The celebratory banquet of the Nine Suns Sect lasted well into the night, with more than just a few sect members ending up in a drunk and incapable state.

Lu Tianzi had left the courtyard long ago, and was currently sitting by the bank of a huge water body.

The water body formed a huge circle that was more than a kilometre in diameter, and a majestic statue stood up tall in the small plot of land encircled in the middle.

This was the Endless River, one of the training facilities available to Inner Sect members of the Nine Suns Sect, and also where Lu Tianzi had deepened his comprehensions into the Law of Water before leaving for Scarlet Moon City.

But this time, he was not here to practice.

Lu Tianzi did not remember when he started feeling this way, but his mind felt more at ease whenever he was physically near to the water element.

"Hey," Nanlan Qianxue called out as she walked up from behind him. "Mind if I take a seat?"

"Sure," Lu Tianzi answered with a smile.

"So!" Nanlan Qianxue sat down beside him. "What is the star of the night doing here all alone?"

"Nothing much," Lu Tianzi shrugged. "I just wanted some time alone to clear my mind."

"Oh, am I disturbing you then?" Nanlan Qianxue asked.

"Nah, it's all right. I already have everything sorted out in my head," Lu Tianzi shook his head. "Say, do you know anything about the Grand Mirror of the sect?"

"You seem to be really interested in the Grand Mirror all of a sudden!" Nanlan Qianxue laughed. "I was just like you when I first joined the Nine Suns Sect as well. Even now, I can still remember Elder Wanglei scolding me for asking questions non stop."

"You asked the Elders about the Grand Mirror?" Lu Tianzi turned towards her.

"Yes, I did," Nanlan Qianxue nodded. "But don't get your hopes up. Not to mention the Elders, I heard that even the Sect Master is clueless about the origins of the Grand Mirror. All that is known about the Grand Mirror is that it is an ancient treasure passed down in the sect through the ages."

"Is that so?" Lu Tianzi let out a bitter smile.

"Yep! By the way, don't you think you are quite similar to him?" Nanlan Qianxue suddenly asked, breaking away from their original topic.

"Him?" Lu Tianzi didn't quite understand.

"Him," Nanlan Qianxue slighted tilted her head, gesturing towards the statue standing in the middle of the Endless River.

"I am?" Lu Tianzi turned his attention back to the statue. But no matter how he looked at it, he could not see any similarity between the statue and himself.

"Don't you think so? A martial artist who comprehended the Law of Water, a skilled formation master, and a person shrouded in an aura of mystery," Nanlan Qianxue listed. "Is that not the same as you?"

"Shrouded in an aura of mystery, eh?" Lu Tianzi laughed. It was quite embarrassing to have someone describe him in such a manner, but he could see why she would think that way.

Nanlan Qianxue merely smiled in response. Under the dim illumination of the moonlight, she looked even more beautiful than ever.

Just like that, the duo spent the next few hours sitting there in silence, immersing themselves in the almost hypnotising echoes formed by the waves of the Endless River.

***

Early next morning, Lu Tianzi made his way to the Heaven Constellations Inscription Tower. Now that he had returned to Bluenight City, it was only right for him to pay a visit to the other influence that he belonged.

The moment he entered the Heaven Constellations Inscription Tower, Lu Tianzi immediately caught the attention of a certain young lady who happened to be at the front lobby.

"Oh? Tianzi, you are here!" Yueya exclaimed in surprise before running up to him. "Welcome back! I heard you did really well while you were at the capital! Congratulations!"

"Thank you, senior Yueya," Lu Tianzi could not help but smile upon seeing the bubbly young girl. "Have you been well?"

"Of course! Who do you think I am?" Yueya let out a smug grin. "Why are you here this early though?"

"Right, is Inscription Master Nanbai around? I am here to look for him," Lu Tianzi answered.

"Yep! I will bring you to him!"

As Inscription Master Nanbai's inscription assistant, Yueya was naturally well aware of his whereabouts. She enthusiastically pulled Lu Tianzi along by the hand as they headed up the tower, finally stopping in front of Inscription Master Nanbai's private room.

Even before they knocked on the door, Inscription Master Nanbai's voice had already travelled out from within.

"Come in."

"Inscription Master Nanbai," Lu Tianzi clasped his fist towards the senior after entering.

"Well, well," Inscription Master Nanbai rubbed his chin as he gave Lu Tianzi a good lookover. "So this is what the top genius of the Scarlet Moon Kingdom looks like?"

"Haha," Lu Tianzi let out an awkward laugh. "I wouldn't dare to claim such a title. After all, I did not really win in a fair fight."

Of course, Lu Tianzi was just acting modest here.

Although he had been overpowered by Fourth Prince Mosha in the final stage of the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet, it was without tapping into his Spiritual Essence system.

If he did, there was no way that Fourth Prince Mosha would have stood a chance.

But even so, there was no need for Inscription Master Nanbai to know that.

"That's no good!" Yueya chided from the side. "Even if you really wanted to win, you should always win fair and square!"

"Hahaha," Lu Tianzi laughed. "Got it, senior Yueya, I will keep that in mind in the future."

"No matter the process, it is the end result that everyone remembers," Inscription Master Nanbai added. "But you have to remember that the end is still far from over. You still have a long way ahead of you. Even though you are ahead of your peers at the moment, the moment you stop moving forward, others can easily step over you and take the lead. What you achieve at the end of your road – that is the goal that you really should be looking at."

"I understand," Lu Tianzi nodded.

"It is all good as long as you understand," Inscription Master Nanbai smiled before letting out a huge sigh. "Now then, if there is nothing else, you can take your leave. There is something urgent that I have to attend to right now."

