The soft, deep voice of Xiao Buyu sounded, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, imbued with an unspeakable oppression: "Have any of you seen anyone emerge?" The twelve experts from all directions simultaneously exchanged glances.
You were the first one in, and you found nothing; are you expecting us to find something?
Absolutely no one has come out!
"Second Brother, rest assured.
The twelve of us have completely locked down this entire area.
Within a radius of two hundred zhang, not even a mosquito could escape.
Second Brother, proceed with full force," the Third Elder said solemnly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
His hair was like silver, his beard like snow, and his long sword gleamed with cold light.
"Third Brother speaks truly!
Rest easy, Second Brother," the others immediately echoed, pledging their loyalty.
Had Xiao Buyu heard these words before this moment, he would certainly have felt gratified, even proud.
After all, the capabilities of this band of brothers were beyond question.
But now, hearing these grand pronouncements, Xiao Buyu only felt ridicule, even a shame so profound he felt he had nowhere to hide.
A potent sense of powerlessness surged from the depths of his heart.
He let out a long sigh toward the heavens, utterly dejected, and slowly descended from the sky, landing atop the Sheng Bao Hall, standing there lost in thought.
"Second Brother, what happened?" Everyone noticed the genuine distress emanating from his demeanor and quickly gathered around him, asking with concern.
"We failed..." Xiao Buyu sighed deeply, his eyes fixed on the distance, his expression desolate, filled with unwillingness, dejection, and intense humiliation!
Who was this person who stole the Soul-Sustaining Jade?
Looking across the world today, who possessed such skill that they moved like ghosts and spirits, unpredictable?
Coming, without trace; going, without shadow!
Even the First Supreme Yun Benchen and those few figures existing only in legend—could they possess such methods?
"Failed?...
Second Brother, you mean?!" The other twelve were instantly struck dumb with shock.
None of them were fools.
Since Xiao Buyu had first uttered, "Someone has come to seize the Soul-Sustaining Jade," they all knew what must have happened—likely that mysterious grand master had arrived.
They had been eager, bracing for a decisive confrontation.
But they hadn't even seen a shadow, initially thinking it was a false alarm.
Now, hearing Xiao Buyu personally declare, "We failed, and failed right here at home." If they couldn't understand the meaning of this now, they truly would have lived all these years for nothing.
"Could it be...?" The others looked at Xiao Buyu in disbelief.
Although they voiced their confusion looking at his expression, their tone already held certainty.
"Yes, you guessed correctly.
The Soul-Sustaining Jade has fallen into that person's hands.
That is an undeniable fact!" Xiao Buyu's soft, low voice was filled with overwhelming frustration.
"I didn't even see a shadow; the Soul-Sustaining Jade vanished; then I came out, and still saw no one; and you all, clearly, haven't found even the slightest clue...
Our Snow Wind Silver City has suffered a massive defeat this time." "How is that possible?
Second Brother, don't forget, the Soul-Sustaining Jade still carried your Spiritual Sense Imprint and the Thousand Li Soul-Tracing Incense," the Ninth Elder exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"With those two things, wouldn't finding him be as simple as lifting a finger?" When he said this, the faces of the others took on a strange expression that suggested, 'You are an idiot.' If those two methods were effective, why would Second Brother wear such a mournful face?
But the moment they thought this, their expressions collectively changed drastically.
"They were useless.
The moment this person obtained the Soul-Sustaining Jade, he effortlessly erased the Spiritual Sense Imprint I set using supreme methods; and simultaneously cleared away the scent of the Thousand Li Soul-Tracing Incense!
Now, even Little Fragrance [the little green eagle] is helpless," Xiao Buyu gave a bitter smile, looking up at the small green eagle circling in the air, feeling an overwhelming sense of futility.
"How can this be?!" The other twelve collectively drew a sharp breath.
"Once a Spiritual Sense Imprint is placed, it resonates directly with one's own spiritual sense, becoming an inseparable whole.
Absolutely no one should be able to sever such a mysterious, invisible connection so easily!
Who severed it?
And what level of strength is required to sever it?
Furthermore, the Thousand Li Soul-Tracing Incense is a unique secret medicine of our city.
Once it adheres to someone, it clings to the soul itself; unless washed away by our city's exclusive antidote, the unique scent can never be shed in a lifetime.
How did this person remove it?
This is all simply too unbelievable!" "Second Brother, are you absolutely certain?" A weighty voice inquired.
Following the sound, they saw it was the Fifth Elder, who had just arrived.
He was the most meticulous thinker among the nine brothers.
"Certain!" Xiao Buyu sighed heavily, knitting his brows, looking as if he had aged ten years in that instant.
He murmured, "What puzzles me most right now is this: since this person could instantly erase my Spiritual Sense Imprint and clear the Thousand Li Soul-Tracing Incense; his strength, even if not truly the world's foremost, is certainly several tiers higher than our current level.
Calculating based on this, obtaining the Soul-Sustaining Jade from our hands should have been effortless; perhaps even directly attacking Silver City and forcing us to surrender the remainder would not have been impossible.
But why..." His words made the others understand: "Indeed.
If that’s the case, why bother snatching the object like this?
If this deed were ever widely known in the future, it would leave an indelible stain on his reputation.
