Everyone inside the cabin looked in the direction of the sound. Not far off on the lake's surface, several heads with dark-green hair emerged. Their ears were shaped like fins, their soaked tresses hung loosely, their skin was fair, and their faces were exquisitely beautiful. Their pupils were a pale green, slitted vertically, adding an alluring, feral beauty to their appearance.
The jiaoren craned their necks and sang aloud. Their voices were ethereal and melodious, rivaling those of world-class sopranos.
Hearing the song, beautiful visions involuntarily surfaced in everyone's minds. Yearning bloomed in their hearts, leaving them enthralled.
All sorts of sensual fantasies flitted through Zhang Yuanqing's mind: beauties like Guan Ya, Xiao Yuan, the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, and Annie struck enticing poses for him; then visions of mountains of gemstones and cash flashed past, followed by Money Prince calling him "Boss" with a look of pure admiration.
Yet he was not completely lost in it. A Stargazer's spirit body was resilient, and having practiced the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record, he possessed immense resistance to abilities that leaned toward illusions and bewitchment.
The others were not so fortunate.
"Let me go! Let me go..."
A wailing cry shattered Zhang Yuanqing's light trance. He turned to look, only to see a young man of average height and ordinary features, with messy hair, who had already stripped off his short-sleeved shirt. Unbuckling his belt, he sprinted toward the deck.
His sharp-eyed companion reacted swiftly, pinning the ordinary young man firmly to the floor.
This companion seemed to be a Swordsman, possessing an iron will that made him completely immune to the singing.
The ordinary young man struggled fiercely on the floor, weeping and shouting:
"Don't stop me! They're calling to me! I want to end my days as a virgin with a beautiful jiaoren! Boo-hoo... I'm already thirty years old, and not a single woman has ever touched me! Boo-hoo..."
Zhang Yuanqing recognized this person—his spirit realm ID was Sanyang Kai Taitai.
*With a handle that flirtatious, turns out he's a total virgin?* Zhang Yuanqing marveled inwardly with amusement.
His companion tried to talk him down. "Calm down, calm down! Teacher Song Man said they're jiaoren! They can't satisfy your fantasies about women. Stop making trouble for everyone, all right?"
"What's so scary about dying? Saying goodbye to my virginity before I die—isn't that my lifelong wish?!" The ordinary young man struggled violently, his face bathed in tears as he wailed, "Whenever I see a girl, I get terrified! I start stammering! Even if they threw themselves at me, I wouldn't dare touch them! My knees go weak just touching a girl's hand, you know?! Do you know?!"
"I know, I know, but I suggest you shut up..." The companion looked rather embarrassed.
"I will say it! I want to say it!" Sanyang Kai Taitai sobbed loudly. "Ren Junzi, if you consider me a friend, let go!"
The song had stimulated his yearning for the opposite sex while dredging up the deep misery buried in his heart, causing an emotional breakdown.
At that moment, the administrator driving the tour boat leaned his arm out the window by the control console and made a shooing gesture toward the distant jiaoren.
The stunning jiaoren immediately ceased their singing. With bursts of silvery laughter, they dived into the lake and vanished, leaving behind only spreading ripples.
As the singing faded, the spirit realm walkers aboard broke free from the sensual illusions, their emotions steadying.
Sanyang Kai Taitai's heart-wrenching wails choked off abruptly. His face, smeared with tears and snot, went completely blank.
*What... what did I just do? What did I just say?!*
He gingerly lifted his head to gauge the trainees' reactions, only to find everyone on the boat staring right at him.
The ordinary-looking young man's lips began to tremble.
"Teacher Song Man, can I drop out early? I want to go home..."
Song Man said with a gentle, smiling voice, "No can do. No one can leave until the main quest is completed."
"Th-then can you all swear not to spread word of what happened today?" Sanyang Kai Taitai pleaded.
"No can do," Sun Miaomiao said pityingly. "Yuan Ting is one of the trainees."
Sanyang Kai Taitai's vision went black.
***
Fuzhou.
Inside the Public Security Bureau's autopsy room, the bright, piercing light of the shadowless surgical lamp shone upon a mutilated corpse on the examination table.
A ring of people stood around the table, silently observing the gory, mangled remains with grave expressions.
Wearing a white lab coat, mask, and gloves, the coroner had just concluded the autopsy.
