Bai Yunfei wasn’t planning on returning to the empire just yet. First they had to visit the Soulbeast Forest.

Dragon’s Ascent Mountains and the Soulbeast Forest were next to one another, meaning it took only ten days for the group to reach the depths of the class seven zone. This was the area where the wolf clan resided and also where the Yao clan took up base.

Other than visiting Dan Teng and Hong Yin, Bai Yunfei had a few other goals in mind here. He still had Zi Jin and Ge Yiyun’s recovery to aid in. With the Yao clan there to help though, the recovery process should go without any problems. Furthermore, Bai Yunfei also wanted to give the clan most of the herbs he got in the Saint’s abode and see if it’d help them.

After the long journey and multiple battles, Bai Yunfei had plenty of high-grade medicines and herbs to make use of.

Their return sent waves throughout the Soulbeast Forest. It was primarily due to the Frostfeather Saint bringing back the remnants of the Dragon Saint King and that Xiao Qi was now a new ‘Saint King’ of the soulbeasts.

As a result, many powerful individuals and clans sought out the wolf clan to pay their respects. Aside from those such as the Blue-eyes White Dragon King, there were also quite a few soulbeasts that traveled a long distance to visit.

One thing worth mentioning was the unprecedented level of prosperity in Yao City. Never before had there been such a high level of harmony between man and soulbeast. The pills the Yao clan made to save the soulbeast puppets had the gratitude of every soulbeast out there. Within the forest, there were none that would ever think about harming them.

And that made life quite grand for the Yao clan. Back in the Qimang Mountains, they had to worry about the occasional wildbeast that’d attack them, but such a problem didn’t exist here. Many soulbeast clans offered up members to serve as guards for them, leaving scavenging for the precious herbs in the forest to be a trivial and safe task.

Without needing to worry about their safety, the Yao clan was able to dedicate the entirety of their efforts to the production of pills. The pills they made to save the soulbeast puppets were already close to perfection, but not for the others. Many of the clansmen were focused on producing other powerful pills and were able to replenish their storerooms to a greater degree than before.

......

Bai Yunfei and the others were currently taking up residency in Yao City to prepare for the times ahead.

The old manuscripts of the Yao clan described a pill that would be possible to heal the severe wounds of both Ge Yiyun and Zi Jin, but the production of such a pill was difficult due to the ingredients needed. Many of the herbs found in the Saint’s abode proved to be helpful, but it wasn’t enough. Multiple clans were requested to aid the Yao clan’s search for certain ingredients, though it remained to be seen if they would succeed.

In addition, elder Cheng, the one afflicted by Soul Puppetry when the Soul Refining School and Beast Taming School attacked the Yao clan, was able to recover thanks to Huangfu Rui.

Bai Yunfei was having a nice hard-earned vacation in the forest. He wasn’t focusing on training, but ‘touring’ the Soulbeast Forest along with Tang Xinyun. Every so often he’d go on a small jaunt with his friends, but nothing too major.

One month later and the Yao clan was able to turn most of the herbs from the Saint’s abode into a pill. They had reached the goal they all desired.

For the Frostfeather Saint, two heaven-tier pills were given to bolster his training. After thanking the clan and receiving the pills, he returned to his own territory.

Bai Yunfei was sure to divulge to the other clans of the Abyssal Snake Saint’s intervention. Several were dispatched to the mountain he resided on but no signs could be found.

He had been waiting this entire time for Shangguan Xiongyan to come to find him, but it seemed that wouldn’t be the case. To walk into the Soulbeast Forest now would be to walk into a trap.

It was probably best for Bai Yunfei to head to the Capital after this. Politically, Bai Yunfei was on the side of the Royal Family, who was most likely the more advantageous side right now. With Shangguan Xiongyan already deemed an enemy to kill, Bai Yunfei was sure he’d be able to gain the support of the Royal Family. If there was anyone that could find him, the Royal Family would most certainly be the easiest way.

He also wanted to find the last of the hiding holes the Soul Refining School had and uproot them once in for all.

