Summons Order

"Daoming, you're back!" Everyone's faces lit up with surprise.

"Yes, I just returned. Little Wei mentioned you were discussing matters in the inner courtyard, so I hurried over. Where is Master going alone?" Xia Daoming asked.

Upon hearing this, the surprise on Yuchi Xiao and the others' faces vanished, replaced by worry.

Liang Jingtang, however, said with a broad smile, "Daoming, you've returned at the perfect time. I have some matters to entrust to you. Please, have a seat first."

"Okay." Xia Daoming nodded and sat down next to Liu Xiaoqiang.

The incident at the Jade Flower Pavilion over three months ago had clearly taken a significant toll on Liu Xiaoqiang. The once charming and alluring woman now appeared much more haggard, with fine crow's feet starting to form around her eyes.

"This morning, the Xu Family issued mobilization orders to many forces in Li City, requiring them to gather personnel for a mission in the Vast Mountain Range. I am one of the selected individuals. My chances of survival are uncertain.

You are my last disciple. Regardless of whether you have any hope of reaching the Fifth-Rank realm in the future, I wish for you to stay and assist your Senior Brother Yuchi in managing the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School. It will at least provide you with a livelihood," Liang Jingtang said slowly after Xia Daoming was seated.

"Our Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School isn't part of the Xu Family, so why should we obey their mobilization order?" Xia Daoming asked, surprised at first, then frowning.

"The Xu Family is the only Grandmaster family in Li City. Furthermore, the current head of the Xu Family, Xu Shangdong, holds the official position of City Lord of Li City in the imperial court. They are undeniably the foremost power in Li City. If they mobilize people, only the Lin Family, Ding Family, and Hegemon Blade Sect can contend with them. Who would dare refuse?" Liang Jingtang said with a wry smile.

"By taking such a tyrannical action, aren't they afraid of inciting widespread anger?" Xia Daoming asked.

"Under normal circumstances, any force is only conscripted once every five years, and it doesn't involve the leaders. Therefore, even if various parties are dissatisfied, they can accept it.

However, this time the situation is somewhat unusual. Not only is it two years ahead of schedule, but it also requires me, a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master, to personally go," Liang Jingtang explained.

"Hmph, what's so special? This is clearly Xu Shisen seeking personal revenge and trying to put Master in a dangerous situation," Yuchi Xiao said indignantly.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, it wouldn't have come to this..." Liu Xiaoqiang's eyes welled up with tears, her face filled with self-reproach.

"This has nothing to do with you. Even without the incident at the Jade Flower Pavilion, the Xu Family would still have summoned me this time," Liang Jingtang interrupted, waving his hand.

"That's right. The Lin Family, Ding Family, and Hegemon Blade Sect are powerful. The Xu Family's ancestor doesn't want to engage in a mutually destructive conflict with them. But as long as he is alive, the Xu Family can still suppress the other three families.

And those conscripted by the Xu Family this time are basically forces that have some close ties with the Lin Family, Ding Family, and Hegemon Blade Sect, but are not their true subordinate forces.

The Xu Family ancestor wants to use his remaining time, while he can still suppress the three families, to force us to declare our allegiance and pledge our service to them.

It's also a way to weaken the potential allies of the Lin Family, Ding Family, and Hegemon Blade Sect through this mission. It's killing two birds with one stone and has little to do with Junior Sister Liu's incident," Zhuo Xingji added in agreement.

"This Xu Family ancestor is truly insidious and vicious, calculating people's hearts so precisely. If he were to mobilize the forces of the three major families on a large scale, it would be like directly cutting their flesh with a knife, and the three families would likely revolt and fight to the death.

But by targeting people like us, the knife isn't directly on them. It's ultimately a minor inconvenience, and they certainly won't step forward for us. In this way, it also serves to drive a wedge between us and them," Xia Daoming said coldly after understanding everything.

The conference hall fell silent.

Everyone looked at Xia Daoming with surprised and astonished gazes.

Xia Daoming came from a small city in the northern region. In everyone's eyes, his knowledge and insight were bound to be limited.

Moreover, Xia Daoming's cultivation offered little hope of him becoming a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master. Three months ago, he had even brought four beautiful maids with him at once, further leading Liang Jingtang and the others to believe he was an ordinary person.

Unexpectedly, Xia Daoming had suddenly uttered such sharp and insightful words that cut to the heart of the matter.

In an instant, everyone looked at him with newfound respect, as if they were meeting him for the first time.

"Did I say something wrong?" Xia Daoming asked, shrugging as he saw everyone staring at him.

Joking aside, in my previous life, it was an era of information explosion. These conspiracy theories were all over the internet!

"You didn't say anything wrong; on the contrary, you see things very clearly. Originally, I was still very worried about entrusting the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School to you, Senior Brother Yuchi.

Because he is upright and loyal, but lacks shrewdness and maturity. If the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School is left to him to manage without anyone to assist and guide him, it will eventually decline.

Now that you are here to assist him, I am relieved. Although you are young and likely have no hope of becoming a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master in this life, your insight into problems is unique, and you possess considerable cunning and depth." Liang Jingtang said, stroking his beard, a rare look of relief in his eyes as he gazed at Xia Daoming.

"Master, what mission are you undertaking in the Vast Mountain Range this time?" Xia Daoming, without commenting on Liang Jingtang's praise, turned to ask about the mission.