"Time of death was roughly around nine o'clock last night. Based on the food remaining in the stomach, he had eaten not long before. He engaged in strenuous physical exertion before dying, but it wasn't combat. The cause of death was explosive force concentrated on the chest and abdomen, which destroyed the heart directly."
The coroner removed her mask, revealing a mature, aloof, and glamorous face—it was none other than Natsuki's Love.
Across from her, the woman in the black dress spoke softly:
"The spirit body is gone, completely scattered. The strenuous exertion was likely from dodging and fleeing for his life. The victim's residence was in shambles, the furniture heavily damaged, matching the shower of arrows I encountered at the Baihui Clubhouse in Songhai."
Her tone was gentle, her demeanor carrying the grace and refinement of a lady from an esteemed family.
Following the murder of two Night Wanderers, a Stargazer from the Fuzhou Branch had been found dead at his residence this morning. The initial assessment pointed to Sect Leader Chunyang as the culprit.
"He's already targeting Stargazers..." Wearing a worn hiking suit, Elder Gaofeng sighed.
Natsuki's Love frowned. "Sect Leader Chunyang possesses the abilities of both a Night Wanderer and an Illusionist. He can turn invisible, perform Astral Travel, possess ordinary people at will, and transform into anyone's likeness. He isn't bound by Morality Points, so maneuvers impossible for most spirit realm walkers are effortless for him. On top of that, he is equipped with a Dominator-tier item. Conventional methods simply cannot catch him."
Elder Gaofeng touched his receding, sorrowful hairline and said, "Natsuki, profile him."
The mission to hunt down Sect Leader Chunyang had already been handed over to the Taiyi Sect. They had thought they were off the hook, but unexpectedly, a directive from headquarters ordered Elder Gaofeng to lead a team in assisting them.
The light in Natsuki's Love's eyes dimmed, turning hollow as though she had entered a specialized state.
She was profiling his next moves based on Sect Leader Chunyang's personality and behavioral patterns.
After quite a while, clarity returned to Natsuki's Love's eyes. She said, "Now that he has recovered to the status of a Stargazer, he will lie low for a while and seek out Dream Masters to enhance his abilities across the board. For the time being, he won't target people from the Taiyi Sect."
Elder Gaofeng nodded slightly, looked toward Yin Ji, and asked, "Where is Elder Hongying?"
"Teacher is in the next room deducing the astrological signs. She wants to use the victim's blood as a medium to pin down the killer's location." Just as Yin Ji finished speaking, the morgue door opened.
A mature woman in a white skirt walked in, her expression serene.
Her eyes and brows were kind and benevolent, with faint crow's-feet that did not detract from her beauty in the slightest, instead lending her a gentle, graceful elegance.
"Teacher, any results?" Yin Ji stepped forward to greet her.
The master and disciple possessed contrasting temperaments, one dressed in white and the other in black, looking much like a mother and daughter.
Elder Hongying shook her head slightly, her delicate brows furrowing faintly. "Stargazing yielded no revelation."
At her level, items were no longer necessary; the accuracy of her stargazing deductions far surpassed any prop.
"Even you couldn't locate him?" Elder Gaofeng was astonished. "Even if he knows spells to conceal his aura, it should be impossible to shield against your Stargazing."
The difference in status and power was simply too vast.
Elder Hongying paused in thought for a second, her tone solemn: "It isn't him. Someone is helping conceal Sect Leader Chunyang's presence. And anyone capable of doing that must be at least a Dominator who specializes in Lunar Force."
The Black Moon symbolized secrecy.
It could interfere with deduction, divination, Insight, and similar skills.
If a Dominator specializing in Lunar Force was shielding him, then even if Sect Leader Chunyang walked right past them, nobody would notice anything amiss—they would merely perceive him as an ordinary person.
Among the Sun, Moon, and Stars, the Sun stood supreme above, while the Lunar countered the Stars.
Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned grim. Natsuki's Love realized, "No wonder. Even though Yuanshi Tianzun heavily wounded his spirit body, he didn't choose to hide. Instead, he struck again within a short time and consumed two Night Wanderers. It turns out someone has been backing him."
"Who is helping him?" Yin Ji knitted her brows.
Elder Hongying said slowly, "Perhaps... the Dark Night Rose."
"Dark Night Rose wants to use Sect Leader Chunyang against the Taiyi Sect?" Elder Gaofeng mused thoughtfully.
