Chapter 45: Spirit Path Town!

When the group returned to the Mu Residence, they found Mu Bai's grandfather, Mu Qingshan, waiting in Ye Xiao's room.

"Elder Mu, I..."

Seeing the old man, Ye Xiao could not help but feel a surge of guilt. Had it not been for his departure leaving behind a note, Mu Xue would not have been injured, nor would Mu Bai have been captured by the demon clan.

The old man's face bore no trace of blame. Instead, he simply shook his head and handed over a medicinal pill.

Ye Xiao accepted the pill from Mu Qingshan, his throat tightening.

The old man's wrinkled hand patted his shoulder, his cloudy eyes gleaming with an unshakable firmness.

"Eat it," Mu Qingshan said in a raspy voice. "My grandson's life is still waiting for you to save."

Ye Xiao nodded with a solemn expression, then tossed the pill directly into his mouth!

As the pill slid down his throat, it transformed into a warm current that surged through all his limbs and bones.

Ye Xiao sat cross-legged, feeling the fractured meridians within his body healing at a visible rate.

Three days later.

"Third layer of the Mansion Realm!"

Ye Xiao opened his eyes. When he clenched his fists, his bones produced crisp cracks like popping beans. To his surprise, this misfortune had turned into a blessing, elevating him by a small realm.

He looked out the window. The morning sun was just rising, casting a golden sheen over the magnificent architecture of the Mu family.

"It's time to go."

Zhuge Lingyun's voice came from outside the door, accompanied by the distinct sound of a folding fan lightly tapping against the threshold.

......

When the light of the teleportation array faded, a pungent smell of sulfur rushed over them.

Ye Xiao narrowed his eyes, surveying the small town built on the edge of a volcano—Spirit Road Town.

"The Spirit Road Trial begins tomorrow. We'll stay here for today." Zhuge Lingyun folded his fan and pointed toward a nearby inn with a plaque reading "Drunk Immortal Residence".

"Remember, don't stir up trouble easily here! There are quite a few experts in this place."

Du Mao rubbed his nose. "Sir, I'll go gather some intelligence on the demon clan."

Zhuge Lingyun nodded and turned to Ye Xiao. "You go walk around too. I know you won't be able to stay idle."

Ye Xiao acknowledged, turned around, and merged into the bustling crowd.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, and cries of peddlers rose and fell in waves.

Some sold talismans, some sold medicinal pills, and there were even fraudsters openly hawking "Spirit Road Maps".

Ye Xiao looked around in some surprise, never expecting the place to be so prosperous.

Rounding a street corner, Ye Xiao suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He saw a graceful figure standing not far ahead.

"Han Qi?"

At the front of the alley, Han Qi, dressed in white, was surrounded by three men wearing the attire of the Profound Yellow Sect.

The leading youth held a folding fan, a flippant smile plastered across his face.

"Lady Han, since you've come to Spirit Road Town, why not stay with us? Our young sect master has been thinking of you constantly."

Han Qi took half a step back, her face turning pale. "Bai Feng is already dead, you guys..."

"Bai Feng? That trash can die for all I care; we never took him seriously anyway." The youth sneered, reaching out to grab Han Qi's wrist. "Senior Brother Xu is now at the peak of the Spirit Realm. Follow him..."

"Ah!"

The youth's hand was suddenly pinned to the wall by a broken sword. Blood trickled down the mottled brick crevices, gleaming with an eerie red light in the sunlight.

"Who?!" The youth shrieked in agony, turning his head toward the depths of the alley.

Ye Xiao slowly stepped out from the shadows, and the broken sword flew back into his hand with a crisp ring. His gaze was colder than the edge of the blade.

"Ye Xiao!" Han Qi exclaimed.

The three men all looked at Ye Xiao, and upon seeing the identity badge hanging from his waist, they involuntarily froze!

"Yin-Yang Academy? My Profound Yellow Sect minds its own business and has no quarrel with you, you..."

"Noisy!"

Ye Xiao smiled coldly!

