The next day.
Huo Yuhao finished his cultivation on the Spirit Ascension Platform and got up from the cabin.
He suddenly frowned slightly, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
After pondering for a moment, he no longer hesitated and left the Spirit Ascension Platform area directly, taking the Soul Guide Elevator back to the 121st floor of the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters.
Huo Yuhao arrived at Leng Yaozhu's spacious and bright office with ease. After a quick sense of her presence, he knocked on the door and, upon receiving permission, pushed it open and entered.
"Aunt Leng."
Huo Yuhao walked to the large desk and, without beating around the bush, said in a calm but serious voice, "Recently... someone has been monitoring me."
"After these days of observation and reverse investigation, I can basically confirm that these people should be from the lineage of the Tower Master."
Huo Yuhao hadn't noticed before, but after he broke through to the Soul Master level, he accidentally discovered that he was being "watched" while using the divine skill of mental detection.
Leng Yaozhu was reviewing a file at her desk when she heard this. She didn't look up immediately, but her pen paused slightly.
She pointed to the sofa next to her: "Don't stand, sit down and talk."
After Huo Yuhao sat down as instructed, she slowly put down her pen after reading the file in front of her, leaned back in the wide chair, and crossed her arms in front of her.
The gentle smile that had just graced that exquisitely beautiful face vanished like the tide, replaced by a chilling coldness.
"Snort." She gave a soft hum, her voice seemingly unsurprised. "It's something they're capable of doing. These underhanded methods are typical of the Qian Gu family."
Her gaze sharpened, but it softened involuntarily when she looked at Huo Yuhao.
"It seems that your growth during this period has really put a lot of pressure on them, and may even have made them feel threatened, so they can't sit still."
"Aunt Leng, what should we do next?"
Huo Yuhao sat upright on the sofa, his clear eyes looking at Leng Yaozhu. He knew in his heart that since he was Aunt Leng's personal disciple, he was naturally classified as belonging to the Phoenix lineage.
Although he was still young, he was not entirely ignorant of the factional struggles within the Spirit Pagoda.
Leng Yaozhu pondered for a moment, then tapped her fingertips lightly on the smooth tabletop, having already made up her mind.
She looked up at Huo Yuhao: "In a couple of days, I will be going to inspect several branch towers of the Spirit Transmission Tower in the eastern part of the continent. You will come with me this time."
"The destination of this trip is Donghai City, where I recently accepted a new disciple."
"New disciple?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes; he had not heard of this before.
"Yes." Leng Yaozhu nodded affirmatively, "This is a good opportunity for you two, senior and junior, to meet formally and get to know each other. After that, you and your junior sister will stay in Donghai City for the time being."
"Stay in Donghai City?"
Huo Yuhao repeated in a low voice, his mind quickly surfacing with information about this important coastal city in the eastern part of the continent.
"Yes." Leng Yaozhu nodded: "Although Qian Gu Dongfeng is power-hungry and unscrupulous, given his status and position, he is unlikely to personally take action against you at least for now."
"Once you leave his direct line of sight, he shouldn't keep staring at you."
"I understand, Aunt Leng." Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly, which was considered as agreeing to the arrangement.
Then, a sense of curiosity arose in his heart, and he asked, "Aunt Leng, when did you take on another disciple? I didn't even know."
Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu revealed a meaningful smile, clearly quite satisfied with this new disciple.
"Her name is Gu Yue, and she is an absolute genius. You'll see when you meet her."
...
When Leng Yaozhu said "in a couple of days," she really meant two days in the literal sense.
The Spirit Pagoda headquarters conducts routine inspections of its various branch pagodas every six months, which is an important system for understanding local conditions and coordinating resource allocation.
Leng Yaozhu "found" Huo Yuhao in the old Xingluo City branch tower during such an inspection.
Leng Yaozhu was once again in charge of leading the inspection of the eastern branch towers this time.
Early in the morning, the team participating in this patrol was assembling in the magnificent main hall on the first floor of the Spirit Pagoda headquarters.
Huo Yuhao, dressed in ordinary clothes, stood quietly in the assembly area waiting.
He was thinking about the mysterious junior sister named "Gu Yue" he was going to meet on this trip, and what life might be like in Donghai City.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar and tall figure strolling leisurely towards him from the side passage.
The man was tall and straight, dressed in a silver robe, his silver hair was neatly combed, his face was cold and stern, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.
It was none other than Huo Yuhao's teacher, Han Tianyi!
A hint of surprise flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. In his understanding, this teacher acted as he pleased and almost never participated in any administrative affairs or group activities within the Spirit Pagoda, let alone such a routine inspection.
He quickly went to greet him, his tone tinged with curiosity: "Teacher? What brings you here? Are you... going on patrol with us?"
Han Tianyi stopped in her tracks, glanced at Huo Yuhao sideways, let out a soft, ambiguous snort, and said irritably, "Isn't it all because of you, brat?"
"Because of me?" Huo Yuhao pointed to himself, looking completely bewildered. What did this have to do with him?
Seeing his bewildered expression, Han Tianyi seemed even angrier and explained in an even more "impatient" tone.
"Hmph, that girl Leng Yaozhu, she can't possibly feel at ease sending you to that place, Donghai City!"
"As the deputy tower master, she has many duties and cannot leave the headquarters for a long time, let alone stay in Donghai City to protect you."
He raised his chin, with an expression that said, 'I have no other choice': "So, they've set their sights on me."
"She is sending this old man to go to Donghai City with you, little fellow."
"Officially an accompanying advisor, but in reality... humph, isn't he just going to be your free bodyguard for a while?"
Although he spoke with disdain and his tone was harsh, Huo Yuhao could hear the concern that his teacher, Han Tianyi, had for him in his seemingly complaining words.
A warm feeling welled up in Huo Yuhao's heart. Looking at Han Tianyi's "reluctant" profile, his expression became extremely solemn, and he bowed deeply to Han Tianyi: "Thank you, teacher!"
Han Tianyi seemed a little awkward about his solemn thanks, so she quickly waved her hand, turned her face away, and her tone remained stiff.
"Alright, alright, stop with the nonsense. I didn't do all this for you."
"I'm getting a bit tired of staying at headquarters. It would be nice to change places, see the sea, feel the breeze, and have some peace and quiet."
After he finished speaking, he ignored Huo Yuhao and walked straight toward Leng Yaozhu, who had already gathered and was looking in his direction.
Huo Yuhao watched his teacher's retreating figure, and a slight smile crept onto his lips.
With Elder Han accompanying and protecting them, this trip to Donghai City seemed exceptionally reassuring.
He grew increasingly excited about the coastal city and his junior sister, Gu Yue, whom he was about to meet.
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A/N: Looks like old man Han Tianyi is a tsundere. Lmao. It's pretty standard for MCs to have an 'old monster' that acts like a tsundere.
5 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying the story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Thank you.