"Elder, isn't tracing the formation supposed to lead to the Gentleman's Sword? You didn't bring the Gentleman's Sword, so what are you going to use to trace the formation?" Zhang Yang asked doubtfully.
"Heh, I didn't bring the Gentleman's Sword, but with righteous energy, we can still trace the formation," Zhu Zhi chuckled.
With that, his aura changed, and a surge of righteous energy suddenly appeared on his body!
This!
Zhang Yang's pupils widened, his eyes filled with shock.
He couldn't understand why Zhu Zhi possessed righteous energy.
"Why do you have righteous energy?" Zhang Yang asked in surprise.
"Heh, the Gentleman's Sword is our national artifact, and I have long been recognized by it, so naturally, I possess righteous energy. It's just that I haven't encountered strong enemies, so I haven't used it much."
Hearing this, Zhang Yang immediately understood.
Zhu Zhi's current righteous energy was likely similar to the True Dragon Qi in his body, both being refined energy obtained through recognition of a national artifact.
"Elder, you truly are a hidden master," Zhang Yang couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up.
He finally understood why, at the central island, no one but Zhu Zhi could control the Gentleman's Sword.
It was likely related to Zhu Zhi possessing righteous energy.
"Heh, everyone, return to your positions and prepare to activate the formation," Zhu Zhi said with a smile.
Zhang Yang nodded and quickly moved to his designated spot.
Soon.
The members of the Ming Long Army took their positions in the Nine Palaces.
Lu Gong raised the Green King Wood and began chanting, performing a prayer.
Zhu Zhi listened intently, and seizing the opportunity, released the righteous energy within him, successfully activating the tracing formation!
This time.
There was no blinding white light as seen at the central island, nor any mysterious ancient voices.
The only thing that appeared was a map formed by righteous energy, with a certain spot glowing.
Zhu Zhi quickly memorized the map.
The glowing spot was precisely where the descendant of the Ink King had placed the Green King Wood!
"Disperse!"
Zhu Zhi shouted, dispelling the righteous energy. Zhang Yang and the members of the Ming Long Army quickly gathered around.
"Elder, did you find it?" Lu Gong asked.
"I found it. Although the effect of tracing with the Gentleman's Sword is somewhat inferior, we are now in the Thorn Marsh, so the impact is not significant."
Zhu Zhi spoke to himself.
Then, he pointed in a direction and said.
"According to the map's guidance, if we head this way, we should be able to find the Green King Wood."
"The three of us will go ahead to scout the path. Zhang Tang and the others will be left to you. Don't rush, approach slowly, and it's best not to be discovered too early."
After giving instructions.
Zhu Zhi led Hong Tao and Hu Han Tian away.
With Zhang Tang and the Ming Long Army in charge, these people were completely fine, and Zhu Zhi and the other two were at ease.
Zhang Yang watched the three leave, thinking to himself that the descendants of the Ming King were about to clash with the descendant of the Ink King.
"Let's go, it's time for us to move out too," Zhang Yang called out.
The others nodded and followed behind Zhang Yang.
Having learned from the experience with the fierce beasts in the snow, the group proceeded with extreme caution on the black-green land.
However, as they walked, Zhang Yang began to feel puzzled.
They had already traveled more than ten kilometers since they set out.
Yet, they hadn't encountered a single fierce beast.
What was going on?
Or were the fierce beasts only living in the outermost snow-covered areas?
Did the environment here not suit them, or were they not adapted to survive here?
After thinking about it, Zhang Yang stopped pondering. After all, he would deal with whatever came his way.
But…
He had considered many possibilities, but he had missed the most crucial one.
Perhaps.
There was something in this place that terrified the fierce beasts, which was why they dared not venture in to survive.
Gradually.
Night fell.
The departed Zhu Zhi and the other two had still not returned.
For safety, Zhang Yang chose to set up camp and not travel at night.
The night was very peaceful.
Nothing happened, no extreme weather like blizzards.
Those on guard duty also noticed nothing unusual.
However, when dawn broke, someone exclaimed!
"Wait! It seems like we've lost some people!"
"Huh? Where's A Kang? He was sleeping next to me yesterday. How is he gone after waking up?"
"Strange, Wu Qi is also gone. Where did he go?"
In a short while.
Those who had woken up discovered that familiar companions who were by their side were missing.
Zhang Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly summoned everyone.
After a careful headcount, everyone's skin crawled.
"We've lost thirty people. Where did they go?" Zhang Yang asked in disbelief.
Although he hadn't been on guard duty last night, as the leader of the group, Zhang Yang dared not fall into a deep sleep.
Therefore, if there was any disturbance nearby, he would definitely have noticed.
Moreover, for thirty people to disappear into thin air would surely have caused a commotion!
There was something strange here!
At this moment, the members of the Ming Long Army who had gone to search the vicinity also returned, their faces grim.
"No findings. Everything was very peaceful, as if they just vanished."
"I didn't find anything either. Not a single footprint."
"I couldn't find them either."
…
Hearing the reports from the Ming Long Army members, Zhang Yang's heart sank further.
Although he had brought the people from the central island to the Thorn Marsh with the intention of letting them suffer heavy losses against the descendant of the Ink King,
But!
They hadn't even fought yet, and the people from the central island had disappeared. Zhang Yang couldn't be happy at all.
"Zhang Tang, what do we do now? Should we continue moving?" Lu Gong asked.
"We can't move on. These people disappeared inexplicably last night. We must find out the reason," Zhang Yang shook his head.
The environment here was too strange, and he dared not continue.
What if more people went missing later?
"The nine of you, take your people and expand the search area to see if you can find anything else," Zhang Yang instructed.
"Okay."
Immediately, the remaining seventy people split into nine small teams and dispersed to search for the missing.
Zhang Yang, meanwhile, carefully observed the place where everyone had rested the previous night.
However, all he saw was black-green land, nothing else, no clues at all.
"What exactly happened last night?" Zhang Yang frowned.
At this moment.
Hong Tao, who had left yesterday, returned.
But!
Only he returned; Zhu Zhi and Hu Han Tian did not.
"Elder Hong, why are you back alone? Where are Elder and Elder Hu?" Zhang Yang asked curiously.
Hearing Zhang Yang's question, Hong Tao's expression became even more somber, and he retorted.
"They haven't returned either?"
Upon hearing this.
Zhang Yang also sensed that something was wrong and asked.
"Don't tell me Elder and Elder Hu also disappeared?"
"How did you know?" Hong Tao was startled.
"Because I also lost thirty people from my side, and we're still searching, but there are no clues at all," Zhang Yang sighed.
Hearing this, Hong Tao's heart also sank.
"Elder and the others disappeared, and you also lost thirty people for no reason. What is going on?"
Immediately.
Both their expressions became extremely grave.
This place was too bizarre.
It was even more unsettling and daunting than the frequent appearance of fierce beasts in the snow!
"Elder Hong, what do we do now?" Zhang Yang asked.
This was the first time he had no clue.
However, Hong Tao also shook his head, offering no explanation.
And at this moment.
The people who had expanded their search area returned one after another.
…