Standing beside the teleportation array, Qi Junsha wore a bitter expression. He never expected Princess Lanqiu's luggage to be so terrifying. One large box took up two-thirds of the teleportation array, and a group of warriors in black armor were still carrying other boxes of the same size, walking slowly in a line.
Li Qiang chuckled and praised, "Master, you are truly remarkable! I admire you to death! With so many people and things, you didn't even use a crystal teleportation array. If you opened a teleportation point in the Desperation Cape, you would be rolling in money! Haha! Haha!"
Princess Lanqiu thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Grandpa!"
Qi Junsha lightly kicked Li Qiang, saying irritably, "I admire you so much... How come you're not dead? Oh dear, little girl, this old man is starting to suspect you're trying to transport your dowry back... Good heavens, so many boxes are going to kill this old man!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Princess Lanqiu blushed and remained silent, her coquettish gaze fixed on Qi Junsha. Qi Junsha's heart stirred slightly: This little girl's mental strength is quite strong.
Zhao Hao led his team over and said loudly, "Master, everyone is here." He then directed the group to shout in unison, "Greetings, Ancestral Master! Greetings, Elder!"
Qi Junsha felt even more dizzy. How could there be so many people? He waved his hand weakly and said, "Okay! Okay!"
The island lord of Buliban laughed and said, "I've heard of this kind of teleportation array before. It can usually only teleport a few people. I didn't expect you to be so powerful, senior, that you could teleport all the people and goods on a flying hook chain. It's truly an eye-opener."
Tange clicked his tongue in amazement. "The patriarch is truly amazing. I must learn more from Old Na in the future. If I can learn even one percent of his skills, hehe, I can become the king!"
Nashan laughed and said, "If you asked me, I would have known long ago. Of course, the boss's master is amazing." The two of them flattered Qi Junsha in unison.
Qi Junsha found the conversation pleasant and his mood improved. In fact, his youthful spirit was formed after he became Loose Immortal. If he were still the " Old Freak Daoist " he used to be, he probably wouldn't even bother with Li Qiang and his group.
He laughed and said, "You two, come here. Hey, why are you standing there? Come here to this old man."
Nashan thought to himself, "Oh no, I didn't flatter him well. Did I end up making a fool of myself?"
Tange, behind him, pushed him and said, "The patriarch is calling you, hurry up!" He took advantage of Nashan's dazed state and pushed him forward forcefully.
Qi Junsha conjured two short swords, each a foot and eight inches long, and said, "One for each of you. Your cultivation is too weak, these swords are just right."
Nashan breathed a huge sigh of relief and was overjoyed, knowing that his flattery had been just right.
Li Qiang picked up a sword from the side to examine it. It was a strangely shaped sword with a black scabbard covered in mottled scars. The hilt was also black, made of neither gold, stone, nor wood, and he didn't know what material it was made of. It felt extremely comfortable to hold. Li Qiang tried to draw the sword but was surprised to find that the sword and scabbard were one piece, and he couldn't pull it out at all.
Li Qiang said, "Master, this sword is strange. Could it be a sword without a sheath?" He then handed the sword to Nashan.
Qi Junsha said, "The two little ones' cultivation isn't high enough yet, they can't handle flying swords, so let's use this instead. If you're good at it... hehe, even if the opponent has flying swords, this short sword can hold them off for a while."
Nashan and Tange were quick-witted; without even examining the short sword closely, they knelt down and kowtowed to express their gratitude. The two brothers said in unison, "Thank you for the reward, sir!" Qi Junsha was overjoyed and laughed heartily.
Li Qiang asked, "What's the name of the short sword?"
Qi Junsha said smugly, "It doesn't have a name. It was something I made for fun when I was cultivating immortality..."
Nashan, a man adept at seizing opportunities, said with a grin, "Please, Master, bestow a name upon me!"
Qi Junsha felt extremely pleased with himself and said, "Hmm, the sword names... Against the Light, Against the Radiance... You can try out the short swords in an open space, but make sure there's no one around."
