Chapter 1 The Arrangements

Under the lead of Li Haoge, the Yegu Pagoda side arranged housing for the newly joined Ghost Monk clan. After confirming the time with Jiang Xiao, they informed the visiting Ghost Face Monks of when Instructor Jiang would begin teaching.

The prospect of learning from a human piqued the Ghost Monks' interest.

Curiosity, doubt, disdain, contempt – all sorts of thoughts swirled among the Ghost Monks.

But whatever their thoughts, the war-loving Ghost Monk clan undeniably yearned for skills, so they would surely come to observe Jiang Xiao's lessons.

The real problem was... Yegu Pagoda City's rules: no private duels allowed!

This news set off an uproar among the visiting Ghost Monks!

No private duels? What a joke!

*We were born to fight! You're telling us to peacefully farm, build houses, and train?*

Fortunately, the Diamond Silver Couple possessed high intelligence and enjoyed great prestige among the wild Ghost Monk clans, temporarily suppressing the dissent.

While Yegu Pagoda City busied itself with welcoming fresh blood, Blind Girl and He Yun sought out Jiang Xiao to learn about the recent events.

Before the Exploration Skin reset itself to become Jiang Tu, it had informed Blind Girl and He Yun about the events occurring on Earth, including news of the Huaxing Organization members.

He Yun chuckled, his eyes filled with affection and appreciation. "How is it, Xiao Jiang? I see a big change in you after this trip back."

Jiang Xiao felt a little awkward, feeling like Elder He was looking at his grandson...

He was indeed born on December 28, 2000. Although it was now 2019, his birthday hadn't arrived yet, so Jiang Xiao was still under 19 years old.

Grandson... bah, who wants to be a grandson?

"Well, this bait body of mine is already at the Star Ocean stage," Jiang Xiao said, nodding.

"Mm, not bad, not bad. In that case, the power of your Huaxing Chengwu will be further enhanced," He Yun said with a smile, nodding repeatedly.

The trio supervised the Ghost Monks settling into the empty houses along the streets while discussing matters.

"Right, Elder He," Jiang Xiao suddenly said, "You mentioned a theory before, that if you don't have spatial-type Star Techniques on Earth, you won't have them in other planets either."

"Hm?" He Yun thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, I did say that."

Jiang Xiao grinned and said, "Hehe, so this time, I brought you 70 Void Calamity Shadow Star Beads."

"Ah?" He Yun was stunned. "70 Void Calamity Shadow Star Beads? You, you, you... on Earth..."

Jiang Xiao immediately understood what He Yun meant and quickly said, "Don't worry, Elder He. I act recklessly on this other planet because there are no rules or order here, only the rule of the fist. On Earth, I'm a law-abiding citizen!"

As he spoke, Jiang Xiao chuckled and said, "Besides, I'm a soldier, you have to trust my quality and literacy."

"Mm," He Yun said with a rare serious expression, nodding. "If we have spatial-type Star Techniques, it will be a qualitative improvement to the team's strength."

Jiang Xiao said, "It's a pity that you two Starry Sky Gods have spare Star Slots to absorb spatial-type Star Techniques. But Yue Yuchen and Li Haoge are at the Star Ocean stage, and their Star Slots are already full."

"They will reach the Starry Sky stage eventually," Blind Girl said calmly.

"Mm, you're right..." Jiang Xiao's words suddenly stopped, his face stiffening.

Blind Girl frowned slightly and placed her cool, jade-like hand directly on Jiang Xiao's face.

Jiang Xiao: ???

He came back to his senses, retreated quickly, and shook off Blind Girl's hand. "What are you doing?"

Blind Girl: "Confirming expression."

Jiang Xiao was immediately displeased and said, "You need to touch my face to confirm my expression? Can't you sense it directly? Speak! Are you trying to harm me? Did you leave some Ink Flower Seeds in my body?"

Blind Girl: "I sensed surprise and fear. I believe it's a sensing error. You, why are you afraid?"

