The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 167 The City Lord of Shangwan City Offers Kind Assistance

They expressed their gratitude to the hospitable villagers and then resolutely embarked on their journey to the River Reach. During their flight, they encountered travelers from all directions: merchants laden with goods, brave adventurers, and others like themselves, lost in this mysterious land. However, they did not linger, passing by quickly without much verbal exchange.

After several days of trekking, Luo Yifei and his companions finally arrived at the heart of the River Bay Kingdom—Upper Bay City. The city was bustling and vibrant, its streets teeming with people, shops lining the streets, and a dazzling array of goods on display. They ventured deep into the city, searching for and purchasing necessary items and equipment, while also inquiring about the Illusionary Star Pearl and the ancient texts. However, their efforts did not yield the expected results, leaving them with a sense of disappointment.

Luo Yifei gazed into the distance, his eyes revealing a determined light: "Even if we reach the sea, we cannot cross the ocean. The distance between Hongzhou and Qingzhou is simply too far."

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Lixi put forward a bold idea: "If we had the Kunpeng bird, perhaps we could easily reach it."

Qi Yuan shook his head and said helplessly, "It's a pity we don't have such a divine beast. With our current flying artifacts, we simply cannot cross that vast ocean."

Su An was lost in memories. He said softly, "I was fortunate enough to see the Kunpeng on the Xuan Tian Continent. It was the Kunpeng that carried me from the Eastern Continent to the Central Continent. It's just a pity that I don't know if such a creature still exists on this Huan Chen Continent."

As night deepened, Qi Yuan suggested, "It's getting late, let's go into the city and settle down." So, they found an inn and settled down temporarily.

Just a few hours ago, they were fighting in Qingluan Valley, but now they have arrived in this bustling city.

"I wonder how Senior Qingluan is doing?" Luo Yifei said with emotion.

Shen Lixi also sighed, "Senior Qingluan faced Xingchen Zhenren, Huanying Zhenren, and so many other cultivators all by herself for our sake. Her situation must not be optimistic. But there is nothing we can do now. We can only take care of ourselves first so that we can have a chance to go back and help her."

Qi Yuan and Su An nodded in agreement. They both knew that the most important thing now was to remain calm and rational and not let their emotions control them.

The city of Shangwan remained brightly lit at night, with a constant stream of pedestrians on the streets. Luo Yifei and his companions sat by the window of the inn, gazing at the night view outside, their hearts filled with worry and unease. They knew that this unfamiliar world was full of unknowns and dangers, and they must remain vigilant and prepared at all times.

However, just as they were lost in thought, a rapid knocking interrupted their reverie. Luo Yifei and the others hurriedly opened the door, only to find an anxious-looking stranger standing there, panting, "Excuse me, are you disciples of Qingluan Valley?"

Luo Yifei and the others were taken aback; they hadn't expected anyone here to know their identities. They nodded, indicating that the other person could come in and talk.

After the stranger entered the room, he hurriedly said, "I am from the City Lord's Mansion of Shangwan City. The City Lord invites you to come to the City Lord's Mansion for a chat."

Luo Yifei and the others exchanged glances, all somewhat puzzled. They didn't know how this city lord knew their identities, nor what he wanted to see them about. But since he had come to their door, they couldn't refuse and could only follow this stranger to the city lord's mansion.

Inside the city lord's mansion, Luo Yifei and his companions met the city lord. He was a middle-aged man with a dignified yet kind face. He warmly welcomed Luo Yifei and his group and inquired about their origins and purpose.

Luo Yifei and the others told the city lord the truth: they were disciples from Qingluan Valley who had been teleported here for some reason. They were currently searching for a way back to Qingluan Valley and also hoped to find clues about the Illusionary Star Pearl and the ancient books.

The city lord nodded after listening. He said he had heard of the legends of the Illusionary Pearl and the ancient books, but did not know their exact whereabouts. However, he was willing to help Luo Yifei and the others find clues and promised to provide all necessary assistance and support.

Hearing this, Luo Yifei and the others were filled with gratitude. They knew it was incredibly fortunate to have met such a kind-hearted city lord in this unfamiliar world. Therefore, they expressed their heartfelt thanks to the city lord and decided to stay in the city lord's mansion to rest and await news.

In the days that followed, the city lord indeed kept his word. He used all his resources and connections to help Luo Yifei and the others gather information about the Illusionary Star Pearl and the ancient books. At the same time, he also arranged for some people to assist them in finding clues and preparing for their return to Qingluan Valley.

With the help of the city lord, Luo Yifei and his companions gradually gained a deeper understanding of this unfamiliar world. They began to adapt to the lifestyle and environment, and made some new friends and partners. These new friends and partners not only gave them a lot of help and support, but also made them feel the warmth and love of home.

However, Luo Yifei and his companions did not forget their mission and responsibility. They kept in mind Senior Qingluan's instructions and expectations, constantly searching for ways and clues to return to Qingluan Valley. Although they encountered many difficulties and challenges along the way, they maintained their unwavering faith and determination, never giving up on any opportunity or hope.

Finally, one day, the city lord himself delivered an exciting message—he had found someone who might be able to unravel the mystery of the whereabouts of the Illusionary Star Pearl and the ancient book! This news was like a spring breeze, sweeping away the gloom in the hearts of Luo Yifei and the others. They immediately followed the city lord and embarked on a journey to the place where that person was.

After a long trek, they arrived at a secluded valley, where an elderly man with a full head of white hair and deep eyes sat at the valley entrance. He claimed to be the guardian of the Illusionary Pearl and the ancient book, and offered to lead them back to Azure Phoenix Valley to return these two treasures to their true owner.

However, Luo Yifei and the others expressed their doubts. Luo Yifei transmitted his voice, saying, "The Illusionary Pearl and the ancient book have always been kept by us personally and have never left our sight. How could there be such a thing as a guardian?"

Qi Yuan also transmitted his voice, saying, "Perhaps the city lord is testing us, or he has other plans and wants to use us to find the Illusionary Star Pearl."

Shen Lixi then expressed her concern via telepathy: "This place is so far away from Qingzhou, and news is scarce. How could anyone know about the situation there? It's really unbelievable."

Su An urgently transmitted his voice, "Stop transmitting your voice. Clear your mind and don't let the other party sense our suspicions."

The four exchanged glances, each with their own guesses, but they knew they couldn't act rashly at this moment and could only suppress their doubts for the time being.

Luo Yifei thought of a solution and transmitted his voice, "Don't think about that elephant."

He then found himself unable to control his thoughts, the image of an elephant constantly flashing through his mind. He tried to calm himself down, but the elephant's voice grew clearer and clearer, as if trying to completely devour his consciousness. And that was exactly what he wanted to achieve.

……

Meanwhile, in the next room, another voice asked, "So? What did your mind-reading ability reveal?"

Another voice replied, “Elephants, all they think about are elephants. It seems they do have some suspicions about us.”