Shen Yunshen halted his steps, carefully scrutinized Zhao Ya, and finally reached out to pat Zhao Ya’s shoulder.
"Good lad, you have a bright future."
After saying this, Shen Yunshen laughed heartily and left.
The laughter was filled with joy.
In Shen Yunshen’s view, it was promising for the Azure Dragon Temple to have such an outstanding disciple like Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya naturally understood Shen Yunshen’s meaning, shook his head with a light smile, and then strode forward to follow him.
When they returned to the front of the Yuanfu Trading Company in Jade Dragon City, Chen An and Liu Bolong, who were hiding in a corner waiting, immediately jumped out.
"Young Hero Zhao, you’re alright!" Chen An asked with great joy.
"What could possibly happen to me? But why haven’t you two left yet?" Zhao Ya asked somewhat puzzled.
Chen An said, "The Boss and I couldn’t stop worrying about you, so we decided to come back and check. But when I arrived, I found that apart from the corpses of those people, there was no trace of you at all."
"If we left just like that, we’d feel guilty, so we decided to hide in the corner and wait for you."
Zhao Ya was slightly stunned when he heard that, and then asked, "Did you see anyone come by while you were waiting here?"
Chen An and Liu Bolong shook their heads in unison, "No."
Then Chen An continued, "Actually, I also find it strange. Why did such a big event happen, yet the people from the Jade Dragon City Lord’s Mansion are ignoring it, as if nothing happened."
Zhao Ya and Shen Yunshen exchanged a glance.
Then Shen Yunshen said, "We were intercepted by people from the Jade Dragon City Lord’s Mansion outside the city at that time. I killed a few of them, and the remaining ones all ran away. I guess those people went back to report."
It turns out Shen Yunshen was right.
When Zhao Ya and the others arrived at the Jade Dragon City Lord’s Mansion, they found it long deserted, with even the gatekeepers gone.
Given the situation, there was no use in saying anything else.
Zhao Ya took a turn through the City Lord’s Mansion and quickly found a large stash of gold and silver.
This money was much more than what was found in the Yuanfu Trading Company.
After all, this was the accumulation of many years in Jade Dragon City.
Zhao Ya and Shen Yunshen naturally didn’t stand on ceremony, and they thoroughly plundered all the valuables.
Of course, Liu Bolong’s batch of confiscated goods got overcompensated as well.
Liu Bolong, naturally, was extremely grateful for this, and after expressing countless thanks, he took his leave with Chen An.
This incident taught him a very profound lesson.
Liu Bolong made up his mind to live a quiet retirement at home and not go anywhere after returning.
And after dealing with these trivial matters, Zhao Ya followed Shen Yunshen back to the Azure Dragon Temple.
The information obtained from Zheng Dalei about the close relationship between Separation Tower and North Canglong was of great importance and naturally needed to be reported to the Grand Elder as soon as possible.
Although Jade Dragon City wasn’t close to the Azure Dragon Temple, with the speed of Zhao Ya, Shen Yunshen, and others’ Body Techniques, it was only a matter of a few hours.
When everyone returned to the Azure Dragon Temple travel-worn and met with Grand Elder Guan Xuejiang, Guan Xuejiang couldn’t help being startled.
"Separation Tower has a deep entanglement with North Canglong?"
"That’s right, this matter is absolutely true, as stated by that Zheng Dalei himself," Shen Yunshen said.
Guan Xuejiang pondered silently, obviously weighing the pros and cons of this issue.
Zhao Ya stood quietly aside and watched.
It was not appropriate for him to speak on such occasions.
At this moment, Guo Luming, who was also present, suddenly came to his side, asking with slight surprise, "Have you opened your meridians?"
Zhao Ya nodded, "Yes, the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian."
Guo Luming’s reaction was similar to Shen Yunshen’s. He also scrutinized Zhao Ya and then smiled.
"Not bad, come to the Library later, I have something for you."
Zhao Ya’s heart leaped.
Something for me?
What could it be?
But in front of so many people, Zhao Ya was too embarrassed to ask. He could only suppress his curiosity and wait for the Grand Elder’s decision.
At this point, Guan Xuejiang stood up and said very solemnly.
"If that’s the case, then there’s no need to worry about any camaraderie anymore. Who will go and capture Xia Jiye for me?"
Guan Xuejiang realized the seriousness of the situation as well by now.
If it were just that North Canglong had entanglements with Separation Tower, or even that Separation Tower was established by North Canglong, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
After all, many sects Beyond the World have more or less other ventures, which isn’t surprising.
But the bad part was that Separation Tower dared to target Zhao Ya, and the person instructing it was an elder within South Canglong.
Now, that made the whole thing intriguing.
After all, no one dared to ensure that this elder didn’t have ties to North Canglong.
Otherwise, why would he choose to deal with Separation Tower?
This changed the nature of events entirely.
From an internal sect dispute, it suddenly turned into collusion with external foes.
Therefore, even if Guan Xuejiang was nostalgic, he had to take it seriously now.
"Is there any need to ask, of course, it has to be me going." Shen Yunshen was first to speak up without needing others’ prompts.
In essence, Guan Xuejiang’s intention was also to have Shen Yunshen handle this.
But he couldn’t give a direct order because this task was different from others; it involved internal sect disputes that many people were reluctant to get involved in, and Guan Xuejiang couldn’t force them.
Seeing Shen Yunshen volunteer at this moment, Guan Xuejiang couldn’t help but nod.
"Good, go quickly and return swiftly, but don’t involve too many, to avoid escalating the situation."
"I understand."
Afterward, Shen Yunshen turned to Zhao Ya, smiled, and said, "Let’s go, Ya, come with me."
According to Shen Yunshen’s idea, capturing Xia Jiye this time was a rare opportunity for Zhao Ya to exact revenge.
Previously, Zhao Ya was targeted by Xia Jiye, who even resorted to hiring assassins against him.
Anyone would be filled with resentment.
So having Zhao Ya accompany him was a way to let off some steam.
But to his great surprise, Zhao Ya shook his head and refused.
"I’m sorry, Elder Shen, I won’t go."
"Hmm? Why not?" Shen Yunshen was a bit surprised.
"Because the Grand Elder just said clearly to avoid escalating the situation, and if I go with you, it’s bound to create misunderstandings with Xia Jiye and his accomplices, possibly intensifying the conflict, so it’s better for me to avoid it."
After listening to Zhao Ya’s explanation, Guan Xuejiang nodded approvingly.
"Ya is right. Yun Shen, you better go alone."
"Alright then." Shen Yunshen didn’t dare delay and left the grand hall promptly.
Seizing the moment, Zhao Ya quietly left the grand hall with Guo Luming and went to the Library.
Then Guo Luming took out a little booklet and handed it to Zhao Ya.
"Since you’ve opened the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, this booklet should be of help to you."
Zhao Ya received the booklet and found that it contained nothing but the application techniques of the Azure Dragon True Power.
"These are some insights and experiences from my cultivation days, which should help you," Guo Luming smiled and said.