1584 Winning Two Lion Vultures
The evaluation committee of Subduing Demon City had never been this busy before. The night after the incident with the Second Son of the Flame Soul, the City Lords, the various heads of the Demon Slayer Clans, and the generals of the army gathered together in a church-like gray-white building to hold an overnight emergency conference.
“Look, isn’t that City Lord Cotillard?”
“It really is him. I’ve heard that Cotillard has been managing secret weapons research in Subduing Demon City. The last time he appeared at a joint conference was twenty-some years ago.”
“General Dresden is also here. I thought that old man had already retired.”
!!
Jiang Zhibei and Duyu whispered to each other. As witnesses to the incident, the three talents and Xia Fan’s support team had also been invited as guests. They were seated near the hall pillars and watched as all those ill.u.s.trious figures entered the conference room. Those people had rather solemn expressions, and many of them still carried dust on their clothes from traveling long distances.
There was no doubt that this was a conference of the highest powers in Subduing Demon City. The legendary elders, the specialists in charge of secret groups, the generals that fought on the frontline; they were all here. From that, one could see that the sudden appearance of the Second Son of the Flame Soul was an extremely grave matter, setting off almost every alarm in the land.
City Lord Lu Tailai sat in the center position. Subduing Demon City was rather democratic, and it was the City Lords who ran the affairs of the city who took turns at the job. This season, it was Lu Tailai’s turn, so he was presiding over the council.
The first order of business was to understand what had happened. A recording crystal was used to play back the scene at the time, and then the witnesses came up to be questioned. Xia Fan was also asked several questions, but these questions were about his speed. n.o.body suspected the sudden uprising of beasts had anything to do with him. After all, according to the recording, Xia Fan had just been standing there. The order that had triggered the beasts into burning up their life force was a mental one, unseeable and untouchable!
“As for the problem with Xia Fan, we City Lords are all aware. He is the first youth in the last fifty years to have six-star potential. Along with his Scent ability, he also has a hidden Speed ability.
“We originally planned to keep this a secret and furtively train him up so that he could serve as a surprise force at a key moment, but the sudden arrival of the Second Son of the Flame Soul means that we no longer need to keep it a secret. I will now formally announce to everyone that Xia Fan is a warrior with six-star potential, possessing both the Scent and Speed ability,” Lu Tailai announced to all.
Gasps of surprise resounded through the conference hall. This was the first six-star potential youth in the last fifty years, so Subduing Demon City naturally valued him highly. Lu Tailai’s sudden announcement that Xia Fan had two abilities also received general approval. After all, this was six-star potential, but his other ability was the perfunctory Scent ability? That was just too pitiful!
Two abilities, Scent and Speed, were far more befitting the greatest genius in the last fifty years. Xia Fan instantly became the center of attention, countless people looking at him with enthusiastic eyes.
“I was saying, there had to be something impressive about him that he reached six-star potential.”
“As expected of a genius. He’s bound to have a limitless future.”
Everyone conversed over the subject. There was precedent for warriors without symbols before, so they didn’t suspect Xia Fan over that. Once Xia Fan finished answering their questions, he was told to go back to his seat next to Turan. Turan had also gone up to verify that hiding Xia Fan’s ability was a plan implemented by the City Lords.
“Things have been cleared up now.” Lu Tailai frowned and said, “We currently face two problems. The first is why the Second Son of the Flame Soul suddenly appeared on our level. Based on City Lord Jin’s report, the Second Son emerged from the Northern Sea and rushed all the way to the vicinity of Subduing Demon City. This is an important clue.
“Secondly, the terrifying uprising of beasts. It makes me think of a certain death spirit ability. Those three Lion Vultures are a mythical species introduced from the Upper Realm. I’m sure none of you need me to explain their status and abilities.
“But those three Lion Vultures were also controlled, and in burning up their life force, they ultimately died together with the Second Son. This has even more far-reaching effects than the sudden appearance of the Second Son.
“Unfortunately, we still have no idea of this power that could control three Lion Vultures. We must continue investigating this matter, but time waits for no one. We should also gather an elite force and dispatch them to the Northern Sea. There will be two teams. The first will investigate why the Second Son of the Flame Soul suddenly appeared on our level, and the second will investigate who made the three Lion Vultures make suicide attacks.”
—
Lu Tailai’s proposals were smoothly pa.s.sed. That night, the elites of Subduing Demon City set out, organized into two large teams. One headed to the Northern Sea to investigate the Second Son’s sudden appearance and the other investigated the suicidal offensive of the beasts.
“Let’s find a place to eat. I’m starving,” Traveling Buddha stretched and said as they emerged from the conference hall.
“It’s past midnight, so there won’t be anything in the dorm cafeteria. If we want to get a good meal, we’ll have to go to the night market,” Jiang Zhibei said. As a foodie, he knew quite a lot about where to get something good to eat.
“I have to thank all of you this time. If you don’t mind, we can go to my home, and I’ll have the kitchen prepare things for you to eat,” Nikai said generously, smiling as she walked over to Xia Fan.
“A good idea!” Jiang Zhibei was delighted, rubbing his rumbling belly.
Nikai came from a big clan that employed numerous chefs. Eating at her home naturally meant being treated to a feast. But out of the corner of his eye, Xia Fan saw Le Jiajia frowning slightly.
Le Jiajia clearly wasn’t welcome in the home of a Demon Slayer Clan, so Xia Fan shook his head. “It’s so late, so it’s best not to disturb them. Let’s find a food stall on the street instead.”
