Chapter Twenty: Which Old Classmate

Outside Tianhe City.

Dozens of figures swiftly darted out from the city, their hurried demeanor stirring doubt and alarm among countless cultivators.

Some stepped forward to inquire, and upon learning the reason, were all struck with shock.

Two major events had occurred: first, several female disciples from the Jade Pool visiting Tianjiao Valley had been trapped in Soul Suppression Night. Second, the freshly awakened Xu Tianjiao had also entered Soul Suppression Night and managed to slay four malevolent spirits at the Foundation Establishment level from the Qian family.

Clearly, the crowd was far more concerned with the latter. It seemed utterly inconceivable—how could a newly awakened prodigy be left behind to enter Soul Suppression Night, let alone kill such powerful fiends?

As a result, another wave of cultivators departed to report the news back to their sects.

Others, meanwhile, turned to re-enter the city, hurrying toward the Changyun Inn to investigate the truth of these rumors.

Suddenly, thunderous booms resounded from the sky above Tianjiao Valley.

Everyone looked up.

A massive black-sailed warship tore through the heavens, appearing in an instant high above the city outskirts. From below, one could see countless figures lined up with military precision along the deck, their stately bearing and surging presence pressing down on the cultivators below with an overwhelming sense of might.

“Twin-masted black sails, a cold crow figurehead—this is... the Cold Crow Army from Northern Continent!” someone recognized the warship, immediately paling in shock.

“Isn’t the Cold Crow Army stationed at the northern borders to fight the demon clans? Why have they come to Tianjiao Valley?”

“What is Northern Continent planning?”

“They’ve crossed the line—won’t the other three continents intervene?”

Expressions grew grave as the crowd began murmuring.

At that moment, several piercing sounds split the air.

High above, a few disciples from the Celestial Mechanism Sect rode single-wheeled flying vehicles, speeding in from the direction of the valley’s border.

“Latest news: last night, the Four Continents Council held a secret session in Northern Continent and passed a resolution by overwhelming majority. It’s closely related to Tianjiao Valley. For details, come purchase the Celestial Mechanism Daily!”

“I’ll take one!”

“Me too!”

Many cultivators surged forward to buy the newspaper.

The rest, lacking the means, could only stand aside, hoping some magnate would reveal the contents after reading.

Moments later, those who had finished reading wore strange expressions.

“Something big is about to happen.”

“The Four Continents Council has officially announced: the seal on Tianjiao Valley is about to fail—within ten years, it will lose all effect. To prevent malevolent spirits from causing chaos in the meantime, three thousand Cold Crow soldiers led by Qi Ming have been dispatched to garrison Tianhe City,” someone read from the paper.

Everyone present wore varied looks.

“So, the seal over Tianjiao Valley truly is about to break.”

“If so, then the rumored being sealed beneath the valley—will it also emerge into the world?”

“The Azure Gift Continent is facing calamity.”

“The fiends within Tianhe City all originate from baleful energy, but that energy is merely a wisp of breath exhaled by the sealed one. If its true form enters the world, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

The news rapidly spread into the city.

Many cultivators within had already caught sight of the black-sailed warship hovering outside the city walls.

When they heard that the Cold Crow Army had come because the seal was failing, panic began to set in—especially among those who had lived in the city for years. Many began hastily selling off their properties, preparing to leave.

At Changyun Inn, a great crowd of cultivators continued to gather.

“Gentlemen, I believe there’s no need to worry. Since the Four Continents Council has announced this publicly and dispatched Qi Ming, a prodigy, to lead three thousand Cold Crow soldiers, they must have a plan,” someone said calmly.

“Qi Ming, that’s the one with the Zhu Yan bloodline from the last awakening!”

“It’s been exactly a hundred years since the last prodigy awakened. Hard to believe a century has passed in the blink of an eye.”

“After his awakening, Qi Ming was recruited by a high official of the Northern Continent and sent to the frontiers to battle demons. They say he’s already reached the Golden Core stage.”

“No way—if he’s reached Golden Core, wouldn’t he have to suppress his cultivation to enter Tianjiao Valley?”

“What’s so hard about suppressing a Golden Core to Foundation Establishment?”

“But what is the Northern Continent thinking, sending Qi Ming here for a ten-year garrison? Won’t it hinder his cultivation?”

“What do you know? Guarding here for ten years will earn him enough merit to become a general of a hundred thousand troops when he leaves.”

“It’s probably also to reassure the people—showing that even one of such illustrious status is willing to suppress his cultivation and lead the Cold Crow Army here. What is there left to fear?”

“That makes sense.”

Many nodded in agreement.

Someone suddenly spoke, “But, speaking of which, do you recall that the high official from Northern Continent once showed some interest in the Jade Pool’s Lord Lin? But rumor has it Lord Lin and Xu Tianjiao once... ah, with that official sending Qi Ming here, maybe things aren’t so simple.”

“Enough nonsense. Xu Tianjiao entered Soul Suppression Night last night—surely killed by fiends. Show some respect for the dead and don’t gossip behind their backs.”

“But wasn’t it said he fought four fiends alone and slew them all?”

Someone voiced their doubt.

Those cultivators who had witnessed the event firsthand could no longer hold back, shouting,

“Nonsense! It’s the truth—we saw it with our own eyes!”

“That’s right, but even if he killed four fiends, there are so many in Soul Suppression Night—how could he survive them all?”

“He’s definitely dead.”

“Why don’t we go ask at the Tianjiao Tower and find out?”

“Are you stupid? Go try and see if they’ll bother with you.”

“We could submit a meeting request.”

“Useless. I saw a masked man submit a request just now, and so far... hey, look, that masked man’s gone in!”

One of the cultivators, suddenly pointing at the tower across the street, leapt up in excitement.

The rest turned to look—sure enough, a masked figure was being warmly welcomed into the tower by a servant.

“Look, Tianjiao Tower let someone in—that means Xu Tianjiao is there!”

“Who said he was dragged into Soul Suppression Night? How could he be receiving guests if he was?”

“I knew these people were spreading lies all along.”

A group of cultivators began cursing.

But those who had witnessed the events for themselves wore faces of utter shock.

They could scarcely believe what they were seeing.

Xu Tianjiao was alive?

He actually made it out of Soul Suppression Night alive?

…

Meanwhile, inside Tianjiao Tower.

Xu Zhe sat on a sofa in his room, staring wide-eyed at a masked visitor.

After waking, Xu Zhe had freshened up, intending to find Shopkeeper Zhang to ask about last night’s events.

But he was told the shopkeeper had gone out and not yet returned.

The servant, clearly an ordinary mortal, was of little further use.

So Xu Zhe had a leisurely breakfast and was about to go out when the servant brought him a meeting request.

Xu Zhe had no intention of seeing anyone—but on accepting the letter, he changed his mind.

It was an intriguing invitation.

There was no sect mentioned, no signature, just a single phrase—“Odd changes, even remains the same.”

Xu Zhe instantly thought this person must be an old classmate, a kindred spirit.

He had to meet them, no matter what.

But when the visitor arrived, Xu Zhe was taken aback.

Though masked, the guest’s white hair was striking, wrinkles creasing their brow and crow’s feet at the eyes.

Good heavens, which old classmate had aged so much?

He genuinely couldn’t recognize them.

Should he hazard a guess?

But if he guessed wrong, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

And what sort of person just enters and stares at him without saying a word?

…