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Night fell silently, like a huge black curtain, slowly enveloping the entire Royal Hunting Ground.
Moonlight, like water, sprinkled on the trees around the camp, casting dappled shadows. Occasionally, the cry of a night owl came from afar, adding to the silence and mystery.
All teams participating in the promotion tournament had arrived at the Royal Hunting Ground and were resting in their respective camps. With the Royal Knights patrolling here, there was no need to worry about safety.
Outside the camp, after nearly a month apart, it was a reunion of sorts, so everyone gathered here for a meal.
Unlike their time at the Lake of Life, here, Xuan Ming didn't need to cook himself; he just waited to eat.
Moonlight cast a silvery frost on the open ground at the edge of the camp. The bonfire crackled, sparks occasionally rising and tracing brief, brilliant arcs in the air.
Xuan Ming sat on a flat stone, a large platter of freshly sliced roasted meat in front of him. Dugu Yan and the others, for once, didn't come over to feed him.
Just then, a light footsteps approached from a distance and stopped not far from him.
Xuan Ming turned his head to see Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er standing side by side.
Huo Wu's fiery red long hair shimmered with a scorching light in the moonlight, and there was a hint of imperceptible unease in her eyes.
Shui Bing'er's ice-blue long hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, her face serene, but at this moment, her gaze towards Xuan Ming held a different emotion.
Seeing the newcomers, Dugu Yan and her group instantly became vigilant.
During Xuan Ming's absence, these two had frequently visited Tiandou Royal Academy to find him.
A woman's intuition told them these two were up to no good!
"Is something wrong?" Xuan Ming asked.
Huo Wu glanced at Dugu Yan and the others' clearly hostile gazes, then turned her eyes to Xuan Ming and said softly, "Xuan Ming, can I talk to you alone?"
"About cultivation?" Xuan Ming asked.
"Or something else?"
"Both," Huo Wu said.
Xuan Ming paused, then picked up the large platter of roasted meat in front of him. "Let's go."
With that, Xuan Ming walked towards the distant grove, and Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er quickly followed.
"Crown Prince, keep an eye on them. Don't come over to join the fun," Xuan Ming said without looking back.
Hearing this, Dugu Yan and her group, who were about to secretly follow, stopped and gave up on eavesdropping.
If Xuan Ming hadn't said anything, it would have been an implicit permission for them to listen in. But since he had spoken, they couldn't listen even if they wanted to.
Entering the forest, the surroundings were covered by dense leaves. Moonlight could only scatter specks of light through the gaps, creating a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.
Xuan Ming placed the large platter of roasted meat on a big stone and took out several stools from his storage spirit tool.
"Sit down and talk. If you haven't had supper, have some."
Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er exchanged glances and slowly sat down.
Looking at the steaming roasted meat in front of them, the two were not too reserved and picked up small forks to taste it.
"If it's to thank me, there's no need. I don't like to hear it; it's annoying," Xuan Ming spoke first. "If it's about the current situation or anything like that, let's not discuss it; it's even more annoying. I'm on a break now and don't want to talk about serious matters."
Huo Wu hesitated for a moment, then still asked, "The final competition location is set in Spirit City... have you heard about it?"
Xuan Ming glanced at her. "Did you not understand what I just said?"
"I'm worried about you," Huo Wu said urgently. "You don't know how many people want to harm you now! Even if you've joined Spirit Hall, you've offended so many people..."
"And offended you?" Xuan Ming interrupted.
Shui Bing'er gently shook her head. "Xuan Ming, don't misunderstand. Our family has always disdained participating in slave trade. It's just that some of the Seven Great Families are already stirring, and the situation is complex. We're worried that if this continues, there will be major trouble."
Huo Wu continued, "And Spirit Hall suddenly set the finals in Spirit City, and rumors outside say you're very close to them... Everyone is speculating whether this is a big conspiracy."
"So?" Xuan Ming raised an eyebrow slightly.
Shui Bing'er's voice became even softer. "Why don't you... withdraw from the competition? Avoid the limelight for a while?"
Ever since the location of the Grand Finals was announced, various rumors had spread. Her family, upon learning of her contact with Xuan Ming, had already sent messages telling her to keep her distance. Their family couldn't afford to get involved in this trouble.
"I said I don't want to talk about these things," Xuan Ming put down his fork.
"But you're really in danger now! We're warning you!" Huo Wu was a little anxious.
"You helped me; I don't want to watch you go to your death."
No one had ever offended nearly 70% of the Tiandou Empire's nobility and the Seven Great Families all at once like Xuan Ming. If he were to blow up the Auction House incident again during the finals, causing Spirit Hall to seize the opportunity, then even if he joined Spirit Hall, he would not escape endless pursuit!