Nikai was startled, clearly not expecting Xia Fan to refuse. But when she saw Le Jiajia sigh in relief, she realized what Xia Fan was doing.
I didn’t think he was so considerate of others, Nikai thought to herself, raising her opinion of Xia Fan even higher.
At this time, Dongfang He also came out of the conference hall. He said very frankly to Xia Fan and Traveling Buddha, “Tomorrow, I will have someone send Lion Vultures to your residence.”
“Send us Lion Vultures?” Xia Fan was confused.
“In this hunting contest, Jia Yuntian and I made a bet, putting our mounts on the line. But it’s clear that we both lost and you two are the winners. Unfortunately, my Jinbao is dead, so I have to send you another one of the clan’s Lion Vultures,” Dongfang He said.
Jiang Zhibei and Du Yu were stunned. Subduing Demon City didn’t have many Lion Vultures, and even the Dongfang Clan had only a few. He was willing to hand over this top-cla.s.s Mythical Beast to Xia Fan and Traveling Buddha? That was a priceless gift!
Nikai raised an eyebrow. “Dongfang, you’re being very generous.”
Dongfang He shook his head. “It has nothing to do with generosity. The most important thing is to keep one’s word. You were also there today. If it wasn’t for Xia Fan and Traveling Buddha holding back the Second Son of the Flame Soul, this day next year would be our memorial day. While one Lion Vulture is rather painful to give up, it’s what they deserve!”
Jia Yuntian also walked over slowly. His face had no expression, and after looking at everyone, he began to make his way down the steps. As expected, he was a cold and aloof fellow.
“Yuntian, do you not plan to hold up your part of the bet?” Dongfang He called out to Jia Yuntian.
“I’ve already finished the transfer doc.u.ments, and the Lion Vulture is at the Beast Garden for them to take at any time,” Jia Yuntian said indifferently.
This guy and his airs…, Dongfang He grimaced. He and Jia Yuntian really didn’t get along. As a natural leader, Dongfang He liked to do everything with great fanfare, but Jia Yuntian did things quietly, not even bringing it up once he was done.
This was just like how the two of them pursued Nikai. Dongfang He’s only fear was that n.o.body knew that he was pursuing Nikai, so he had long ago announced to the entire world that he was going to marry Nikai. In reality, it was impossible to find out which one of them liked Nikai more.
“Let’s go.” Xia Fan didn’t want to get involved in this complicated love triangle, so he tactfully avoided it, taking his team to the night market to look for food.
“Sister Nikai is probably going to have a tough time. Dongfang He is excellent, and Jia Yuntian is no slouch, either. They’re two of the finest elites in the city, and anyone would find it hard to choose between them,” Du Yu muttered. He had an innocent and simple personality, and he couldn’t help but worry about Nikai’s love prospects on her behalf.
“It feels more to me like Nikai doesn’t like either of them,” Xia Fan suddenly said, his brazen theory leaving Jiang Zhibei and Du Yu stunned. Le Jiajia also looked curiously at him.
“Why do you say that?”
“What evidence do you have?”
Xia Fan shrugged. “If you liked someone, would you let them wait too long? If Nikai confessed to you two, wouldn’t you immediately embrace her?”
This…
Jiang Zhibei and Du Yu speechlessly looked at each other.
Xia Fan continued, “I don’t know much about love, but from what I can see, her reserved att.i.tude is actually dislike. This is because humans are emotional creatures. If they run into someone they like, they wouldn’t be reserved at all.”
Xia Fan pointed at Traveling Buddha. “Let’s take this guy as an example. When Hidden Water first saw him, her eyes started glowing. Meanwhile, he felt like everything about Hidden Water was good, so they naturally became a couple. Was it hard? Not at all.
“Thus, I speculate that pursuing a girl should be a very simple thing. If it’s very hard, then it means that you’re chasing the wrong person.”
Traveling Buddha stroked his chin and thought about his own romantic experience. It really was as Xia Fan had said, everything occurring naturally. Jiang Zhibei, Du Yu, and Le Jiajia had their mouths wide open, as if they had been enlightened.
“How pitiful. It turns out that Sister Nikai doesn’t like Dongfang He or Jia Yuntian,” Du Yu sighed. “I really don’t know what Sister Nikai is thinking. No one is better than them among the young men of Subduing Demon City.”
All of them started eating roast meat and vegetables in the night market. When they were halfway through their meal, Turan came up. This teacher didn’t have the att.i.tude of an important person at all. Grabbing a few strips of roast meat, he wrapped them up in a piece of flat bread and began to eat it along with some meatball soup.
“Two Lion Vultures!”
Plus.h.!.+
Turan wasn’t able to restrain himself, a mouthful of meatball soup spitting out of his mouth onto Jiang Zhibei’s face.
“Those are Mythical Beasts! Even a teacher like me hasn’t ever gotten onto a Lion Vulture! I’m stuck with a macaw!” Turan suddenly lost his appet.i.te, throwing his flatbread to the side and saying resentfully, “A teacher riding a macaw while his student rides a Lion Vulture! Is there anything more ridiculous?
“But back to the subject, you two had best be careful tomorrow. Mythical Beasts can’t be ridden by just anyone. If you lack the ability, the Lion Vulture might not recognize you as its master, and then you’ll become the laughingstocks of the entire city.”