The Earth Master Hall's Retreat

The journey back was uneventful. After returning to the Punishment Hall to report the completion of his assignment to Lord Pinghui, Yang Xiao used Shrinking Earth to Inches and headed toward the City Lord's Residence.

Just outside the residence, he saw two carriages parked in the middle, drawn by magnificent, top-tier Dragon Horses. All were demonic beasts of the Sea Condensation Realm. It seemed some important visitors had arrived.

"Who has come to the residence?" Yang Xiao casually asked a gate guard as he passed.

"Young master, Hall Master Gongsun and Elder Fu Shi of the Earth Master Hall, along with two young masters of the Huangfu Family," the guard replied with a bow. Yang Xiao had been here for several days, and most people in the residence recognized him.

Yang Xiao frowned. Even he would not believe that such a party had come for anyone other than him.

He hurried back to Plum Court. Ordinary people could not discover the secret chamber in his courtyard, but everyone in the Earth Master Hall was an Earth Master. They might well find it.

He had to get back quickly and make some additional preparations.

He had only taken two steps when a call came from behind him.

"Young master, the marquis requests your presence in the front hall."

Yang Xiao stopped and gave Old Li a long look. Although he had already known the old steward was powerful, he was still shaken. He had no idea when Old Li had appeared behind him. Like a ghostly shadow, he came without a trace and vanished without a sound.

"Young master," Old Li called softly when he saw Yang Xiao standing in a daze.

"Old Li, I understand. Must I go now?" Yang Xiao still wanted to return to his courtyard first and make some preparations. After all, this was hardly something he could proudly admit to.

"It would be best to go now." Old Li stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm.

"Then please go back and inform him, Old Li. I'll change my clothes first," Yang Xiao said, turning into Plum Court.

Yang You'er was about to break through these past few days, so he had dismissed the courtyard's maids, intending to summon them back once she emerged from seclusion.

Walking through the courtyard without hearing the girl calling "Brother Xiao" again and again felt rather strange.

In the middle of the secret chamber, Yang You'er sat with her eyes tightly shut, drawing the spiritual energy underground into her body. A powerful spiritual pressure enveloped the entire chamber.

Seeing that Yang You'er had not yet awakened, Yang Xiao left the Dragon Horn and the fragment of the Great Martial Canon there, then withdrew.

Only after sealing it with nine layers of Earth Vein Qi did he return to his room. He took out an animal hide to cover the entrance, then moved the table over it to conceal it before leaving the courtyard in satisfaction.

Plum Court was some distance from the front hall. As he walked along the path, fragrant with flowers, he considered what awaited him.

Butcher would certainly take his side. When he had obtained the Heart of the Earth that day, Fu Shi had not seen his true face. Besides, there had been twenty disciples taking the assessment, and he had been at the very back. Fu Shi probably had not noticed him, so he had to insist to the bitter end that he had never visited the Earth Master Hall.

Just as he reached the hall's entrance, he heard an arrogant young master's voice from inside.

"Sky Marquis, that man did indeed say he belonged to the City Lord's Residence. After making inquiries over the past two days, we learned that he was the young master who recently arrived here."

"Ah." Yang Xiao entered the hall and swept his gaze around. With his hands behind his back and his chin raised, he looked at Huangfu Shengtian in the middle of the hall. "Who called for this young master?"

He kept feeling that Shen Laodao had led him astray.

"That's him!" Huangfu Shengtian pointed at him, his voice excited.

"Uncle Butcher." Yang Xiao walked past Huangfu Shengtian and bowed to Butcher.

Two men sat on the left. One was a square-faced, middle-aged man wearing a long black robe embroidered with mist-shrouded mountains. His eyes commanded respect without a hint of anger. At a glance, he was clearly someone who had long occupied a lofty position.

The other was Elder Fu Shi of the Earth Master Hall, his beard flowing.

On the right sat a handsome young man: Huangfu Shenghua, who had suffered a crushing blow.

"Xiao'er, Hall Master Gongsun says you took the Earth Master Hall's Heart of the Earth. Is that true?" Butcher asked calmly from the seat of honor.

"Uncle Butcher, you know I've respected the elderly and cherished the young since I was little. I help old grannies cross the road seven or eight times every day. How could I take someone else's belongings?" Yang Xiao's expression changed dramatically as he spoke in alarm.

