That was beyond what they could withstand.
Song Wanníng understood the gravity of the situation and quickened their escape.
Only after a long time did they find a place to rest briefly. Baili Shang emptied the contents of the storage ring, tossing most supplies to Song Wanníng.
Then he took out a jade slip.
The jade slip was the Huo family's communication device, allowing disciples to exchange messages freely. Their bounty notice scrolled prominently on it—anyone opening the jade slip could see it.
The two of them tensed as they checked messages from others. After confirming the scarred man hadn't reported their location yet, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"This jade slip can help us avoid some trouble for now, but I fear that with the scarred man dead, Patriarch Huo himself will come hunting."
Patriarch Huo surely hated them deeply. Once he got the news, he would come after them personally, and then they would be in real danger.
Baili Shang held the jade slip, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"We will have to take it one step at a time."
Song Wanníng frowned. "We should hurry to the Demon God Tomb and increase our strength. Only then will we have a better chance against Patriarch Huo."
"Agreed."
After a short rest, the two set off again under the cover of night.
...
At the Huo family estate.
Patriarch Huo was dealing with a chaotic mess. One of the family's disciples had a conflict with a disciple from the Yun family and ended up killing them.
The victim was a direct bloodline member of the Yun family, and many witnesses had seen the incident, exposing the truth.
Now the Yun family demanded an explanation, leaving Patriarch Huo troubled. He had to protect his disciple, or else it would look like the Huo family feared the Yun family. The other disciples would grow resentful, seeing their patriarch as useless. But how to protect them was the problem. He hated paying heavy compensation.
So the matter was at a deadlock.
A few days ago, he had planned to personally pursue Song Wanníng and the others, but a visit from the Yun family elders forced him to issue a bounty for his disciples to handle it.
Still, there had been no news of them, and their whereabouts were unknown. Suddenly, a disciple knocked urgently on the door.
"Patriarch! Patriarch! Something's happened!"
"What happened?"
Patriarch Huo's face darkened as he silently waved open the door.
The disciple rushed in, shouting, "It's Elder Huo Yuan. He's… he's fallen!"
"What? Are you sure?"
Patriarch Huo stood up instantly, eyes wide with shock. Why would he fall all of a sudden?
Suddenly a dark thought hit him, sinking his heart.
Could it be that Huo Yuan went after Song Wanníng and the others?
"The disciple is certain. Elder Huo Yuan just returned yesterday. When he heard someone hurt the young master, he left immediately. Today, while I was cleaning the ancestral hall, I saw his soul lamp had gone out…
Messages sent to him go unanswered."
The disciple's eyes filled with anxiety. If Elder Huo Yuan had truly fallen, it was a huge loss. The elder was close to advancing to Unity stage, a pillar for the Huo family.
"Damn it!"
Patriarch Huo understood everything now. He slammed his palm down, shattering all the furniture in the room, his eyes burning with rage.
"How dare they kill an elder of my clan! I swear I will make sure none of you return alive!"
With that, he vanished from the room in a flash.
The disciple left quickly, spreading the news through the entire Huo family. Those outside the estate soon heard it too.
"Hiss, the patriarch kept stressing to only find their location, not to act rashly. Why did Elder Huo Yuan go himself?"
"Who would have thought the enemy could kill even Elder Huo Yuan?"
"So arrogant. Just some mud-legged cultivators from the Four Regions, yet they dare kill our people!"
"Follow me! We must find them and kill them all! Avenge Elder Huo Yuan!"
"Avenge Elder Huo Yuan!"
...
Patriarch Huo did not know the disciples' reactions. Using the jade slip's tracking, he suddenly appeared inside a cave.
His divine sense spread quickly but found no sign of Song Wanníng and Baili Shang. No corpse of Elder Huo Yuan, no battle traces either.
The initial crime scene was not here.
Patriarch Huo snorted coldly. "Trying to escape? Hah!"
He stored the jade slip and immediately chased toward the likely direction.
Meanwhile, Song Wanníng and Baili Shang had pushed their flying treasure to its limit, but it was still not fast enough.
At first, they had planned to use the jade slip to monitor the Huo family, but after Huo Yuan's death would soon be discovered, the jade slip became a death sentence.
Even if they discarded it, Patriarch Huo's speed would soon locate them.
Baili Shang's expression grew grim. They were nearly at the Demon God Tomb but could not afford to fail now. He poured precious spirit stones into the flying treasure, keeping its speed at maximum.
Fortunately, Patriarch Huo could not pinpoint their exact direction, buying them some time.
Three days later, Patriarch Huo finally blocked their path.
"You two are quite easy to find."
Seeing them, Patriarch Huo's rage reignited. Old grudges and new—both had to die.
"Why isn't Patriarch Huo chasing the real culprit and dragging innocent people into this?"
Song Wanníng glanced at Baili Shang, ready to flee at any moment.
The Demon God Tomb was very close. If they could just hold out, the tomb's sealing formation would keep Patriarch Huo outside, giving them safety.
Baili Shang silently returned her glance. Though they had just met, an unspoken understanding existed between them.
They both understood.
Patriarch Huo ignored their silent exchange and sneered coldly.
"Where is Huo Jinchuan hiding? Tell me and I might leave your bodies intact."
Though doubtful, Patriarch Huo suspected they were colluding with Huo Jinchuan.
Song Wanníng frowned. If he was not inside the secret realm, she could not monitor intruders in real time. Otherwise, this would have been a perfect chance to drag Huo Jinchuan down.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the Three Lives Mirror stirred.
Song Wanníng saw a map appear, showing three red dots—one in the Eastern Region, one in the Central Region, and one astonishingly in the Beast Clan territory.
Her heart sank. Xiao Heyun was dead. She had thought only two invaders remained, but now there was a fugitive in the Beast Clan!