By nightfall, platoons of the Tianshui City garrison marched through the streets with hurried expressions.

The thoroughfares were emptied of brawling Tian Shi practitioners and common pedestrians alike. Every household kept its doors bolted tight, only daring to open them for questioning when they heard the loud shouts of the Tianshui City generals outside.

The Lingbao Pavilion.

The situation was clearly under control. Chen family Tian Shi were stationed everywhere within the pavilion, while the Tianshui City army was dispersed, holding back a number of Tian Shi who had been scrambling for spirit treasures inside, presumably for interrogation.

At a street corner directly opposite the Lingbao Pavilion, separated by a street a few meters wide, Ji Changkong’s eyes glittered, fixed on the bustling main entrance of the pavilion.

Looking from a distance, the Tian Shi emerging from the Lingbao Pavilion all seemed to have undergone some kind of inspection; every single one who walked out muttered curses, their expressions tinged with dissatisfaction.

Without needing to focus his hearing, Ji Changkong could roughly surmise the situation just by looking at their faces.

The Lingbao Pavilion must have made them hand over the spirit treasures they had seized inside. So many Tian Shi who had displayed their treasures in the Lingbao Hall were killed; the Lingbao Pavilion was undeniably responsible. Those Tian Shi would surely have relatives and sects who would eventually come seeking trouble with the pavilion.

Since lives were already lost, the Lingbao Pavilion could only try its best to locate the spirit treasures. That way, they would have something to account for when the relatives and sects arrived looking for answers.

People are inherently selfish, and Ji Changkong was no exception. The Moon Heart Stone, Sun Heart Stone, and Tian Yuan Bead were all on him. He had narrowly managed to keep hold of the Moon Heart Stone, Sun Heart Stone, and Tian Yuan Bead after killing Du Shaofeng and Shen Chen, two masters who had nearly cost him his life. Naturally, he was unwilling to return to the Lingbao Pavilion and turn them over.

Forgive me, he thought silently, continuing to stare at the entrance to the Lingbao Hall. His Mustard Seed Pouch had been generously gifted to him by Chen Yihui, the third manager of the Chen family. Having made his decision, Ji Changkong felt a flicker of shame, believing he had let her down.

Dressed in a plain white, long skirt, Bai Qingya’s exquisite features were etched with worry, and she walked out of the Lingbao Hall looking utterly distraught.

Trailing behind her, Bai Canghai frowned, murmuring words of comfort.

As Ji Changkong emerged from the street corner, seeing that Bai Canghai had actually arrived in Tianshui City and found Bai Qingya, he suddenly hesitated.

Bai Canghai possessed the cultivation of a Seven-Star Heaven, and Bai Qingya herself was at the Five Elements Heaven realm. Now that father and daughter had reunited, few in Tianshui City would likely be able to harm them. The Spirit Treasure Convention was over, and there seemed to be no pressing need for him to see Bai Qingya again; meeting her now would only create unnecessary trouble for himself.

The death of the Du family’s young master, Du Shaofeng, was his doing. Those who pursued him later must have discovered this fact. The Old Matriarch of the Du family doted on her grandson Du Shaofeng; once she heard this news, who knew how she would deal with him? There was no point in inviting trouble for Bai Qingya’s sake.

A shifty-looking rogue was impatiently shoved away by a Chen family guard. He craned his neck, shouting, “I’m part of the Chen family too! Why are you driving me away?”

“If your surname isn't Chen, you’re not part of the Chen family,” a Chen family guard declared with disdain, staring coldly at the man. “Chen Wei, please stop using the Chen family’s name to swindle people from now on. If it weren't for the fact that your great-grandfather once served as a groom for an elder of the Chen family, your actions would have seen you dealt with long ago. You best watch yourself!”

“Hmph, what’s so great about that,” the shifty-eyed man grumbled a few things under his breath before sullenly getting up. He dusted the dirt from his clothes and nonchalantly walked in this direction.

At this moment, the father and daughter, Bai Canghai and Bai Qingya, had just left the Chen family gates and were proceeding elsewhere.

Suddenly darting out from the street corner, Ji Changkong produced a high-grade Yuan Stone and the Moon Heart Stone, handing them both to the shifty-eyed Chen Wei. He said quickly, “Uncle, take this high-grade Yuan Stone, and help me deliver this piece of stone to that young lady in white up ahead.”

“Oh, a windfall like this!” Chen Wei was instantly delighted. Without another word, he snatched the Moon Heart Stone and the high-grade Yuan Stone. He said with a grin, “Little brother, I remember you. You bought a jade hairpin from me, didn’t you? Hehe, did you offend her somehow, that you dare not deliver something yourself?”

Nodding quickly, Ji Changkong urged him, “Hurry up and go! She’s getting far away. I’ll be watching you from behind.”

“Right away!” Chen Wei let out a dry chuckle and immediately stopped wasting time, hurrying after the receding figure of Bai Qingya.

Ji Changkong slipped back into the shadow of the street corner, watching from afar. The reason he chose Chen Wei was that the man was ignorant of true treasures, and moreover, his cultivation was too weak. If Chen Wei truly dared to abscond with the Moon Heart Stone and the high-grade Yuan Stone, Ji Changkong was confident he could retrieve them in Tianshui City.

“Miss! Miss!” Chen Wei called out loudly.

Bai Qingya, whose mood was already foul, turned around and glanced dismissively at Chen Wei. “What is it?”

