sonovelo Chapter 634: Does It Look the Same?
Chapter 634: Does It Look the Same?
Chapter 634: Does It Look the Same?
As several arcs of light flashed across the sky and gathered among the clouds, Tian Mingtai finally lost his patience and snapped, "It's been nearly a whole day and night. Where on earth is the princess?"
He had led the group from Taotie City with the intention of locating the princess of the High Moon Kingdom first, hoping that they would then win the king's favor. With the royal uncle's support, they could then finalize the deal before the representatives of the Mount Shu Sect even arrived.
But who could have predicted that Han Lu, renowned as the best tracker, would lead them aimlessly through the skies for an entire day and night without results?
Even Han Lu started to doubt himself. He sniffed the small vial in his hand once more and took a deep breath of the surrounding air.
The rising smoke twisted and turned, forming the shape of a White Dragon that rushed into his nostrils. Opening his eyes with great certainty, he declared, "The scent is just ahead, and it's fresh. We are very close to the target."
"Still ahead?!" Tian Mingtai roared in frustration. "If we go any further, we'll end up at the East Sea!"
"That dragon kidnapped the princess of the High Moon Kingdom. Fleeing to the East Sea out of fear of punishment makes perfect sense, doesn't it?" Han Lu replied confidently.
"Fine." Tian Mingtai nodded. "We'd better find it."
With that, Han Lu took the lead, and the team set off once more.
They flew for what felt like an eternity until they finally crossed the coastline. Under the setting sun, they arrived at the vast, shimmering ocean, its surface glowing with hues of gold and red.
Suddenly, Han Lu came to an abrupt stop.
"What is it?" Tian Mingtai demanded. "Do you have results?"
"The scent trail here..." Han Lu stammered, "It's gone."
"Gone?" Tian Mingtai stared out at the endless sea. "Gone, like my career prospects?"
"It's possible it dove into the sea," Han Lu suggested hesitantly. "If we go down and search... we might still find something."
"Fine. Then you go down and look for it," Tian Mingtai snapped, the veins on his forehead throbbing with frustration. "And if you come back empty-handed, don't bother showing your face again."
At this very moment, the Mount Shu Sect people had likely already arrived at the High Moon Kingdom. So much time had been wasted chasing ghosts that the deal was probably concluded by now.
And it was all because of this man.
Han Lu, renowned in Taotie City for his Divine Tracker Nose, was famous for his "dog nose." Following a trail across thousands of li was child's play for him. Tian Mingtai really thought that Han Lu's presence would guarantee that they would find the princess.
Who could have expected such an embarrassing failure this time?
Han Lu felt equally aggrieved. "If you hadn't been injured and we'd left earlier, we might have caught the demonic dragon back in the lair."
"You think I got myself injured on purpose?!" Tian Mingtai snapped, his face darkening. Just hearing it made his anger flare up even more.
"You were the one who provoked him and pressured him with your qi flow," Han Lu retorted. "Was that intentional or accidental?"
"I..." Tian Mingtai stammered, momentarily speechless.
Initially, he had thought that the Mount Shu Sect disciple was just a young, low-level cultivator. His plan had been to suppress him effortlessly and prevent him from becoming a nuisance.
Who could have known that the young man would turn out to be so terrifying?
"No," she replied softly. "I knew you'd come right away."
"I'm sorry for making you worry all this time."
"I understand. If you'd been okay, you would have come to me as soon as you could."
Chu Liang held Jiang Yuebai close as Jiang Yuebai wrapped her arms around his back. After those few simple words, the two stood quietly, embracing each other in silence.
Though they hadn't seen each other for years, they both remained calm.
Yet, within that silence, they could clearly feel the steadfast longing in each other's hearts.
As the crowd of onlookers below grew larger, a soft cough broke the moment. "Ahem, that's enough. You're in public."
Chu Liang's gaze shifted over Jiang Yuebai's shoulder, landing on the figure of the Whale-Riding Immortal standing nearby.
"Hehe," Chu Liang quickly released Jiang Yuebai and greeted respectfully, "Esteemed Senior."
With a wave of his wide sleeve, the Whale-Riding Immortal stirred the wind. In an instant, the three of them were transported to an unremarkable, desolate hill far from the crowd.
"You've made great progress over the past six years," the Whale-Riding Immortal remarked. Unlike someone like Tian Mingtai, he could see Chu Liang's true strength at a glance. "It won't be long before you ascend to the Heavenly Gate."
"It's just a blessing in disguise," Chu Liang replied with a smile. "Have things gone smoothly for you these past years?"
Jiang Yuebai gently shook her head. "We've traveled across the nine provinces, but it's still nearly impossible to find any trace of the Divine Ruins' scroll."
At the mention of the Divine Ruins' scroll, the Whale-Riding Immortal's smile faded slightly.
"What exactly is this Divine Ruins' scroll?" Chu Liang asked. "Now that the Red Cotton Peak of the Mount Shu Sect has considerable influence, I can have people help investigate."
"That won't work," the Whale-Riding Immortal said firmly. "Searching for the Divine Ruins' scroll must be done in absolute secrecy. If word gets out and the Divine Ruins Monastery learns that someone is trying to locate them, they will definitely act to eliminate us."
Even as a powerful expert who had attained the Heavenly Origin, the thought still sent chills down his spine.
Back then, the Jiang Family, one of the renowned Three Aristocratic Families, had been wiped out overnight. The terror of the Divine Ruins Monastery was something he understood better than anyone.
"I see," Chu Liang said, giving up the idea.
"However," the Whale-Riding Immortal added, "if you happen to come across any clues, keep an eye out for us."
With that, he tossed a jade box to Chu Liang and Chu Liang opened it out of curiosity.
Inside was a dark golden leather scroll made of unknown material, yet imbued with a restrained spiritual aura. The surface was etched with strange, obscure patterns, and it was obvious this was only one-quarter of a larger whole.
"This..." Chu Liang stared at it, suddenly finding it familiar.
"This item is the key to finding my mother and the only path to locate the Divine Ruins Monastery," Jiang Yuebai sighed. "The world believes this map leads to the Immortals' Storehouse, so those who possess a piece of it remain hidden. Over the past six years, we've searched tirelessly, but even obtaining a single fragment has been nearly impossible."
"Hmm..." Chu Liang murmured thoughtfully. "I was going to say..."
Reaching into his robe, he slowly pulled out two more pieces and held them up side by side.
"Doesn't this look...exactly like the other two pieces I already have?"