Only the Heavens knew how much she had suffered for this day. However, what comforted her was that her abilities truly strengthened rapidly during this process!

Just yesterday, she had just broken through to become a stage-nine warrior! This was also the reason why she could handle such a difficult and complicated assessment in such a relaxed manner.

Before she came here, even she didn’t expect to complete such a major breakthrough in such a short period of time.

“Yeah.” Elder Diwu’s voice that contained laughter sounded.

Not far away, light ripples appeared on the clear lake.

“Before you broke through to become a stage-nine warrior, your abilities had strengthened greatly. This is nothing to you now.”

Receiving an affirmative compliment, Mu Hongyu smiled even brighter. “Thank you, Senior Diwu! Then—”

She blinked and asked rather uneasily, “Previously, you said that you’d send me to see Liuyue if I passed the test…”

“Haha, I knew you’d bring this up! Don’t worry. I definitely won’t go back on what I promised you!” Elder Diwu replied very heartily. “However, you can’t rush this matter, and you must wait for an opportune time.”

Mu Hongyu was rather confused. Opportune time? What kind of opportune time? 

At this time, an ear-piercing sound was heard!

Mu Hongyu turned around.

A ray of purple light flew from the sky! In the blink of an eye, it had already reached her.

Mu Hongyu widened her eyes slightly and found this aura very familiar. Hang on! Isn’t this—

Whoosh!

Before she could see clearly, the other party’s figure had disappeared! Only a scarce shadow that gradually dissipated was left behind!

In the lake not far away, a soft sound could be heard.

Mu Hongyu instinctively held her breath in. It should be… that person who came back, right? But why does it seem like Liuyue didn’t come back with him? 

Mu Hongyu surveyed her surroundings uncertainly. She was rather disappointed when she indeed didn’t see that familiar figure.

“Hongyu, go and rest first.” Diwu Zhangze’s voice sounded.

Mu Hongyu was very confused, but she still acknowledged it obediently. “Yes.”

She took a few looks in the lake’s direction before her figure flashed, and she disappeared into thin air!

…

Below the lake, there was an extremely discreet space.

The four walls were made from black Xuan metal. Each of them was engraved with a strange pattern that exuded faint light.

Rays of light intersected and overlapped each other, forming a gigantic and complicated symbol.

Heavy suppression kept exuding from it—it could almost suppress everything!

Below these two symbols, two faint figures were suppressed. They were Diwu Zhangze and Lan Xiao!

These symbols passed through the top of their heads and bodies, nailing them to this place! Other than during the night of a red moon, they couldn’t leave this place at all.

This was a cage!

A purple light glowed, and Dugu Mobao’s figure gradually appeared. Then, his gaze calmly and silently swept across the two.

When he saw Lan Xiao, he knitted his brows. That was because Lan Xiao’s figure was clearly much fainter than that of Diwu Zhangze, and his aura was slightly weaker. Additionally, his ever-handsome face was half-rotten!

He sat down cross-legged with his brows tightly furrowed, clearly not in good condition.

“Big Baby, you’re finally back!” Diwu Zhangze sighed deeply.

“What happened to him?” asked Dugu Mobao with a boom.

Lan Xiao thought very highly of his own face, so he definitely wouldn’t allow his face to end up in this state. This showed that something must’ve happened.

Diwu Zhangze sighed helplessly. “Isn’t it because he wants to leave this hellhole! After you left, he also wanted to try to reform his Holy Body, but he didn’t succeed… and ended up like this.”

Lan Xiao wasn’t as strong as Dugu Mobao.

Dugu Mobao failed once and still had the energy to try the second time, but Lan Xiao didn’t. Additionally, Dugu Mobao could succeed because he relied on the help of Rong Xiu and Chu Liuyue together.

How could Lan Xiao succeed when he was alone?

“Stupid! Impulsive!” Dugu Mobao was enraged. “Does he not know how dangerous it is?! He has waited so many years. Why can’t he just wait a while longer?”

Diwu Zhangze laughed bitterly and shook his head. “I tried to advise him too, but… you took action previously, right?”

Dugu Mobao paused. “I’ve already sealed the news—”

“As long as you take action, the other party can detect it. It is just a matter of time.” Diwu Zhangze interrupted Dugu Mobao for once. “If it weren’t because you met with great trouble, you definitely wouldn’t take action. Lan Xiao was anxious, so—”

Dugu Mobao kept silent for a moment. “It’s all because I wasn’t considerate enough. Back then, the situation was too anxious, so I didn’t think so much.”

“You’re always meticulous, so how could you not consider things? You must’ve reached a dead end, so you had to do this.”

They had known each other for many years and understood each other very well. Others might believe his words, but he couldn’t trick the other party.

After a momentary silence, Dugu Mobao then said, “Forget it. Let’s talk about this later; I’ll treat his wounds first.”

Diwu Zhangze nodded.

During this time, he had also spent quite a lot of effort trying to stabilize Lan Xiao’s injury. But without the Holy Body, he had no independence, and his abilities were limited.

He only could rely on Dugu Mobao.

“Oh right, how is Yue’er Girlie?” asked Diwu Zhangze concernedly.

They had gone for a few months, and they didn’t know how their situation was there.

Dugu Mobao’s brows moved slightly. “She… should be able to break through and reach the Apotheosis Realm soon.”

…

Ling Xiao Academy.

Chu Liuyue had no idea about whatever was happening outside. She had closed her eyes tightly, and her entire person seemed to enter a certain special state.

And her aura started strengthening at a shocking speed!