“The young man who bought a jade hairpin at my stall with you a few days ago asked me to give you this item. Hehe, did he perhaps offend you somewhere? Why is he standing over there by the corner, yet dares not come out to see you?”

“The Moon Heart Stone!”

Bai Qingya gasped, but instead of reaching for the Moon Heart Stone she had longed for, she hurried toward the direction Chen Wei indicated.

The street corner was empty.

“Changkong! Changkong!” Bai Qingya called out anxiously, but received no reply.

A moment later, Bai Canghai arrived beside her, placing the Moon Heart Stone into her palm. He patted her shoulder gently, murmuring comfortingly, “Ya’er, don't worry. That lad will certainly be fine.”

Bai Qingya stood stunned at the street corner, murmuring softly, “Why? Why won’t he see me?”

Letting out a gentle breath, Ji Changkong quietly slipped past Bai Qingya and turned onto another long street.

“Who?” Suddenly, Ji Changkong sensed a distinct fluctuation of Yuan Power ripple nearby—someone was concealed in the shadows, seemingly tracking him.

On the long, dark street, a tall, cold shadow suddenly flashed out, abruptly standing before Ji Changkong.

“It’s you?” Frowning as he looked at the person who appeared before him, Ji Changkong felt a touch of surprise. During the Spirit Treasure Convention, Ji Changkong had traded a Black Jade Yuan Crystal with this man for a thumb ring and another Yuan Stone suitable for Bai Qingya.

Xiao Shu scrutinized Ji Changkong, his voice cold. “You are Ji Changkong, correct?”

His expression shifting, Ji Changkong immediately became wary. “How do you know my name? And how did you find me?”

“Don’t be nervous, I mean no harm.” Xiao Shu glanced around. “The armies on the street are too troublesome. Follow me; I have something to tell you, something about your father...”

Father?

The word struck him like thunder. This was the first time anyone had mentioned that word since he left the Ji family.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ji Changkong followed Xiao Shu. After winding and turning for a while, they arrived at an old house overgrown with weeds and falling into disrepair. The place was vast, but clearly uninhabited for a long time, covered everywhere in cobwebs and dust.

The journey had taken them through districts full of such dilapidated structures. Ji Changkong, accustomed to the prosperity of Tianshui City, had no idea such a place existed within it.

Xiao Shu entered the ruin, seemingly unconcerned by the filth, and sat down heavily. He spoke to Ji Changkong, who followed him in: “There aren't many places that yield Black Jade Yuan Crystal; Poison Dragon Mire is one of them. Initially, I didn’t realize you were Ji Changkong. After leaving the Lingbao Hall, I thought about it for a while before confirming that you were the Ji Changkong capable of summoning the Ferocious Beast of the Cloud Dream. After all, father and son share some resemblance.”

“The thumb ring you are wearing—the Dark Ghost Insects inside were originally nourished by my blood. Although you feed them now, a trace of my blood remains within them, allowing me to faintly sense your location through them. However...”

“I don’t care about that! I only care about matters concerning him!” Ji Changkong interrupted sharply, his face grim.

Xiao Shu’s expression remained cold, ignoring the interruption. He continued, “However, your blood is somewhat abnormal. In just a few days since the Dark Ghost Insects came into your possession, they have become exceptionally violent and ferocious! I can feel that their growth rate has accelerated significantly compared to before! In three more days, I will no longer be able to sense their existence. After three days, you will be their true and sole master! That is why I rushed to find you.”

“Speak! About matters concerning him!” Ji Changkong growled.

“Why? Why have the Dark Ghost Insects changed so drastically in just a few days in your hands? They only suck your blood when you activate the thumb ring with your Yuan Power. How much blood could they have taken in a few days? How did they become so powerful and irritable?” Xiao Shu continued, his face cold but his tone unhurried.

“I only want to know about matters concerning him!” Ji Changkong stated firmly.

“As expected of a successor to the Xuanyuan lineage,” Xiao Shu suddenly nodded, his expression softening slightly, as if greatly satisfied with Ji Changkong’s aggressive manner. “You’ve only just emerged, and you’ve already slain the darling of the Du family’s Old Matriarch! Not bad; you have presence!”

“The new generation Xuanyuan? You must be mistaken. My grandfather tested me a long time ago; the blood flowing in me is not Purple Blood at all,” Ji Changkong said gravely.

“Whether you are Xuanyuan or not, Purple Blood is not the sole criterion for measurement.” Xiao Shu remained unmoved. He stared deeply at Ji Changkong for a long moment before speaking, “The Hidden Dragon Abyss where the Du family now resides is your Ji family’s ancestral land. The fate of your parents—whether they live or die—is inextricably linked to the Du family’s Old Matriarch. Now that you have killed her beloved Du Shaofeng, she will not only refuse to spare you, but she will never spare the Ji family either!”

“The Du family?”

“Indeed, the Du family!” Xiao Shu stated sharply, continuing, “Your father and I were acquainted back then. My Xiao family has always been at odds with the Du family. I intended to help your father, but he was too arrogant and explicitly refused my offer. Later, through intelligence from the Xiao family, I learned that your father went alone to the Hidden Dragon Abyss to confront the Du family in a dispute, and he never reappeared after that.”

“My mother, who is my mother? Do you know anything about my mother?” Ji Changkong’s voice trembled slightly.

“I do not know your mother’s identity, but your mother likely has some connection to Li Hentian,” Xiao Shu replied.

“Li Hentian? Who is he?”

“A fiend renowned throughout the world.”