Chapter 94: Qian Renxue Arrives in Nuoding City
Jiang Li’er sat down on a rock beside him, tilting her head to look at him; her beautiful eyes held a hint of curiosity.
"What are your plans for the future? Are you just going to keep cultivating here by the lake?"
Jiang Bai swallowed the fruit pulp in his mouth, thought for a moment, and replied, "I intend to cultivate here at the Lake of Life until I reach Level 60. The environment here is superb, and my safety is guaranteed. Once I break through to the Soul Emperor rank..."
He paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon. "...I will venture out to travel the continent, seeking out more opportunities—especially rare heavenly treasures that can accelerate the growth of my Dragon Beast companions. Once they have all fully matured, my own strength will undergo a qualitative leap; at that point..."
He left the rest of the sentence unspoken, yet the fleeting glint of sharpness that flashed in his eyes spoke volumes.
Jiang Li’er naturally guessed what he was alluding to: returning to Spirit City to settle old scores, seeking out Qian Renxue, and similar matters.
She did not press further, merely giving a soft "Mm."
The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.
She picked up another Golden Jade Fruit, turning it over in her hands, then suddenly looked up at Jiang Bai—her crimson eyes gleaming with a hint of eagerness.
"Um... once we’re done eating, would you spar with me again? I feel like I’ve made some progress recently!"
Watching her—looking as if she wanted to issue a challenge yet felt a tad sheepish about it—Jiang Bai couldn’t help but chuckle.
"What? You’re itching for another beating?"
"It’s not a foregone conclusion who’s going to get beaten!" Jiang Li’er’s face flushed crimson as she defiantly puffed out her chest.
"Alright then," Jiang Bai readily agreed, flexing his wrists.
"It’ll be the perfect way to help digest the medicinal energy from this Golden Jade Fruit."
...
Meanwhile, in Nuoding City, at the Spirit Hall Branch Temple...
On the plaza in front of the temple, a troop of white-armored knights—dusty from their journey yet exuding a chillingly cold aura—had just arrived and were currently tending to their horses.
Sisi—a branch hall deacon and a Soul Master of striking beauty and capable demeanor—stepped forward briskly to greet them, wearing a respectful yet warm smile: "Esteemed Lords, you have traveled a long way; you must be weary! Your rooms have already been prepared, and hot water and fresh clothing are fully stocked. Dinner is currently being readied; would you prefer to retire to your rooms first to wash up and rest, or would you rather dine immediately?"
Tian Yue waved her hand and addressed Sisi: "Take the other brothers to get settled and wash up first. The Captain and I need to see Master Matthew Nuo immediately."
"Yes, my Lord," Sisi promptly replied, respectfully leading the other Holy Knights toward the side hall’s resting quarters while simultaneously arranging for attendants to tend to their horses.
...
Inside Matthew Nuo’s office.
The atmosphere was so heavy with tension that it felt as though it could drip water.
Qian Renxue sat upright behind the desk that had formerly belonged to Matthew Nuo; she had not yet removed her light armor of white and gold, and her face was etched with a chilling frost.
Tian Yue stood at her side with her arms crossed, her emerald eyes gleaming with cold intensity.
Master Matthew Nuo stood before the desk, bowing slightly; fine beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his hands clenched involuntarily, betraying his extreme nervousness.
"He... escaped?" Qian Renxue’s voice was calm, yet it felt like an arctic gale sweeping across Matthew’s eardrums.
"How did he get away?"
Matthew swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"Reporting... reporting to you, Young Master. On the night of the incident, the entire dungeon guard detail was slaughtered, and the cell door was violently smashed open by an incredibly powerful force."
"According to... according to the subsequent testimony of another prisoner who shared a cell with Yu Xiaogang, Yu Xiaogang was taken away by a middle-aged man—a figure of extraordinary height and bulk, dressed in utterly disheveled attire. That man possessed blinding speed and terrifying strength; he is suspected... suspected to be a powerful Soul Master with unfathomable cultivation."
Qian Renxue’s slender brows furrowed. "Yu Xiaogang knew a Soul Master of such power here in Nuoding City? Are there any leads?"
Matthew hurriedly shook his head.
"Your subordinate has conducted a thorough investigation. Yu Xiaogang has made very few acquaintances in this region; the only person he could be said to have any rapport with is the Dean of Nuoding Academy. However, that Dean possesses merely the cultivation of a Soul Elder; furthermore, he is a cautious man who would never dare to openly defy the Spirit Hall on Yu Xiaogang’s behalf. It could not possibly be him."
