When Xuan Tian returned to his room at the Zhang Family Clinic, the sound of his clone's scream greeted him the moment he crossed the barrier. The echoing wail reverberated through the small space, sharp and relentless.
He closed the door behind him, sliding the lock back into place with a soft click. His gaze shifted to the clone writhing on the floor—expression twisted in simulated agony—and sighed. I can't believe I can scream this loud.
Arms crossed, he watched for a moment longer, letting the sound linger just enough to serve its purpose. Then, with a subtle gesture, the clone dissolved into a haze of dissipating energy, leaving the room blessedly silent.
"That should be enough," Xuan Tian murmured to himself, the weight of the investigation pressing back into his thoughts.
Ling Yu and Chen Wei froze, the lingering echo of the scream keeping them rooted in place. Only when silence finally settled did they exhale, their shoulders loosening—though neither fully relaxed.
Their eyes met, tension still thick between them.
"I wasn't afraid!" Ling Yu declared, arms crossing defensively. "I was just… waiting to see if anyone would come."
Chen Wei said nothing, simply staring at her, unreadable. He wasn't sure if she even believed herself. But arguing wouldn't get him anywhere, and he still needed to convince her to stay.
Before Chen Wei could respond, Ling Yu raised a hand, cutting him off. "I'm going back. I want to sleep. I'm tired, and I'm still waiting for my core to develop." Then she pointed a firm finger at him. "You—stay here and cultivate. Or at least try."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and strode off, disappearing into her room.
Chen Wei could only stare after her, frustration tightening in his chest.
Silence settled over the courtyard once more.
Inside her room, Ling Yu barely made it onto her bed before exhaustion claimed her. Too much excitement for one day.
In his room, Xuan Tian sat cross-legged, still as stone, eyes closed in meditation. But when the faintest ripple disturbed the restricted courtyard's barrier, his awareness sharpened. Someone was entering. No—multiple figures. Warriors.
He didn't move, didn't open his eyes, but every fiber of his being remained taut, waiting.
The warriors stomped into the courtyard, their voices carrying in the still night. They made no effort to be quiet—this was routine for them.
"Alright, brothers, you know the drill," their leader barked. "But I'll say it again. Gather all of them, even the new ones. Even if they haven't formed a core—take them. We need to move before daybreak."
"Yes, Sir!" the others answered in unison.
One of the warriors shoved open Ling Yu's door, pausing when he saw her sprawled across the bed, fast asleep. New arrival, he noted. He stepped inside and gave her a rough shake.
"Wha—what?" Ling Yu mumbled, groggy and disoriented.
"Get up. We're moving," the warrior ordered.
"Huh? Move? Now? What time is it?" she slurred, blinking in confusion.
"Don't ask questions. Just stay quiet and follow. We're taking you to a place to cultivate," he said impatiently.
At those words, Ling Yu's grogginess evaporated. Her eyes lit up, excitement flickering to life. Without another word, she nodded and followed.
Xuan Tian stepped out of his room, his expression blank, his movements perfectly synchronized with the other victims. He kept his posture slightly slack, his gaze unfocused—just another body in the sea of hollow figures. Though he was taller than everyone else, he gave them no reason to look at him. He couldn't.
A few steps ahead, Ling Yu stood among the crowd, but she never turned back. Her mind was elsewhere—buzzing with excitement at the prospect of cultivation, too distracted to notice anything else.
Chen Wei also emerged, his breath shallow, heart pounding. He barely processed what was happening—his survival instinct took over. Without thinking, he mimicked the others, his body moving on autopilot, blending in because that was the only thing keeping him safe. He drifted toward Xuan Tian, unconsciously seeking something solid, something strong—even if he didn't fully realize why.
The Warriors lead them out of Zhang Family Clinic's back door, into the empty streets of Baishan City. Xuan Tian noticed that each Warrior carried an artifact that helped masked the group's presence. Preventing any humans to notice around 20 people moving.
They entered another building thru its back door. Xuan Tian didn't recognised the building, but Ling Yu did, her eyes widened when she saw it. It was Xue Qin Lou!
They were lead down to the basement. Where in there, already waiting Luo Zixue and her two minions. Xuan Tian immediately recognised her minions. They were the ones speaking to Zhang De. Xuan Tian's gaze moved to Luo Zixue.
She stood arrogantly, her eyes full of mockery and maliciousness and her face smiled smugly as she watched the group entered the basement. Xuan Tian looked at her, Low Immortal Stage 3, yet so arrogant. He continued observing her, wait! That token! His eyes widened in recognition.
Luo Zixue, "Put them in the cages. Don't let them escape. I don't want any mishap." With that she flicked her sleeves and left the basement.
"Yes, Lady Xianren!" The Warriors answered in unison.
Xuan Tian observed the basement. No, this wasn't just a basement—it was an underground prison. Rows and rows of cages lined the space, their layout unmistakably designed for captivity.
He was placed in the innermost cage. Inside, three other victims sat in the same hypnotic state as the newly arrived batch, their eyes empty, their presence ghostlike.
Ling Yu, however, was placed in a cage closer to the exit. For the first time in her life, she chose to stay quiet, observing her surroundings carefully. But her silence did not last long. The moment she realized she was locked inside a cage, her patience snapped.
"Excuse me," she called out. "Why are we put inside a cage?"
The warrior who had woken her up earlier turned, sneering. "For your own safety," he mocked. "We wouldn't want you wandering off and endangering yourself. We want you safe so you can develop your core in peace."
He laughed, his companions joining in as they made their way toward the exit. Their laughter echoed through the basement, a chilling sound in the otherwise heavy silence.
Ling Yu's unease deepened. Something was wrong. She turned, scanning her cage, searching for any sign that she wasn't alone in her suspicion. Two other victims were already inside, both sitting cross-legged as if cultivating.
She moved closer, waving a hand in front of one of their faces. No reaction. Their expressions were vacant, their eyes devoid of light.
Footsteps approached. Voices carried through the space.
"How many do we have?"
"Twenty four in total."
"Excellent. We can deliver all of them tonight. Are the escorts here?"
"Not yet. They usually come around dusk. We've got time."
The voices faded as their owners exited, their words lingering ominously in the air.