"You're lying! I clearly saw you take the Heart of the Earth!" Huangfu Shengtian pointed at him, his handsome face flushed crimson.

"Who is this young master, and why is he slandering me like this?" Yang Xiao asked, his face filled with grief and indignation.

"We only met the day before yesterday, and now you're saying you don't know me?" Huangfu Shengtian's face was so red it looked ready to bleed.

Yang Xiao said, "You must be joking, young master. The morning before yesterday, I took the Heavenly Master Palace's assessment, but I felt my talent was too poor, so I didn't join.

"I spent the entire afternoon drinking tea at a restaurant with Deputy City Lord Pinghui. When did I ever meet you?"

"You..." Huangfu Shengtian pointed at him, unable to speak. Had he been a scholar, he might already have spat blood, collapsed, and fainted.

"Little brother, there's no need to waste words on him. We can simply search his Storage Ring," Huangfu Shenghua said, staring at him coldly.

Yang Xiao's words had cut this prodigy's heart to pieces. During the Heavenly Master Palace's recruitment, Yang Xiao had overwhelmed all his rivals. If even that counted as poor talent, what did that make Huangfu Shenghua? Hopelessly deficient?

"You think you can search my nephew whenever you please?" Butcher sneered and set down his teacup.

All four below him shuddered and lowered their heads without a word.

Butcher had spoken up for him, but Yang Xiao could not leave him to shoulder this matter alone. After all, Butcher was the city lord of Slaughter Heaven City, and the Earth Master Hall was an indispensable part of the city. There would be plenty of matters requiring their help in the future.

Now he had to step forward and give the people from the Earth Master Hall a way to step down gracefully.

He first bowed to Butcher, then said, "Searching my Storage Ring is no great matter. But what happens if you find nothing?"

Huangfu Shenghua sneered. "If we find nothing, what do you want?"

Seeing Huangfu Shenghua kick the ball back to him, Yang Xiao laughed inwardly. He glanced around and said, "I've been short on cultivation resources lately. If you find nothing, just give me some. I'm not greedy. A thousand Earth Vein Crystals will do."

Huangfu Shenghua scoffed. "A mere thousand Earth Vein Crystals? The Huangfu Family will pay."

"I meant mid-grade ones," Yang Xiao said.

He saw Huangfu Shenghua's hand tremble. It seemed a thousand Mid-Grade Earth Vein Crystals was no small sum even for a great lineage.

"I agree to those terms," Hall Master Gongsun suddenly said.

"Hall Master." Huangfu Shenghua froze.

"Hmm?" Hall Master Gongsun looked at Huangfu Shenghua, his cold, severe gaze turning the latter's face pale. "Do you object?"

"No." Huangfu Shenghua closed his eyes and shook his head in anguish.

The Huangfu Family was the foremost lineage in Slaughter Heaven City, but it fell far short of the Earth Master Hall. Behind the Earth Master Hall stood the Earth Master General Hall in the Imperial Capital, where experts gathered like clouds.

Yang Xiao offered his Storage Ring to Hall Master Gongsun, who shook his head. Elder Fu Shi stepped forward from beside him and took it instead.

A moment later, Fu Shi returned the Storage Ring and shook his head at the others.

Yang Xiao accepted the Storage Ring. He had left all the important items inside it in the secret chamber, so he had no fear of their search.

"Impossible!" Huangfu Shenghua shouted. His face was now snow-white, without a trace of color. "You must have hidden the Heart of the Earth somewhere else! Yes, search his residence! It must be in his room!"

"Enough!" Hall Master Gongsun snapped. He stood and bowed. "Sky Marquis, sorry for the trouble."

Yang Xiao watched the four leave. His Storage Ring now held another thousand Earth Vein Crystals, enough to sustain his cultivation for a long time. Looking into the distance, he could see both Huangfu brothers' legs trembling.

On the walk back to Plum Court, Butcher led the way, with Yang Xiao a step behind him.

When they reached Plum Court's entrance, Butcher said, "The Heart of the Earth?"

Yang Xiao smiled. "I happened to pick it up."

Butcher burst out laughing and entered the courtyard with him. He summoned Steward Li and had a table of food and wine laid out.

Butcher drank a cup of wine and said, "I've had too much business to handle lately and haven't had time to visit. Have you adjusted to life in Slaughter Heaven City?"

