As soon as Moyan disappeared from there, chaos broke out again in the training academy. Everyone's hearts were filled with countless questions. Master's condition was very bad — blood was coming from his mouth and his breathing had become slow and weak. Just then, Xiangu came near Master and began gathering his focus using his powers, which slowly started reducing his pain. It felt as if Xiangu knew the reason behind this incident. He and Jinhai took Master to his resting chamber and ordered all the students to return to their own rooms.
As soon as they left the academy grounds, Lixuan, Mingzhao, and Fengli met each other. Fengli said to Lixuan,
"What do you think, Lixuan? Was that stone made with some kind of magic? Master's condition became so terrible from Moyan's attack."
Mingzhao then said,
"You don't need to think so much. This is work for the elders."
Saying this, Mingzhao left.
Fengli said softly,
"Your brother has a very bad temper."
Lixuan placed a hand on his shoulder and said,
"Friend Fengli, anger is only shown toward the ones we love the most. And as for that sharp stone, we'll find out about it tomorrow."
Fengli asked,
"But how, Brother Lixuan?"
Lixuan said,
"We can ask Master about it."
Fengli hesitated,
"Ask Master? Li, do you really have the courage to ask him?"
Just then, Lixuan noticed Zhichen practicing swordsmanship at the training ground. Lixuan ran toward him. Zhichen stopped when he saw him.
Lixuan thanked him again for saving him earlier, but Zhichen gave no reply. Lixuan stepped closer. He was about to place a hand on his shoulder when Zhichen stepped back and refused to let him touch him.
Lixuan asked,
"Are people in your clan always this quiet? And anyway, we're friends now, right?"
Then Lixuan said,
"Zhichen, what do you think about that sharp stone?"
Just then Fengli arrived. As soon as Fengli came, Zhichen started walking toward Master's chamber. Lixuan tried to stop him, but Zhichen did not stop.
Fengli asked Lixuan,
"What were you two talking about?"
Lixuan cut him off and said,
"Why is it that out of all the students, only Zhichen can go to Master's chamber?"
Fengli had no answer to this. Then he said,
"Come on, let's go roam around Yuzhen city. I've heard the fruits there are very sweet and delicious."
Fengli took Lixuan with him toward the city. The market streets were crowded with people. The fragrance of fruits and sweets was spreading everywhere.
Looking around, Lixuan said,
"This city is truly very beautiful — even more than Master's academy."
Fengli laughed lightly and said,
"That's exactly why I brought you here. Your face had completely withered there."
Lixuan picked up a leaf from the ground and tossed it in the air, saying,
"Withered? I was just bored of Master's rules."
Saying that, Lixuan threw many leaves over Fengli. Fengli was startled for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Lixuan, what kind of childish behavior is this?"
Lixuan hid behind a tree, smiling, and said,
"Fengli, try catching me — if you have the courage!"
Fengli moved toward him. Lixuan laughed and started running through the garden. His laughter echoed through the city.
Then Fengli shouted,
"Stop, Lixuan! I can't run anymore!"
Later, both rested near the riverside. Lixuan noticed a basket of fruits nearby and started picking fruits one by one.
Fengli asked,
"Who are you taking these for?"
Lixuan smiled softly and said,
"For my brother."
Then both returned toward the academy. Fengli told Lixuan to meet again tomorrow and went toward his room. Lixuan also headed to his own room.
As soon as Lixuan arrived, Mingzhao said angrily,
"Lixuan! Do you not care about yourself at all? You should inform before going anywhere. After classes end, I'll tell Father all your complaints!"
Lixuan replied,
"Oh brother, come on now. I was bored here anyway, so I went to roam the city."
He looked at the table and happily said,
"Wow! There's soup for food today!"
Mingzhao said nothing. Lixuan continued,
"Brother, let go of your anger now. I brought sweet fruits for you. Taste them and tell me how they are."
Mingzhao stayed silent for a while, then sat down and ate the fruit.
