An Empty City

"What?" Yue Guan cried out.

His voice was so loud that even Gui Mei, standing beside him, felt his ears ache from the sound.

"I didn't just obtain one or two plants. I found a place where immortal-grade medicinal herbs grow," Jun Yan continued.

"A place where they grow!" Yue Guan frowned, sensing that things weren't so simple. "This isn't the place to talk. Come with me."

With that, he led Jun Yan to a deserted spot nearby. Gui Mei naturally followed.

Before Jun Yan could speak, Yue Guan said to him, "Immortal-grade herbs all have different growing habits. Some prefer shade, others sunlight; some thrive in heat, others fear fire. How could they possibly grow in the same place?"

Faced with Yue Guan's doubts, Jun Yan said calmly, "The world is vast, and full of wonders."

Then he asked, "Elder, do you know how I advanced to Soul Saint?"

"You consumed immortal-grade medicinal herbs," Yue Guan answered.

"I did consume immortal-grade herbs, but do you know exactly which ones, Elder?"

Jun Yan had decided to give immortal-grade medicinal herbs all the credit for his advancement. Otherwise, gaining ten levels in a year would have been too unbelievable.

Yue Guan shook his head. Naturally, he couldn't possibly know.

If Jun Yan had consumed a singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, he could have recognized it from its Qi, but he couldn't identify other immortal-grade herbs.

"Octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot."

"Octagonal... infernal..."

Yue Guan murmured the names, then suddenly exclaimed, "One is extremely hot, the other extremely cold. You actually dared to consume them at the same time? Weren't you afraid the water and fire would clash and make your body explode?"

"Rather than worrying about whether my body would explode, shouldn't you be surprised that two Immortal Herbs with completely opposite properties could grow together?"

Yue Guan nodded. "That is indeed hard to believe."

Then he gave Jun Yan a complicated look. "It seems you aren't entirely ignorant about immortal-grade medicinal herbs, or you wouldn't have consumed two at once."

Jun Yan didn't deny it. "I do know a little, but not as much as you do, Elder. That's why I'll come to you for advice later."

Yue Guan said sincerely, "This may be presumptuous, but I still want to know where this place you mentioned, where immortal-grade medicinal herbs grow, is."

"We're on Sea God Island now. Even if you knew where it was, it wouldn't do you any good. How about I take you there after we return to the continent?"

In the end, Jun Yan decided to tell Yue Guan where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was. There was no other reason: Ju and Gui's Martial Soul Fusion Skill was simply too useful.

Moreover, Jun Yan believed that, after what had happened today, the two would surely become his staunch supporters in the future.

"It's a deal, then. Old Ghost, let's go," Yue Guan said happily, then made to leave with Gui Mei.

Gui Mei only half understood what immortal-grade medicinal herbs were and had no idea what the two were talking about. He only knew they were discussing something very precious.

After taking only a couple of steps, Yue Guan suddenly turned back and asked Jun Yan, "By the way, is there a singular velvet sky chrysanthemum there?"

Jun Yan nodded. "There is."

Yue Guan nodded, then promised, "I'll keep you safe here on Sea God Island. As long as Old Ghost and I are alive, you won't die."

Jun Yan smiled. "Then thank you, Elder."

The two-thousand-strong force continued toward Sea Ghost City. Before long, they emerged from the forest and came to a city.

It was a small city, with walls only five meters high and a towering structure at its center. The structure was shaped like a pointed cone, and an enormous manta ray statue stood at its peak.

Manta rays were also known as devilfish, and the Sea Ghost Sacred Pillar took its name from them.

But when the people of Spirit Hall arrived at Sea Ghost City, they found it completely deserted.

Although the city was empty, the main force stayed outside as a precaution. Instead, they sent a squad of Soul Masters led by a Soul Saint to investigate.

The scouts soon returned. The city really was empty, but its inhabitants seemed to have left only recently; there was still hot tea in some of the houses.

Qian Jun Douluo surmised, "They probably fled to avoid the fighting."

"Elder, what should we do?"

The sun was already slanting eastward, so Qian Jun said, "Since they've left the city to us, we'll go in and rest for the night."

The Soul Master force entered Sea Ghost City as ordered.

Night fell. To guard against a night attack by the people of Sea God Island, Qian Jun had specifically assigned people to take turns standing watch, but all their efforts were wasted.

Sea God Island sent no one to interfere. Apart from evacuating the people of Sea Ghost City, it made no other moves.

Aside from the Sea Soul Masters they had seen coming to observe the situation when they landed, the people of Spirit Hall had not encountered a single Sea Soul Master since.

Early the next morning, the Soul Masters above the Soul Saint level were summoned to a meeting at the Sea Ghost City lord's residence. Jun Yan was naturally among them.

At the residence, Bibi Dong was very surprised to see Jun Yan. "Why are you here?" she asked.

Jun Yan looked as though his anger had yet to subside. "The elder ordered everyone above the Soul Saint level to attend the meeting. Of course I'm here."

"You... you really are a Soul Saint?" Bibi Dong asked, somewhat incredulous.

"Would I lie to you?" Jun Yan held out his right hand, and seven Soul Rings appeared above his palm.

Bibi Dong exclaimed in surprise, "How did you get there so quickly? My Soul Power is only at level sixty-five."

This time, Jun Yan didn't answer. Instead, he raised his head and looked around, then said with an anxious look, "The elder must be waiting. I need to hurry over."

Just then, Gui Mei walked past. Jun Yan immediately called, "Ghost Elder!" and hurried over to him.

No one knew what Yue Guan had told Gui Mei, but his usual cold expression was gone. Smiling broadly, he said, "Jun Yan! Are you going to the meeting? Let's go together."

"Ghost Elder!" Bibi Dong called, stepping forward.

Gui Mei seemed to have only just noticed Bibi Dong. "Oh, the Holy Maiden is here too."

"I've been here the whole time," Bibi Dong said helplessly.

"Were you two talking? Then carry on." Gui Mei suddenly understood, thinking he had simply come at the wrong time.

But Jun Yan said, "We're finished talking. It's time to go see Elder Qian Jun."

Gui Mei didn't understand what was going on. He only remembered Yue Guan telling him that Jun Yan had something good, something that could greatly increase one's strength when consumed.

He immediately followed Jun Yan's lead. "Then let's go."

The three arrived at the meeting hall just as Elder Qian Jun was speaking. "The people of Sea God Island are avoiding battle. Presumably, they're gathering their strength to settle the outcome with us in a single fight. Everyone, do not let your guard down. Please be ready for battle at all times."

"Yes!"

Qian Jun Douluo was right. That was indeed what the Sea Soul Masters of Sea God Island had in mind.

Spirit Hall's forces reached the three cities of Sea Horse, Sea Star, and Sea Spear in succession, but all were deserted. Their inhabitants had evidently been evacuated.

Sea God Island had seven cities, and the strongest among them now was Sea Maiden City. The guardian of the Sea Maiden Sacred Pillar, Sea Maiden Douluo, was a level ninety-five Titled Douluo.

And the next city Spirit Hall was headed for was Sea Maiden City.