The Nine Nether Sparrow's Ties to Azure Domain, Breaking Through to the Spirit Soul Realm!

After the Northern Spirit Plains expedition ended,

Teacher Mo announced that they would have a month-long holiday next.

Upon learning the news, the young men and women of Northern Spirit Academy were all visibly excited.

After returning to the academy, they informed their Instructors and used Northern Spirit City's Teleportation Array to return to their respective hometowns.

Azure City,

The enormous city, built from Azure Stone, resembled a Spirit Beast crouching upon the earth, emanating an ancient and desolate aura.

Among the Nine Regions, Azure Domain was the weakest.

The clearest indication of this was

that Azure Domain had only two vassal cities, while Mu Region, also one of the Nine Regions, had seven, and Liu Region had more than a dozen vassal cities.

Lacking the strength to expand outward, Azure Domain had focused its efforts on urban construction.

Thus, as Azure Domain's Core City,

Azure City was not small in scale. It could even rank among the top four within the Nine Regions.

The city was bustling with people, its houses packed closely together in a prosperous scene. In the Azure City Central Area stood a massive Teleportation Array.

At that moment,

Several stern-looking, capable men dressed in azure robes stood around the Teleportation Array.

Azure Domain's Emblem was pinned to their robes.

The leading middle-aged man's right arm was empty. His expression was resolute, and a thick killing intent filled his gaze!

He was Xu Mu, the Acting Domain Lord of Azure Domain!

Buzz—

As the Teleportation Array erupted with light, a handsome, tall figure appeared upon it.

"Young Master!"

When Qing Luo appeared,

The Azure Domain experts who had received word beforehand and waited there all clasped their hands in greeting.

"Qing Luo, it has been years since we last met. You've grown so tall!"

A hearty laugh rang out. The killing intent on Xu Mu's face was replaced by a smile as he quickly approached Qing Luo.

"Uncle Xu!"

Qing Luo nodded in response.

"Hm..."

Upon sensing the Spirit Wheel Realm cultivation radiating from Qing Luo,

A trace of astonishment appeared on Xu Mu's face. Then he sighed emotionally. "You've truly grown up. If your parents saw you now, they would surely be proud!"

As they spoke,

Qing Luo headed toward Azure Manor together with Xu Mu and the others.

"What..."

"You're already at the Spirit Wheel Realm Peak?!"

Inside Azure Manor's main hall,

When he learned of Qing Luo's current strength, Xu Mu could not conceal his shock.

"Qing Luo, you've grown up. As for the position of Lord of Azure Domain..."

"Uncle Xu!"

Hearing Xu Mu's words, Qing Luo knew what he intended to say and immediately interrupted him.

"I'm still a student, and I still need to take part in the Five Great Academies' selection. Don't bring up Azure Domain's affairs anymore."

"You were once Father's right-hand man. I trust you!"

"But... Azure Domain was built by your father with his own hands. That position has always been yours!"

Xu Mu let out a soft sigh.

"Then Uncle Xu can manage it on my behalf."

Qing Luo said with a smile.

Judging from Azure City's current scale and prosperity, Xu Mu had done an excellent job as Acting Domain Lord and possessed the ability to govern.

If Azure Domain had not possessed only one Spirit Soul Realm expert, it would never have fallen to the bottom of the Nine Regions...

This situation would soon be broken.

"All right. Uncle Xu will manage it for you first. Whenever you need it, the position of Domain Lord will be yours."

Hearing this, Xu Mu no longer declined and spoke with a smile.

"All right!"

Qing Luo nodded, then took out the Copper Token he had obtained from Xue Tu.

"Uncle Xu, take a look at this."

Taking the Copper Token, Xu Mu's eyes flashed with surprise.

When he noticed the Black Giant Bird pattern on the Copper Token, an unconcealable shock flashed through his eyes...

"This is... the Nine Nether Sparrow?!"

"How did you obtain it..."

"Uncle Xu has seen this before?"

Qing Luo was slightly surprised. He had not expected Xu Mu to identify its purpose after merely one glance.

"Back then, your parents and I went to the Black Nether Abyss... precisely for this Nine Nether Sparrow!"

