Seeing Li Minghan leave with a provoking smile, Li Luoning wanted to chase after him. However, there were too many shadow guards. The master and disciple could not move forward even half a step.
"Qiuyuan, keep an eye on them. Do not accidentally kill them, that would not be fun. Also, how is that other matter going?"
Li Minghan gave the order to Hua Qiuyuan.
"The matter arranged by my lord has already been completed."
"Very good. I will not watch the rest of this play. You watch it for me."
After saying this, Li Minghan turned and left.
Although Li Luoning's cultivation was strong, he could not defeat so many enemies alone. Since this was clearly Li Minghan's trap, it meant the shadow guards would continue to appear endlessly. If that was the case, they had to retreat quickly and could not continue fighting.
"Qingyi, there are too many of them. Do not continue the fight. Withdraw immediately."
Li Luoning quickly flew to Yun Qingyi's side and spoke.
"But Master, what about Niannian?" Yun Qingyi asked.
"Since he already knew we were following him, he would not keep Nian'er by his side. We must leave first and find another way."
After speaking, Li Luoning led Yun Qingyi through the crowd and quickly flew away.
Soon the two of them retreated to Pingyan Land. When they saw that no shadow guards were chasing them, they stopped to rest.
"Master, now that the Demon Lord knows we came to look for Nian'nian, will Nian'nian be in danger?" Yun Qingyi asked worriedly.
"He captured Nian'nian only to lure me here. But what he did today is also strange. He neither fought me directly nor explained the reason."
"Master, what should we do next?"
While they were talking, a golden amber colored flowing light butterfly flew toward them.
Li Luoning opened his palm. When the butterfly landed lightly, it turned into several words.
"The name of the stone is known. Meet at Pingyan Inn for details."
"It is Martial Uncle Mu Han!"
"Yes. Senior brother has found information about the stone and asks us to meet him at Pingyan Inn."
Meanwhile, Mi Xingzhe had actually already been abandoned in the market of Pingyan Land.
Lying on the ground with dull eyes, Mi Xingzhe slowly regained consciousness after the people from Wuming Demon Mountain had left.
"Where… am I?"
Rubbing his head, Mi Xingzhe slowly sat up.
"I clearly remember fighting that person who pretended to be Master in the countryside. After that…"
Mi Xingzhe tried to remember what had happened. He looked down at his clothes.
"What am I wearing?"
While he was looking around to see where he was, he suddenly saw Li Luoning and Yun Qingyi passing through the crowd in the distance.
"Master? Brother Qingyi?"
Mi Xingzhe rubbed his eyes in disbelief. When he opened them again, the two had already disappeared into the crowd.
Without thinking further, Mi Xingzhe stood up and ran after them.
Inside Pingyan Inn, Li Luoning and Yun Qingyi had just entered when they saw Mu Han sitting nearby waiting for them.
"Senior brother."
"Martial Uncle."
"Luoning, I have already investigated the stone you gave me. Also, Qingyuan has agreed to do me a favor. He will lead soldiers to search the human world for a few days. During that time you can finish what you need to do."
Mu Han spoke while inviting Li Luoning to sit down.
"Thank you, senior brother. What exactly is this stone?"
"This object is called the Shangwei Heavenly Stone."
"Shangwei Heavenly Stone? What is that?"
"I do not know yet. But this stone is refined with spiritual power. If that is the case, unless the person who created it uses it again, it will be very difficult to trace who it came from."
Mu Han explained.
"Refined with spiritual power…"
Li Luoning frowned slightly when he heard this.
Mu Han nodded and continued.
"The ancient books in Liaoyin Immortal Realm only record this much. But in Master's library there is a historical scroll that may contain more detailed information."
"Master's library? Senior brother plans to go back?"
"Since this matter concerns the incident involving your Li family years ago, it must be investigated clearly."
Mu Han smiled slightly and took a sip of tea before asking,
"Have you found Yun Wannian?"
"We have not seen him yet, but we are certain Nian'er should be at Wuming Demon Mountain."
Li Luoning said seriously.
"Wuming Demon Mountain? There are many demon soldiers there, and that Demon Lord has secretly watched you for years. If you go there, it will be like walking into a trap. Why not wait here and rescue him together with Qingyuan?"
