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The speaker was Lan Yinzi.
Although the Continental Elite Tournament was a big event, Lan Yinzi found watching the real-time broadcast on screen rather dull. So, between her studies of formation arrays, she decided to take a stroll with Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena, with her natural command over multiple elemental forces, was eager to explore anything and everything. Her curiosity extended to the study of soul tools, where she frequently assisted Guang Ling, Huo Wu, and others researching in this Soul Device Technology City.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Tang Xiao.
Though she considered feigning ignorance, they'd previously crossed paths in Soul Sea City. While they hadn't exchanged words back then, they were familiar enough with each other to be considered "allies." Furthermore, she had been his companion in a past life, so it felt neither logical nor appropriate to treat him as a stranger.
Compared to Spirit Hall, however, the Haotian Clan had far more shortcomings. Now, with a new perspective, she could understand the mentality and actions of the clan and its disciples, but she no longer felt a connection to them. The thought of reconnecting with Tang Hao or Tang Xiao didn't appeal to her.
After all, she was no longer simply Ah Yin. Though she retained memories of them, the emotional ties were faint. Besides Tang San, she didn't feel particularly close to either Tang "Big Hammer" or Tang "Little Hammer."
But since they'd met here and Tang Xiao seemed to be lost, perhaps she could offer a bit of guidance.
"And you are?" Tang Xiao observed the woman before him, finding her somewhat familiar—like someone he'd seen in Soul Sea City and one of Tang San's women. With this initial assumption in mind, he kept his distance, stepping back cautiously.
Lan Yinzi looked puzzled. "...?"
Stepping back? Really?
When did Tang Xiao become so cautious?
"My name is Lan Yinzi. You're the head of the Clear Sky Clan, right? Why come to Soul Device Technology City instead of watching the tournament?" Lan Yinzi inquired, "Are you here to find Master Craftsman Lou Gao?"
Tang Xiao was momentarily stunned. The tone of her voice struck a nostalgic chord, but he shook his head, replying, "No, I'm not familiar with Lou Gao. I'm here looking for Tang Yuehua. Since you're close to Tang San, you likely know she's my sister. I've heard she opened a place called Yuexuan here, but this area is quite large, and I'm not sure where exactly."
"Yuexuan? It's not here."
"What?"
"It's in Fantasy Entertainment City," Lan Yinzi explained. "These six outer cities are built around Spirit City. If you head left, circle around four cities, and you'll reach Fantasy Entertainment City. Going right, it's the third city. Yuexuan is pretty well-known there. Many soul tool artists invite her to compose film scores, so if you ask around, someone can tell you the way. There are even maps posted at the street intersections."
Tang Xiao, visibly relieved, expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for the directions, Miss Lan Yinzi."
"No problem. We're also heading that way, so if you don't mind, you can join us?" Lan Yinzi truly planned to visit Yuexuan. She'd recently discovered that music could stimulate plant growth and felt that sound waves were a natural form of formation array. Since Tang Yuehua possessed a unique spiritual domain, she wanted to study it with her.
As for Gu Yuena, she was simply interested in seeing the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, or Sea God's Heart.
Tang Yuehua had recently acquired it through Xue Ke's connections with the Tian Dou Empire's treasury. Two days ago, when Qian Renxue learned about this, she didn't object but even paid a visit to Yuexuan to officially gift Tang Yuehua the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
As for this indestructible artifact, Qian Renxue was unclear about its exact purpose but could sense a powerful divine energy radiating from it. She surmised it might be a fragment of some ancient divine tool.
But since it was only a fragment, it didn't matter much. In fact, she was intrigued to see if she could use it to lure out some interesting "fish"...
Gu Yuena, on the other hand, was drawn to the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud because its divine energy fluctuations were incredibly pronounced. Any being of near-divine or divine level would be able to detect it, almost as if it boldly declared the entire world to be its personal domain.
Tang San, Bibi Dong, and the two elders atop Spirit Mountain were certainly aware of it as well. But they each had their reasons—research, the Continental Elite Tournament, or cautious stability—which kept them too preoccupied to investigate.
Gu Yuena, however, was different. She was still young and had time on her side.
Lan Yinzi, meanwhile, was busy with formation studies and also served as the steward at Soul Martial Manor. Yet her workload was light, as Tang San required little of her, and the manor's daily tasks were already well managed by the servants. Lan Yinzi only needed to oversee things, which took up very little time.
As a result, Gu Yuena and Lan Yinzi were the two most unoccupied people in Soul Martial Manor.
"Then I'd be grateful if Miss Lan Yinzi would lead the way," Tang Xiao replied. Originally, he had intended to search with the Seventh Elder, but hearing that Lan Yinzi was also going to Yuexuan, he was pleased to join her.
For some reason, Tang Xiao found himself enjoying Lan Yinzi's voice. Though her tone wasn't quite the same as Ah Yin's, it was just as gentle.
[Tang San's taste seems to match both his father's and mine as his uncle; a penchant for beautiful women runs in the family…]
Upon reaching Fantasy Entertainment City and stepping into Yuexuan, the attendants at the entrance recognized Lan Yinzi and Gu Yuena and quickly escorted them, along with Tang Xiao and the Seventh Elder, inside. "Miss Lan Yinzi, Miss Gu Yuena, welcome."
"We're here to chat with your master, and we also brought two of her distant relatives," Lan Yinzi replied with a smile.
"Please, come in. I'll go inform the master." The attending student dashed ahead to fetch her.
"Let's go," Lan Yinzi said, beckoning to Tang Xiao and the Seventh Elder as she and Gu Yuena stepped into Yuexuan.
Walking down a classical corridor, they passed a courtyard where a male teacher was instructing students in sketching a butterfly gathering nectar. Tang Xiao's face darkened slightly. "What's going on here? Back in Tian Dou City, Yuexuan had male students studying music and art, but there were never male teachers. Could this be Yuehua's boyfriend?"
As a brother, he wanted his sister to be happy. But from the perspective of their clan, Tang Yuehua, as a member of the Haotian Clan, bore a unique bloodline. Her future children might awaken the Haotian Hammer spirit, so she couldn't marry just anyone.
The sight of this male teacher, frail-looking and with only a weak thirteenth-level soul power, led Tang Xiao to dismiss him as an unsuitable suitor.
As they passed through several teaching areas, Tang Xiao noticed several other male teachers and realized he had misunderstood—this man was not Yuehua's boyfriend, just a regular teacher.
Still, why was Yuexuan hiring male teachers in Spirit City?
Could it be that Yuexuan was struggling to establish itself here?
If that were the case, it would be inappropriate to mention the clan's need for financial support. After all, if Yuehua were to provide funds to the clan, she would first need to secure her own footing here.
When Yuehua first set up in Tian Dou City, it took her several years to establish herself. Spirit City, even more prosperous, would likely take even longer. In the long run, though, once Yuexuan found its place here, it could bring in substantial resources for the clan's development.
(End of Chapter)