第25章 天魂·搭桥

Two days later.

Tianhun City.

The city wall appeared in view.

Quan Batian changed into ordinary clothes. A gray cloth robe, washed until it was whitish, with frayed cuffs. He looked like an old man going to market.

Yet no one dared to approach within three paces of him.

Passersby on the street drifted slightly off-course as they walked past him, without knowing why. They simply felt that the air was heavy wherever that old man stood.

Quan Cangtian walked on the street.

He paused for a step.

He sensed an aura.

Very faint.

Dark Soul Cult.

More than one.

All in the southeast direction.

Quan Batian did not look back.

Low voice.

"Felt it?"

Quan Cangtian nodded.

Quan Batian.

"Business first."

Quan Cangtian clenched his fists. The dark red crystal beneath his palms did not move.

An inn.

Quan Batian booked two rooms.

Everyone gathered.

The room was small, with two beds, a table, and a window facing north. Zixiao stood against the wall with the Thunder Light Sword horizontal across her knees. Huo Yuhao sat on the edge of the bed. Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong stood by the door.

Quan Batian swept his gaze around.

He looked at Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong.

"You two return to the academy."

Xiao Xiao opened her mouth, saying nothing. Wang Dong pulled her, and the two walked out the door.

He looked at Huo Yuhao.

"You come with me."

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment.

Quan Batian had already turned around.

"Taking you to meet someone."

Huo Yuhao did not ask much. He stood up and followed.

Quan Batian looked at Quan Cangtian and Zixiao.

"Investigate the Dark Soul Cult stronghold first."

He paused.

"Don't make a move."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

Zixiao did not speak. The Thunder Light Sword shifted direction across her knees.

Quan Batian led Huo Yuhao through several alleys.

The alleys grew narrower as they walked. The bricks on the ground were loose, creaking when stepped on. Moss grew at the base of the walls, damp.

They stopped in front of a medicine shop.

The storefront was very small. Half the paint on the sign had peeled off, and the remaining characters were barely legible. Two baskets of herbs were piled at the entrance, exuding a bitter smell.

Quan Batian walked inside.

A lean, withered old man sat behind the counter. His glasses had slipped to the tip of his nose, and he was grinding medicine in his hands. He ground it absentmindedly.

Quan Batian produced a token.

It was not the one belonging to the black-robed elder.

It was the token of the Quan family. Made of bronze, palm-sized, engraved with the character Quan on the front and a dragon on the back.

The withered old man glanced at the token.

He then glanced at Quan Batian.

He pushed his glasses up.

He stood up.

He walked into the back.

He did not say a single word.

Huo Yuhao stood inside the medicine shop. A medicinal scent filled the air, bitter, piercing his nose. He took a breath, his throat itching.

The back door opened.

A person walked out.

Sturdily built. He looked to be about fifty years old. There was a scar on his face stretching from the left eyebrow to his cheekbone. His aura was very heavy; standing there, the air in the medicine shop tightened slightly.

Golden Body Douluo, Jin Peng.

Body Sect Vice Master. Rank ninety-six.

He saw Quan Batian.

He cupped his fists.

"Cangtian Douluo."

Quan Batian waved a hand.

"Just call me Old Quan. Today I'm here on business."

Jin Peng nodded.

"Please speak."

Quan Batian turned sideways.

Revealing Huo Yuhao behind him.

"This child. Spirit Eye. Body Martial Soul."

Jin Peng's gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao.

He saw Huo Yuhao's eyes.

The Spirit Eye emitted a faint light. Very faint. Without close inspection, it was indistinguishable from ordinary eyes. But Jin Peng was a member of the Body Sect. He recognized it at a glance.

He did not speak.

Yet his hand clenched into a fist.

Then relaxed.

Huo Yuhao felt the weight of that gaze. He subconsciously straightened his posture.

Jin Peng stared at Huo Yuhao for a few seconds.

He turned to look at Quan Batian.

"Spirit Eye. Eye-category Body Martial Soul."

He paused.

"How long? Has he undergone a Secondary Awakening?"

Quan Batian shook his head.

"No. He hasn't learned Secondary Awakening yet."

Jin Peng's gaze brightened.

Quan Batian gave him no time to process it.

