Chapter 265: The Young Master

The Guide smiled and looked around. “This floating continent, though situated above Chang’an Prefecture, has its spatial nodes compressed and sealed.”

“Without the Yinshan Wonder, you truly couldn’t escape.”

As he spoke,

it clasped its arms, and its form dissolved into specks of light.

The next instant,

the power of Yinshan Wonder descended!

Jiang Jian stood in place, feeling an irresistible pulling force surge from the dimensional space.

Without a sound,

his figure vanished instantly, leaving not a trace behind.

Mount Shengshan returned to silence once more.

Meanwhile,

in a corner of the Academy World,

deep within the volcano, crimson magma flowed.

Upon the magma floated an ancient stone platform.

A slender figure sat upon it, meditating in quiet stillness.

Suddenly,

a black-cloaked figure darted into the volcano, materializing before the platform and kneeling half-bowed.

“Young Master.”

He bowed his head, voice respectful.

On the stone platform,

Nie Zheng’s frail form suddenly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, a deep azure vortex spun.

As spiritual energy surged around him, it radiated an extreme chill.

It blocked all heat from the magma.

The icy barrier formed by spiritual energy acted like a filter.

At every moment, it drew in the earth’s spiritual essence to cultivate his body.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

The girl’s gaze fell, her voice cold. “Before I break through to the Divine Palace, don’t come down to disturb me.”

The black-cloaked figure trembled, lowering his head further. “The one you asked me to watch has failed his breakthrough.”

Hearing this,

the girl’s expression changed instantly. She fixed her gaze on the black-cloaked man, her heart clenching in pain. “You mean… he’s dead?”

In that instant,

she had no time to wonder why Jiang Jian had failed his breakthrough.

The only thought that arose in Nie Zheng’s mind

was to use family connections and immediately go to the Underworld to retrieve Jiang Jian!

Now, the rules of the Underworld have changed.

Any living being in the Four Realms of Earth and Moon

does not vanish upon death, but inevitably becomes a dead soul and falls into the Underworld.

“Young Master, I haven’t finished.”

Seeing her expression,

the black-cloaked man trembled in fear and hurried to explain. “Though he failed his breakthrough, he’s still alive!”

Nie Zheng rose, brushing her robes, and stared coldly at the black-cloaked man without speaking.

In that instant,

she had been overwhelmed, unable to think clearly.

Her instinctive reaction was disbelief.

Then she remembered: Nie family guards would never lie to her.

What followed immediately

was a crushing grip on her heart, nearly suffocating her.

At this moment,

hearing that Jiang Jian had failed his breakthrough but had not died,

Nie Zheng forced herself back to composure, rubbed her wrist, and managed to speak calmly. “Continue.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

The black-cloaked man bowed and continued.

“From my observations, his meridians and acupoints have all been severely damaged.”

“Yet, strangely, they have not fully collapsed—they still maintain basic function.”

“After leaving Mount Shengshan,

he headed toward the Dragon Palace of Lihai.”

The black-cloaked man cautiously raised his head, stealing a glance at Nie Zheng’s expression. “Then I returned immediately to report to you, Young Master.”

He had concealed certain things from Nie Zheng.

For example,

he had followed Jiang Jian to the Dragon Palace of Lihai.

And he had witnessed firsthand

Jiang Jian entering the Qiushui Palace with the girl in the plain white dress.

But these matters,

the black-cloaked man dared not mention.

“Go immediately and bring him here.”

Nie Zheng thought for a moment, then spoke. “My spiritual essence cultivation is at a critical stage—I cannot leave.”

The black-cloaked man hesitated slightly. “If he refuses to come, what should I do?”

Previously,

Nie Zheng had given him orders.

To remain hidden and protect Jiang Jian.

The level of importance she placed on him was evident.

This made the black-cloaked man always seek precise instructions regarding Jiang Jian, never daring to act on his own.

Nie Zheng’s face remained expressionless. “He failed his breakthrough. Even if he barely survives, his soul will surely be backlashed.”

“Find Jiang Jian.”

“First, tell him I need to speak with him.”

Here,

the girl lowered her eyes slightly.

Her expression grew heavy.

“If he refuses,”

“then tell him the second thing.”

“I have a way to heal his soul.”

“Say that, and he will come.”

Beneath the stone platform,

the magma rolled slowly, occasionally bubbling.

The black-cloaked man replied, “I understand, Young Master.”

As soon as he spoke,

he turned and dissolved into light.

He departed the volcano instantly.

“Jiang Jian… you actually failed your breakthrough.”

The girl lifted her head slowly, her expression complex.

“Good.”

“As long as he’s alive, it’s a blessing.”

Only now

did she truly exhale in relief.

But at the same time,

Nie Zheng’s mind filled with many questions.

Regarding Jiang Jian’s cultivation,

she understood him better than anyone.

Based on his foundation,

Even if one cultivates a peerless divine palace, there is still considerable risk.

The failure to break through a realm.

Unless something unexpected occurs, it almost never happens to him.

(End of Chapter)