Chapter 789: Section 577: Zong Ge vs Hua Tang: Preparing for Battle
Ice Sculpture Royal Capital.
“Something went wrong!”
“There’s a major problem with the Purple Vine Shop.”
Zong Ge’s expression was extremely grave.
Zi Di had secretly gone to the Purple Vine Shop in the Royal Capital, and of course, he was aware of it.
Not only that, but he also had a supporting role to play.
However, when Zi Di endured an ambush and a battle ensued, no noise emanated from the scene.
It was only when the spatial fluctuations occurred that Zong Ge, who was outside the shop, noticed something amiss.
At that moment, Zong Ge’s face changed dramatically, wanting to rush out to provide support.
But fortunately, at the next moment, he forcefully suppressed this impulse.
Since the teleportation had already happened and there was no further noise of battle, it meant that Zi Di had been teleported away!
“We must rescue her quickly!” Zong Ge turned and walked away.
He had no idea where the destination of the teleportation was, but he knew that the more urgent the situation was, the more he needed to stay calm.
To be honest, both he and Zi Di had considered the possibility of being ambushed before taking action.
Both thought it was unlikely.
After all, this was the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital!
A part of their confidence came from intelligence.
They had directly and indirectly purchased a lot of intelligence from the Thief Guild and the Lijian family, revealing no trickery concerning the Purple Vine Shop.
Secondly, it was the continually increasing combat power of Zi Di.
On the way to the Royal Capital, Zi Di’s strength rapidly expanded. Not only had she already advanced to the Black Iron Level as an Undead Mage, modifying creatures such as the Rat Eye Ghost and Snake Shadow Ghost, but she also seized Alchemy Puppets from Alchemy Mage Jia Bing. In addition to the uncompleted Gold Level Ice Sculpture Ghost, each of the twelve Silver Level Ice Sculpture Ghosts was exquisite, and they coordinated well with each other, showing subtle effectiveness.
To be cautious, after discussing with Zong Ge, Zi Di decided to use Deception and Disguise Skill and Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill, enchanting three of the Silver Level Alchemy Puppets to make them “invisible.”
Zi Di entered the Purple Vine Shop with these three “invisible” Ice Sculpture Ghosts.
It can be said that by taking this step, Zi Di and Zong Ge had prepared adequately for their enemies.
Indeed, these three “invisible” Ice Sculpture Ghosts greatly helped Zi Di, instantly eliminating the first enemies that appeared, allowing Zi Di to escape the predicament and even capture several Gold Level restraining chains.
But the subsequent use of spatial teleportation was unexpected.
Through the alchemy communication device, Zong Ge quickly confirmed that Zi Di had left the communication range.
“The situation is very bad!”
“Zi Di’s combat power exceeded the enemy’s expectations, forcing them to use spatial teleportation.”
“This move is unwise, as the spatial fluctuations cannot be concealed and will inevitably trigger an investigation by the Royal Capital.”
“As Zi Di is still an Undead Mage, perhaps she can create an accident.”
“Stay calm, stay calm!”
Zong Ge swiftly returned to his temporary residence.
He checked and organized his equipment, ready to cope with the impending battles.
He first opened his suitcase, from which he took out a mass of metal fluid.
The metal fluid shimmered with a golden color and also emitted an aura of the Golden Level.
This was a precious item that Zong Ge and Zi Di had acquired from the Lijian family’s clan treasury, part of a deep cooperation deal with them.
Offensive Chameleon!
That was the name of the metallic fluid.
It was an alchemy weapon.
Zong Ge dipped his hands into the fluid, simultaneously infusing Golden Level Fighting Energy.
Because he also had the Deception and Disguise Skill and Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill, the golden glow of the Fighting Energy appeared as Silver Spirit and glow to others.
Even if Zong Ge let his Fighting Energy leave his body, achieving a breakthrough that Silver Fighting Spirit couldn’t, others wouldn’t see the flaw.
Because Fighting Energy itself was part of a fighter’s body, it still could benefit from the Deception and Disguise Skill and Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill enhancements.
Before acquiring this mass of metallic fluid, Zong Ge would avoid letting his Fighting Energy leave his body, which undoubtedly would significantly reduce his combat effectiveness.
With the trade for this metallic fluid, Zong Ge’s drawback in this area was gone.
With the infusion of Fighting Energy and Zong Ge’s Spirit Manipulation, the metal fluid immediately reacted and quickly reshaped.
In less than a second, it turned into two short swords, with Zong Ge grasping the handles in each hand.
Zong Ge continued to infuse Fighting Energy while mentally controlling the two short swords in his hands, transforming them into daggers, one-handed swords, short sticks, boomerangs, and more.
Then, he brought his hands together, the metal fluid reformed into a mass and then transformed into a long-handled large sword, followed by a long stick, and even a firearm.
This was the Offensive Chameleon.
Under the user’s Spirit Manipulation, it could transform into over twenty types of weapons.
These weren’t regular weapons but alchemy tools.
This was a perfect match for Zong Ge, allowing him to more fully utilize his expertise as a weapon master.
Thus, when Zong Ge obtained the Offensive Chameleon, it immediately became his primary weapon.
Zong Ge started to don his armor.
Compared to his weapon, the armor was slightly inferior, only Silver Level.
It wasn’t that the Lijian family didn’t have Gold Level armor, nor that the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps couldn’t afford it, but they couldn’t sell it.
The Ice Sculpture Kingdom had a very important national policy—the Prohibition Armor Order!
Armor reaching the Gold Level only had a fixed production quota each year, with every transaction in the market being recorded.
