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Chapter 1987: The Hidden Town

Finally, Zhang Zitong nodded, "Alright, once I've done this, we'll be even."

"Finish it first, then we'll talk. This task isn't easy to accomplish," the man in black said with a smile, waving his hand before quickly disappearing beyond the wall.

Zhang Zitong glanced at the surrounding guards, and after confirming they were merely unconscious, she also hurried away.

Meanwhile, after finishing his conversation with Yu Yanluo, Zu'an immediately dialed Shang Liuyu's video mirror without delay.

While the video mirror was still vibrating, he suddenly murmured to himself, "I seem a bit like a scumbag doing this..."

"What scumbag?" Shang Liuyu's laughter rang out. Her voice was as melodious as an oriole, possessing a unique quality that brought calm and relaxation.

Zu'an's old face flushed. "Nothing at all. Sister Shang, long time no see. You're looking more beautiful than ever."

She was currently sitting with her legs tucked up inside a giant pearl shell, which could have been a bed or a chair.

Her bare, pristine jade-like feet were spotless, always drawing immediate attention.

Shang Liuyu lightly pursed her lips and chuckled, "Flattering a girl so glibly the moment we meet – I think I know what 'scumbag' you were referring to earlier."

Zu'an's face felt hot, but he quickly protested, "That's unfair! These are my sincere thoughts."

"It's precisely because they're sincere and can be blurted out so easily that it makes you a scumbag," Shang Liuyu said, gazing at him calmly. Her starlit eyes had taken on an oceanic blue tint, as if she had regained some of her original characteristics after leaving the human race.

Zu'an found her pure, penetrating gaze a bit overwhelming and quickly asked, "Sister Shang, are you with the Merfolk now?"

"Yes, I am. Speaking of which, you gave me quite a headache a while ago," Shang Liuyu said, suddenly pressing her hand to her forehead with a troubled expression.

"What was it?" Zu'an was startled, wondering what recent event might be connected to the Merfolk.

"It's about the golden dragon you killed last time," Shang Liuyu said exasperatedly. "That incident caused quite a stir among the Dragon Clan. Many are clamoring for revenge against you. After all, how can such noble dragon bloodline be killed so easily and simply forgotten?"

Zu'an's heart stirred. "The Dragon King appeared in the capital as a projection back then but didn't intervene. I suppose that was for your sake, Sister Shang."

"You've got some nerve saying that," Shang Liuyu retorted, annoyed. "The Dragon King came back and asked if you were a good friend of mine. Of course, I could only say yes."

Zu'an chuckled, "We are friends, after all."

"It's not as simple as you think. If we were just ordinary friends, all those stubborn old-timers in the Dragon Clan wouldn't have let it go so easily..." Shang Liuyu's face suddenly flushed. "Never mind, it's all because that fellow Chiwen talked nonsense."

"What nonsense did he say?" Zu'an thought, remembering how Shang Liuyu had helped him thoroughly fleece Chiwen last time, and many Heaven-grade weapons still came from him. Oh, right, I wonder if he's still drinking that 'blue ice' he got last time. Should I tell him it's actually processed waste from an aircraft cabin...?

"Nothing. I'll handle it myself," Shang Liuyu said, her expression a little unnatural.

Zu'an found it a bit strange but didn't dwell on it. He then informed her about the invasion of otherworldly demons, cautioning, "You must be careful. Don't be careless and fall prey to those demons' schemes."

"No wonder a huge spatial rift appeared on the Merfolk side a few days ago. Fortunately, it's already been sealed here. It seems I still need to remind them to thoroughly investigate to prevent any demons from infiltrating," Shang Liuyu said, rising abruptly, no longer able to maintain her previous relaxed demeanor.

"Thank you, Sister Shang." Zu'an didn't waste any more of her time. He had informed her not only because she was an old acquaintance but also because he hoped she would notify the Merfolk. Otherwise, even if he defended the land perfectly, a demonic breakthrough from the sea would render it all futile.

After notifying all the important people one by one, Zu'an emerged from the room and saw the official in charge of security, whose face was a pained contortion. He couldn't help but chuckle, "I'll complete the formalities later; I won't put you in a difficult position."

The official quickly bowed. "Thank you, Regent!" Running the video mirror for such a long time had nearly depleted the stored elemental stones in the treasury. If Zu'an had simply left without a care, the official would have been in a world of trouble.

Witnessing this situation, Zu'an's resolve to research an alternative to the video mirror solidified further. The consumption was so high that even a nation felt the pinch, making it incredibly inconvenient.

Next, he went directly to bid farewell to the various women. The lack of any news from Yun Jianyue and the others was a constant source of worry.

Although Empress Dowager Liu Ning and the current Empress Bi Linglong were reluctant, Zu'an had previously mentioned his upcoming departure from the capital, so they were mentally prepared. Knowing his urgency meant he had important matters to attend to, they even asked if he needed any help.

Zu'an declined their kind offer, as too many people involved would only complicate the matter.

