CHAPTER 61: WANG ZHAO? WHERE IS HE?

Right in Li Shen’s VIP room, he turned around when he noticed one of the auction staff coming with the continent map he had obtained.

The continent map was carefully stored in a wooden box tied with a rope to ensure that no one would take it or disturb it. They were really protecting the authenticity of the map.

"Here’s your item, Young Master Li," said the auction staff.

Li Shen nodded. He stepped back and accepted the wooden box. Li Shen untied the rope and opened the box, revealing the rolled-up continental map that Li Shen had been looking for.

The map was authentic and complete, just as Zhou Nan had described.

"Thank you."

After finishing his business, the auction staff left Li Shen’s VIP room. But Li Shen turned to the side and saw a man with a hood approaching him. The man was quite mysterious.

"What?" asked Li Shen, putting the map of the continent into his magic bag.

"My Fellow Daoist, there is no need to worry or be afraid. I do not come here with bad intentions," replied the man.

"Then?"

"The young lady of the Wang family wishes to meet you. She is waiting in her VIP room," explained the man.

"The Wang family?" asked Li Shen.

"What does the young lady of the Wang family want from me? I am just a wandering cultivator," replied Li Shen.

"I do not know. Only the young lady knows," explained the man.

The longer he stayed, the more suspicious Li Shen became. He turned his head and saw Li Xun still watching him. The woman responded with a slight nod, as if agreeing to let Li Shen go meet someone from the Wang family.

Li Shen nodded. He followed the man to the VIP room where the young lady of the Wang family was. Surprisingly, it was not far from where Li Shen was, so it didn’t take him long to arrive.

"Excuse me, Young Lady. Master Li is here," replied the man, entering and informing the woman in the purple dress.

"Good. Tell him to come in," said the young lady of the Wang family, and her bodyguard obeyed.

Li Shen walked in and met a woman in a purple dress. When Li Shen was in the VIP room with the woman, the young lady of the Wang family immediately stood up and turned around. She smiled and welcomed Li Shen.

"I didn’t expect the cultivator family from the Qing continent to be here. You are far from home, Master Li," said the woman, stepping slowly until she was right in front of Li Shen.

"How do you know that I’m not from here?" asked Li Shen.

"Because the Wang family and the Li family have been friends for a long time. You must have realized that, right?" asked the woman.

"Who are you, really?" asked Li Shen, curious.

"I am Wang Luqi. I am the granddaughter of Wang Zhao," replied Wang Luqi.

"Wang Zhao? Wait! You are his granddaughter? Where is he?" asked Li Shen.

"Do you know my grandfather?"

Li Shen was silent, then nodded slowly. He still remembered who Wang Zhao was, because his long memory was in line with his long life.

Long story short, Wang Zhao was one of Li Shen’s friends whom he met during the grand tournament of the three clans. Li Shen and four other cultivators went to represent the Qing Continent.

At that time, Li Shen met Wang Zhao. At first, they were enemies, but the difficulties they faced during the tournament brought them closer together, and enemies became friends.

After the three clan tournament ended, Li Shen visited Wang’s family several times to meet Wang Zhao.

However, since Li Shen ascended to the Immortal Palace, their relationship had grown distant, and Li Shen never heard from him again.

Now, after thousands of years had passed, he still heard news of Wang Zhao, specifically from his current granddaughter. However, Li Shen did not know what condition he was in.

"Yes, he was my good friend during the Great Three Clan Tournament. I haven’t heard from him since he ascended to the Immortal Palace," Li Shen replied.

"Friend? Immortal Palace? If that’s the case, why is your cultivation only at the Golden Core Formation stage?"

"To participate in the auction, of course. I forgot the way back to the Qing Continent and the Qing Yan Kingdom," Li Shen answered.

"But with this map, I can return there," continued Li Shen.

Wang Luqi still looked shocked. She did not expect the man in front of her to be someone with such high cultivation, even surpassing her or perhaps her grandfather. An idea about Li Shen’s whereabouts crossed her mind.

"With your abilities, can you help me?" asked Wang Luqi.

Li Shen fell silent, curious about Wang Luqi’s reason for asking for his help. He glanced at her two escorts, but they did not respond.

"What?" asked Li Shen.

"Right now, my grandfather is in a bad condition. This has been going on for 100 years," replied Wang Luqi.

"What condition?" asked Li Shen.

"He’s been sealed with blood," replied Wang Luqi.

"Don’t say seal! I’m really sick of this," explained Li Shen, sighing.

"Seals are stronger than curses, seals have the potential to be worse than curses, and they are not easy to break," replied Li Shen.

"I know. That’s why my grandfather has managed to survive until now—because he’s been in closed-door cultivation."

"During closed-door cultivation, the Wang family became very vulnerable to any sudden attacks from other cultivator families," revealed Wang Luqi.

"With your abilities, maybe you can break my grandfather’s seal," explained the woman, looking pleadingly.

Li Shen fell silent, his hands folded in front of his chest as he held his chin, thinking hard. Perhaps he could do something after seeing Wang Zhao’s condition.

However, to decide whether he could help her or not, he would have to base his decision on his observations later.

After all, Wang Zhao was his friend, and Li Shen had to do whatever he could for him.

"I can’t decide whether I can release the seal or not. I have to go see his condition for myself," replied Li Shen.

"Of course. I’ll be happy to take you to the Wang family residence," said Wang Luqi enthusiastically.

Li Shen nodded. He also left a message for them that if they wanted to leave, they could visit his VIP room right after the auction was over.

Wang Luqi nodded and said clearly that she would go see Li Shen after the auction was over. Li Shen took his leave from Wang Luqi’s VIP room.

Li Shen stepped outside and arrived at his VIP room. There, Li Xun immediately stood up and asked about what had happened earlier.

"Did something happen?" asked Li Xun.

"I just met a family member of an old friend."

The man walked over to the wooden table and poured more tea into his cup. Li Xun sat back down next to Li Shen.

"An old friend? Does Father have friends in the Ming Continent?" asked Li Xun. Li Shen cleared his throat.

"Yes, and he’s suffering. I have to help him later."

"We might be late getting home. I hope you don’t mind, Xun’er," Li Shen explained.

Li Xun smiled and shook her head, "Wherever you go, I will follow because every time you do something, I gain valuable new information. That might help me understand the Rules of Heaven."