Chapter 291 - 290: Xia He and Li Qinghe Disappear

Outside the Star Martial Police Bureau.

Quitting time.

The afterglow of the setting sun was fading.

White doves took flight before the main gate amidst a bustling crowd. Off-duty officers, having changed out of their uniforms, strolled along the main street.

"Captain Xia, you’re so close with the Commander now, you’re practically family... When you make it big, don’t forget about us brothers!"

On the street, a few squad members crowded around Xia He.

"Your wife really brings you good luck."

"Soon it won’t be Captain Xia anymore. We’ll have to call you Director Xia!"

"Don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous, Captain..."

"..."

"Tsk, tsk... Look at you lot. Have some ambition!"

Xia He curled his lip, gazing at the bustling street with a smug grin. "My dreams are much bigger than that! Director of Jianghai? This temple is too small for me.

If I’m going to do something, I’m going to be the best.

I’m going to climb my way to the very top, step by step, and become the Director-General for the entire country!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

"Captain Xia is the man!!"

Hearing this, the squad members trailing behind immediately chimed in with more flattery. "With your wife supporting you and your own strength, Captain, you’ll definitely soar through the ranks. Reaching the Innate Realm is a sure thing!"

"The Innate Realm?"

Xia He shook his head slightly at the mention of it, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He chuckled foolishly. "Just the mere Innate Realm? I, Xia He, have the makings of a Grandmaster."

"Such ambition, Captain..."

"I heard you’re on good terms with the Sword God’s first disciple. What’s the Grandmaster Realm? Maybe you’ll even become a Venerable someday, right?"

A squad member scratched his head, took out his phone, and opened a map app, saying eagerly, "There’s a good barbecue place nearby. We brothers should celebrate with you in advance. Once you get busier, it’ll be hard to get together..."

As he spoke.

Suddenly!

A cold, sinister voice rang out.

"Not even at the Innate Realm yet? With such a worthless constitution, you dare to even speak of the Venerable Realm?!"

Huh?

’Who is that?’

As the voice faded, the squad members froze for a moment, then looked up in its direction. They immediately spotted a strange, black-robed figure at a corner up ahead.

His magnificent velvet robe billowed, and he wore an ancient mask inscribed with writing. He was waiting for them, perfectly composed.

His killing intent was palpable!

"Who... who are you?"

Seeing this, Xia He grew vigilant and gripped his Star Ring, preparing to activate the Spiritual Artifact within.

The squad members around him spread out defensively, shielding him in the center.

Now that his strength and his position in the bureau had grown, reaching the Innate Realm was practically a given. As a result, certain cultists saw him as a thorn in their side, leading to endless assassination attempts.

That was why the security detail assigned by the Commander...

...were all at the peak of the Postnatal Realm.

"Hah. The futile struggles of ants. A dead man walking is not worthy of knowing my name."

However, the man opposite them spoke coldly and began to walk slowly toward Xia He. His pace was unhurried, and he completely ignored the squad members protecting him.

TAP... TAP...

His footsteps drew closer.

The next moment.

BOOM!

A Venerable-Level pressure erupted!

Cracks spread across the ground!

Star Pressure descended upon the area, coalescing into a tangible force. In an instant, the guards couldn’t withstand it and were forced to their knees, bowing their heads. Only Xia He remained standing, struggling to hold on.

"A desperate struggle."

The black-robed man appeared before Xia He and grabbed his shoulder with one hand. "At least this way, your worthless life can be put to use. Dying in service to the Alliance will be a worthy end for you."

With that, their figures flickered and vanished from sight.

The Star Pressure within the Domain dissipated.

The street was empty and silent.

The remaining police squad members, having survived the ordeal, gasped for air. They looked around, and their hearts sank as they frantically pulled out their phones.

"This is bad! Quick, quick... Go inform the Commander!"

"His son-in-law has been kidnapped!"

...

...

「At the same time.」

The Jianghai Library.

In the security office.

"What do you mean you can’t find her?"

Li Daoming’s expression was as grim as still water as he stared at the massive screen before him.

The screen displayed dozens of camera feeds, closely monitoring every corner of the library. Three high-level library executives stood beside him, sweat dripping down their foreheads.

"Clan Head, we’ve searched the entire area around the library."

They kept their heads bowed, not daring to meet the enraged Li Daoming’s gaze, their legs trembling. "But the problem is, we later found several employees who saw the Young Miss, and they all confirmed that she never walked out of the library. The Young Miss is truly no longer inside."

"Clan Head, please take a look at this."

A Li Family Steward, sweat beading on his temples, came before Li Daoming and handed him a tablet.

"This was just discovered. It’s footage from near Area 2. Please see for yourself."

"..."

Li Daoming’s brow furrowed. He took the tablet and tapped the screen to view the footage.

On the screen, the time stamp showed it was around 4:20 PM. Dusk had fallen.

The location was the rest area in Lending Area 2 of the library. Outside the window, the last of the sun’s afterglow was gone.

Li Qinghe was tidying a bookshelf, having finished slacking off for the day. She was getting ready to clock out and head home, walking down the long corridor. From time to time, stewards and other employees greeted her as they passed. A peaceful, ordinary daily routine...

But!

But just as Li Qinghe turned a corner, for the briefest moment she was out of everyone’s line of sight. In a mere millisecond, the space around her trembled, and a thick black fog erupted, enveloping and swallowing her in an instant!

The next moment,

the smoke cleared.

She had vanished from the corner!

"What happened after that?"

Li Daoming’s face was expressionless, but his throat twitched, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged. "Was there no other surveillance footage from the area?"

"The trail... it ends there, Clan Head. This is the only trace of the Young Miss we could find. Afterward, the Head Steward dispatched our family’s manpower and issued an urgent decree to search for several miles around, but we couldn’t find a single sign of her..."

The steward stammered, his voice trembling, "Based on the circumstances, we suspect... we suspect that the perpetrator was a Venerable Powerhouse. Otherwise, it would be impossible for her to disappear without a trace..."

’A suspected Venerable Powerhouse...’

Hearing this, Li Daoming’s heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat broke out from his pores.

His thoughts raced.

The first thing he thought of was the Venerable Alliance!

On the surface, Jianghai City was peaceful, but in reality, dark undercurrents were surging beneath the calm. His daughter was also a member of the Heaven-Blasting Gang, putting her at odds with those Venerable Powerhouses.

And now she was in their hands. The consequences were unimaginable!

’It’s over...’

...

「And at that very moment.」

Several miles away, in Fuhai District.

In his room, Qin Yang sat cross-legged.

Calm Heart Incense burned in the corner, its thin blue smoke curling upwards. He was meditating with his eyes closed, serene and content, as a Golden Dragon Illusion coiled above his head.

His Dharma Aspect was becoming more distinct.

Layers of ethereal golden scales materialized on the surface of his skin, his figure appearing both draconic and human.

Suddenly!

Three red lines flashed into existence.

They appeared in the palm of Qin Yang’s hand, only to vanish into the air an instant later.

Like some kind of omen.

"Hm? What’s this?"

Qin Yang sensed the disturbance and withdrew from the Enlightenment Space. He stopped his meditation on the True Dragon Dharma Aspect and opened his hand, staring at the three broken, blood-colored strings in his palm.

A look of surprise crossed his face.

’The bloodlines... they actually snapped...’