Six Sons of Ling Kong, Jade

The group emerged from Ziqi Country, having traveled for days without a proper meal. Upon encountering good food, their chopsticks never stopped, and their wine cups remained full.

About half an hour later, Liu Changhu returned, pushing open the door. He bowed to Ying Hu and said, "Senior, I've figured out what's happening in the room next door."

Ying Hu nodded and gestured for him to sit down.

Liu Changhu remained standing and replied, "The Lord Gao in the next room is the local county magistrate, named Gao Xiangchen. He was originally a servant in Gao Taiyun's estate. After Gao Taiming died, Gao Taiyun became the Southern Expedition Country's Minister of Agriculture, and this fellow was sent to this area.

Gao Xiangchen often dines at the restaurant. The owner, Liu Ru, welcomes and sees him off, and the two have become acquainted. Today, he's here to try and win over Liu Ru to Gao Taiyun's side."

Ying Hu listened without changing his expression and said, "Nephew, have a cup of tea first, then sit down and tell me."

Liu Changhu sat down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "Gao Xiangchen's younger brother, Gao Wuchen, is the captain of the guards in Gao Taiyun's estate. Last night, he took thirty top-tier experts to Dian Cang Mountain, taking orders from the Six Sons of Ling Kong.

Before Gao Wuchen left, he sent word to his family to have Gao Xiangchen prepare to take over the Dian Cang Sect's fleet, restaurants, and medical clinics in Haidong Town.

I also learned that Gao Taiyun frequently interacts with the Divine Dragon Snow Mountain Sect, and the Six Sons of Ling Kong have also brought over a hundred disciples to Dian Cang Mountain."

Ying Hu's expression turned worried as he said, "It seems the Dian Cang Sect is in trouble!"

Liu Changhu was anxious upon hearing this and stood up, cupping his fists. "My sect is in danger, I beg you to lend your assistance, senior."

Ying Hu signaled for him to sit down and not to worry.

Hong Yun saw this and said, "Master, with the Divine Dragon Snow Mountain Sect receiving covert assistance from the Minister of Agriculture Gao, the Dian Cang Sect is likely in grave danger."

Ying Hu calmly replied, "The Dian Cang Sect has over a thousand disciples and the nine peak lords are present. It won't be a major disaster, don't worry too much!"

Bai Bingxue, full of curiosity, asked, "What kind of feud is there between the Divine Dragon Snow Mountain Sect and the Dian Cang Sect? Is Feng Xuyang planning to annihilate the Dian Cang Sect?"

Ying Hu sighed, "Feng Xuyang and Liu Tianyang were once a couple, it's a pity..."

Everyone was shocked to hear this!

Ying Hu didn't wish to elaborate and chuckled, "You all underestimate the Dian Cang Sect. Even if Feng Xuyang is a Grandmaster, how can she compare to Senior Brother Tianyang?"

Su Jiangcheng, seeing Ying Hu's nonchalant attitude, worried about the whereabouts of the Golden Buddha Head and hinted, "Senior, open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. The Six Sons of Ling Kong are gathering their forces to defeat the nine peaks of Dian Cang one by one. Their chances of success are quite high."

"Does Brother Su Wu have any good strategies?" Hong Yun asked.

Su Jiangcheng pondered for a moment and said, "Senior Ying, the situation is urgent. Why don't we cross the sea tonight? We can assess the situation once we reach the other side."

Ying Hu didn't reply, but Hong Yun said, "I think that's a good idea! Master, what do you think?"

Ying Hu nodded and made arrangements. "Young Hero Changhu, go and prepare the boats. We'll set sail across the sea in half an hour."

The wind and waves on Erhai Lake at night were much stronger than during the day. Tonight, a favorable northwest wind was blowing.

Four ordinary fishing boats set sail from the Haidong Town wharf, heading south. The bumpy journey made Chen Xi feel like he was going to vomit and fall asleep. After two arduous hours, they finally reached the Longkan Wharf on the opposite shore.

At Hai Shi (9-11 PM), the wharf was packed with boats, leaving no space for docking. Their boat had to sail west for a mile before it could land.

Bai Bingxue looked at the numerous boats and thought, "If one of these boats caught fire, could the others escape?"

After the boats docked, Ying Hu ordered water to be boiled and food to be prepared. Everyone was to eat their fill within half an hour, get ready, and then ascend the mountain at Zi Shi (11 PM - 1 AM).

Ying Hu took out nine black porcelain bowls from a cabinet and placed them on the table. He asked, "These nine bowls represent the nine peaks of Dian Cang from northwest to southeast. If you were the leader of the Six Sons of Ling Kong, how would you attack Dian Cang Mountain?"

