In the following days, Lu Yi and Jiang Fan spent most of their time cultivating in the palace. At night, they would go out to try their luck, hoping to encounter the demonic cultivator.


    Unfortunately, they hadn''t come across the demonic cultivator yet.


    As for Bai Yulong, he was so captivated by the pleasures of the capital that he seemed to have forgotten about everything else, lingering in various entertainment establishments.


    Lu Yi expressed disdain, though he couldn''t help but feel a slight tinge of envy.


    Meanwhile, the disaster relief efforts were proceeding intensely.


    Starting from the second day, corrupt officials in the capital were being raided, and all their confiscated assets were used for disaster relief. This caused the officials in the capital to tremble in fear, worried that they might be next.


    Various orders were also issued from the royal palace, all focused on disaster relief.


    Rumors began to spread among the refugees about how immortal masters showed mercy to disaster victims. Even when Lu Yi walked through the streets, he could hear such tales.


    This left Lu Yi feeling a small sense of satisfaction.


    ......


    Eight days passed quickly.


    Late one night, Lu Yi was cultivating in his room when a presence suddenly landed in the palace. A female voice called out, "Lu Yi, Jiang Fan! We''ve found traces of the demonic cultivator!"


    Lu Yi''s eyes snapped open, and a faint glimmer of light flashed through them.


    In the next moment, Lu Yi''s figure vanished from his spot, and his door was already open.


    In the courtyard, a middle-aged woman with an anxious expression was waiting. Her name was Qin Fang, one of the Qi Refining cultivators Lu Yi had encountered earlier, aside from Li Qing. She was at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.


    Judging by her age, her talent was average. Like the other middle-aged cultivator, she had become a rouge cultivator through a stroke of luck by obtaining a cultivation technique.


    As Qin Fang grew more anxious, Lu Yi''s figure suddenly appeared in front of her, as if he had been there all along. He asked, "Where is the person?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Qin Fang was so startled that her heart almost stopped.


    When did this Daoist friend Lu appear?! I didn''t even sense him!


    Doesn''t he know that scaring people can be fatal?


    Qin Fang quickly responded, "It''s in the northern part of the city. Lord Li has already gone ahead!"


    Lu Yi raised an eyebrow. Over the past few days, he and Jiang Fan had explored the entire capital. The central area housed the royal palace, the east was the busiest commercial district, the west was home to officials and wealthy merchants, the south was where ordinary people lived, and the north was an area filled with gangs and chaos.


    When Lu Yi and Jiang Fan had entered the north before, some thugs had even tried to rob them, thinking they were wealthy targets.


    While Qin Fang was explaining, Jiang Fan also emerged from his room. His ordinary face bore a serious expression as he said, "Lu Yi, should we go now?"


    Lu Yi nodded and asked, "Where is Bai Yulong?"


    Jiang Fan''s mouth twitched. "I checked earlier. He''s still in the brothel. Fortunately, it''s near the northern district, so we can pick him up along the way."


    Lu Yi rubbed his forehead, feeling speechless. "Let''s bring him along."


    Jiang Fan nodded.


    Lu Yi turned to Qin Fang and said, "You go first. We''ll catch up shortly."


    Qin Fang nodded and hurried off.


    Lu Yi and Jiang Fan transformed into streaks of light and disappeared from the palace.


    Lu Yi''s speed needed no elaboration, and Jiang Fan, being quite talented, was also fast enough to keep up. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to comprehend Foundation Establishment techniques while still in the Qi Refining stage.


    With Jiang Fan leading the way, they soon arrived at a brothel called Spring Breeze Pavilion and found Bai Yulong.


    When Bai Yulong heard about the demonic cultivator, he hurriedly left the room, still dressing as he walked. The two ladies who accompanied him looked at him with resentment, making Lu Yi feel awkward.


    Jiang Fan, however, remained calm and said, "Let''s go."


    "Wait, let me finish getting dressed!" Bai Yulong protested while fastening his belt.


    The three of them moved swiftly across rooftops. Bai Yulong was slightly slower than Jiang Fan and Lu Yi.


    Lu Yi glanced at Bai Yulong and teased, "Bai Yulong, speed up. Don''t tell me you''ve been visiting brothels so much that your legs have gone weak?"


    Bai Yulong''s face stiffened, and he retorted, "You two jerks are just naturally faster than me, okay? A few days of fun won''t slow me down!"


    Jiang Fan chuckled and said, "Since Bai Yulong''s legs are weak, let''s not wait for him."


    "Can''t you understand plain speech?!" Bai Yulong''s face darkened.


    At that moment, a loud explosion echoed.


    The trio''s expressions changed as they looked toward the source of the sound.


    They were already in the western part of the city, and in the distance, a cluster of low grass huts had been torn apart. Spiritual energy spread outward, and waves of force rippled through the air.


    A blood-red streak of light shot out and fled into the distance.


    Seeing this, Jiang Fan''s expression changed. "It''s the demonic cultivator! Damn it, he''s escaping!"


    Bai Yulong frowned. "He''s too far. Can we catch up? Li Qing couldn''t stop him?!"


    They were still some distance away from the demonic cultivator.


    While the two were speaking, a white streak of light shot past them, surrounded by swirling wind and faint clouds.


    Lu Yi''s figure was enveloped in clouds. In just a few breaths, he had overtaken them and was chasing the blood-red light.