My classmates chose martial arts and fantasy, but I chose the prehistoric world.

When Xuanming uttered the words "Please come into the sect for a chat," everyone present could hear the frustration and apprehension in his tone.

But he had no other choice.

Meng Chuan put away the token and calmly followed Xuan Ming, passing through the gate of the Underworld King Sect and entering the depths of the mountain range shrouded in gray-black death energy.

Along the way, the disciples of the Underworld Sect gave way, their eyes filled with fear, curiosity, and disbelief.

A remnant of the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws actually swaggered into the headquarters of the Underworld Sect as an inner disciple of the Lonely Wild Goose Holy Land.

Xuanming led Meng Chuan into a side hall, ordered someone to serve him spiritual tea, and was so polite that he was almost reserved.

"Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan, please wait a moment. I have already sent someone to retrieve the list of prisoners captured in the battle of the Myriad Laws Hall back then."

Meng Chuan picked up the teacup, but didn't drink from it. He simply held it in his hand, playing with it, and calmly looked at Xuan Ming.

"Elder Xuanming, I hope you understand—I'm not here to interrogate you. I'm just here to find someone. Once I find her, I'll leave immediately."

Xuanming nodded hurriedly: "Understood, understood. The attack on the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws was a joint effort between my Underworld Sect and the Blood Sword Sect. Some of the captured disciples of the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws were imprisoned by my Underworld Sect, while the rest were handed over to the Blood Sword Sect. I have already sent people to check my sect's prison roster, and I have also sent a message to the Blood Sword Sect, asking them to send over their list of prisoners as well."

He adopted a very humble attitude.

There's no way to avoid lowering your expectations.

Being an inner disciple of the Lonely Goose Holy Land is like a sword hanging over one's head.

The Underworld Sect might be considered one of the top second-tier forces in the southern part of the Divine Realm Continent, but it is utterly insignificant in the face of a behemoth like the Lonely Goose Holy Land.

Let alone a mere Fourth Elder, even if the Sect Master of the Underworld Sect himself came, he wouldn't dare to neglect an inner disciple of the Lonely Wild Goose Holy Land.

A moment later, a deacon from the Underworld Sect hurriedly arrived carrying a jade scroll and presented it to Xuanming.

Xuanming took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, examined it carefully, then shook his head and handed the jade slip to Meng Chuan:

"Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan, this is a list of all the prisoners from the Hall of Myriad Laws held by my Underworld Sect. There are a total of 427 people, all with names, surnames, and portraits. Take a look and see if the person you are looking for is there?"

Meng Chuan took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense.

Four hundred and twenty-seven names, four hundred and twenty-seven faces.

Yan Qing is not included.

He had expected this and wasn't disappointed. He simply returned the jade slip to Xuan Ming and said calmly, "It's not here. Then, what about the list from the Blood Sword Sect?"

Just as Xuanming was about to answer, a voice suddenly came from outside the hall:

"Fourth Elder, the Blood Sword Sect has replied."

Another steward strode into the hall, holding a communication jade talisman in his hands, his expression somewhat strange.

Xuanming took the jade talisman and read the information within, his brows gradually furrowing.

"What's wrong?" Meng Chuan asked.

Xuanming pondered for a moment, then truthfully replied, "The Blood Sword Sect said... there is no woman named Yan Qing in their list of prisoners held by the Hall of Myriad Laws. Moreover, they said that the list of prisoners counted after the war was checked against the list of my Underworld King Sect, and there were no omissions."

Meng Chuan remained silent for a moment.

This result is not surprising.

He had already calculated using the law of cause and effect that Yan Qing was still alive, but her whereabouts were unknown.

If she didn't fall into the hands of the Underworld Sect and the Blood Sword Sect, then there's only one possibility left—

She escaped during the chaos when the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws was destroyed.

Given her alertness and resourcefulness, this is not impossible.

"I see."

Meng Chuan stood up, his expression calm. "In that case, I will go to the Blood Sword Sect to confirm it myself."

Xuanming nodded: "In that case, I will accompany you."

He offered to accompany them, mainly as a gesture of goodwill.

Meng Chuan nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Xuanming."

The Blood Sword Sect's mountain gate is located in the Blood Flame Mountains, a place extremely far west of the Underworld King Sect.

The entire mountain range is crimson red, supposedly because a divine bird fell here in ancient times, and its blood soaked the rocks, remaining unchanged for hundreds of millions of years.

The architectural style of the Blood Sword Sect is also very different from that of the Underworld Sect—the Underworld Sect is gloomy and mysterious, while the Blood Sword Sect is full of sharp and murderous aura. Sword-shaped sculptures and blood-red flags can be seen everywhere in the sect, and even the air is filled with a faint smell of blood.

Xuanming had informed them of their identities in advance, so when Meng Chuan and his companion arrived at the Blood Sword Sect's gate, elders of the sect were already waiting to greet them.

They were greeted by Blood Butcher, the third elder of the Blood Sword Sect's inner sect.

This man was burly, with a face full of scars, and a pair of eyes like copper bells that exuded a fierce aura; he was clearly not a kind person.

But his attitude was quite polite.

"Elder Xuanming, it's been many years. How have you been?"

Xue Tu cupped his hands and smiled, but his gaze subtly swept over Meng Chuan beside Xuan Ming. "This must be... Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan from the Lonely Goose Holy Land, right?"

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

"It is an honor for our Blood Sword Sect to have Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan as a guest."

Blood Butcher laughed and stepped aside, "Please come in, please come in."

He acted warmly and hospitably, but Meng Chuan could sense a subtle wariness and vigilance hidden deep within his large, bell-like eyes.

Clearly, the Blood Sword Sect had already received information about Meng Chuan's identity and purpose.

The group entered the Blood Sword Sect's council hall and took their seats as guests and hosts.

Blood Butcher ordered his men to serve him spirit tea. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took the initiative to get to the point:

"Elder Xuanming has already explained Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan's purpose in the message. To be honest, my Blood Sword Sect is holding a total of 513 prisoners from the Hall of Myriad Laws. Their names are listed here. Please take a look, Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan."

He took out a blood-red jade slip and handed it to Meng Chuan.

Meng Chuan took it, probed it with his divine sense, and examined it carefully three times.

Five hundred and thirteen names, one by one, without omission.

There is indeed no Yan Qing.

He returned the jade slip to Blood Butcher, his face revealing neither joy nor anger: "Thank you, Elder Blood Butcher. It seems my disciple is indeed not in your sect's hands."

Xue Tu waved his hand, looking indignant: "Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan, you are too kind. Back then, the attack on the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws was due to the circumstances, each serving their own master. Now that you are an inner disciple of the Lonely Goose Holy Land, with a bright future ahead, let's let bygones be bygones."

He put it well, both distancing himself from the situation and expressing goodwill.

Meng Chuan smiled noncommittally and was about to get up to take his leave—

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the main hall.

Immediately afterwards, a slightly arrogant young voice rang out:

"Elder Blood Butcher, I heard that an inner disciple from the Lonely Goose Holy Land has arrived at your Blood Sword Sect? This young master would like to see what kind of person he is that warrants such a grand mobilization."

Before the words were finished, a young man dressed in a brocade robe strode into the main hall.