Elder Hongying sighed. "For now, it appears so. But Stargazers excel at scheming, especially an expert at the level of the Dark Night Rose's leader. The only ones capable of playing against him on the board are probably our Sect Master or the Grand Elder."
She was referring to the Grand Elder of the Taiyi Sect.
Seeing everyone's low morale, Elder Hongying smiled and said, "I have a plan that might draw Sect Leader Chunyang out."
***
*The water glints and ripples in fair weather.*
This poetic line perfectly described the scenery of Jiaoren Lake. The water stretched out endlessly, with the faint silhouettes of small islands visible in the distance.
The breeze blowing against them was refreshing and cool, lifting the hair of the female trainees. Each of them was a remarkable beauty, making for a delightful sight.
Sanyang Kai Taitai sat in a corner with hollow eyes, as though he had lost his soul.
Zhang Yuanqing was flanked by Peony Fairy and Niulanshan Little Fairy. Both inquired warmly after his recent life, showing a measure of affection alongside deep camaraderie.
"Newly ascended Saints all need to attend the Advanced Seminar to polish their credentials before being promoted to Deacon," Peony Fairy said with a beaming smile. "Once the Advanced Seminar ends, I'll be a Deacon!"
"Congratulations to us both!" Niulanshan Little Fairy extended a hand and shook hers.
"Congratulations, congratulations," Zhang Yuanqing said, then turned to look at Tianxia Guihuo two benches away. "What about you? Weren't you already serving in Kangyang District?"
Tianxia Guihuo replied in a steady tone, "Consider it making up for missed classes, and a vacation while I'm at it."
Zhang Yuanqing then looked at Brother Red Chicken, who was constantly throwing verbal provocations at Tianxia Guihuo, and asked, "And how did you get in?"
"Elder Jiangbao insisted on sending me here, saying I should make more friends and learn a thing or two," Brother Red Chicken said, pausing his stream of vulgarities. "It just so happens that after clearing the Sea of Yashan, I don't have to worry about instances anytime soon. Having nothing better to do, I came along for fun."
With that, he hissed through his teeth and stared at Tianxia Guihuo. "Do you seriously never get mad? I literally cursed your mother, so how are you not angry? I've never seen a Fire Mage like you! How do you do it?"
Tianxia Guihuo said coldly, "Childish!"
*Why don't you try saying 'Netorare must die'? He really looks like a husky picking a fight with a lone wolf...* Zhang Yuanqing assessed silently. He then glanced at Xiahou Aotian, who was posing coolly at the bow of the boat, and decided against going over to chat.
He couldn't keep up with that guy's thought process.
Meanwhile, the soulless Sanyang Kai Taitai heard a gentle voice beside him: "You're from the Tanzhou Branch, right?"
Sanyang Kai Taitai mechanically turned his head and saw a young man with ordinary facial features. His aura was ethereal and mysterious, yet his smile was exceptionally warm and harmless, making one let down their guard involuntarily.
"Yeah," he nodded with a heavy heart.
Yuan Ting hummed in affirmation and asked, "I'd like to ask: with your status and abilities, finding a girlfriend shouldn't be difficult at all. Just now you mentioned that whenever you see a girl, you get terribly nervous and your legs go weak. Do you have some kind of psychological trauma? If you don't mind, could you tell me? I swear I will never tell a soul."
Sanyang Kai Taitai stared blankly at him, then suddenly screamed, "I remember now! You're Yuan Ting, the Taiyi Sect's loudspeaker! Get away from me! Don't come near me—!"
His Swordsman companion promptly chased Yuan Ting away and consoled his traumatized friend.
The trainees burst into laughter, filling the cabin with cheerful mirth.
The group first arrived at Jixin Island, named for its resemblance to a chicken's heart.
As the tour boat docked by the shore, Teacher Song Man stood up and said, "This island houses many yin corpses and wraiths. They are extremely aggressive and are prepared for Night Wanderers who have completed their probation period but don't yet have spirit servants or yin corpses. No one should go ashore."
Zhang Yuanqing gazed out at Jixin Island. The island was covered in dense woods, and despite the blazing sun overhead, it exuded a quiet gloom.
Through the eyes of a Night Wanderer, the island was wrapped in yin energy that coiled and rose in wisps.
