"Nothing unusual?" he muttered, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.
Seeing this, the Fifth Elder said in a low voice, "Perhaps Zhao Ping truly is the culprit!"
The Second Elder nodded, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes. "Issue the order. Put this man on the wanted list across the entire sect! Also, notify the major sects and offer a reward for his capture!"
Before long, wanted notices spread throughout the Luo Yang Continent and soon reached the three halls of the Crimson Crystal Mountains.
Within a cave dwelling of Purple Cloud Hall in the Crimson Crystal Mountains, a tall, powerfully built white-haired old man dressed in purple robes sat cross-legged atop a stone platform, cultivating with his eyes closed.
He was none other than True Monarch Zifeng, one of Purple Cloud Hall's two Nascent Soul elders.
After being defeated by "Zhao Ping," as Zhou Xun had disguised himself, he had secluded himself within his cave dwelling and never emerged again.
He had not even attended the auction at Azure Cloud Prefecture, too ashamed to face anyone.
True Monarch Zifeng, who had once dominated the winds and clouds, had actually been defeated by a brat fresh out of the gate, becoming someone else's stepping stone.
How could the ever-proud True Monarch Zifeng possibly accept that?
Thus, he could only choose to hide away while entering secluded cultivation, seeking a method to break through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
Just as he was immersed in cultivation—
Suddenly—
A streak of fire flew in from outside the cave dwelling, transforming into a Message Talisman that hovered above the restriction formation, darting left and right.
At the sight, True Monarch Zifeng abruptly withdrew his cultivation and opened his eyes.
"Who would seek me out at a time like this?"
After