Chapter 6013 - 6020
The next morning, Yu Ranran arrived as promised.
She had clearly dressed meticulously, wearing a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a light gauze overlay, her hair neatly styled and adorned with delicate pearl flowers, making her even more beautiful than the flowers themselves.
Seeing Kai open the door, her eyes immediately curved into crescents.
“Mr. Chen, let’s go!”
The two walked side-by-side towards the library deep within the inner palace.
Along the way, they encountered several patrolling guards and stewards, who all bowed respectfully to Yu Ranran.
Although they harbored some doubts about Kai beside her, seeing the young lady chatting and laughing intimately with her, no one dared to approach and question him.
Soon, a magnificent and ancient seven-story tower came into view.
The tower was constructed of unknown dark blue-green stones, its surface engraved with countless mysterious runes, exuding an aura of antiquity and weight, its top shrouded in a faint spiritual mist.
This is the Jade Immortal Mansion’s library, housing countless cultivation manuals, historical secrets, and formulas for formations and pills. It is one of the important foundations of the Jade
Immortal Mansion’s heritage. At the entrance of the tower, four guards with profound auras, at least at the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, stood solemnly.
Seeing Yu Ranran approach with a strange man, the gray-robed elder at the head of the group frowned slightly, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, “Young Miss.”
“Elder Wu…”
Yu Ranran was in a good mood and said with a smile, “I brought Mr. Chen to the library to look up some ancient books. Mr. Chen is a guest elder invited by Uncle Fei. He is very knowledgeable and can help me with a few questions.”
Elder Wu glanced at Kai, his gaze sharp as a knife, and said in a deep voice, “Young Miss, the library is a very important place in the manor. Only core members of the manor or those holding special orders from the manor lord or the elders are allowed to enter. Although this Mr. Chen is a guest elder, but…”
“But what?”
Yu Ranran’s smile vanished, and her pretty face hardened. “I am the daughter of the manor lord. Can’t I even bring a friend in to look at books? Do you think I would leak the manor’s secrets?”
“Someone invited by Uncle Fei, how could there be a problem? Elder Wu, are you questioning me or Uncle Fei?”
She was already spoiled, and now, in order to protect Kai, she put on the airs of a young lady, her tone aggressive.
Elder Wu’s face stiffened. Although he held a high position, he dared not truly offend the darling daughter of the manor lord.
Moreover, he had to give some face to Chief Steward Fei Qing.
However, the manor lord had just issued a strict order yesterday…
“Young Miss, please calm down. This old man did not mean that
,” Elder Wu softened his tone. “It’s just that the manor lord ordered yesterday that security be strengthened in the manor in the coming days, and the library is of paramount importance, requiring strict control over entry and exit.”
“If Young Miss wishes to bring people in, may this old man inform the manor lord?”
“Inform what? My father is in seclusion cultivating. Do you have to disturb him for such a small matter?”
Yu Ranran was even more displeased. “I’ll only go in for a short while, look up a few books, and come out. I’ll take responsibility if anything happens! Get out of the way!”
With that, she actually grabbed Kai’s hand and tried to force her way in!
Kai chuckled inwardly, but on the surface, he appropriately showed a hint of embarrassment and apology.
The more humble and sensible he appeared, the more Yu Ranran felt Elder Wu was unreasonable, and the more determined she became to take him inside.
“Mr. Chen, there’s no need for that! I said we can go in, so we can go in!”
Yu Ranran glared at Elder Wu, and without further ado, pulled Kai past the guards and directly into the library.
Elder Wu and the other guards exchanged glances, finally sighing and not daring to forcibly stop them.
They knew this young lady’s temper; if they truly angered her, none of them would fare well.
They could only hope the Lord of the Manor wouldn’t blame them…
Entering the library, a rich aroma of books and a faint fragrance of spiritual wood wafted towards them.
The interior space was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly utilizing a spatial expansion array.
Rows of bookshelves, several meters high, were neatly arranged, filled with all sorts of jade slips, silk scrolls, bone fragments, and metal books—a dazzling array, vast and boundless.
A faint protective aura flowed between the bookshelves.
Yu Ranran knew the way well, leading Kai directly to the third floor.