Mu Han suggested.
"I cannot wait that long. Earlier, Qingyi and I were discovered in Fanli Valley. If we delay further, who knows what he might do to Nian. The Demon Lord is clearly targeting me. Although I do not know the reason yet, it must be faced sooner or later. Ignoring it like before is not a solution."
Li Luoning shook his head.
"Do you have a plan?" Mu Han asked.
"Today we fought with his shadow guards. He probably will not expect me to return again. Tonight I will go alone and rescue Nian'er."
"Master, I will go with you."
Yun Qingyi spoke.
"You stay here. If I go alone, it will be easier to escape if something happens. Besides, if I truly rescue Nian, someone must remain here to receive us."
Li Luoning said firmly.
While they were speaking, the white orchid bead bracelet on Mu Han's left wrist suddenly reacted. Both Li Luoning and Mu Han noticed that one bead began glowing with a pale red light.
"Senior brother, what is that?"
Mu Han glanced at the bracelet. A look of expected understanding appeared in his eyes. He pulled down his sleeve to cover the beads and said calmly,
"Luoning, will you drink a few cups with your senior brother today? Who knows when we will have another chance to drink together again."
Li Luoning felt puzzled. They had only drunk together recently in Mirror Cloud Residence. Why did his senior brother suddenly say such words?
Meanwhile, outside Mirror Cloud Residence, Oushi Nan suddenly appeared.
Looking at Bingguo lying in the courtyard, a wicked smile appeared on his lips.
"Immortal Oushi? What are you doing here?"
Yue Ruling happened to be passing by while patrolling with soldiers. She had come to check on Bingguo and unexpectedly saw Oushi Nan standing there.
Hearing her voice, Oushi Nan immediately changed his expression. He turned and bowed politely.
"General Ruling, are you patrolling here?"
"Immortal Oushi, do you still believe that my junior brother murdered the Medicine King?"
Yue Ruling asked with disappointment.
"The evidence is clear. I have no choice but to believe it."
Oushi Nan answered firmly.
"You may not know my junior brother well. But I, Yue Ruling, am willing to guarantee with my life that he is not the murderer."
"One cannot judge a person only by appearances. How can you ignore my adoptive father's life just because of a guarantee?"
"I…"
Yue Ruling was a warrior and not skilled with words. She did not know how to reply.
"The entrance of Mirror Cloud Residence is unusually lively today."
A voice floated over from not far away. It was Yingde Gengchen.
"Dragon King."
Both Oushi Nan and Yue Ruling bowed.
"You two appearing here together, is there some matter?" the Dragon King asked.
"I was simply passing by during patrol and saw Immortal Oushi standing here, so I came to check."
Yue Ruling glanced at Oushi Nan while speaking.
"Oh? Then Immortal Oushi has business here?"
"I only wished to see if Immortal Master Xiaoyi had returned. May I ask why the Dragon King has come?"
"Luoning and Qingyi went to Wuming Demon Mountain to search for his young disciple. They likely will not return soon. I received a letter the Medicine King left earlier saying he left something for me here in Mirror Cloud Residence, so I came to retrieve it."
"What? Wuming Demon Mountain? Were they not searching in Pingyan Land?"
Yue Ruling asked in surprise.
"I heard that those people handed Yun Wannian over to the Demon Lord of Wuming Demon Mountain. I do not know the details."
"Handed him to the Demon Lord?"
Yue Ruling was shocked.
"I must inform my master immediately. Maybe he can still go help them. There are countless demon soldiers at Wuming Demon Mountain. How can only two people rescue my junior brother?"
After speaking, Yue Ruling hurried away.
"I will also take my leave."
Oushi Nan nodded slightly and prepared to leave.
Yingde Gengchen shook his head and said nothing. He raised a token and waved it gently. The barrier outside Mirror Cloud Residence opened.
"Dragon King, please wait."
"Immortal Oushi, is there something else?"
"I know the Dragon King and my father have long been close friends. Now that my father has been attacked and his soul is barely surviving, we do not know when he will recover. You worked hard to retrieve the Soul Gathering Lamp. Although it was accidentally damaged, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. Please accept this small gift as thanks."
Oushi Nan handed him a box.
