After the conclusion of the academic exchange conference, Ning Tianchen enjoyed a period of leisure.
In recent days, aside from accompanying Ning Rongrong on outings, he spent most of his time cultivating in the rear mountains.
Now, he was not only experimenting with refining his "Sword Heart," but also practicing the Beast Soul Transformation for weapon-type martial souls. His daily schedule was packed with cultivation. Of course, when he had spare moments, he would also work on his Seven Kill Sword techniques and Killing God Domain.
At the same time, back at the original Shrek Academy's rear mountain, after being brought back to the wooden cabin by Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang became despondent. He lost all interest in food and drink, spending his days staring at the ceiling of the cabin, deep in thought.
Liu Erlong understood that this blow had deeply affected him, but watching Yu Xiaogang fall into such despair made her feel an overwhelming sense of guilt.
"How could I have been so foolish? Knowing full well it was a trap, I still led Xiaogang straight into it..."
At Yu Xiaogang's age and with his level of cultivation, facing such a major life setback caused his spirit to shatter almost instantly. His hair turned completely white overnight.
One day, as usual, Liu Erlong brought food to Yu Xiaogang.
By now, Yu Xiaogang had grown gaunt and emaciated, practically skin and bones. If this continued, it wouldn't be long before he passed away.
Before Liu Erlong could console him, a messenger's voice came from outside. "Is this Liu Erlong's house? There's a letter for you. I've placed it under the stone at the entrance—please remember to retrieve it."
The messenger didn't linger. Seeing signs of habitation in the house, he left the letter in a conspicuous spot and quickly departed.
Ordinary people wouldn't live on a mountain within the city. Who knows what kind of strange individuals resided here—it was better to be cautious.
As soon as the messenger left, Liu Erlong stepped out of the cabin to retrieve the letter.
The letter bore no signature. After opening it, Liu Erlong skimmed through its contents.
The letter addressed Liu Erlong as "Master's Wife" and Yu Xiaogang as "Master." Moreover, from the tone of the writing and the handwriting, Liu Erlong was certain that this letter came from Tang San.
Tang San, as Yu Xiaogang's most accomplished disciple, was also his pride and joy.
Carefully, Liu Erlong handed the letter to Yu Xiaogang, hoping it would help untangle the knots in his heart.
"Xiaogang, this is a letter sent by Xiao San. Take a look."
At the mention of Tang San's name, Yu Xiaogang, who had long since become numb, showed a slight flicker of emotion on his face. However, he made no move—perhaps he was too weak from hunger to do anything.
Seeing this, Liu Erlong read the contents of the letter aloud for him.
In the letter, Tang San expressed that he was aware of Yu Xiaogang's plight. Moreover, he had been present at the scene that day, personally witnessing how the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and many scholars had set up a trap for Yu Xiaogang.
Due to his current special circumstances, Tang San couldn't reveal himself publicly and could only express his concern through this letter.
Additionally, Tang San mentioned that after this period of cultivation, the drawbacks of his twin martial souls had been temporarily suppressed, and his strength had significantly improved. In the future, if given the opportunity, he would certainly clear Yu Xiaogang's name and expose the ugly faces of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the scholars.
Upon hearing this, a long-absent smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. In a faint voice, he said, "Erlong, quickly feed me something to eat. Xiao San... Xiao San will prove my theory. I must survive!"
Liu Erlong burst into tears of joy.
At least Yu Xiaogang had regained hope for life. Perhaps they could still live a good life in the future.
---
In the afternoon, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe sent an official from the Prince's residence to deliver an invitation to Ning Tianchen.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong happened to be with him. "Brother Tianchen, you go ahead. I have some lessons later—I won't join in the fun."
Compared to the original timeline, Ning Rongrong now seemed reluctant to take on the responsibilities of the sect. In her mind, as long as Ning Tianchen was around, there was nothing they couldn't handle.
Ning Tianchen affectionately said, "I'll go check it out first, but I think today might keep me busy until very late. Rongrong, eat dinner without me."
After giving instructions, he didn't linger and quickly followed the official to the Prince's residence.
Upon arriving at the Prince's residence, Xue Qinghe had already been waiting for some time.
"Tianchen, you've arrived just in time."
