Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Since he was still worried about the Poison Spirit, Jiang Yi could not focus on cultivating yet. All he could do was sit quietly and wait for Xiao Hong’s update.
Xiao Leng sent a voice transmission back to the Xiao Leng and waited for a full hour before Xiao Hong finally replied. He scanned the surroundings, his expression changing. As fast as he could, he sent a voice transmission to Jiang Yi: “City Lord, Prefecture Lord still has not located the Poison Spirit.”
Something indeed happened!
Jiang Yi’s heart thudded. In a low voice, he sent a voice transmission back: “What’s the matter?”
Xiao Leng explained: “The Clan Head told me that the last person they sent out did not manage to find the Poison Spirit. Prefecture Lord has already sent people out to ask for news on him, but until now, they have not gotten any updates.”
“They haven’t found him?”
Jiang Yi’s expression hardened. Could the Poison Spirit have ended up in the Qin Clan’s hands? Jiang Yi could not sit still any longer. He then faced Xiao Leng and waved his hand, saying, “Let’s go to Blue Eagle City!”
Commander Liu and company all stiffened. He asked, “Lord, what happened?”
“It’s nothing!”
Jiang Yi waved his hand again and said, “Supervise the matters in the city for now. Leave Demon-Killing Pavilion’s matters alone. Wait for me to return before we talk!”
Jiang Yi led Xiao Leng out of the city in big strides. However, a phantom flew out of the Jiang Manor, joining the crowd without a sound or a breath. It did not attract anyone’s attention. After Jiang Yi and Xiao Leng teleported away, he took big strides towards the Teleportation Formation as well. He retrieved a black command token, and the expression of the commander guarding the Teleportation Formation changed. Not daring to say anything, he activated the Teleportation Formation immediately.
Half the energy in Jiang Yi’s soul spirit had been absorbed already. His spirit was now significantly more powerful, and Teleportation Formations no longer weakened his soul spirit in the same way. However, mid-way through, he still had to rest for a couple of hours before continuing his journey to Blue Eagle City.
“Greetings City Lord Jiang and Chief Leng!”
The people guarding the Teleportation Formations at Blue Eagle City saw Jiang Yi and Xiao Leng and immediately bowed down. This commander was a Heaven Emanations, and he was much higher-ranked than Jiang Yi. However, they were bowing to Jiang Yi more than to him. This confused many other people in the city plaza. Jiang Yi, however, remained nonchalant. He nodded and flew towards Blue Eagle Mountain with Xiao Leng.
“City Lord Jiang? Could that be Jiang Yi?”
“That must be Jiang Yi…”
A few people immediately responded. There were not many people with the surname ‘Jiang’. What’s more, this man was so young and already donned in Demon-Killing Pavilion’s battle armor. It must have been Jiang Yi.
…
“Brother Jiang!”
Jiang Yi and Xiao Leng had just arrived at the Blue Eagle Mountain when Xiao Hong emerged to greet them. He was bowed quite low, and his expression was guilty. He sent a voice transmission: “I’m sorry, Brother, I still haven’t found him. It’s my fault.”
Jiang Yi did not bother to enter the castle. Instead, he responded: “Prefecture Lord, this has nothing to do with you. Could the Poison Spirit have landed in the hands of the Qin Clan?”
“No way!”
Xiao Hong was very sure of this. “After that day, the Qin Clan has completely dismissed its troops. What’s more, I just sent someone to ask the elders of the Qin Clan. The Qin Clan gave me a clear response: they could not find the Poison Spirit as well!”
“Did the Poison Spirit go into hiding himself?”
Jiang Yi averted his gaze. Did the Poison Spirit see the Qin Clan dismiss its troops and realize that there was no more danger? Did he secretly go to a safe place on his own to recuperate?
Just as he was thinking, the jade token hanging on Xiao Hong’s waist lit up. Xiao Hong glanced at it several times before saying in a low voice, “We just got a clue. One of the higher-ranked disciples of the Qin Clan leaked some information. Recently, someone came up to them, trying to strike a deal. They wanted to sell the Poison Spirit’s head and named a price of ten million divine roots. However, on your account, the Qin Clan dared not accept this deal. Now, they’re probably sending this voice transmission to try and pacify you.”
“En?”
Jiang Yi’s expression hardened at once. In a heavy tone, he said, “Ask them to ask that disciple of the Qin Clan: who exactly it was that wanted to sell the Poison Spirit’s head?”
