An unknown mutation occurred in the Outer Sea Secret Realm?
All the Cultivators who went to the Outer Sea have lost contact?
There were quite a few Core Formation Cultivators in there!
At this thought, Su Bai's expression became much more solemn.
Then she thought of someone: Han Xue's brother.
Her brother was also somewhat mysterious; as his sister, Han Xue should be able to contact him.
So, after Su Bai spoke with Xu Changge, the two of them flew toward the Outer City.
It was still that same crowded alleyway, in front of an unremarkable small courtyard house.
Su Bai and Xu Changge appeared there silently.
Looking at the tightly shut gate, Su Bai frowned, stepped forward, and reached out to knock.
There was no response from inside.
"Not here?"
Han Xue usually didn't wander around aimlessly. Thinking of this, Su Bai led Xu Changge toward the Night Sparrow Gang.
She was looking for Wang Shi.
As the younger brother who had always lived with and taken care of Han Xue, he should know her whereabouts.
After arriving at the Night Sparrow Gang, Su Bai looked around and used her Divine Sense to locate Yan Lei.
She bypassed the gang members outside and went directly into the courtyard where Yan Lei was cultivating.
"Fellow Daoist Yan, how have you been lately?"
Upon entering the courtyard, Su Bai spoke immediately.
Yan Lei, who was cultivating, ended his session upon hearing the voice outside and walked out of the house.
He saw Su Bai and Xu Changge outside.
Noticing that Su Bai, like Xu Changge, had a restrained aura and appeared like a Mortal, he understood that Su Bai had already broken through to the Core Formation Realm.
Yan Lei cupped his hands, his expression becoming even more respectful.
"Senior, you have come out of seclusion."
"The cultivation went smoothly, so I've come out."
"Congratulations on your Breakthrough to Core Formation, Senior!"
Hearing Su Bai's words, Yan Lei finally offered his congratulations.
Then he asked:
"I wonder if there is anything Senior needs me to do, since you have come here in person?"
Yan Lei knew Su Bai must have a reason for coming, so he took the initiative to offer his services.
Su Bai then mentioned that she was looking for Wang Shi.
"Wang Shi? That young man Senior sent over a few years ago? Please wait a moment, Senior. I'll send someone to fetch him right away."
Having said that, Yan Lei sent out a Transmission Talisman.
It didn't take long.
Wang Shi, now a young man, walked in cautiously from outside.
As soon as he entered Yan Lei's courtyard, he saw Su Bai and Xu Changge standing before Yan Lei.
However, Wang Shi didn't try to act familiar; instead, he greeted them each with great respect.
"Gang Leader, Seniors."
Seeing that Wang Shi had arrived.
Yan Lei glanced at Su Bai and made a gesture of invitation.
Su Bai didn't waste any words and asked directly:
"I just went to Han Xue's courtyard and found she wasn't there. Do you know anything?"
Hearing Su Bai's question, a look of realization appeared on Wang Shi's face.
Just now, he hadn't known why the Gang Leader called him, but seeing Su Bai there, he realized she was likely the one who wanted him.
Yet he still hadn't known what a high-level Cultivator like Su Bai wanted with him; now he understood.
"So you're looking for Sister Han Xue. She was picked up by Big Brother Han two years ago and left Xingluo City."
"She was picked up..."
Hearing Wang Shi's words, Su Bai repeated them, not thinking much of it.
After all, it was her brother's decision; there was nothing wrong with Han Xue leaving with a relative.
Then Wang Shi continued:
"Senior, before Sister Han Xue left, she actually left something behind. She said if you came looking for her, I should give it to you. However, that item is at home; I don't have it with me."
"Oh?"
Su Bai was stunned; Han Xue had actually left something for her.
Wang Shi nodded, and after a moment of thought, he said:
"Sister Han Xue said that if you didn't come, Senior, the item should stay in the courtyard and not be moved lightly."