He Yun also looked solemn. "Xiao Jiang, what happened? Did something happen to your main body?"

Jiang Xiao frowned and said, "I found Xiao Chongyang, but something's not right."

Blind Girl's heart stirred. "Where is she?"

Jiang Xiao replied, "Still looking, wait a moment."

The crisis at Yegu Pagoda had temporarily come to an end. Far away in Liaodong Province, three figures stood on the beach.

Jiang Xun looked at the endless sea, while Baze and Zhang Songfu looked at Jiang Xun's back.

The waves here were not considered turbulent, repeatedly crashing on the reefs along the shore. Accompanied by the cries of strange seabirds, this scene, which should have calmed the heart, brought Jiang Xun more fear.

Because in his world, at a certain point in the past…

The little savage, adorned with bone necklaces and bone earrings, stood blankly on the shore, looking at the relatively calm sea with a bewildered expression.

Ever since she saw the sea, it was as if her soul had been lost. She seemed to finally realize that she had gone in the wrong direction. Why... why was she seeing the sea?

Or perhaps, her little expression conveyed the words: This... is the sea?

She stood here for a long time, finally loosening her grip, and the heavy Fang Tian Halberd fell onto the cold beach. She also slumped down.

She sat on the beach with her legs bent, her arms wrapped around her knees, her little face buried deeply in her arms, her body trembling slightly.

Jiang Xun knew that she wasn't feeling cold. The long period of running had made her body hot. At this moment, her trembling body proved that she was sobbing softly.

He didn't know how much time had passed...

Jiang Xun suddenly stretched out his finger and gently tapped, freezing the scene.

Jiang Xun suddenly turned his head, startling Zhang Songfu!

Zhang Songfu saw the slightly horrified look in Jiang Xun's eyes. The Buddha hastily turned around, thinking that some Star Beast had arrived, but found nothing behind him.

In Jiang Xun's world, two illusory figures were carefully examining Xiao Chongyang and quietly approaching her.

"Ugh..." A wave of extreme exhaustion washed over him. Jiang Xun knew that his Huaxing Chengwu time was almost up and his body couldn't hold on any longer. He quickly "played" the scene, not caring about much else.

But in this fast-forwarded scene, he saw the man and woman arrive not far behind Xiao Chongyang and say something.

Sitting on the beach with her little face buried in her arms, Xiao Chongyang immediately stood up and turned around, her face filled with surprise. But when she saw that they were two strangers, her newly joyful face immediately fell again.

Could this be considered a great emotional roller coaster?

The woman began to speak, followed by a long exchange.

Xiao Chongyang gesticulated wildly, constantly describing something. She even picked up the small stone tag hanging on the necklace in front of her and pointed to the circular portrait, constantly asking about it.

The man's expression changed slightly, and he said something.

Jiang Xun could tell that the man and woman had a tacit understanding and would always have secret, subtle eye contact. But for Xiao Chongyang, who was in low spirits, she didn't notice any of it.

Then, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Xiao Chongyang's dim eyes. She raised her tear-stained little face and mouthed the words, "Really? Jiang Xiao is with you?"

At this moment, Jiang Xun watched as the man mouthed the words, "Yes, I'll take you to find him!"

Jiang Xun turned around, but saw the man walking towards the sea, while the woman held Xiao Chongyang's hand and walked step by step into the sea.

The trio did not enter the sea, but as if riding the wind and waves, they stepped on the surface of the sea and quickly headed south...

"Damn it," Jiang Xun cursed, feeling the exhaustion in his brain. With a flicker, he reappeared far out in the sea.

Zhang Songfu was slightly stunned. Beside him, Baze quickly said, "Don't turn into a crow, otherwise we really can't keep up. Just teleport!"

Zhang Songfu looked at the fleeting figure on the distant sea. He also quickly used the Space-Time Rift he had learned before and quickly teleported away.

