Qin Yangui nodded and glanced at him.
"I will act in secret."
That would be best.
With Qin Yangui, a powerful expert at the Dao Mysterious Realm Third Layer, secretly investigating, at least some of the hidden dangers within the Heavenly Edict Sect can be eliminated.
Qin Yangui gently laid down Lu Shaoyuan's remains.
She formed a hand seal, and streaks of sky-blue spiritual light fell upon the envelope. The tightly bound Spirit-Edict Seal quickly disintegrated, and the yellowed letter slowly floated into her hand.
The quiet room fell silent again.
Qin Yangui read the contents of the letter word by word.
Her expression shifted between nostalgia and anguish. Several times she raised her hand to touch the words on the paper, but then stopped in mid-air, as if afraid that the slightest force would erase the last trace her disciple had left in the world.
Si Yunshu did not make a sound to disturb them.
As she watched the tears streaming down Qin Yangui's face, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.
The letter was not long.
Qin Yangui watched for the entire time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
As the last word came into view, she slowly closed her eyes, pressed the letter to her chest, and remained silent for a long time.
When she opened her eyes again, she had suppressed all her embarrassment.
Qin Yangui up and carefully put Lu Shaoyuan's remains, along with the broken sword, into a jade coffin, then placed the jade coffin into her storage ring.
Then, she took a step back.
To Si Yunshu's astonishment, this Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Edict Sect actually bowed solemnly to Chu Yunfei.
"Thank you, Young Master Chu, for returning Shaoyuan's remains and last letter on my behalf."
"I will remember this kindness."
Chu Yunfei stepped aside to avoid a half-bow.
"Senior Qin, there's no need for that."
"Having received the Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword left by Senior Lu, it is only right that I fulfill his request. This sword technique has been of great help to me. Both parties have gotten what they needed, so there is no question of one owing the other anything."
Qin Yangui shook her head.
" The Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword was a reward left by Shaoyuan for the messenger; it's something else entirely—you bringing back his remains for me."
She stared at Chu Yunfei, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"If you need anything in the future, you may come to me."
"Regardless of how other sects act, as long as I am alive, the Heavenly Edict Sect will never be your enemy."
Si Yunshu's heart trembled violently.
Qin Yangui's words carry far more weight than any ordinary promise.
She is one of the most senior elders in the Heavenly Edict Sect, and a powerful expert at the third level of the Dao Mysterious Realm Third Layer. If she speaks, even another elder cannot ignore her.
With just a skeleton and a dying letter, Chu Yunfei directly gained the protection of a Dao Mysterious Realm expert.
"Senior Qin, you flatter me."
Chu Yunfei smiled faintly, "If I truly have any needs, I will certainly ask."
Qin Yangui nodded.
"It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now."
She turned and walked towards the stone gate.
Si Yunshu nodded slightly to Chu Yunfei, preparing to follow.
But just as the stone gate opened, Qin Yangui suddenly stopped.
"There's one more thing."
Chu Yunfei looked up. "Please speak, senior."
Qin Yangui didn't turn around, but said in a low voice, " Shaoyuan didn't mention the pursuit much in his letter, but there's one word he told me to pay attention to."
"When he broke through the encirclement of three masked assassins, he overheard one of them mention..."
Qin Yangui paused.
" Myriad Spirits Blood Rite."
Chu Yunfei's brows furrowed suddenly.
" The Myriad Spirits Blood Rite?"
"I do not understand its meaning either."
Qin Yangui slowly said, "But Shaoyuan mentioned in his letter that the three masked men were extremely cautious when discussing this matter, as if it were related to the Blood Baleful Intent Tower's plans."
"If you ever come into contact with the Blood Baleful Intent Tower again, keep a close eye on it."
Chu Yunfei memorized the name.
"Thank you for the reminder, senior."
Qin Yangui did not linger and left the quiet room with Si Yunshu.
The heavy stone door closed again.
Chu Yunfei sat alone at the table, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the surface.
Myriad Spirits Blood Rite.
The Blood Baleful Intent Tower secretly infiltrated the Seven Sects, assassinated Lu Shaoyuan, and orchestrated the Seven Sects Grand Competition to be held in the Imperial City.
These few words may be the key to connecting everything.
In his mind's eye, Xiaoxiao Dragon suddenly said, "The words 'blood ritual' sound like something bad."
"To be able to use the name of all spirits, the required sacrifices would probably not be just a few hundred or a thousand people."
Chu Yunfei's eyes turned cold.
Now, the seven sects' prodigies and a large number of powerful figures have gathered in the imperial city.
In addition, there are millions of lives in the imperial city...
If the so-called Myriad Spirits Blood Rite was used in the Imperial City, and was indeed an evil ritual that sacrificed the Spiritual Qi, then the entire Imperial City was very likely the altar chosen by the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
"The competition in seven days seems to be more dangerous than I anticipated."
Chu Yunfei slowly stood up.
He did not remain in the quiet room, but stepped out.
It was completely dark outside.
Lin Wanyin still did not reply to the message.
Chu Yunfei took out the silver-white jade slip, glanced at it, and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
"This woman has quite a temper."
Since she was unwilling to respond, the only option was to go to her in person.
Chu Yunfei returned to the hermitage, changed into an unmarked black robe, and took out a bamboo hat from his storage ring that could conceal his divine sense.
He left a message for Wen Jiao.
"I'm going out to take care of some personal business, don't worry about me."
The jade talisman had just lit up when Wen Jiao's reply came back.
"Go find that Aunt Lin?"