“This section mainly houses ancient miscellaneous books, geographical anecdotes, and secret histories. Most of the strange records about celestial phenomena and ley lines are on this floor.”
She began browsing with great interest, occasionally pulling out a jade slip and handing it to Kai: “Mr. Chen, look at this… and this…”
While cooperating with her discussion, Kai subtly extended his divine sense like the finest tentacles, cautiously scanning the surrounding bookshelves and books.
He was searching for any records that might be related to “the Divine Race,” “Soul Refining Crystals,” “Soul Falling Slope,” or the secrets of the Jade Immortal Mansion.
Immersed in the world of ancient texts, time quietly passed.
Yu Ranran was frequently amazed by Kai’s profound knowledge, her admiration almost undisguised.
She moved closer and closer to Kai, sometimes almost leaning into his arms to see his finger gestures clearly. Strands of her hair occasionally brushed against the back of Kai’s hand, bringing a slight tickle and fragrance.
Kai maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, gentle and polite.
But occasionally, when he glanced back at Yu Ranran, a hint of appreciation and tenderness would appear in his eyes, making Yu Ranran’s heart flutter even more.
“Sigh, these gods are really annoying.”
Upon seeing a certain book recording the conflicts between ancient races, Yu Ranran suddenly pouted and muttered in dissatisfaction.
Kai’s heart stirred, but his face remained calm. He followed her words and asked, “Why do you say that, Miss? Aren’t the gods… supposed to be supreme and rule over the thirteen heavens?”
“Supreme and supreme!”
Yu Ranran pouted, as if she had found someone to confide in. She lowered her voice and said, “They are just human cultivators with better cultivation talent and earlier birth, yet they call themselves gods and look down on us cultivators.”
“They act like tyrants in our Azure Nether Immortal Continent, treating all the major families and sects as their vassals and servants! My father… my father has to be careful and obedient in front of them.”
Her tone was filled with obvious dissatisfaction and a hint of resentment.
As a favored daughter of heaven, she also had her own pride and had long harbored resentment towards the arrogant and domineering attitude of the gods.
Feeling the surging, star-studded chaotic power within him, Kai’s eyes gleamed with restrained brilliance.
Although he was still some distance from Yu Wuji, a seventh-grade Upper Immortal, his supreme chaotic power and rich combat experience gave him the confidence to confront him head-on, and even defeat him!
Of course, all this rapid improvement was built upon the long time spent within the tower.
Outside, only two days had passed.
On the morning of the third day, Kai and Yu Ranran emerged from the Demon-Suppressing Tower, radiant with energy.
Their auras were intertwined, their eyes locked, resembling a pair of celestial lovers deeply in love, their restrained cultivation only making them seem unfathomable.
However, just as they stepped out of their residence, preparing for a stroll in the garden, a cold, majestic aura, brimming with boundless fury, descended like a blizzard, enveloping the entire pavilion!
The air seemed to freeze instantly, and the maids trembled, prostrating themselves on the ground in terror.
At the entrance, Yu Wuji, dressed in a purple-gold dragon robe, stood with his hands behind his back.
His face was ashen, his eyes like cold lightning, fixed on Kai and Yu Ranran standing side by side.
Especially when he saw his daughter, radiant and full of spring in her eyes, intimately embracing that strange man, the anger in his chest almost exploded!
He had received Elder Wu’s report about Yu Ranran forcibly breaking into the library and bringing back a strange man. He
also received a secret report from Yu Ranran’s maid that Yu Ranran and Kai were cultivating together every night!
The dignified young lady of the Jade Immortal Mansion, his precious darling, had been so easily deceived and won over by a man of unknown origin who had only been in the manor for a few days, and even openly cohabiting with him!
This was an utter disgrace!
It had trampled his dignity and the rules of the Jade Immortal Mansion to nothing!
What shocked him even more was that, with his keen eyesight, how could he not see the change in his daughter’s aura?
That clearly shows signs of loss of primordial yin and an abnormal leap in cultivation in a short period of time!
And that kid next to him… he’s only an eighth-grade Celestial Immortal!
How could a Celestial Immortal reach the thirteenth level?
What methods did he use? Who exactly is he?!
“Father?!”
