The night rain was a dreary mist.
"SCREECH—!"
Qingyuan let out a long cry, piercing enough to shatter stone. It transformed into a streak of cyan lightning, savagely tearing through the heavy curtain of rain under the night sky as it circled rapidly high above.
Although it soared a thousand feet in the air, to its "Eagle’s Eyes"—awakened from an ancient bloodline—the rain-shrouded Black Stone City below was like a giant sand table, every detail laid bare.
As Su Yu’s thoughts shifted, Qingyuan’s pupils, like amethysts, continuously focused. Microscopic scenes were instantly magnified, and countless details flooded into Su Yu’s mind like a tide.
’South of the city... a secret passage...’
Though the network of sewers and hidden rivers in Black Stone City’s Outer City was a tangled mess, from this god’s-eye view, combined with his terrifyingly sharp dynamic vision and intelligence analysis, he quickly isolated several possible trajectories for the secret passage.
’Now that an old fox like Hong Lei has been exposed, he has only two options. Either he continues to hide in the city like a rat, or he breaks out of the city before the encirclement tightens. No matter which path he chooses, there’s only one direction...’
Su Yu directed Qingyuan’s vision like a sharp scalpel, slicing southward along two trajectories.
Soon, his gaze locked onto a cluttered commercial area nearest to the south gate.
’If it were me, I’d also choose to hide nearby. You can charge the city gate if you advance, or blend into the market if you retreat. It’s the perfect staging ground!’
The Blue-scaled Eagle executed a graceful barrel roll in the air, its altitude dropping by hundreds of feet. Its razor-sharp gaze scraped over the cluster of buildings, inch by inch.
Soon, under his deliberate observation, he found something amiss.
In the back alley of an apothecary, a tightly shut rear door quietly creaked open. Two figures in straw raincoats and conical hats slipped out. They deliberately suppressed their Qi and Blood, scurrying hurriedly along the base of the wall, moving covertly towards the south gate at high speed.
’Found them!’
A murderous glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes. He immediately cut the shared vision and turned to shout down at Li Jingxuan, who was pacing around like an ant on a hot pan, "Commander, I’ve found them!"
"What? You really found them?"
Li Jingxuan was in the middle of frantically issuing a series of lockdown orders. Hearing Su Yu’s report, which landed like a bombshell, a wave of ecstatic disbelief washed over his round face.
"Yes, sir! My Blue-scaled Eagle has locked onto two extremely suspicious figures outside an apothecary in the south of the city. They’re using the cover of the rainy night to flee towards the south gate. Judging by their Qi and Blood, build, and other factors, one of them is definitely Hong Lei!" Su Yu’s tone was utterly certain.
"Pursue!"
Li Jingxuan gave the order without hesitation.
He had long been convinced of Su Yu’s competence. This kid always planned before he acted. If he wasn’t certain, he would never speak so recklessly!
Ye Xiaohong, the Grand Commander of the Black Armor Guard, who was standing nearby, also heard their conversation. However, he was clearly a little skeptical of such a miraculous Beast Taming reconnaissance method.
"Su Yu, are you truly certain it’s Hong Lei? It’s not easy to see clearly on a rainy night like this..."
Su Yu nodded solemnly. "Commander Ye, I confirm it’s him!"
"Good! March at full speed! Target: south of the city!"
Seeing Su Yu’s certainty, Ye Xiaohong no longer had a shred of doubt.
With a loud shout, he led half of his Black Armor Guard, sweeping madly toward the southern part of the city.
...
Meanwhile, on the second floor of a distant restaurant.
The members of the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall, who had been watching the commotion closely, naturally took in the scene below.
"Father, what kind of monster is that Su Yu? He’s even proficient in an ancient Beast Taming Skill? In such a massive city, that Blue-scaled Eagle just flew up, did a lap, and managed to precisely locate the enemy in the middle of a rainy night?"
Ding Mianyue’s red lips were slightly parted, her beautiful eyes shimmering with intense curiosity and admiration.
Initially, she hadn’t given Su Yu a second thought.
In her eyes, he was just some talented kid from a small town who hadn’t seen the world. But ever since being decisively defeated by Su Yu in the arena at the Yuan Lantern Festival, her entire mindset had undergone a monumental shift.
She came from a prestigious Martial Arts family. Her father, Ding Yi, had taught her from a young age that there was no shame in being less skilled than another. You admit it frankly, go home, train hard, and win back your honor.
Therefore, she had always viewed Su Yu as a goal to catch up to and challenge. This was especially true recently after she had taken a Profound-tier Treasure Pill, which not only saved her life but also stimulated her latent bone structure and potential, allowing her Martial Arts progress to advance by leaps and bounds.
But to her constant shock, every time she thought she had closed the gap and was about to break through to the next realm, news of Su Yu’s even more terrifying achievements would arrive.
What was even more ridiculous was that he was no longer just defeating opponents of the same realm; he had started to jump realms to defeat long-famous, veteran experts!
This freakish promotion speed had slowly worn away the prideful desire to challenge him in Ding Mianyue’s heart. Now, although she had also successfully stepped into the Late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, she knew better than anyone that the gap between her and Su Yu was only growing wider!
Seeing his daughter’s curiosity and admiration, Ding Yi stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "That Blue-scaled Eagle is by no means simple. It is truly astonishing that Su Yu was able to tame it and achieve such a level of telepathic connection. Yue’Er, a thought has suddenly occurred to your father, and I wonder what you think of it?"
Ding Mianyue tilted her head curiously. "What thought, Father?"