"Hunting Ice Rabbits and collecting Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma," Liang Jingtang replied.

"Ice Rabbits? Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma?" Xia Daoming exclaimed in astonishment.

He was naturally familiar with Ice Rabbits.

They were the Demonic Beasts he needed to refine the Golden Crow Returning Origin Soup.

As for the Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma, he had managed to purchase a hundred-year-old specimen during his recent outing.

It was a potent medicinal ingredient, a great tonic, but unfortunately, he had only managed to acquire one.

"According to Wen Yue, the medicinal soup brewed from Ice Rabbits and Golden Crow Grass can help a Seventh-Rank peak Great Martial Master break through to become an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master, and it can also greatly enhance the cultivation of an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master.

Could it be that the Xu Family also possesses Golden Crow Grass, and that's why they specifically arranged this mission? And what about the Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma? Why does the Xu Family specifically want to collect such a potent herb?" After a moment of shock, Xia Daoming quickly fell into thought.

"Young Ice Rabbits are mid-tier Rank 1 Demonic Beasts and can grow into high-tier Rank 1 Demonic Beasts. Hunting them is extremely dangerous.

The Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma is a potent medicinal herb, but it can be directly consumed as a tonic. Ice Rabbits like to eat Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma. Where Ice Rabbits are found, Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma usually grows.

Since the Xu Family wants to hunt Ice Rabbits, they will naturally collect Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma from the vicinity," Liang Jingtang explained, seeing Xia Daoming frowning in thought, without any suspicion.

"I see." Xia Daoming nodded with some relief, then added, "The Xu Family should know the habitat of the Ice Rabbits, right?

Otherwise, the Vast Mountain Range stretches for tens of thousands of miles, with high mountains and dense forests. Searching for Ice Rabbits within it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Not to mention that many areas in the Vast Mountain Range are filled with poisonous miasma, teeming with insects and snakes, and inhabited by powerful Demonic Beasts.

If we search aimlessly, we might lose our lives before even catching a glimpse of an Ice Rabbit."

"That's natural! Thirty years ago, the Xu Family also organized people to enter the Vast Mountain Range to hunt Ice Rabbits, and it was likely only in the outer regions of the Vast Mountain Range.

The depths of the Vast Mountain Range are rumored to be inhabited by Rank 3 or even Rank 4 Demonic Beasts, beings even more terrifying than Grandmasters. Entering the depths of the Vast Mountain Range to hunt Ice Rabbits would be tantamount to seeking death."

"Even though we know it's a suicide mission, no matter how powerful the Xu family is, those conscripted will definitely have to fight to the death. They won't answer the call," Liang Jingtang replied.

"But even the outer areas are extremely dangerous. A young Ice Rabbit alone is equivalent to a Fifth or Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master. Master, please take me with you. At least I can offer some support. As for the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, you said yourself that Junior Brother Xia has a unique eye and is strategic and thoughtful. Leaving it in his care for now should be fine," Yuchi Xiao interjected.

"My esteemed Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School doesn't even have a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master to oversee it. What kind of establishment is that! Alright, you don't need to say anything more. Your master has made up his mind, I'm going alone," Liang Jingtang waved his hand, cutting him off.

"Master, besides us, who else will be going on this trip?" Xia Daoming asked, glancing at everyone and hesitating.

"As for who specifically, your master isn't clear yet. However, I imagine that besides the Xu family, there should be at least seven or eight Sixth-Rank Great Martial Masters from other forces. And the Xu family will definitely send some Great Martial Masters to accompany them. Not only that, but there will certainly be a Seventh-Rank or even an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master leading and supervising. With so many people going, you don't need to worry too much," Liang Jingtang replied, a hint of loneliness hidden in his eyes. He knew very well that among the conscripted Great Martial Masters, he was probably the only one who wouldn't be going.

"Senior Brother Yuchi is right. This mission is dangerous, and having another familiar person around always offers more support. I am willing to accompany Master on this trip," Xia Daoming said after some thought, standing up.

As soon as Xia Daoming spoke, the meeting hall fell silent again. Everyone looked at Xia Daoming with astonishment once more. Yuchi Xiao and the other three were disciples who had followed Liang Jingtang for many years, sharing deep affection and significant mutual interests. Even so, facing such danger, they would have needed to summon considerable resolve and courage to offer to accompany him. But Xia Daoming had only been Liang Jingtang's disciple for less than a year, and his cultivation was only at the Fourth-Rank. His resolute offer to go with him truly surprised everyone.

Soon, Yuchi Xiao and the others' gazes towards Xia Daoming shifted again.

"I am already very pleased that you have this intention! However, your cultivation is still too low, and the Vast Mountain Range is not a place you can go to now." Liang Jingtang waved his hand at Xia Daoming, signaling him to sit down, and the loneliness in his eyes vanished. Although his disciples were not outstanding, lacking a successor, how many martial arts school masters could boast such genuine filial piety?

"My cultivation should not be considered low," Xia Daoming said with a slight smile. The aura of his strength, imbued with the distinct characteristics of five different meridians, emanated from him, intertwining to form a powerful presence. Since reaching the Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master, Xia Daoming's Dragon Concealment technique had become even more refined, effectively concealing the aura of his sixth meridian's strength.

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