Ning Tianchen glanced at the carriage parked at the entrance and couldn't help asking, "Where are we going, Brother Xue?"
"To Yue Xuan." After saying this, he gestured for Ning Tianchen to enter the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Xue Qinghe explained, "Today is Yue Xuan's graduation ceremony. My younger sister invited me to attend."
"Today, we can approach Tang San and try to extract some information from him."
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "It's useless."
Tang San hadn't participated in any matters related to the Hao Tian Sect. Asking him too much would only tip them off unnecessarily.
Moreover, the Hao Tian Sect was currently like a rat hiding in the shadows—they hadn't organized any activities.
Xue Qinghe elaborated, "This matter—you can't tell anyone. Recently, news from the palace indicates that woman has gone mad, sending out many people to search for the hidden location of the Hao Tian Sect. I remember you once mentioned that the Hao Tian Sect's base should be about two hundred miles from Tiandou City."
"But despite searching for a long time, we've found nothing."
Ning Tianchen had accidentally mentioned this during his recounting of Hao Te's team's encounter.
What he hadn't expected was that Bibi Dong would actually make a move against the Hao Tian Sect.
On second thought, it made sense. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was currently at the height of its influence, bolstered by the prestige gained from the academic exchange conference. Unless Bibi Dong had completely lost her mind, she wouldn't dare act against them.
However, it seemed she wasn't willing to abandon the Soul-Hunting Operation. Targeting only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family with such meticulous planning seemed wasteful.
Ning Tianchen speculated that she likely intended to eliminate two of the top three sects, leaving the remaining one isolated, and using this as a stepping stone for her plan to unify the continent.
Ning Tianchen only knew the general area where the Hao Tian Sect was located; he had no specific details.
"Brother Xue, it's best not to stir up trouble prematurely. Following the location I mentioned earlier, search nearby for high mountains or cliffs. I once visited a secluded sect—the geographical location chosen by the Hao Tian Sect should be similar to theirs."
Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment, finding his reasoning sound. He lifted the carriage curtain and quietly communicated with someone outside the window.
The subsequent visit to Yue Xuan proceeded without incident.
Tang San continued to conceal his identity, while Xue Qinghe and Ning Tianchen played along accordingly.
During this banquet, Xue Qinghe introduced Ning Tianchen to several influential figures in the imperial court. Most of them had already aligned themselves with the Spirit Hall, making them allies of Xue Qinghe.
In times of emergency, Ning Tianchen could also seek their assistance.
---
After the graduation ceremony at Yue Xuan concluded, Tang San didn't linger. He turned and left immediately.
Xue Qinghe wanted to send people to follow him, but Ning Tianchen stopped him. "No need. His anti-tracking awareness is strong—your people would easily be exposed. Besides, this trip of his may not lead to the Hao Tian Sect."
According to the original timeline, Tang San was heading to a waterfall outside the Great Star Dou Forest to meet Tang Hao. Afterwards, he would return to the Hao Tian Sect following Tang Yuehua's instructions.
Thus, tracking Tang San at this point would not only be meaningless but would also risk tipping them off.
Ning Tianchen didn't explicitly say these things, but as an ally, Xue Qinghe instinctively chose to trust him.
After leaving Yue Xuan, Ning Tianchen didn't choose to ride back in Xue Qinghe's carriage. On his way home, he unexpectedly encountered Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and their sister Huo Wu sitting dejectedly in front of a tavern, drinking.
Out of curiosity and nostalgia for Feng Xiaotian, he approached and greeted them. "You three—why do you look so disheveled? Did someone bully you?"
Upon hearing the voice, Huo Wu, who was already irritated, couldn't help but curse. "Who the hell is gossiping behind our backs!"
When she stood up and saw Ning Tianchen, she exclaimed in surprise, "Ning Tianchen?"
Huo Wushuang and Feng Xiaotian also rose simultaneously. "Long time no see."
Ning Tianchen didn't mind Huo Wu's rudeness. He patted their shoulders, signaling for them to sit, and called out, "Waiter, bring your finest wine!"
Seeing a wealthy customer, the waiter hurried over with a polite demeanor.
After the wine was served, Ning Tianchen asked, "What happened? You all look like wilted vegetables—what's got you so down?"