"He doesn't just have the Spirit Eye."

Jin Peng was startled.

"Three Martial Souls."

Jin Peng's expression changed.

The way he looked at Huo Yuhao was different now. Earlier it was probing. Now it was appraising.

"Three?"

Quan Batian nodded.

Jin Peng was silent for a few seconds.

His voice lowered.

"This matter is not up to me."

"I must report to the Sect Master."

Huo Yuhao stood there. His palms were slightly sweaty. He did not know who the "Sect Master" was, but he could sense respect in Jin Peng's tone when uttering those two words.

Not politeness. Respect.

Quan Batian was not in a hurry.

He sat down.

Jin Peng sat down as well.

The withered old man brought out two cups of tea at some point. Coarse pottery cups, the tea dark in color, bitter.

Quan Batian picked one up and took a sip. He set it down.

"This old man's grandson studies at Tianhun Royal Academy. Huo Yuhao is his sworn brother."

Jin Peng nodded. He knew this.

"The Quan family wishes to make friends with the Body Sect."

Jin Peng did not take up the thread.

He waited for the rest.

Quan Batian.

"Huo Yuhao's Body Martial Soul needs proper instruction. The Quan family cannot teach him."

Jin Peng glanced at him.

"You mean."

"Send him here to study."

Jin Peng looked at Huo Yuhao.

He asked Huo Yuhao.

"Are you willing?"

Huo Yuhao glanced at Quan Batian.

Quan Batian did not answer for him. He held his teacup, drinking tea.

Huo Yuhao turned back.

He looked at Jin Peng.

"I am."

A single word.

Jin Peng looked at him for three seconds.

He stood up.

He walked to the back door.

"Three days. Await word."

Night was falling.

Quan Cangtian and Zixiao waited at the inn.

The door opened. Quan Batian and Huo Yuhao walked in.

Quan Cangtian looked at their expressions. Quan Batian wore no particular expression. Huo Yuhao was somewhat excited, but suppressed it.

"Three days."

Quan Batian spoke.

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"What about the Dark Soul Cult?"

Quan Batian.

"You speak."

Quan Cangtian.

"In the southeast Dark Alley District, at least three strongholds. Headcount uncertain. But there is one very powerful aura."

Quan Batian.

"How strong?"

Quan Cangtian.

"Titled Douluo tier."

Quan Batian fell silent.

Zixiao spoke.

"The Dark Soul Cult has deployed a Titled Douluo in Tianhun City."

Her voice was very flat. The Thunder Light Sword remained motionless across her knees.

Quan Batian glanced at her. He then looked at Quan Cangtian.

"It's not just the Dark Soul Cult watching you."

He paused.

"What is inside your body is listening, too."

Quan Cangtian lowered his head to glance at his palm.

The Dark Red Crystal throbbed faintly beneath his skin.

The exact same frequency as when he sensed the breath of the Dark Soul Cult on the street earlier.

He clenched his fist.

He said nothing.

At night.

The inn.

Quan Cangtian sat by the window. The night lights of Tianhun City illuminated the surroundings, orange dots scattered near and far.

Zixiao sat beside him.

The Thunder Light Sword lay horizontally across her knees. She had her eyes closed.

Yet Quan Cangtian knew she was not asleep.

"Three days," he said.

Zixiao did not open her eyes.

"Mm."

Quan Cangtian looked out the window.

"News from the Body Sect. The stronghold of the Dark Soul Cult. And this."

He raised his right hand.

The Dark Red Crystal throbbed beneath his palm.

"Three matters, all rushed together."

Zixiao opened her eyes.

She glanced at him.

"Afraid?"

Quan Cangtian shook his head.

"Not afraid."

He lowered his hand.

"I just feel like there isn't enough time."

Zixiao said nothing.

She reached out.

She turned his right hand over.

She took a look.

She released it.

The exact same gesture as last time by the bonfire.

She closed her eyes once more.

"Whether it is enough or not, you still have to get through it."

Quan Cangtian said nothing.

Outside the window, the lights of Tianhun City flickered in the distance.

The Dark Soul Cult was in the southeast corner.

The Body Sect was waiting for news.

The gene within his body throbbed.

Three days.

Was it enough?