Chapter 252

'Yes!'

Zhao Fuzhou said seriously, 'With your cultivation, you're more than capable of capturing Zhu Jiuchuan.'

'But going to Bai Yun City to capture Zhu Jiuchuan is secondary. Next month, on the sea outside Bai Yun City, the annual phenomenon known as "Clouds Rise from the Sea" will appear.'

'Observing this "Clouds Rise from the Sea" greatly aids in comprehending one's artistic intent.'

'My Sword Intent's Third Heaven was refined five years ago right there.'

'Moreover, after the "Clouds Rise from the Sea" ends, beneath the sea where the phenomenon appeared, the spiritual herb "Cloud Lotus" matures. This flower purifies True Qi and nourishes tendons and bones, offering noticeable benefits to those in the Innate Realm and Earth Altar Realm.'

'Thank you, Brother Zhao!' Chen Mu rose solemnly and bowed deeply to Zhao Fuzhou.

Comprehending artistic intent!

This kind of information, bluntly speaking, is a major opportunity.

Although Bai Yun City has always been there, Chen Mu was certain that even in Jiannan Dao, Dong Nan Dao, and Tiannan Dao, most people didn't know about the "Clouds Rise from the Sea."

Only those from major factions knew!

Zhao Fuzhou advised Chen Mu to go to Bai Yun City—capturing Zhu Jiuchuan was merely incidental; observing the "Clouds Rise from the Sea" was the main goal!

'Between you and me, no need for such formalities.'

Zhao Fuzhou raised his hand and smiled, 'Due to Bai Yun City's unique status, the imperial court has very few spies there, and even fewer from the Martial Peace Bureau. So once you're there, finding the hidden Zhu Jiuchuan will depend entirely on you.'

'No problem.'

Chen Mu nodded and said confidently, 'As long as he's inside the city, I'll definitely drag him out!'

'Good!'

Zhao Fuzhou stood up, his expression serious. 'Then it's settled—you'll capture Zhu Jiuchuan. Once you have him, bring him directly to the Dong Nan Dao Martial Peace Bureau headquarters.'

'I'll contact them right away.'

'Then I'll set out today.' Chen Mu bowed his fist in farewell, then suddenly remembered something and asked, 'By the way, Brother Zhao, how's Tuantuan lately?'

'Doing fine.'

Zhao Fuzhou chuckled, 'Same as always—rude and disrespectful, always acting so old and wise. He still refuses to go to school; before I came to Jiangnan Dao, he ran away once.'

'Hah~' Chen Mu couldn't help laughing.

Skipping class?

Running away from home?

That's exactly the kind of thing Long Tuantu would do!

……

……

The affairs in Zhenzhou are settled.

Chen Mu immediately set off for Bai Yun City.

The route, naturally, was a straight line through the air.

Only when nearing large cities did he slightly alter course to visit the outskirts' graveyards and collect a batch of cards.

After breaking through to the Earth Altar Realm, his collection range had doubled—to two hundred meters!

This made collecting cards much easier.

Meanwhile, the Tenth Layer of the Duan Tianhe Scripture expanded his ability to sense Sword Gear to one hundred kilometers!

From Jiangnan Dao, crossing Dong Nan Dao straight to Bai Yun City—the journey spanned thousands of li.

As Chen Mu collected cards along the way, he activated the Duan Tianhe Scripture to sense Sword Gear.

This was routine.

Unexpectedly, just as he was about to leave Jiangnan Dao's territory, the Duan Tianhe Scripture actually sensed a piece of Sword Gear!

Chen Mu was overjoyed and immediately deviated from his course, heading straight toward the Sword Gear.

With the Yan Ling Yu Yi activated, he soon arrived at the location.

Inside a moving caravan's cargo carts!

Shhh~

Chen Mu descended from the sky, landing on a hillside beside the road, atop a tree branch.

He observed the caravan—nearly two hundred strong—from afar.

