"What is it?"
Zhao Mai asked curiously.
Wu Zheng glanced at Fang Han and recounted the events of Yuan Ye's attack the previous day in detail.
From Yuan Ye breaking through to the Second Grade, to Fang Han holding his own against him, to the two joining forces to defeat him, and finally Fang Han tracking down Yuan Ye's hiding place.
Zhao Mai listened quietly, his expression initially calm, but when Wu Zheng mentioned that Fang Han, with his Third Grade Early Stage cultivation, had held his own against Yuan Ye, who was already Second Grade cultivator, he became very calm.
A hint of undisguised surprise flashed in his eyes, which held a sharp, restrained glint.
He couldn't help but look at Fang Han again, his gaze now filled with scrutiny and, more importantly, disbelief.
As a Second Grade martial artist, he was all too aware of the vast difference between the Third Grade and Second Grade.
This young man in front of me has only Beginner stage for a little over two years and is only twenty years old, yet he has already achieved this level.
"No wonder he topped the Prodigy Ranking."
Zhao Mai spoke slowly, his voice filled with a mixture of emotion and admiration.
"To contend with Second Grade cultivator with Third Grade Early Stage —such strength is truly unmatched among the younger generation of Qingyang Prefecture."
" Elder Zhao is too kind. This disciple was barely holding on. If Elder Wu hadn't arrived in time, I fear I would have been in grave danger."
Fang Han shook his head slightly, his expression calm.
Wu Zheng looked at Zhao Mai and spoke solemnly:
" Elder Zhao, Yuan Ye is currently hiding in a manor outside the city, which is only about twenty miles away from here."
He paused, then continued.
"If True Disciple, Elder Zhao, and I join forces to kill him, there is a good chance we can keep this newly promoted Second Grade Elder of the Nether Pavilion in Sky Swallow City forever."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhao Mai with a questioning gaze.
"With the combined strength of the three of us, it's certainly worth a try."
Zhao Mai pondered for a moment, then agreed.
"There's no time to lose; if we delay too long, something might go wrong."
Seeing that Zhao Mai agreed, Fang Han said.
The three immediately left the mine, used their Body Movement, and sped off towards the manor that Fang Han had tracked down.
The morning light enveloped the desolate outskirts Sky Swallow City.
Three figures darted through the trees at an astonishing speed, yet strangely, they barely made a sound.
Fang Han led the way, with Zhao Mai and Wu Zheng walking side by side a few feet behind him.
The twenty-mile mountain road was traversed in no time.
Fang Han slowed down and stopped.
Behind him, Zhao Mai and Wu Zheng stopped and landed beside him, their eyes following his gaze into the distance.
A manor stands quietly in the morning light, with its blue bricks, gray tiles, high walls, and deep courtyards.
Everything looked the same as when I first arrived.
But Fang Han's brows furrowed slightly.
"What's wrong?"
Wu Zheng noticed the change in Fang Han's expression and asked in a low voice.
" Yuan Ye is gone."
Fang Han's expression darkened slightly as he spoke.
"Gone?"
Wu Zheng was slightly taken aback.
Only a little over an hour had passed since Fang Han discovered Yuan Ye hiding deep within the area. How could they have moved so quickly?
"Did they have something urgent to attend to and leave? Or did they flee Sky Swallow City upon learning of my arrival?"
Zhao Mai stood with his hands behind his back, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes, which held a restrained brilliance.
None of the three looked well.
It is highly likely that Yuan Ye chose to leave after learning of Elder Zhao Mai's arrival.
"Based on the remaining scent, Yuan Ye must have gone north."
Fang Han said.
"Chase."
Zhao Mai said.
Three figures pursued northward at an astonishing speed.
Fang Han took the lead, activating the Thousand-Mile Soul Lock at full power, tracking Yuan Ye's remaining aura.
Zhao Mai and Wu Zheng followed closely behind, and the distance between the three of them was always kept within ten zhang.
A stick of incense.
Two sticks of incense.
Half an hour.
One hour.
They had already gone far from Sky Swallow City, but still hadn't found Yuan Ye.
After chasing for another half an hour, Zhao Mai suddenly spoke.
"Stop. Yuan Ye must have learned of my arrival and fled Sky Swallow City."
"It's unrealistic to expect to catch up with a Second Grade martial artist who's fleeing at full speed."
Fang Han and Wu Zheng knew that what Zhao Mai said was true, so they had no choice but to stop.
"They were really decisive; they fled immediately upon receiving the news."
Wu Zheng sighed and said.
They didn't leave us even the slightest chance.
Fang Han also said regretfully.
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
Zhao Mai turned around and dashed back first.
Fang Han and Wu Zheng exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.
Back at the Azure Profound Sect Mining Site, the three went straight to Wu Zheng's wooden house.
After taking his seat, Zhao Mai's gaze lingered on Fang Han for a moment before he slowly spoke:
"Fang True Disciple, the sect leader has given me a verbal instruction to pass on to you."
Fang Han straightened his expression and slightly cupped his hands in greeting.
"The sect leader wants you to return to the sect after you finish your mission here."
Zhao Mai said.
"Clear."
Fang Han was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
With Elder Zhao, a Second Grade martial artist, present, the situation here is as stable as it gets, and there is indeed no need for him anymore.
"Master True Disciple, you've worked hard these past few days."
Fang Han about to leave, Wu Zheng expressed his sincere gratitude.
"If you hadn't arrived in time, my mine would probably have already fallen into the hands of the Nether Pavilion."
" Elder Wu, you flatter me. This was originally my task."
Fang Han shook his head slightly.