Given Spirit Hall's style, they wouldn't possibly fall out with so many people for Xuan Ming. They might even throw Xuan Ming out as a bargaining chip!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would also not make themselves a target for Xuan Ming, and Poison Douluo couldn't stop the pursuit of so many people.
This was a dead end!
"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm really fine," Xuan Ming's tone softened. "I understand your concerns, and I have my own ways of dealing with them. Just for the sake of the cultivation methods I taught you, please don't talk about this anymore, okay?"
"But..."
Shui Bing'er gently pulled Huo Wu's sleeve and shook her head.
"Since you've made up your mind, we won't say more," she said softly. "But please be very careful."
"I know. Is there anything else?"
"No!" Huo Wu was a little annoyed, picked up her fork, and took a big bite of roasted meat, feeling frustrated.
She was kindly advising him, but he wasn't appreciating it!
"Since you two are done, as a friend, I'll also say a few words," Xuan Ming said seriously. "If Spirit Hall expands in the future, you'd best... perhaps pledge allegiance now. I can still act as an intermediary for you."
"Spirit Hall expansion?" Shui Bing'er was startled. "What do you mean?"
"You should know that those kingdoms and duchies on the borders of the Two Great Empires have basically been infiltrated by Spirit Hall, right?"
"Yes," Shui Bing'er nodded.
Since the current Supreme Pontiff took office, border skirmishes have significantly decreased. The Xingluo Empire, which was once fiercely aggressive, has fallen into internal strife, especially the various nations under Tiandou... Shui Bing'er's expression changed slightly. "You mean Spirit Hall is going to start a war?"
"Perhaps. I'm not sure, but given the current situation, not submitting to Spirit Hall probably means only death," Xuan Ming said calmly.
"As a friend, I suggest you consider it. Or pretend to pledge allegiance for now, so you can cooperate from within later, at least to leave a way out for your family and not die inexplicably."
Shui Bing'er's expression stiffened. "Are they really..."
"I'm not exaggerating," Xuan Ming interrupted. "Think about the Clear Sky Sect—the number one Sect in the world—what is its fate now? How much better can you be?"
Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er were speechless for a moment, their hearts filled with dread.
Who didn't know the Clear Sky Sect's plight? If Spirit Hall truly had such ambition and power, their families' fates were indeed precarious.
"If you are willing, go to the Supreme Pontiff Palace," Xuan Ming extended his hand. spirit power surged, condensing two pendants—ice as the outer shell, with flames contained within.
"Take these; they are a token for the back door."
Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er looked at the two uniquely atmospheric pendants, their eyes full of struggle.
"This is just one option," Xuan Ming said softly.
After a moment of hesitation, the two finally reached out and took them, carefully putting them away.
They understood that this was not just a token but possibly the lifeline for their families' future.
"Will this thing... not melt?" Huo Wu was a little worried.
Shui Bing'er was an ice-attribute Spirit Master, so carrying ice was naturally fine, but she was fire-attribute.
"It won't. Just inject a little spirit power into it every now and then. It's also a reminder to remember this matter and not forget it," Xuan Ming said.
"If it melts, then there's nothing I can do."
Shui Bing'er's lips curved slightly. "That's good too, it's like... always thinking of you?"
Xuan Ming's expression froze. Just as he was about to explain, he suddenly felt a jolt—almost instinctively, he instantly expanded his perception to its maximum, finally catching a faint, indistinct dark aura rapidly approaching!
Without any hesitation, Xuan Ming summoned his Blood Spear, and a crimson light burst forth!
With a resounding clang, the Blood Spear precisely blocked a dark dagger aimed straight at his heart.
Their eyes met, and a trace of surprise flashed in both pairs of eyes.
Xuan Ming looked at the black-clad figure, like a ghost, in front of him, greatly surprised by the opponent's stealth ability. If he hadn't acquired the Ice Fire Dragon Core Crown, which greatly amplified his perception, and also possessed a dark attribute himself, his heart would have already been pierced!
"It's been almost eighty years. You're the first person to survive my attack," a cold sigh came from beneath the black robe.
"Is that so?" Xuan Ming's eyes narrowed, and a white light suddenly burst open.
The black-robed figure holding the dark dagger, however, seemed completely unaffected, merging back into the surrounding darkness.
"Who's there!"
Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er, having regained their senses, instantly completed their Spirit Avatars, and ice and fire auras exploded outwards.
They vigilantly observed their surroundings, their hearts filled with fear.
They hadn't detected the ambush at all just now!
If the opponent's target had been them, they would already be dead!