"These are very good. Where did you get them?"
Lixuan smiled and said,
"From the city market."
Both ate and then went to sleep.
The next morning, all students were called early to the academy. Everyone arrived on time. Master asked everyone to sit.
Princess Yuhuan of the Zhilan clan asked about Master's health. Master said with a faint smile,
"I am fine now. But what happened yesterday was not right. That Yinmoji stone is extremely powerful, and now it is in Moyan's hands. If he finds the third fragment, he will destroy the entire world. We must find that third piece as soon as possible."
Lixuan asked,
"How can a single stone be so dangerous?"
Master replied,
"That stone was created from a king's entire powers and his soul. He made it to protect his village. But the dark powers of that stone destroyed the whole village. So the king broke it into three pieces and hid them in different places. But now two pieces have already been found. Therefore, Xiangu and I have decided to find it and destroy it forever."
Master continued,
"This stone is somewhere around the Yuzhen clan. So I am giving this task to all of you students."
Then he divided them into directions:
"Yuhuan and Fengli — you two go north.
Mingzhao, you go east with my younger daughter Lanxin.
Xiangu and Jinhai will go west.
And south — the last and most dangerous direction, where poisonous forests, deadly insects, and the border of the Qingyu clan begin — Lixuan and Zhichen will go there."
Lixuan and Zhichen were both shocked.
Master assigned the remaining students the duty of protecting the clan and permitted everyone to use their powers.
All students moved forward with their respective teams.
Fengli and Yuhuan of the northern group felt something strange, as if someone was watching them. Suddenly, fog spread all around.
Fengli asked, "Are you okay?"
Yuhuan replied, "I'm fine, but nothing here feels right."
Fengli tried to clear the fog with his powers, but it only grew denser. Suddenly Yuhuan and Fengli fell to the ground. The very next moment, they disappeared along with the fog.
The same thing happened in the east. The fog's color started turning black.
Mingzhao told Lanxin to focus her mind, but Lanxin had already vanished into the fog. Mingzhao's powers began weakening too — as if the fog was absorbing powers. Within moments, Mingzhao also disappeared.
The west was quiet, but Xiangu sensed danger. He tried to investigate with his powers, but there was no trace of the northern or eastern students.
Jinhai asked about Lixuan and Zhichen. Xiangu said, "My powers won't work there. We must find everyone immediately."
In the south, as Lixuan and Zhichen approached the forest, the air grew heavy and dark. The trees were so dense that sunlight barely reached the ground.
Suddenly, Lixuan slipped. He was about to fall when Zhichen grabbed his hand.
Lixuan laughed lightly, "See? If you weren't with me, I would've fallen again."
Zhichen suddenly let go, and Lixuan fell hard.
"Hey! No one lets go that hard… my back!"
Zhichen quickly covered his mouth. "Quiet. Someone's here."
At that moment, Zhichen was attacked from behind with a sword. Blood flowed from his leg.
Lixuan panicked, "Did you see who attacked?"
Black smoke spread everywhere. Lixuan used his power to clear the fog, but poison was spreading in Zhichen's body — as if the sword had been poisoned.
While Lixuan was checking the wound, a strange smell knocked both of them unconscious.
Then Qingyu clan's commander Zhi Yan arrived with some soldiers. They took Lixuan and Zhichen with them. The forest became silent again — as if nothing had happened.
Xiangu and Jinhai searched the forest but found nothing. They returned to the Yuzhen clan and told Master everything.
Master grew serious. He told Jinhai to send a message to Moyan:
"If anything happens to our students, it will not be good for you."
In response, Moyan demanded the sharp stone in exchange for all the students. He was using them like pawns.
Then Zhi Yan bowed and said,
"Chief, something strange happened. The fog created by the stone's power… Lixuan cleared it easily."
Moyan's eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible. No one can overcome Yinmoji's power. That can only happen if someone possesses a fragment of the Yinmoji stone."