Xu Yi was truly grateful to Zhou Zongshi. Whatever else could be said, Zhou had genuinely helped him immensely and shielded him from a great calamity as he attempted to reach the Yin Venerate Realm.
It was easy to imagine that the focus of the entire Huaixi Prefecture's investigation into the Netherworld Divine General's death was certainly not who had attempted to reach the Yin Soul Realm at Huangdang Sand Dune. It would have to be whoever had imprisoned the Netherworld Divine General in a cave in the wilderness.
Two hours later, Xu Yi returned to Cold Sun Peak. Old Cai sprang up to him like a nimble monkey and said dejectedly, "Master, what took you so long? Hurry to Immortal Martial Cliff! They've come to hurry you along again and again over the past two days, saying today's the final deadline. You said if you didn't show up soon, they'd really cancel your place in the Special Imperial Examination."
Xu Yi suddenly remembered that Zhou Zongshi had mentioned a joint military formation drill with the other candidates. If he failed to show up in time, his place might be canceled.
After all, no one could guarantee that he, Xu Yi, would truly attain the Yin Venerate Realm. Nor could they afford to jeopardize the Prefecture's major undertaking—the Special Imperial Examination—for the sake of any one person.
Xu Yi hadn't even caught his breath before he hurriedly set off for Immortal Martial Cliff again. To save time, he simply abandoned the Mechanical Bird and unleashed his True Fire Malice at full force, streaking through the sky like a flowing cloud.
At sunset, he finally reached the mountain gate of Immortal Martial Cliff. Only after showing his sect leader's token was he allowed inside. He spent a spirit stone to win