The entire group wore uniform attire, all mounted on horses, pulling carts and wagons.

With his Earth Altar Realm cultivation, he carefully sensed…

'Two Earth Altar cultivators?'

Chen Mu frowned slightly.

From the faint, intermittent qi signatures, two Earth Altar experts rode in the caravan—one at the Divine Bridge level with a strong aura, the other at the Chao Yuan level with a concealed one.

Two Earth Altar experts assigned to guard the cargo…

The goods must be valuable indeed!

As Chen Mu pondered, he suddenly noticed a carriage's right curtain drawn aside—a woman tossed fruit peels out, and during those brief two breaths, the side profile of a man inside the carriage came fully into view.

The man's profile looked familiar…

'Qi Lilou?'

Chen Mu quickly recalled someone.

The son of a Cao Gang elder, a boastful young master who failed the elimination round at the Wu Di City "Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud Gathering" and was expelled from the city.

'Qi Lilou is in the carriage, guarded by two Earth Altar experts—is the cargo from the Cao Gang?'

Chen Mu fell into thought.

He activated the 'Listen to the Wind' skill and listened to his surroundings.

The next moment, he couldn't help but laugh.

On the other side of the official road, in the mountain forest, separated by a distance of roughly three hundred meters, two figures with extraordinary lightness skill skimmed the ground at extreme speed.

They kept pace with the caravan the whole time — not too far, not too close, not too fast, not too slow!

"Interesting."

Chen Mu locked onto the carriage carrying the sword-ornament components, confirmed the exact location of the crate, watched the caravan move off, and only then followed unhurriedly.

……

Night fell.

On a wide open stretch of ground by the river.

The caravan, which had hurried along all day, stopped on the open ground, set up two tents, lit a fire to cook, and fed the horses.

The sound of talking broke the mountain's quiet.

"Young Master, the food and wine are ready."

A delicate-looking young girl approached the curtained exit of the carriage and called out softly.

Strange sounds came from inside the carriage.

The delicate girl heard it, her expression unchanged, and merely spoke again, raising her voice slightly: "Young Master, the food and wine are ready."

The inside of the carriage went quiet.

The next instant…

"I know, I know."

Qi Lilou's impatient voice rang out.

After a rustling of strange sounds, the curtain was lifted, and two seductive-looking women, their cheeks flushed, stepped down from the carriage first.

Then, supporting Qi Lilou, they helped him down from the carriage, cooing at the same time, "Young Master, easy, easy."

Once Qi Lilou was on the ground, they hooked their arms through his, one on each side, and walked him toward the nearby tent.

They ignored the delicate girl the entire time.

The delicate girl's expression didn't change; she followed slowly behind.

After Qi Lilou entered the tent and sat in the main seat, she stepped forward to serve the dishes and pour the wine.

The two seductive women pressed close to Qi Lilou on either side, giggling as they fed him wine and dishes.

Qi Lilou opened his mouth from time to time, his hands never idle, drawing endless giggles from the two seductive women.

"Young Master, you're so naughty~"

"Then do you like it?"

"Hate you~"

"Hahaha…"

The three ate and flirted as they went.

The delicate girl kept her eyes straight ahead the entire time.

Until the dishes were half-served…

"Ah—!"

A scream suddenly came from outside.

"Enemy attack!"

"There are bandits…"

"……"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sharp sound of breaking wind suddenly rang out at the foot of the mountain, shattering the night.

Before Qi Lilou could react, the air abruptly gave a "hummm," pressed down by an invisible yet enormous force — as if a mountain had descended — slamming everyone below the Innate Realm to their knees uncontrollably, or simply flattening them face-down.

The two seductive women beside Qi Lilou went pale-faced, then slid limply and stiffly to the ground.

"It's an Earth Altar master!"

Qi Lilou shrieked, stretching a trembling hand toward the delicate girl, shouting in terror.

"Xiao Jin, protect me~!"