Back at his lodgings, Fang Han packed his luggage, and a moment later, he carried it out.
After leaving his residence, he did not immediately leave the mine, but instead went to see the Deacon and disciples who had been stationed with him for the past few days.
On an open space in the mine, more than ten disciples who were not on duty were cultivating.
Upon Fang Han approach, everyone stopped their cultivation and gathered around him.
"Senior Brother Fang, are you returning to the sect?"
A young disciple, seeing Fang still carrying his luggage, asked with a hint of reluctance in his voice.
Fang Han has been eating and living with them for the past few days. Although he is ranked first on the Prodigy Ranking, he is very approachable.
In his spare time, he would also guide them in their cultivation, which earned him the deep respect of everyone.
"Yes, my mission is complete. I've come to say goodbye."
Fang Han nodded and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to the crowd.
"Take care, fellow disciples. Until we meet again."
"Have a safe journey, Senior Brother Fang!"
"Take care, Senior Brother Fang!"
Everyone saw them off in unison.
Fang Han turned around, unleashed his Body Movement, and his figure transformed into a pale blue streak of light, rushing out of the mine.
Behind him, everyone's eyes followed his receding figure until he disappeared from sight.
The Nether Pavilion, deep within the main hall.
The hall was dimly lit. Li Wushang stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deepening twilight outside, his brows slightly furrowed.
Yuan Ye has been in Sky Swallow City for several days, but there has been no news of him yet.
With Yuan Ye's cultivation at the Second Grade, dealing with Fang Han, who Third Grade Early Stage, should have been a piece of cake.
But why has there been no news for so long?
He felt a vague unease in his heart.
"Vice Pavilion Master, Elder Yuan Ye requests an audience."
The voice of the Deacon Liu Jin came from outside the palace gate.
" Elder Yuan Ye, we're back?"
Li Wushang frowned, then relaxed.
"Please come quickly."
The palace doors opened, and a figure stepped inside.
It was Yuan Ye.
" Elder Yuan, how is the situation in Sky Swallow City?"
Li Wushang's gaze fell on Yuan Ye, his voice still calm, but beneath that calmness lay anticipation.
"I'm sorry to disappoint the Vice Pavilion Master, but I failed to kill Fang Han and also failed to reclaim the gold mine."
Yuan Ye paused for a moment, then stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
The air inside the hall seemed to freeze at that moment.
Li Wushang's face instantly darkened.
"Explain in detail."
His voice remained calm, but beneath that calmness lay a volcano about to erupt.
Yuan Ye straightened up and recounted the events of Sky Swallow City in detail.
From the moment he arrived at the mine and was discovered by Fang Han, to their fight, he realized that Fang Han had mastered Sword Intent, possessed a powerful physique, and was no less strong than him.
When Wu Zheng arrived to provide support, the two of them joined forces to defeat him.
Then, after retreating to his manor outside the city, he learned that Zhao Mai, Second Grade Elder of the Azure Profound Sect, had arrived and had no choice but to evacuate...
He didn't hide anything or embellish anything; he simply stated the facts one by one.
Li Wushang listened quietly, his expression growing increasingly grim.
When he heard that Fang Han, with his Third Grade Early Stage cultivation, had held his own against Yuan Ye, who was already Second Grade cultivator, his fingers unconsciously gripped the back of the chair, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
" Sword Intent... Horizontal Training..."
He repeated those two words in a low voice, each word seeming to be poisoned, stabbing deeply into his heart.
A 20-year-old Third Grade martial artist.
He grasped the Sword Intent at the age of twenty.
They also possess extremely formidable Horizontal Training.
The more he thought about it, the more wary he became.
"Vice Pavilion Master, this boy's talent is truly astonishing."
Yuan Ye raised his head and met Li Wushang's gaze. His Fang Zheng face was full of resentment and solemnity.
"If we let it grow unchecked, I'm afraid..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already clear.
Li Wushang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart.
When he opened his eyes again, his deep gaze held only a cold resolve and profound helplessness.
"How could I not know?"
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse.
"But now all the Second Grade Elder in the pavilion are tied down, and the First Grade Elder are stationed in key locations and cannot be easily mobilized. If they are transferred to deal with Fang Han, that industry may be lost, resulting in heavy losses."
Yuan Ye fell silent.
He understood that Li Wushang was telling the truth.
The conflict Nether Pavilion and the Azure Profound Sect Mystery Sect has intensified, with the two sides confronting and clashing in various parts of the county. Every property and every stronghold requires a master to oversee it.
If a Second Grade Elder is dispatched to deal with Fang Han, the defenses in that area will be weakened, and the Azure Profound Sect will surely take advantage of the situation.
At that time, the loss will not only be the gold mine, but may also involve an industry that is even more important than the gold mine.
"That Fang Han..."
Yuan Ye asked in a low voice.
Li Wushang stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deepening twilight outside, remaining silent for a long time.
"Let's put it aside for now..."
His voice was very soft, so soft it was as if he were talking to himself, but the resentment and helplessness in his words were so intense they were impossible to ignore.
"We'll deal with this brat when we have more time."
Yuan Ye opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only nodded. "I understand."
Li Wushang turned around, his gaze falling on Yuan Ye, his tone softening slightly. " Elder Yuan, you've worked hard. Please go and rest."
"Yes."
Yuan Ye bowed respectfully, then turned and strode out of the hall.
The footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Li Wushang stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep twilight, motionless for a long time.
Those deep, dark eyes were filled with an gloomy, inky darkness.
Fang Han...
This name has now become a thorn in his side that he can't get rid of.