Nashan and Tange parted from the crowd and ran towards an open, deserted place. Unexpectedly, a group of brothers who had come to watch the spectacle followed closely behind. Nashan stopped and said loudly, "Brothers, step back a bit, let Old Tan and I test our swordsmanship." His words were tinged with smugness.
Tange took a dozen steps back and said, " Old Na, you go first, let me show you what I'm made of."
Nashan concentrated his energy, and the short sword in his hand suddenly emitted a blue light, its sharpness reaching more than a meter in length as it moved.
Everyone gasped in surprise. Nashan was very satisfied and brandished his short sword, unleashing a move called " Wild Battle in Eight Directions," with streaks of green light flying with the sword.
Tange, itching to fight, shouted, "What a sword! What a sword! It's just that Old Na skill is a little lacking, otherwise it would be even better." Everyone burst into laughter; these two clowns couldn't stand not fighting every day.
Nashan shouted, " Old Tan, stop talking and start a fight!"
The brothers immediately started shouting and jeering, Tange yelled, "Fine! I'll play with you... Take this!" The two started fighting.
Li Qiang said to Geng Feng, " Old Madman, keep an eye on those two, make sure they don't get hurt, and while you're at it, pass them a couple of moves... Hehe, if you want to play, go ahead and have some fun."
Geng Feng laughed triumphantly and said, "Alright! I'll go have a go." Li Qiang's few words had ignited his passion, and he leaped to the edge of the field, ready to make a move at any moment. With him there, Li Qiang wasn't worried that Nashan would go too far.
Looking at the ever-growing number of people and things, Qi Junsha sighed, "Bragging takes money, and this time I've really blown my own hornet's nest."
Li Qiang whispered, "Master, if this is really difficult, we'll think of another way. Please don't force yourself."
Qi Junsha glared at her and said, "I'm just an old woman who hates trouble. This little thing is no problem for me."
Li Qiang understood that there might really be too much stuff, so he turned around and went to discuss it with Princess Lanqiu.
A moment later, Li Qiang returned and said, "Master, these boxes should still be transported via the flying hook chain. Since it's a chartered ship, even if we don't use the flying hook chain, they will still sail to the Western Continent. Leaving some warriors to escort them should be fine."
Qi Junsha said sarcastically, "What are you doing? Looking down on an old man like me? This little bit of stuff..."
Li Qiang interrupted him with a grin, "I know, you old man wouldn't care about such a small thing. Stop arguing and listen to your disciple's arrangements."
Qi Junsha waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Whatever! Whatever! I'm going to check on how the two kids are doing." He knew in his heart that his good disciple was worried he couldn't handle it.
The warriors who had accompanied Princess Lanqiu looked distressed as they carried the boxes away one by one, leaving only one large box, which contained Princess Lanqiu's own belongings.
Hong Qian said, "Everything is ready now, let's begin the teleportation." Li Qiang called over Zhao Hao and instructed him to gather everyone.
In a short while, everyone was ready.
Li Qiang spotted Nashan and Tange and couldn't help but laugh, "How did they end up like this..."
Nashan, limping and covering his face, stammered, " The Old Madman made his move..."
Tange was also in a miserable state, sobbing as he said, "Sigh, this guy! He made us two fight him, but I didn't expect him... he... to be so strong. We didn't get the advantage... we suffered a loss... boss."
Geng Feng looked unsatisfied and said, "I didn't even use my flying sword or Law Treasure, while you two only used short swords, and that One-Eyed Dragon even used lightning to attack. You got a huge advantage, so why do you look like you're at a disadvantage?"
Li Qiang said irritably, "Forget it, Old Madman. Besides my master, you have the highest cultivation level here. You have the nerve to really fight a junior... Have you even taught me a couple of moves?"
Geng Feng, left speechless by Li Qiang's words, said, "Alright! I'll pass on a few tricks when I have time in the Western Continent. Wow, you're such a great boss, you won't even let your subordinates suffer a small loss."
