The missing Xiao Yue (Part two)

Tonight's trip to the Li Manor involved two battles, which were indeed challenging for Zhuge Xiang and his companions. However, the gains were substantial. Zhuge Xiang's cultivation level not only increased to the Innate Realm, but he also acquired the Night Emblem, Star Ascension Stone, the Devourer's Treasure Skill, and the Sun Water Recipe —all excellent items. Furthermore, his ability to use the Poison Zhuge Xiang Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear significantly enhanced his overall strength.

"Let's go and meet up with Zhang Kuang and the others first," Zhuge Xiang said after the battle ended, putting away the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear and taking off the Mysterious Expert's Storage Ring.

Niu Geng and the others each took a Healing Pill, barely recovering about five or six tenths of their injuries. They nodded in agreement and followed Zhuge Xiang toward the City Lord's Manor.

As they walked, every few moments they could hear the sound of clothes rustling overhead, all heading towards the Shuzhong City. Clearly, a battle had just taken place, with heavenly lightning striking and the appearance of the Evil Suppressing Pagoda causing quite a stir, attracting the attention of many interested people.

Zhuge Xiang his group ignored the commotion. Although some passersby noticed them, none of them seemed to have reached the Return to Simplicity Realm Zhuge Xiang, so no one connected the intense battle they had witnessed earlier to them. They arrived without any incidents and soon met up with Zhang Kuang Zhuge Xiang Qin Qing at a Restaurant near the City Lord's Manor.

"Wake them both up first," Zhuge Xiang said. Several extra rooms were opened in the Restaurant, and the kidnapped guards and the Sixth Young Master of the Li Family were placed in separate rooms.

He instructed Niu Geng and the others to pry the clues between the Li Family and Tang Family Fort from the two men, while Zhuge Xiang himself left the Restaurant and headed towards the City Lord's Manor.

However, in the corner where he and Xiao Yue had agreed to meet, Zhuge Xiang did not see Xiao Yue's figure.

Slightly startled, Zhuge Xiang didn't think too much about it. He sat down cross-legged and adjusted his state. Although the effect of the Bloodthirsty Technique was short-lived, it had put a great burden on his body, leaving him in a state of mild weakness, requiring him to slowly recuperate.

Time passed second by second. Shuzhong City, one powerful figure after another appeared. Looking at the Battlefield outside the city, which had almost changed the terrain, they began to discuss it in hushed tones.

Fortunately, the lightning strike was shattered in mid-air by the Evil Suppressing Pagoda; otherwise, the terrain outside the city would have been completely unrecognizable. Even so, the change in the terrain outside the city was still terrifying.

The traces left by the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda—an eighteen-zhang-tall pagoda that appeared out of thin air and then vanished just as suddenly—were enormous. There was also a huge crater left by Zhuge Xianghao's sword energy. Given the level of combat, one could easily believe that two Nascent Soul stage experts had made their move here.

"Make way, make way..." Just then, a domineering and arrogant voice suddenly rang out, and a group of more than a dozen people dressed in mourning clothes appeared. These people all looked arrogant and haughty, and the ones who shouted for others to make way were even more bossy.

"Who are they? This is too domineering! Is this their property?" Among the onlookers, a man in his early twenties, Blood Qi and indignant, spoke up, unable to tolerate the arrogance and domineering behavior of these people.

The young man's companion quickly covered his mouth and whispered urgently, "Are you tired of living? They are the Li Family. They used to have Tang Family Fort as their equal, but now that Tang Family Fort has been destroyed, this Sichuan region is where the Li Family can do whatever they want."

Although the young man's companion quickly covered his mouth, the Li Family members still heard what he said.

One of them turned his head and looked at the other with a sneer, "I didn't expect that in this small corner of Shuzhong City, someone would dare to be dissatisfied with our Li Family. Are you going to end it yourself, or do you want us to do it?"

"Big Brother, my brother here is young and ignorant, he didn't recognize your greatness. I apologize to him," said the young man's companion with a fawning smile.

"Hmph, how dare you slander the reputation of our Li Family? How can we let this go so easily?" In the past, there was Tang Family Fort Fortress to stand against us, but now the Li Family is extremely Zhang Kuang. The leader, a man in his mid-twenties, swept his sinister gaze over and said in a cold voice.

As he spoke, he raised a finger, and a burst of emerald green Qi Energy shot out, as fast as lightning. The young man, unable to dodge in time, screamed in agony, clutching his arm. Visibly, his arm was melting away like snow being splashed with boiling water; his blood and flesh were all corroded, and the corrosion was spreading rapidly.

"If I were you, I would have cut off my arm as soon as possible to save my life after being hit by my Yin Corrupting Bone Finger," the middle-aged man said with a sneer.

With a clang, the young man's companion drew his long knife. In a flash, accompanied by a scream, flesh and blood flew everywhere. An arm flew up and landed on the ground, turning into pus in an instant. The young man fainted amidst screams of pain.

