Black Gate Opens

"Return at once."

The moment Deacon Zhao heard those four words, he knew there was no room for discussion.

The Worship Hall's envoy was already waiting at the Tiangou Spirit Sanctuary that very day. Lu Yuan did not have much to take with him; the real trouble lay with the First Prince's Residence. Ning Fengzhi had only just accepted Xue Qinghe as his disciple, and the formal apprenticeship ceremony had yet to be arranged, yet Lu Yuan had to leave Tiangou first.

Less than an hour after the message was delivered, someone came from the First Prince's Residence. Xue Qinghe did not appear in person, sending back only a single sentence.

"His Highness says official business comes first. We can talk when you return."

Lu Yuan understood as soon as he heard it. Given their current identities, Qian Renxue could not possibly make a special trip to the Spirit Sanctuary just to see him off. Besides, he was only returning to Spirit City temporarily, not leaving Tiangou forever. Making a spectacle of it would only draw attention.

Early the next morning, Lu Yuan left Tiangou with the Worship Hall's envoy.

They no longer followed the supply convoy at a leisurely pace on the return journey. The three accompanying Spirit Masters took turns traveling, stopping only at several Branch Halls to change horses and replenish supplies. The journey that had originally taken quite some time was forcibly cut down by more than half.

Most of the time, Lu Yuan sat in the carriage cultivating.

After the Mountain-Shaking Spear completed its second evolution, his level twenty-one Soul Power had gradually stabilized. Yet the newly appeared dark pattern had never faded. The closer he came to Spirit City, the clearer the occasional tremors it sent became. At first, they were nearly imperceptible, but