The next morning.
The air outside Tianbei City's north gate rippled, and three figures in the Pill Tower's distinctive alchemist robes stepped out.
The elder in front wore a Pill Tower Elder's badge on his chest. It was Sheng Yao.
Behind him came two gray-robed elders. Their auras were steady, and space trembled faintly around them. They were Elder Chen and Elder Li of the Pill Tower's Consecration Pavilion, both genuine Two-Star Dou Zun.
"Ahem... Elder Sheng, we switched between five long-distance Spatial Wormholes on the way here. These old bones of mine are nearly shaken apart."
Elder Chen rubbed his lower back and could not help complaining.
"The president gave the order himself. Elder Lu Heng needs help, and we can't afford a moment's delay."
Sheng Yao straightened his collar and strode toward the city gate.
"Along the way, I heard cultivators all over the Northern Region talking about it. Apparently, Ice River Valley offended some hidden powerhouse. Yesterday, someone tore down its defensive formation. Its valley master, Ice Venerable, and Tian Shuangzi both met their ends on the Far Northern Ice Plains. The whole sect was uprooted."
Elder Li walked beside him and muttered under his breath:
"When did the Northern Region produce someone that ruthless? A sect with a Four-Star Dou Zun guarding it, gone just like that."
Sheng Yao waved a hand, his expression grave.
"Don't pry into other people's affairs. Elder Lu Heng reached Eighth-Rank at only twenty, and President Xuankong Zi thinks highly of him. If anything happens to him in the Northern Region, none of us will be able to answer for it. Finding him comes first."
The three entered Tianbei City's bustling main street.
Sheng Yao stopped a mercenary with a greatsword strapped to his back.
"A question. Is there a young