Yu Ranran was startled when she saw her father’s terrifyingly gloomy face. She subconsciously took a step forward, subtly shielding Kai behind her.
This subtle movement stung Yu Wuji’s eyes even more.
“Ranran,” Yu Wuji’s voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, but his gaze shot towards Kai like a sharp arrow, “Come here.”
“Father, this is Mr. Kai. Uncle Fei invited him to help me study ancient books. He is very knowledgeable and has been a great help to me…”
Yu Ranran tried to explain, but her voice was somewhat weak.
“I told you to come here!”
Yu Wuji suddenly raised his voice, and the terrifying pressure of a seventh-grade Upper Immortal erupted, like a solid mountain, pressing down hard on Kai!
He wanted to teach this arrogant brat who dared to lay a hand on his daughter a lesson, preferably crushing him to his knees and vomiting blood!
However, the expected scene did not unfold.
Kai stood still, his body not even swaying.
The oppressive aura that would terrify even ordinary third or fourth-grade Immortals vanished upon him like a mud ox sinking into the sea, only causing the hem of his moon-white robe to flutter slightly.
He raised his head, calmly meeting Yu Wuji’s icy gaze, and even bowed respectfully: “Junior Kai greets Lord Yu.” Neither humble nor arrogant, composed and self-assured.
Yu Wuji’s pupils contracted slightly.
This kid… is indeed not simple!
How could he withstand his pressure so easily?
What is his cultivation level?
What kind of technique does he practice?
“Father! What are you doing!”
Yu Ranran was anxious. She felt her father’s hostility and pressure towards Kai. She was both anxious and angry. She suddenly spread her arms and completely blocked Kai. “Kai is my guest! You can’t treat him like this!”
“Guest?”
Yu Wuji laughed angrily. He pointed at Kai and said sharply, “A scoundrel of unknown origin, who pretends to have cultivation, who used some unknown means to bewitch you, and even… even committed despicable acts, does he deserve to be a guest of my Jade Immortal Mansion?”
“Ranran, get out of the way! Today, your father will kill this scoundrel!”
Before he finished speaking, Yu Wuji had already made his move!
He didn’t intend to waste any more words. He only wanted to use thunderous means to completely eliminate this potential threat that could bring great changes!
He pointed his fingers like a knife and slashed through the air!
A terrifying blade of light, condensed to its extreme, dark gold in color, with edges that seemed to tear through space, carrying a sharp killing intent capable of severing everything, instantly traversed several meters and slashed straight at Kai’s face!
This strike was born of his true rage, containing the power of the laws of a seventh-grade Upper Immortal, its power astonishing!
“No!”
Yu Ranran screamed shrilly. Without thinking, she turned and lunged at Kai, intending to use her body to block the blade of light!
A cold glint flashed in Kai’s eyes.
He hadn’t expected Yu Wuji to be so decisive and ruthless, resorting to killing without a word.
In a flash, he grabbed the lunging Yu Ranran behind him with his left hand, and pointed his right finger.
A chaotic gray light condensed at his fingertip, and without dodging or avoiding, he lightly touched the dark gold blade of light!
Swoosh!
There was no earth-shattering collision.
The dark gold blade of light, powerful enough to cleave mountains, seemed like ice and snow under the blazing sun the moment it touched the chaotic gray light.
It dissolved and annihilated at an astonishing speed, disappearing completely without even a ripple of energy.
Yu Wuji’s expression changed drastically!
Although he hadn’t used his full strength in this attack, he had still used seven-tenths of his power, yet it had been so easily neutralized by the opponent?!
What was that gray power…?
It could actually annihilate his Gengjin Blade Aura?
Kai slowly withdrew his fingers, shielding the still-shaken and tearful Yu Ranran behind him, and calmly looked at Yu Wuji: “Lord Yu, this junior and the young lady are mutually in love, how can there be any talk of seduction and adultery?”
“Lord Yu, to take a life without asking any questions is far too domineering.”
Inside the attic, the atmosphere was completely different from the somber atmosphere outside.
After the initial shock and grievance, Yu Ranran quickly became immersed in Kai’s gentle comfort and the sweetness of their time alone.
In her view, although her father was angry, he had ultimately compromised and tacitly approved of Kai’s existence.
