Upon entering the main hall, Old Yao had clearly sensed them long ago and was waiting inside. Smiles appeared on his face when he saw the two of them.
"You're back!"
"Greetings, Teacher!" Xiao Yan said with a cupped fist salute. Old Yao chuckled and helped him up.
He teased, "You went to the Ancient Clan and came back all refined and proper."
Xiao Heng was far more casual. "Hello, Old Yao!"
"Good, good. Sit down first. We'll talk once you're seated!" Old Yao said with a smile, then led them to the chairs nearby.
Once seated, Xiao Heng looked at Old Yao and got straight to the point. "Old Yao, Xiao Yi Xian and the others haven't returned yet?"
Old Yao looked at him, knowing that Xiao Heng was anxious, and did not beat around the bush. "They came back, but they left again."
Xiao Heng was puzzled.
Old Yao continued, "Not long after you entered the Heaven Tomb, I received some news and called the two of them back. Then, they hurried to the Jia Ma Empire...!"
"The Jia Ma Empire? Something happened there?" Xiao Heng frowned, his brows immediately knitting tightly.
Old Yao nodded and continued, "It would be more accurate to say that something has happened across that entire region of the Northwest Continent..."
"What happened?" Xiao Yan asked.
What happened to the Jia Ma Empire itself was not important, but their relatives and friends were there. Nothing could happen to those people.
"You both know the situation on the Northwest Continent. Although some powerful figures are hidden there, compared with the Central Continent, that place is ultimately too barren. Even when a few powerful experts emerge, they immediately head for the Central Continent. Few choose to remain behind..."
"This has resulted in very few experts