“There is absolutely no mistake. Although he has taken on the appearance of an elf, the rhythm of his breathing carries the aura of a human. Even if he deliberately conceals it, he cannot hide it completely,” the branch master said with firm conviction.
Ordinary elves rarely interacted with humans and would not notice, but this branch master had dealt with human cultivators many times in the Ancestral Heart Realm.
“Since he is human, Branch Master, why did you still sell him the information?” the clerk asked, utterly bewildered.
“Miss Zi Tong’s information is not top-secret. What I gave him was only a simplified version. By selling it to him, I avoided arousing his suspicion,” the branch master explained.
The clerk suddenly understood.
“Hurry! Go and report to the City Lord!” The branch master’s expression grew grave.
“Yes, I’m on my way!” The clerk quickly agreed.
…
On the other side.
After leaving the Endless Gate, Lin Yun immediately opened the dossier and began reading.
Zi Tong: bloodline of the elven imperial family, granddaughter of the current elven patriarch, resides in the imperial palace of Heavenly Saint City.
When Lin Yun read this, he was so shocked that the dossier nearly slipped from his hand.
The entire elven race was united under the rule of the imperial family, so a person of this status carried immense weight.
“Zi Tong actually… has such an identity?” Lin Yun was overwhelmed with astonishment.
Shock quickly turned to wild joy.
“With Zi Tong’s status, rescuing An Yun suddenly feels entirely possible!” Lin Yun said excitedly.
Yet he was puzzled. If Zi Tong held such rank, why had Cang Chen, the powerful elf from Heart City, tried to kill him the moment he mentioned he was Zi Tong’s friend, instead of taking him to meet her?
Lin Yun could not make sense of it.
Was Cang Chen deliberately preventing the meeting, or did he simply hate humans that much?
Unable to figure it out, Lin Yun set the question aside for now. The urgent priority was to rescue An Yun.
He recalled the map he had bought earlier and located Heavenly Saint City.
Heavenly Saint City was the imperial capital of the elves, the headquarters of the entire race.
To find Zi Tong, he had to go there.
However, travelling to the imperial capital would be extraordinarily dangerous.
That city was the most heavily guarded place in the realm, far beyond comparison with Bango City, and the experts there were on an entirely different level.
“Even if it’s a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, I have to go,” Lin Yun resolved silently.
He had to save An Yun.
Decision made, Lin Yun headed straight for the city gate, intending to leave at once and make for Heavenly Saint City.
The distance to the imperial capital was still extremely far.
…
Meanwhile.
Bango City, main hall of the City Lord’s residence.
The clerk from the Endless Gate had already rushed to inform the City Lord that a human had entered the city.
“How could a human possibly slip in? How did the border patrols miss him?” The City Lord was stunned by the news.
A human disguised as an elf infiltrating elven territory was an extremely serious matter, and the human had reached his city.
He immediately looked up and asked, “Do we know his exact strength?”
“This subordinate does not know,” the clerk replied.
The City Lord turned at once to one of his officers. “Send the report upwards immediately, then notify every gate. Close all city gates at once and forbid anyone from leaving! We absolutely cannot let him escape. Gather forces without delay and prepare to capture him!”
“Yes, sir!” The officer acknowledged the order and hurried out.
The City Lord himself took down his battle robe from its stand.
…
On the other side.
After obtaining the information, Lin Yun headed straight for the nearest gate, planning to leave the city and proceed to the elven imperial capital, Heavenly Saint City.
But the moment he reached the gate, he discovered it had already been shut.
A large crowd of elves who wished to leave had gathered, asking what was happening.
The guards announced that every gate in the city was sealed and told everyone to disperse and await further notice.
“Why would they suddenly close the gates in broad daylight, and seal every single one?” Lin Yun frowned.
When something unusual happens, there is usually a reason. A bad feeling stirred in his heart.
“No, I must leave the city now, before anything worse occurs,” Lin Yun decided silently.
After a brief moment of thought, he turned away from the gate and began walking along the base of the city wall.