This truly makes no sense." Silence descended upon them.
Even when facing the Eight Great Supremes, these brothers, with their current strength, possessed enough courage to fight fiercely, perhaps even enough power to win.
But facing this mysterious individual who never showed himself from start to finish, yet managed to make the combined thirteen great masters of Silver City suffer such a massive setback, they felt nothing but a slight sense of awe mixed with sheer, bone-deep terror...
If such a person existed, it was fortunate his intent was only to seize the Jade.
If he truly intended to target any one of them, wouldn't it be as easy as crushing a snail between two fingers?
Every member of the Seven Swords of Silver City kept their expressions impassive, but every hand gripping a sword hilt had turned the knuckles white.
"I never thought that after not descending into Silver City for thirty years, I would return full of ambition only to suffer such a complete defeat!" Xiao Buyu stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop the pavilion of Sheng Bao Hall, his gaze distant, watching the myriad lights of Tianxiang City under the starlight.
Finally, he let out a long breath, remaining motionless for a long time.
The other twelve felt an intense suppression, almost unable to breathe; the dense night of Tianxiang City felt as if the vast expanse of the heavens had suddenly pressed down, weighing heavily upon their hearts...
"Report today's events to Silver City immediately; we depart for the Southern Heaven at once!
This place is not safe; we must leave quickly!" Xiao Buyu’s white hair, beard, and robes fluttered sorrowfully in the night wind, his voice carrying an unspeakable desolation and disappointment.
It seemed that with the utterance of these words, the confidence and pride he had built up over a long period had been completely stripped from him, leaving behind an ineffable sadness...
This feeling was like...
the end of a hero's journey!
"Second Brother!" The twelve called out in unison with concern.
Xiao Buyu waved his large sleeve heavily and said, "Too much thought is useless.
Everyone, go to sleep." He said no more, his body flickering, suddenly vanishing from the rooftop, leaving behind only a profound sense of desolation...
The moment Jun Moxie secured the prize, he immediately stored the Soul-Sustaining Jade in the Hongjun Tower with maximum speed.
Then, fully employing the Yin-Yang Evasion technique, he remained completely motionless in the corner of Xiao Fengwu's room, quietly observing the subsequent developments.
Just as he finished securing it, Xiao Buyu violently rushed in.
The sharp Xuan Qi and the spiritual sense radiating outward in almost a radial pattern were like thousands of sharp swords spinning in the air—almost suffocating Jun Mo-Wu to the point where he couldn't even breathe, causing him to gasp in shock internally!
This supreme figure from Snow Wind Silver City was truly extraordinary!
Looking at his aura, aside from lacking a fraction of the depth that Ying Bokong possessed, in other aspects, he was hardly inferior!
No wonder the Snow Wind Silver City's plan exuded such supreme confidence!
Then, Jun Mo-Wu watched a magnificent show for free.
Regarding the conjectures made by the Silver City people, Jun Moxie had only one feeling: the affairs of the world are truly marvelous.
He, who at this stage was barely a small fry, was being forcefully elevated to the position of the world's number one by these divine experts who were like great white sharks and monstrous crocodiles...
It felt fantastic; truly fantastic...
Of course, Young Master Jun was only observing for now and wouldn't voice any opinion.
While Xiao Buyu was steeped in gloom, Jun Moxie sat not far from him, hugging his knees, watching with an air of smug satisfaction.
Seeing Xiao Buyu decisively make the immediate decision to depart for the Southern Heaven, Jun Moxie felt an unexpected, yet great, sense of relief.
Although he knew that once they reached the Southern Heaven, these people would certainly find opportunities to trouble him, to trouble Third Uncle, or even to move against Ying Bokong, Jun Moxie felt no deeper concern.
With the spiritual energy he possessed, arriving in the Southern Heaven would be like arriving home, wouldn't it?
Would he fear them?
What a joke!
In reality, what Jun Mo-Wu worried about most was the possibility of the Snow Wind Silver City people ambushing Jun Wuyi's army en route.
Although this possibility was slim and somewhat absurd, it was precisely this that Jun Mo-Wu was most wary of.
Compared to this, everything else was unimportant!
Therefore, Jun Moxie remained on the roof of Sheng Bao Hall the entire night, never leaving.
He needed to watch the Snow Wind Silver City contingent depart before he could truly relax!
Moreover, after they left, he needed to delay the army’s journey as much as possible, lest those fellows were waiting for them on the road—that would be disastrous!
At dawn, Jun Mo-Wu witnessed with his own eyes the six Great Elders of Snow Wind Silver City, seven peak Heavenly Profound masters, along with Mu Xuetong and Xiao Han, escorting a pale and weak Xiao Fengwu, and the Silver City little princess Han Yanmeng with their luggage, as they grandly departed from Sheng Bao Hall, left Tianxiang City, and traveled another thirty or forty li before he was finally relieved enough to return.
They’re finally gone!
Damn it, Tianxiang City now belongs to me!
Young Master Jun floated lightly, feeling utterly relaxed.
Just as he reached the doorstep of his residence, Jun Moxie was nearly knocked off his feet by an intensely pungent medicinal odor.
What in the world was happening?
Looking closely, he was immediately terrified.
Heavens above!
What is this situation?
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