1113: Chapter 676_2 1113: Chapter 676_2 Ye Shi also knew that there were many spies in this country.
At first, he thought it was only limited to the Rabbit Country, such a cunning and hateful nation, whose people were not so different from the Ancient Xia Country’s Asians!
Now he understands that there are Western spies as well, equally cunning, and perhaps they have infiltrated Ancient Xia Country for many years.
They’ve made it so that the officials in their own country don’t suspect anything!
Perhaps these spies marry ordinary women of Ancient Xia Country.
Their mixed heritage might not be noticeable, and such people are sent to serve as spies!
If the children of commoners are to become spies, they must first learn martial combat.
A month ago, Ye Shi witnessed over ten thousand cultivators from foreign nations attacking the northern regions of Ancient Xia Country.
Among the ten thousand, only a few ringleaders managed to escape; the rest either perished or were captured.
After suffering losses in that one battle, the three nations realized that a force of merely 200 cultivators was enough to annihilate so many people.
This was entirely due to their overwhelming strength and their swift assault!
To prevent further attacks, those nations, unwilling to accept defeat, launched another offensive!
Suspecting a possible alliance between the Western countries and the Demon Realm, it was unlikely they would stop their advances!
A month later, with constant skirmishes from the Demon Realm, Ancient Xia Country remained on high alert, fearing that the three countries might resume their attacks and that domestic spies might conspire in unison.
Thankfully, with the nationwide mobilization, more cultivators and martial artists arrived for defense!
Ye Shi discovered that when the snail shells stored in the storage bags were retrieved, they did not shrink in size.
Perhaps they died too quickly, or perhaps within the territory of Ancient Xia Country, the snails simply didn’t shrink!
Snails, in addition to their tough shells, might serve other purposes, but those would need to be discovered by the cultivators themselves!
Xuanyuan Jie had already collected numerous dead snails, filling bag after bag with their remains.
When he saw Ye Shi, Ye Shi had also packed quite a few.
The snails continued to die and emerge in waves!
Although Su Chang’an had completed his task, if he refrained from cultivating or refining artifacts, he had plenty of time.
With just a missed hour, he recovered his previous spiritual energy!
Feeling bored, he observed the external combat missions from his flying artifact.
When he saw those snails, he realized they could be used as materials for artifact refining!
Su Chang’an also noticed that after the snails died, their souls floated out.
Xuanyuan Jie and other cultivators hadn’t gathered those demonic beast remnants!
He thought it was a waste and, noticing Su Feifei among the group of female cultivators, transmitted a secret message to her, encouraging her to gather the snails’ soul remnants.
Su Feifei received the message from her cousin and pondered over it.
She thought that collecting a multitude of demonic beast souls could potentially serve as excellent artifact spirits for puppet creation.
Glancing at Ye Shi, her distant relative by association, she imagined that one day, they might truly become closer relatives.
Hence, she decided to contribute to the army!
From an artifact refining manual given to her by Jiang Tang, she learned of a technique for refining puppets.
She had also heard how Ye Tian excelled in puppet creation!
Thinking of collecting so many soul remnants, she believed that one day Ye Tian could use them to combat spies and invaders!
There would be no need to risk human lives—puppets could take over combat missions, sparing the lives of the nation’s soldiers!
Creating a puppet army to specifically target spies and foreign invaders would be highly effective!
Su Feifei’s thoughts were naturally inspired by Su Chang’an’s transmission, but she also had her own private intentions!
Yun Duoduo possessed fire-breathing mystical insects that reproduced rapidly, alongside an increasing number of Moonlight Stone Elves offered to her family!
During missions, the convenience was unparalleled.
With just a single command, those Moonlight Stone Elves could handle everything, earning admiration and envious gazes from others!
Dugu Yan’er had a Sun Stone Elf, just one, but it made her far stronger than those who had no spiritual pets!
