He was a clan elder of the Bai Clan. When he was young, he had traveled the Southern Border and visited Shang Clan City before. Returning now, his youth was gone, and things had changed, yet he came bearing the mission to hunt down demonic Gu Masters.
"Do you think those two demonic scoundrels really took this path?" Bai Lian asked, her tone worried.
"It should be this path. We split into several groups based on the Footless Bird's crash site. We found nothing in the other directions. Only this path has suspicious traces remaining," said Tie Daoku from the side.
He wasn't too sure himself, either.
Although the Tie Clan was the best in the Southern Border at tracking, he was an attack-type Gu Master. Moreover, the Southern Border had many mountains and forests, a complex and changeable environment that made it easy to hide and hard to track.
"Maybe the two of them died on the road long ago and were buried in the mouths of beasts," a companion said optimistically.
This was highly likely. They had discovered many carcasses along the way, as well as large amounts of traces left behind by beast tides that had struck merchant caravans.
"I hope they are still alive!" Bai Zhanlie gnashed his teeth. His grandfather had been killed by Fang Bai. He had to kill Fang Bai with his own hands to relieve the immense hatred in his heart.
"Alright, let's enter the city first. If we don't find anything, we'll spend some Prime Stones to send a letter to the clan and see what the Clan Leader has to say." Bai Feng took the lead and walked forward.
The group arrived at the city gate, travel-worn and weary.
Coincidentally, this gate was the very checkpoint where Fang Bai had entered back then.
"To enter the city, it's ten Prime Stones per person." The city gate guard stopped them.
Bai Feng took out a Yellow Pear Token and shook it.
The guard looked at it, confirmed it was genuine, and said, "A Yellow Pear Token waives the entry fee for three people."
Bai Feng's party of six paid thirty Prime Stones.
"Brother, have you seen these two people entering the city?" Bai Zhanlie pointed at a wanted poster on the city wall and asked.
This was the very wanted poster for Fang Bai.
However, the surface of the wanted poster was already more than half covered by a new one.
This was normal.
Every once in a while, new wanted posters would appear.
The city guard's expression changed drastically, and he shouted at Bai Zhanlie, "What kind of talk is that? How could a demonic Gu Master pass through a gate under my watch? Do you think I'm blind? You are slandering me! Slandering an upright youth of the Shang Clan!"
Bai Zhanlie was stunned.
Clan Elder Bai Feng quickly apologized. In Shang Clan City, even if he was a clan elder of the Bai Clan, he had to keep his pride in check.
Seeing that Bai Feng was, after all, a Rank 3 Gu Master, the city guard didn't dare to pursue it further and just grumbled.
It wasn't until Tie Daoku showed an unhappy expression and revealed his identity, "Alright, shut your mouth. Don't we, the Tie Clan, know exactly what the Shang Clan is like?"
Only then did the city gate guard stop talking.
The Bai Clan party, having suffered this humiliation, entered the outer city feeling utterly crestfallen.
"Let's get some food first. We're all exhausted from the journey these past days. A good rest won't hinder our pursuit. I happen to know a good restaurant in the Fifth Inner City, right in the Training Area. I participated in the martial competition back then and even made it to the Fourth Inner City," Clan Elder Bai Feng suggested.
This suggestion was very good and was welcomed by everyone.
The party entered the Fifth Inner City and arrived at the Training Area. The younger members, Bai Zhanlie and Bai Lian, were immediately infected by the lively atmosphere of the Training Area.
As they walked, they could constantly hear the sound of excited passersby talking.
"Tan Jing finally got his revenge this time, beating Shi Nansheng down. Shi Nansheng vowed to retaliate. These two's feud is getting deeper and deeper."
"Yuan Kong has grasped the Sick Cloud Moth. His combat strength has risen again, almost enough to dominate the Fifth Inner City arena."
"Dominate? Hah, wait until Gu Yue Fang Zheng rises to the Fourth Inner City first."
……
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng!!!"
The members of the Bai Clan party all widened their eyes, as if struck by lightning. They abruptly stopped in their tracks, and several gazes shot like lightning towards the passerby who had spoken.
The passerby was thoroughly frightened.
Half an incense stick of time later.
In the arena, Fang Yuan leisurely walked onto the stage. His opponent this time was a middle-aged burly man, thick and solidly built, with a beard like steel bristles and a fiercely vicious look.
Clang——!
A crisp sound signaled the official start of the battle.
"I surrender!" The burly man immediately yelled out. He shouted so decisively and cleanly that it deeply dissatisfied the surrounding spectators.
"Why does he do this again?"
"Isn't he ashamed? Surrendering before the fight even starts?"
"Better to lose face than to lose your life. Right now in the Fifth Inner City, who dares to fight Fang Zheng? That All-Out Effort Gu is just too ferocious!"
The crowd sighed with mixed emotions.
The battle had just begun, and then it was over.
The presiding Gu Master walked up and took back the Message Gu from both sides. After modifying the content, he returned them to their owners.
The burly man turned and left. Admitting defeat was a disgrace, but circumstances demanded it. Who could blame him, when Fang Yuan was extremely ruthless and never held back? He didn't dare to risk his life just for face.