Li Qiang chuckled and said, "They're not subordinates, they're my brothers. Do you think I'd let them suffer? They'll all have to make it up to me, haha."
Geng Feng said, "My hands are itching to fight, but I can't. It's frustrating not having any fights to do."
Qi Junsha laughed slyly, "I'll fight you!"
Geng Feng suddenly dodged to the side, startled, and said, "Fighting you, old man? Forget it. If there's even a one percent chance I can beat you, I, the Fengzi, will never run away. Sigh... just getting beaten up... I Old Madman, won't stand for it."
Nashan exclaimed, "So you knew too! Old Tan, we've been wronged, we fought for nothing!" Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
In the Cultivation Realm, only cultivators at the Body Integration Realm or above can set up teleportation arrays, and they require a small amount of crystals to construct them.
Li Qiang saw faint white halos forming a peculiar net about half a foot above the ground, somewhat resembling a spider web, about ten meters square. This was set up by Qi Junsha earlier. As Loose Immortal, his skill was incredibly high; he had actually set up a teleportation array out of thin air, and it remained intact, leaving everyone in awe.
Qi Junsha said sharply, "My good disciple, let's be the first batch to come in. Who wants to go first?"
Everyone hesitated, unsure of what the outcome would be.
Li Qiang said, "I'll be the first to leave. Zhao Hao will command from here. You and Master will leave last. Nashan, Tange, Hong Qian, Paben, and I will go first. Kubo, Han Jin, and Zhao Zhi will follow. Princess Lanqiu, your people will go with Divine Envoy Kaben and Geng Feng. Okay, Master, please summon us first."
Qi Junsha nodded sharply. "My good disciple, hehe, it's alright... Are you all ready?" There seemed to be some uncertainty in his tone. He activated the teleportation array, a flash of white light, and the array was now empty.
The Western Continent is characterized by rolling hills and endless, lush forests. A small gravel path winds across a vast expanse of green meadow, where merchants and travelers occasionally traverse. As the sky gradually darkens and the howling wind grows stronger, the travelers quicken their pace, hurrying forward in hopes of finding shelter before the weather changes.
A sudden flash of light appeared in the sky; experienced people know this means thunder is coming. But after a while, all was silent. Suddenly, ten people appeared on the grass, almost all lying face down, with only two or three still standing. One of them cursed, "Damn it, why are you all lying down... Luckily no one saw us. Alright, all of you, get up!"
It was Li Qiang and his group that arrived.
Hong Qian stood beside Li Qiang and said, "Good heavens! Grandmaster Uncle's teleportation was really powerful; everyone's collapsed." Urged by Li Qiang, the group slowly got up.
Nashan looked at the sky and said, "It's going to rain... Oh dear, the scenery here is just like my hometown, haha, there are green forests. Old Pa, are you home yet?"
Paben looked around, and after a while, he said in confusion, "Where is this? It's unfamiliar. Master, you wait here for the next group to arrive, I'll go ask about the situation."
Li Qiang nodded and said, " Paben, go and find out where we are. The rest of you wait here; they should be here soon."
Nashan was very curious. He touched his Baldy and laughed, " Old Pa, I'll go with you to take a look..."
Tange shouted, "I'm going too, hehe, this is also my first time setting foot on the land of the Western Continent." The three of them walked arm in arm down the gravel road.
The group began packing their belongings. The sky grew even darker, and faint rumbles of thunder echoed from afar.
Hong Qian suddenly said, "Uncle-Master, listen..." Li Qiang had already heard a rumbling sound, somewhat like the sound of horses' hooves. The sound was muffled and heavy, coming from behind the woods not far away.
All eyes were fixed on the source of the sound. Li Qiang asked curiously, "What was that?"
Dust rose from behind the trees, Hong Qian laughed, "Looks like some kind of cavalry unit."
