284: Ningxing Entering the Island

Ziwei Courtyard.

Villa No. 99.

Wei Lan returned to the Villa and subconsciously glanced at the other Villa; even after being away for so long, this habit had not changed.

She stood there for a few minutes.

Wei Lan turned and left to find Qian Yi.

"Teacher, I am returning to the Family."

"Now?"

"Are you not waiting for Weiqing?"

"The news from the Temple might not be true; I don't believe Weiqing would die in a Civilization Ruins."

Wei Lan forced a small smile. "Teacher, I don't believe it either. But instead of worrying here, I'd rather go back to Cultivate and increase my strength. Just in case... if something really happened to Brother Qing, I want to avenge him."

"This..."

"Goodbye, Teacher."

While Qian Yi was still thinking, Wei Lan had already turned and left... Xinchang Prefecture.

Inside a massive manor, in an inconspicuous northwest corner, there was a courtyard.

Knock— knock—

Wei Lan knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Little Lan, why have you returned so soon?"

An elderly man wearing a simple white coat, with graying hair and cloth shoes, walked out. It was the patriarch of the Wei Family, an Eighth Realm expert, Wei Cangbai.

"Come in quickly."

Entering the courtyard, Wei Lan said directly, "Grandpa, I want to enter the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm."

Wei Cangbai frowned and did not agree, instead asking, "What happened?"

"Did that Xiao Weiqing kid do something to wrong you?"

Wei Lan shook her head and pursed her lips. "Grandpa, Brother Qing is very good to me."

"Then why do you want to enter the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm early? It's not time for the Secret Realm to open yet, and you've only just entered the Fourth Realm; your strength isn't sufficient."

"If you enter the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm and fail to pass the trial, you will either die or be severely injured."

Wei Lan looked up, her eyes resolute, looking seriously at Wei Cangbai. "I want to go in. I need to go in."

Seeing Wei Lan's gaze, Wei Cangbai was briefly dazed; in an instant, he understood.

He had seen this look before. Decades ago, there was a woman who did something for him without looking back, and she had that exact same look in her eyes.

"I understand."

"In three days, I will open the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm for you. However, you need to discuss this with your parents."

"I know. Thank you, Grandpa."

"Mhm, go on."

After Wei Lan left.

Wei Cangbai dialed a communication.

"Hello?"

"Ning Xing, it's me."

"Something the matter?"

Wei Cangbai said, "I'm asking you, where is that disciple of yours?"

There was a period of silence on the other end.

After a dozen seconds.

"What did you hear?" Ning Xing's voice rang out again.

Wei Cangbai replied, "It's that girl Wei Lan. She went back to Luo Jiang Academy a month ago, but she suddenly returned today saying she wants to enter the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm."

"With her current strength, if she enters the Phantom Moon Small Secret Realm, it's basically impossible for her to return. Only your disciple could influence that girl to make such a decision. I want to know what happened."

"Xiao Weiqing's Second Awakening was successful."

"What!"

Wei Cangbai was stunned. "Truly?"

"No, that's a good thing. Why would Little Lan be like this? Did they break up? No, that's not right either."

Wei Cangbai was confused. Wei Lan's current strength and talent were top-tier even in the entire Great Xia; it was impossible for Xiao Weiqing to look down on her. He also knew that Wei Lan and Xiao Weiqing had a very good relationship and video-called often.

"Stop guessing. Xiao Weiqing has gone missing."

"Missing? What do you mean?"

"According to news from the Temple, after Xiao Weiqing's Second Awakening, he entered a Civilization Ruins to seek treasures. It's been half a year, and he hasn't come out. The Temple has determined that Xiao Weiqing is dead."

"What?"

Wei Cangbai was greatly shocked. "No wonder, no wonder Little Lan is acting like this."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Go to the Temple and ask. I don't believe Xiao Weiqing is just gone like that."

"Then... you'd better be careful. The Azure Dragon Divine Sense is not to be trifled with."

Beep, beep, beep...

Ning Xing didn't answer and hung up directly.

The call ended.

Wei Cangbai sighed. "Is it a case of heaven being jealous of Genius, or is the Temple..."

Meanwhile.

Inside a meeting room at Luo Jiang Academy.

The leadership of Luo Jiang Academy was gathered here—over a dozen deans and several vice-principals.

"Ning Xing, are you really going to Azure Dragon Island?" Principal Dong asked.

"Yes, I have already sent a formal request for a visit."

The others frowned; if Ning Xing insisted on going, they couldn't stop him.

"Don't worry, I'm just going to ask about the situation. If Xiao Weiqing really went into the ruins and died, I'll have nothing to say; I can only say heaven was jealous of his Genius."

"But!!"

Ning Xing's voice suddenly rose. "If someone forced him to go, or if the Temple is hiding something else from me..." The killing intent in Ning Xing's tone made everyone shiver.

"Then be careful. If it's not necessary, it's best not to have a conflict."

...A few days later.

Above a stretch of sea.

"Do you want to come in?" Ning Xing said to the empty space.

"No need."

A middle-aged man's voice sounded.

"Really not going?"

"I'm not quite at ease with you outside," Ning Xing said. "Of course, when I say I'm not at ease, I mean for myself, not you." Ning Xing added another sentence, "In case the Azure Dragon Divine Envoy goes crazy, I might not be able to get out."

"What? The fearless Butcher of Ten Thousand, Ning Xing, also has moments of cold feet?"

"Nonsense. Charging in alone—who wouldn't be nervous? I'm not your great-grandfather."

"Hmm...?" the middle-aged man said coldly.

Ning Xing said, "Uh... I didn't mean it that way. You should know what I mean."

The middle-aged man's voice sounded again. "I can't go in now. As soon as I enter, the Azure Dragon Divine Envoy will notice, and it's easy to alert the enemy."

"Rest assured, if there is real danger, I can be inside in ten seconds at most. Don't tell me you can't even hold out for ten seconds."

"Fine, then keep an eye out."

The space became quiet again.

Only Ning Xing was left waiting alone.

Half an hour later.

Five hundred meters in front of Ning Xing, ripples appeared in space, and a space-time gate emerged.

"Principal Ning, this way please."

The person who came was Min Huaixun.

Ning Xing nodded and stepped into the space-time gate... the two of them flew rapidly toward the island.

"Principal Ning, since we last met at the Exchange Competition..."

"Cut the nonsense. You should know why I've come," Ning Xing coldly interrupted Min Huaixun's pleasantries.

Seeing this, Min Huaixun sighed. "I was the one who personally brought Xiao Weiqing in. I've watched his growth with my own eyes. Now he..."

"I said!"

"No nonsense!"

Ning Xing barked, "I'll just ask you one thing. When you invited Xiao Weiqing into the Awakening Training Camp, was it your own idea, or the Temple's?"

Min Huaixun did not hesitate and answered directly:

"Principal Ning, inviting Xiao Weiqing was both my idea and the Temple's. You should know that the Temple has always had this tradition of attracting top geniuses from all over the world for mutual benefit."

"Of course, I know what you're getting at. Inviting Xiao Weiqing was not at the behest of the Azure Dragon Divine Envoy, nor was there any conspiracy. I guarantee this on my character."

Ning Xing glanced at Min Huaixun. "It had better be so."