"You need not be so polite. Your father and I are old friends. When he suffers trouble, how could I ignore it? The truth is not yet known, and I already feel ashamed. How can I accept a gift from you?"
Yingde Gengchen refused.
"It is only a pill my father refined earlier for the Dragon King. I am merely delivering it on his behalf. Please accept it."
Oushi Nan bowed deeply and raised the box above his head.
Seeing his sincerity, Yingde Gengchen finally accepted.
"Very well. I will accept it. The Medicine King would surely feel comforted seeing your filial heart."
He opened the box.
The moment the box opened, poisonous gas burst out and struck Yingde Gengchen directly in the face. Before he could react, he inhaled most of it. His body lost balance and he staggered, dropping the box to the ground.
Oushi Nan suddenly raised his head. Killing intent filled his eyes. In an instant he drew a crimson dagger and stabbed it fiercely into Yingde Gengchen's body.
The powerful force pushed the Dragon King several steps backward.
Oushi Nan stepped into the barrier of Mirror Cloud Residence, picked up the fallen token, and waved it behind him. The barrier closed again.
"You…"
Yingde Gengchen collapsed on the ground, holding the dagger in his chest. His eyes were full of shock. He tried to speak but felt the dagger burning his dragon marrow.
Oushi Nan now looked completely different. His eyes grew dark, and a cold smile appeared on his thin lips. He rubbed the Dragon King's blood between his fingers and lifted them to his lips, smelling it as if tasting fine wine.
Bingguo was awakened by the noise. Feeling Oushi Nan's evil intent, he released a burst of power, pushed Oushi Nan away, and quickly stood between them to protect Yingde Gengchen.
"Heh, foolish little beast."
Oushi Nan looked at Bingguo with contempt.
"You…!"
Yingde Gengchen struggled to speak. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly understood.
"So it was you!"
"If the Dragon King had simply stayed quietly in the deep sea Dragon Palace, perhaps today would not have happened."
Oushi Nan calmly wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief.
"Why did you do this? You even killed your father!"
"Father? He merely picked up a blood stained purple flower long ago. What father?"
Oushi Nan spoke casually.
"Even so, he raised you. How could you be so cruel?"
"This Feilian dagger was specially prepared for you. Your Yinglong ancestors were no match for Feilian. This dagger was refined from the bones and blood of the Tiangou clan, your dragon clan's natural enemies. I stabbed it directly into your Shenfeng acupoint. No matter how you try to use your power, it is useless. The dagger will continue devouring you until your power disappears completely."
Oushi Nan smiled slightly as if watching a play.
At that moment Bingguo's body suddenly changed. His size grew larger, his face became fierce, golden light shone from the horns on his back, and his tail fur stood up.
With a roar he leaped toward Oushi Nan.
"Overestimating yourself."
Oushi Nan easily avoided several attacks.
Bingguo was a sacred beast but not skilled in combat. Being still young, he could not defeat Oushi Nan. After only a few exchanges he was already exhausted.
"If not for the fact that you still have some use, you would already be nothing more than a fur cloak."
Oushi Nan quickly lost interest. With a heavy strike of power, he hit Bingguo's back.
The little beast fell to the ground, unable to move.
Ignoring Bingguo, Oushi Nan walked toward Yingde Gengchen.
He clasped his fingers together, rotated his wrists, and began chanting. Slowly he pushed his palm toward the Dragon King.
Blue spiritual power flowed out from Yingde Gengchen's body and entered Oushi Nan's palm.
Yingde Gengchen was already dying from the dagger draining his blood. Now he was too weak to resist as his spiritual power was completely absorbed.
Watching his cultivation disappear bit by bit, Yingde Gengchen knew he could not escape death today.
He slowly released the dagger. His blood quietly sank into the ground of Mirror Cloud Residence, turning into a seed buried in the earth.
Soon Oushi Nan stopped.
Yingde Gengchen lay lifeless on the ground.
Oushi Nan stared at the corpse expressionlessly. After thinking for a moment, he summoned several ghost beasts.
They rushed forward and began devouring the Dragon King's body.
Oushi Nan turned away with disgust.
Then he suddenly noticed that the unconscious Bingguo lying nearby had disappeared.