Hao Hui and Hao Qing exchanged a glance, then turned to Yunxi. "When did you hear this?"
"When I was swept into the Misty Snow Domain within the Polar Extreme Wind Zone and fought the evil cultivators for control of the secret realm. An evil cultivator I faced said it.
Back then I did not understand what he meant. I thought he was trying to make us give up the fight. Looking at it now, because the evil god's body is sealed in the Weiyu Realm, he would rather self destruct than let me soul search him."
Now that Yunxi had strung the pieces together, the true meaning was clear.
Hao Yan's phoenix eyes narrowed dangerously. "So Huaxian Gate knew the evil god's body was sealed and believed the fall of the Weiyu Realm was only a matter of time. They took that enormous risk to leave a retreat. The reason they did not act may be that the upper realm itself is unstable."
Yunxi's ear caught the key point at once. She pressed, "Master said we have been out of contact with the upper realm for a long time. Something happened up there. Who sent word back. One of Haoran Sect's Ancestors."
This time Hao Hui answered, "It was an Ancestor of Mingjian Gate. At the moment of his fall, he forced his natal sword down to us, carrying the news that something had gone wrong in the upper realm, and told us we must hold the Weiyu Realm.
We considered sending people to ascend and take a look, but Ming Jia went to consult Tianyun Gate's Feng Fen. He said that when the Misty Snow Domain's crisis is fully resolved, an answer would come of itself. Right after that the Shanhe Scroll went missing. With Feng Fen's help, we fixed its general direction.
Later the Hive returned precise information, saying the Shanhe Scroll was in the Qinghua Mountains. Hao Qing and I went to search. Divine Transformation level evil cultivators also appeared there. Xian Yao and Xian Feng were ambushed in that place.
Afterward Huaxian Gate was attacked and we all rushed to the Central Region to support. At present the sect has Ran Yang (Lin Keyang), Ran Rui (Zhang Lingrui), and Ran Yi (Cao Yi) continuing to look for the Shanhe Scroll in the Qinghua Mountains."
At once Yunxi understood. Ancestor Hao Yi did not want every promising junior to be ground up in the Central Region, so the three with potential were sent to pursue the scroll.
"We are already fighting the enemy. Ascending to the spirit world is not realistic now. I fear that once we ascend we will become targets of the upper realm evil cultivators."
An immature idea flickered through her mind and slipped away before she could catch it. Just as she tried to think deeper, a familiar ache stabbed her soul.
Yunxi's face changed. She immediately circulated the Soul Refining Art to suppress the thread of soul thunder rampaging inside, and gripped an upper grade soul stone in each hand.
The three present all sensed her abnormal state. Conversation halted. They watched her with worry.
A quarter hour later, Yunxi's color returned. She opened her eyes and put the stones away.
Hao Yan asked in concern, "Yunxi, were you injured when you fought the upper realm evil cultivator just now."
Yunxi did not want to make them worry, nor to reveal the flaw in her soul. She nodded by default."My soul was suppressed during the clash, but it is nothing grave. Once I return to Lingxue Peak and go into seclusion, I can recover."
Hao Hui frowned. "Suppressing your cultivation to remain in the Weiyu Realm does leave you at a disadvantage. If not for the need to find the evil god's body, I would advise you to ascend at once."
Yunxi brushed the suppression sigil sewn into her robe. "We owe thanks to Lord Yama from the underworld. Without his help, we could not have stayed long in the Weiyu Realm."
Hao Yan was blunt. "He did this only so that you would help collect the escaped vicious souls and fiends. Do not mistake it for kindness."
On that point Yunxi agreed. She nodded. "I know. Whatever his purpose, for the moment we are the ones who benefit."
Hao Yan concluded crisply, "The battle has turned in our favor and Ran Xi is wounded. There is no need to keep you in the Central Region. Return to the sect first. Report everything here along with the news you brought to Ancestor Hao Yi and your Master. Decide our next step. Once this place is cleaned up, we will come back to the sect."
Yunxi agreed readily. She felt the pull of home.
Before that, she would have to retrieve the Snow Wolf King couple. She would leave that coordination to the sect.
On another side, Han Lian returned to Jihan Gate and was greeted with cheers from the disciples. All the way into the sect's law house, she was surrounded by bows and salutations.
Han Yan took a sip of spirit wine and said with a hearty clasp of fists, "Han Lian, congratulations on another step up. You are now unchallenged as number one of Jihan Gate."
Han Lian waved it off at once. "Do not tease me. It was luck."
"Luck is a part of strength."
Han Ying smiled as well. After a few warm words, the two asked about what had happened since Han Lian vanished into the Polar Extreme Wind Zone.
Han Lian told what could be told. She also shared the news that the evil god's body might be sealed in the Weiyu Realm. The two grew grave. No wonder the enemy had targeted the realm again and again. So that was the cause.
She then learned the Shanhe Scroll had been lost. Her reaction matched Yunxi's at first. She thought the enemy had seized it after Huaxian Gate fell. When she heard it disappeared before that, she held herself back from cursing only with effort.
"The enemy moved first again and now holds Long Ya, the key to locating the evil god's body. We likely have a hard battle ahead." Han Lian ground her teeth.
"Not necessarily," Han Yan waved a hand. "There is no report yet that the Shanhe Scroll has been found. But the descent of Divine Transformation evil cultivators was likely to use the chaos to search for it. We cannot relax."
"These things cannot be rushed," Han Yan added. "Handle what is in front of us first."
Han Lian could only nod, then asked, "My Master. Is she guarding the sect."
Han Yan only curled his lips without answering. Han Ying had to pick up the thread. "Han Xiao is in seclusion."
Han Lian nodded lightly, unconcerned.
When Xun Kun returned to Kunmo Sect's encampment, he received an all around interrogation from Lin Lang Zūnzhě. She drew him to her side and asked for a detailed account of everything after his disappearance.
When she learned the evil god's body was sealed in the Weiyu Realm, her expression went beyond ugly. Zhu Ye, who had listened the whole time, scowled blackly and barked, "Huaxian Gate did well. To hide something this important. So they had such plans in mind. No wonder they were used."
"Junior Brother, mind your words," Lin Lang cut in.
Zhu Ye was not wrong, but now was not the time to make it public. One word at the wrong time could finish Huaxian Gate entirely.
"We will discuss it after we return to the Southern Region. The urgent task is to wipe out the remaining evil cultivators and then find the Shanhe Scroll."
"The enemy got it first."
"No. It was lost before Huaxian Gate fell."