"Wasn't Tai Tan—the Strength Clan's patriarch—near Gengxin City at the time? I remember he's a master blacksmith and stays there often."
The words were spoken lightly.
Yet— When Yang Wudi heard them, his fingers tightened abruptly. The jade box creaked faintly under the pressure.
That incident had shaken the entire soul master world. A Titled Douluo—humiliated, beaten like a stray dog.
News like that did not fade easily. But the truth behind it was an An immortal herb?
Yang Wudi's eyes darkened.
'Tai Tan… knows how much I value immortal herbs. He knows I dedicated my entire life to alchemy. If this truly involved an immortal herb… Why did he never tell me?'
The thought surfaced quietly.
But like a seed dropped into fertile soil— It began to take root.
Jiang Mo, seemingly unaware of the effect his words had caused, stood up smoothly.
"Elder Yang. I'll be taking my leave."
Yang Wudi looked up.
His earlier tension was gone, replaced by a wide, almost excessive smile.
"Very well."
"You must come again when you have time."
"The Breaking Clan will always welcome you."
Jiang Mo nodded and turned to leave.
-----
Yet— As Yang Wudi watched his figure disappear beyond the hall doors, his gaze unconsciously drifted to the token resting on the table.
The palm-sized disc.
The half-closed, hooded eye.
Moments earlier, before Jiang Mo had left, he had asked—"Who exactly is HER?"
And the reply he received had been calm, almost gentle.
"When SHE wants you to know…"
"You will know HER."
Now—
Holding the jade box in one hand and staring at the token with the other, Yang Wudi felt a strange chill creep up his spine.
The eye engraved upon the token seemed almost alive.
As if it were watching him. He had joined an organization whose reach extended into thoughts, whose knowledge surpassed secrets.
Yet at the same time— It had given him something he had sought his entire life.
Yang Wudi exhaled slowly.
'What kind of existence… have I truly pledged myself to?'
-----
Jiang Mo stepped out of the main hall into the clan compound.
The air outside was calm, but the training ground nearby was still filled with the faint scent of dissipating soul power. Several members of the Breaking Clan were helping their injured juniors to their feet, casting wary glances in his direction.
His eyes swept across the courtyard—and quickly locked onto a familiar scene.
Not far away, Tian Yue stood with her hands on her hips, talking animatedly with Jun Wuhen and Chu Yue. Her posture was proud, almost smug, as if the defeated clan youths lying around were proof of her accomplishment.
Jiang Mo walked over silently.
Then—
Smack.
He reached out and knocked the back of Tian Yue's head.
"You know," Jiang Mo said flatly,
"you've had just increased the difficulty of my negotiations."
Tian Yue stumbled forward a step, immediately turning around with an aggrieved expression. She rubbed the back of her head and pouted.
"Hmph."
"They couldn't even last five moves."
Her tone was more disappointed than apologetic.
Jiang Mo shook his head helplessly.
"That's exactly the problem."
"We're here to negotiate, not to humiliate an entire clan's younger generation."
He sighed inwardly.
'At least Yang Wudi's temperament is better than expected… otherwise this trip would've ended far worse.'
His gaze shifted to Jun Wuhen and Chu Yue.
"You two," Jiang Mo said, his tone changing to something more serious,
"come with me."
"I'll take you somewhere."
Jun Wuhen raised an eyebrow.
"Somewhere?"
Jiang Mo nodded.
"A place that will broaden your horizons."
Then, after a short pause, he added meaningfully,
"After all, in the next Elite Soul Master Competition—...it will be your time to shine."
Jun Wuhen and Chu Yue exchanged glances.
Jiang Mo's eyes lingered briefly on Jun Wuhen. Level 56. Soul King.
At this age, such cultivation already placed him among the absolute elites of the younger generation.
'If Jun Wuhen receives an immortal herb from the Yin Yang Ice and Fire Well… Breaking through to Soul Emperor would be trivial. And reaching Soul Sage within two years…seems
Not impossible.'
His gaze then shifted subtly to Chu Yue. Level 49. Soul Ancestor.
On the verge of a breakthrough.
Her foundation was solid, her talent steady—perhaps not dazzling, but reliable.
Together, they were a pair worth investing in.
Chu Yue hesitated before asking,
"Where… is this place?"
Jiang Mo smiled, but did not answer directly.
"In the Sunset Forest."
"As for the exact location…For now, I'll keep it a secret."
Jun Wuhen's pupils contracted slightly.
'Sunset Forest…So it really is that place.'
He quickly concealed his reaction and nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Then, as Jiang Mo turned away to make preparations, Jun Wuhen's gaze drifted sideways—to Chu Yue's profile.
Her expression was focused, curious, and faintly nervous.
A far cry from the sharp tension that used to exist between them.
'This trip…might be a good chance. At least without Hu Liena's irritating presence.'
A faint, unreadable smile appeared at the corner of Jun Wuhen's lips.
Meanwhile, Tian Yue crossed her arms and huffed.
"Hmph, "
Jiang Mo glanced back at her.
"You're coming too."
Tian Yue's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?"
Jiang Mo sighed again.
"Unfortunately… yes."
Just like that, the decision was made and they never knew their movements were in full control of someone who had considered them as chess pieces on the board.