His gaze swept over the small golden swords embroidered on the collars of the three men—the insignia of inner disciples of the Profound Yellow Sect.

Memories rushed in like a tide: the agonizing screams of his younger sister when her immortal bones were dug out, and that ferocious face of Xu Beichen!

"People of the Profound Yellow Sect all deserve to die."

Before his voice finished trailing off, the broken sword had already transformed into a streak of black light.

The disciple on the far left had not even reacted when an extra bloody hole appeared in his throat.

As he fell clutching his neck, his eyes were still frozen in disbelief.

"Audacious! Attack!"

The youth holding the folding fan let out a loud shout!

The two of them struck simultaneously, their sword lights weaving into a net that enveloped Ye Xiao.

Han Qi let out a cry of surprise, but a gentle force pushed her out of the alley.

"Nine Dragons Sword Technique—Dragon Fang Rifts the Sky!"

The broken sword vibrated, and a dragon head formed from sword Qi shattered the sword net with a single bite.

The second disciple's chest caved in, and he slammed against the wall like a broken sack.

The fan-holding youth turned deathly pale, abruptly pulling a talisman from his bosom and slapping it onto his body. A golden light flashed, and his speed surged explosively as he turned and fled.

"Want to leave?"

Ye Xiao kicked up a long sword from the ground, caught it with his left hand, and hurled it with all his profound strength.

The long sword pierced straight through the youth's back, carrying him flying forward several zhang before ultimately pinning him to the wooden door panel of a shop.

The shopkeeper screamed and fled, and the street instantly descended into chaos.

"Ye Xiao!" Han Qi's pretty face was ashen. "They are from the Profound Yellow Sect..."

"I know." Ye Xiao flicked the blood beads off his sword, his gaze remaining icy. "Where is Xu Beichen?"

Han Qi shook her head. "I don't know, but I heard he arrived in Spirit Road Town yesterday." She suddenly grabbed Ye Xiao's arm. "Is there any news of Brother Mu Bai?"

Ye Xiao fell silent for a moment, then gently shook his head.

In the distance, the sound of noisy footsteps approached, clearly indicating that the commotion from the fight had drawn the patrol guard.

"Let's head back to the inn first."

He pulled Han Qi and was about to leave when a figure suddenly appeared at the mouth of the alley. The sunlight cast a long shadow behind that person, and a jade pendant at their waist swayed gently with their pace.

"You killed members of my Profound Yellow Sect, and you still want to leave?"

Ye Xiao's pupils contracted sharply. The character "Xu" on the jade pendant was clearly visible.

As the person slowly drew closer, a face deeply etched into the recesses of Ye Xiao's mind emerged!

"Xu Beichen!"

Ye Xiao's face was filled with killing intent! Rage gushed endlessly from his eyes! If looks could kill, the Xu Beichen opposite him would have died countless times over!

"It's you!"

At this moment, Xu Beichen also recognized Ye Xiao, and his expression turned equally hideous beyond measure!

"Little beast! I've been fretting over not being able to find you, yet you've actually delivered yourself right to my doorstep!"

Xu Beichen spoke coldly.

"Looking for me? I've been looking for you too! If not for you, how could Ranran have ended up like this!"

Xu Beichen laughed loudly. "Want revenge? Just with your cultivation at the third layer of the Mansion Realm?"

Ye Xiao clenched his teeth, the broken sword in his hand trembling incessantly!

Xu Beichen took another two steps forward. "I know you have some secret technique to boost your strength, otherwise you could never have massacred my Xu family! Now, I'll give you a chance—try it out!"

Ye Xiao remained silent, but a resolute determination burned within his eyes!

"Ye Xiao! Don't be rash! Think of your sister, and think of Mu Bai!"

Han Qi's words managed to calm Ye Xiao down!

Indeed, he was no match for Xu Beichen right now, and moreover, he still had to rescue Mu Bai!

"Not going to strike? Then don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"

As his voice fell, Xu Beichen instantly vanished from the spot!