Just like before, her cousin would use all his belongings and spiritual energy to strike his enemies relentlessly!
Whether it was with puppets or spiritual pets, the cultivators would not need to exert as much spiritual power!
Su Feifei only knew that deploying puppets consumed an immense amount of spirit stones.
If puppets were truly used for combat missions, as military units, the cost in spirit stones would be staggering!
Even with their wealth, they couldn’t afford such wastefulness!
She imagined what if puppets could be developed to automatically absorb spiritual energy on their own!
Like real demonic beasts, capable of drawing energy from the air while fighting continuously, thereby eliminating the need for spirit stones.
Su Feifei wasn’t aware that Ye Tian had already researched and developed this innovation, which was being implemented in that Civilization Country!
Currently, Ye Tian was still undertaking a task with Jiang Tang, so they didn’t know.
But someday, when they returned, they would find not only that they had contributed gifts to others, but also received numerous gifts in return!
Su Feifei hadn’t had her turn yet; she suddenly appeared here without knowing what would come of it.
People could only see the black qi being absorbed into a magic artifact she carried!
Xuanyuan Jie and the other cultivators didn’t realize that what she was gathering were the souls of demonic beasts—they assumed she was absorbing the demonic qi present on the snails!
Xuanyuan Jie didn’t research or pay attention; everyone had their own plans!
Only a few loose cultivators, with envious and jealous gazes, suspected from afar—was the woman gathering demonic qi to create magical treasures or use it for cultivation?
The loose cultivators joined the mission primarily for rewards and resources!
Following powerful figures for a share of the spoils was rarely unprofitable!
They assumed Su Feifei had the same tasks as the rest, riding along for the same objectives!
However, deep inside, they had their guesses and moments of envy.
If demonic qi could speed up cultivation, they might outpace these righteous cultivators!
They also wondered, could this seemingly righteous woman be secretly a demon cultivator?
Su Feifei wasn’t aware of their speculation.
She pondered about gifting the collected souls to Jiang Tang upon his return.
She was a gentle, kind woman, unlike the arrogant girls from Noble Clans; her feelings perhaps stemmed from loving one person deeply!
To Su Feifei, Jiang Tang was an irreplaceable presence in her life.
Ever since following Jiang Tang, she felt her days brimming with happiness, as though life itself became delightful!
Never understanding the taste of love before, Su Feifei believed Jiang Tang was her destined one!
Even female cultivators harbored dreams of a Prince Charming!
Though their pursuit of longevity kept them constantly cultivating, women still possessed innocence, dreams, and the exuberance of youth!
At her mere eighteen or nineteen years of age, her affection for Jiang Tang blossomed into obsession and longing!
Su Feifei realized many women admired Jiang Tang.
He wasn’t exactly loyal; in the cultivation world and mortal realms, the strong often attracted numerous admirers.
It was no surprise!
She hoped to be special to him, to occupy a unique place in his heart!
Gradually, she discovered Jiang Tang didn’t reject the affections of those who adored him.
Though she once felt sorrow, she eventually let it go.
Jiang Tang’s disappearance wounded many women, herself included!
Su Feifei often wondered if Jiang Tang had wandered off to some enchanting place, forgetting about her and the other women!
Perhaps his prolonged absence was due to being mesmerized by such a place.
Su Feifei refused to believe Jiang Tang, being so formidable, could have suffered harm or encountered danger!
She listened to his sisters, hearing their heartfelt conviction to wait for him—be it a year, two years, or even centuries, millennia!
Waiting too long might bring impatience and heartbreak—but so what?
They shared the same thought: Jiang Tang’s ambitions were too grand.
While establishing his endeavors, he still nurtured the vast ambition of mending heaven!
Maybe his quest to mend heaven was what caused his disappearance…
Jiang Tang had taken them to many places before, never hiding his ambition to restore heaven and enable cultivators to ascend!
It was their collective aspiration—the dream of all cultivators!