The Shanhe Scroll that cultivators from all regions were discussing was stolen from the Huaxian Gate by an evil cultivator from the Upper Realm. However, due to the suppression of realms, he couldn't keep it within the Weiyu Realm for long. He casually threw the Shanhe Scroll into the depths of a mountain range and left a mark, hoping that the evil cultivators hiding within the Weiyu Realm would be able to find it. After doing so, he was forced to leave the realm.
The Shanhe Scroll, now transformed into a streak of golden light, fell deep into the mountain range and was picked up by a fourth-rank red fox. The creature sensed it was a treasure and planned to exchange it for a human cultivator's pills once it formed a human shape, not realizing that this decision would bring immense trouble upon itself.
Hua Tang Zūnzhě of the Huaxian Gate felt as though disaster had fallen upon their sect from nowhere. The loss of the Shanhe Scroll felt like a harsh slap in the face, so she sent all newly advanced Divine Transformation cultivators of the sect out to search for it.
Among them were her disciple Xian Yao and the newly advanced Divine Transformation cultivator Xian Feng. The two left Huaxian Gate together, beginning their aimless search.
Meanwhile, Wei Yunqing, forced into seclusion, was diligently cultivating using the resources stored within the crimson bracelet. She had already tried countless methods to leave but found herself completely trapped. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and cultivate.
She believed that once she reached the Divine Transformation stage, she would be able to escape this place. And she was confident she wouldn't need a hundred years to do so. She firmly believed she could achieve this breakthrough within fifty years.
After breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, Wei Zonghao devoted himself to studying pill refinement and medicinal crafting under Yu Huo Zhēnjūn's guidance. Yu Huo Zhēnjūn treated Wei Zonghao as the next Peak Lord, personally bestowing him the Dao name "Ran Hao."
Upon hearing of Ran Xi's disappearance, Wei Zonghao visited Yu Ling Zūnzhě and was reassured when told that Ran Xi's soul lamp was still lit. Relieved, he placed his trust in his sister's luck and believed her safe return was only a matter of time. He continued to focus on refining medicine while patiently waiting for Ran Xi's return, taking care of both the Wei and Feng families.
The Wei and Feng clans were both notified that Yunxi had gone missing in the Northern Region. The clansmen were deeply worried but felt a sense of relief after confirming through Haoran Sect's Wei Zonghao that her soul lamp remained intact.
Perhaps the only person pleased by Yunxi's disappearance was Du Ruolan, but her joy didn't last long. She soon fell ill. The icy needle Yunxi had left in her dantian was releasing a chill that slowly ravaged her body, yet she remained unaware due to her low cultivation.
Had Wei Yunqing been present, she might have noticed this, but Wei Yunqing was currently in forced seclusion under Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui's supervision. Thus, Du Ruolan missed her best chance for treatment.
From then on, Du Ruolan fell sick more and more frequently, eventually becoming bedridden. She was not yet fifty years old but looked frail and haggard. Even after consuming countless pills, her condition never improved.
By the time Wei Yunqing successfully advanced to the Divine Transformation stage and left seclusion, Du Ruolan had already become nothing more than a mound of earth. However, as she had only been at the Qi Refining stage, her passing was considered a natural death, arousing no suspicion.
Wei Lingyue, unable to break through to the Golden Core stage, also perished in her own seclusion chamber. It was Wei Lingkai, upon returning from his travels, who discovered her death. Thus, Wei Yunxi's nominal parents were both gone.
Wei Lingkai obtained "Suosheng" from Wei Chenyin and, after consuming it, replenished the vitality he had lost. This high-grade potion allowed him to break through to the late Golden Core stage, leaving him only one step away from Nascent Soul.
Clan Head Wei Lingtao was overjoyed. He felt the family was thriving and stable, even with Ran Xi missing. The Wei clan's future remained bright. Wei Lingyue's death barely caused a ripple, and life soon returned to calm.
At this time, Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui were traveling in the Northern Region's Polar Extreme Wind Zone when they received a message from their sect, requesting their assistance in finding the Shanhe Scroll.
The two were cultivating in extreme conditions: Lin Keyang tempering his body and Zhang Lingrui honing his swordsmanship. They were also lingering in hopes of encountering Ran Xi. During this period, they befriended Han Yan and Han Ying from the Jihan Gate.
Lin Keyang rotated his neck and called Zhang Lingrui, who was sparring against the raging gales. The two withdrew from the Wind Zone and saw Han Yan and Han Ying approaching. Both wore grim expressions.
Lin Keyang swept his divine sense over the message jade slip, and his face darkened as well. He gestured for Zhang Lingrui to check his own slip. After reading, Zhang Lingrui couldn't hold back and cursed loudly:
"Are they brain-dead?! We nearly died stopping Long Ya, and now, in such a short time, it's been stolen?!"
Lin Keyang glared at his partner and said: "Stop yelling, I'm not deaf. Besides, this isn't entirely Huaxian Gate's fault. Have you forgotten that enormous palm that nearly crushed Ran Xi? If higher forces intervened, we couldn't have stopped it no matter what."
Han Yan and Han Ying reached them at that moment, and Han Yan said with a dark face: "You got the sect's message too, right?"
Lin Keyang nodded. "Just received it."
Han Ying asked: "What do you two plan to do?"
After a brief pause, Lin Keyang replied: "We're heading out of the Northern Region to meet up with our sect mate Cao Yi. He's a fifth-rank formation master. Maybe he can give us an edge. What about you two?"
Han Yan sighed helplessly. "We're going to search the Northern Region first, see if we can find any leads. But searching like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I'm afraid the evil cultivators will make another move while we waste time."
"For now, the situation's unclear. We'll just have to take it one step at a time."
After exchanging a brief farewell, Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang departed for the Western Region.
Upon learning of the Shanhe Scroll's theft, Ming Jia Zūnzhě visited Qianling City again, meeting Feng Fen once more.
Feng Fen assumed Ming Jia Zūnzhě had come to ask about ascending to the Upper Realm and had prepared an excuse, but Ming Jia came bearing bad news instead.
"Ming Jia Zūnzhě, is your information accurate?"
Ming Jia Zūnzhě nodded calmly. "Of course. Hua Tang of Huaxian Gate informed me personally."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Help me divine its location. I need to know where the Shanhe Scroll is, even if it's just a general area. We cannot allow it to fall into evil cultivator hands."
Feng Fen sighed deeply and nodded. "I understand."
When he had first heard about Ran Xi and three other newly advanced Divine Transformation cultivators disappearing, he had felt a sense of foreboding. He suspected evil cultivators were behind it but could do nothing. Now that the Shanhe Scroll had been stolen, he was determined to do his part.
Burning a hundred years of lifespan, Feng Fen finally determined that the Shanhe Scroll was last seen somewhere within a mountain range in the Southern Region. But he couldn't pinpoint which mountain range it was.
With a pale face, Feng Fen wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and said weakly: "Ming Jia Zūnzhě, this is all I can divine. The rest is up to you."
"You've worked hard, Feng Fen Daoyou. Even knowing the general region is already a great help."
With that, Ming Jia Zūnzhě slid a bottle of pills toward him and vanished the next instant.
At the same time, Xiao He received orders from the evil cultivators to disguise himself and head to the Qinghua Mountains in the Southern Region.