Gu Yao and Chi Changye walked within the academy, occasionally passing by students flying overhead. Unlike the worried expressions from before, there was now a hint of excitement in some, and their pace suggested urgency. Judging by the direction they were heading, it was clearly towards the outside of the academy.
As soon as the two entered the StarMoon Guild, Zhou Li appeared and led them upstairs. Walking and talking, he remarked, "I really don't understand these people in the academy. The news about the Shi family having a treasure is causing a commotion. I've seen quite a few rushing outside. Huh, they also want to find the treasure."
Gu Yao listened in astonishment, "Are they risking their lives for the treasure? Treasures aren't obtained so easily."
Zhou Li agreed, "Exactly, but there aren't many people who think like that. They believe that maybe the treasure will choose its destined owner, and perhaps, they might be that chosen one. Taking a chance is better than doing nothing. Moreover, it's not just our Tianfu Academy; other sects and forces have joined in, making those criminals who exterminated the Shi clan seem insignificant."
"You've arrived." Jiang Yan looked at them with a smile. "Are you interested in taking this trip?"
Just a moment ago, they were discussing how those outside were risking their lives for the treasure, and now, Senior Jiang is asking if they are willing to risk their lives for the treasure?
Seeing Gu Yao's wide-eyed expression, Jiang Yan explained in a gentle tone, "According to reliable information, Sister Shi has appeared. So, our main task this time is to find her and uncover the identity of the force behind the destruction of the Shi clan. This force lurking in the shadows requires cautious attention."
Gu Yao glanced at Chi Changye, who nodded. "Alright, I will protect Xiao Yao. Consider it an opportunity to experience and benefit from cultivation," Chi Changye turned to Gu Yao.
"Alright, I'll listen to Big Brother Night."
"That's settled then. We need to set out as soon as possible," Jiang Yan smiled.
Gu Yao and Chi Changye consulted Tian Feirong and Little Fatty. The latter two willingly volunteered to stay behind, looking after the academy's assets. However, if they encountered Tian Feiyang outside, Tian Feirong asked Gu Yao to pass on some items to his big brother. Gu Yao naturally didn't refuse.
On that day, the two boarded Jiang Yan's flying artifact. Accompanying them were Teacher Fang and several other experienced senior students. With this lineup, even if they encountered a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, they might still have the power to fight.
Therefore, Gu Yao relaxed, taking it as an opportunity to explore the outside world, as Chi Changye suggested. Broadening one's horizons was crucial in cultivation; it wasn't just about secluded practice.
"The latest news is that the head of the Shi family, who escaped, headed towards the ancestral grounds of the Shi family. The people behind also chased after him, and if this exposure hadn't happened, we wouldn't have known that the Shi family still had an ancestral grounds. It seems the original Shi family had quite a background. Unfortunately, the Stone City Guild has suffered. Many inside colluded with external cultivators, coupled with the extensive casualties among the Shi family members. The remaining vast assets are incredibly tempting. In just a few days, the once-mighty Stone City Guild has fallen apart. Many shops have even changed their original signs."
"Do you know which family now owns the Stone City Guild in the Ten Directions City?"
"Who took it over?" Gu Yao asked curiously. "The guild alone is worth a considerable amount of spirit stones, not to mention the various treasures inside..." As he spoke, a thought crossed his mind, considering who might have acquired it.
Indeed, his senior brother's explanation confirmed his speculation, "It fell into the hands of the City Lord's Mansion. Huh, I even suspect..."
The rest of the words were swallowed down as he made a gesture to keep quiet. Gu Yao blinked at Chi Changye. Did he mean that the City Lord's Mansion in the Ten Directions City was manipulating things behind the scenes? Or did they have multiple interventions?
Shi Family Ancestral Grounds.
The group arrived on a flying artifact, still at a considerable distance from the ground. A cultivator above tossed down a heavy object with a "bang," accompanied by painful moans – clearly, a person.
The person on the ground struggled desperately, but their spiritual power was sealed, and their meridians were severed, making it impossible to move far. Soon, another figure landed in front of them.
Despite the person's feeble attempt to lift their head, upon recognizing the figure before them, they emitted a mournful sound. Two eyes glowed with a resentful fury. The approaching cultivator, however, paid no heed. Instead, they squatted down, patting the person's shoulder and injecting spiritual power. The restrained individual could only produce muffled sounds. They cursed, "Sun Fengzhi, you ungrateful traitor! You will face your retribution. My father will surely torture you, leaving you begging for life and praying for death!"
"Ha-ha, Cousin Yanyan, do you still think you're the little princess of the Stone City Guild? Don't you know that the guild has already been destroyed? Your Stone family members are almost dead. Your beloved father abandoned you and the Stone clan, fleeing alone. Knowing that you fell into our hands, take a look. Can you see your dear father rushing to save you? Ha-ha, Cousin Yanyan, do you know? Right now, you're worse than a dog!" Sun Fengzhi finished speaking, then stood up, stomping on Stone Yanyan's wrist without mercy. With a ruthless grind, the sound of bones shattering could be heard. Stone Yanyan let out a piercing scream before fainting.
