Chapter 606: Blocked

Not the right time?

Go back?

Zhang Xuan frowned.

This didn't seem like a welcome, but rather a provocation!

If it were a welcome, how could they directly tell someone to go back?

The other master teachers on the spirit beasts also poked their heads out, wanting to see what was happening.

And who was bold enough to speak like that in front of Hong shi.

Feng Yu?

Hearing this, Hong shi frowned.

That's right?

The person on the leading spirit beast chuckled lightly.

By now, both sides had flown closer, about a few hundred meters apart, and they could see clearly that it was an old man in his fifties, wearing a light golden robe, with three wisps of grayish-green beard fluttering in the wind, giving him an air of immortality.

I have been invited by the Master Teacher Pavilion and the Huanyu Empire to come here specially, so naturally I won't go back. If Brother Feng wishes to return, I wouldn't mind seeing you off!

Hong shi spoke.

After saying this, he lowered his voice to explain.

This Feng Yu is the pavilion master of the Fengyuan Empire's Master Teacher Pavilion, and he has always been at odds with me. Our Hongfeng Empire's 28 territories are holding a competition, and they are also doing the same...

Fengyuan Empire? The Fengyuan Empire among the four vassal states?

Zhang Xuan nodded.

On the way here, although he spent most of his time cultivating, he occasionally asked this five-star master teacher about some matters, and learned about the hierarchy of the Huanyu Empire.

The Huanyu Empire is a second-rank empire, divided into four vassal states: Hongfeng Empire, Fengyuan Empire, Qianfeng Empire, and Zhuyue Empire.

These four states were enfeoffed by the founding emperor Ye Huanyu to four brothers who helped him conquer the realm, claiming to be on equal footing with the Huanyu Empire, but in reality, they were one level lower.

The four vassal states each control countless small kingdoms and forces. For example, the Hongfeng Empire, where Hong shi is from, controls 28 territories, including the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance and the Liuyun Sect.

The other three vassal states are similar, each having their own spheres of influence and territorial divisions.

If measured by the standards of a previous life, the Huanyu Empire is a complete nation, the vassal states like Hongfeng and Fengyuan are provinces, the 28 territories are counties and cities, the Xuanxuan Enfeoffed Kingdom is a township, and first-rank kingdoms, second-rank kingdoms, and so on are at the level of villages, brigades, and units.

The vassal states control many forces, and just like the Hongfeng Empire, they also hold master teacher competitions, naturally having quotas and opportunities to enter the Huaqing Pool.

Hmm! I thought it was the Huanyu Empire's royal family coming to receive us, but it turns out they got the news first. We are master teacher pavilions of the same rank, so there is inevitably rivalry. Blocking us directly like this likely means trouble.

Hong shi frowned.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The other party spoke without any courtesy, so it was definitely not a casual chat.

Sure enough, as the two were talking, the famous teacher Feng Yu across from them raised an eyebrow and his voice came: "I kindly told you, but you wouldn't listen! The Hongfeng Empire is the farthest from here, and you arrived late, so you might not be clear about some things. Let me tell you then. Although the number of spots to enter the Huaqing Pool hasn't changed this year, the former Crown Prince Ye of the royal family has taken three more, so naturally ours have decreased. In other words... you no longer have a place. It's better to go back now, or you'll only embarrass yourselves if you go!"

"Took three more spots?" Hong Shi frowned.

The Huaqing Pool, like the Yin-Yang Pool, had limited spots, but they were basically allocated. How could there be no place just because they arrived late? Was a crown prince snatching spots from vassal states?

"That's right. I think you should go report to the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy first. After all, staying here any longer is meaningless!"

Feng Yu chuckled lightly.

"Whether it's meaningful or not isn't for you to decide. Don't trouble yourself, Teacher Feng!"

Knowing that the other party was blocking them with some ulterior motive, Hong Shi was too lazy to waste words. He waved his hand and turned to instruct: "Control the spirit beasts well. Let's go to the Master Teacher Hall first."

These flying spirit beasts were all rented, controlled by the Beast Hall personnel, able to follow commands and fly in formation.

Rustle!

At the command, under the beast tamer's control, many spirit beasts lined up in a row, ready to spread their wings and take flight at any moment.

"Hong Qian, this isn't fun. I came here kindly to tell you, and you not only don't appreciate it but turn around and leave. What do you mean?"

Feng Yu frowned.

"I'll ask the teacher and His Majesty myself whether the spots are enough!"

Hong Shi waved his hand.

Whoosh!

The flying spirit beasts beneath them spread their wings simultaneously, about to soar past the other party into the sky.

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Chen Mo!"

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to his advice and was determined to leave, Feng Yu narrowed his eyes, turned his head, and called out.

"Yes!"

A young man behind him responded, flipped his wrist, and a guqin appeared in his palm. He plucked it lightly, and a sound rang out.

Ding-dong, ding-dong!

The qin notes rose and fell, echoing in the air, giving a delicate feeling when heard, very pleasant to the ear.

"Why is he playing the qin?"

