Chapter 503: Natural Research Institute! After the Catastrophe

Two days later, Shangjing City, Bai He Guan.

Dawn’s first light glimmered; a thin mist hung like gauze.

This ancient Daoist observatory, nestled at the hidden convergence of Shangjing’s dragon vein, bathed in pale gold morning radiance, its sprawling halls and upturned eaves bearing the marks of time, exuded a quiet, mountain-like gravity and a crane-like ethereal grace.

On the courtyard, a group of young Daoists, just finished their morning rituals, walked together toward the dining hall.

“Hurry… look, that’s the deputy abbot.”

“Deputy Abbot Yuan—he’s a Tian Shi cultivator, one of the rarest in this age.”

“What kind of realm is Tian Shi?”

“Youngster, Tian Shi is Tian Shi—why ask so many questions?”

Far off, the young Daoists halted, their gazes fixed, eyes brimming with deep curiosity and reverence.

After all, such a figure was rarely seen even in their daily lives.

At that moment, a figure with unsteady steps entered the observatory gate, crushing dew on the blue stone, unmistakably Yuan Tian Du.

Beside him walked a girl with twin pigtails.

Compared to the great battle on the riverbank two days prior, this Tian Shi-level master now seemed a different person entirely.

His face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color; the once-flawless, heaven-and-earth-harmonized aura that had surrounded him now withered like a candle in the wind, flickering erratically.

“Hmm? Something’s off—Master Yuan’s aura seems….”

“Don’t speak nonsense—Master Yuan is… actually, it does seem….”

“What happened? Did he fall gravely ill?”

Whispered speculations spread among the disciples; invisible needles of suspicion and shock pricked Yuan Tian Du, yet he appeared oblivious, expressionless, walking deeper into the observatory.

Just as he was about to pass through the front hall courtyard, a figure stepped out from behind a side corridor pillar, meeting him face-to-face.

The newcomer wore a plain white Daoist robe, spotless, his posture straight as pine and bamboo, his face handsome, yet his brows locked in an unyielding chill—undeniably the heir of Bai He Guan…

Li Changgeng!!!

Both men paused slightly.

Li Changgeng’s gaze settled on Yuan Tian Du; with his sharp perception, he immediately sensed the Tian Shi’s weakness. His eyes flickered with complex emotion, then returned to stillness as deep as a forgotten well.

“Master Yuan.”

Li Changgeng bowed, his gesture precise but utterly cold, his voice flat, revealing no emotion.

No sooner had the words left his lips than he offered no inquiry about his injuries, showed no concern, and without waiting for Yuan Tian Du’s response, he stepped past without pause, brushing shoulders as he passed.

“Master, why is Brother Li acting like this today?”

Beside him, the twin-pigtailed girl frowned, sensing something amiss.

Yuan Tian Du was a Tian Shi-level master, deputy abbot of Bai He Guan; for Li Changgeng, the heir of Bai He Guan, such conduct was not merely coldness—it bordered on disrespect.

This clashed utterly with Li Changgeng’s usual demeanor.

“He’s resentful,” Yuan Tian Du said calmly.

“Resentful? What resentment does he hold toward you, Master?” the twin-pigtailed girl asked, puzzled.

“He blames me for going to Yujing City and personally confronting that young man,” Yuan Tian Du said gravely.

“That young man? Zhang Fan?” The girl blinked, then understood.

“Wait—does Brother Li know him? Are they acquainted?”

“No acquaintance. Only deep enmity,” Yuan Tian Du shook his head.

“If it’s only enmity, why resent you? He should thank you!” the girl was even more confused.

“Because that young man can only die by his hands. No one else may touch him.”

Yuan Tian Du lifted his eyelids slightly; his weary eyes held a depth beyond words, then sank back into stillness, as if all of it meant nothing to him, and he continued dragging his wounded body toward the inner courtyard where the abbot resided.

“Master… wait for me!” The twin-pigtailed girl, still bewildered, hurried after him.

…

Deep within Bai He Guan, in a simple, quiet office.

Incense smoke rose straight and dense.

Yuan Tian Du pushed open the door; several people were already inside.

Seated at the head was an elderly man in a plain Zhongshan suit, his face lean, his eyes warm, wearing black-rimmed glasses, Ditou reading documents—merely sitting there, he seemed the center of the entire room, even of the world beyond the window.

Half the Daoist world…

Jiang Your Majesty!

“Master Yuan!”

Upon seeing Yuan Tian Du enter, everyone bowed; only one man gave a slight nod in greeting.

He was the other deputy abbot of Bai He Guan—Huo Fa Wang.

“You may leave. Fa Wang, stay,” Jiang Your Majesty said without looking up.

At once, the others hesitated no longer and exited the office.

Now only Jiang Your Majesty, Yuan Tian Du, and Huo Fa Wang remained.

“Jiang Lao, I have failed you,” Yuan Tian Du said apologetically.

“Little Yuan, no need to blame yourself. This trip wasn’t without gain,” Jiang Your Majesty waved a hand, his gaze still fixed on the documents before him.

“The natural spirit embryo of Long Hu Shan… truly favored by heaven and earth. Even such a great calamity couldn’t kill her.” Jiang Your Majesty sighed.

“Confirming her survival is already a significant gain.”

“But… that brat…” Yuan Tian Du hesitated.

“One marked by great calamity carries great fortune. If he were so easily disposed of, he wouldn’t deserve the title of Wuwei Sect Master.”

Jiang Your Majesty’s deep eyes betrayed no ripple—as if failure had been expected, and to him, utterly insignificant.

“Jiang Lao, this boy is an anomaly, even more troublesome than the late Wang of Daling Sect. If left unchecked, he’ll become another San Shi Dao Ren,” Yuan Tian Du said gravely.

Based on what he’d witnessed, he had already labeled Zhang Fan a grave threat.

“San Shi Dao Ren… the world has never lacked supreme Dao cultivators—but there has only ever been one San Shi Dao Ren!”

Jiang Your Majesty paused, then spoke suddenly.

“Fa Wang, go. Bring back that young man.”

“Jiang Lao, his whereabouts are now unknown. I’ve alerted all provincial Dao Leagues—our people are searching everywhere,” Huo Fa Wang said solemnly.

“The world is vast, but only one place can hide him.”

As he spoke, Jiang Your Majesty set down his documents, opened a drawer, and began searching.

“Go here and wait. Bring him back.”

Jiang Your Majesty pulled from the drawer a long-yellowed business card, placed it on the desk, and slid it toward Huo Fa Wang.

Huo Fa Wang picked it up, glanced once—and froze. His expression grew increasingly strange.

“What place is this?”