Time flowed on, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Over those three months, Cao Kun and his companions traveled through the East Sea and the Star Luo Empire...
They trained as they traveled and checked in along the way, patiently building their foundations.
Zhi Shui led the Mount Buzhou Spies across the continent. They tracked the Asura Cult's remaining forces day and night, sending in a steady stream of intelligence.
At last, a top-secret report reached Cao Kun.
"Young master, we've confirmed it! Nearly all the Asura Cult's Evil Soul Masters in Slaughter City have withdrawn. Every last one has gone into hiding. We don't know where they went, and they've left no trail!"
"I've used every spy, informant, and intelligence network at our disposal, but I still can't find their hideout!"
"I suspect the Asura God is behind this!"
The report made for unsettling reading.
Earlier investigations had shown that the Asura Cult had been entrenched in Slaughter City for decades, perhaps even a century, with hideouts throughout the place.
But after Tang Chen retreated from their battle, something had changed among the city's Evil Soul Masters.
Lately, Slaughter City had emptied almost overnight.
Now, every Evil Soul Master had vanished into thin air without leaving a single clue.
As soon as Cao Kun received the news, he took Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others toward the outskirts of Slaughter City.
On the hundredth day after leaving Sunset Forest, Cao Kun reached the outskirts of Slaughter City.
The sounds of fighting and revelry were gone. The entire Forbidden Ground lay deathly still. Black, vicious energy still churned overhead, and icy winds howled through it, but not a trace of life remained. The place was desolate and eerily empty.
Cao Kun stepped