To find the last blood catalyst as quickly as possible, Yang Zhen inscribed countless small Spirit-Locking Arrays throughout the valley. Each was only the size of a palm and not much use; they could only sense fluctuations in Spiritual Qi within ten meters.
Ten meters had originally been the limit of the array Yang Zhen had learned from the Heavenly Book: Profound Principles Chapter. But while inscribing them, he had a flash of inspiration and improved several parts, forcibly extending the Spirit-Locking Arrays' range to a hundred meters.
Even then, Yang Zhen still felt it wasn't quite enough. Fortunately, Spirit-Locking Arrays were simple to inscribe and consumed a pitifully small amount of True Essence. He had no idea how many he had inscribed in the valley before he finally stopped, when he could barely handle all the information they were sending back.
After inscribing the last Spirit-Locking Array, Yang Zhen rested where he was for a while and replenished some of the True Essence he had used. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
To the north of the valley, a Spirit-Locking Array had sent back a message: the fluctuations in a presence there were just about the same as those of the blood catalyst Yang Zhen needed.
Yang Zhen was overjoyed. Though people rarely set foot here, the strange insects and exotic beasts had all left, whether because they knew of the danger or for some other reason. Yang Zhen had searched for a long time without finding one.
Now that he finally had a lead, Yang Zhen couldn't afford to delay. He hurried in that direction.
At the summit of the Youzhou Grand Assembly, Luo Yan and Duan Qing were still at each other's throats. Whether they could recruit Yang Zhen was no longer important. The two had fought all their lives, and even if one couldn't recruit Yang Zhen, he wouldn't let the other have his way.
Ma Dexing stood to the side, making snide remarks, while the worry on his face grew ever more pronounced. Zhang Zongjin's Heart Demon had erupted, and he had run off as though seized by a fit. He still hadn't come to his senses or returned. Though there wasn't much danger here, it wasn't impossible that he might encounter a Rogue Cultivator who wasn't afraid of death and would kill him to steal his treasures.
Just then, a clear crane cry rang out overhead. Everyone's heart tightened, and they looked up to see several small paper cranes in the sky, each landing in the hands of a different leader from a major sect.
The leaders exchanged glances, a trace of confusion flashing across all their faces.
Although the Youzhou Grand Assembly was hardly a once-in-a-millennium event, the five major sects still placed considerable importance on it. Now that they had all sent messages at once, something momentous must have happened.
After reading the message, Luo Yan's expression changed. He turned to Su Qingyu and the others. "Qingyu, set out for Raging Fire City immediately!"
Su Qingyu's expression changed. She was just about to ask why when Duan Qing said to Princess Changyang beside her, "Changyang, all of you go to Raging Fire City now. People from the sect are waiting there. This trip to Raging Fire City is vitally important; it concerns the fate of every genius in the five nations. You must not be careless."
Everyone's heart tightened at those words. The genius disciples who had come this time were especially surprised, and they all looked at the leaders.
"Elder, what happened?" Fang Shenhe, who had received the same order, asked with a strange look.
The Turtle-Snake Island elder said gravely, "There has been unusual activity at the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda near Raging Fire City. A mighty figure has judged that the ninth floor might open this time!"
"What?"
Everyone cried out together, looking at the Turtle-Snake Island elder in disbelief.
Luo Yan nodded and exchanged a glance with Duan Qing before explaining to everyone, "The message should be true. The Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda is one of the few sacred sites on the Youzhou Continent, and it's the place best suited to your cultivation. But for some reason, the most mysterious ninth floor has never opened, so no one knows what's on it."
Duan Qing picked up where he left off. "That means this will be an unexplored place. Whoever enters the ninth floor of the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda in the first group is very likely to obtain an inheritance that will shock the world!"
A collective gasp rang out.
An unexplored place-and one in the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda, no less, one of the sacred sites. If word got out, it would probably shake the entire Youzhou Continent.
Fortunately, the news hadn't fully spread yet. Otherwise, everything would probably already be in an uproar.
"Set out immediately!" Duan Qing instructed Princess Changyang. "Stay safe. This will clearly shake all five nations, and countless young talents will head for the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda. You'll probably have to compete with geniuses from at least three nations!"
Princess Changyang nodded and glanced back at the valley. "Elder Duan, a word in private!"
"A word in private, Elder Luo," Su Qingyu said at the same time.
The two women exchanged a glance and smiled in unison.
Duan Qing looked at Princess Changyang with a strange expression. After they reached a secluded spot, he smiled and said, "You want to talk about Yang Zhen, don't you?"
Princess Changyang nodded. "Elder Duan, Yang Zhen is the most... peculiar person I've ever met. His talent is so great that I can't see through him. Please bring him into the sect at any cost!"
Duan Qing froze and drew a sharp breath. "You think that highly of him?"
"I'm afraid Elder Luo Yan thinks even more highly of him," Princess Changyang said slowly.
"What if he makes some excessive demands?"
"Meet them as best you can!"
"For example... what if he wants you?"
"Elder Duan!" Princess Changyang glared at him and said petulantly, "Then give him a couple of kicks for me!"
Elsewhere, Luo Yan said with a chuckle, "You want to talk to me about Yang Zhen, don't you?"
Su Qingyu nodded and gave Luo Yan a surprised look. "Is his talent really that great?"
"I'm afraid it's even greater than that!" Luo Yan sighed. Even he couldn't see through Yang Zhen, and there were too many uncertainties about him. To this day, Luo Yan still couldn't get a clear measure of him. He didn't know whether recruiting such a person into the sect would bring good fortune or disaster.
Looking at the somewhat surprised Su Qingyu, Luo Yan grew thoughtful. With a strange expression, he said, "That old fellow Duan Qing even brought Princess Changyang into it just now. If Yang Zhen can join our Elixir Valley Lake, I promised to give him a chance. Would you blame me for taking it upon myself and hold it against me?"
Su Qingyu's whole body trembled. She clearly knew what chance Luo Yan meant, but she simply looked up at him without saying a word, then turned and walked away.
"Careful, there's a rock in front of you." Luo Yan stared, dumbfounded, at Su Qingyu's absent-minded retreating figure, somewhat surprised.
Su Qingyu held her standards sky-high and didn't fancy a single one of the sect's many young talents. Luo Yan had prepared himself for her to turn a cold face on him, yet she hadn't said a word.
What had that look just now meant?
Luo Yan suddenly felt that, after living so many years, he was finding it harder and harder to understand what young people were thinking.
Princess Changyang and Su Qingyu looked at each other for a long time, then said in unison, "See you in Raging Fire City!"
Luo Yan and Duan Qing looked at each other for a long time, both their old faces blank with bewilderment.
"Hmph!" Ma Dexing snorted coldly, his expression growing uglier as he looked toward the valley. It was unclear whether he was watching for Zhang Zongjin or waiting for Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen carefully made his way behind a large boulder and lay atop it, watching two men sneakily fiddling with an insect.
Duan Langcai's injuries hadn't healed, and his complexion was terrible. Zhang Zongjin looked even worse, utterly distraught and gnashing his teeth.
The two were muttering to each other, though Yang Zhen couldn't tell what they were saying. Lying on the boulder behind them, he stared at the insect in Duan Langcai's hand and suddenly let out a strange cry:
"In broad daylight, what sort of shameful business are you two getting up to?"
The sudden voice gave them both a fright. Duan Langcai flung away the insect in his hand, and by a curious coincidence, it landed on Zhang Zongjin's mouth.
Zhang Zongjin immediately let out an earth-shaking wail.
"It... it bit me..."
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