Xu Mu said something astonishing.

"What..."

Even Qing Luo was stunned upon hearing this.

"Back then, your father obtained clues that the Black Nether Abyss contained a Nine Nether Sparrow, so he brought us in to investigate."

"We discovered a severely injured Nine Nether Sparrow. Just as we were preparing to bring it back to Azure Domain, we encountered a mysterious expert capable of commanding Spirit Devouring Bees, and that was when the accident occurred..."

Xu Mu's expression was grave.

Especially when he mentioned that mysterious expert, terror remained impossible to conceal in his eyes.

"We never told you about this because that mysterious expert was far too powerful, utterly beyond anything we could handle."

"We originally intended to tell you once you entered the Spirit Soul Realm, but I never expected you..."

"The Nine Nether Sparrow ranks eleventh on the Earth Ranking of the Myriad Beast Record. If you can refine it, you will surely become renowned throughout the Northern Spirit Territory."

"Refining it is far too difficult. Your father once said that whether or not you chose to refine the Nine Nether Sparrow, you would always be the child they were most proud of!"

As he spoke, Xu Mu's eyes had already reddened.

He had recalled certain events from the past, and they deeply affected him...

Beside him,

After hearing Xu Mu's words, Qing Luo was likewise unable to hide his shock.

He had never expected there to be such entanglements between the Nine Nether Sparrow and Azure Domain.

As for the mysterious expert Uncle Xu had mentioned, the man should have been that Spirit Insect Clan Elder who died in the Black Nether Abyss!

"Young Master, where did you obtain this item?"

Xu Mu looked at Qing Luo and asked.

"From Liu Region..." Qing Luo replied.

"What..."

"Liu Region people know the Nine Nether Sparrow's secret?!"

Upon hearing this,

Xu Mu's expression turned incomparably grave. Liu Region was the strongest among the Nine Regions. It had two Spirit Soul Realm experts and more than ten Spirit Wheel Realm Experts under its command.

If Liu Region intervened in this matter, it would become even more difficult to plot for the Nine Nether Sparrow.

Moreover, the Black Nether Abyss was unlike the Northern Spirit Plains.

Deadly Miasma lingered there year-round. Only during midsummer would it weaken, allowing an opportunity to enter.

Midsummer was not far away now. Liu Region would likely make a move before long...

"This is troublesome. With our strength, we simply cannot compete with Liu Region..."

Xu Mu said in a low voice.

"I know. That is why I plan to attempt a breakthrough to the Spirit Soul Realm during this time!"

Qing Luo said, "During this period, I will have to trouble Uncle Xu to gather every Natural Treasure you can find for me!"

He had previously consumed more than thirty Jade Spirit Fruits.

There was still medicinal power remaining within his body. If Azure Domain devoted all its strength to gathering Natural Treasures, breaking through to the Spirit Soul Realm was not impossible.

"All right!"

"Don't force yourself too hard. Even if you fail, we are not without hope. When we explored the Black Nether Abyss before, we discovered a Secret Passage."

After giving him a few instructions, Xu Mu immediately left the hall to gather Natural Treasures for Qing Luo.

A Secret Passage...

Qing Luo revealed a helpless expression. Given Liu Region's ways, after learning of the Nine Nether Sparrow, they would certainly explore the Black Nether Abyss in advance.

That Secret Passage had probably already been discovered by Liu Region.

Qing Luo was not discouraged by this.

As long as he broke through to the Spirit Soul Realm, the Nine Nether Sparrow would be his for the taking!

With that thought,

Qing Luo did not delay. He first went to the Azure Domain Treasury and selected some of the Natural Treasures already there.

After returning to his room, Qing Luo sat cross-legged. As one Natural Treasure after another was swallowed into his stomach, his originally still spiritual energy instantly began to surge.

Feeling the vast spiritual energy within his body,

Qing Luo mobilized it and circulated it along its predetermined pathways. As the Cultivation Method operated, a faint white glow blossomed around him.

The White Jade color that had originally existed only upon his arms

Was slowly spreading toward the rest of his body...