Open up and break into another world

Both Zhai Ba and Lin Muqing wore expressions of identical astonishment and bewilderment.

“Release him?” Zhai Ba barely moved his lips, not even making a sound.

Lin Muqing, however, instantly understood, returning the same lip movement: “Release him!”

The orders from the higher-ups changed so suddenly, making Zhai Ba, as a subordinate, feel extremely awkward. He looked at Wen Shuai: “Third Prince, Xu Kai, you can take him away now!”

Take him away now?

Xu Ming, Wen Shuai, Sun Ji, and the others, upon hearing these words, didn't react with joy, but… with equal bewilderment.

The negotiations, which they couldn't reach an agreement on no matter what, even with Wen Shuai “selling face,” and even with Xu Ming offering five hundred thousand taels of gold; yet in the blink of an eye, Zhai Ba was proactively offering to release him.

What exactly was going on?

However, this wasn't the time to investigate the matter. Fearing that Zhai Ba and Lin Muqing might go back on their word, Xu Ming and Wen Shuai hurriedly brought Xu Kai out.

Xu Kai had only been imprisoned for a short time and hadn't been subjected to any abuse yet; when he came out, he still looked refreshed and in good spirits, clearly in excellent condition.

“Uh, why are you all here?” Xu Kai asked, somewhat embarrassed.

“Let's talk about it after we get back!” Xu Ming said.

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Lin Muqing.

“I wasn't even planning on continuing to argue with this Lin Muqing, but he insisted on playing dirty tricks on me! Since that's the case…” A cold glint flashed in Xu Ming's eyes.

If Lin Muqing could play such a dirty trick once, he could do it a second time. Xu Ming's own strength was increasing, so he wasn't afraid of these petty tricks; however, people like Xu Kai and Sun Ji, who were close to Xu Ming, could easily be threatened.

“Looks like I need to find an opportunity…” Xu Ming was very clear that in this world, those who were decisive and ruthless were more suited to survive.

Lin Muqing's expression wasn't pleasant: “I originally planned to use this opportunity to get rid of Xu Kai, to give Xu Ming a warning; but for some reason, the First Prince went crazy and suddenly ordered his release… Forget it, letting go of a small character like Xu Kai is insignificant! But Xu Ming…”

Lin Muqing subtly cast his gaze towards Xu Ming: “You won't live much longer!”

“During the conversation just now, I heard Zhai Ba imply that Wen Man didn't allow him to release Xu Kai!” Wen Shuai said, “But then suddenly, it seemed like Zhai Ba and Lin Muqing simultaneously received some order that scared them into releasing him immediately!”

Xu Ming thought about it: “This order could only have come from the First Prince!—But the First Prince originally didn't allow them to release him, so why did he suddenly order them to release him?”

This was exactly what Xu Ming and the others couldn't figure out.

“I guess Wen Man might have been subjected to some significant external pressure!” Wen Shuai said.

“How many people in the Flying Cloud Kingdom can put significant pressure on him?” Xu Ming retorted, “And why would such a big shot stand up for me?”

“That's true!”

Just as the group had been discussing for a long time without figuring anything out, Xu Ming suddenly received a message.

“Come see me!”

These simple four words came from Gu Hanmo.

“What's wrong?” Wen Shuai asked.

“It's Prefecture Lord Gu looking for me.”

“Prefecture Lord Gu?” Wen Shuai immediately grasped a key point, “Could it be that Prefecture Lord Gu stood up for you?—Prefecture Lord Gu's status is very transcendent; even my father the Emperor has to give him face; if he really stood up for you, Wen Man would definitely not dare to disrespect him!”

“Is it really her?” Xu Ming had investigated Gu Hanmo, so he knew that Gu Hanmo was actually a woman, but Wen Shuai wouldn't know, “I'll go see what she wants to talk to me about.”

…

Gu Hanmo, as the Prefecture Lord of the Wild Desolation Martial Academy, naturally lived within the academy.

Even the elders within the academy rarely visited Prefecture Lord Gu's courtyard; but Xu Ming had been there several times.

However, this time, Xu Ming only saw Gu Hanmo's back from afar and noticed that Gu Hanmo's temperament was very different from before. He felt that Gu Hanmo seemed to have merged into a painting; and the surrounding天地 nature was this painting.

“What a profound feeling!”

At this moment, Gu Hanmo suddenly turned around, as if walking out of the painting.

“You've come?” Gu Hanmo still had the appearance of a playboy, casually pointing to a tea table nearby, “Sit.”

Xu Ming sat down without any politeness.

He knew that Gu Hanmo regarded him as a friend, even though Gu Hanmo's strength was very strong and his background very mysterious, he didn't look down on him at all.

“Has the matter been resolved?” As soon as he sat down, Gu Hanmo asked a question out of nowhere.

Xu Ming was stunned, then smiled: “Prefecture Lord Gu, it really was you who helped!”

Gu Hanmo poured two cups of tea: “Do you know why I want to help you?”

Xu Ming unceremoniously took a cup and drank it: “I don't know.”

Gu Hanmo said: “If you don't know, it can only be blamed on your narrow-mindedness!”

“Oh? How do you mean?” Xu Ming and Gu Hanmo could be considered to have some friendship, and even their speech was very casual.

“I just want to tell you that the Flying Cloud Kingdom is just a small place, a tiny piece of land!” Gu Hanmo stated slowly, “This tiny piece of land is destined to be unable to accommodate you; you belong to a wider world! So—everything that happens in this tiny piece of land is just a trivial matter to you!”

Xu Ming listened.

“Don't you think that wasting precious cultivation time for some trivial matters is squandering your talent?” Gu Hanmo asked.

Squandering talent?

Xu Ming only wanted to say, I have a talent for a hair, if I didn't have a cheat, I don't know if I'm at the Second Level of External Training! It's just that Xu Ming couldn't explain this kind of thing to Gu Hanmo at all!

“So, you're helping me because you want me not to waste precious cultivation time?” Xu Ming raised an eyebrow.

“That's right!” Gu Hanmo said, “In the future, put more effort into cultivation! If there's anything difficult to solve in the mundane world, just tell me!”

“Uh… thank you!” Xu Ming didn't expect that Gu Hanmo would give him such a big promise.

“You just need to cultivate well!” Gu Hanmo emphasized again, “Remember, the Flying Cloud Kingdom is just a tiny piece of land!”

Then, the two chatted casually for a while.

“By the way! I might be leaving the Flying Cloud Kingdom in a while!” Gu Hanmo suddenly said.

“Leaving the Flying Cloud Kingdom?”

“Yes, I'm going back to the Wild Desolation Sect!” Gu Hanmo said, “The reason why I came to the Flying Cloud Kingdom was to see if I could seek a breakthrough in my realm through external experience; secondly, to find talented martial artists for our Wild Desolation Sect—and now, both of these points have been completed; it's naturally meaningless for me to continue staying in the Flying Cloud Kingdom.”

“Both points have been completed?” Xu Ming was surprised and puzzled.

“Yes, in these few days, my realm has finally broken through the shackles of Insightful and entered the Harmony of Man and Nature!” Gu Hanmo smiled with satisfaction; with her so young age, being able to step into the Harmony of Man and Nature realm was indeed enough to be proud of, “As for the genius I was looking for, needless to say, it's you!—Recently, you should also prepare, take care of everything you need to in the Flying Cloud Kingdom, and then come with me to the Wild Desolation Sect!”

“Uh…” Xu Ming thought for a while and asked, “Can you tell me first, what exactly is the Wild Desolation Sect?”