After speaking, Ying Hu drew Liu Changhu's sword and carved the names of the peaks on the sides of the bowls from north to south: Cang Lang Peak, Wutai Peak, Lotus Peak, White Cloud Peak, Crane Cloud Peak, San Yang Peak, Ma Long Peak, Sheng Ying Peak, and Xie Yang Peak.

Hong Yun walked around the table and said, "Fighting against superior numbers, we must break them down one by one. The nine peaks of Dian Cang are like a long snake; we must strike at its vital point."

Everyone felt this made sense and nodded in agreement.

Bai Bingxue thought to herself, "Cousin Hong Yun has learned a lot of military strategy from Uncle Abu since she was young."

Hong Yun continued, "Young Hero Changhu, which of the nine peaks of Dian Cang is the weakest, and how do the peaks communicate with each other?"

Liu Changhu's spirits lifted as he said, "Among the nine peaks of Dian Cang, the sect leader's peak, Ma Long Peak, is the strongest, followed by Cang Lang Peak. San Yang Peak has weapon mechanisms. The other peaks have comparable martial arts. Each mountain peak has a watchtower and a beacon tower for signaling with smoke, but it's been many years since I've seen smoke signals."

Bai Bingxue walked around the table and asked, "Young Hero Changhu, are there any grudges or conflicts between the nine peaks of Dian Cang, or any physical barriers?"

Liu Changhu hesitated for a moment and awkwardly replied, "The sect's secrets are not meant to be discussed outside by junior disciples. However, with Dian Cang in danger today, we must adapt.

The four southeastern peaks of the Dian Cang Sect are led by Senior Uncle Tianyang of Ma Long Peak. The three northwestern peaks are led by Senior Uncle Tianwei of Cang Lang Peak. White Cloud Peak and Crane Cloud Peak in the middle have always been neutral.

Senior Uncle Tianyang and Senior Uncle Tianwei have been at odds since childhood. Over a decade ago, they competed for the position of sect leader, and Senior Uncle Tianwei narrowly lost to Senior Uncle Tianyang. They rarely interact now.

The various peaks in the mountains are connected by roads and there are no barriers."

Hong Yun listened and said, "The nine peaks are divided into three groups, creating an opportunity. The snake's head is in the northwest, and the vital point should be Lotus Peak."

Hong Yun walked to the table and directly placed the black porcelain bowl for Lotus Peak face down on the table. "Last night, it was likely already captured by the Six Sons of Ling Kong."

Bai Bingxue heard this and said, "Senior Ying, Cang Lang Peak and Lotus Peak are separated by only one mountain. If Liu Changhe is captured by the Six Sons of Ling Kong, it will be difficult to retrieve the Golden Buddha Head. We must hurry!"

Su Jiangcheng agreed, "Miss Bai is right, we must get there before them."

Hong Yun also said, "Master, let's hurry!"

Ying Hu looked at everyone and paused before saying, "Alright, but once we ascend the mountain, you are not to conflict with the Dian Cang Sect or the Six Sons of Ling Kong, nor should you get involved in their affairs."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Ying Hu continued with satisfaction, "Young Hero Changhu, you will lead the way. Brother Su Wu, you will lead fifty disciples and Princess Hong Yun to form the vanguard. I will lead fifty guards from my own contingent and Princess Bingxue in the center. Brother Su Liu will lead fifty disciples and Princess Hong Lian to guard the rear. The three groups must not stop along the way and must reach the Cang Lang Peak mountain gate before Zi Shi."

Several people cupped their fists, accepted the orders, and immediately went to prepare.

At Zi Shi, Bai Bingxue and her group left the wharf and walked along the official road by the Erhai coast.

The Erhai Lake's surface was a deep green under the night sky, with a chill rising from it. The stars above filled the entire dome of the sky. Only a few mast lights were lit on the densely packed Longkan Wharf. Behind the wharf lay the capital of Southern Expedition Country. The city gates had long been closed, and the guards on the city walls were huddled by bonfires, warming their hands and feet.

While the city's residents slept, Bai Bingxue and her companions, wearing bamboo hats and straw cloaks, made their way along a mountain path towards Cang Lang Peak of the Dian Cang Sect.

Under the same moonlight, a group of figures in black had just hastily departed from Cang Lang Peak.

Meanwhile, in the Small World of the Twin Fish Jade Pendant, within a siheyuan courtyard, Chen Qing was studying energy stones.

His puppets were like robots from later generations, requiring batteries for power, and the batteries needed to be recharged. His puppets used spirit stone batteries made from high-grade spirit stones. When the puppets moved, they consumed the spiritual power of the high-grade spirit stones.

Once the spiritual power of a high-grade spirit stone was depleted, it would crumble into a pile of waste rock. He had to find a way to replace the high-grade spirit stones with renewable energy stones, something he had read about in books brought back by the Professor.

It remained to be seen if he could succeed. In any case, Bai Xue would not help him.