"Is something wrong?" Lu Tianzi asked after seeing the deep frown on Inscription Master Nanbai's face.

Inscription Master Nanbai paused for a moment to take another glance at Lu Tianzi and Yueya. "I guess there is no harm telling you this. You have already met my son Zhaoyu, haven't you?"

"General Nanbai Zhaoyu? He returned with us to Bluenight City yesterday," Lu Tianzi nodded. "Did something happen to him?"

"Well, I guess you can say that. I have just received word from him. Apparently, he has discovered a human settlement in the wilds, and is asking for assistance from Bluenight City in order to wipe them out once and for all."

"Eh?" Lu Tianzi's eyes widened in surprise.

General Nanbai Zhaoyu was intending to wipe out a human settlement?

Could it be Ivory Rock City?

But why would he suddenly do so?

"I am just as surprised as you are," Inscription Master Nanbai continued after seeing the shock on Lu Tianzi's face. "After all, Zhaoyu only just returned yesterday. Perhaps his subordinates made the discovery while he was away."

"A human settlement? Would this be dangerous?" Yueya asked out of concern.

"There would definitely be some degree of danger involved," Inscription Master Nanbai replied. "After all, Zhaoyu mentioned that there is even an Origin Core realm martial artist among them. But as long as we are careful, things should go fine."

"How strong is this Origin Core realm martial artist?" Lu Tianzi asked.

"He is at the First Origin Cycle," Inscription Master Nanbai answered. "Even so, Zhaoyu needs plenty of help to prevent the remnants of the human settlement from escaping. Thus, apart from approaching City Lord Nanlan for assistance, he had also asked if I could lend him a hand. Now, I am trying to gather as much support as I can from my contacts in Bluenight City. The more help we get, the easier this will be for all of us."

"Inscription Master Nanbai, I have a request to make," Lu Tianzi suddenly clasped his fist towards him.

Inscription Master Nanbai laughed when he saw this. "Is it to allow you to come along?"

"I promise I will not cause any trouble!" Lu Tianzi quickly added.

"Don't worry, I have no problem with that whatsoever," Inscription Master Nanbai waved for Lu Tianzi to calm down. "After all, this should be quite a simple operation. With your capabilities, there should not be much danger as long as you are careful enough. If your Elders at the Nine Suns Sect are fine with it, you are free to come along."

"Then I want to come along as well!" Yueya raised her hand from the side.

"You?" Inscription Master Nanbai turned to look at her in surprise. "It is still too dangerous for you!"

"But Inscription Master Nanbai just said that it is quite a simple operation!" Yueya retorted indignantly.

"I meant that for Nanlu Tianzi who is already at the Essence Condensation realm!" Inscription Master Nanbai snorted. "Someone who is only at the Primary Essence Building realm should just concentrate on getting stronger before trying to butt into other matters!"

Yueya had nothing to say to that, and could only sulk in response.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Tianzi could not help but laugh inwardly.

"May I ask when will Inscription Master Nanbai be leaving for Shadowfront Fortress?" Lu Tianzi asked.

"As soon as possible," Inscription Master Nanbai replied. "For some reason, Zhaoyu seems to be in quite a hurry. Perhaps we will be leaving Bluenight City by evening."

"Then I will return by then," Lu Tianzi nodded.

With that, Lu Tianzi and Yueya left the room.

Still feeling sulky, Yueya bid Lu Tianzi farewell and returned home for the day. Inscription Master Nanbai was not intending to work today, and thus there was not much for her to do as well.

Rather than to go help out other inscription masters, she decided to spend the day cultivating. After all, she had just been ostracised because of her low cultivation level!

As for Lu Tianzi, he slowly made his way back to the Nine Suns Sect.

By now, he was already quite certain that the human settlement that Inscription Master Nanbai was referring to should be none other than Ivory Rock City.

After all, he had lived in the human city for the greater part of his life.

If there were any other human settlements in the area, especially one with an Origin Core realm martial artist, it was highly unlikely that they would not have made contact with Ivory Rock City.

As for the Origin Core realm martial artist, it had to be Hu Yuanbo himself.

First Cycle Origin Core realm, eh?

Back then, Lu Tianzi still had no way of confirming what cultivation level Hu Yuanbo was at, and could only make a rough estimate by assessing his strength. But as a Fourth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist, General Nanbai Zhaoyu's assessment should not be off the mark.

Hu Yuanbo had only barely broken through to the Origin Core realm, and yet he dared to act like a god in Ivory Rock City?

But at this point, Lu Tianzi could not help but contemplate in his heart.

He had been thinking of paying Hu Yuanbo a visit soon after his return to Bluenight City. Yet to think that even before he could do so, General Nanbai Zhaoyu would suddenly decide to make such a move.

Lu Tianzi did not know if Inscription Master Nanbai was kept in the dark by General Nanbai Zhaoyu, or if Inscription Master Nanbai was trying to keep him in the dark instead. However, Lu Tianzi was absolutely certain that General Nanbai Zhaoyu knew of the existence of Ivory Rock City since a long time ago.

After all, Hu Yuanbo had been offering human sacrifices to Shadowfront Fortress on an annual basis!

He had no idea what sparked off General Nanbai Zhaoyu's sudden intention to take down Ivory Rock City. But from the looks of it, he probably would not even need to lift a finger for Hu Yuanbo to meet his end.

Still, with such a huge operation by General Nanbai Zhaoyu, it was highly unlikely that things would end with Hu Yuanbo's death.

Along with Hu Yuanbo, the same fate could very well descend upon the rest of the human population within Ivory Rock City!

If there was anyone who could save them from their impending doom, it would be him.

The question now was... why should he?