Small-world valley.
Elaine Cho withdrew her gaze, shaking her head in disappointment. "I'm afraid that among all these people, not a single one is the Ian Song we're looking for."
Although Black Phoenix had expected this, the thought that all their recent efforts had been for nothing still left her feeling extremely frustrated.
"Do you have any good ideas?"
"No," Elaine shook her head again. "To be honest, I've also been secretly investigating several Ian Songs lately, checking for traces of disaster-Qi on them, but I still haven't found the real one!"
"You fate-masters have all kinds of mysterious tricks—I don't believe you truly have no way!" Black Phoenix pressed, clearly convinced Elaine had some solution.
"I do have an idea," Elaine replied. "Your subordinates are all elite, but there simply aren't enough of them. Actually, we could ask the Da Yu Emperor for help."
"That could work!"
Black Phoenix's eyes, hidden in the black mist, suddenly lit up.
Da Yu Empire, Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace.
The Emperor suddenly looked up, frowning at the abrupt appearance of black mist before him. "Who are you?"
"I am Black Phoenix!"
"What? Black Phoenix?"
The Emperor was startled—he hadn't expected Emperor Weiyang's deadliest assassin to show up here.
"Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner, Your Excellency. May I ask what business brings you here that requires my humble service?"
The Emperor kept his posture extremely humble—after all, Black Phoenix was terrifying enough to kill Ancestral Immortals. He himself was only at Golden Immortal level; even if he drew on the Qi Luck Dragon to reach Grand Luo Immortal strength, he doubted he could withstand a single blow from her.
"I'm here on Emperor Weiyang's orders, searching for someone—and I need your help!"
The Emperor was briefly stunned. He'd expected Black Phoenix to come with some earth-shaking demand, but it turned out she was just looking for a person.
"Just say the word, Your Excellency. As long as that person is within Da Yu's borders, I'll turn the realm upside down to find them for you!"
…………
"Hmm!"
In the midst of seclusion, Ian Song's brows suddenly furrowed—another burst of foreboding, even stronger than before.
"Looks like someone is about to make a move against me. No, I can't stay in Yu King Palace any longer!"
His current round of seclusion was nearly finished anyway. Ian stepped out of his retreat and went to find Daisy Ding.
"Brother Yan."
"Come with me!"
Ian took Daisy's hand, and in a blur, they vanished from the spot—reappearing in the courtyard at the foot of the mountain.
Soon, the three Fox Clan sisters and several of his adopted disciples had all gathered together.
"We're leaving!"
Ian led them away at high speed, teleporting so quickly that within less than an hour they arrived at the edge of a forest.
"This place—!"
Seeing this forest, the three Fox Clan sisters grew visibly excited—they had lived here for centuries.
In the next instant, Ian flashed through the woods, directly crossing the forest and stepping onto the Frontier Wastes Continent.
He spread his Immortal senses wide, and in moments, the entire state of the Frontier Wastes Continent appeared in his mind.
The Yan Kingdom was now prosperous and peaceful; Emperor Cao Zhi had become a wise and benevolent ruler.
A moment later, with a single step, he brought everyone back to his mansion.
"Where are we?"
The Fox Clan sisters and Daisy were all looking around curiously.
"This is my home!"
Ian smiled lightly, and at the same time, his voice echoed in the minds of Chloe Cao, Sylvia "Xueji" Cai, and Yoyo Chen: "I'm back!"