The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 169 The Sparrow Left Behind Loses Tracking the Target

Two weeks ago, one early morning, as the sun was just beginning to shine, Nan Tian handed Luo Yifei a delicate miniature camera from inside the compact and technologically advanced interior of the Sparrow aircraft. This small camera, though intricate, contained powerful functions, enough to play a crucial role in critical moments.

"Luo Yifei, you must bring this camera with you at all times." Nan Tian's voice was somewhat serious. "To save power, we have specially set a timer function. Unless there are special circumstances at night, it will not turn on automatically. This will ensure sufficient power and avoid unnecessary exposure."

Luo Yifei took the camera, nodded slightly, and then carefully hung it around his neck. However, Nan Tian seemed dissatisfied with this arrangement, and he further reminded him, "It's best to hang it inside your clothes. This thing can still produce a clear image even through clothing. If it's hung outside, it might be difficult to explain if someone sees it."

With a roar, the Sparrow aircraft rapidly ascended to an altitude of 30,000 meters above the capital city of Wuzhong Kingdom. Here, the air was thin, and clouds swirled, as if they were in another world. Nan Tian reiterated to Luo Yifei, Shen Lixi, and Su An, "You all need to wear your headsets properly. Call us immediately if you encounter any problems. The Sparrow aircraft will track your flight path in real time, and I will be always above you, providing support."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yifei firmly replied, "Okay, let's go down and scout ahead first. If the situation allows in a few days, I can stay behind to guard the aircraft."

Nan Tian nodded in satisfaction, and then the Sparrow aircraft continued to fly forward a short distance before landing steadily on a bustling square below. From this height, the entire square appeared to have been shrunk to a delicate model.

"How do you guys feel? Are you confident jumping from this height?" Nantian's words carried a hint of teasing, but more than anything, they reflected his trust and expectations for his team members.

……

As Nan Tian gently pressed the hatch release button, the Sparrow aircraft's hatch slowly opened, and a powerful gust of air instantly rushed into the cabin. Without hesitation, Luo Yifei, Shen Lixi, and Su An jumped out of the aircraft. The moment they jumped, Nan Tian swiftly closed the hatch. At an altitude of 30,000 meters, every second was filled with unknowns and dangers.

Soon, a clear image appeared on the monitor; the miniature camera on Luo Yifei's chest was now functioning normally. Nan Tian stared intently at every detail on the screen, afraid of missing any important information. He hadn't expected that Luo Yifei would encounter his friend from another world—Qi Yuan—in this strange new world. The two were delighted to see each other, and Qi Yuan didn't hesitate to temporarily leave his own group to join Luo Yifei and the other two.

For the next three days, Luo Yifei and his group diligently searched for useful information, but with little success. Nan Tian's days on the aircraft were also far from easy; he not only had to constantly monitor the situation below but also endure the monotonous mango-flavored compressed biscuits. However, on the fourth day, things finally took a turn for the better. Luo Yifei and his group stumbled upon the legendary Illusionary Star Pearl, undoubtedly their greatest gain of the trip.

However, their good fortune was short-lived. Nan Tian soon discovered something amiss in the remote sensing footage from the aircraft. Luo Yifei and his group had been surrounded by a group of cultivators, and the situation was critical. He immediately contacted Luo Yifei via his communicator: "Luo Yifei, can you hear me?"

"Okay." Although Luo Yifei's voice was calm, Nan Tian could still sense the tension in his heart.

"Go east. Those cultivators look like novices; they should be relatively easy to deal with," Nan Tian quickly made a judgment and gave instructions.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yifei immediately relayed the message to Qi Yuan and the other teammates. Shen Lixi and Su An also heard Nan Tian's voice in their earpieces, and without hesitation, they followed Luo Yifei's instructions and fled eastward.

However, just as they were fighting those novice cultivators, Nan Tian saw an even more shocking scene in the remote sensing footage—a flood was rushing towards them! He immediately warned Luo Yifei through his pager: "Quick! Run to higher ground! The flood is coming!"

The floodwaters surged in like a ferocious beast, instantly engulfing Luo Yifei, Shen Lixi, Su An, and Qi Yuan. Fortunately, they reacted quickly and swam to higher ground, thus avoiding being swallowed by the flood. However, the crisis was not over; distant mountain peaks began to collapse, with large amounts of rocks and mud tumbling down, creating a new threat.

Just as Nan Tian was debating whether to risk going down to rescue them, a middle-aged man in a green robe suddenly appeared before Luo Yifei and his companions. With a flick of his longsword, he cleaved a spatial rift, opening a mysterious teleportation array. Upon seeing this, Luo Yifei and his group immediately rushed into the rift and vanished from the spot.

As Nan Tian watched the red dots representing the three of them gradually disappear on the monitor, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. He knew they were safe for the time being, but at the same time, he realized they might have been drawn into a deeper, more unfathomable vortex.

“Azure Phoenix Valley…” Nan Tian murmured to himself, noting down the name the middle-aged man had mentioned. Then he gave a new command to the intelligent assistant of the sparrow flying vehicle: “Little Star, navigate to Azure Phoenix Valley.”

"Map loaded, estimated travel time is three days and eight hours," the smart assistant's voice sounded in the cabin.

Three days later, when Nantian arrived at Qingluan Valley, he saw corpses everywhere and ruins scattered all around. It was clear that a very brutal battle had taken place there.

"Xiao Xing, perform a historical deduction," Nan Tian said to the intelligent assistant.

……

As the sounds of attack drew near, Senior Qingluan resolved to meet the challenge and led her followers out of the cave. Outside the valley, hundreds of cultivators gathered, demanding the Illusionary Star Pearl and threatening to massacre Qingluan Valley. Senior Qingluan charged into the fray alone, followed closely by Luo Yifei and the others, and a fierce battle erupted.

The battle was at a stalemate, with heavy casualties among the Qingluan Valley cultivators. Luo Yifei and his group of four unleashed the Qingluan Sword Formation, reversing the tide and scattering the cultivators. The elders personally took to the battlefield, with Senior Qingluan fighting a Phantom Pavilion elder alone, while Shen Lixi and others engaged the rest.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate when Senior Qingluan suggested a combined attack. The four gathered their sword energy, but missed their target and were instead trapped. The Phantom Immortal appeared and threatened Senior Qingluan. Senior Qingluan fought valiantly but was no match for him. Suddenly, Qingming appeared, rescued everyone, and covered their retreat alone.

……

Looking at the images generated by the AI ​​assistant, Nan Tian guessed that Luo Yifei and the others had probably escaped successfully. He just didn't know where to find them.

Suddenly, an alarm sounded on the aircraft, indicating that someone on the ground had entered Qingluan Valley.