Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 696 - 696 695 Northwest Beacon Fires 6 Request for Votes at Month End

696: Chapter 695 Northwest Beacon Fires 6 [Request for Votes at Month End] 696: Chapter 695 Northwest Beacon Fires 6 [Request for Votes at Month End] Hou Niao sought out some familiar fellow disciples and obtained a map of the deep regions of Kneecap Desert; such maps had been available for a while, though they grew indistinct the deeper one went into the desert.

In recent years, as human Cultivators continually ventured deeper, they also created a detailed map within thousands of miles, which was exactly what he needed.

There were also patterns in the activities of the undying creatures, trends in the climatic dust storms, and some mysterious events that had occurred here in recent years…

All of these things were essential to the success or failure of his endeavor.

He could afford to disregard them strategically, but tactically, he had to take them seriously; this was the key to why he had managed to survive amidst countless dangers over the years.

Three days later, he left the city quietly, blending in with countless Cultivators coming and going, flying forward without drawing attention.

However, before he had covered a hundred miles, a powerful presence from behind rushed towards him.

This woman, for his sake, had indeed been making her own careful plans.

Since she could not stop him, she would find him a sufficiently formidable assistant.

He couldn’t be angry; that was family.

“Alone, where do you plan to go?” Xiang Anshi slowly approached, with a forced smile.

However, Hou Niao did not directly answer him, “In such a special environment as the desert, your strength can only be exerted to seventy percent at most!”

Xiang Anshi didn’t care, “Even with just seventy percent, I can still come and go as I please.”

The skills of the Ying Platform mainly revolve around the Water Element, like the barrier he demonstrated in Red Leaf City, which was like a vast ocean; but such skills are greatly affected in the dry, sandy environment of the desert.

This is the synergy between Skill and environment, a rule of the Cultivation World that no one can change.

Hou Niao knew he couldn’t persuade him; to push further would be disrespectful, so he wasn’t pretentious and recounted the situation, adding at the end:

“Every human Cultivator has a responsibility to step forward, but we must analyze the specifics of each situation.

Here, we inlanders are more qualified than you.

Besides, I am used to acting alone and can’t take care of others.

Typically, those who join me on missions end up dead or crippled; there are not many left intact.

When fleeing, I usually treat them as sacrificial pawns…”

Xiang Anshi laughed heartily, “What a coincidence!

Your problem is the same as mine.

The people from Ying Platform who competed with me all met their end like that; but I would like to see just how you’re going to manage to get me killed or crippled?”

Hou Niao smiled; further words were redundant.

For people like them, danger was never a reason to stop.

“Then let’s travel together, but I’ve got no plans, just taking it one step at a time.

There are hordes of undying creatures around Xunfeng Valley, and even sneaking in is a big issue.

Hey, do you know how to perform Earth Escape?”

Xiang Anshi shrugged, “I don’t know Earth Escape, but you needn’t worry about me keeping up.

The Daoist traditions of Ying Platform have their exceptional methods; there are more ways to steal and sneak than just Earth Escape in this world.”

The two set off immediately, taking out the map and pointing here and there.

Xiang Anshi had also been mingling in the desert for nearly a month; Cultivators like him quickly became familiar with their environments, a skill every great Cultivator must learn, as there was no time for slow adaptation.

“How far did you fly in before?” Hou Niao was curious.

Xiang Anshi pondered, “Around a thousand miles, mainly because I was worried about causing trouble for those guarding the area, and I wasn’t sure when you all would set out, so I didn’t venture too deep.”

The two propelled their flying lights and raced over the vast desert, debating fiercely over the best way to achieve their goal.

“Xunfeng Valley is not directly in front of the new city of Loulan, lying over twenty-eight hundred miles from the Protective Forest.

But if we make a diagonal approach from here, it will be over five thousand miles.

So, the question is, from which side should we approach such a place to remain most concealed?” Xiang Anshi mused to himself.

Hou Niao answered for him, “Approaching from the human side is the shortest distance, but it may also be the direction with the tightest defense by the undying creatures.

Most human Cultivator scouts would probably not choose such a direct approach, so theoretically, the most lax defense of the undying creatures should be on the side deep in the desert.”

“You mean we need to take a detour?”

Hou Niao shook his head, “Undying creatures also have sharp brains; they are not all fools.

Whatever human Cultivators can think of, they can too, so the rear defense might not be much easier; the same goes for both flanks…”

Xiang Anshi was speechless, “So, what you’re saying isn’t any different from saying nothing?”

Hou Niao smiled, “I’ve analyzed the routes taken by scouts from the new city of Loulan these past one or two years and found that most took the sides, followed by the front, with the least from the rear…”

Xiang Anshi was a man of insight and immediately understood the logic, “You mean, although theoretically it’s relatively safest to go around from the rear, but considering the additional distances in the desert, the probability of being discovered increases…

So, it’s not that they don’t want to go around but they fear the additional risks?”

Hou Niao nodded, “Exactly.

According to the map, trying to sneak in from the rear would require at least an extra thousand or two miles, adding too much uncertainty…”

Xiang Anshi dismissed the concern, “Uncertainties exist everywhere and can arise at any moment; we can’t let the fear of uncertainties make us hesitant.

So, if it were just you, would you burrow deep into the sand and go through?”

Hou Niao shook his head, “No!

Although I can perform Earth Escape, it doesn’t mean I like the feeling.

Fighting underground would constrain me; moreover, burrowing too long would make me lose my sense of direction.

I can’t even be sure when to surface.”

“Maybe I’d be off course?

Maybe right into a trap?

I don’t like situations I can’t control.”

Xiang Anshi expressed understanding, “I don’t like it either, but I still don’t understand what exactly you plan to do.

You don’t wish to do this or that, and the opponents are mere skeletons; they aren’t something you can disguise yourself as.”

Hou Niao thought for a moment, “We can only take it one step at a time.

It’s very hard to come up with a foolproof strategy in the middle of the desert without any cover, but it would be much easier with some assistance.”

If it were just him, using a combination of air – burrowing – air, there might still be a chance to approach Xunfeng Valley.

But Xiang Anshi didn’t know Earth Escape, which could be problematic.

Xiang Anshi chuckled, “How about we make a bet, each use our own methods to see who can enter Xunfeng Valley more stealthily?

The loser goes back, and the winner continues the mission?”

Hou Niao rolled his eyes; this fellow from the sea had always wanted to test his mettle against him for various reasons but never found the chance—until now.

“Sure, let’s have a contest.”