"Oh, by the way, Young Master Kongping, how did that Chu Feng capture you?"
Lord Taibai asked.
"How else could he have captured me? He got me in Xianqing City."
Jiang Kongping answered.
Hearing this, Lord Taibai's brow furrowed slightly, but he did not press further on the matter.
Instead, he said to Jiang Kongping:
"Young Master Kongping, once your injuries have healed, you must stop going out to frolic and enter seclusion for cultivation."
"Why? You know I don't like cultivating," Jiang Kongping said with some displeasure.
"I have received word that Young Master Yuantai is coming."
"Remember how Young Master Yuantai told you that if your formation arts had not reached the ninth level of Dragon Transformation by the time he arrived, he would punish you?"
Lord Taibai said.
"Seriously? Isn't my big brother with my father handling that matter in the Seven Realms Heavenly River? How is he suddenly coming here?"
Jiang Kongping sat up again, panic evident on his face. From his expression alone, it was clear he deeply feared that older brother of his — the one called Yuantai.
"How would I dare deceive you? See for yourself."
As he spoke, Lord Taibai produced a formation letter and handed it to Jiang Kongping.
"Oh my god, he's really coming!"
After reading the letter, Jiang Kongping's face twisted in terror. He immediately flopped back down and began shouting at the people around him.
"Hurry up! Help me break this wretched formation!"
"This young master needs to go into seclusion for cultivation!!!"
This was the first time Jiang Kongping had ever urged the others to help him break the formation. It showed just how panicked he truly was.
The members of the Dao Alchemy Sect dared not slack off and immediately went all out to dismantle the formation.
"That formation Chu Feng laid down is actually this difficult to unravel."
"So the Eastern Region does have some talented individuals after all."
Watching the group's frantic efforts, Lord Taibai's gaze shifted subtly. He could see for himself that the difficulty of this formation was no small matter.
Of course, the primary reason it was so hard to break was that it endangered Jiang Kongping's life, so everyone had to proceed with extreme caution. But for a junior to be capable of laying down such a troublesome formation — that was exceedingly rare.
Just then, ten more figures entered the palace. The moment they entered, they dropped to their knees. They too were members of the Dao Alchemy Sect.
"Lord Taibai, your subordinates are incompetent. We were unable to intercept the teleportation formation that Chu Feng used to escape."
These ten had been dispatched by Lord Taibai to cut off Chu Feng's retreat. That was only natural — Chu Feng had harmed Jiang Kongping, so they naturally would not let him go. But clearly, they had failed.
"You can't even intercept a teleportation formation set up by a junior? Truly useless."
Lord Taibai rebuked them coldly. However, he did not pursue the matter further.
In truth, he understood that it was not that these ten were truly incompetent — it was that he had underestimated Chu Feng. The linked formation currently afflicting Jiang Kongping's body was the best proof of that.
"I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves."
"Go investigate this matter."
As he spoke, Lord Taibai handed a letter to the ten. When they opened it, their expressions changed subtly as well.
They finally understood why Lord Taibai had not simply given them verbal instructions, but instead communicated through a formation letter. Because what the letter read was:
Young Master Kongping's whereabouts have been exposed — there must be a traitor within the clan. Find them for me!!!
...........
Sima Xiangtu knew nothing of the Dao Alchemy Sect's conversation.
He was obedient enough. After leaving that palace, he went to handle the matters of the Nine Soul Sacred Clan. But in truth, there was not much to handle — it was simply suppression by force, and that was usually the most effective method.
Having taken care of the Nine Soul Sacred Clan's current affairs, Sima Xiangtu returned to the palace where he resided. He intended to sit cross-legged, presumably to cultivate.
"Hmm?"