This made her even more convinced that as long as she and Kai truly loved each other, her father would accept it sooner or later.
“Kai, don’t be afraid. With me here, Father wouldn’t dare to really hurt you.”
Yu Ranran nestled in Kai’s arms, her slender fingers gently smoothing his slightly furrowed brows, her eyes filled with heartache and determination. “Once Father’s anger subsides, I’ll go and beg him to formally acknowledge you. You’re so outstanding, Father will definitely agree.”
Kai smiled inwardly, but his face showed deep emotion as he squeezed her hand: “I’m sorry you’ve suffered, Ranran. For me, you and your father…”
“Don’t say that!”
Yu Ranran covered his mouth, her eyes sparkling. “For you, I’m willing to do anything. And… Father… he’s actually had a hard time these past few years.”
“Every time those envoys from the Divine Race come, Father has to be careful in dealing with them. I can tell he’s not happy.”
She brought up the Divine Race again.
Kai’s heart stirred slightly, and he asked, “Are the Divine Race… really that terrifying? Even a power like Jade Immortal Mansion has to defer to them?”
Yu Ranran sighed, her eyes dimming slightly. “It’s more than just deferring to them… Father is ostensibly the lord of a manor, but in reality, he has to obey the Divine Race in many matters.”
“Every time the Divine Race envoys come, they act superior, and Father and the other elders have to greet them respectfully.”
“They demand tributes, issue orders, and if anything is disobeyed, they unleash their wrath.”
“I heard that several disobedient mid-sized powers were wiped out overnight by the Divine Race’s purgers, leaving no one alive. So… Father had no choice.”
She pressed her cheek against Kai’s chest, her voice muffled. “Sometimes, I really wish Father could be like those legendary ancient powerful beings, free from anyone’s control, completely at ease… But the Divine Race is too strong.”
“Just the four Venerables who preside over the Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall are all said to be top-tier experts at the seventh rank of the Upper Immortal Realm. Together, they are invincible in the entire Azure Nether Immortal Continent. Father is just one person…”
Kai gently patted her back, his eyes growing increasingly profound.
Seventh-rank Upper Immortal Realm experts, four of them… indeed, a suffocating force.
But, not insurmountable.
With the power of chaos, coupled with his numerous trump cards and constantly improving strength, he might not be without a fighting chance.
Moreover, the stronger the enemy, the more important the secret discovered by Senior Mu Sha and his wife is, and the more this revenge must be taken!
In the following days, Kai seemingly stayed quietly in the Xiuge Pavilion, reciting poetry and painting with Yu Ranran, discussing ancient texts, and cultivating together. Occasionally, he would use Yu Ranran to access some non-sensitive resources to further solidify and improve his cultivation.
The monitors sent by Yu Wuji didn’t discover anything unusual, only seeing a young couple deeply in love, staying indoors, indulging in their tender embrace.
However, Yu Wuji himself was far from as calm as he appeared.
Inside the secret chamber of the Wuji Palace,
Yu Wuji listened intently to the reports from several trusted elders below, his face ashen.
“Lord, we’ve utilized our networks across various immortal cities and sects to meticulously sift through nearly a century of ascension records and files on native cultivators of the Thirteenth Heaven, but we haven’t found anyone named Kai, with a cultivation level at the Celestial Immortal Realm, and matching any of the characteristics.” ”
It can be confirmed that this person is not a native cultivator of the Thirteenth Heaven. It’s highly likely he recently smuggled himself in from the lower realms through unconventional means,”
an elder in charge of intelligence said gravely. ”Smuggled in from the lower realm? How could a mere eighth-grade Celestial Immortal break through so many barriers, deceive the patrolling envoys, and enter the Thirteenth Heaven?” another elder questioned.
“That’s precisely the suspicious point ,”
the intelligence elder said. “Moreover, based on what Elder Wu saw that day, and our own observations, this boy’s true combat strength is definitely far beyond the Celestial Immortal realm.”
“He could easily neutralize the Palace Master’s pressure, and even effortlessly withstand one of the Palace Master’s attacks. His true strength is probably… no weaker than a sixth-grade Upper Immortal!”
These words silenced the secret chamber.
Geniuses who fight beyond their level are not uncommon, but to cross an entire major realm with such composure is simply unheard of!
