That Is a Divining Compass

Grace already knew all the traps and routes in the bamboo forest. Hearing the sound of the bell, she hopped and skipped her way out.

A whole grand procession had arrived.

Her father, along with a squad of soldiers.

"Dad!" Grace looked behind him. "Did you come alone?"

"With all these people, how could I be alone?" Minister Zhuo replied with a smile.

"Uh..." Grace glanced at the crowd behind him, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Why don't you ask if we won or lost?" Minister Zhuo asked.

"Do I even need to ask? Of course we won!"

In her previous life, Windspire Kingdom was defeated by Blue Moon Kingdom.

This time around, things shouldn't be much different.

"How did you know?" Minister Zhuo asked.

"I could tell just by looking at your face!" Grace said. "Your forehead is glowing, and you look absolutely radiant!"

Minister Zhuo smiled and said, "Windspire Kingdom has been wiped off the continent!"

"Did anyone get hurt?"

Actually, what she really meant was: Why didn't Evan Xiao come? Was he injured?

"No one was hurt!" Minister Zhuo said gruffly. "He's the commander, he can't just leave the army to come get you, so I came instead."

"I never said it was him..." Grace grinned.

Minister Zhuo shook his head. "Come on! Let's go say goodbye to your master together."

Grace nodded and led Minister Zhuo inside.

...

"...Master, I still have some things to take care of in Danyang City, so I wanted to say goodbye first!" Grace said.

"Alright," Tu Shanjun replied. "Go on."

"Master, why don't you come back to Danyang City with us!" Grace added. "You live here all alone and don't eat well. If you come down the mountain with me, I'll take good care of you!"

Tu Shanjun smiled faintly and said, "You go ahead. I'll come find you."

"Oh... then we'll take our leave for now!" Grace said. "The rice I bought should last you a while. Make sure you cook proper meals and don't slack off!"

"Mm."

And so, Grace left together with Minister Zhuo.

The Spirit Alliance's recruitment was coming up soon, and she had to go back to sign up for the exam.

And as for her spirit jade, she only had one piece left—she needed to get more...

Tu Shanjun watched their figures disappear into the bamboo forest, then took out a palm-sized object from his robe.

It was a compass.

The base of the compass was unusual, almost as if it were made of water, rippling in concentric circles.

But those ripples were no ordinary waves—they faintly held countless runes within them.

As Grace walked farther away, the ripples on the compass grew fainter...

"That girl is really strange! How does she know my cooking techniques?" Tu Shanjun was utterly puzzled. "Even the taste is spot on..."

...

Grace and Minister Zhuo headed to the official road toward Blue Moon Kingdom, where they saw a truly spectacular convoy.

First came two fully enclosed, super-sized carriages pulled by four spirit beasts each—their height was absolutely impressive.

Behind the big carriages were dozens of prison carts, each packed with bloodied prisoners with green brows and green eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

After the prison carts, there were hundreds of regular horse-drawn carriages.

Judging by how deep the wheels were sunk, all the carriages were loaded with cargo.

"Dad, what's inside the tallest carriage up front?" Grace asked curiously.

"The First Spirit Tree," Minister Zhuo replied.

Grace's eyes lit up. "The First Spirit Tree? How many are there?"