"Shi Tou, what's wrong?"
Sensing Qin Shi's sudden change, Jade In The Book floated out from the Burning Book and asked.
After a moment of silence, Qin Shi said, "Sister Yu, did you feel it just now?
When I said I wanted to go to the Bejeweled Lava Volcano, the people in the inn all showed strange expressions. "
Her beautiful eyes turned as she recalled, and Jade In The Book lightly nodded, "Indeed, but since the Bejeweled Lava Volcano is known as one of the three forbidden areas of the Crimson Flame Empire, it's not surprising that they were surprised when you said you wanted to go."
"No, it's normal for them to be surprised, but I clearly remember that when they looked at me just now, their eyes were clearly vigilant, not surprised." Qin Shi shook his head and said.
Jade In The Book frowned, "Vigilant?"
"Yes, from the look in their eyes, it seems that if I go to the Jewel Lava Volcano, I will ruin some plan of theirs." Qin Shi analyzed thoughtfully and said, "There must be something going on here."
After hearing Qin Shi's words, Jade In The Book also gradually came to a realization, but the two of them still couldn't figure out the clues. Helpless, she opened her mouth and advised, "Alright, don't think too much. With your current strength, you can move unhindered in the Western region, but you're not far from it. Moreover, you have me by your side. Even if something really happens, it doesn't matter. First, take the time to rest. Tomorrow, when we go to the Bejeweled Lava Volcano, everything will be revealed."
"Well, no matter what, I'll help you find the Divine Pregnant Tree Fruit first."
Since he couldn't figure it out anyway, Qin Shi smiled and nodded. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to relax, he suddenly frowned and looked out of the window, saying coldly, "Hehe, it seems that some people won't allow us to rest even if we want to."
"Hmm?"
"Shh!"
Qin Shi gestured for Jade In The Book to be quiet, and with a few vibrations from his sleeve, he extinguished the candles on the sandalwood table.
As the light dimmed, he pulled Jade In The Book's wrist, and the two of them flashed to a corner of the room, holding the Soul Sealing Tourmaline in their hands, concealing their presence.
Bang!
As soon as the candlelight was extinguished, the window flashed and three figures broke through the wall.
The three figures were all men, and they were dressed extravagantly. Dense spiritual energy flowed within their bodies. Qin Shi looked at them and said in surprise, "It's the three of them?"
"Stone, do you know them?" Jade In The Book asked through Burning Book.
Nodding his head, Qin Shi replied from the bottom of his heart, "Yes, these three are the Cryptic Spirit realm experts that I sensed when I first entered the city."
"Oh?
It's them? "
Jade In The Book said in a sweet voice, "You and I have just arrived in the Western Region, and we don't know each other. It's impossible for us to have any grudges. Why would they attack you at night?"
"It must be related to the matter of the Bejeweled Lava Volcano. Let's observe the situation first. Perhaps the truth will be revealed before tomorrow." Qin Shi smiled confidently. His figure once again disappeared into the darkness.
Bang!
The three men who broke through the window stood in the guest room. The leader stood under the window with his hands clasped behind his back, ordering the other two to move. "Search!"
After receiving the instructions, the two searched the room. However, with Qin Shi's current strength, if he insisted on hiding, these two Cryptic realm cultivators wouldn't be able to do anything.
Chun Chun Qian Zheng
After an hour, as expected, the two of them did not find anything. They retreated to the window helplessly and said to the leader awkwardly, "Elder Gao Xing, there's no one here."
"No one?"
The old man called Gao Xing frowned and said with a livid face, "That's strange. His aura was still there earlier. Could it be that he discovered it?"
"If that's the case, what should we do next?" The two of them asked in a low voice.
Gao Xing was silent for a while, then said, "Split up and chase after him. He should have just left not long ago. No matter what, we must capture this person. No matter what his motive is, we must not let him approach the Bejewelled Magma Volcano."
"Yes!"
After receiving the order, the two of them quickly tightened their robes and leapt out from the hole in the wall.
Gao Xing's words fell into Qin Shi's ears without missing a single word, causing him to lick the corner of his lips. "Hah, it really has something to do with the Bejewelled Magma Volcano."
Gao Xing, who was left alone, swept his murky old eyes across the room through the darkness. He suddenly stopped at the corner where Qin Shi was hiding, causing the latter's body to become inexplicably tense.
The two's gazes met for a moment. Qin Shi could clearly see a look of surprise in Gao Xing's old eyes. However, what surprised Qin Shi was that Gao Xing, who had already tightened his nerves and was prepared to face the enemy at any time, shook his head at this moment. With a swoosh, he shifted his gaze away from the dark corner. As if nothing had happened, he got up and leapt out of the window.
Not long after Gao Xing left, Qin Shi stood out from the corner. His brows were tightly furrowed and he said in confusion, "Strange. He clearly discovered me, but he pretended not to see me. What is the meaning of this?"
"Shi Tou, you said he discovered you?"
"Yes. His eyes betrayed him."
"That's strange. Since he discovered you, why did he pretend not to see you?" Jade In The Book curled her lips in puzzlement.
Qin Shi deliberated for a moment and said, "If my guess is correct, he should be deliberately luring me out."
"Then, what are you going to do?"
