Though it was only a Tracking Secret Method, casting it consumed a considerable amount of true essence.
Lu Yang was a dignified fifth-level Great Grandmaster. Just keeping the secret method running drained one-tenth of his true essence every half hour!
Fortunately, Lu Yang recovered fairly quickly. And by occasionally consuming a Spirit Crystal to replenish his reserves, he kept his true essence above ninety percent the whole time.
He had to track his opponent, and once he found them, a battle was inevitable.
To avoid the awkward situation of running low on true essence after finding his opponent, Lu Yang paid no mind to how many Spirit Crystals he used.
Above the void, one black, illusory line after another appeared in Lu Yang's vision.
Following their guidance, Lu Yang continued onward.
After a full seven or eight days, Lu Yang came to a halt somewhere he never would have expected.
He had assumed that after escaping, the Lost God and the others would head straight back to their base—the Soul Nest.
He had cast the tracking secret method simply as a precaution.
After all, Lu Yang didn't want the Lost God to return to the Soul Nest either. As things stood, he didn't have the strength to break into the Soul Nest and seize anyone.
If the Lost God hid inside and didn't come out for months, Lu Yang would fail this assessment mission.
Of course, Lu Yang had considered that possibility before.
The world was ever-changing, and eight or nine things out of ten did not go as one wished. If the Lost God really hid in the Soul Nest for three months without emerging, Lu Yang could only chalk it up to bad luck, give up on joining Shanhetal for the time being, and seek another way forward.