“The cultivation technique he uses, and the power he wields, are also extremely strange,”
another elder added. “Gray, filled with an aura of annihilation, as if capable of dissolving all things. We’ve consulted numerous ancient texts, but haven’t found any records that perfectly match it. This young man must have a powerful backer, or perhaps he’s obtained some kind of earth-shattering inheritance!”
Yu Wuji lightly tapped the cold meteorite iron armrest with his fingers, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.
His eyes were deep, his thoughts churning.
A cultivator from the lower realm with a mysterious origin, bizarre strength, possessing immense treasures, and clearly approaching his daughter with ulterior motives…
Fei Qing’s disappearance, the deaths of the Tu brothers, are likely all inextricably linked to this person.
Is he targeting the Jade Immortal Mansion?
Or… the secret of Fallen Soul Slope?
Or perhaps, the Divine Race?
If it’s the former, it’s nothing more than a vendetta or a struggle for power.
If it’s the latter two… then things are complicated.
Deep down, Yu Wuji indeed harbors a deep-seated fear and… hidden resentment towards the Divine Race.
He painstakingly managed Jade Immortal City and cultivated his power, not to forever serve as someone’s lapdog, subservient to others, regularly paying tribute, and even having his most precious soul crystals extracted when disposing of prisoners on his own territory!
He once harbored ambitions to break free from the control of the gods and truly become a regional overlord.
But the power of the gods, like a sword hanging over his head, prevented him from making the slightest move.
He had personally witnessed the strength of those four god-level venerables; they were unfathomable.
Compared to them, Jade Immortal City was like a firefly compared to the bright moon.
But now… this suddenly appearing Kai was like a stone thrown into a stagnant pond, creating ripples.
The strange strength and potential he displayed gave Yu Wuji a glimpse of… a variable.
What if… what if this Kai, or the force behind him, truly had the potential to oppose the gods?
Even a sliver of possibility was worth Yu Wuji… observing, perhaps even… secretly giving him a push?
This thought, once it arose, grew wildly in Yu Wuji’s heart.
He convened this meeting of core elders not so much to discuss how to deal with Kai, but rather to test the attitudes of his confidants and pave the way for his next possible choice. ”Gentlemen,”
Yu Wuji spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the secret chamber, “Let’s put this matter aside for now. Just strengthen the surveillance of Xiuge Pavilion. As long as he doesn’t harm Ranran and doesn’t leave the pavilion, let him be. Right now, there’s something more important.”
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: “The Divine Clan envoy, as is customary, will arrive in three days to collect this season’s offerings and Soul Crystals.”
The mention of Soul Crystals caused several elders to look somewhat uneasy.
They all knew what they were and what their origins signified.
Although Fei Qing and the Tu brothers were carrying out the orders, the order ultimately came from the Lord of the Manor, and they were more or less aware of it.
“Lord of the Manor, this time the Soul Crystals…” The elder in charge of the manor’s treasury hesitated.
The newly collected Soul Refining Crystal from Luohun Slope, numbered Jiaxu 73, was still sealed in the secret treasury.
Yu Wuji’s eyes flashed, and after a moment’s thought, he said, “The envoy will be received with the highest honors. As for the Soul Crystals… explain that after the last collection, the formation experienced some fluctuations, causing the Soul Crystals to be unstable and of substandard quality. They are currently being reinforced and refined, and their submission will be postponed.”
Postponed submission?
The elders exchanged bewildered glances. This was unprecedented!
The Divine Race had strict time and quality requirements for the collection of Soul Crystals; postponing submission was tantamount to challenging the Divine Race’s rules!
Would the envoy let this go unpunished?
“Lord, this… might anger the envoy,”
one elder said worriedly.
“Enrage?”
Yu Wuji sneered. “In the past hundred years, has the quantity and quality of soul crystals offered by my Jade Immortal Mansion ever been lacking even a fraction?”
“An occasional accident, explained clearly and compensated, could they possibly destroy my Jade Immortal Mansion because of this? It’s a good opportunity to test their bottom line and reaction.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone carrying a deeper meaning: “Furthermore, issue the order that when the envoy arrives in three days, the guards at the Xiuge Pavilion… can be appropriately relaxed. Especially the patrols on the several hidden paths leading to the treasury area, adjust the timing.”