*Fu Qingyang said that when the Jiaoren Queen fought the academy's instructors, the underwater cliff cracked, stones fell away, and he caught sight of the stone gate... Jiaoren Lake is boundless, and the only places with underwater cliff faces are the four islands. The academy's main island is unlikely because the Jiaoren Queen wouldn't live right by the shore...* Zhang Yuanqing analyzed inwardly.
"How much is a yin corpse?" Sun Miaomiao asked curiously.
"Depends on quality, anywhere between two and five million," Song Man smiled. "A very fair price, considered a perk for official Night Wanderers."
Since they couldn't land, the group merely observed from afar for a while before losing interest.
The tour boat departed from Jixin Island and soon arrived at a beautiful island. At its center lay a forest, while the perimeter was planted with neat flower beds.
The beds bloomed with a dazzling array of colorful flowers, where swarms of bees buzzed overhead and butterflies danced gracefully.
Even before the boat docked, the female trainees cried out in delight. After getting permission from Teacher Song Man, they leaped across the dozens of meters of water one after another to land on the island.
"It's such a pity we can't bring our phones!"
"Heavens, this is the paradise of my dreams! I... I don't want to leave..."
The reactions of Peony Fairy and Niulanshan Little Fairy, two Beast Kings, were the most exaggerated. They were so blissfully overwhelmed that tears nearly welled in their eyes.
Once the tour boat pulled up, Song Man led the academy group ashore. Strolling among the flower beds, she smiled and said, "Spiritual Plant Island is cultivated entirely with medicinal herbs rich in spiritual power. Every year, the herbs harvested from this island are allocated in set quotas to Wood Monsters of the various branches, or entrusted to Scholar clans to be refined into medicinal pills."
Venturing deeper, they quickly passed the flower beds and arrived at an orchard.
"These are blood fruit trees. The flesh of their fruit is juicy and sweet, but—"
Before she could finish, a crisp crunch reached Song Man's ears. Her expression changed drastically as she whipped around to look. Standing beneath a tree, Brother Red Chicken was taking huge bites out of a red fruit.
"Who told you that you could eat that?" Song Man stared at him in disbelief.
"Didn't you say the juice is sweet? It really is fresh! How much a jin?" Brother Red Chicken said cheerfully.
Song Man fell silent for a second. "...But it's poisonous."
The joyful grin on Brother Red Chicken's face froze solid. Suddenly, clutching his throat, he collapsed slowly to the ground, foaming at the mouth with his eyes rolling back.
Xiahou Aotian, Sun Miaomiao, Zhang Yuanqing, Yuan Ting, and several others quietly withdrew the hands they had just stretched toward the branches.
"Hurry and save him! Fire Mages have weak self-healing and no poison resistance!"
"Leave him be, it won't kill him anyway. Let him learn a lesson..."
The trainees chattered in commotion.
Next, the group visited Lava Island and Hundred Beasts Island in turn. The former was a small dormant volcano rich in hot springs and fire-attributed ores.
The latter was home to many beasts native to the spirit realm, comprising both birds and land animals.
Upon landing on Hundred Beasts Island, Song Man cautioned with earnest gravity, "The lord of Hundred Beasts Island is a Level 6 Tiger King, a pet kept here by Grand Elder Baihui. It won't attack people unprovoked, but the Tiger King has an extremely strong sense of territory. Without its permission, do not touch any animal here. Otherwise, no one in the academy can subdue that beast."
The trainees nodded solemnly.
Song Man guided the group on a tour around the outer perimeter, not daring to venture into the lush mountain woods, before turning back in haste.
Suddenly, she grabbed Brother Red Chicken, who was trying to hide in the crowd, and barked, "What do you have stuffed in your belly?!"
"Nothing."
"Do you think I'm blind?! I can see chicken feathers!!" Song Man roared.
"Yuanshi Tianzun told me to steal it! He said it's perfect for chopped cold chicken!"
"Hey, don't frame me! Xiahou Aotian was clearly the one who wanted to eat it," Zhang Yuanqing said.
"I—"
Suddenly, a tiger's roar erupted from deep within the forest, startling flocks of birds into the air.
A terrifying aura swept in alongside the mountain wind, sending the trainees into a panic.
Song Man yelled frantically, "What are you standing there for?! Run—!"
The Saints deployed their respective skills and scrambled back into the cabin. The administrator acted swiftly, starting the tour boat and cleaving through the waves to flee.
