Chapter 1538: Discovering Zhang Xuan

Half a day earlier.

Yang Xuan and his group arrived at Ice Plain Palace via the teleportation array at the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. As expected, they witnessed the devastating scene described in the reports.

All the buildings had collapsed, with green smoke rising from around them, and the broken walls bore scorch marks.

“...That’s how he reduced our Ice Plain Palace to this state!”

The thought of the previous events made You Ruoxin tremble with rage.

“He just underwent the Void Realm Tribulation at the Zhang Clan, leaving it unrecognizable. Are you saying he then underwent the Cavern-Void Tribulation here?”

Zhang Wuhen was startled.

He had personally experienced this guy undergoing the Void Realm Tribulation, nearly getting struck to death. He never expected that in less than a night, he would come to Ice Plain Palace and undergo the Cavern-Void Tribulation... Doesn't that mean he advanced two major ranks in a single day?

Is he really that heaven-defying?

More importantly... how did he manage to make the lightning obey his commands and strike everywhere indiscriminately?

“If that’s the case, he must be severely injured and couldn’t have flown far. Where is he now?”

Master Yang turned to look.

“I don't know either. His flight traces were completely erased. I've sent people to search, but they’ve all vanished without a trace, finding nothing!”

You Ruoxin shook her head.

She saw him flee with a slow flight speed, but when she tried to trace him, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. They had been searching for over a day, but found nothing.

It was as if this Zhang Xuan had never even been there.

“It seems he's a master of concealment, likely using special methods to erase his tracks...”

Master Yang nodded.

Among Master Teachers, some excel at tracking, while others specialize in anti-tracking. Powerful individuals among them can leave no discernible traces after fleeing, and even with his strength, he could do nothing.

“Indeed. However, given his condition, he certainly couldn't have escaped far. As long as we search within a radius of 100,000 kilometers, we'll surely find him!”

You Ruoxin’s face was full of conviction.

Although they hadn't found any trace of him yet, given his severe injuries, it wouldn't be easy for him to travel far. Furthermore, with the Master Teacher Pavilion's arrest warrant, flying in the air would make him easily discoverable. According to her estimation, the distance he could have escaped shouldn't exceed 100,000 kilometers.

As long as they conduct a thorough search within this range, they would surely find him.

“Alright then... Grand Elder, Clan Head Zhang, since we all need to find this Zhang Xuan, why don't we split up? That way, we can search faster. Whoever finds him first can notify the others.”

Master Yang turned to look at the others.

“Very well!”

Sword Saint Meng nodded.

Hearing that the person suspected to be her son had been severely injured, she was consumed by worry and wanted to find him immediately, without a moment's delay.

Originally, she had intended to blame Ice Plain Palace, but upon seeing the terrible state of affairs there, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

“Then let's go!”

Understanding his wife's feelings, Sword Saint Xing chose a direction, and the two flew off directly.

Zhang Wuhen, perhaps having thought of something, hesitated for a moment before choosing another direction and turning to leave.

“Elder You, farewell!”

With a slight smile, Master Yang turned and flew away.

The three groups vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye, each heading in a different direction.

Seeing them leave, You Ruoxin continued to instruct her disciples to repair the buildings. Shortly after they began, Zhang Wuhen, the Grand Elder of the Zhang Clan, flew back.

“Elder Wuhen, have you by any chance found Zhang Xuan?”

She hurried forward to greet him, her eyes brightening.

“No!”

Zhang Wuhen shook his head, his piercing eyes fixed on her. “Which direction did Master Yang go?”

“Master Yang?”

You Ruoxin was momentarily stunned.

“Precisely. As the most powerful expert at the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters, Master Yang possesses the ability to detect items and trace their origins. Even if Zhang Xuan concealed his aura, Master Yang would surely find him. He deliberately sent us to search in separate directions to shake us off. I want to see what he's truly up to...”

Zhang Wuhen snorted.

“He can find him? You mean... if we just follow him, we can find Zhang Xuan?”

You Ruoxin's eyes flashed.

“Exactly. However, Master Yang is incredibly powerful, so don't follow too closely. It would be difficult to explain if he discovered us...” Zhang Wuhen said.

“I understand!”

She nodded, a cold glint appearing in You Ruoxin’s eyes. “If I catch him this time, I won't let him escape...”

“Indeed, we absolutely cannot let that fellow escape...”

Zhang Wuhen nodded repeatedly as well.

If a nobody who appeared out of nowhere could reduce the Zhang Clan to ruins and wasn't properly dealt with, how could the Zhang Clan ever maintain its prestige at the pinnacle of the continent?

He must be severely punished!

As the two secretly conspired, Master Yang, who had been flying for an unknown duration, stopped above a mountain range. With a flick of his wrist, a mirror appeared in his palm.

He quickly formed countless hand seals, and streams of light continuously spun on the mirror. Soon, a clear trace appeared above it.

“The Saint Son Hall Token is a treasure refined by the Master Teacher Pavilion. Indeed, investigating this item proved fruitful...”

Master Yang smiled faintly.

Truth be told, after Zhang Xuan escaped, he left no traces behind. Even with Master Yang's strength, he couldn't find anything, as if Zhang Xuan had vanished into thin air.

However, the Saint Son Hall Token in his possession was a treasure of the Master Teacher Pavilion. Tracing this item meant knowing his whereabouts.

“It seems he went to the Empire Alliance!”

After examining the traces on the mirror, Master Yang quickly located the exact position of the Hall Token. He smiled again, his body flickered, and he vanished from his spot.

Master Yang wasn't bothered by Zhang Xuan disguising himself as him and impersonating his student; he was simply very curious.

How could someone with such a low cultivation manage to assume his identity without even a Nine-Star Master Teacher being able to tell? How did he achieve that?

About half an hour after he left, space rippled, and two figures reappeared.

They were Zhang Wuhen, the Grand Elder of the Zhang Clan, and You Ruoxin, the Grand Elder of Ice Plain Palace.

Master Yang had not deliberately hidden his tracks, so with their strength, finding this location was not difficult.

“It seems he headed towards the Empire Alliance. Could Zhang Xuan be there?”

Zhang Wuhen said, confirming the direction Master Yang had taken.

“Very likely. Aside from Ice Plain Palace, the largest settlement nearby is here. If Zhang Xuan wanted to disappear without a trace and remain undetected, he could only hide in a place like this!”

You Ruoxin nodded.

To completely disappear without a trace, making it difficult even for the Master Teacher Pavilion to detect him, one wouldn't hide in deep mountains or ancient forests, but rather in a sea of people.

The more people there are, the harder it is to find someone.

Based on this analysis, it is indeed highly probable that Zhang Xuan went to the Empire Alliance, a densely populated area.

This place has the most people, a mixed bag of individuals. Even with Master Teacher Pavilion members stationed here, while it seems dangerous, the most dangerous places are often the safest.

Because no one would expect him to blend in and hide secretly here.

“Immediately notify the Master Teacher Pavilion members that Zhang Xuan’s tracks have been found in the Empire Alliance. Whether he's there or not, have them conduct a thorough search!”

Zhang Wuhen scoffed coldly.

“Understood, I'll inform them right away!”

You Ruoxin nodded quickly.

Although they could also search, their efficiency would be much lower compared to the Master Teacher Pavilion. If the latter takes action, Zhang Xuan will certainly find it difficult to escape again.