Ding Yi looked at his daughter, who had grown into a graceful young woman, his tone filled with a hint of expectation. "This Su Yu has a steady character and monstrous talent. His future is absolutely limitless. I wonder if you have any romantic feelings for him? If you are not opposed to the idea, I am thinking of swallowing my pride and having a word with Qin Fangqiong to try and set you two up."
"Ah... Father! You... what nonsense are you saying..."
Upon hearing this, Ding Mianyue’s fair, pretty face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. She bashfully lowered her head, her slender fingers nervously twisting the corner of her clothes in a rare display of maidenly bashfulness.
Seeing his daughter’s unprecedented shyness, Ding Yi was overjoyed.
No one knew a daughter better than her father. The girl had clearly already developed feelings for the boy! If he could really secure Su Yu as a prized son-in-law, the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall would be as solid as a fortress for the next hundred years!
However, behind them, Ding Mianyue’s senior brother, Jiang Pingzhi, turned deathly pale upon hearing these words. He clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, his nails digging deep into his flesh.
...
On the other side, at the top floor of a teahouse.
The Vice Pavilion Master of the Thousand Mechanism Tower, Lv Qixiu, quietly watched the Blue-scaled Eagle land steadily back on Su Yu’s shoulder.
A sharp glint flashed through his originally cloudy old eyes.
’Not simple at all. It actually has a trace of the bloodline of the ancient Demon Beast, the Blue-scaled Wind Demon Eagle. This kid named Su Yu sure is lucky.’
Lv Qixiu muttered to himself, then turned to give an order, "Guandu, tomorrow you will take the Bronze VIP Token from the tower and give it to Su Yu."
What!
The Thousand Mechanism Tower’s bronze-level Steward behind him, Lv Guandu, was shocked to his core.
He knew better than anyone what the Thousand Mechanism Tower’s "Bronze VIP Token" signified!
As an intelligence organization with a presence in every major city, this bronze Token was only ever awarded to geniuses, and only after they broke through to the Muscle Forging Realm!
Although Su Yu was famous, he was still young and hadn’t even touched the threshold of the Muscle Forging Realm.
The Master was actually making an exception to bestow this bronze Token upon him?
Despite his extreme shock, Lv Guandu immediately bowed respectfully to accept the order. "Yes! Master, your subordinate will ensure it is done tomorrow!"
Standing to the side, the young master of the Spirit Snake Martial Arts Hall, Xu Xianzhou, had a flash of envy and jealousy in his eyes when he heard this.
As the young master of the Spirit Snake Martial Arts Hall, even he couldn’t obtain the Bronze VIP Token before breaking through to the Muscle Forging Realm. On what grounds did Su Yu deserve to be so highly regarded by a major figure like Master Lv?!
...
The South Gate.
"BOOM!"
A bolt of lightning tore across the sky, and a deafening clap of thunder exploded overhead. The long-suppressed storm finally unleashed its full fury, pouring down without restraint.
The figures of Hong Lei and Luo Gui were like two ghosts in the rain, now less than a thousand feet from the towering south gate.
"Charge!"
The two exchanged a look, and the Qi and Blood in their bodies erupted. Their forms instantly became two black arrows tearing through the rain, sprinting madly toward the gate’s archway.
As long as they broke through this checkpoint and escaped into the endless mountain range outside the city, even if the Public Security Bureau had heavenly powers, they could forget about catching them!
However, just as they thought they were about to escape to freedom.
"An Incense Master of the Black Lotus Sect. Is this the biggest fish they sent?"
A calm voice suddenly drifted from the rain-swept street ahead.
The expressions of Hong Lei and Luo Gui changed drastically, and they came to an abrupt halt.
On the bluestone street before them, a towering, mountain-like figure had appeared out of nowhere.
The man stood with his hands behind his back, not even bothering with an umbrella. But as the torrential downpour neared him, it was forcibly pushed away by an invisible, terrifying aura about three feet from his body, unable to dampen even the corner of his robes!
"Pang... Pang Xuan?!"
Recognizing the man’s face, Hong Lei was horrified. An icy chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
’How is this possible?’
’We clearly escaped through a top-secret passage. How could Pang Xuan have known in advance and been waiting here to intercept us?’
Seeing their shocked expressions, Pang Xuan nodded slightly to himself.
’This Su Yu has repeatedly performed great deeds. He is indeed a capable man.’
’With the various factions in the Inner City now jockeying for position and a power struggle imminent, the Public Security Bureau must produce solid achievements to stabilize its standing.’
This was also the reason why he, the lofty Mansion Master, couldn’t suppress his eagerness and had decided to personally take action!
"Boss Hong, there’s no way out! Let’s do it! Fight to the death and break through!"
Luo Gui knew that their situation was hopeless today; only by fighting to the death was there a sliver of a chance for survival.
He let out a furious roar, drew his iconic long saber from his back, and unleashed his Qi and Blood at the Perfection of the Muscle Forging Realm. A saber aura that seemed to carry the stench of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood was even more astonishing as it viciously chopped toward Pang Xuan!
The long saber, wreathed in Qi and Blood and a hint of Asura Saber Intent, transformed into a ten-foot-long blood-red great saber. Wherever its blade passed, the continuous curtain of rain was instantly and neatly sliced in two.
The entire rain-swept scene seemed to freeze. In their vision, all they could see was the unstoppable advance of that blood-red saber light!
Yet, in the face of such a terrifying strike, Pang Xuan did not move at all.
He merely raised his right hand slowly. In his palm, a Gang Force from the Profound Bone Realm, deep as an abyss, began to churn.
It wasn’t as visually stunning as the blood-red long saber, but the power of the Gang Force it emitted sent a chill of terror through Luo Gui’s heart.
"BANG!"