Once the boat had gained some distance, everyone looked back to see a two-meter-tall striped giant tiger standing on the shore, roaring furiously at the departing vessel.
***
By the time they returned to Qinfeng Academy, the trainees were parched and famished.
Having blacklisted Brother Red Chicken in her heart, the gorgeous instructor led the trainees into a cafe and said with a smile, "You must all be thirsty. The cafe sells fresh fruit juice too, freshly squeezed from fruits native to the spirit realm. The cheapest juice is five hundred a cup, while the top tier is one thousand a cup."
*Are prices at Qinfeng Academy really this outrageous? They're fleecing trainees like tourists! Then again, it makes sense; they only hold at most four sessions a year, so without steep prices, they'd never recoup their costs...* Thinking this, Zhang Yuanqing hurried over to Xiahou Aotian and asked, "Protagonist, are you thirsty?"
As an Alchemist, Xiahou Aotian had ordinary physical stamina. After more than three hours of sightseeing, his mouth and throat were parched. He immediately nodded.
Then, he watched as Yuanshi Tianzun turned around and shouted at the top of his lungs, "The class monitor is treating us to juice! The most expensive one! Young Master Xiahou is footing the bill for everyone's juice today!"
"You—!" Xiahou Aotian flared with rage.
Before he could object, he saw the trainees clapping in unison, cheering for their class monitor's grand generosity.
*I didn't say that! Shut up! Stop framing me...* Xiahou Aotian's mouth twitched, but clasping his hands behind his back, he said indifferently, "A trivial matter!"
The trainees swarmed into the cafe and took their seats.
"You're so bad," Sun Miaomiao chided as she pulled out a chair and sat down. "Aren't you afraid of making an enemy out of Xiahou Aotian? He's from the Xiahou family."
"Zhu Mingxu and Zhao Feiwen already bear hostility toward you. Provoking Xiahou Aotian on top of that is truly unwise," Zhao Chenghuang said coldly, joining them at the table.
Yuan Ting sat down beside them and lowered his voice: "Zhu Rong is Zhu Mingxu's cousin, so his hostility makes sense to me. But why does Zhao Feiwen hate you? I heard that the two of them are looking for a chance to teach you a lesson."
"What's the relationship between Zhao Feiwen and Zhao Feichen?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
While Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang were still thinking, Yuan Ting already answered with complete familiarity: "Oh, that's his younger brother."
"Oh. Then I beat Zhao Feiwen's brother and father half to death," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Sun Miaomiao was utterly speechless. "You really know how to cause trouble."
Beside them, Zhao Chenghuang nodded in agreement.
Yuan Ting chimed in, "What happened? Tell me all about it! I swear I won't tell anyone."
***
At 6:30 in the evening, the sun set.
Having polished off three jin of moonlight fish and chopped cold chicken at the cafeteria, Zhang Yuanqing returned to the male dormitory and entered Room 404.
He took a shower, brushed his teeth, and stood by the window, watching the setting sun sink below the horizon.
The men's dormitory was surrounded by flower beds and trees in a serene setting, the air filled with the delicate fragrance of blossoms. Several stray cats darted and played among the flower beds.
On the treetops, little squirrels scrambled about. The animals were not afraid of humans and possessed an extraordinary spiritual aura.
Zhang Yuanqing watched peacefully. Before he knew it, night had fallen.
Having gotten a firm grasp on Qinfeng Academy's terrain, he planned to make his move tonight and open the underwater stone gate.
*Knock, knock!*
Just then, a knock sounded on his door.
*Who's looking for me?* Zhang Yuanqing opened the door, and the visitor surprised him.
It was none other than the sultry and glamorous Song Man. In her left hand, she carried a bottle of wine, and between the fingertips of her right hand rested two stemmed glasses.
"Interested in inviting me in for a drink?" She gestured with the bottle, smiling sweetly to reveal a pair of dimples.
*As expected, she's the reproduction-obsessed type of Wood Monster—no, Beast King...* A massive headache hit Zhang Yuanqing—the head on his shoulders, that is.
He didn't want to get tangled up with someone at a critical juncture like this.
The dispositions of Wood Monsters and Water Ghosts were the most diverse and complex among all classes.
Certain Wood Monsters possessed surging vitality and an overwhelmingly intense urge to reproduce.
Teacher Song Man's demeanor made her type abundantly clear.
