"Uncle Zhi Sha, how do you have time to come here!"

The avatar put on a smile, walked over with large strides, and slightly bowed.

In his memory, Hong Zhisha and Xiao Ming were brothers in life and death.

If it weren’t for Hong Zhisha’s intervention back then, Xiao Ming wouldn’t have survived until now.

"Not bad, already at the third level of the Dao Realm."

Hong Zhisha looked at him with gratification, a rare smile appearing on his face.

As the sharpest blade of Hidden Kill, the executioner of Great Yu, perhaps only when facing Xiao Yu would he show a trace of a smile.

"Still far from enough."

The avatar’s face showed concern.

"Yes, it is quite a lot."

Of course, Hong Zhisha understood his worry. He then took out a bright red bottle from his bosom, "Take this."

Upon seeing this bright red bottle, the avatar’s expression immediately changed.

Because the bottle exuded a terrifying aura.

"This is...?"

He looked at Hong Zhisha and asked.

"I killed two Demon Beasts above the fifth level of the Dao Realm and refined their essence blood. It will greatly benefit your Bloodthirsty Technique."

"Oh, and there are also quite a few Dao Realm cultivators from Great Yu, not too strong though. The highest was just the third level, and I refined them easily as well."

Hong Zhisha said indifferently.

His expression didn’t change a bit, as if these matters were as ordinary to him as a meal.

But the avatar...

"What a ruthless person!"

He couldn’t help but remark in his heart, especially at how casually he spoke those words, as if Dao Realm experts were no different from cats and dogs to him.

"What’s wrong?"

Hong Zhisha saw him in a slight daze and asked.

"Nothing, just a bit shocked by uncle’s methods."

"Oh!"

Hong Zhisha responded with just one word, and to him, such matters were as routine as eating and drinking.

Nothing worth being surprised about.

"By the way, how is your father?"

"The same as always, occasionally waking up, but mostly in a deep sleep."

Hong Zhisha nodded slightly, considering the severe injuries, it was a miracle he was still alive.

"But this time, nephew has found the coordinates of the Lower Realm. As long as there are enough materials, father can be healed."

"Hmm!"

"You’ve been working hard, burdened by the Sword Sect all these years."

"Alas!"

He sighed softly.

Moreover...

He was only at the third level of the Dao Realm, and in this Nine Gates Ranking Battle, the other eight gates had those old fellows, the weakest being at the sixth level of the Dao Realm.

He...

His gaze fell on ’Xiao Yu’.

There was not a shred of hope.

And the Array required to connect the two realms needed the Transcendent Stone, which only the leader had.

More importantly, the Transcendent Stone was not only a core material for the Array, but also enhanced martial arts talent.

So no matter the cost, the other eight gates wouldn’t relinquish it.

He had only one option, to rank at least eighth in the ranking battle to obtain it.

"Just do your best! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself."

Hong Zhisha patted his shoulder.

"Understood!"

The avatar replied in a deep voice.

"By the way, nephew found in an ancient book that the Heaven-Reaching Bamboo is a supreme treasure for healing. Father mentioned it before, but I don’t remember."

"Later, when I asked him, he was unwilling to tell me."

"Uncle, do you know where it is?"

"Heaven-Reaching Bamboo!"

Hong Zhisha’s expression slightly changed upon hearing this.

"He knows!"

The avatar silently noted to himself.

But.... Hong Zhisha remained silent for a moment.

"Listen to your father, it truly is too dangerous!"

He finally spoke.

"Why? No matter how dangerous, nephew is unafraid!"

’Xiao Yu’ said with great urgency.

Displaying fearlessness, willing to risk everything for his father.

This deeply moved Hong Zhisha’s heart.

But he was genuinely anxious because, after finally obtaining news of the Heaven-Reaching Bamboo, both Hong Zhisha and Xiao Ming remained silent.

He was truly anxious.

"Wait a bit, let’s talk after the Nine Gates Ranking Battle."

"If by then you haven’t won a single match, uncle will tell you."

That place... is hard to enter!

Hong Zhisha sighed softly in his heart.

From his understanding of Xiao Ming, he would rather die than let him take such a risk.

This is why he hasn’t been willing to speak.

"Uncle...."

’Xiao Yu’ was so anxious his voice changed.

"Enough!"

Hong Zhisha’s smile vanished, his aura changed instantly, turning the entire room cold.

"Focus on your cultivation, just do your best. Uncle’s leaving first."

He finished speaking, not giving him a chance to reply, and disappeared from Xiao Mansion in a flash of white light.

"Damn!"

The avatar cursed in his heart.

Where on earth was this Heaven-Reaching Bamboo that neither would tell him?

"Alas—"

After a long while, he let out a long sigh.

As things stood, he could only take one step at a time.

He then looked down at the blood-red bottle in his hand.

Essence blood from the Dao Realm, it’s a good thing, and without certain methods, even if one could kill something at the Dao Realm, they couldn’t obtain essence blood.

Moreover, this bottle contained essence blood from the fifth level Demon Beast of the Dao Realm.

This showed how deep the relationship was between Hong Zhisha and Xiao Ming.

However....

"Lucky me."

...

In the Three Judicial Departments of the Imperial City.

"So there’s absolutely no trace of this person at all?"

Zhan Tian looked coldly at the man in black below.

"Yes, Elder Zhan, after appearing once in Donglin Mansion, that person never surfaced again."

"I mobilized the Three Judicial Departments of all the mansions, but still have no information."

Wu Yue replied, bracing himself.

Even with a portrait of the person, there was no information at all.

It seemed as if he vanished into thin air.

He speculated in his heart it was most likely a change of appearance.

After all, to a fifth level Dao Realm expert, this was a manageable feat.