He went to the Embroidery Tower to investigate information on the Demonic Cult, but found it less detailed than what Yan Xuehen had provided. It then dawned on him that Yan Xuehen knew so much because she was the sect leader of the ancient White Jade Capital. While they had maintained good relations with the imperial court on the surface, they had always harbored a sense of caution towards each other and had not shared such intelligence with the government. Only to him would she reveal everything.

Thinking of this, a warmth spread through his heart.

After leaving the palace, he returned to Jade Spring Mountain and assigned Yan Xiangu to temporarily oversee the academy's affairs, with the other teachers assisting him.

Only then did he reluctantly bid farewell to the women.

All the women were quite reluctant to part, secretly wishing to accompany him. However, they exchanged glances, each with various concerns.

It was Ji Xiaoxi, with the purest heart, who spoke up: "Brother Zu, can I go with you? There are many rare herbs in Qiu Pond that I've never had the chance to gather before."

Seeing her adorable large eyes, Zu'an hadn't even had time to speak when Ji Dengtu was the first to jump up. "No! There could be demons everywhere now. You can't just run off to gather herbs by yourself like before. Have you forgotten the lesson from last time?"

Ji Xiaoxi mumbled softly, "But Brother Zu will be with me this time."

Ji Dengtu immediately retorted, "It's precisely *because* he's there that it's even more dangerous!"

Ji Xiaoxi: "???"

Zu'an: "..."

He cleared his throat. "Uh, Xiaoxi, what I'm going to do this time is a bit dangerous, and I probably won't be able to look after you. When there's a chance in the future, I'll take you herb gathering."

"Oh, alright," Ji Xiaoxi replied, the light in her eyes dimming instantly.

Seeing her disappointed expression, Zu'an's heart wavered. He wondered, *Did this girl grow up on cuteness?*

He quickly pulled out a communication jade slip and handed it to her. "This is a simplified version of the video mirror; you can communicate with each other using it."

When he had just met with Shen Xuzi, he found that the latter had improved his previous design, ensuring messages could be received even over long distances. However, the greater the distance, the slower the message would arrive, possibly by ten days or half a month, making it unsuitable for vital intelligence but barely acceptable for casual chats.

"Really!" Ji Xiaoxi's eyes instantly lit up, and she cradled it, unable to put it down.

Ji Dengtu, standing by, scratched his head, thinking, *I can't let her keep this thing, otherwise, won't that boy be able to flirt with my precious daughter anytime he wants?*

After teaching her how to use it, Zu'an shot directly into the sky and flew towards Qiu Pond.

Seeing his departing figure, many families in the capital breathed a sigh of relief.

Ever since the Meng family incident, Zu'an had been like a massive stone pressing down on them. Now that he had left the capital, they could at least return to their previous way of life.

At the same time, they secretly sent people to inquire about why Zu'an had left and when he would return.

As for Zu'an, after ascending, he immediately summoned his Wind-Fire Wheels and headed west.

Although the exact location of Qiu Pond was unclear, it was generally known to be hidden within the Qiu Mountain range.

Concerned for the safety of Yun Jianyue and Qiu Honglei, he didn't dare to pause even for a moment throughout his journey.

Fortunately, with his current cultivation, staying awake continuously wouldn't cause any significant problems.

Furthermore, the Wind-Fire Wheels were indeed an excellent tool for long-distance travel. After about several days, he finally arrived at a vast mountain range.

He saw towering mountains shrouded in mist. Deeper inside, there were colossal trees everywhere, with thorns and vines so dense they blotted out the sun. Ferocious beasts occasionally lurked within, waiting for an opportunity. Not to mention ordinary people, even cultivators found it nearly impossible to advance.

Zu'an couldn't help but sigh. In such a vast mountain range, finding the deliberately hidden headquarters of the Demonic Cult would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, Yan Xuehen had provided information. Although she didn't know the exact location, she had drawn out several potential areas, significantly reducing his workload.

Zu'an traversed the mountains on his Wind-Fire Wheels, quickly locating several potential areas based on the map. After eliminating them one by one, he suddenly stopped when he reached the last remaining area.

"This mountain range is off!" Zu'an's gaze sharply scanned his surroundings. Even Zhao Hao might not have noticed anything unusual.

However, he was proficient in the *Elucidation of Dripping Heavenly Marrow*, a skill that inherently involved the study of mountain ranges and topography. Coupled with his knowledge of formations from the *True Scripture of Embracing Simplicity*, he keenly sensed an abruptness in the direction of the mountain's features.

Although it had been intentionally concealed, he had come prepared and naturally wouldn't overlook such a suspicious detail.

He quietly descended at a distance, took out a formation plate, and began manipulating it. As several small flags shot out in all directions, the formation plate in his hand subtly glowed.

Immediately after, he took out a talisman, wiped it across his eyes, and two points of golden light gleamed from them. The primeval forest before him instantly vanished, replaced by a bustling marketplace!

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