Sun Fengzhi showed no mercy, turning around and shouting to the empty space, "Uncle, seeing your niece in such a state, aren't you moved at all? Aren't you coming out, Uncle?"
He continued yelling several times, but there was no response from the empty area ahead. A cultivator draped in a black robe walked to Sun Fengzhi's side. Sun Fengzhi immediately took a few steps back, respectfully saluting. Licking his dry lips, he said, "It seems that Shijing Cheng on the surface greatly favors this daughter, but in reality, Shijing Cheng can discard Stone Yanyan at any time. We've overestimated Shijing Cheng."
The black-robed cultivator's voice was hoarse. "No defenses. Shijing Cheng, you can indeed watch your daughter being humiliated, but now we've tracked her here. Do you think we don't know the secrets your Stone family has guarded for years? Besides, with the Stone bloodline in our hands, even without you, Shijing Cheng, we can still act."
Despite the lack of response, the black-robed cultivator snorted and waved his hand to command, "Draw blood." A cultivator stepped forward, ready to use a knife on Stone Yanyan.
Suddenly, there was a spatial fluctuation ahead, and a figure finally appeared. "Wait!"
Sun Fengzhi smirked triumphantly. "As expected, Senior's prediction was right. Without Shi Jingcheng, the blood of Shi Yanyan is effective."
"Sun Fengzhi!" Shi Jingcheng, despite having a middle-aged appearance, looked disheveled due to days of escape. He glared at Sun Fengzhi with a sinister expression. He never expected to be betrayed by the Sun family. Upon seeing his daughter in such a state, a flash of pain appeared in his eyes, quickly replaced by hatred. "My Shi family has treated your Sun family well. Why did you collaborate with outsiders to annihilate my Shi family? What benefits does it bring to your Sun family?"
Sun Fengzhi shrugged. "Your idea of treating us well is making my Sun family servants? Isn't your precious daughter always ordering me around? My talent is obviously good, but your Shi family prefers nurturing people inferior to me. Instead, they threw me to your precious daughter to clean up after her. Is this your definition of treating us well? Since Uncle won't give it to me, I'll take it myself."
"Why does Uncle say so much? Is it to delay time, or is it to open your Shi family's secret place early, so Senior can have a good look?" Sun Fengzhi said maliciously.
Shi Jingcheng was almost spitting blood with anger. He hated Sun Fengzhi, the Sun family, and the person close to him who leaked information. If it weren't for the person close to him revealing it, the Sun family wouldn't know about the hidden ancestral land of the Shi family. Forced to the brink, he had to compromise with the enemy. "I can open the secret place, but I need Sun Fengzhi as a hostage to exchange for my daughter."
Sun Fengzhi trembled all over, quickly turning to look at the black-robed senior. "Don't listen to his nonsense; he deliberately wants to retaliate against me."
"All Senior needs to do is fulfill one request, and I can offer the secret place willingly." Shi Jingcheng grinned maliciously.
"Senior... Ah!" Sun Fengzhi wanted to continue persuading, but he was unexpectedly slapped from behind by the black-robed cultivator, directly slamming him in Shi Jingcheng's direction. Shi Jingcheng reached out with a claw-like hand, grabbing Sun Fengzhi's arm and tearing it off the shoulder. Sun Fengzhi screamed continuously, experiencing pain no less than Shi Yanyan's. However, he endured it with remarkable clarity.
Subsequently, without even looking at his daughter held by someone, Shi Jingcheng used a secret technique passed down by the Shi family to open the secret place. In an instant, all the people outside disappeared, leaving only an arm and the bloody ground.
About half an hour later, another flying vessel arrived. Jiang Yan sniffed a few times and said, "It should be here. Senior Fang, shall we go down?"
Ge Yide couldn't help twitching his mouth. Was their finding this place really relying on Jiang Senior Brother's nose and sense of smell?
When they landed on the ground, they saw a severed arm lying on the ground, evidently torn off forcefully. There was also blood scattered everywhere. Judging by the bloodstains and the condition of the severed arm, the people who left hadn't been gone for long.
Jiang Yan stretched out his palm, and a butterfly fluttered out, beating its wings with a sparkling and translucent appearance. As it left Jiang Yan's palm, five colorful light spots descended. In the refracted light, the butterfly looked strangely beautiful.
"This is a Crystal Butterfly, adept at tracking. However, Crystal Butterflies are extremely difficult to hatch into butterflies," Ge Yide explained in a low voice to Gu Yao. He noticed that both the Crystal Butterfly and the Ghost Mist Insect encountered earlier were extremely rare in the mainland he knew.
"So it's called a Crystal Butterfly. The name is quite vivid, and it's very beautiful," Gu Yao praised.
After dancing in front of Jiang Yan for a while and scattering a layer of crystal powder, the Crystal Butterfly flew forward. Jiang Yan reminded, "Follow me."
If the previous group had stayed here, they would have discovered that the route led by the Crystal Butterfly was the same as the one they took to enter the secret place.