Lu Sheng watched Xu Chui depart, then closed his eyes and began reversing the flow of Aquarius Qi within his Yin Crane Web. As expected, the process was smooth. The Yin-aspected Aquarius Qi was effortlessly converted into exceedingly pure Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies inner Qi.
This was the remarkable power of Yin and Yang equilibrium.
“Zhao Jiaojiao greets the Sect Master.” A hoarse yet alluring female voice echoed through the study.
Lu Sheng opened his eyes and examined Zhao Jiaojiao as she stood before him.
Ripe. Like a full, succulent peach, flushed and fragrant.
She wore a pink long dress that bared her shoulders. Her long hair was gathered into a bun, secured by a simple redwood hairpin. Her voluptuous figure betrayed no hint that she was already over forty years old.
Her rosy, radiant skin made her appear no older than twenty-eight, while her charm evoked the image of a blooming blood rose.
Most striking of all, the hem of her dress had been deliberately torn open, styled like a cheongsam slit that revealed her legs up to her thighs.
“What’s wrong? Does the Sect Master not recognize Jiaojiao?” Zhao Jiaojiao smiled softly.
“You’ve dressed well,” Lu Sheng said plainly. “I need you to harvest and gather the precious herbs marked on this map.”
He produced a cut-out map with three locations clearly circled and tossed it over. Zhao Jiaojiao caught it with precision, unfurled it, and glanced down.
“One of these locations happens to be Jiaojiao’s hometown,” she said with a smile. She looked nothing like the prisoner from the dungeon anymore.
“That works out nicely,” Lu Sheng nodded. “Go. I’ll give you one month. If you can’t find them, then return.”
“Alright.” Zhao Jiaojiao raised her brows, turned, and walked out with a lively sway.
The guards by the doorway stared after her until their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Once Zhao Jiaojiao had left, Lu Sheng closed his eyes again. Scarlet District Mistress and Ashoka Manor were closing in. He needed greater power, stronger power.
Capturing every inner force expert who opposed him and draining them of their inner Qi was the first step.
As long as he possessed sufficient strength, it would not matter whether it was Ashoka Manor or Scarlet District Mistress. All of them would have to die.
As Yin and Yang continued to circulate and convert within his body, Lu Sheng faintly sensed his physical transformation accelerating.
‘That’s it… just like this… a little faster…’
He sank deeper into concentration, the corners of his lips slowly curling into a savage grin.
…………
“DIE!!!”
KABOOM!!
Scarlet District Mistress roared as her fist slammed into a black, grayish stone wall. The wall detonated on impact, and a black shadow burst out, fleeing in panic.
“You Wandering Heart Society scum!!!”
Scarlet District Mistress lunged forward and appeared behind the fleeing figure in a blink. Both her hands clamped down on the black shadow’s arms.
RIP!!
Like prey torn apart mid-hunt, the black shadow’s upper body was ripped cleanly in two.
White ribs protruded grotesquely from the mangled flesh as torrents of blood splashed across the ground. Terrified screams and wails erupted from all directions.
This was the central arena of the Martial League.
Most of Martial League’s members had either been slaughtered or had fled in terror. While Scarlet District Mistress was interrogating wandering ghosts, she had been ambushed by an expert from the Wandering Heart Society.
Unfortunately for them, even a team led by a Wandering Heart Society Guardian King, one capable of killing a Seven-Vein Level expert, was effortlessly annihilated by her. Another powerful expert had fallen, and once the news reached Wandering Heart Society, their fury would surely follow.
“Our Society Leader… will never let you off…!”
Reduced to half a body, the black shadow struggled to spit out his final threat.
Bang….!
Scarlet District Mistress smashed his head into pulp without hesitation.
“I’m sick of hearing the same words again and again.”
A ripple of black light swept across her body, and every trace of blood vanished instantly, as though soaked up by an unseen sponge.
She lifted her gaze and surveyed the surroundings.
Flames continued to roar across the rooftops and buildings of Martial League. Thick, rolling smoke filled the air, beneath which countless grotesque corpses lay scattered. Some bore the head of a rhinoceros atop a human body. Others had a human head fused to the coils of a serpent.
They were all assassins sent by the Wandering Heart Society.
Ever since her return from hunting down the Zhen Family, Scarlet District Mistress had repeatedly crossed paths with this mysterious faction. Wandering Heart Society belonged neither to the Central Plains nor the Northern Lands, yet its strength was formidable.
Their Devil Blade techniques were exceptionally compatible with the Scarlet Dragon Tribulation. Because of that, they had become one of the most relentless and frenzied factions pursuing it.
“Sis…” Umbrella girl floated over from a distance.
“After two days, have you found any leads?” Scarlet District Mistress asked.
Umbrella girl shook her head slightly, remaining silent.
Frustration stirred within Scarlet District Mistress.
“Forget it. Since there are no leads here, we’ll go to Mountain-Edge City. We’ll look for Taoist Baifeng.”
“Mm…” Umbrella girl lowered her umbrella, hiding the unease in her eyes.
“Sis… let’s… forget it. Let’s… stop looking,” she said suddenly.
“How can that be allowed?!” Scarlet District Mistress cut her off. “Even the Supreme Mantra was nearly stolen! That’s the key to unlocking greater power within my own body. If it’s lost, wouldn’t our hope of returning to life be ruined? And so many ghosts were killed by that man.”
“But… the Wandering Heart Society… they will come back,” Umbrella girl said anxiously.
“Let them come.” Scarlet District Mistress remained utterly unconcerned. “I want to see how many more they have left for me to kill.”
“Sis…” Umbrella girl tried to speak again, but Scarlet District Mistress raised her hand, clearly unwilling to listen further.