Upon hearing this, the elders were first stunned, then suddenly realized, and then their expressions changed drastically!
The Mansion Master was… deliberately creating an opportunity for Kai to contact the Divine Race envoy?!
Even… condoning him to harm the envoy?
This was simply playing with fire!
No, this was dancing on the edge of a cliff!
Once the Divine Race discovered that the Jade Immortal Mansion was intentionally condoning or even colluding with outsiders to target the envoy, it would be a catastrophic disaster!
“Mansion Master, think it over!” the elders hurriedly advised.
“My mind is made up.”
Yu Wuji waved his hand, interrupting them, his face revealing a ruthless and expectant look, almost like a gambler’s. “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Whether this Kai is a jinx or a variable depends on how much trouble he can stir up this time.”
“If he truly has the ability to severely injure or even kill that divine envoy… perhaps, the future of my Jade Immortal Mansion will be different.”
He looked towards the direction of the Xiu Pavilion, his eyes filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.
Daughter, this time, your father may have to gamble everything, including your beloved and even the entire Jade Immortal Mansion, on a colossal gamble.
Win, and the world is your oyster; lose, and you’re doomed.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Jade Immortal Mansion was brightly decorated, yet an unusual tension hung in the air.
The gates were wide open, and Yu Wuji, along with several core elders, stood solemnly waiting outside.
As the sun rose high in the sky, a clear, melodious cry of a phoenix echoed across the
heavens. A magnificent carriage, pulled by three snow-white, exceptionally swift jade phoenixes, and escorted by dozens of silver-armored, imposing divine guards, broke through the clouds and slowly descended before the Jade Immortal Mansion.
The curtain was lifted, and a handsome young man in a moon-white, star-patterned robe, with a face that carried an air of arrogance and sinister cunning, stepped down.
He appeared to be only in his early twenties, yet his cultivation was a mere sixth-grade Upper Immortal!
A faint halo of divine light surrounded him, his eyes looking down upon everyone before him as if they were nothing but ants.
It was Yun Ting, the divine envoy who had come to the Jade Immortal Mansion to collect offerings.
“Welcome, Envoy Yun Ting.”
Yu Wuji stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and bowed respectfully.
Yun Ting gave a faint “hmm,” glanced at Yu Wuji and the others, and walked straight into the mansion without lingering, as if returning to his own home.
“Lord Yu, my time is limited. Are the offerings and soul crystals ready?”
Yu Wuji hurriedly followed, forcing a smile. “You have had a long journey, envoy. The offerings are already prepared, and a banquet has been set up in the manor to welcome you. However, there was a slight mishap with the soul crystals.”
“Hmm?”
Yun Ting paused, turning to look at Yu Wuji, his eyes slightly cold. “A mishap?”
Yu Wuji looked troubled and explained, “After the last collection, the array at Falling Soul Slope experienced a brief fluctuation for some reason, affecting the stability of the soul crystal’s condensation.”
“To ensure quality, we had to reinforce and refine it again, which will take several more days to complete. Please grant me a few more days. Once the soul crystals meet the required quality, I will personally deliver them to the Divine Punishment Hall and apologize to the Venerable One.”
Yun Ting stared at Yu Wuji for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile. “Lord Yu, you have been in charge of Jade Immortal City for many years, and you have always been reliable. This time… it has surprised me.”
“Very well, since there’s a reason for this, a few more days won’t hurt. However, this banquet is cancelled; I have to go to the next place. After you’ve checked and handed over the offerings, I’ll leave immediately.”
He seemed reasonable, but a barely perceptible hint of doubt and coldness flashed deep in his eyes.
He didn’t entirely believe Yu Wuji’s excuse.
But at this moment, on Yu Xian Mansion’s territory, he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary trouble. He needed
to get the offerings and leave as soon as possible; he could send someone to investigate the soul crystal incident later.
“Yes, yes, the offerings are ready in the storeroom. Please come and inspect them, envoy.”
Yu Wuji felt a slight chill; he knew this envoy wasn’t so easily fooled, but his expression remained respectful.
The group turned towards the storeroom.