Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Who is This Pretty Lady?
Shen Daoxing knew the Xu Family’s reconnaissance methods were exceptional, so he didn’t venture out again. Besides, he had already stocked up on enough food in the house.
Yi still came every day to try and ambush the red-robed girl.
But without exception, the result was always a sound spanking.
The red-robed girl seemed aloof, but she was actually kind-hearted. No matter how many times Yi tried to ambush her, she never truly got angry, let alone actually hurt him.
Before he knew it, more than ten days had passed. Huangliang’s Tomb was about to appear.
Many Practitioners from various factions had arrived in Taoyuan Town.
On this day, the sky was cloudless for miles, the world bright and clear.
Shen Daoxing was cultivating in the inner room as usual. Thanks to the uniquely abundant Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in Taoyuan Town, his cultivation had finally reached the peak of the Grotto Heaven Realm’s Ninth Layer.
Afterward, he tried to break through, but every attempt ended in failure. After all, a breakthrough at this level wasn’t simple; one couldn’t achieve it through cultivation alone.
Luck, talent, effort, and temperament—not one could be lacking. Many cultivators advanced quickly in the early stages, only to get stuck at the Grotto Heaven Realm’s Ninth Layer, unable to break through. A year, two years, ten years... Some never broke through in their entire lives, their lifespans running out. Such geniuses were all too common.
One couldn’t rely solely on single-minded, arduous cultivation.
So, on this day, Shen Daoxing set aside his cultivation for the time being and went out into the courtyard.
The courtyard was now overgrown with lush flowers and grass, showing no trace of the battle from over ten days ago.
Shen Daoxing quietly listened to the birdsong and smelled the fragrant flowers, sensing the bustling crowds in the town. He tried to feel what made Taoyuan Town unique, hoping to find an opportunity for a breakthrough.
Just then, Shen Daoxing saw a wide, silver-white longsword fly across the sky.
Two figures stood upon it, both completely shrouded in black robes. He couldn’t make out their features, only that one was large and one was small.
However, what caught Shen Daoxing’s attention most were the blood-red bats emblazoned on their black robes.
Shen Daoxing recalled the message his mother had asked Shen Changqing to pass on to him: to be wary of people with blood-red bats.
Shen Daoxing’s gaze darkened.
The two figures in the sky arrived above the academy and then descended.
A moment later, Shen Daoxing heard a violent explosion from the direction of the academy.
Immediately, two majestic streams of radiant light shot into the sky and began to clash violently. It was Ge Ye and the black-robed man.
The entire sky darkened under the force of their battle. The two instantly became the center of attention in Taoyuan Town. Countless splendid bursts of light erupted, like fireworks blossoming across the sky.
’These two definitely possess the power of the Earth Profound Realm.’
Sensing their immense power, Shen Daoxing immediately made his judgment.
Seeing the blood-red bats on the black-robed man’s clothes, Shen Daoxing’s expression grew grim.
An unknown amount of time passed before the two streams of radiant light in the sky suddenly stopped. They fell into Taoyuan Town and vanished, and the small town returned to its former peace.
Shen Daoxing stood motionless in the courtyard for a long time. From the battle he had just witnessed, he felt as if he had touched upon some kind of threshold.
In the end, however, he shook his head. After all, they were in the Earth Profound Realm while he was merely in the Grotto Heaven Realm. The difference between their realms was simply too vast.
CREAK!
The courtyard gate was pushed open gently. Yi poked his head in. "Shen!"
Yi was now living and practicing at the academy. Seeing him, Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but ask, "Yi, who were those two men in black robes?"
Yi tilted his head and thought for a moment. "I heard Master talking to them. They seem to be from Cangzhou."
Cangzhou!
Shen Daoxing was stunned. He remembered that the Cyan Nether Sword Sect he planned to go to was in Cangzhou.
Yi paused, then continued, "It seems they came for some kind of Jade Token. Master was unwilling to give it to them, so they started fighting."
"What was the final outcome?"
Shen Daoxing asked curiously.
Yi shook his head in confusion. "I didn’t see clearly, and Master didn’t tell us the result. But in the end, Master still gave them the Jade Token."
Shen Daoxing’s expression turned grim. He was silent for a moment, then told Yi to go back and warn Mr. Ge to be careful of those two.
Yi nodded, then puffed out his cheeks. "Shen, is that awful Demoness still here? I’m definitely going to give her a good thrashing today."
As he spoke, he went around Shen Daoxing to peer into the house. He saw that the red-robed girl inside wasn’t healing this time, but was staring coldly back at him.
Yi immediately lost his nerve. He gave a sheepish laugh and hid behind Shen Daoxing, not daring to take another step forward.
Yi lingered for a moment. Seeing no chance to launch a sneak attack today and finding the red-robed girl’s icy gaze terrifying, he finally scurried away with his tail between his legs.
Seeing this, Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but laugh.
「At that very moment, in a nearby alley.」
Xu Xing’an, leading a group of Xu Family Descendants, had slowly arrived in the vicinity.
Xu Xing’an looked at the person beside him and said coolly, "Xu Yu, is this the place?"
One of the Xu Family Descendants stepped forward, glanced down at the yellow paper talisman in his hand, and nodded. "We’re near the place, yes."
On the talisman in his hand were ancient, mystical runes. Twisted, tadpole-like characters on it were constantly changing direction as they moved.
"Good. Search every house. Be thorough."
Xu Xing’an commanded with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
The Xu Family Descendants at his side nodded and barged into the surrounding homes. A moment later, cries of alarm rose and fell.
Xu Xing’an walked straight ahead.
Just then, Yi had just left Shen Daoxing’s residence. He stomped his foot, puffed out his cheeks, and turned back to shake his fist. "Hmph! Sooner or later, I’ll definitely beat you!"
With that, Yi continued on his way, brushing past Xu Xing’an, Xu Yu, and the others.
At that exact moment, the tadpole-like characters on the talisman in Xu Yu’s hand began to tremble violently without any warning.
Xu Yu suddenly shouted, "He has the Demoness’s aura on him!"
"Stop!"
Xu Xing’an immediately turned and called out to Yi.
Yi turned around slowly, blinking his big, innocent eyes. "Yes, Mister? Did you need something?"
Xu Xing’an raised a hand, took out a scroll painting, and unfurled it in front of Yi. "Have you seen this person?"
Yi’s eyes widened as he looked up. Painted on the scroll was a valiant and heroic-looking woman in red.
It was the Demoness.
Yi stared for a moment, then put on a guileless expression. "Who is this pretty lady?"
"You don’t recognize her?"
Xu Xing’an stared straight at Yi and asked coldly.
"I don’t! Who is this pretty lady?" Yi tilted his head, his face a picture of innocence. Anyone who saw him would have believed him.
But at his side, Xu Yu suddenly said, "He’s lying!"
In the next instant, Xu Xing’an had already stretched out a large hand, stepping forward to grab Yi.
