This move meant that Duanmu Hong wasn't trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain just now.

He guessed wrong...

Hou Yuxiao looked down, and there was a mansion about three miles square. The moment he saw this mansion, an inexplicable feeling of familiarity surged up in his heart, and the pupils of Hou Yuxiao's eyes became curious.

The familiar feeling, what's going on...

"National Master Hou, why not come to the old place and catch up?"

Hou Yuxiao slightly furrowed his brows, descending as he rapidly pondered in his mind.

The moment he stepped into the main house of the mansion, he finally recalled why seeing this mansion felt familiar.

As far as he could remember, nine years ago, he was forced north to the capital by Zhan Taiqing, intercepted by a group of eight black-clad men from Qinjian Villa led by Zhao Ponu. In that perilous situation, he elevated his cultivation with virtuous deeds, but ultimately was unable to overcome the eight. In his desperation, he fled with Zhan Taiqing into Tao City, and they hid in this very mansion.

As far as he could remember, this mansion was supposed to be the base of a third-rate force called the Yunding Gang. He and Zhan Taiqing stayed here for over three months in total, and it was here that he first met Duanmu Hong.

In the room of the main house, Duanmu Hong and Zhantai Wuyuan were standing inside. Duanmu Hong's expression was quite calm, while on the other side, Zhantai Wuyuan seemed a bit nervous.

At the sight of Zhantai Wuyuan, Hou Yuxiao felt a strange sensation flash through his heart.

Zhantai Wuyuan, though a young man, had an excessively delicate face, remarkably similar to Zhan Taiqing—at least seventy to eighty percent. Nine years ago, he and Zhan Taiqing had rushed here in panic, and Zhan Taiqing's face was also very tense then.

At this moment, seeing Zhantai Wuyuan's slightly tense expression was like memory overlapping with reality, causing Hou Yuxiao to inevitably feel a peculiar sensation.

"Hou Yuxiao, by tomorrow at the latest, you must open the Divine Sect's treasure vault!"

......

Hou Yuxiao was momentarily stunned, unsure of why Zhantai Wuyuan would say such a thing, while on the other side, Duanmu Hong also didn't stop him, maintaining a calm demeanor as he watched him.

"Why?"

Zhantai Wuyuan, after all, was still young. Seeing Hou Yuxiao's half-smiling expression, which clearly had a teasing meaning, his face suddenly turned a bit anxious.

"It's my aunt's order. There's something important to me in the Divine Sect's treasure vault!"

Hou Yuxiao almost laughed, but to speak truthfully, he didn't really have a bad feeling towards Zhantai Wuyuan. This kid could manipulate him at the age of six, smart; he had the cultivation of the Yuan Dan Realm at such a young age, a high talent for cultivation; he didn't look bad either, after all, he resembled Zhan Taiqing by seventy to eighty percent; the key was that he knew Zhantai Wuyuan, like his own son Hou Wuji, also grew up in the Five Elements Heaven. Although older in actual age, psychologically, they were both just little kids.

"Just because it's your aunt's order, does that mean I have to obey?"

Having said this, Hou Yuxiao shook his head. Seeing Zhantai Wuyuan get angry again, he found it amusing and, with the intent of teasing him a little, asked, "What's in the Divine Sect's treasure vault that's so important to you? Tell me, if the reason is suitable, maybe I'll really help you..."

Duanmu Hong clearly saw that Hou Yuxiao was teasing but didn't interrupt, his expression remained calm and undisturbed, just silently watching Zhantai Wuyuan and Hou Yuxiao's conversation.

"In the Divine Sect's treasure vault, there's a Soul Returning Spirit Wood, it can save my mother!"

Upon hearing these words, Hou Yuxiao immediately furrowed his brows.

"Who told you this?"

"Of course, it was my aunt."

......

Hou Yuxiao looked at Zhantai Wuyuan, and a trace of pity flashed through his eyes.

Here was another silly boy about to be fooled crippled by Sikong Yue.

He truly wanted to say, silly boy, do you know who killed your mother?

Even if the Soul Returning Spirit Wood truly existed, Sikong Yue would never use it to resurrect Zhan Taiqing. Given the Zhantai Family's influence in the Rakshasa Holy Sect, resurrecting Zhan Taiqing would be akin to Sikong Yue digging her own grave. With the New Moon Cult in its prime, would someone as clever as Sikong Yue make this foolish mistake?

Hence, this was yet another one of Sikong Yue's plots.

After thinking it over, Hou Yuxiao still refrained from revealing the truth to Zhantai Wuyuan.

Perhaps some compassion was stirred within him; Zhantai Wuyuan was proud by nature, but ultimately just a kid. Seeing his attitude towards Sikong Yue, he must hold extreme respect and care for the aunt who raised him. If he learned the truth, it might genuinely be unbearable for him.

"Enough of this, I won't agree with you, just because it's your aunt..."

"National Master Hou, you will agree!"

......

Duanmu Hong, who had been silent all along, spoke.

Hou Yuxiao's brows furrowed tightly, he didn't want to waste any more time here.

But just as he was about to speak, Duanmu Hong spoke again:

"National Master Hou, if you trace back nine years, you'll know everything..."

Hou Yuxiao's once stable face suddenly transformed drastically, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stared at Duanmu Hong, filled with disbelief and astonishment.

How could it be possible!

Retracing, how did he know?

That was the new function unlocked after the tenth white petal of the Divine Lotus was illuminated.

He told no one, how did Duanmu Hong know!

No, it was Sikong Yue.

Sikong Yue, how did she know!