The Ring Remains, So Does the Bond!

As Shao Yang replied, she held something up in her hands.

It was precisely Zhao Yan's Plain Heart Ring!

The ring never left its owner; as long as the ring remained, so did the person, so did their bond!

This was the promise shared by the seven of them.

Now, the Plain Heart Ring was still here, yet not a trace of Zhao Yan could be found.

Before Lu Feng arrived, Shao Yang had already led everyone to search every inch of land on every mountain nearby.

But all that remained for them was the word despair!

"What exactly happened?"

Lu Feng asked again, his expression grave.

Shao Yang hurriedly explained in a low voice, "This morning, we were cultivating as usual. After we finished, Zhao Yan disguised himself and went down the mountain to purchase some daily necessities. But not long after he left, we suddenly sensed the connection through the Plain Heart Ring being cut off. Mentor, you know as well that after we refined the Plain Heart Rings, such a severance could never occur unless the wearer died and their Dao dissipated. We immediately realized that something must have happened to Xiao Yanzi."

Ning Xiang was full of self-reproach. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't put so many ingredients on the list, Ah Yan might not have..."

Qian Xin took Ning Xiang's hand. "How could this possibly be blamed on you? You prepared those spirit dishes for everyone's cultivation."

Jun Ziyi was boiling with rage. "If you ask me, it's that bastard who harmed Xiao Yanzi. Just let me catch him—I'll skin him alive."

Lu Feng asked thoughtfully, "Where did you find the Plain Heart Ring?"

Shao Yang pointed toward a mountain wall not far away. "At the outer edge of this secluded valley, beyond that