"Teacher Song Man, do you have a boyfriend?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
He wanted to use the concept of a partner to hint that she should show some self-respect.
Song Man shook her head, then smiled seductively: "If you're willing to be my boyfriend, then I have one right now."
*You really know how to flirt, you female player...* Zhang Yuanqing kept a straight face. "But I have a girlfriend."
Song Man didn't give up. Taking a step forward, her voluptuous figure leaned half against Zhang Yuanqing as she laughed, "That doesn't stop us from enjoying a bit of romance."
Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, his expression turning cold. "Teacher Song Man, I need to rest."
Song Man stared at him for a few seconds, then shrugged in disappointment. "If you ever have any needs over these seven days, I'd be more than happy to spend a passionate night with you. Hit me up anytime."
Holding the wine bottle, she swayed away sensually.
Zhang Yuanqing shut the door and lay in bed, waiting for time to pass.
Half an hour later, he shut the windows tight, drew the curtains, and changed into the Qinfeng Academy school uniform. The so-called uniform was actually just a plain black T-shirt and trousers with the four characters "Qinfeng Academy" embroidered across the chest.
Despite Teacher Song Man's insistence that the silkworms were spirit realm creatures and the dye originated from the spirit realm, this outfit was definitely not worth twenty thousand.
Just look at its item attributes:
[Name: Qinfeng Academy School Uniform]
[Type: Clothing]
[Function: Warmth]
[Description: A school uniform made by the teachers of Qinfeng Academy.]
[Remarks: In fact, it does not keep you warm; on the contrary, it is rather cool and airy. Since it is merely an ordinary piece of clothing, it carries no penalty.]
After putting on the uniform, Zhang Yuanqing first went to the bathroom and checked his facial signs. Confirming that there was no disaster of bloodshed looming, he immediately retrieved the Disguise Ring, picturing the face of a celebrity in his mind.
His face rippled with light and distorted, turning him into a pretty-boy idol.
Next, he cast Star Escape, turning into starlight to teleport into the hallway, and instantly slipped into Night Roaming.
Dashing out of the dormitory building, he sprinted down the academy's main road, past rows of buildings, and soon arrived at Jiaoren Lake.
The night sky was washed clean, a full moon hanging high above without a single star in sight.
The waters of Jiaoren Lake were pitch-black and tranquil under a gentle evening breeze.
*This place would actually be great for a barbecue, but Brother Red Chicken would never agree to grilling—aside from steaming and scalding, all he knows is raw marinating, that vulgar Fire Mage from Du...* Thinking this, Zhang Yuanqing draped the Yin-Yang Robe over himself and leaped into the lake.
The lake water was icy cold and pitch-black.
The rushing undercurrents churned into a roar beside his ears. Capable of seeing through the darkness, he manipulated the currents and swam rapidly, moving with even greater agility than a fish.
Zhang Yuanqing's objective was clear: Hundred Beasts Island.
Jixin Island bred corpses and was heavy with yin energy, so the jiaoren were unlikely to live near it. If it was between Hundred Beasts Island and Spiritual Plant Island, he was certain it had to be the former.
Because the Grand Elder kept a Level 6 Tiger King there.
Why keep a pet on the island? Even if one kept a pet, why a Level 6 creature that no one in the academy could handle?
Connecting it with the hidden quest, it wasn't hard to deduce that the Tiger King was guarding that stone gate.
Half an hour later, cloaked in invisibility, he arrived at Hundred Beasts Island.
Sure enough, as he neared Hundred Beasts Island, he saw that beneath the surface, the island did not slope gently with mud and sand; rather, it formed sheer, cliff-like precipices.
The island was like an isolated precipice standing amidst the water.
He swam along the isolated cliff, spending a good deal of time before finally finding the stone gate described by Fu Qingyang.
Two stone doors were embedded into the rugged cliff face, six meters high and two meters wide. At the tightly sealed seam between the doors was a bowl-sized circular hole, inside of which was a black bird in flight, shaped like a swallow.
The flame and cloud patterns along its rim were identical to those on the jade plate, only inverted.
*Found it.* Zhang Yuanqing felt a jolt of joy. Just as he was about to retrieve the jade plate, however, feedback from the Yin-Yang Robe alerted him to an unusual undercurrent rapidly approaching.
His heart tightened. Darting beneath a protruding cliff rock to conceal himself, he looked in the direction from which the undercurrent surged.
Chapter 419