Yang Xiao raised his cup in a toast. "Slaughter Heaven City is wonderful. I've been quite comfortable these past two days."

They clinked cups, and Butcher continued, "Is there anything puzzling you about cultivation? I happen to have time today. If there is, tell me, and I'll explain it to you."

Yang Xiao frowned. He had no questions about cultivation itself, but there was indeed something else.

He said, “Uncle Butcher, I've already entered the Sea Condensation Realm. If I keep cultivating, my next step will be breaking through to the Soul Seed Realm. But as for a Soul Seed Realm cultivation method...”

Butcher frowned as well. “That's difficult for me to advise you on. The best Soul Seed Realm cultivation method on the Star River Continent is the Netherworld Divine Canon, created by Netherworld, the divine master of the Netherworld Divine Palace.”

“However, the Netherworld Divine Palace has a poor reputation, and no one even knows where it is.”

The mention of the Netherworld Divine Palace reminded Yang Xiao of Corpse Soul Mountain. According to what Corpse Lord had said before his death, both he and the Soul Master had come from the Netherworld Divine Palace.

Moreover, the Netherworld Divine Palace was known as the foremost dark power in Great Zhou. Obtaining the Netherworld Divine Canon would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

“But you needn't lose heart. There are many other excellent Soul Seed Realm cultivation methods in the world.”

“For instance, the Hundred Arts Tower in my City Lord's Residence holds the Soul-Gathering Great Art. It's also a superior Soul Seed Realm cultivation method.”

“If you really can't find a good Soul Seed Realm cultivation method, learning that one would be a fine choice.”

Creak!

Just then, the bedroom door suddenly opened, and both men looked over.

Butcher gave Yang Xiao a teasing look, his eyes holding a half-smile, because Yang You'er had emerged from Yang Xiao's room.

Butcher coughed, rose, and headed outside. “You two enjoy your meal. Uncle Butcher will be off.”

Yang Xiao knew Butcher had misunderstood. He was just about to go after him and explain when Yang You'er came up behind him and whispered, “Brother, should I not have come out?”

By the time Yang You'er interrupted him, even Butcher had disappeared from sight.

Yang Xiao turned back and said helplessly, "No."

Hearing that, Yang You'er smiled and ran to the pavilion, waving to him. “Brother, come eat!”

Yang Xiao rubbed his stomach. He had just eaten his fill, and now he had to eat again. Still, seeing the smile on Yang You'er's face, he did not want to spoil her enthusiasm.

He picked up his chopsticks and began taking small bites.

“By the way, did you break through?” Yang Xiao asked, looking up.

“I did.” Yang You'er rested her chin in both hands, her lively, wide eyes fixed on him.

“Oh, Brother.” Yang You'er took the Dragon Horn and the Great Martial Canon from inside her clothes. “These are yours. I saw them in the secret chamber, so I brought them back for you.”

Yang Xiao accepted them and said, “You'er, I still don't know what cultivation method you're practicing.”

Yang You'er tilted her head. “Cultivation method? What's that?”

"Then how did you break through?" Yang Xiao stared at her blankly.

Without a cultivation method, one could not cultivate. To break through to the Living Spirit Realm, one had to possess a cultivation method of the corresponding level.

Yang You'er thought about it seriously and said, "There was just a clump of spiritual energy moving around inside my body, and then I broke through."

Yang Xiao was so startled that he nearly dropped his chopsticks. Wouldn't that cause cultivation deviation?

But on second thought, Yang You'er must have cultivated in the past. Even after losing her memories, the ingrained memory of years of cultivation would allow her to cultivate automatically.

After they finished eating, Yang Xiao returned to the secret chamber. He took out the Earth Vein Crystals he had obtained from the Huangfu brothers, arranged a small Spirit-Gathering Formation around himself, and began cultivating.

Within his Spirit Sea floated a black ocean spanning twenty thousand li. A Black Sun hung high above it, a size larger than it had been in the Qi Gathering Realm.

The Bright Moon below, however, remained unchanged in size. Even now, he did not know what Bloodline it represented.

While at the Carefree Sect, he had consulted many ancient texts, but none of the bloodlines matched his constitution.

There was a Bright Moon Bloodline that formed a Bright Moon within the body, but its possessors had no healing ability.