"Don't know..."

Hearing that the qin music contained no killing intent but instead carried a lingering softness that felt extremely comfortable, everyone was puzzled.

Blocking them in midair, he must have had some plan. Now that they were about to leave, why play a harmless qin tune?

Although there is the profession of Sound Master, which can use sound waves to attack people, it attacks the soul and creates illusions. This music is calm and peaceful; wanting them to be harmed... impossible!

More importantly... although this group of people is not very strong, they are all peak four-star masters, and there is even a five-star master. How strong would the attack need to be to affect everyone?

"No, it's not attacking us, it's attacking the spirit beasts!"

Master Hong suddenly realized, his face darkening.

"Spirit beasts?"

The crowd was startled and quickly looked at the beast tamers in charge of driving, and sure enough, they saw each of them with grim expressions.

"Not slow to react, not bad. Indeed, Chen Mo's 'Heavenly Sound of Silence' can hypnotize spirit beasts, preventing them from moving forward! That is to say, as long as this music continues, you cannot advance..."

Feng Yu smiled lightly.

"Heavenly Sound of Silence?"

Master Hong tried to drive the spirit beast beneath him, and indeed felt as if he had lost connection with it; it could only hover in the air, unable to advance at all.

It was as if they were trapped in a cage, unable to move forward.

Unable to advance, naturally they couldn't reach the capital, let alone enter the imperial city.

"Feng Yu, what exactly are you trying to do?"

His face ugly, Master Hong looked over coldly.

"Nothing, just keeping you all here for a day!"

Feng Yu smiled lightly, turned his head and instructed: "Chen Mo, keep playing the zither here, so they can't move forward!"

"Yes!" The young man named Chen Mo responded, his hands dancing, the zither's sound clear and loud.

"Hmph, do you think I have no way?"

Unexpectedly, since soft tactics didn't work, the other party resorted to force, directly preventing them from advancing. Master Hong's brows shot up in anger, and he formed a sword gesture with his fingers, flicking lightly.

Woo!

A sharp sound, a sword qi shot from his fingertip, flying straight toward the ancient zither in Chen Mo's hands.

As long as he shattered the zither, the sound would stop, and the spirit beasts' restraint would naturally be lifted.

However, before the sword qi reached its target, a "Hum!" sound was heard, the air stirred, and a huge protective membrane appeared in front of Chen Mo, which even Master Hong's attack could not break.

"It's a formation. The people on a dozen spirit beasts have joined together to set up a defensive formation specifically to protect this Chen Mo. We're so far away, and with this formation guarding him, we can't attack at all!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had been wondering earlier why the other party brought so many people. Since they were all masters, a real fight was unlikely. It turned out this was the purpose.

These people should all be formation masters, carrying something with them, using the spirit beasts as formation flags, and setting up a defensive formation around this Chen Mo.

If they were close, not to mention Master Hong, even he could break it with one punch. But separated by hundreds of meters, the attack power itself was weak, and the other party had prepared in advance. Hitting him and stopping his zither playing would be very difficult.

This is the terrifying aspect of a Sound Master.

As long as the sound can reach a place, it can produce an attack, ignoring all physical obstacles.

The other party must have calculated this point and acted with impunity.

"Damn it..."

Master Hong gritted his teeth.

Zhang Xuan could see it, and naturally he could figure it out too.

Trapped here by the other party, at least a thousand meters above the ground, unable to descend or move forward, they were really in big trouble.

"What he said about the quota might be true. The results might come out today. Trapping us for a day, if we can't get through, we'll most likely miss it... He must have had this in mind!"

Master Hong said.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

It was easy to guess, and masters could observe keenly. The other party had shown it so clearly; if they still couldn't see it, they might as well bang their heads against a wall.

"From the air, the capital looks close, but on foot, it takes half a day to get there. Besides... we're now in the air, the spirit beasts can't fly, so we're trapped here, unable to go down or up... What should we do?"

Master Hong was full of anxiety.

If they really lost the quota because of this, even if they sought revenge later, it would be useless.

But now... trapped in the air, unable to stop the other from playing the zither, were they really going to watch the quota slip away?

"Actually, solving it is very simple!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Simple? How simple?" Master Hong was startled. "We're so far away, we can't attack, and we can't fly over..."

"Fly over? Too troublesome..." Zhang Xuan shook his head, then turned and instructed: "Everyone, have your spirit beasts cover their ears."

"Okay!"

Hearing his words, the crowd hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

They still had some trust in the number one of the master competition.

Soon, all the spirit beasts covered their ears.

After the preparations, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and looked forward.

"Simple? Young age, but big talk. Master Hong, is this your student? How are you regressing, not knowing the rules? When elders speak, what right does a nobody have to interrupt..."

Overhearing their conversation, Feng Yu sneered and was about to scold a few words when he saw the young man opposite open his mouth and a faint sound rang out.

"Hum!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Before they could react, the spirit beasts beneath Feng Yu and his group went into free fall, plummeting straight down.

"What the hell, what's going on, ah..."