328: Returning empty-handed

Over the next few days, Lu Qianqian became much quieter. Perhaps it was because her previous plan had failed, and the matter itself was quite embarrassing.

Lu Qianqian could take advantage of Feng Ming's seclusion to act on a whim and summon the courage to seduce him once, but once she calmed down, she simply didn't have the courage to do it a second time.

Of course, Feng Ming was completely unaware of Lu Qianqian's internal struggle. He spent his days either busy with closed-door cultivation, communicating information with Feng Da, or following the progress of Jiang Shuwan and the others.

In his spare time, he would also chat with Zhang Bai to discuss matters regarding their trip to the Imperial Capital to receive their titles.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, five days slipped by.

That evening, Feng Da walked over quickly: "Young Master, I just received news. Madam and the others have arrived at Meng City. Everything is secure!"

Feng Ming nodded. Having reached Meng City, they were only fifteen days away from Qingyang City. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to wait for them.

The Trial would end in another five or six days, at which point he would have to set off for the Imperial Capital.

Fortunately, after the people from the Demon Extermination Division arrived, that evil cultivator vanished without a trace, which put Feng Ming's mind at ease.

He did not know that at this moment, in a dark alley outside an inn in Meng City, a dark figure was staring intently at the inn.

The candles inside the inn had been extinguished; clearly, everyone was already asleep.

The dark figure waited in the alley for more than another hour, and after confirming there was no movement in the inn, used the darkness to creep toward the inn step by step.

But just as he was about to step out of the dark alley, a voice came from deep within: "You'd better not go! There's a ninth-rank puppet guarding the inn. If you dare to strike, you'll surely die!"

The dark figure froze, turned toward the source of the voice, and soon saw a person at the end of the alley.

The moment he saw the other person's face clearly, he was completely stunned. It was a long time before he spoke with a trembling voice: "It's... it's you? Huangfu Mo?"

Indeed, the person standing before him was none other than Huangfu Mo of the Imperial Forest Guard.

Huangfu Mo looked at the dark figure and smiled: "You still remember me. It seems your consciousness is in control."

The dark figure slowly removed the black cloak, revealing a face covered in scars yet still familiar—it was Huangfu Yunyan!

"Based on the Huangfu Family's relations, I can at least be considered your elder," Huangfu Mo spoke. "Are you interested in cooperating with me?"

"How would we cooperate?" Huangfu Yunyan asked coldly.

Huangfu Mo glanced at the inn outside the alley and said, "What you hate is nothing more than the Feng Family and Feng Ming. But Liang Province has Jiang Qinghe, and their group has a ninth-rank puppet. Even if you rush back to Qingyang City overnight, you only have the strength of the Mahayana Realm."

"Forget about destroying the Feng Family; you probably wouldn't even be able to enter their front gate. Once they return to Qingyang City, the ninth-rank puppet will go with them, and you'll have even less of a chance."

"You know better than I do how cautious Feng Ming is in his actions."

Huangfu Yunyan said coldly, "In terms of strength, I am indeed lacking, but I haven't come away with nothing. At least the Night King Art I obtained is no joke!"

Huangfu Mo nodded: "The Night King Art is indeed powerful, but how long can you wait around for an opportunity? Feng Ming is going to the Imperial Capital to receive his title and will be back in a month at most. By then, your chances will be even slimmer."

"Now that the Demon Extermination Division is searching for you on a large scale, how long can you hide? Cooperate with me; you'll be able to get your revenge and also have a legal identity to evade the Demon Extermination Division's pursuit."

"Oh? Really? Tell me more." Huangfu Yunyan's interest was piqued.

Huangfu Mo smiled and said, "Cooperate with me, and I will have you enrolled in the Imperial Forest Guard. With an identity from the Imperial Forest Guard, the Demon Extermination Division won't suspect you."

"As for your grudge, targeting Feng Ming is useless for now, but there is someone else we can move against. By getting rid of her, I guarantee Feng Ming will wish he were dead."

"Who?"

"Lu An'an."

"Lu An'an? There's been no news of her since she went to Qian Prefecture. Do you know where she is?" Huangfu Yunyan pressed.

"Madam Hua of Qian Prefecture recently took on a closed-door Disciple, and it's her," Huangfu Mo laughed.

Huangfu Yunyan was startled, then said: "Even if that's true, the Hua Family's financial power is not something I can deal with."

"The Hua Family indeed cannot be moved lightly, but what if this is the will of those above?" Huangfu Mo's smile deepened. "We are just carrying out orders, and you would be borrowing their momentum. Isn't that much better than dealing with Feng Ming directly?"

Huangfu Yunyan was silent for a long time before finally speaking: "What do you want me to do?"

"Come with me to Qian Prefecture."

Huangfu Yunyan thought for a moment, glanced at the inn again, and finally nodded: "Fine! I'll go with you! But you must swear that when the Hua Family is destroyed in the future, Lu An'an belongs to me!"

"No problem!" Huangfu Mo agreed and pointed toward the depths of the dark alley. "Let's go, the people from the Demon Extermination Division are almost here."

After saying that, he turned to leave. Huangfu Yunyan hesitated for a moment but still caught up to him.

This was the last time Huangfu Yunyan appeared in Liang Province. After she and Huangfu Mo left Liang Province for Qian Prefecture, the Demon Extermination Division's search naturally came up empty-handed, and everything seemed to return to tranquility.

Six days later.

In the morning, just as Feng Ming got out of bed, Feng Da ran in: "Young Master, the rankings have been announced! The time to go to the Imperial Capital has also been set for two days from now!"

Feng Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had long expected it, he only felt truly at ease once the rankings were officially released.

He took Feng Da outside and indeed saw the streets filled with the final top ten list. At the very top was Feng Ming, and Lu Qianqian was ranked fifth. Everything was as he had anticipated.

However, the departure time was set for two days later, which was earlier than the five days of previous years. Feng Da explained that because everyone had come out of the Trial early this time, the departure was moved up.

Over the next two days, Feng Ming and Lu Qianqian packed their belongings and prepared to set off.

During that time, Feng Ming met with Zhao Peng to arrange for those followers without families to head to Qingyang City. He instructed Zhao Peng and the others that once they reached Qingyang City, they were to follow his eldest brother's arrangements, and he would see them again in a month.

Zhao Peng nodded. These followers were waiting for Feng Ming to return from receiving his title.

Only when Feng Ming returned with an official post could they follow him to work. Since the spots under Feng Ming's command were limited, who could become a confidant depended entirely on strength. Their primary task now was to sprint through their cultivation.

Zhao Peng set off with the remaining followers. Feng Ming did a rough calculation and found that nearly eight hundred people had followed him. Given that there were only four thousand participants in the Trial, he had accounted for a fifth of them, showing just what kind of popularity he had amassed during this Trial.

With the announcement of the rankings and Zhao Peng's departure with the others, the Trial finally came to a close. Feng Ming also looked forward to the trip to the Imperial Capital in two days.

In the blink of an eye, it was two days later.

Today was the day to set off for the Imperial Capital to receive their titles.

Feng Ming and the others received Jiang Qinghe's message early and came to the Quiet Garden.

At this time, a group of people had gathered in the Quiet Garden. Besides the top ten on the rankings, there was one extra person. This person was none other than Zhang Bai, who had previously claimed he was using an internal quota and had connections.

And it was indeed true. He hadn't participated in the struggle for heaven ranking tickets in the Trial Grounds, yet here he was.

Evidently, that path had worked out for him without any issues at all.