's words, Miao Caixin's face revealed a smile of maternal love, a contrasting charm against her queenly and stunning beauty.
"Lele must listen to the elders when she gets to the Western Poison Forest. I will go to find Lele later."
Knowing she couldn't persuade her mother, Miao Lele could only say "oh".
Miao Lele was unaware that refining the essence gu required waiting for the first yang day and that the King Gu Bowl from the sacred mountain was needed.
Zhang Ping stood to the side with his arms crossed, quietly watching the mother and daughter.
He shook his head inwardly and turned his gaze to the green-feathered bird dozing beside him. After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"Which region of the Western Poison Forest are you from, and what kind of beast race do you belong to?"
The green-feathered bird looks a bit like the dodo bird I saw in my previous life. Its head is not big, but it has a particularly conspicuous long beak, which is a foot long and the front end curves down to form a sharp hook.
However, the most conspicuous thing is the patch of green feathers on its head, which is quite an eyesore.
The green-feathered bird was surprised that Zhang Ping would talk to it, and glanced at Zhang Ping sideways.
"Human, why are you asking so many questions? I don't want to tell you." Its cultivation was decent enough that it could roughly sense Zhang Ping's aura.
But it's a strange beast, and it can't get along with Zhang Ping, a human.
It wouldn't have wanted to fly so far if its clan hadn't sent it. There was even the risk of being eaten by demons along the way.
After saying that, it ignored Zhang Ping, turned around, and continued to doze off.
Seeing its attitude, Zhang Ping's lips twitched, and he pulled out a red leaf from his body with displeasure.
The red leaves have strange patterns.
"Turn around and repeat what you just said?"
The green-feathered bird was furious upon hearing this. It was, after all, the most talented and handsome bird in the noble Dodo race, the one most favored by the females, who was about to kindly take in these humans… a messenger sent by the Dodo.
How dare this human talk to it like that?
Enraged, its green feathers stood on end, and it turned to poke Zhang Ping with its beak.
But then he suddenly noticed the red leaf in Zhang Ping's hand.
Green hair immediately bristled.
"Quack quack quack! How come you have this leaf?"
The green-feathered bird flapped its wings and circled around Zhang Ping, its eyes wide as it tried to see the leaf in his hand clearly.
Zhang Ping smiled smugly and deliberately raised his hand.
"Idiot, didn't you just call yourself 'Bird Master'?"
"Quack, quack, quack! Answer me quickly!" The green-feathered bird stretched out its beak to peck at him.
But Zhang Ping grabbed his head and pressed it down.
"This was a gift from Muya, and you're trying to take it?"
Upon hearing the name Muya, the green-feathered bird shuddered and questioned:
"Quack, human, how do you know our Queen?"
Since the birth of the Dragon Spirit Tree, female demons have gathered. The legendary Dragon Demoness descended upon the Western Poison Forest, and the War Bear Clan led the way in submitting. Before long, the entire Western Poison Forest acknowledged the rule of the female demon clan.
The various beast races within the Western Poison Forest all sent envoys to Dragon Mountain to pay their respects to Queen Muya.
In the Western Poison Forest, every beast knows this name.
Zhang Ping patted the leaf onto its green head. "Take a closer look. This contains the power of your Queen."
This red leaf is from the Dragon Spirit Tree. Before leaving, Muya personally gave it to Zhang Ping and imbued it with the power of a female demon.
Any knowledgeable beast in the Western Poison Forest could recognize the aura emanating from it.
The green-feathered bird holds a high position within the dodo flock, serving as a professional messenger. It even visited the Queen at Dragon Mountain a few months ago. It's naturally easy to distinguish them.
It shuddered in fright, and its bird face instantly became kind and friendly.
"Caw caw, um... sir, what are your orders?" Its eyes curved into crescents as it obediently rubbed against Zhang Ping's leg.
Seeing it like this, Zhang Ping felt much better.
Miao Caixin, who was standing nearby, clearly saw the changes in both the person and the bird, and exclaimed in surprise:
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you still have connections with the female demon clan?"
The Western Poison Forest has always been the territory of strange beasts. Although the Southern Frontier learned some time ago that the Western Poison Forest had changed its ruler, the specifics were unclear. All that was known was that a female demon was now the queen.
The previous Poison Dragon King is probably dead.
Seeing Miao Caixin's curious expression, Zhang Ping smiled casually: "There is one thing, my relationship with their queen is 'very deep'."
"That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing this, Miao Caixin's brow relaxed. Although the royal family had reached an agreement with the alien beast, they were still uneasy.
Knowing that Zhang Ping is related to the Queen of the Western Poison Forest, those strange beasts should not act recklessly out of consideration for this relationship.
Seeing through her thoughts, Zhang Ping smiled and didn't take it to heart.
This is just a small matter.
He handed the dragon spirit wood leaf to the green-feathered bird and instructed it, "I have some connection with the royal family of Southern Xinjiang. You can take care of them if the situation warrants it."
"Quack, quack, I understand." The green feathers on the green bird's head nodded.
......
The next morning, the sky was clear and sunny.
The capital city remains in turmoil, and the chaos is intensifying.
At night, Zhang Ping heard loud explosions coming from within the city, indicating a battle between powerful martial artists. However, since he did not encounter any demonic aura, he did not leave the Holy Mountain.
The royal family's powerful members went to investigate, and the commotion disappeared shortly afterward.
The city only calmed down a little when dawn broke.
A group of a hundred people, disguised, mingled with countless fleeing groups and left through the west gate.
The cold wind howls, and people feel desolate.
"Your Majesty, we are about to attack."
On the city wall, Miao Zhan walked over carrying a large hammer.
Behind him were warriors selected by the Royal City Allied Forces, each of whom was a powerful expert at the Blood Essence Realm or above.
The rebels reached within dozens of miles of the capital yesterday. To prevent the royal retreat from being discovered, they need to draw the rebels' attention.
Miao Caixin watched the group disappear into the distance before giving a faint nod.
Zhang Ping raised an eyebrow. How come he didn't know about this plan? Miao Caixin hadn't mentioned it to him last night either.