Western Region, Haoran Sect Hive
Yu Ling was processing the day's jade slips when the one in his hand suddenly cracked without warning. The normally impassive Yu Ling frowned, a bad premonition thudding in his chest. The next instant, he received a transmission from Hao Yi Ancestor, summoning him to the back mountain.
When Yu Ling arrived, Hao Yi Ancestor was there with Hao Hui, Hao Yan, and Hao Qing. Everyone's expression was grim. Yu Ling cupped his hands.
"Ancestor, why have you called me?"
"Ran Xi is missing."
Hao Yi Ancestor did not waste words.
Yu Ling's head snapped up. "Missing? Where did she disappear? When did it happen? She should be training in the Polar Extreme Wind Zone of the Northern region."
It was the first time Hao Yi Ancestor had seen Yu Ling rattle off so many questions in one breath. She waved a hand. "Yu Ling, check Ran Xi's soul-lamp. First confirm that she is safe."
She had asked for Yu Ling for exactly this reason. As long as the soul-lamp was intact, they could search slowly.
Yu Ling nodded and took out a soul-lamp from his storage bracelet. The flame still burned bright, and everyone exhaled in relief, though it was clearly not as vigorous as before.
Hao Yi Ancestor nodded. "As long as it burns, Ran Xi is not in mortal danger."
Hao Qing said in a low voice, "Judging by the flame, Ran Xi likely is not in the Weiyu Realm. Otherwise the lamp would not look like this."
Confirming his disciple yet lived, Yu Ling put the lamp away and asked, "Ancestor, did something happen in the Western region?"
This time Hao Hui Zūnzhě answered: "To be precise, the problem began in the Polar Extreme Wind Zone of the Northern region. You already know about the traitor in Jihan Gate. After Ran Xi and the other three confirmed that the evil cultivators' target was the Misty Snow Domain, they went together to investigate the Polar Extreme Wind Zone. Before they even entered the gales, a Jihan Gate cultivator, gravely wounded by evil cultivators, begged them for help.
Han Lian first warned the entire Northern region to stop any cultivator trying to seek the entrance to the Misty Snow Domain, then contacted Jihan Gate. After that, the four of them entered the Polar Extreme Wind Zone to kill the evil cultivators skulking there with the help of the gales.
During this, the wind belt underwent an abnormal change and swept every cultivator inside toward the very center. Even Jihan Gate's Divine Transformation cultivators were helpless for a time. Just as they prepared to send more people in to investigate, some of those accidentally dragged into the winds were flung back out.
Among them were eight who had seen Ran Xi's group inside the Misty Snow Domain, including five Nascent Soul cultivators from the Northern region's Hanbing Sect, two from Jihan Gate, and three from the loose cultivators' alliance.
From these accounts we learned that the anomaly was the sign of the Misty Snow Domain opening. They were all pulled into the secret realm, where evil cultivators hunted them. Ran Xi took them in and warned them the realm was unsafe, that evil cultivators had entered ahead of them. She told them to move in groups and not to trust strangers lightly.
Ran Xi's group of four then headed for the center of the realm, where the realm spirit resides. The Divine Transformation evil cultivators were massed there, aiming to contract the realm spirit and claim the Misty Snow Domain as a mobile lair for evil cultivators.
These witnesses were too weak to help, so they did not set foot in the central zone. Not long after, the secret realm began to shake. They were expelled. In all, seven days had passed.
Fortunately, Jihan Gate's Divine Transformation cultivators were guarding outside. The Nascent Soul evil cultivators expelled alongside them were captured in one sweep. Han Yan searched souls afterward but found little of use. We can at least confirm those captives were not from the Weiyu Realm. They were minions transmitted from the upper realm straight into the secret realm."
After hearing Hao Hui Zūnzhě's outline, Yu Ling frowned. "The evil cultivators value the Misty Snow Domain that much? I doubt it is just for a mobile lair. They must be after more."
Hao Yi Ancestor nodded. "When the first reports came, we reached the same conclusion. Judging from the outcome, their plot failed eight times out of ten. As the 'variable,' Ran Xi became the one they most wanted to eliminate.
They had tried to kill Ran Xi before, but not only did she survive, she advanced again. Her cultivation now equals yours, and her combat strength is formidable.
Tell me, if they could not kill her, would they consider throwing her somewhere she cannot return from, a place that can trap her?"
Yu Ling's expression actually eased. Fingering the Hive jade pendant at his waist, he said, "If that is the case, I am not worried. Ran Xi has her own fortune. I believe she will find her way back."
At the same time, in the Eastern region, Yunmen Temple's Master Yun Yi also received word that Yun Chen Fózǐ was missing. He spent a full day in the pagoda that enshrined the Buddha's relic. When he descended, he told the disciples of Yunmen Temple that Yun Chen's life was not in danger and that he had formally entered mortal-world training.
In the Southern region, Kunmo Sect's Lin Lang Zūnzhě confirmed through the soul-bell that Xun Kun still lived, though he was not in the Weiyu Realm. She then announced publicly that Xun Kun had been sent to the "Wuyou Realm" for training.
In the Northern region, Jihan Gate's Han Xiao Zūnzhě reacted coolly to Han Lian's disappearance and simply went into seclusion. Han Yan found this distasteful. Beside him, Han Ying muttered,"Tsk, anyone who did not know better would think Han Lian has nothing to do with her. What an easy master's job. When Han Lian excels, it is thanks to her 'teaching.' Now that Han Lian is missing, she does not look worried at all."
Han Ying cleared her throat. "Han Yan, do not stir the pot. We checked Han Lian's soul-lamp. She is not in mortal danger. Just because Senior Sister Han Xiao says nothing does not mean she does not care about her disciple."
She could only make excuses for her senior.
Han Yan smirked. "I have never seen someone 'care' for their only disciple like this."
Elsewhere, Xiao He, who had successfully advanced to Nascent Soul, disguised himself and hurried back to Jihan City. He hardly needed to ask around to learn that evil cultivators had appeared inside the Misty Snow Domain, and that four Divine Transformation cultivators had vanished with the realm.
This news made Xiao He frown. He instinctively felt that Ran Xi Zūnzhě was among the missing. He sent a coded message through the private jade slip he used to contact Ran Xi, asking to meet. He waited a full day at the appointed place, but she did not come. His certainty grew. That night, he received a message from the evil cultivators.
As for Ran Xi and the others on everyone's mind, the four of them had fallen one after another into a low-ranked plane. Because of the spatial gale, all four were injured to varying degrees. The red cord linking them was shredded and died for good, and they lost contact with each other.