The wind outside the canyon.
Suddenly stopped.
Dead silence.
Chen Lie's body was trembling.
His eyes were nailed to the token Grandmaster held high.
That sword.
That Six-Winged Angel.
Like a red-hot branding iron.
Burned into his eyes.
And deeper still into his soul!
"Sp... Spirit Hall..."
"The... Honorary Elder Token..."
His voice.
Was as hoarse as a broken bellows.
Every word trembled.
The oppressive presence of a Soul Elder.
Had been like collapsing mountains and a raging tsunami just moments ago.
Now.
It had dissipated completely.
The Soul Rings behind him.
Went out one after another.
His face.
Was paler than a corpse's.
The cold sweat on his forehead.
Poured down like a waterfall.
Soaking the silver-gray uniform over his chest.
"No... impossible..."
His lips quivered.
"You... how could you have..."
Grandmaster's face was expressionless.
Holding the token aloft.
He took a step forward.
"Now."
"Still want to fight?"
His voice was quiet.
Cold as beads of ice.
Thud!
Chen Lie abruptly dropped to his knees!
Both knees slammed onto the hard dirt road!
Dust rose faintly.
"I wouldn't dare!"
He lowered his head.
Trembling like chaff in a sieve.
"This lowly one... had eyes but failed to see!"
"I offended you, Elder..."
"I deserve ten thousand deaths!"
He slammed his forehead against the ground!
With resounding thuds!
Dust covered his face.
He was a complete, wretched mess.
Where was even a trace of a Soul Elder's bearing?
In the carriage behind them.
Wang Sheng and the others gaped.
Their eyes nearly popped out.
"He... he knelt... before Grandmaster?"
"Am I seeing things?"
That was a Soul Elder!
He had been so arrogant just moments ago!
Like a mountain about to crush them to death!
Now...
He was kneeling in the dirt, trembling!
Tang San stared intently at the token in Grandmaster's hand.
His heart pounded like a war drum.
Spirit Hall!
The Honorary Elder Token!
Teacher...
How could Teacher have something like that?
He looked at Grandmaster's profile.
On that familiar.
Even somewhat rigid face.
There was now only a bottomless calm.
He suddenly felt.
That he had never truly understood this teacher of his.
Xiao Wu clutched Tang San's arm.
Her nails dug into it.
She looked at the angel emblem on the token.
Her body shuddered almost imperceptibly.
A trace of profound terror flashed through her eyes.
She quickly lowered her head.
Hiding her face.
Ling Feng stood half a step behind Grandmaster, to his side.
His gaze was calm.
He watched Chen Lie prostrate on the ground.
Then his gaze fell on that dark red token.
Spirit Hall...
An Honorary Elder?
A little interesting.
Bibi Dong's old affection?
Or something else?
The corner of his mouth.
Curved ever so slightly.
Without anyone noticing.
Interesting.
"Get lost."
Grandmaster's voice.
Broke the dead silence.
Devoid of any emotion.
Chen Lie reacted as though granted a pardon!
"Yes! Yes!"
Not even daring to raise his head.
He scrambled up on his hands and feet.
Wiped the blood and dirt from his face.
Not daring to spare another glance toward the carriage.
He turned and ran!
Stumbling and staggering.
As though a ghost were chasing him.
He vanished down the dirt road in the blink of an eye.
Leaving behind those students of his who still lay unconscious by the roadside.
Without a care for them.
Grandmaster lowered the hand holding the token.
That weighty piece of dark red.
Disappeared into his sleeve.
He turned around.
His expression returned to its usual gentleness.
With a little weariness as well.
"It's settled."
His gaze swept over everyone.
Lingering on Ling Feng's face for an instant.
Carrying a faint, elusive hint of.
Complex, deeper meaning.
"Get in."
"Let's keep moving."
No one dared ask another word.
The convoy set off again.
The wheels rolled.
Over the ground where the storm had only just subsided.
Inside the carriage.
The silence felt somewhat unusual.
An oil lamp hung on the wall.
Swaying with the jolts.
Light and shadow danced across everyone's faces.
Xiao Wu leaned in a corner.
Hugging her knees.
Her head buried in her arms.
Her expression hidden from view.
Her shoulders still seemed slightly hunched.
Like a frightened little rabbit.
Tang San sat ramrod straight.
Watching the oil lamp's flickering flame.
His gaze was deep.
He seemed to be struggling to digest the enormous shock from just now.
Spirit Hall.
Elder.
These words.
Were far too distant from Nuoding City.
Like another world.
That had suddenly crashed down before his eyes.
Grandmaster leaned against the carriage wall.
His eyes closed.
Seemingly dozing.
His brow furrowed slightly.
Clearly, his mood was far from light.
Ling Feng sat opposite him.
His eyes remained half-lidded.
As though he were resting his mind.
Only deep within his eyes, occasionally catching the oil lamp's glow.
A sharp gleam flashed past.
He was thinking about that token.
An Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall...
Considerable authority.
But even greater trouble.
Especially...
When that identity belonged to Yu Xiaogang.
To the "friend" of someone being hunted by the Clear Sky Sect.
Interesting.
