Yet, see the first in black shadow, traversing the grounds of the Fang family clan with haste, swiftly reaching the ancestral hall. With a single somersault, he entered within.

Fang Zexu, at this moment, was under house arrest within the ancestral hall. Fang Heling, contrary to expectation, had not abused him. He had merely seized his authority, restricting his movements to within.

This black shadow strode with purpose into the ancestral hall. Fang Zexu had not yet retired for the night; he knelt before the memorial tablets of the Fang family ancestors and predecessors.

The black shadow spoke, “Heling has gone out. I sense something is amiss. Should we perhaps…”

“Let him go.” Fang Zexu did not turn his head. “He has grown. He is bound to seek to prove himself.”

“But…”

“No buts. Indeed, because of my own selfish desires, I lost the most exceptional young talent of the Fang family’s next generation. Now, even the trade routes to Yun Country are unreliable. Compared to the other two families, the Fang family has no future. If Heling wishes to take a risk, let him gamble once.”

“If he wins the gamble, it is naturally good. If he loses, I, as his father, shall provide him with a safety net. Even if it requires wagering the entire Fang family, as long as he can truly mature, I am willing.”

The black shadow spoke no more.

His loyalty lay solely with Fang Zexu.

Facing Fang Heling’s seizure of power, Fang Zexu was not without means to resist from the outset. He had simply indulged his son’s choice once more.

……

Jiang Wang maintained a cautious distance. The deepening of the Four Spirits Refining Body Technique was sufficient to allow him precise control over his physical form. He needed no Dao technique to follow his target.

He did not need to follow Fang Heling, only the black shadow tracking Fang Heling.

Easily avoiding the city guard patrol, the three black shadows hastened through the city, one after another, exiting Fenglin City through the south gate.

And the city guard encampment lay just south of the city.

“What does Fang Heling intend to do?”

Jiang Wang hesitated slightly, pondering whether to send a message to Wei Yan or Zhao Lang. But considering the presence of a Jixing Division dark operative ahead, he decided against it.

The Jixing Division’s people would undoubtedly possess the means to contact the authorities immediately. If there were truly something of consequence, it would not be delayed.

He quickly discovered that the path of advancement had deviated.

They had circumvented the city guard encampment, continuing their journey south.

To the southeast of Fenglin City lay Fengxi Town, and further on, the direction of Sanshan City. However, directly south, past the city guard encampment, lay only Niutou Mountain, of which he had never heard anything special.

From Jiang Wang’s understanding, if there were truly some nefarious cult or heretical sect’s lair, it would not dare hide directly under the noses of the city guards.

The Fenglin City guard army possessed formidable combat strength. Coupled with Wei Yan’s breakthrough, their one principal general and two deputy generals were all experts in the Tenglong Realm. Furthermore, they had five deputy generals in the Tongtian Realm. Regardless of the force they faced, they possessed fighting strength. Once they activated their military formation technique, they were even capable of destroying cities and eradicating strongholds.

But Fang Heling, remarkably, had indeed ascended Niutou Mountain.

Niutou Mountain had two prominent peaks, resembling the horns of a cow, hence its name.

The mountain peaks were not high, the scenery unremarkable. There were neither bandits occupying it nor fierce beasts running rampant. Even if there were, they would have been long since cleared out by the training of the Fenglin City guard army.

But this seemingly ordinary mountain, at this moment, suddenly gave Jiang Wang a feeling of a man-eating giant beast. This oppressive feeling, he knew not from where it originated.

Looking back at the city guard encampment from here, the campfires had already diminished to mere points of light.

Jiang Wang forcefully suppressed the unease in his heart, trailing the distant black shadows up the mountain.

No matter what, he had to at least ascertain whom Fang Heling was going to meet. Only then would the case be sufficiently closed. And with his current eighth-grade Zhoutian Realm cultivation, the perfected Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword, the greatly successful Flame Flower Dao technique, and the prior Jixing Division cultivator as a cautionary tale, he believed that if he encountered an accident, escaping with his life would not be a problem.

Occasionally, the cries of strange birds echoed, rendering the mountain forest even more silent.

The feeling of unease intensified.