Feng Xiaotian and the others couldn't help but sigh.
Huo Wushuang, feeling guilty, said, "Sigh... It's all my fault. If I had acted quicker back then, we wouldn't have lost it."
"The problem is—we still don't know the identities of those people."
"What did you lose?" Ning Tianchen asked curiously.
Whatever it was, it clearly held immense value—not soul bones or rare treasures, but something extraordinarily precious.
"It was soul bones. A month ago, we found a den inside a cave system in the Great Star Dou Forest. The original owner must have died long ago. Inside, there were many remnants of soul bones, as well as intact ones. However, due to prolonged weathering, most of them had deteriorated and crumbled at a touch. Only a few remained relatively intact, but before we could collect them, a group of people swooped in and took everything."
"Sigh... It's also our fault for being weak. Among that group was a Soul Sage-level expert—we were no match for them."
Hearing about soul bones, Ning Tianchen became interested. "Oh? Tell me more about the situation."
Fights among soul beasts were common, and cannibalism among the same species was frequent. Over time, nests of soul beasts often accumulated some soul bones, though their condition varied greatly, with few remaining intact.
Based on his memory, Feng Xiaotian reconstructed the scene. There were at least three ten-thousand-year soul bones and two thousand-year soul bones in poor condition.
However, they failed to protect them and were robbed by a team that frequently operated in the forest. Moreover, these people were very familiar with the terrain, making it impossible for them to catch up.
"If they took the soul bones but didn't kill you, it proves that these people likely know your background and are wary of you, so they didn't dare to make a decisive move. That's why you're still alive." Ning Tianchen said.
After some thought, Feng Xiaotian and the others acknowledged his words.
Of course, this was only speculation. It could also be that the attackers simply assumed their identities wouldn't be exposed and didn't want to draw unnecessary attention, which is why they held back.
Feng Xiaotian said, "The soul bones are extremely important. If there's no other way, I'll tell my grandfather and the others. We'll figure out how to get them back."
Ning Tianchen chuckled, "No need. Once those people have the soul bones, they only have two options: either absorb them themselves or sell them. You mentioned earlier that their team consists of one Soul Sage and three Soul Emperors, while there were five soul bones—meaning there must be one extra. What do you think? Will they try to sell the loot in a city near the Great Star Dou Forest?"
"So we should go intercept them?" Huo Wushuang asked.
Feng Xiaotian thought for a moment, then quickly shook his head. "No. According to usual practices, they will definitely anticipate that we might be lying in wait in cities near the Great Star Dou Forest, possibly even bringing elders from our family. Therefore, they might do the opposite of what we expect."
Ning Tianchen said, "If these people know your identity, they might pull off a 'lamp under the shade' maneuver and choose to sell the stolen goods at the Tiandou Auction House. Even if they don't know your identity, they might still come here. Anyway, they're already hard to find—why not stake out the Tiandou Auction House?"
Feng Xiaotian and the others knew that getting the soul bones back was highly unlikely.
In the territory of the soul beast forest, once something was taken, there was nothing to do but accept it with gritted teeth.
Suddenly, Feng Xiaotian realized something and asked, "Wait, how are you so certain that those people came to Tiandou City?"
The Tiandou Auction House was the largest auction house in the Tiandou Empire, and soul bones, being such valuable treasures, would fetch higher prices here. However, large-scale auction houses like this existed elsewhere on the continent as well.
What if the thieves went to another auction house? Wouldn't their trip be in vain?
Ning Tianchen smiled and retrieved an invitation from his soul-guiding device. "In the auction three days from now, there will be two thousand-year soul bones, two ten-thousand-year soul bones, and a mysterious final item that might also be a soul bone."
"Ah?" Feng Xiaotian and the others quickly took the invitation.
This was an invitation from the Tiandou Auction House, complete with a list of items up for auction. No wonder Ning Tianchen was so confident—the soul bones they lost might very well appear at the Tiandou Auction House.
Of course, whether they did or not was no longer important.
Once soul bones reached the Tiandou Auction House, the seller's identity and safety were guaranteed by the auction house. Seeking revenge against these people was now impossible.