The battle for the Supreme Saint’s Inheritance was the Soul Refining School’s final hope. With both their Saints dead and two more of their Soul Emperors as well, the Soul Refining School hadn’t a chance anymore. They most likely only had two Early-stage Soul Emperors or so, but it was better to burn the roots so they didn’t grow again. Only when the Soul Refining School was gone completely would Bai Yunfei be at ease.

......

While Bai Yunfei was on his ‘vacation’ in the Soulbeast Forest, there was another group of people whose emotions were the exact opposite of him.

In an unknown hall in an unknown building.

The halls were decorated with the imperial colors of red and gold, but for as spacious as it was, it only had two people standing in it. One was Shangguan Xiongyan. The other person was a middle-aged man with a regal aura, the one known as Prince Hao, the leader of the rebels...Wu Hao!!

Once loved and respected by hundreds of thousands of people, no one knew what led the younger brother of the ruler Wu Hong to betray him. Not even Shangguan Xiongyan knew.

All was quiet in this hall. Wu Hao’s head was dipped low with an expressionless look on his face as if contemplating about something for Shangguan Xiongyan.

Though they were both Saints, Shangguan Xiongyan held the utmost respect for Wu Hao. It’d only take a single command from Wu Hao for both Shangguan Xiongyan’s Regalia to be taken. Furthermore, Wu Hao still had a force behind him Shangguan Xiongyan didn’t understand. Once before, however, Shangguan Xiongyan was taken by Wu Hao to a certain place that made him realize there were still others powerful enough to kill him!

“Do you think it wise to take such a course of action?” Wu Hao queried, “If that person were to act, then all of Bai Yunfei’s Regalias and even the Supreme Saint’s Inheritance would fall into their hands. We would fail to benefit at all.”

Biting back the reluctance he had, Shangguan Xiongyan nodded. “We must get rid of Bai Yunfei, whatever the cost! He’s far too dangerous! He was weak before and yet was still able to hinder our plans. We are at a disadvantage right now, and all of it is because of him! And now that he has the Supreme Saint’s Inheritance and is a Saint, he’ll be our downfall if we don’t act! We must...if he enters the battlefield, we will be severely handicapped!”

“Bai Yunfei...” Wu Hao frowned, “he was but a mere Soul Exalt when I last saw him. Hardly a dozen years have passed and now he’s become a Saint. Why is he loved by Fate so? Had I known earlier...”

Wu Hao looked reluctant now, but that only made Shangguan Xiongyan press on. “It’s not only Bai Yunfei. Shen Pojun of the Crafting School is now a Saint and our ally Gu Jimie is dead. Should the Crafting School follow the Royal Family, our chance for victory will evaporate. Killing them before they arrive back at the empire would be the most ideal plan—of course, if you don’t wish for the ‘Bloodsoaked Demon Lord’ to act, then we could...”

“There’s no need.” Wu Hao interrupted him, “The divine ancestor will not take part against Bai Yunfei...very well then, notify the Bloodsoaked Demon Lord of the Supreme Saint’s Inheritance and let him act...the loss of the Regalias and Supreme Saint’s Inheritance will be worth it if the Crafting School’s two Saints are killed.”

The two were of incredible importance to most people, but not Wu Hao. The world was a much better prize for him. The Supreme Saint’s Inheritance wouldn’t help him much in this current atmosphere if it meant he’d lose everything. Even if he had a hundred years to slowly become the Supreme Saint and then killed the Royal Family, it wouldn’t mean much to him if he had to give up the momentum now.

“Yes! I’ll head with the Abyssal Snake Saint tomorrow to find the Bloodsoaked Demon Lord!”

Shangguan Xiongyan nodded, though he still harbored some doubts.

“So he still has a Saint backing him!! But...why won’t he act? ‘Divine ancestor’...would that be a Saint of the Royal Family? If that’s the case, how would such a person possibly take part in a civil war between his descendants?”

“Good. Notify me when you find and convinced the Bloodsoaked Demon Lord. Once Bai Yunfei is dead, head to the Capital, I may still require your power.”

“The Capital?” Shangguan Xiongyan replied, “Do you plan to...”

“We shall strike...the imperial palace!!”

Wu Hao snarled.