Su Luo's heart tightened. A Golden-Eyed Sparrow!
After waiting for two months, it appeared now. She remembered the demonic figure Hong Yan mentioning that Jade Void City was about to face trouble. Could this be related?
Su Luo immediately lost the mood to play. She said apologetically to Jun Mu Bai, "Xiao Bai, Senior Sister Luo Luo suddenly has something urgent to attend to, so I can't go with you to Princess Rou'er's birthday banquet. Next time, okay?"
Jun Mu Bai nodded obediently, "Mm, Senior Sister Luo Luo, go ahead and handle your business. It's fine."
Shang Xie Shao Qing was even more regretful, only watching Su Luo leave in a hurry.
In the Purple Bamboo Residence.
On the table before Li Tian Jue stood a fist-sized, small bird with emerald green feathers and golden eyes. The spy named Huang Yuan Ba stood beside him with shackles on his feet, looking cautious.
His severed leg had been replaced with a wooden prosthesis; otherwise, it would be inconvenient to sweep latrines with only one leg.
"He discovered the Golden-Eyed Sparrow flying in early this morning. This is the message it brought. Take a look," Li Tian Jue said, handing over a crumpled piece of paper covered in tiny characters.
Tian Jiao Competition, ensure not a single one is left alive…
The first sentence sent a chill down Su Luo's spine. She continued reading. Below were orders for the spy to attack the people of Clear Void Heaven, along with a recipe for a potent poison. It listed over twenty required ingredients, detailed preparation methods, and ended with a flame-patterned symbol.
"As soon as I got it, I told Young Master Li. I didn't falsify it," Huang Yuan Ba quickly said.
Su Luo glanced at him and asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, what is the Tian Jiao Competition?"
Li Tian Jue explained that the Tian Jiao Competition was the most important event on the Xuan Huang Continent, bar none. It was held once every four years, officially commencing on June 18th, which was still more than half a year away. All cultivators under thirty years old, regardless of country or sect, could participate.
It was also the most vibrant and ancient competition on the Xuan Huang Continent, having continued for over five thousand years.
The Tian Jiao Competition was jointly organized by the four major powers. Each session saw thousands of young geniuses register, with the top one hundred entering the Tian Jiao Rankings, instantly transforming from obscurity to fame and glory.
It was not only a symbol of personal strength but also brought immense fame and fortune, along with countless rewards.
"The prize for the first place in the last Tian Jiao Competition was one hundred million spirit coins, plus various precious elixirs, gems, and a Grade Three Sacred Artifact," Li Tian Jue added, reminiscing as if recalling past events.
"Eldest Senior Brother, did you participate last time?" Su Luo asked curiously.
Before Li Tian Jue could answer, she realized, "Ha, of course, you did. You were the first place, right? Eldest Senior Brother, you're so powerful, how could you possibly miss out on the generous rewards for first place."
Li Tian Jue rubbed his nose and replied helplessly, "There was nothing I could do; the Resource Hall was always short of funds."
Su Luo looked at him again.
Four years ago, this man wasn't even twenty years old, and he had won first place. That was extraordinary indeed!
"It seems the demonic sects are planning sabotage for this Tian Jiao Competition. The recipe on this paper is a potent poison. Once the demonic sects succeed, they can wipe out all the young geniuses of the righteous factions in one fell swoop," Su Luo said with a grave expression.
The consequences would be unimaginable, with countless deaths, the righteous forces severely weakened, and the demonic ways flourishing…
Fortunately, they had discovered it in time.
However, there were still many questions and doubts. After some thought, Li Tian Jue asked Huang Yuan Ba, "For something this important, it's impossible that you were the only one assigned to handle it, right?"
Huang Yuan Ba said fearfully, "Young Master Li, although I am in Clear Void Heaven, my status is merely that of an old servant. At most, I could… poison the various esteemed members of Clear Void Heaven. With this plan being so crucial, there must be many others acting in secret."
Su Luo stared at him, "Do you know their identities?"
Huang Yuan Ba quickly replied, "How would I know! We each are responsible for our own tasks and are unaware of others. Only if one is discovered and killed might higher-ups send replacements, so that more secrets are not exposed."
There was logic in his words. It seemed she wouldn't get more clues from him.
Su Luo carefully examined the recipe. It was called Black Rot Intestinal Severing Powder, a colorless and odorless poison that could dissolve in water. If ignited, its scent would be imperceptible, making it easy to fall prey to. Even cultivators at the Heavenly Venerate level would perish within an hour unless they took the antidote promptly.
"Eldest Senior Brother, it seems we need to prepare the antidote in advance."
"Mm, and we also need to investigate whether other sects have been infiltrated. This will require the Grand Elder to make contact. We should go discuss it with him properly…"
The two then met with the Grand Elder and discussed for a long time. Fortunately, the Tian Jiao Competition was still more than half a year away, scheduled for next June, giving them time to prepare.
Just as Su Luo and Li Tian Jue were leaving the Grand Elder's residence, her sound transmission jade pendant suddenly activated.
Su Luo checked it; it was Tang Xiao Guo.
"Xiao Guo, what is it?" Su Luo answered, having previously given the other sound transmission jade pendant to Tang Xiao Guo, making its use quite convenient.
"Sister Su, something terrible has happened!"
Tang Xiao Guo's tearful voice echoed from the sound transmission jade pendant, "Xiao Bai is missing…"
Su Luo's heart tightened. She glanced at Li Tian Jue beside her and quickly said, "Xiao Guo, what happened? Wasn't Xiao Bai going with you to Princess Rou'er's birthday banquet? Did he get lost in the palace?"
"No, we just came out of the imperial palace, wuwuwu… and then in a blink of an eye, we couldn't see Xiao Bai anymore. We've searched everywhere, but we still can't find him. Sister Su, I'm so worried…"
Listening to Tang Xiao Guo's incoherent words, Su Luo also became anxious.
Xiao Bai was only six years old, and he had a terrible sense of direction and severe prosopagnosia. If he got lost in Jade Void City, it would be extremely dangerous.
Even more frighteningly, could someone have secretly abducted him?
"Don't worry, where are you now? Eldest Senior Brother and I will be there immediately."
…
At the same time.
Jun Mu Bai slowly woke up, finding himself tied up and unable to move.
Beside him were over twenty other children, all under ten years old, lying on the ground and unconscious. They were both boys and girls, all dressed well. Some even wore gold necklaces, indicating they were from wealthy families.
It was an ordinary room with closed windows. There were no guards inside, and he didn't know its exact location in the city.
Jun Mu Bai recalled what had happened before. He had just exited the palace and was about to look at someone making sugar paintings when his mouth and nose were covered. Upon waking, he found himself here… Oh, it seemed he had been kidnapped?
Sister Guo must be very worried, right?
Eldest Senior Brother and the others were probably already looking for him and would come to rescue him soon.
Thinking of this, although Jun Mu Bai was still a little flustered, he was no longer as scared.
Just then, the door opened, and several men walked in.
One of them, a burly man with a thick beard and a ferocious face, carried an unconscious little girl. He carefully placed her on the ground and sneered, "Finally, we've captured the Fourteenth Princess. Now, we just wait for the opportune moment, and the entire Jade Void City will be turned upside down, hahahaha…"
Jun Mu Bai's heart leaped. Was that Princess Rou'er?