Xiao Hong immediately sent a voice transmission back and then pointed to the castle in front of them. “Brother Jiang, don’t be anxious. Come in and take a seat. Don’t worry… even if I have to dig into the earth, I will help you find the Poison Spirit! I’ve already sent word around Blue Eagle Prefecture. All powers, big and small, are trying to gather intelligence.”
“Thank you, Brother Xiao!”
Jiang Yi nodded and changed the way he addressed Xiao Hong. A look of interest crossed Xiao Hong’s face. Jiang Yi had changed his address of Xiao Hong. This meant that they were getting closer and that his efforts during this time had not gone to waste.
The two of them entered the central hall and sipped tea as they awaited more updates. An hour later, more updates finally arrived. The high-ranked disciple of the Qin Clan did not know who the other party was. He could only indirectly hint that the influence was coming from near the North River City.
“Near the North River City?”
Xiao Hong’s perfectly groomed eyebrows twitched. He waved his hand, and a formidable martial artist of the Xiao Clan appeared with a map. This map was specially made. There were many annotations made on it. Jiang Yi focused on the region where the North River City was and found that there were several red dots marked out. Confused he asked, “Brother Xiao, what do these red dots mean?”
“These are where the god bandit groups and secret members of the great family clans are!”
Xiao Hong pointed at the six dots near the North River City and said, “North of the North River City is the Black Snow Prefecture. Outside these boundaries is a more dangerous, treacherous land known as the Black Snow Mountainous Region. Many dark-elemental Chaos Beasts are produced there. It is said that in the deepest recesses of the mountainous region are Primordial-Grade Chaos Beasts. There are secret members of three great family clans near this mountainous region. Apart from them, there are also three slightly bigger god bandit groups. The leader of the Black Snow Army is a Titled Heaven Emanations!”
“Uh—”
Jiang Yi did not know any of these things before. He could only gaze at Xiao Hong and ask, “Then, has the Poison Spirit been captured by one of these six powers?”
“It cannot be the secret members of the three great family clans!”
Xiao Hong said confidently, “One of these groups of secret members belongs to the Qin Clan. The other two great family clans would never dare to touch the Poison Spirit. Even if they did catch the Poison Spirit, they would not have tried to strike a deal with the Qin Clan. Instead, they would have thrown him to the Qin Clan immediately.
“Thus… I suspect that it could have been one of the three god bandit groups, or more likely the Black Snow Army. The Poison Spirit’s mystical abilities are too powerful. One must be at least a Titled Heaven Emanations to be able to catch him, and the head of the Black Snow Army is a Titled Heaven Emanations.”
“A Titled Heaven Emanations!”
Jiang Yi remembered that the Poison Spirit once said that an ordinary Heaven Emanations would not be able to see through his disguise. Only the Qin Clan’s few elderly, who were Titled Heaven Emanations, could see through it. Jiang Yi silently pondered for several seconds and then stood up and shouted, “Xiao Leng!”
“Yes!”
Xiao Leng appeared beside Jiang Yi in a flash. The latter took out his Great Minister of Public Works’ command token and handed it to him, saying, “Go to Blue Eagle City’s Demon-Killing Pavilion to move people. Get all the Demon-Killing Battle Kings and Demon-Killing Battle Gods of Blue Eagle Prefecture to gather at North River City.”
Xiao Hong did not try to stop Jiang Yi. Instead, he gave more instructions. “Xiao Jun, send the army to North River City. The Black Snow Army has dominated the Black Snow Mountainous Region for many years now, haven’t they? We’ll go and give them a good beating this time and shock the surrounding regions. I have not made any moves in many years. I want to exercise my bones and muscles.”
Jiang Yi looked at Xiao Hong but did not exchange any more pleasantries. Instead, he cupped his hands and said, “Brother Xiao, thank you!”
“Brother, don’t stand on ceremony with me.”
Xiao Hong got to his feet and smiled slightly. “Your problems are my problems. What’s more, many people in the Blue Eagle Prefecture no longer respect me. This battle will remind them who the real master around here is. Let’s go, Brother!”
“Go!”
Jiang Yi stood up and followed Xiao Hong. Whether the Poison Spirit had really been caught by the Black Snow Army or not, they had to fight this battle. Even if the Poison Spirit was caught by the other armies or powers, after this battle, he would surely be released safely.
Bang!
A signal was shot up into the sky from the top of Blue Eagle Mountain. All the Heaven-Emanations-ranked formidable martial artists of the Xiao Clan immediately flew out, filled with fighting spirit. The Xiao Clan had not displayed its prowess for many years. Now that they were going out to battle, they would not retreat before drawing blood.