The three figures teleported one after another on the sea until the moment before their energy was exhausted. Jiang Xun retracted his Nine Star Pupils. Wearing the Soul of the Sea Eater, he stood in the air and turned to look at Baze and Zhang Songfu, who were quickly teleporting over.

What Zhang Songfu didn't expect was that Baze directly activated the Sea Ridge Shelter, grabbed the Soul of the Sea Eater on Jiang Xun's body, and threw Jiang Xun inside.

The exhausted Jiang Xun fell into a deep sleep the moment he was thrown in.

Baze caught the non-flying Zhang Songfu, draped the Soul of the Sea Eater over him, and said, "A couple tricked Xiao Chongyang away."

Zhang Songfu's body was swaying and unsteady, standing in mid-air, still a little unaccustomed to the help of the Soul of the Sea Eater. But he was quick to speak, "A couple!?"

Saying that, Zhang Songfu frowned. "I can't see any situation, but judging from Jiang Xiao's teleportation trajectory just now, their destination is likely to be Ludong Province. We're currently crossing the Bohai Strait."

"Right, your guess is correct, it's Ludong Province! I saw the lip movements just now, let's go!" Baze said, quickly flying forward.

Zhang Songfu began to analyze, "Since the couple's base camp is in Ludong, and they appeared in Liaodong, whether they came here to collect Star Beads or not, we can be sure that they have probably crossed the Bohai Strait once before."

Saying that, Zhang Songfu suggested, "Let's not deviate from their previous trajectory and fly straight. That couple has experience. I think they will try to choose the shortest route between the two coasts.

After all, the sea is not as safe as the land, and there are more dangers in the sea. They should try to get ashore as quickly as possible in the shortest amount of time."

Baze nodded silently. "Your reasoning makes sense, let's go. Just make body leaning actions, and the Soul of the Sea Eater will carry you."

Then, Baze and Zhang Songfu flew quickly forward along the previous trajectory, high in the sky, away from the sea surface.

…

In the Central Plains, Yegu Pagoda City, Jiang Xiao suddenly kicked his horse's belly, and the hooves clattered on the uneven stone bricks.

Ahead, the Silver Couple, who were helping Li Haoge and Yue Yuchen settle the Ghost Monks, turned their heads and looked thoughtfully at Jiang Xiao, who was walking over with a gloomy expression. Behind Jiang Xiao, He Yun and Blind Girl were also quickly catching up.

"You, who?" Jiang Xiao pointed at the Ghost Monk next to Li Haoge and asked.

"Master!" The Ghost Monk made a traditional Chinese gesture, cupping his fist and bowing. "I am Jin Song."

"Translate." Jiang Xiao turned to look at the Diamond Silver Couple again. "The specific characteristics of that couple. I'll describe them, nod if I'm right, shake your head if I'm wrong."

While Jin Song was translating, the Diamond Silver Couple nodded.

Jiang Xiao said, "The humans who drove you out of your homeland. Among them, the male human, early 40s, short hair, 1.75 meters tall, brown leather coat."

While nodding, the Silver Couple said something.

Jin Song, speaking in the Silver Couple's tone, translated, "Male human, brown leather coat."

As he spoke, the Silver Couple even lifted the coir raincoat and gestured to the upper middle of their thigh.

Jin Song: "Height is here."

Jiang Xiao's eyes were sharp, and he directly chose the key points. He stretched out his arm and pointed to his wrist. "Female human, here, tattoo, flower."

Following Jin Song's reaction, a glimmer of light flashed in the Silver Couple's silver eyes, and they nodded gently.

He Yun said, "Xiao Jiang, do you know this couple?"

"I don't know them," Jiang Xiao said in a deep voice.

He Yun: "Then you..."

Jiang Xiao said, "I have several Star Charts. The Huaxing Chengwu of one of the Star Charts can rewind time. Just now, my other bait found the people who took Xiao Chongyang away."

"Hiss..."

"Hiss..."

For a time, a series of gasping sounds came.