Jiang Wang tightened his grip on his sword hilt, but did not draw it directly. The bright glint of the blade was highly likely to expose him.

“Shh…”

Suddenly, a wave of fragrance surged forth. Jiang Wang felt himself enveloped by a softness, and a hand covered his mouth.

Jiang Wang’s body tensed abruptly, then relaxed. He was not entirely without reaction time, but he had already realized the identity of the newcomer.

“Bai Lian?” When that hand slowly slid down, Jiang Wang asked in a low voice.

That hand slid down from Jiang Wang’s lips, grasping his chin and turning his face fully.

Jiang Wang thus saw Bai Lian, her face obscured by that black gauze magical artifact.

“How did you come here?” Bai Lian’s eyes held a certain fierceness, but her voice was pressed very low.

It seemed that on this Niutou Mountain, there was an existence she also feared.

Jiang Wang stretched a finger and pointed into the distance, indicating that he was tracking others.

Bai Lian released his chin and grasped his hand again.

“Follow me!”

Her robes fluttered, and she darted through the mountain forest like a night bird, quickly vanishing without a trace.

……

And almost at the same time, on the mountain, Fang Heling suddenly turned his head!

The one who had been tracking Fang Heling to this point was indeed a Jixing Division dark operative.

He was a trusted subordinate of Shan Cha, assigned this task due to his shrewdness and capability. Throughout the journey, he had indeed been cautious, maintaining a constant distance.

But when he saw Fang Heling turn his head from afar, he already knew something was wrong.

Without a word, he shook out a yellow letter incense stick. With a single finger rub, he intended to light it.

Once the yellow letter burned, the Jixing Division on their end would immediately receive the message. If the yellow letter burned out, it indicated that the user was in a desperate situation.

But this yellow letter… remained motionless, refusing to ignite.

He was about to pinch a hand seal to conjure a fire, but a slender, fair hand had already reached out and gently taken the yellow letter.

Then he felt his entire being become light and airy, and he flew upwards.

Higher and higher.

At this moment, he realized that the person standing stunned in the original spot, still in the posture of pinching a hand seal, was none other than himself.

Then what was he at this moment? A soul?

He was greatly shocked. He struggled, but it was already meaningless.

Immediately, an intense wave of pain surged, overwhelming him entirely, shattering him into pieces.

The man wearing the white bone mask lightly loosened his hand, allowing the already broken soul to scatter.

“It is a Jixing Division person, ah.” Having already obtained the intelligence, he chuckled lightly. “Shan Cha truly is commendable in his courage.”

Fang Heling stood within the mountain forest, watching from afar as the white bone envoy drew out and searched the soul.

He could not suppress the chill that permeated his being, but his expression remained remarkably calm.

From the moment he chose to place his birth father under house arrest, he understood the kind of choice he had made.

This was his own choice.

He could only rely on himself. He had to grow up, and there was no longer any possibility of turning back.

“I have already been targeted by the Jixing Division. What should I do next?” he asked.

“This person’s death is equivalent to already admitting that I have a problem.”

“What problem do you have?” The white bone envoy’s voice held surprise. “A dark operative sacrificing himself during a mission, is this not a very normal occurrence? Who can determine that his death is related to you?”

“Your Excellency,” Fang Heling was somewhat aggrieved, and also helpless. “I am sincerely working for you. I have done everything I should, there is no turning back! Please do not tease me anymore.”

“No, no, no. I am not teasing you. I am speaking with you sincerely. If the Jixing Division investigates the Fang family, what can they uncover?”

“They cannot. I have handled all the loose ends cleanly. Moreover, in truth… I do not know what significance there is to the things you arranged for me to do. The Jixing Division will find nothing.”

“Then let them investigate.”

Fang Heling sighed. “But sometimes, they do not need evidence.”

“Dealing with ordinary people is indeed so.” The white bone envoy laughed. “But do not forget, you are a student of the Dao Academy.”

“I indeed have my suspicions. The Dao Academy may not necessarily protect me, correct?”

“Poor child, you fundamentally do not know what you possess.” The white bone envoy laughed twice, then turned and walked deeper into the mountain. “Today’s matter is canceled. Go back.”