Recalling Han Xue's instructions at the time, Wang Shi scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. If it was something important, wouldn't it be better to take it or hide it?
But if it wasn't important, why specifically instruct him to bring it out if Su Bai came looking for her?
However, the answer would soon be revealed.
The group left the Night Sparrow Gang and returned to the small courtyard where Han Xue had lived.
Wang Shi pointed to the peach tree in the courtyard and said:
"The thing Sister Han Xue left behind when she left was that peach tree."
Su Bai looked at the peach tree in the courtyard. It was very ordinary, not even a precious spiritual plant.
After taking two steps forward, Su Bai placed her hand against the trunk of the peach tree.
Where Su Bai touched, there was a noticeable scar on the trunk. Clearly, it had been damaged, but over the years, the peach tree had healed the wound.
Peeling away the scar.
Su Bai pulled a Transmission Talisman out from the peach tree.
Clearly, Han Xue had left a message inside.
After infusing the Transmission Talisman with spiritual energy, Han Xue's voice echoed in Su Bai's ears.
"Senior Su, my brother has returned from the Outer Sea Secret Realm. However, he is acting in a great hurry and told me we would be moving away in a few days."
"Upon my inquiry, my brother told me the reason for his haste."
"An incident occurred in the Outer Sea Nascent Soul Secret Realm. The Blood Sea Old Man inside set up a Yin Corpse Array, allowing his body to continue absorbing spiritual energy even after death. Now that the Secret Realm has been breached, a large number of Cultivators within have had their flesh and blood consumed."
"The Blood Sea Old Man has successfully transformed into a corpse; he is now a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Yin Corpse."
"The fleet that went to the Secret Realm has been completely wiped out. Restricted by the Secret Realm's array, the Blood Sea Old Man cannot emerge for the time being. But in less than a hundred years, once the array's spiritual energy dissipates, the Yin Corpse will be born into the world!"
"I hope Senior leaves as soon as possible. Signed, Han Xue."
"..."
Hearing Han Xue's message, Su Bai felt as if the world were turning dark before her eyes.
She had only just broken through to Core Formation!
Su Bai was confident that within the Core Formation Realm, even if she wasn't invincible, she could take on ten opponents at once.
Even facing a Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator, she wouldn't be in too wretched a state.
But, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Yin Corpse...
A Yin Corpse inherits the cultivation base the Blood Sea Old Man had in life, and its body is incredibly tough—impervious to water and fire. Even a Body Refining Cultivator of the same level would be slightly inferior in comparison.
In other words, this Yin Corpse is also a Dual Cultivation of Spells and Body!
The Yin Corpse has inherited all the Spells and Magic Treasures the Blood Sea Old Man possessed while alive.
How could she fight that!
And it would break free in just a hundred years.
After Han Xue's voice faded, the Transmission Talisman spontaneously combusted.
Others didn't know what Su Bai had heard.
They only saw that after Su Bai took the Transmission Talisman from the peach tree, her expression became increasingly heavy.
"..."
The scene was somewhat silent.
Looking at Su Bai's expression, Xu Changge couldn't guess much, but it was definitely not good news.
So she asked:
"Sister, is something wrong?"
Su Bai looked up at Xu Changge.
"Sister, go ask your Master if the Life Tablets of those Cultivators who went to the Outer Sea Secret Realm are still intact in the Sect."
Hearing Su Bai's words, Xu Changge's pupils constricted.
She understood what Su Bai meant.
Something had gone wrong in the Outer Sea Secret Realm.
Without a word, Xu Changge immediately flew away.
Xu Changge's Master had returned to the Sect after Xu Changge broke through to Core Formation.
But there was a treasure on Green Bamboo Sword Sect Peak that could contact the Sect; she had to go back and ask.
Meanwhile, Yan Lei, standing to the side, also looked thoughtful.
Clearly, he also realized that an accident had occurred at the Outer Sea Secret Realm.
Su Bai only let out a deep sigh.
When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up; she was preparing to slip away.
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