A strange-looking cavalry caravan galloped out from behind the woods, their thunderous hooves growing louder. Hong Qian, familiar with the Western Continent, glanced at them and chuckled, "Nothing much, just a common cargo caravan from the Western Continent."
Li Qiang and his companions had never seen anything like it before and were very curious, so they all stared at it. The riding team galloped along the gravel road.
Leading the way were four black monsters, each ridden by two people. These monsters were four or five meters long and two meters tall, with slender bodies, long tails, triangular heads, and covered in fine scales. Their limbs were thick and strong, making them appear very tall and mighty. Li Qiang liked them at first sight, thinking they looked a bit like lizards. Of the two people on the monsters' backs, one in front was controlling the mounts, while the other behind held a longbow.
Li Qiang asked, "What kind of monster is that?"
Hong Qian said, "These are the ' Black Spire ' cavalry commonly seen in the Western Continent. Commoners use them as Black Spire, while the army uses ' Silver Spire ' cavalry, which are very fast. And those scaleless, Mottled-Tipped Steed behind them are specifically used for carrying cargo." Li Qiang and the others were seeing these animals for the first time and were all amazed.
The riders on the Black-Tipped Mount spotted Li Qiang and his group from afar. One of the leaders shouted something, and then the cavalry stopped some distance away. Two Black-Tipped Mount quickly charged towards Li Qiang and his group.
Li Qiang said, " Hong Qian, what are they trying to do? They're acting so aggressively."
Before Hong Qian could speak, the dozen or so brothers behind him formed an attack formation in groups of three on the grass. As the formation was completed, a powerful offensive surged toward the two Black Spire Riders. The two Black Spire Riders and their four riders retreated in panic.
Hong Qian shouted, "Go ahead, we are merchants as well."
The riders on the Black-Tipped Mount were startled and uncertain. One of them shouted, "Please don't misunderstand, we are just on guard, we have no intention of attacking."
Li Qiang waved his hand gently and said, "No attacking! Put away your weapons and stand by!" He then asked loudly, "Hey! Excuse me, which country's territory is this?"
The Black-Tipped Mount said, "This is the border between the Jiunan Kingdom and the Mangye Tribe. It's a no-man's-land. Going forward is the Jiunan Kingdom, and behind it is the Mangye Tribe's territory."
Li Qiang said loudly, "Thanks, you can go now!"
An archer on the Black-Tipped Mount shouted, "Excuse me! Sorry to bother you!" Then he whistled, and the group of Mottled-Tipped Steed and the other Black-Tipped Mount galloped off again, with two Black Spire Cavalry turning their horses around and giving chase.
The sound of raindrops "pitter-patter" began to rise sparsely.
Hong Qian looked up at the sky and said, "This rain is quite heavy."
Li Qiang said in surprise, "What is Master up to? No one has been teleported over yet... Everyone come and get your umbrellas." There were still dozens of folding umbrellas in his bracelet, all bought in his hometown. With Li Qiang's current cultivation level, the rain couldn't get close to him, but these brothers couldn't. A dozen people opened their umbrellas at the same time, creating a colorful and quite a sight.
After waiting a while longer, streaks of lightning illuminated the sky, thunder roared, and the heavy rain finally poured down, obscuring the view.
Li Qiang and Hong Qian stood with their hands behind their backs, about half a foot off the ground, looking around. The rain couldn't even get within a meter of them, as if there was an invisible glass dome. The other guys were also quite interesting; the three of them stood together, facing three different directions, and held their umbrellas in a flower shape to protect themselves.
Li Qiang laughed and said, "Hehe, that's a good idea. Everyone, please be patient and wait for the next group to arrive."
Hong Qian smiled wryly, "Uncle-Master, something doesn't seem right. It shouldn't take this long. Teleportation is instantaneous. I suspect... maybe I'm just being paranoid."
Li Qiang thought for a moment and then smiled wryly, "If he spreads rumors... that would be troublesome."