Chu Yunfei touched his nose.
This woman's intuition is really accurate.
He didn't answer, but quietly left Pill Pavilion.
Inside a residence in the western part of the city.
Lin Wanyin remained seated by the bed, tightly clutching the communication jade slip in her hand.
She had read Chu Yunfei's words at least ten times.
Each time she looked at it, she wanted to reply.
But when her fingertips actually landed on the jade talisman, the image of Wen Jiao holding Chu Yunfei's arm in the front hall and calling him "husband" would reappear in her mind.
"Explain what...?"
"You already have another woman, why are you still bothering me?"
Lin Wanyin bit her red lips, her eyes filled with both grievance and a hint of expectation that she herself was unwilling to admit.
She didn't want to go back.
But she was also afraid that Chu Yunfei would really stop looking for her.
Not far from the door, Situ Shuang'er had been hiding in the shade of a mimosa tree for several hours.
She kept glancing at the closed door, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
In the past, Mother would go out after nightfall.
Why is there absolutely no movement today?
Situ Shuang'er was anxious, but dared not rush in.
My mother came back looking distraught, which meant something must have happened outside, or she must have met someone. If I just wait patiently, I might be able to find out by following her.
"I refuse to believe that Mother won't go out today."
Just then, the sect's jade talisman at her waist suddenly vibrated.
Situ Shuang'er took out the jade talisman and probed it with her divine sense. A hint of impatience immediately appeared on her face.
Why did the sect leader have to summon me back to the base at this particular time?
The message concerned the Seven Sects Grand Competition, demanding that all saints return to the council immediately and not be absent.
Situ Shuang'er looked up at the room where Lin Wanyin was.
There was still no movement inside.
She hesitated for a few moments, but finally got up and left the tree.
It looks like Mother won't be going out tonight.
"I'll come back and keep watch after the meeting is over."
Situ Shuang'er lightly touched the ground with her toes, and her white figure swiftly darted out of the courtyard, heading towards the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect's headquarters.
The main street of the imperial city was still brightly lit.
Wearing a bamboo hat, Chu Yunfei mingled in the crowd, circling around the north and east of the city, but still couldn't find Lin Wanyin's presence.
The imperial city is too large.
He dared not release his divine sense without any concealment.
The city is now teeming with powerful individuals, including more than one at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level. If anyone notices a stranger's divine sense sweeping across a wide area, it will inevitably alarm the other party and bring unnecessary trouble.
Chu Yunfei could only compress his divine sense to a range of a hundred feet, searching street by street.
As I turned a corner, a striking figure in white approached.
Chu Yunfei paused slightly.
" Situ Shuang'er?"
After a long absence, she had changed into the attire of the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Silver phoenix patterns flowed along the hem of her skirt, and her appearance remained as beautiful and refined as ever. Compared to the past, she possessed an even more ethereal and otherworldly aura, drawing frequent glances from passersby.
What truly surprised Chu Yunfei was her cultivation level.
Divine Sea Realm Second Layer.
When Situ Shuang'er left Qingyang City, she was still some distance away from the Heavenly Origin Realm.
In less than a month, she actually crossed two major realms and directly stepped into the Divine Sea Realm Second Layer.
Such speed is astonishing even by the standards of top-tier physique.
What kind of constitution did she awaken?
A hint of doubt flashed through Chu Yunfei's mind.
But that's all.
Their engagement had already been dissolved.
What opportunities Situ Shuang'er obtains or what physique she awakens are none of his business.
Chu Yunfei withdrew his gaze and continued forward.
At the same time, Situ Shuang'er also noticed the gaze that briefly lingered on her.
She turned her head to look.
Not far away, a man dressed in black wearing a straw hat had his face completely hidden in the shadows, and only his tall figure could be seen.
For some reason, Situ Shuang'er suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
"This person..."
"Have I seen this somewhere before?"
She stared at that figure for a moment.
But the man in black did not stop and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Situ Shuang'er shook her head.
There are countless black-clad cultivators in the imperial city; he was probably just having a mental breakdown these past few days, which led to his illusions.
She didn't chase after them, but turned around and continued towards the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect's headquarters.
Chu Yunfei searched along the direction Situ Shuang'er had come from.
Not long after, he stopped in front of an inconspicuous house in the west of the city.
His divine sense silently swept over the courtyard wall.
Inside the room, Lin Wanyin sat blankly on the bed, holding a jade slip in her hand.
Chu Yunfei's lips slowly curled into a smile.
" Aunt Lin, you've made me search so hard!"
Deep within his consciousness, Xiaoxiao Dragon suddenly perked up.
"Hey kid, are you planning to ride a horse tonight?"
"How about I discuss a deal with you?"
Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow.
What transaction?
Xiaoxiao Dragon chuckled, his tone full of excitement.
"It's very simple."
"Once you go inside, you are not allowed to block my divine sense."
"I promise I will only watch and will not make a sound to disturb you."
Chu Yunfei's face instantly darkened.
"Are you sure you're a female dragon, and not a lustful male dragon?"
Xiaoxiao Dragon was furious.
"Nonsense! My bloodline is pure, and heaven and earth bear witness that I am a peerless dragon maiden, a rare find indeed! How dare you question my gender?"
With her hands on her hips, she said aggressively, "Stop talking nonsense, are you going to agree or not?"
"If you agree, I will forgive and forget your previous offense against me using that so-called Supreme Divine Whip."
Chu Yunfei raised his hand to lower his bamboo hat, calmly uttering a single word:
"Roll!"