Chapter 33 - 33 Wen Xiang Garden [Thanks to Alliance Head Chu Da Xiao Sai Gao]

Zhang Xuan was taken aback when the city lord directly addressed the question to him; he nodded briefly and answered truthfully, “I sensed it… but there wasn’t much, and it quickly disappeared.”

The city lord was startled, “You sensed it?”

His own daughter and Mo Yanxue hadn’t discovered anything, yet this kid, who hadn’t even opened his Source Pool, had noticed? Could it be that the Heavenly Mandate Vitality released just now had all been absorbed by him?

He couldn’t help but ask, “Could it be… you’ve found the Source Pool?”

“Not yet…”

Zhang Xuan looked dejected, “Maybe my talent is just too poor!”

“Don’t be discouraged. You’re older, so you have more distractions and it’s harder to focus. Naturally, the search will be more difficult. With a bit of methodical elimination and a steady approach, it’s not necessarily impossible to succeed…”

Seeing that his expression was natural and not feigned, Yu Longqing reassured him, while inwardly he smiled wryly.

He was really overthinking it. A person who hadn’t even opened their Source Pool couldn’t absorb it even if they wanted to. Besides, even if someone successfully opened their Source Pool, it would be impossible to absorb over two thousand strands of Heavenly Mandate Vitality in just a few dozen breaths.

This meant that it definitely wasn’t a person’s doing!

“Perhaps there’s an issue with the formation at the Book Collection Vault, unable to retain the Heavenly Mandate Vitality, leading to it leaking out…”

After pondering for a moment, Yu Longqing speculated.

The formation of the Book Collection Vault, like the nine Dragon Pillars of Baiyan Academy, also had the effect of locking and isolating Origin qi. That’s why he dared to let his daughter wait here. Now that there was a problem, could it be because of the formation?

Just as he was about to closely examine the formation, something came to mind, and he turned to the young man not far away, “Have you chosen a cultivation method to your liking?”

“Thanks to the city lord, this ‘Five Directions Source Seeking Art’ seems suitable, and I’ve almost memorized it…”

Knowing what these words implied, Zhang Xuan put the book back on the shelf, cupped his fist in the other hand, “I’ve imposed on you too much today; I shall take my leave now.”

“No need for formalities. The City Lord Residence is always open to you, Zhang Xuan, for your next visit!”

Yu Longqing smiled and waved his hand, “Someone, see the guest out!”

Soon after, a guard approached and led Zhang Xuan out at a leisurely pace.

Watching him leave, Yu Longqing then headed to the corner of the Book Collection Vault. With a gentle swipe of his palm over the bookshelf in front of him, a triangular formation flag immediately appeared— the formation core of the Book Collection Vault’s array.

Following the same procedure, he moved to five different locations, unearthing five formation flags. Then Yu Longqing tapped with his finger and a wave of strength rapidly spread out in all directions. The formation flags shook as if being struck by a current of water, manifesting visible ripples.

“It’s not broken!”

Yu Longqing frowned.

What he had just done was to test whether the formation was malfunctioning. Now it seemed intact, any Heavenly Mandate Vitality should have been stopped by it, without any spillover.

“Maybe… I’ll try again!”

Knowing he wouldn’t be at peace without uncovering the cause, Yu Longqing once again returned to the silent chamber and brought another artifact to continue activating the formation.

This time he was smarter and only purified five strands of Heavenly Mandate Vitality before stopping. He then rushed back to the Book Collection Vault.

Looking up, he saw his daughter and Mo Yanxue had already closed their eyes and were quietly cultivating.

Upon sensing the area, Yu Longqing was taken aback.

The five strands of Heavenly Mandate Vitality were like goldfish trapped in a tank, all swimming around within the Book Collection Vault, bumping around but unable to escape— not a single one was missing.

“If the formation isn’t broken, it means the Heavenly Mandate Vitality from before didn’t leak out but was absorbed. So, what’s different now compared to before?”

Comparing the situation just now with the current one, Yu Longqing’s pupils abruptly contracted, “The only difference is that Zhang Xuan left… Could it really have something to do with this guy?”

“Low-profile, young, first time entering Baiyan Academy, was standing by the north side of the arena…”

Standing on the spot, recalling the conversation between Wu Yunzhou, the School Head, and his daughter, City Lord Yu couldn’t help but shudder.

All conditions were met, except… the Source Pool had not been opened!

But could it be possible to absorb Heavenly Mandate Vitality without the Source Pool being opened, and that too, several thousand strands at once?

Frowning deeply, Yu Longqing waved his hand, “Call Hu Haiming over!”

It wasn’t long before a soldier clad in armor strode in, it was Captain Hu who had stopped Zhang Xuan to check his identity when he came to the City Lord Residence.

Hu Haiming greeted with a fist and palm salute, “City Lord!”

“Now that Zhang Xuan has an identity, he definitely won’t return to Mo Mansion. Follow behind him and see where he goes and what he does, and report back to me in detail. Also… make sure not to be discovered by him!”

Yu Longqing instructed, “Don’t tell anyone about this matter, not even the young miss.”

“Yes!” Hu Haiming replied with a fist and palm salute, then turned and left with long strides.

“A refugee, yet naturally able to get close to Primordial Beasts, willing to submit even after a severe beating. Zhang Xuan, I really want to see what you’re hiding…”

City Lord Yu was filled with curiosity.

Having been in Baiyan City for so long, it was the first time he had taken an interest in someone with no cultivation at all.

Knowing he could trust Captain Hu to handle the task, Yu Longqing no longer dwelled on it, but instead turned his attention to his daughter and Mo Yanxue.

Both were concentrating hard, trying to absorb the leaked Heavenly Mandate Vitality. It was not clear if it was due to talent or some other situation, but progress was minimal. Five streams of qi had been wandering around the room for a quarter of an hour and still showed no sign of dissipating.

“Take your time!”

Knowing that urging was futile, Yu Longqing decided not to think too much about it. Just as he was about to return to the silent chamber, he saw Hu Haiming hurriedly walking over again, his normally resolute face looking somewhat ashen and unwell.

“Didn’t I instruct you to follow him? Why have you come back so soon?”

A bad premonition formed in Yu Longqing’s heart, and he couldn’t help asking.

Kneeling on one knee, Hu Haiming’s face was full of embarrassment. “It’s my incompetence, I lost him, please punish me, City Lord!”

“Lost him? Get up!”

Yu Longqing frowned, “What exactly happened? Explain in detail!”

Hu Haiming was the captain of the guards, having reached the Fourfold Physique Realm of the Source Pool. Following a small figure with the Source Pool not even opened should have been a simple task, yet he lost track of him. Moreover, it had not even been a quarter of an hour since they left…

Hu Haiming stood up and explained, “After receiving the order, I left the City Lord Residence to follow him. This Zhang Xuan had been wandering around, he bought two buns at Zheng Yuan Baozi Shop, and then purchased a piece of clothing at Liu Ming Clothing Store. I followed from a distance, thinking he hadn’t noticed me. But just now, as he walked toward Wen Xiang Garden, a girl bumped into him, and then… when I tried to find him again, he had completely vanished!”

“Wen Xiang Garden?”

Yu Longqing was stunned.

“Yes, it’s… it’s the brothel in the city!” Hu Haiming hurriedly clarified.

Yu Longqing was dumbfounded, “I know it’s a brothel, what puzzles me is… why did this Zhang Xuan head straight for the brothel?”

Having just escaped from being a refugee and obtained an identity, he went straight to a brothel. Was this guy… that desperate?