As the Zhan family members departed, others pressed forward, naturally intending to strike up conversations and forge connections with Jun Moxie. Although the owner of this Ethereal Body had undoubtedly provoked the Zhan family in the most severe manner, and his future was uncertain—even the possibility of an untimely demise was quite high—yet, if he somehow survived and truly matured... based on his performance today, he was certain to become another formidable figure!

Making early acquaintances couldn't hurt. Even if the young man ultimately met an early death, it would cause no loss to anyone else... Jun Moxie offered a few perfunctory replies and headed straight out.

Today, he felt his achievements could be considered successful. At the very least, as long as he could gain entry to the Spirit Medicine Garden, the objective of this trip had a strong hope of being achieved; the progress was absolutely ideal! Once he succeeded...

once he succeeded, he would immediately withdraw, caring nothing for the troubles and scandals of the Misty Illusory Manor? Not only would he lack the inclination, but time was also pressing now; it seemed there wasn't much time left before the Great Battle for Seizing the Heavens! Little Zi, who had been on the ground, saw Jun Moxie preparing to leave, let out a soft cry, and pounced up, clinging to his trouser leg.

It raised its head to look at Jun Moxie, its eyes full of affection and reluctance to part. "Little Zi, this world is not your place, nor are you meant for me. You should return to the mountains and forests," Jun Moxie gently lifted it up.

"This place is not your paradise. Go now, Little Zi; if fate allows, we will meet again." With that, Qingqing placed it on the ground. Little Zi chirped twice, looked at him with evident sorrow, seeming to understand something.

It suddenly let out a mournful cry, opened its mouth, and with a hiss, actually tore off a piece of cloth from Jun Moxie's leg and trousers, holding it tenderly in its mouth. It raised its head, cast one last deep look at Jun Moxie, spread its four paws, rolled once before him, then stood up, took two steps looking back repeatedly, let out a soft meow, and darted away like lightning... vanishing completely in the bustling great hall!

The piece of cloth it tore away as it left clearly conveyed: No matter when, I will remember your scent. As for the roll it performed, it communicated: No matter when, you are still my master! Though the Mysterious Beast was small, it possessed deep intuition.

Its lingering reluctance to leave sent a pang through Jun Moxie's heart... Seeing Young Master Mo about to depart, Miao Xiaomiao quickly offered apologies to the crowd and chased after him with Little Sprout. But when the mistress and servant emerged, they saw only the street thronged with passersby; Mo Junye, who had just walked out, had completely vanished.

His pace seemed far too fast... Staring at the constant flow of people on the street, Miao Xiaomiao stood dumbfounded, feeling a lingering sense of melancholy... "Miss, I think Young Master Mo must have returned to Cao Shenghuang.

Given his speed, he couldn't have gone too far. We should search directly along the path back; we'll surely find him," Little Sprout suggested cleverly. "That makes sense!

Besides, I also need to hurry back to explain everything that happened today to Grandfather." Miao Xiaomiao’s resolve settled, and the mistress and servant hurried along the path back home. Just as their figures disappeared around the corner, Jun Moxie's shadow silently reappeared from the spot where they had just stood. Watching the distant figure of the beloved depart, Jun Moxie whispered to himself: ‘Forgive me...

I cannot...’ On the other side, the Zhan family's Chief Elder, Zhan Bingfeng, after leaving the Fragrant Delight Tower with Zhan Qingfeng and Zhan Yushu, had not gone far outside Illusionary Heart City before throwing the two brothers down. Without a word, he subjected them to a fierce beating, followed by a torrent of curses, and then ordered them to return and engage in solitary reflection before sweeping away. Zhan Qingfeng and Zhan Yushu landed on the ground, dusty and disheveled.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing the deep-seated hatred in the other’s eyes! "If this vengeance is not exacted, I swear I am no man!" Zhan Qingfeng slammed a fist into a roadside boulder, his eyes seeming ready to burst with blood. "I must kill him!

I must kill him! Kill that Mo Junye!" Zhan Yushu muttered fiercely. "No one, since I was a child, has ever insulted me like this!

He and I share an irreconcilable feud!" "Big Brother, what is your plan next?" Zhan Yushu asked through gritted teeth. "To eliminate him, the best opportunity is today! Miss this chance, and once he returns safely, there will be no other.

If we try to kill him later, we will at least have to directly confront Cao Shenghuang and his six brothers. We lack the will and the means, and even if those Seven Great Sage Emperors discover our intentions today, I will face severe consequences, as we hold no leverage over Mo Junye. In short, the current situation is completely out of control.

The only chance to salvage everything lies in this single moment..." Zhan Qingfeng spoke slowly. "Indeed. I believe everyone present today assumes we two were taken back to the family.

If something happens to Mo Junye afterward, we will be the prime suspects. But precisely because we are the most likely suspects, they will cease to doubt us," Zhan Yushu’s eyes revealed an extreme malice. "Yushu!

