Shen Lang and Song Shadao hung up the phone. Twenty minutes later, he returned to the villa. After taking a shower, he went into his room to rest.
The next morning at five o'clock, while Yu Fei and the others were still asleep, Shen Lang had already set off with a backpack.
The backpack contained some compressed biscuits that Shen Lang had bought when he returned last night, a few bottles of water, and two sets of change of clothes. There was nothing else.
Shen Lang did not drive. Instead, he chose to run. By eight o'clock in the morning, Shen Lang appeared in the primeval forest of the Nanshan District.
This was the same primeval forest where Shen Lang had brought Qin Long and others for training last time. Shen Lang arrived at the center of the forest. After finding a stone as large as a round table, he sat down and took out the nine throwing knives given to him by Wolong.
These nine throwing knives not only each had a name, but their sheaths also recorded the method of launching each knife.
To control the nine throwing knives, one must fuse the three internal energy cultivation methods, "Yi Jin Jing," "Chang Sheng Jue," and "Bing Xuan Jin," into a brand new internal energy. Otherwise, not only would the throwing knives be unable to kill the enemy, but one would also be backlashed by the power of the knives. Minor injuries could lead to lifelong disability, while severe cases could result in immediate death.
Shen Lang had cultivated these three internal energy methods since childhood. After nineteen years of accumulation, Shen Lang's three internal energies had reached a very powerful state. However, fusing the three internal energies into a brand new one was something Shen Lang had never expected.
Because he had never imagined it, Shen Lang proceeded with extreme caution.
Among these three internal energies, "Yi Jin Jing" was extremely masculine and overbearing, capable of crushing everything in its path and being unstoppable. "Chang Sheng Jue" was the gentlest, like a gentle spring breeze, refreshing the mind and spirit. It could not only quickly heal internal injuries but also served as the power source for using the Taiyi Divine Needles.
However, "Bing Xuan Jin" was the complete opposite of the other two. It was an extremely yin and cold internal energy, capable of protecting Shen Lang from being consumed by flames, but it could also cause one to die from its frigid energy.
Shen Lang did not know what would happen when the three internal energies merged, so he could only try slowly.
Six hours later, Shen Lang managed to fuse the three internal energies for the first time. However, the three energies repelled each other, making Shen Lang's body feel as if it were tearing apart. The pain was excruciating, and he alternately felt as if he were in a raging fire and in an ice cave frozen for a thousand years. After being tormented by fire and ice, he would then feel as if he were in a clear spring, cool and comfortable.
However, before Shen Lang could adapt to the comfortable feeling, the next torment began.
This torment not only severely damaged the body but also severely tested one's will. If Shen Lang had not been brought up by his master from a young age and endured countless hardships, his meridians might have already been shattered, and he would have died on the spot.
For the next eighteen hours, Shen Lang made no progress, constantly being tormented back and forth. If not for his strong pain tolerance, Shen Lang would have been screaming incessantly.
However, Shen Lang was unaware that while he was cultivating, in a secluded and tranquil mountain villa in the suburbs of Nanling, Qi Tuojiang, dressed in white, and Kong Wudao, dressed in black, were fishing.
"Young Master Qi, I heard that Zhao Shengtian couldn't hold out under Shen Lang and confessed everything about his collusion with the Shadao Association to establish the Paradise Island biological laboratory. Although he wasn't prosecuted and convicted by Shen Lang, the matter has now alarmed the authorities, and he has been taken away by Yan Qing and his team."
Kong Wudao smiled and said, "It seems our brother is completely finished this time."
"It may not be the outcome you expect."
Looking at Kong Wudao's smiling face, Qi Tuojiang said with a smile, "The Zhao family has immense influence. There may be people from the Zhao family among the authorities. As long as Zhao Shengtian isn't sent to the execution platform like Tang Qubing, there's always a chance for him to turn things around."
"Have you forgotten what he excels at? It's to reverse the situation from the brink of despair, to win half a move."
"Young Master Kong, I recall your mother is also a member of the Zhao family, and she's Zhao Shengtian's paternal aunt, right?"
Upon hearing Qi Tuojiang's words, Kong Wudao chuckled. "You mean, you want me to ask my mother for help and stir up the nerves of the Zhao family patriarch, making him go a bit crazy?"
"Yes, the 'Mad Lion of the Zhao Family' has been dormant for too long. Many people have forgotten how terrifying he is. It's time for him to awaken."
Qi Tuojiang smiled and said, "Zhao Shengtian is his beloved grandson. Now that he's suffering like this, we must let him know who the culprit is."
"Young Master Qi is right. After all, Zhao Shengtian is not only my brother from the compound but also my cousin. I'll have my mother have a good chat with Old Master Zhao."
A mischievous smile spread across Qi Tuojiang's face. "Shen Lang wants you to fall out with Zhao Shengtian and the Zhao family. But he doesn't know that your relationship with the Zhao family is much more complicated. This can be considered him lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet."
"Hmph, an ignorant clown. I'll deal with him sooner or later."
Kong Wudao said coldly, "We will not tolerate such an arrogant figure in our midst."
"Haha, dealing with him is only a matter of time. Let's take it slow."
Qi Tuojiang spoke, "When he challenged the martial arts of Yang Country, we bloodbathed the Sun Palace and successfully recovered over 30,000 precious cultural relics looted by the Yang Country's villains more than ninety years ago. Our prestige is now higher than Shen Lang's. Playing with him to death is only a matter of time."
"However, multiple failures have taught me one thing: for this 'unkillable cockroach' named Shen Lang, we must kill him in one go. Otherwise, we'll end up being bitten by him. Although it won't be fatal, it's extremely disgusting."
"Young Master Qi is right, we need to be cautious."
Kong Wudao also recalled the countless times he had suffered losses at Shen Lang's hands, and his expression changed slightly as he said.
"By the way, Young Master Qi, do you know why I asked you to meet here?"
Kong Wudao looked at Qi Tuojiang and suddenly asked.
"Why?"
Hearing Kong Wudao's words, Qi Tuojiang looked curious.
This mountain villa was secluded and rarely visited. It was the weekend, but there was no one else around, so Qi Tuojiang really didn't know why Kong Wudao wanted to meet here.
"Young Master Qi, I'd like to introduce you to a friend."
Looking at the curious Qi Tuojiang, Kong Wudao smiled and then clapped his hands.
The next moment, the door of a wooden house nearby was opened, and a man nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a robust build, but wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined and elegant, walked out. He walked step by step towards Qi Tuojiang, extended his right hand, and smiled, "Young Master Qi, hello. It's an honor to meet you. My name is Tian Yangsheng."
"Tian Yangsheng?"
Upon hearing the name, Qi Tuojiang's expression suddenly changed drastically. He said, "Leader of the Remnant Army?"