This trip to Suotuo.
It seemed.
Would not be dull.
He raised his eyes.
And looked out the window.
The night grew deeper.
In the distance, Suotuo City's brilliant lights.
Had already traced a hazy outline against the horizon.
"Teacher..."
After who knew how long.
Tang San finally could not help speaking in a low voice.
Breaking the heavy silence inside the carriage.
He looked at Grandmaster.
His eyes held far too many complicated questions.
Grandmaster slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was weary.
Yet carried a trace of gentleness.
"Xiao San."
"There are some things."
"That it isn't time to tell you yet."
He gently patted Tang San's shoulder.
"Remember."
"Your teacher will never harm any of you."
Tang San froze.
Looking at the deep emotions in Grandmaster's eyes.
In the end.
He silently nodded.
Swallowing back everything he had wanted to say.
"Everyone, get some rest."
Grandmaster said.
"We're almost there."
Xiao Wu also quietly raised her head.
Her large eyes blinked.
She looked at Grandmaster.
Then stole a glance at Ling Feng.
She seemed to want to say something.
In the end, she merely pressed her lips together.
And curled up, closing her eyes.
The carriage continued racing along the main road.
Drawing ever closer to Suotuo City.
The main road was level and broad.
There were noticeably more carriages and horses on the road.
Lights blazed everywhere.
It was bustling and lively.
Grandmaster lifted the carriage curtain and looked out.
"There's a line to enter the city."
"We'll stay outside tonight."
"And enter tomorrow morning."
The convoy finally stopped beside the main road.
At a small waystation town catering to traveling merchants.
The drivers busied themselves settling the horses.
And arranging lodgings.
The little waystation town was far livelier than the waystation in the mountains.
Lights blazed everywhere.
People came and went.
All sorts of accents mingled.
There were also quite a few boys and girls wearing different academy uniforms.
In groups of three or five.
Excitedly discussing something.
Clearly.
They were all students heading to the Suotuo Grand Competition.
Nuoding Academy's carriage stopped.
It was unremarkable.
Almost no one noticed.
Only when Ling Feng stepped out.
In a distant corner.
Several youths in fitted silver outfits trimmed with blue were gathered together.
The one at their head.
Had a pale face.
And dry, cracked lips.
It was none other than Lan Feng!
He saw Ling Feng.
His eyes abruptly contracted.
Filled with terror.
He instinctively hid behind his companions.
"That's him?"
A companion beside Lan Feng asked with a frown.
"He doesn't look like much..."
"Don't provoke him!"
Lan Feng cried out involuntarily.
His voice trembled.
Drawing looks from the others around him.
Lan Feng's face grew even paler.
He clamped his mouth shut.
And no longer dared look toward the carriage.
Ling Feng swept an indifferent glance over them.
He paid them no mind.
He said to Tang San and Xiao Wu.
"Shall we look around?"
Tang San nodded.
Xiao Wu also temporarily cast aside her earlier low spirits.
Her eyes lit up.
The waystation town was small.
But very lively.
Food stalls billowed steam.
Crude trinket stalls glittered cheaply beneath the lights.
Some young Soul Masters clustered around roadside stalls.
Leafing through old books or examining so-called "Soul Tool fragments."
Ling Feng and the other two strolled around casually.
Xiao Wu soon bought a Soul Beast meat sausage grilled to fragrant, crisp perfection.
Grease coated her mouth as she ate.
"Over there!"
She suddenly pointed toward a small stall.
"So pretty!"
It was a stall selling little glowing stones.
In every color.
Like tiny stars in the night.
Tang San followed her over to choose some.
Ling Feng stood a few steps away.
Looking at the distant, vast and majestic Suotuo City.
At the outline of its brilliantly lit walls.
Like a giant beast crouching on the plain.
Suotuo...
He murmured inwardly.
Just then.
Another group poured through the entrance to the waystation town.
Seven or eight boys and girls.
With extraordinary bearing.
And luxurious clothes.
Golden crown emblems were embroidered on their chests.
The youth in the lead.
Was tall, slender, and straight-backed.
His gaze was calm.
His short golden hair.
Shone brilliantly beneath the lights.
He was none other than the legitimate heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
The future Evil-Eyed White Tiger of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Dai Mubai!
He seemed to sense something.
His sharp gaze swept across the crowd.
On Xiao Wu, who was gnawing on her sausage.
It paused for a moment.
A flicker of admiration passed through it.
Then he saw Tang San beside Xiao Wu, paying for the glowing stones.
His brow rose almost imperceptibly.
Finally.
His gaze settled on Ling Feng a few steps away.
He saw that Ling Feng was looking toward Suotuo City in the distance.
His profile beneath the lamplight.
Sharply defined.
His presence calm.
Dai Mubai's pupils.
Contracted slightly!
This guy...
Was no ordinary fellow!
Ling Feng seemed to notice his gaze.
He turned his head.
His calm gaze.
Met Dai Mubai's scrutinizing eyes head-on.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to freeze for an instant.
Sparks.
Seemed to fly in silence.
"Interesting..."
The corners of Dai Mubai's mouth.
Curled into an arrogant arc.