Could it be the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? But why wouldn’t they have stepped forward sooner?
Why wait until Yu Xiaogang had already been imprisoned before launching a jailbreak?
Qian Renxue’s mind raced; she sensed that there was a deeper, hidden truth behind this affair.
She pressed on, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "Aside from this Dean, with whom else has Yu Xiaogang maintained close ties during his time here?"
Upon hearing this, Matthew hurriedly plucked a pre-prepared dossier from the stack of documents cluttering his desk and respectfully presented it to Qian Renxue with both hands.
"As you command, Young Master. Aside from the Dean of Nuoding Academy, the person with whom Yu Xiaogang has had the closest interactions during his stay here is the disciple he took under his wing—a young boy named Tang San. These are his records."
Qian Renxue accepted the dossier and unfolded it.
"Tang San? Spirit: Blue Silver Grass. Innate Soul Power... Full Soul Power?"
As Qian Renxue’s cool, clear voice articulated those words, it paused ever so slightly. "What?"
Tian Yue, standing nearby, also looked astonished as she leaned in to take a closer look.
"Blue Silver Grass? This Spirit—universally acknowledged as a ’waste Spirit’—possesses innate full Spirit Power? This Blue Silver Grass... could it be a mutation? Or perhaps it isn’t ordinary Blue Silver Grass at all?"
Qian Renxue’s gaze, meanwhile, remained locked firmly on the name "Tang San" and the Spirit listed alongside it: "Blue Silver Grass."
Deep within her violet eyes, it was as if a cold vortex were beginning to form.
Tang San? Blue Silver Grass?
Surname: Tang. Spirit: Blue Silver Grass... Age: six or seven...
That one from back then... wasn’t it called the Blue Silver Emperor?
Several keywords collided and combined within her mind, and a startling hypothesis gradually surfaced.
Tian Yue, standing beside her, evidently made the same connection; her beautiful eyes suddenly widened as she let out a hushed, involuntary gasp: "He... could he possibly be... Tang Hao’s son?! If that’s true, then that tall, disheveled man who abducted Yu Xiaogang... wouldn’t that be... Tang Hao himself?!"
Tang Hao!
The name struck like a thunderbolt, exploding within the confines of the small office.
Qian Renxue’s fingers, gripping the dossier, turned white at the knuckles from the sheer force of her grip.
On her exquisite face, the expression of icy coldness intensified; a biting, palpable killing intent seemed to emanate from her very being.
Good... truly excellent!
Yu Xiaogang... you worthless wretch!
You certainly know how to latch onto the powerful!
It would be one thing if you had merely hooked up with someone from the Clear Sky Sect—but to think you actually managed to hook up with Tang Hao!
That sworn enemy of the Spirit Hall... that...
Every single one of you... deserves to die!
Fresh grievances and old grudges surged within her chest like boiling magma.
All her anger, pain, and hatred seemed to find a single focal point for release in that very moment.
She lifted her eyes; within their violet depths lay a frozen landscape of pure, murderous intent. Her voice rang out—decisive, absolute, and brooking no possibility of doubt.
"Regardless of whether this Tang San truly is Tang Hao’s son or not—better to kill the wrong person than to let the right one escape!"
Her gaze shifted toward the pale-faced Matthew, and she spoke each word with the authority of a monarch’s decree:
"Master Matthew, in the name of the Hall of Elders, I command you: immediately draft a wanted order and notify every Spirit Hall branch and sub-branch across all the neighboring provinces and kingdoms! The targets of this manhunt are Yu Xiaogang and his disciple, Tang San!"
"Portraits and physical descriptions are to be distributed immediately! Should any trace of them be discovered, no branch is permitted to act on its own initiative; they must report it to headquarters at the very first opportunity! Furthermore, place Notting Academy under strict surveillance—specifically the Headmaster and anyone associated with him. Report any unusual activity immediately, the moment it occurs!"
"Yes! I humbly obey the Young Master’s command! Your subordinate shall attend to it at once!"
Matthew felt as though he had been granted a reprieve, yet simultaneously felt the crushing weight of immense pressure.
He hurriedly bowed to accept the order, then practically stumbled backward out of the office to carry out this sudden, gravely significant command.
Inside the office, only Qian Renxue and Tian Yue remained.
The final lingering rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting their glow upon Qian Renxue’s cold, profile—leaving one half of her face bathed in light, and the other shrouded in shadow.