The two of them gathered the wandering ghosts and departed, heading straight for Mountain-Edge City.
They traveled at extraordinary speed. In barely an hour, they had entered the city, walking along the streets like two ordinary women.
Before long, the Intelligence Agency’s eyes fell upon them. After the initial shock and repeated confirmations, the information was hurriedly reported upward.
By the time Taoist Baifeng arrived, the two of them were already seated in a teahouse.
“This old Taoist Baifeng greets Scarlet District Mistress,” Baifeng said respectfully. Cold sweat soaked through his robes, and every muscle in his body was drawn tight.
In all his years, this was the first time he had ever seen ghosts strolling through a city in broad daylight. Yet Scarlet District Mistress was among the very strongest experts in the entire Northern Lands. She was truly an exception to all rules.
Scarlet District Mistress cast Baifeng a flat glance.
“Ye Moling has already informed you, I presume? My demands.”
“Yes… yes… I’ve heard everything. Manor Lord Ye was very clear,” Baifeng replied hastily. “This old Taoist has also conducted some checks beforehand.”
His entire body was taut with tension, terrified that a single misstep might provoke an attack. If that happened, no one in Mountain-Edge City could stop her. She might even wipe out the entire city.
“What leads have you found, then? Let’s hear them.”
Scarlet District Mistress sounded bored as she took a sip from her teacup.
At that moment, she looked like nothing more than a tall, powerfully built white-haired woman. Though a faint aura of ferocity lingered about her, she appeared no different from an ordinary martial arts expert.
Baifeng lowered his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. He glanced around furtively, then began moving his lips. No sound emerged.
Yet as his lips moved, Scarlet District Mistress’ eyes suddenly gleamed.
She fell into brief contemplation. Then, without warning, she rose to her feet.
“Then let’s go take a look now.”
With those words, she seized umbrella girl and strode straight out into the street.
Taoist Baifeng stood stunned for a heartbeat before hurriedly following after them.
“But doing so will alert them. If that family is provoked…” he tried to dissuade her.
“Then let them come to me,” Scarlet District Mistress said indifferently. “I don’t care which family it is. I need an explanation. No matter who they are.”
Baifeng, meanwhile, was wailing inwardly. If word ever spread that the information had come from him, his position as Head of the Intelligence Agency would be untenable. Being caught between such forces was nothing short of misery.
He half-jogged behind Scarlet District Mistress and umbrella girl. He already knew their destination and had no means of stopping them.
They moved with astonishing speed. In only a few moments, they reached the heart of Mountain-Edge City.
Scarlet District Mistress halted before a grand manor. She lifted her head and read the signboard hanging above the gate.
“Lu Manor?”
“According to our spies, Sect Master Lu Sheng has close ties with the Martial League,” Taoist Baifeng said quickly as he caught up, lowering his voice. “We simply haven’t obtained solid evidence yet. But this matter shouldn’t be connected to the earlier fire at Scarlet District’s headquarters.”
They looked utterly unremarkable as they stood before Lu Manor, like travelers who had merely paused to admire the grandeur of a passing estate.
Scarlet District Mistress stared coldly at the signboard hanging above the gate. Then, without warning, she turned and fixed Taoist Baifeng with a sharp glare.
“What a fine plan you have.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Umbrella girl let out a long breath of relief.
By rumor, the Sect Master of the Crimson Whale Sect was closely tied to Shangyang Jiuli. And Lu Manor belonged to Lu Sheng, the Sect Master of the Crimson Whale Sect. If her sister had truly been provoked into making a move against Lu Sheng’s family, then everything would have spiraled out of control.
The Shangyang Family would undoubtedly see it as a direct provocation. And with her sister’s devil-may-care temperament, she would never bow to pressure.
“Sis… let’s leave the Northern Lands…”
For once, umbrella girl did not stammer. She followed closely behind Scarlet District Mistress, her spirit visibly low.
“Don’t worry. Very soon… very soon, I’ll become stronger,” Scarlet District Mistress said, gripping her hand tightly. “When that time comes, I’ll rebuild Scarlet District from the ground up. No one will be able to hurt us. Don’t worry, Yingying. I’m here. If the heavens fall, I’ll hold them up.”
Umbrella girl gazed at her sister in a daze. She had been hearing those words for a very long time.
She had watched her sister fight endlessly, always pushing herself to the brink, yet holding back all the same. Though clearly stronger than most, she remained cautious, never striking recklessly.
Alone, she had struggled to support Scarlet District, that so-called home which now belonged only to the two of them.
Facing the Shangyang Family, the Wandering Heart Society, and countless factions with deep roots and formidable power, she still refused to retreat.
Just watching from her side was exhausting.
“Don’t worry. I only need one more breakthrough, and everything will be fine,” Scarlet District Mistress said with a tired smile, quiet confidence etched across her face.
Yet the more she spoke like that, the tighter umbrella girl’s heart clenched. Images of her sister enduring relentless days and nights of painful cultivation flickered through her mind.
She could sense the unrest, the fatigue, the quiet sense of loss hidden in her sister’s eyes. She knew her far too well.
Was it because of the Wandering Heart Society?
That faction had been closing in on them relentlessly. Even now, umbrella girl could not forget the sight of her sister returning in a bloody state, clutching her own shattered arm.
How long had it been since she had last seen her sister pushed to such desperate straits?
Yingying lowered her head. Once more, the thought of leaving surfaced in her mind.
She wished her sister did not have to shoulder everything alone, to struggle so endlessly. The Wandering Heart Society was tightening its net. They would not be able to remain hidden for much longer.
Even if they rebuilt Scarlet District and concealed the secret mantra within a powerful formation, escape would still be impossible. The grasp of the Wandering Heart Society would not loosen so easily.
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