"That's just as well. I'll beat them at their own game. Coincidentally, I can investigate just what is going on and the mysterious mastermind behind the scenes!" Qin Shi lowered his voice and immediately chased after the three of them through the window.
Whoosh!
The three of them searched in three different directions. Qin Shi deliberately concealed his aura from behind, and followed behind the Elder named Gao Xing.
In this way, the three of them chased after the Elder until they reached the secluded forest outside the city. Then, Gao Xing's figure stopped. He turned his head and said in a cold voice, "Hehe, Your Excellency has been chasing me for so long. Isn't it time for you to show yourself?
Do you want me to personally invite you out? "
Hiding behind an ancient pine tree a hundred meters away, Qin Shi was not surprised that he had been discovered. He smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Elder Gao Xing, you've spent so much effort to lure me here. How could I trouble you to invite me out?"
"It's really you!"
Staring at Qin Shi, Gao Xing's pupils suddenly shrank. His action made Qin Shi's jaw drop. He suddenly took a step forward, cupped his fists respectfully, and said, "Gao Xing pays respect to Sect Leader Qin Shi!"
Qin Shi was caught off guard. He asked, "You know me?"
"You've caused havoc in two major regions in the northeast within a year. The rising star of the Empire, the Sect Leader of the Qin Sect, the overlord of the north. With so many halos gathered on one person, how could I not know you?" Gao Xing smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Staring at Gao Xing's appearance, Qin Shi squinted his eyes, "Hehe, that's interesting. You deliberately lured me here. It shouldn't be just to flatter me, right?
Speak, who are you? What's your purpose in luring me here? "
Gao Xing vigilantly looked around. Seeing that there was no one else around, he relaxed and carefully said, "Sir, this junior is Prince Lin Yu's spy in Qing Luan Gate."
"You're Little Yu's man?"
"Little Yu's?"
Hearing this form of address, the corner of Gao Xing's mouth twitched a few times. He smiled bitterly, "That's right. However, I'm afraid that in the entire Empire, you're the first person who dares to address a prince like this."
His black eyes were like sharp swords as he stared at Gao Xing for a long time. Only then did Qin Shi gradually withdraw his gaze. He could see that Gao Xing was not lying, "If that's the case, why did you lure me here? Do you have something to say?"
Plop!
Being questioned, Gao Xing suddenly knelt on the ground and said with an abnormally embarrassed expression, "Sir, I know that you and Prince Lin Yu are good brothers who have gone through life and death together. I hope that you can save Prince Lin Yu and return peace to Crimson Flame!"
Startled, Qin Shi quickly asked, "What's wrong with Little Yu?"
"To be honest with Sir, Prince Lin Yu came to the western region to rope in Qing Luan Gate, but he was a step too late. Qing Luan Gate has already bowed to His Highness Fang Heng."
Gao Xing angrily clenched his fists, "Originally, this was nothing and Prince Lin Yu didn't care. But just as Prince Lin Yu was about to leave the western region for the southern region, Qing Luan Gate suddenly received a secret letter from Empress Xiao Chong, ordering them to quietly kill Lin Yu in the western region. If it wasn't for Prince Lin Yu discovering it in time and bringing the Crown Princess to hide in Bejewelled Lava Volcano, I'm afraid he would've been killed."
Bang!
Qin Shi's resolute face turned ugly and cold air flowed from his sleeves, "Hah, Qing Luan Gate, how is Little Yu now?"
"Replying to Sir, Prince Lin Yu has been forced into Bejewelled Lava Volcano for half a month and there's still no news. But what is certain is that his life is not in danger."
Gao Xing's experienced hand spread open and there was an unusually strange wooden token in his hand, "This wooden token contains Prince Lin Yu's blood essence. From this wooden token, you can feel Prince Lin Yu's vitality."
Receiving the wooden token, Qin Shi turned it over. Sure enough, there was an extremely familiar aura on it. It was undoubtedly from Lin Yu. Only then did he gradually relax. After analyzing it, he said, "In that case, when I mentioned the Bejeweled Lava Volcano at the inn, everyone looked at me with vigilance. Was it because they mistakenly thought that I was Xiao Yu's accomplice?"
"Exactly."
Gao Xing nodded, "In this Vast Sky City, most of the people are Qing Luan Gate's outer disciples. When Sir just said in the inn that you wanted to go to Bejewelled Lava Volcano, someone immediately sent the news to the sect and sent us to secretly arrest you."
"So that's how it is."
Understanding everything, Qin Shi secretly cursed his carelessness, "I've just arrived in the western region and I've already been targeted. It seems that I'm still too careless. I need to be more careful in the future."
Seeing through Qin Shi's thoughts, Gao Xing smiled and said, "Actually, Sir doesn't have to worry about it. Qing Luan Gate is different from the other three major regions. They are not simply the overlord of the western region, but the entirety of the western region. In the entire western region, Qing Luan Gate is the only force. All the cities, big and small, are under their control. Any outsider who enters the western region will be immediately detected."
"There's such a thing?"
This point made Qin Shi's eyes filled with surprise. Even if it was as powerful as the Mystic Palace, they only stood out from the crowd and didn't dare to say that they could dominate a region.