"Four soul bones… Looks like they kept one." Feng Xiaotian's expression wavered between gloom and uncertainty.
Ning Tianchen patted his shoulder, "It's also possible that the sellers aren't the group you mentioned. Since we're here, let's go check out the auction house—it'll be good for a change of mood."
For the upcoming Tiandou Auction, the auction house had done excellent promotional work beforehand.
All the influential figures in the city had received invitations in advance. Additionally, advertisements were posted on bulletin boards in bustling areas throughout the city.
When Feng Xiaotian and the others entered the city, they were not in high spirits and hadn't considered that the soul bones might end up at the auction house, so they hadn't noticed.
After returning from their training, the trio had originally planned to rest for a while. Given that, they had no reason to refuse Ning Tianchen's invitation.
---
There were many items up for auction at this Tiandou Auction. Before the auction began, Ning Fengzhi gathered a considerable amount of funds, intending to compete fiercely for the soul bones.
Soul bones were undoubtedly strategic resources for any major sect.
Whether it was recruiting powerful individuals or rewarding meritorious contributors, soul bones were the most prestigious gifts.
Of course, a sect of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's stature never passed up opportunities to acquire soul bones.
"Tianchen, Rongrong, Bone Uncle and I will sit in the red VIP area. For lower-value items, it's inconvenient for us to bid directly—you can handle those on our behalf."
At the Tiandou Auction, there was an unwritten rule for those sitting in the red VIP area—they could only bid on high-value or final items. If they forcibly bid on low-value items, they risked being maliciously outbid by other red VIPs, wasting a lot of money unnecessarily.
Thus, handing over bids for lower-value items to Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong saved them a lot of trouble.
"Uncle Ning, the scale of this Tiandou Auction is much larger than previous ones. All the major powers will surely compete fiercely, causing significant price premiums. The value of the final mystery item is likely to be extremely high, attracting fierce competition."
"Therefore, I think we should skip bidding on the thousand-year soul bones and focus on conserving funds for the final item."
Though the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was one of the owners of the Tiandou Auction House, they didn't manage its operations and weren't privy to details about the final item.
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, "What you say makes sense. We'll decide based on the situation when the time comes."
Over the years, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had accumulated substantial wealth and, with no recent large-scale investments, their funds remained within the sect.
Among all the invited guests, Ning Fengzhi undoubtedly had the most resources. If the situation allowed, he might even have the ability to purchase all the final items outright.
Of course, as the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he couldn't recklessly spend money.
The current state of affairs on the continent was tumultuous, and even the Soul Master Tournament had been suspended. Who knows what major events might occur in the future?
Therefore, he needed to stockpile plenty of money and supplies to help the sect weather any crises.
---
At night, a shadow flew toward the top floor of Yue Xuan.
Tang Yuehua's bedroom window was open, and the figure slipped inside.
It was Tang Xiao, who anxiously said, "Yuehua, have you heard anything about Tang Yue and the others yet?"
Tang Yuehua rose to greet him, "My people have already been dispatched. According to Brother Hao, that team headed toward the Frozen Forest. Now, the roads into the Frozen Forest are blocked by heavy snow, making it difficult for my people to enter."
"Given Tang Yue and the others' strength, dealing with them shouldn't be a problem. Most likely, they've been trapped in the Snowy Plains Town due to the snow sealing off the mountain passes. By next spring, they might return."
Tang Xiao didn't respond but picked up a teacup nearby.
Tang Yue was a key disciple cultivated by the five elder masters and held significant importance within the sect.
This time, sending him to hunt down Hao Te's team was part of his training. Unexpectedly, after entering Snowy Plains Town, all contact with the sect was lost.
Under pressure from several elders, Tang Xiao had no choice but to seek Tang Yuehua's help.
"Hopefully, I'm just overthinking things," Tang Xiao took a sip of tea. "By the way, where's Xiao San?"
Tang Yuehua shook her head, "Xiao San has already left. According to my agreement with Brother Hao, Xiao San will soon return to the sect to reclaim his heritage. Brother Xiao, when the time comes, you'll need to mediate."
Tang Xiao nodded seriously.
Tang Hao and his son had been away from the sect for too long and endured much hardship during that time. As their elder brother (or uncle), how could he possibly stand idly by?
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