Inside Heavenly Venerable Daoling's cave abode on Heavenly Capital Peak, Heavenly Venerable Daoling sat cross-legged in a vast, empty sealed chamber, apparently absorbed in cultivation. An extraordinarily profound Magic Formation covered the chamber floor, with more than a dozen rare treasures of every description arranged around it. Each was strangely shaped and radiated astonishing spiritual qi; all were treasures of Ancient Treasure grade or higher. At the center of the formation, a fiery-red sword emitted spiritual qi fluctuations far surpassing those of the other treasures.
Seated at the very center of the formation, Heavenly Venerable Daoling absorbed astonishing quantities of spiritual qi through his entire body as he circulated his cultivation method. The spiritual qi surged toward him like a rising tide. Above his head, a faintly visible, dragon-shaped red radiance slowly circled him as his cultivation method circulated. This was precisely the manifestation of the supreme cultivation method he practiced, the Flame Dragon Scripture.
Suddenly, Heavenly Venerable Daoling's brow twitched slightly. Without opening his eyes, he pointed a finger. A red light flashed, and the entire Magic Formation immediately stopped operating. The dragon-shaped light around him also ceased its rotation.
"Master!" Zhang Cai's respectful voice suddenly sounded in the air. "Your disciple deserves ten thousand deaths for disturbing your cultivation, but this matter is urgent. Please forgive me, Master!"
"I know you would not disturb me through the Voice Transmission Bell unless the matter were desperately urgent. Speak. What is it?" Heavenly Venerable Daoling replied calmly.
"It concerns Junior Brother Li. Elder Shao Shiqi just came, and he said..." Zhang Cai then recounted what Shao Shiqi had told him about Li Xiaoya appearing in the Southwestern Ancient City and disappearing along with it. At the end, he could not help asking anxiously, "Master, what should we do now? The