Let your guards handle this matter with all their might; ensure it is done cleanly!" Zhan Qingfeng’s gaze flickered. "If this matter leaves any trace, we truly cannot bear that responsibility." "No! Big Brother, since we are going to do it, let the two of us do it personally!" Zhan Yushu, having learned from one mistake, immediately rejected the idea.

"If this relies solely on my strength, I fear I will be insufficient. Only with Big Brother's assistance can we ensure absolute success!" Zhan Qingfeng paused, looked closely at his younger brother, and then gave a bitter smile. "Ah, Pu...

you've grown up..." Zhan Yushu remained silent, thinking to himself: Does he still think he can use me as a pawn? If things go wrong, he plans to use me as a scapegoat? Hmph!

Even if he is my own brother, that won't do! The two brothers each sent out a signal and then stood opposite each other in silence. Both clearly felt an unprecedented, inexplicable barrier slowly growing between them...

Both understood that the harmony between the brothers could never return to what it once was, but neither spoke first... letting this barrier grow taller and thicker as the sky above slowly darkened... It was already dusk...

When Miao Xiaomiao and her servant emerged from the Fragrant Delight Tower, the sky was turning towards dusk, the setting sun gradually sinking. As they walked down the mountain, only a blurred radiance remained in the sky. It seemed the entire mountain was enveloped in a thick white mist...

Miao Xiaomiao had been heavy-hearted and lost in thought during the journey, so she hadn't walked quickly. As the mistress and servant proceeded slowly, two figures suddenly shot past them from behind, flashing forward like lightning. Judging by their backs, they were the two guards who should have been escorting Mo Junye—also the two registered disciples of Sage Emperor Cao Guofeng—Wang Neng and Li Jie.

After Jun Moxie achieved victory, the Zhan family faction had instantly vanished. These two had naturally gained their freedom, but after searching everywhere and failing to find Jun Moxie, they hurried back to report to Cao Guofeng. Why had they abandoned Mo Junye and returned alone?

Miao Xiaomiao wondered in surprise, but then she heard a dull thud and a muffled groan drifting from far ahead. "Could something have happened? But who would be so audacious as to cause trouble here?

Are they truly unafraid of death?" Miao Xiaomiao's delicate eyes chilled, her slender wrist trembled, and she pulled out an unusually small, colorful piece of jade silk. Then, she took out a small dagger and lightly nicked her finger, causing a few drops of blood to fall onto the silk. The jade immediately shone brilliantly, then flashed and vanished, the entire piece of silk growing larger out of thin air, finally reaching a width of about ten feet.

Miao Xiaomiao did not delay; she covered her and Little Sprout's heads with the enlarged colored silk. The change that followed was even more bizarre: the mistress and servant vanished completely at the same instant. This piece of colored jade silk was an ultimate treasure of the Illusory Manor!

It was the Cloak of Invisibility! This was one of the few defensive treasures inherited from the Nine Nether First Young Master. As long as it was activated by irrigating it with one's essence blood and worn upon the body, one's form would instantly disappear, undetectable even by masters of any level.

Miao Xiaomiao and her servant, utilizing this state of complete invisibility, silently flew toward the location where the anomaly occurred... However, as she flew, she failed to notice that just a few hundred zhang behind her, Jun Moxie was leisurely making his way along... Miao Xiaomiao and Little Sprout traveled invisibly and saw that the road at the corner had been blocked with large stones.

On top lay some foul, foul-smelling refuse. This spot was originally a corner accessible from three sides; even blocked, it wasn't a major issue, as several small paths still allowed detours. But the sounds of intense, inexplicable suffering drifted faintly from one of the side paths.

Miao Xiaomiao followed the sound without hesitation. Following the sound, after turning two more corners, what met her eyes was a very secluded path, and the scene upon that path made Miao Xiaomiao genuinely gasp in shock. Six masked men in black were blocking Wang Neng and Li Jie; from the situation, the two were already subdued!

Broken snippets of conversation drifted from the black-clad men, too indistinct to be clearly heard from afar. Miao Xiaomiao’s heart hardened, and she moved a little closer. Finally, she could hear...

"...This... Your Excellency can rest assured, we can certainly manage it," that was Wang Neng's voice. What were they being asked to do that they could guarantee success?

A bad premonition instantly arose in Miao Xiaomiao's heart. "Correct. As long as Your Excellency is merciful and lets us go, dealing with that trash Mo Junye is easy.

He relies only on his glib tongue and clever talk. In terms of his rubbish cultivation, even someone at the Earth Profound or Jade Profound level could easily kill him!" Li Jie said. Miao Xiaomiao was finally utterly horrified!

So these people intended to deal with Mo Junye! But he had only been here a few days! How could he have offended these people?