I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts-Chapter 263 - 162: The Mysterious Shadow Returns

"Sun Yun, tell us about your side of things."

In the Alliance Leader's Meeting Hall, the meeting was gradually drawing to a close.

Fan Chaohui and Chen Tao had already given their reports, leaving only Sun Yun and Elder Bing.

Being called out by Gongyang Jin, Sun Yun dared not be careless and promptly spoke, revealing the draft he had prepared earlier.

"Over at the Sun Never Sets Knight Order, we organized a night raid to assassinate the Wandering Knight, Zhan Ning, but it failed."

"However, it wasn't a complete loss; the Sun Never Sets Knight Order vented their fury on the Mechanical Sect by attacking their mining site."

"The Fallen Knight may have already discovered the Mechanical Sect's involvement with Virtual-Real Technology."

Now that mining site near Sun Never Sets Port of the Mechanical Sect has become a total ruin.

Whether the Fallen Knight personally explored it, no one knows; it's all just speculation.

As for another significant matter concerning the Sun Never Sets Knight Order,

Han Zhan was sent to the wrong port, and then chased and ostracized by Zhan Ning, eventually fleeing to within the Anti-Xia Alliance's borders.

This requires no reporting; the whole of Fulong City is aware of the subsequent events.

"The Fallen Knight of the Sun Never Sets Knight Order, he is an ambitious man."

At this point, Elder Bing spoke.

"The collapse of the Sun Never Sets Port mine, I suspect, is very likely his doing."

"Through Virtual-Real Technology, the Mechanical Sect must have gleaned many secrets about the Sun Never Sets Knight Order. The Fallen Knight will follow this trail to the end."

Virtual-Real Technology is the Mechanical Sect's method.

What it hopes to achieve with this method remains unknown.

But as a former "ally," Gongyang Jin had also received an opportunity to use Virtual-Real Technology.

Even though ultimately, nothing was gained.

"We can set this matter aside for now."

"As the conflict and friction between the Mechanical Sect and the Sun Never Sets Knight Order intensify, we need do nothing extra to bring trouble upon ourselves."

Gongyang Jin and several other core members have reached a new consensus on this issue.

"Within the Anti-Xia Alliance, nothing unusual has been discovered for the time being."

When it was Elder Bing's turn, he spoke last.

"There is only one thing, reported by the Defenders under my command, concerning a little girl named Nuannuan."

Gongyang Jin's eyes raised slightly.

A bit surprised.

Nuannuan? This name sounds familiar. Isn't she the girl currently living with Ah Zhan?

This thought ran through Gongyang Jin's mind.

Sure enough, Elder Bing's next words confirmed her suspicion.

"This little girl has repeatedly sought assistance from the Defenders, claiming a mysterious shadow is chasing her."

"But the Defenders found no trace of anything mysterious, not even a fluctuation of Spiritual Power."

Fan Chaohui instinctively asked, "Could it be that this little girl is lying?"

Elder Bing shook his head. "That's what the Defenders thought as well, so they guarded her for two nights, but only saw her babbling and running wildly alone in the evening, after which they gave up on providing further assistance."

"But they still treated this matter as an abnormal report and sent it to me."

Hearing this, everyone felt it rather normal.

Crazies or delusional people aren't unheard of within the Anti-Xia Alliance.

In the environment of the City of Extreme Evil, all kinds of people have emerged.

Why would Elder Bing bring this matter up specifically?

While everyone was wondering, Elder Bing placed a pile of slightly yellowed record books on the table.

"Any abnormal occurrence within the Anti-Xia Alliance, no matter the matter, is significant."

"So I searched through nearly a hundred years of birth records and even grabbed the Anti-Summer Port log of landing personnel from the old boatman."

Here, Elder Bing paused.

Looking at everyone, he revealed his discovery:

"In all the records I could find, there's no one named Nuannuan."

Hearing this, Gongyang Jin's heart skipped a beat.

Nuannuan is still at Han Zhan's place.

Calculating the time, it's almost evening.

She has originally planned to use the core meeting to stall others, giving Han Zhan a chance to peruse the archives in the Lingyan Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, the one being held up is actually herself?

...

Fulong City, Han Zhan's residence.

Nightfall descended, and the mysterious shadow appeared as expected.

With the same Tier Six Peak strength as yesterday, wielding a pitch-black longsword, without a single wasted word, it charged at Han Zhan with its sword the moment it materialized.

Compared to the hasty defense yesterday, today Han Zhan's response was steadier and more composed.

Clang, clang, clang!

After several exchanges, Han Zhan successfully blocked the attack, forcing the sword's light to retreat a full step in front of him.

With a spirited expression, Han Zhan began recalling yesterday's scenes of sparring with Gongyang Jin, using the Tier Six Peak mysterious shadow as a silent swordsmanship partner, both of them exchanging blows.

In the midst of this back-and-forth, Han Zhan's rusty sword skills began to gradually become refined.

Certain techniques, unless experienced in actual combat, couldn't be grasped for their effective countermeasures.

If Gongyang Jin's daytime swordsmanship teaching was like a "violent force-feeding," then the night sparring with the mysterious shadow felt more like "slow and careful chewing."

Gradually digesting the day's lessons crammed into him.

After a while, both of them shifted positions, creating some distance.

Han Zhan bore five sword wounds, fewer than the day before.

Opposite him, the mysterious shadow also exhibited five sword injuries!

Seeing this, Han Zhan's eyes lit up.

"It's the sword!"

Looking down at the Moonlight Longsword in his hand, Han Zhan mumbled with realization.

"The Xuanyuan Sword is ineffective because its Sword Qi is too overwhelming, almost crushing everything. Using the Xuanyuan Sword is akin to overpowering finesse with brute force; while potent, it doesn't enhance one's sword skills."

"Xiao Jin must also have abandoned the Xuanyuan Sword for this reason, continuing with the Wide-Blade Giant Sword, refining her sword skills."

"Since the Moonlight Longsword can leave marks on the mysterious shadow, does that mean it might actually kill it?"

To eliminate the mysterious shadow, Han Zhan had tried numerous methods the previous day, all ending in failure.

But today, with the Moonlight Longsword capable of leaving sword marks on the mysterious shadow, could it be because... I've deciphered its sword techniques?

A Tier Six Peak shadow, superior sword skills, deciphering its moves, dealing damage!

In an instant, Han Zhan realized.

To kill the mysterious shadow, one must prevail over it in sword skill and utterly crush it!

"Then, bring it on!" With this thought, Han Zhan gripped the hilt of the Moonlight Longsword even tighter.

Just then, some distance behind him, another dark, ink-like mysterious shadow slowly took shape.

Two Tier Six Peak shadows!

Exactly twenty-four hours had passed since the mysterious shadow appeared last night!