He didn't suspect Qi Junsha of having any bad intentions, but rather felt that someone of his stature wouldn't go to such lengths. In fact, Li Qiang guessed correctly; this was Qi Junsha's first time setting up a teleportation array, so it would be strange if he didn't make a mistake.
In the pouring rain, the three of Paben waded through the puddles and ran back soaked to the bone.
Nashan shouted, "Boss! Why haven't they arrived yet? Damn it, this rain is really heavy!"
Li Qiang tossed the umbrella to them. The three of them had never seen anything like it before, and they clumsily managed to open it.
Paben wiped the rain off his face and said loudly, "We're in the heart of the Western Continent now. Ahead lies the Jiunan Kingdom, and we still have a long way to go to reach the Ladu Kingdom. This road is difficult to travel; there are many bandits, robbers, and monsters. There's a stockade ahead; shall we go there to take shelter from the rain?"
Li Qiang was still unwilling to give up, and said, "Let's wait a little longer. If no one teleports over yet, we'll leave. The heavy rain might stop soon."
Paben quite uncomfortable, being soaked to the bone. He used his internal energy to shake himself, causing water droplets to spray everywhere, instantly enveloping him in mist. He quickly dried his clothes before saying, "Master, this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon. It won't stop for at least two or three days. This is the infamous 'Bad Rain,' it just never ends."
Nashan folded his umbrella, opened his mouth wide, and licked the rainwater. He laughed loudly, "Haha, this water is sweet, it's fucking refreshing!" He even started taking off his clothes, saying as he did so, " Old Tan, I'm just killing time anyway, I 'Old Na take a bath, haha, that'll be great! Any brothers who want to take a bath, take your clothes off, there aren't any women here!"
Li Qiang was intrigued by what he said and couldn't help but shout, "There's a puddle over there, I'll go take a dip too! Haha, Nashan's idea is great, everyone, let's go!"
Immediately, everyone put away their umbrellas, took off their clothes, and rushed into the heavy rain to have a great time.
Hong Qian shook his head and smiled wryly, but he remained standing still; he was very uncomfortable with this kind of thing.
Li Qiang yelled and charged into the pond. The other brothers were about to follow when they saw their leader crawl out of the pond covered in mud, spitting and cursing. It turned out the water in the pond was only two feet deep. Everyone burst into laughter. Li Qiang was so angry that he scooped up a handful of mud and threw it at him. The battle started, and chaos ensued.
All that could be seen was mud flying everywhere. Li Qiang went even further, using his internal energy to stir up large swaths of mud from the ground, sending it raining down on everyone like a shower of flowers.
Nashan yelled, "Attack the boss!" He raised his hand and shot five or six clumps of mud at Li Qiang. Instantly, everyone threw mud at Li Qiang.
Hong Qian couldn't help but chuckle as well. Li Qiang spotted him and shouted, "Look everyone, there's another one who hasn't taken his clothes off! Pull him into the water!"
Hong Qian was so frightened that he flew away. Li Qiang, completely naked, flew out of the pond into the air, raised his hand, and with a burst of red light, slammed Hong Qian to the ground. He shouted, "Mud... Smash! Haha!"
Nashan and Tange simultaneously hugged Hong Qian, shouting, "Get down! Haha!"
Hong Qian dared not use his internal energy, fearing he would harm them, and shouted, "Stop! Stop!"
A gasp rippled through the crowd as Li Qiang whipped up a clump of mud as tall as a person and hurled it through the air, grinning broadly. "Look at my giant lump of mud..."
"Bang!" Hong Qian, Nashan, and Tange were all buried in the mud. After a long while, three heads emerged from the mud, one of them saying, "Who ambushed me?" Everyone laughed and scattered.
Hong Qian flew out of the mud pile and shouted, " Princess Lanqiu has arrived!" In an instant, everyone lay down in the water, Hong Qian laughed heartily.
Nashan poked his Baldy out of the mud, looked around, and asked, "Where are you?"
Li Qiang jumped into the pond immediately, only to find that he had been tricked by Hong Qian; no one had actually teleported him there.