The Lijian family didn’t wish to sell to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
The background of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps was complex; with a mysterious and powerful backer, if sold, any heinous act committed by the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps could bring calamity to the Lijian family.
Zong Ge first put on a Silver Level inner armor, then began to put on the outer armor.
Besides that, there was a chain armor.
All three pieces of armor were of Silver Level, with the inner armor covering only the upper body, while the outer armor included shoulder pads, protective arms, kneepads, leg guards, and more.
The chain armor also extended over the entire body, including a hood.
Without Gold Level armor, they resorted to piling on quantities of Silver Level armor.
It was a measure of desperation.
Because with the three Silver Level armors, there were compatibility issues. Even if they performed perfectly, the combined defensive power of the three Silver Level armors wouldn’t match a single piece of Gold Level armor.
As he put on the Silver Level outer armor, a hint of hesitation appeared on Zong Ge’s face.
He was hesitating whether to seek help from the Lijian family under these circumstances.
If he did, it would be difficult to explain why Zi Di was secretly heading to the Purple Vine Shop at night.
Even if he concealed that fact, merely requesting help would create a strong connection between Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, bringing unpredictable risks.
Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce itself was a trouble, and Cang Xu revealing his identity as an Undead Mage on Twin Eyes Island was an even greater hidden danger!
If he hid his identity, it would be difficult to leverage the cooperative relationship to get support from the Lijian family.
Merely reporting to the officials of the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital was also unlikely to succeed.
Zong Ge knew the reason: he lacked key evidence! Even if he reported it, it wouldn’t receive the necessary attention.
“Strong spatial fluctuations have arisen from within the Purple Vine Shop.”
“Mysterious and unidentified spatial fluctuations, whether in the Holy Bright Royal Capital or in any Noble family city, are strictly forbidden! They cannot be allowed.”
“With just that, isn’t it enough to prompt an official investigation?”
“This mysterious force attacked our caravan, destroyed the alchemy workshop at Snowbird Port, targeted Frost Love, and now they have finally made a move against us in the capital. There’s one key issue—how exactly was Zi Di exposed?”
Zong Ge didn’t know that the attack on Zi Di was carried out by the empire’s spies, not by duelists.
His intelligence on this matter was severely lacking, leading to a misjudgment.
After considering for a while, Zong Ge decided to hold back and wait for a chance to strike.
There was actually no other option.
He didn’t know where Zi Di had been transported.
The safest method was to wait for the officials to conduct an investigation, which might trigger a battle, at which point Zong Ge could then find an opportunity.
Zong Ge gently touched the right breastplate with his hand.
Beneath the three layers of armor was a lining.
In the pockets of the lining, several Pearl Bubbles were hidden.
Apart from this location, Pearl Bubbles were also concealed near the soles of his feet and close to the wrists in his armors.
Zong Ge’s spirit mobilized, and the Offensive Chameleon reverted back to a metallic liquid.
The liquid flowed over Zong Ge’s entire body, seeping into both the armor and lining, gently encasing all the Pearl Bubbles.
This way, even if he received heavy impacts during intense battle, the Pearl Bubbles wouldn’t break.
When it came time to use them, Zong Ge only needed to manipulate his spirit, making the metallic liquid deform, which would crush the Pearl Bubbles—both convenient and discreet.
Having completed all this, he proceeded to the next important phase of combat preparation.
Zong Ge went to a side room.
The side room was narrow and dimly lit.
Zong Ge kneeled and bowed his head, silent in mouth but praying in his heart.
“Great God of War.”
“Thou art my Lord, Thou art my Father!”
“I heed Thy teachings, follow the Path of War, seeking the glory of victory. Now, as the mysterious enemy looms powerful,”
“The battle is upon us, and I am thrilled, excited, and anticipatory.”
“In this moment of preparation for war, I humbly beseech Thee: grant me the transcendent strength to infuse my blood, spirit, and weapon. Let me in Thy battle be ever persevering, keenly insightful, indestructible, and unstoppable!”
“Great God of War, Great God of War, for Thee shall I raise the flag of victory high, I will…”
Survivors almost always had their different faiths.
Zong Ge’s faith was in one of the living gods of the Holy Bright Empire—the God of War.
Before any significant battle, or before Zong Ge entered a major battlefield, such prayers were made.
And as he prayed sincerely, Hua Tang stood in front of a window, across the street looking towards the inn where Zong Ge was.
“Long Fu, Yao Ma and their party are here?” Hua Tang asked quietly.
Pinned to his collar was a small, brooch-like alchemy communication device.
Mei Lin’s voice came through the device, “Yes, I can confirm.”
“This inn is a property of the Lijian family.”
“After intensifying cooperation with the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, the former has been taking the latter very seriously.”
“This inn, two days ago, was not operating normally.”
“Since people from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps checked in, superficially nothing seems unusual, but in reality, many defensive powers have been added secretly.”
“Hua Tang, are you really going to act now?”
“You’ve just returned, and have passed through numerous Teleportation Arrays. Resting for a night and adjusting your state before action would be more prudent.”
Hua Tang shook his head slightly, his gaze filled with a barely concealed hatred, gritting his teeth, “But I can’t wait anymore.”
“The killer of Teng Donglang is right before my eyes; I can’t wait any longer!”
Mei Lin paused, then said, “Then act, and may the fortunes of war be with you.”
“Long Fu, here I come!” Hua Tang gritted his teeth, gently pushed open the window, and leaped out.
To an outsider, all they would see was a third-storey window opening and a few pink petals drifting down.