Countless thoughts flashed through Xie Zhaolin's mind in an instant, and a cold, playful curve lifted the corner of her lips.
This was truly a case of searching high and low for something, only for it to fall right into her hands. She'd been worrying about how to deal with Yu Xiaotang, and now someone had delivered the blade straight to her. And that blade was something Yu Xiaotang had brought upon herself.
"Oh? So that's how it is?" Xie Zhaolin's voice grew calm again, her tone through the transmission betraying no emotion. "That makes things even easier. Just finish your mission, I don't need to say anything else. If you find her trail, report to me immediately."
She'd changed her mind.
Since the Yingsha killers already planned to take Yu Xiaotang's life, she didn't need to give any additional orders.
She could watch from the side, maybe even help them at the crucial moment, or ensure Yu Xiaotang died at just the right time. That might bring her far more benefits.
For example, maybe hrt death would draw out the so-called Xi Tong behind her, or reveal more secrets. At the very least, she could make sure this enemy disappeared completely.
"Yes, I understand!" The soft voiced man answered at once. He wondered why this token holder was also so focused on Yu Xiaotang, but he didn't dare ask. "If there's any news, I'll report to you immediately!"
Xie Zhaolin nodded lightly, said nothing more, then turned to Elder Chou. "Elder Chou, we should leave."
It was as if the previous conversation had never happened.
Elder Chou hadn't heard the transmitted words, but after seeing the strange expressions on the four Yingsha killers and the brief flash of surprise in Xie Zhaolin's eyes, she knew something unknown had happened, and it was tied closely to this Elder Mo identity.
Following the map carved into the jade slip, Xie Zhaolin picked a direction, the one marked with the fluctuation of star power, the Meteorfall Lake.
Along the way, Elder Chou kept glancing at the cold figure in the black robe ahead, her eyes shifting with complicated emotions. She had far too many questions, but in the end, she pressed all of them down and didn't voice a single one. She was a smart woman. She knew that the more someone learned, the faster they died.
For now, maintaining this fragile, dangerous partnership and using the other side's strength to survive the secret realm and seek opportunities was what mattered most. As for the truth behind that person's identity and motives, as long as it didn't threaten her, maybe ignorance was safer.
They traveled quickly in silence.
At the same time, Xie Zhaolin was communicating with You You inside the You Ming Bracelet.
"Master, Master! It's star power! Real star power!" You You's excited voice rang in her mind, full of barely contained joy. "There must be Star Sinking Sand or Morning Radiance Stone there! Those are core materials for crafting high grade puppets. With those, the puppet bodies will be sturdier and can even hold stronger spirit patterns!"
"Mm." Xie Zhaolin responded without slowing down. "The map marked unusually strong fluctuations of star power there. High grade star materials might really have appeared."
"Not just high grade!" You You practically vibrated with excitement. "Master, remember the last trial in the cave residence? Those three battle puppets only reached that level because I fused Nine Heavens Star Dust and Lunar Mercury. They could draw on the cosmic star force. Without it, I never would've set them as the final test."
When she spoke of the cave residence layout, You You's voice was full of pride and nostalgia.
Those three battle puppets had been her masterpiece, one of the strongest defensive forces in the entire place.
Xie Zhaolin felt a faint stir of emotion. She remembered that final trial clearly.
But with the collapse of the trial secret realm, those puppets had vanished along with it, their cores burned out when the realm fell apart. At the time, You You barely had enough strength to keep her Primordial Soul from dispersing, let alone sustain a collapsing space.
Thinking of that, Xie Zhaolin felt a small pang of regret. Puppets of that level would be an enormous help to her now.
"It's fine." She sent back, her voice calm but filled with determination. "Old ones fade, new ones come. Since this place has strong star power, this might be the opportunity we need. If we find the right materials, we can craft puppets even stronger than before."
You You perked up at once. "Master's right! Anything nurtured by a secret realm won't be ordinary. Let's go check it out!"
Their exchange spurred their pace even faster. The scenery ahead began to shift.
Moisture thickened in the air, and faint waves echoed in the distance.
After they passed a dense stretch of ancient forest, the view opened up.
A massive lake spread out before them.
The water wasn't green or blue like a normal lake. Instead, it glowed with a deep, star dotted dark blue, as if countless constellations slept beneath the surface. A thin silver mist drifted above the lake, and the air was filled with pure, concentrated star light. Whenever the breeze stirred, ripples shimmered, like stars flickering under the waves.
This was Meteorfall Lake.
But Xie Zhaolin and Elder Chou stopped at the same time.
Because the source of the powerful fluctuation recorded on the map, the one deep in the lake's heart, was gone. The lake was calm, and the star power was still strong, but that terrifying concentration of energy had vanished.
"Master, something's wrong!" You You shouted in her mind, her voice sharp with both certainty and disappointment. "There's star power left, but the purest part of it got taken! It happened not long ago. I can feel the signature fading. Someone definitely got here before us!"
Xie Zhaolin's expression darkened instantly.
Someone had beaten her to it? She rushed all the way here and found nothing?
Elder Chou also felt something odd. She tested the air and frowned. "Elder Mo, the spiritual energy feels steady. There's no sign of a treasure about to emerge."
"Can you sense which direction the thief ran?" Xie Zhaolin forced down her anger and spoke coldly to You You. Her divine sense swept the area, catching the remnants of several overlapping battles. Multiple groups had fought here.
"I'll try…" You You strained to track the lingering trails of star power.
A moment later, she gasped. "Northeast! Master, a tiny thread of star power is moving fast toward the northeast! It's very faint but incredibly pure. Even with their concealment technique, they can't hide from my sense of the star origin. They left not long ago!"
Northeast.
Xie Zhaolin didn't hesitate. She shot forward in that direction.
She planned to kill and take back what was hers.