A New Mission

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and gasps rose from the Clear Sky Sect disciples below.

Even though they could guess the reason, everyone in the Clear Sky Sect still felt as though they could barely breathe.

Everyone looked toward their sect master, their eyes filled with all sorts of emotions.

Tang Xiao understood his younger brother very well. He could guess why Tang Hao had acted as he did.

He also knew that, with Hao's temperament, after Ah Yin's death, he must have been devastated to the extreme and completely lost his reason.

What had happened more than ten years ago had always remained like a thorn in his heart.

He knew that his younger brother would not only refuse to let Spirit Hall go, but would also come to hate the Judgment Hall standing beside them.

For more than ten years, he had been afraid—afraid that his younger brother would do something foolish.

Spirit Hall could be provoked. At the very least, given Hao's cultivation, he could escape.

What he feared was Tang Hao provoking the Judgment Hall. The Judgment Hall always sought revenge for the smallest grievance. Whoever dared kill their people would be hunted to the ends of the earth.

Hao might have been able to evade pursuit from the Judgment Hall's other members, but he absolutely could not escape His Excellency the Arbiter's pursuit.

He had always been afraid, always waiting. The thing he feared and the thing he had waited for had finally come true today.

His heart sank completely to the bottom.

This was fate!

Tang Xiao carefully studied his younger brother's face, and tears burst from his eyes.

They had not seen each other for only a little over ten years, yet the once high-spirited Hao had already aged into this state.

He regretted that, back then, he had not defied their father's decision and fought Spirit Hall to the bitter end. If he had, Hao might still have been alive.

Now that everything had happened, this was all that could be done—and all that should be done.

Tears streamed down Tang Xiao's aged face as he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Thank you, Senior, for returning Hao to us."

"This matter is not Senior's fault. It is all because Hao provoked the Judgment Hall for no reason and suffered this calamity."

"Hao wronged the Judgment Hall. My Clear Sky Sect is willing to offer compensation. I ask Senior to forgive us."

Every word Tang Xiao spoke was clear and distinct.

He knew that he could not be angry, much less make a move. It was not merely because Tang Hao had been at fault from the start.

It was also because even if everyone in the Clear Sky Sect joined together, they still would not be enough for the man before them to kill.

The elders all let out sighs of relief, while the disciples below felt that being alive was truly wonderful.

"There is no need for compensation. With death, all debts are settled. Besides, my Judgment Hall has suffered no losses."

"If you wish to seek revenge, you may come find me at any time. As long as you do not casually attack members of the Judgment Hall, do as you please."

"We would not dare." Tang Xiao heavily knocked his head against the ground.

"Hao was the one at fault. I have no face to remain standing before Senior."

"Senior has returned Hao's body to us. My Clear Sky Sect should already be grateful. How could we possibly trouble Senior?"

"Since that is the case, let us leave it at that. I will be going now. Handle the rest yourselves. There should still be several Soul Bones inside his body."

In the blink of an eye, Lin Mian vanished from the sky, leaving only the people of the Clear Sky Sect behind.

The people of the Clear Sky Sect continued staring toward the horizon. Only after a long while did someone finally speak.

It was their Second Elder.

"Sect Master, His Excellency the Arbiter has already left. Let Tang Hao be laid to rest tomorrow."

Quite a few people in the Clear Sky Sect resented Tang Hao. Because of him, many of their relatives and friends had died at Spirit Hall's hands.

But it was undeniable that, in the eyes of most Clear Sky Sect members, Tang Hao had been their second idol.

Today, that idol had died at the hands of their true idol. All they could do was let him return to his ancestral home.

"Alright."

Tang Xiao's voice was deep and heavy. He truly did not blame Lin Mian; he knew Hao was destined to face this calamity.

Tang Xiao carried Tang Hao in his arms and walked step by step toward the sect.

"Go inform Yuehua. Let her see her second brother one last time."

"Hao, we're going home. You won't have to suffer anymore."

His voice echoed through the Clear Sky Sect.

When Lin Mian returned to the hotel, Zhu Zhuqing was still absorbing the medicinal effects and had not noticed that her master had gone out.

The medicinal power in that tub of water was extremely potent. Given Zhu Zhuqing's current condition, she would need at least until dawn to absorb it completely.

Once she grew accustomed to it, the process would become much faster.

Naturally, this was only the most basic treatment. Once Zhu Zhuqing's physical constitution became stronger, it would be replaced with the bloodline essence of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

Even the herbs would be supplemented with Immortal Herbs.

The medicinal effects of Immortal Herbs were far beyond those of ordinary herbs, and their effect on improving one's physical constitution would be even more pronounced.

Furthermore, when combined with herbs and Soul Beast essence, they would allow the Immortal Herbs to be absorbed more effectively. By then, Zhu Zhuqing's potential would rise dramatically.

After that, the night passed without incident.

Morning arrived the next day.

At some point, Zhu Zhuqing had already left the tub.

Naturally, this had been Lin Mian's doing. He had used Soul Power to toss Zhu Zhuqing onto the bed.

What if she got waterlogged from soaking in there too long?

The water in the tub had already turned clear, with only the herbs floating on the surface. This meant Zhu Zhuqing had completely absorbed the medicinal liquid.

Lin Mian had also awakened.

The system's voice sounded early in the morning.

[Mission: Take Ning Rongrong as a disciple.]

[Ning Rongrong is located in Suotuo City and is currently heading toward Shrek Academy.]

[Reward: One Immortal Herb (randomly drawn), ten Soul Tool Communicators (manufacturing process and blueprints included.)]

Lin Mian did not care much about the Immortal Herb.

But he absolutely loved the Soul Tool Communicators.

Wasn't that just a telephone?

His disciple had previously mentioned that the Judgment Hall was researching this type of Soul Tool. Since the Judgment Hall was his own enterprise, and they were already researching it, he had to support them somehow.

When he found the time, he would send over the blueprints, the manufacturing process, and some samples. That way, those people should be able to make them.

Communicators would be enormously useful to the Judgment Hall.

The Soul Power of the enforcers stationed in remote regions was comparatively low.

Dealing with ordinary Soul Masters was fine. They had offensive Soul Tools. But when they encountered opponents of higher rank, things became difficult—they simply could not win.

Losing was one thing, but according to the Judgment Hall's principles, they could never let their targets go. If they refused to let them go, they needed reinforcements.

Calling for reinforcements meant relying solely on their legs, which was far too slow. By the time help arrived, it would be too late.

That was why they needed Soul Tool Communicators. One call, and they could notify people immediately.

That was why the Judgment Hall had been researching them.

He had been a hands-off leader for so many years, yet the moment he returned, he had solved a major problem for the Judgment Hall.

Lin Mian felt that he was still a qualified hall master.

He opened the window, and sunlight streamed in. Lin Mian felt that even his mood had brightened.

The system was somewhat useful after all.

"Get up. We're heading out." Lin Mian's voice accurately reached Zhu Zhuqing's ears and woke her.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes and only then realized that she had returned to the bed.

When she lifted the blanket and saw that she was completely naked, her face instantly flushed red. She looked at her master resentfully.

"Don't look at me. I wasn't the one who carried you onto the bed. It was the hotel attendant."

Zhu Zhuqing was doubtful. Her master should not be so shameless, right? Otherwise, he could have done something when he saved her back then. Why would he need to go through so much trouble now?

She hurriedly took out clothes from her Soul Tool and put them on, then asked her master.

"Master, where are we going?"

"To Shrek Academy."