Western Liang, Haoyang Summer Resort.
Dressed in white, Chu Jin sat straight-backed in the pavilion, frowning at a secret letter.
He had already waited here for five full days. According to Immortal Master Xun's original plan, it would be best if they could help Xing Wu obtain a perfect blood mark within five days; if not, the trip would serve as preliminary reconnaissance. Regardless, they would arrive in Western Liang on the fifth day and exchange Little One for the four Heavenly Pride.
But five days had passed, and Immortal Master Xun and the others had neither returned nor sent any letters...
This left Chu Jin somewhat anxious. Just as he was about to send his master a message asking about the situation, his master's letter arrived first.
A gentle breeze brushed through the pavilion.
Chu Jin read the letter delivered by the Spirit Blood Pigeon word by word, his expression growing increasingly grave as astonishment surfaced in his eyes.
The letter contained only a few short lines: "Nine Immortal Masters from our sect entered Xingshan but failed to return on time. Last night, I divined heaven's secrets in the Dao Palace and calculated that they may have met with disaster. This must remain strictly confidential. Do not spread word of it. Fourteen Ancient Clan sect masters and nation lords of Nine Li remain on our Immortal Mountain, quietly awaiting the outcome of the hostage exchange. The four Heavenly Pride still need rescuing, but we no longer have any bargaining chips. Still, they must be saved, and you must also be determined to obtain the Great Emperor blood mark carried by the Ancient Emperor Successor. Jin'er, adapt to circumstances on this journey. If you can draw out the Ancient Emperor Successor, success will be within reach."
"If you find him,