Holding the unconscious man, the young man's companion glared angrily at the Li Family, saying hatefully, "I've witnessed the Li Family's Poison Arts today. If I have the chance someday, I, the Shu Twin Blade Guests, will personally thank them."

After uttering a harsh threat, the two quickly left. Several young members of the Li Family, still annoyed by the threatening words, wanted to give chase, but the middle-aged man in the lead stopped them, his gaze fixed on the direction of Shuzhong City.

In the Shuzhong City, a group of four people walked out. The man in the lead had a hooked nose and gave off a cold and heartless feeling, and he didn't reveal any aura about himself.

The men behind him exuded an incredibly strong aura. Upon seeing the hook-nosed man at the head of the group, everyone present tensed up. Even the Li Family became much more serious. The middle-aged man at the head of the group hurriedly went to greet him, his previous arrogance nowhere to be seen.

"City Lord, I didn't expect you to come too," the middle-aged man leading the Li Family said as he stepped forward. The newcomer was none other Liu Ruying, the City Lord of Shuzhong City.

"Second Master Li, you're not late either," Liu Ruying said with a faint smile as he looked at the middle-aged man in front of him. As he spoke, he glanced at the Battlefield, and then his gaze was drawn to the corpses beneath the Evil Suppressing Pagoda, his eyes narrowing.

Liu Ruying's gaze fell on the corpse. Behind him, a Squad Leader at the Innate Realm jumped down, examined the body, and then said to Liu Ruying, "If I'm not mistaken, this should be Hao Ruming from the Qingxu Sword Sect."

"Hao Ruming!?" The words of the Innate Realm Squad Leader caused a slight change in the expressions of everyone present, followed by a flurry of discussion.

Hao Ruming was quite famous throughout Yanling Commandery, known as the strongest Sword Cultivator below the Deity Transformation stage. Although he was not a Deity Transformation stage expert, his reputation was comparable to that of Deity Transformation stage expert. However, no one expected that Hao Ruming of the Qingxu Sword Sect would die here today.

"No wonder there was such a terrifying battle situation. It turns out that Hao Ruming, the strongest Hao Ruming below the Nascent Deity Transformation stage in Yanling Commandery, is here. So who is his opponent?" The onlookers discussed and speculated.

"Of course! Even Hao Ruming couldn't escape, so the opponent must be at the Deity Transformation stage," someone else said matter-of-factly.

"Who on earth dared to attack Hao Ruming of the Qingxu Sword Sect? Aren't they afraid of retaliation from the Qingxu Sword Sect?" All sorts of questions kept coming from the mouths of these people on the Shuzhong City. However, without witnessing the battle firsthand, none of these so-called suspicions could be confirmed.

"City Lord, what's your opinion?" The Second Master Li, though his face also showed shock, quickly composed himself and asked Liu Ruying, seemingly with a hidden meaning.

"I don't know, but it should have been Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator who made the move," Liu Ruying shook his head, his expression not looking too good either.

"By the way, City Lord, you asked me about the murderers who destroyed Tang Family Fort today. I've caught a few people who might know some clues. Would City Lord like to go and take a look?" As if he had suddenly remembered something, Second Master Li asked.

Liu Ruying thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

After agreeing, Liu Ruying turned around and instructed the three Squad Leader at the Innate Realm to thoroughly investigate the area. Then, Liu Ruying and Second Master Li left the Shuzhong City together.

The night passed without incident. As the first rays of sunlight pierced the night sky, Zhuge Xiang opened his eyes, his brows furrowed. He hadn't seen Xiao Yue all night. Where had it gone? Had its whereabouts been discovered? Had Liu Ruying found out?

Shaking his head, he thought, "The Ancient Moon Devouring Divine Dog, although the current Xiao Yue is still in its Juvenile Stage and not very strong, as long as it carefully conceals its Demonic Qi, with its small size, let alone Liu Ruying, even a Deity Transformation Cultivator would have difficulty discovering its identity."

Regardless, it was already dawn. Even if Zhuge Xiang wanted to search, he didn't know where to start. After leaving a mark on the spot, he returned to the Restaurant and reunited with Niu Geng and the others.

Early in the morning, Zhuge Xiang and the others sat together in Restaurant, ordering some congee and steamed buns for breakfast. Then, Niu Geng asked Zhuge Xiang, "How is it? What about Xiao Yue? Has it found out anything?"

Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang said, "I don't know. Xiao Yue is missing, but with its abilities, it should be held up by something. It shouldn't be in any danger."

At this point, Zhuge Xiang paused slightly and asked Niu Geng, "And you? Did you manage to extract any useful information from the Li Family's Sixth Young Master and that guard?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Xiang and the others remained silent, focusing their attention on Niu Geng. Niu Geng's expression was somewhat complicated. After a moment of silence, he began to recount the intelligence and clues he had gathered to Zhuge Xiang in detail... (To be continued.)