Chapter 447: Tracing the Trail
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In the bitterly cold valley of the Northern Frontier, this marked the fourteenth time Xiao Ai had come here in over a month. Each time, she personally led her men.
Her sole purpose was to find the three young ladies, so her master wouldn't have to wear that sorrowful expression every day.
"Master, as per your instructions, Youwei has already arranged for men to secure the perimeter."
"How are matters in the Four Domains progressing?"
Youwei pursed her lips. "They're mostly under control now."
It must be said, the four individuals now missing were no ordinary people.
The Fox Demon King of the North, the Polar Empress—Ye Qinghan.
The Holy Maiden of the Eastern Sacred Mountain, the Eastern Domain's decision-maker—Li Shiyao.
The Southern Domain's Human Emperor's Daughter, General of the Northern Frontier—Dongfang Jue.
The Demon Clan Princess of the Western Realm, the Crown Princess of the Demon Clan—Su Muchan.
The disappearance of these four is no ordinary loss…
For this world, it would be as if the heavens had fallen…
However, Su Cheng's explanation was that these four were currently undergoing trials within a secret realm and would return before long.
Xu Zhanfeng held full authority over Northern Domain affairs—it had always been this way, and Ye Qinghan rarely intervened.
Ye Qinghan's focus had always been on cultivation and her master. If she had to oversee every matter in the vast Northern Realm, she'd be swamped with work.
Still, delegating authority was one thing—Ye Qinghan had also left instructions for Xu Zhanfeng.
Don't worry about eating a little, but be careful not to stuff yourself silly.
The affairs of the Southern and Eastern Regions were never Li Shiyao and Dongfang Jue's concern to meddle in. The Southern Region had its own Human Emperor, Dongfang Shuo, to handle matters, while the Eastern Region had the elders of the Sacred Mountain and its lords to manage their domain.
Nevertheless, Su Cheng had separately assigned Yu Lan and Cang Jue to stabilize the Eastern and Southern Regions respectively. Yu Lan still held considerable influence in the East, while Cang Jue, as a senior elder of Ling Mountain's subsidiary peak, possessed the standing to reassure the Southern Region's populace.
As for the demonic tribes of the Western Domain, no one had yet inquired about Su Muchan's whereabouts. Chu Youwei had also kept tabs on the Western Domain, and thus far, everything appeared normal.
With all the immortal sects and the Four Regions now focused on the perilous situation in the Eastern Region, they had little time to wonder where the four young ladies had gone.
Following that battle, Immortal Su's role had been etched into the hearts of all beings across the Four Regions, and Lingxianshan's fame continued to grow.
Within the valley, after conducting a thorough investigation, Ling Er delivered news that wasn't entirely bad.
"Since you say they're not dead, then they must be salvageable."
"In my opinion, the final retrieval location of the Void Blueprint will be the coordinates of their landing point."
"As for the time, it's most likely as you said—they've returned to the past. The fragments of the Void Blueprint have been pieced together, but two pieces are missing. One of them bears a striking resemblance to the fragment Xun Ye discovered back then."
The situation was now clear, yet progress remained stalled. The crux lay in how to enter the mapped space and return to the time where the three disciples were trapped.
Solving this problem was no simple task.
Su Cheng spent an entire year conducting countless experiments before discovering the only viable method.
"Master, let me go in your place."
"It matters not. I shall go myself."
[Qinghan, your master has come to retrieve you.]
Yet what appeared on Ye Qinghan's jade pendant remained garbled code, revealing no useful information.
Yet knowing her Master was aware of her situation, Ye Qinghan felt no panic.
Knowing her Master still thought of her kept her from losing heart.
"Senior Sister, what did the Master say?"
"Master said we should wait a little longer."
"Oh, then Shiyu is off to class."
"Alright, go ahead. I'll sleep a little longer."
The Holy Martial Hall destined for Xiao Ai remained uninhabited. Since the passing of the Empress Mother in Su City, it had stood empty.
Ye Qinghan decided to move in with several junior sisters. They lived quite comfortably there, diligently practicing their cultivation without neglecting it, occasionally checking on Xun Ye's progress, or accompanying Xiao Ai to her classes.
Ye Qinghan attended Xiao Ai's classes almost daily. It was essentially a mutual exchange of lessons with the other Valkyries, since He Guang and the others were now training daily at Lingxian Mountain.
Realizing their master might not find them anytime soon, Ye Qinghan urged her three sisters not to sit idly by. Being trapped here could also be an opportunity.
This was the Royal Military Academy, arguably the highest institution of learning in this world. Such an opportunity was exceedingly precious.
Most of the Godslaying Kings and high-ranking officers were graduates of this academy. The chance to study alongside them was undoubtedly invaluable.
Xiao Ai didn't stay with Xun Ye permanently. Upon learning the academy provided dormitories, she moved in and made three close friends.
Xiao Nuo, the Valkyrie codenamed Catastrophe and future defender of Qingyue's inner city, was both Xiao Ai's classmate and roommate. Xiao Nuo had practically watched Xiao Ai grow up.
"Senior Sister, wake up early! We heard Lord Xunye is giving an open lecture." All three juniors were fascinated by Lord Xunye's spatial theory and headed out together, leaving Ye Qinghan alone to sleep in.
Though called public lectures, these were essentially classes taught by active-duty officers at the academy, including figures like the Godslayer King and various current military commanders.
But these Godslayers and high-ranking officers were perpetually swamped with duties, making such opportunities rare.
In all the time since they'd arrived, the number of such lectures could be counted on one hand…
Each session was packed to the rafters, students swarming like devoted fans around the formidable Godslayers, who often had to teach on the training grounds.
Not long ago, the four sisters were fortunate enough to attend one of General Ye He's lectures. The number of ardent fans openly declaring their admiration for Ye He was beyond count!
Among them were even those declaring they'd be Ye He's loyal dogs…
Ye Qinghan and the others heard it, and Ye He heard it too. But Ye He just smiled and told them to grow up a bit more~
Ye Qinghan stretched lazily, made a quick rounds of the Scorching Heart Hall and the Mount Fu Hall, then headed to the Military Academy.
Frankly, there wasn't much for them to do anyway. Beyond listening and observing, they could accomplish little else.
Xun Ye's public lecture was unique, held in a vast auditorium—or rather, a tiered lecture hall.
This meant only a limited number of students could attend. Seats had been filled since last night…
Even at astronomical prices, such seats remained impossible to obtain…
But Ye Qinghan and the others didn't care. No one could see them anyway, so they simply sat on the tables.
Soon, the lecture began. Xun Ye arrived as invited, her alluring figure emerging from the space she tore open like a ghostly apparition.
Her jet-black divine armor accentuated every sinfully alluring curve, perfectly outlining her voluptuous figure.
With two sharp clicks, Xun Ye's combat boots landed on the lectern. Her gaze swept across the auditorium, seemingly unable to find the figure she sought.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she murmured coldly to herself.
"Xiao Ai, you dare skip my class?"
Xiao Ai was currently under the shade of a tree on the training ground! With no money and no time, how could she possibly snag a seat in the auditorium?
She could only sit far away beneath the loudspeaker, listening to the lecture…
Through the loudspeaker linked to her divine consciousness, she heard Lord Xunye had already pronounced her guilty!
Xiao Ai felt completely numb!
"Uh… Lord Xunye—"
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