Liu Hong readily agreed. After Fang He and his party left, An Yue asked, "Senior Brother, are we going to look for someone?"
"No," Liu Hong replied coldly. "A youth at Qi Condensation Stage Seven, alone in the Roland Mountains, what do you think his chances of survival are?"
"Does Senior Brother think this person named Ze Fang has already met his end?"
"Highly likely. When we were in the ruins, that youth stayed inside the entire time and never came out. He was accompanied by many guards, clearly a rich young master who had never traveled far from home. With so many people guarding him, and yet he gets lost, do you think it was an accident?"
An Yue, sharp-minded, immediately understood. Ze Fang's disappearance was likely related to his own people. On the surface, they were searching everywhere, but in reality, it was highly probable that these very people had murdered Ze Fang, feigned a search, and then found a scapegoat!
"Speaking of which, Xiao Qin too. We've scoured the outer perimeter of the Roland Mountains almost bare, and still no trace of her. How could she be so bold to wander around the Roland Mountains alone?"
Liu Hong's expression grew serious.
"Junior Sister, do you think Xiao Qin might..."
"No!" An Yue said firmly. "She will definitely be alright!"
Liu Hong no longer argued and walked ahead in silence. Xiao Qin's cultivation wasn't high, Qi Condensation Stage Nine. Perhaps it was considered mid-to-upper among them, but Qi Condensation Stage Nine was utterly insufficient in the Roland Mountains. Even he, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, dared not act recklessly in the Roland Mountains. If they had searched everywhere and couldn't find her, then the possibility of her meeting with misfortune increased.
"Senior Brother, should we venture deeper?" An Yue inquired.
Liu Hong frowned. Venturing deeper meant a tenfold increase in danger. But looking at the people beside him, he shook his head and refused. The people he brought out this time were all his trusted confidantes, and he couldn't afford to lose them, especially when Xiao Qin's willingness to join their sect was still uncertain.
"Miss, please slow down." A voice drifted from not too far away. The group looked over and saw a woman in a goose-yellow fitted outfit, leading a team of people. Those people were wearing guard uniforms; they were guards from Wuji City.
"Greetings, esteemed immortals." Fan Ting bowed immediately upon seeing Liu Hong and his party. The disciples of the Seven Great Sects were not to be offended lightly, as Wuji City relied on the Seven Great Sects.
"You are..."
"Esteemed immortals, may I ask if you have seen a youth of this height, with a very handsome appearance, named Xiao Qin?"
"You're also looking for Xiao Qin?" An Yue asked in surprise. "What are you looking for Xiao Qin for?"
"I... I have an urgent matter to find her for." The speaker was Yan Yan, the eldest daughter of the City Lord's mansion.
"I am Fan Ting, the captain of the guards of Wuji City, and this is our City Lord's daughter."
"So, it's Miss Yan."
"Esteemed immortals, do you know where Xiao Qin is?"
Liu Hong slowly shook his head. "The last time we saw her was three months ago."
"Three months ago..." Yan Yan mused. At that time, Xiao Qin had only recently entered the Roland Mountains. "What was her cultivation level then?"
"Qi Condensation Stage Nine."
Yan Yan's eyes lit up. This meant Xiao Qin was just a step away from entering the Foundation Establishment stage. With the Foundation Establishment Pill she gave her, she would surely succeed. It had been three months, though. Why hadn't she returned to Wuji City? Her grandfather's injury could not be delayed any further.
"Then do you know if she has entered the Foundation Establishment stage?"
"Miss Yan, we haven't seen Xiao Qin since that time, so we don't know if she has entered the Foundation Establishment stage," An Yue explained. "However, the recruitment for the Seven Great Sects is approaching. I imagine Xiao Qin will return to Wuji City soon. Why don't you wait for her in Wuji City?" Su Dan Novel Network
"I wait..."
"Our young lady just happened to be coming to the Roland Mountains for training, so she's simply looking for Xiao Qin," Fan Ting interrupted Yan Yan immediately. Yan Yan then realized she had almost exposed the secret of the City Lord's mansion.
"Since you haven't encountered Xiao Qin either, we won't disturb you further. Farewell," Yan Yan said promptly, not wanting to waste time. She wanted to find Xiao Qin as soon as possible, but the Roland Mountains were so vast, finding someone was never easy.
"Miss, the Roland Mountains are full of dangers. We should return to Wuji City and wait," Fan Ting advised. If they encountered high-level demonic beasts, he alone could not guarantee Yan Yan's safety.
"Fan Ting, Grandpa's condition is not optimistic. If Grandpa's Golden Core shatters, even if the poison can be dispelled, his life cannot be saved," Yan Yan said in a low voice. She had the medicine from Xiao Qin, which could have kept Old Master Yan safe for a year. Unexpectedly, the Old Master, feeling better after taking Xiao Qin's medicine, had resumed his cultivation, causing his Qi to run amok. This further damaged his already cracked Golden Core, which could shatter at any moment!
The Old Master had cultivated for many years to reach the Golden Core stage and was the only Golden Core cultivator in Wuji City. If the Old Master were gone, Wuji City would become even more insignificant in the face of the Seven Great Sects.
"Eldest Miss, if something were to happen to you in the Roland Mountains, what would the City Lord and the Old City Lord do?" Fan Ting was also anxious. He also wished to find Xiao Qin quickly so that Xiao Qin could return to treat the Old Master, but finding Xiao Qin was not easy!
"Xiao Qin!" Yan Yan shouted Xiao Qin's name loudly, her voice carrying far. Fan Ting covered Yan Yan's mouth in fright and quickly dragged her away.
"My Eldest Miss, are you crazy? This is the Roland Mountains! If you shout like this and attract high-level demonic beasts, we'll all perish here!"
"If I don't find Xiao Qin, I won't leave."
Fan Ting was utterly helpless. After a moment of thought, he struck the back of Yan Yan's head with his palm, knocking her unconscious. "My apologies, Eldest Miss, your subordinate cannot allow you to act recklessly."
Xiao Qin had gathered all the medicinal herbs she needed, her eyes filled with excitement. "Ze Fang, you are truly my lucky star. I could never find these herbs on my own, but after you arrived, I found them all. Don't you think you're my lucky star?"
Ze Fang grinned broadly. "That's just your good luck; it has nothing to do with me."
"The herbs are complete. Now all that's left is a person to test the medicine on," Xiao Qin said with a smile. The Old Master of Wuji City was a very good candidate for testing the medicine.
"A test subject, how about me?" Ze Fang asked curiously.
"How can I use you to test the medicine?" Xiao Qin refused. "I have a candidate, but before that, I need to complete my Foundation Establishment first."
"You're going to attempt Foundation Establishment here?"
"Foundation Establishment cannot be disturbed. This place won't do. I know a place where I can safely attempt Foundation Establishment. Come with me." Xiao Qin led Ze Fang to where she had discovered the Scarlet Profound Fruit tree. Not far from the Scarlet Profound Fruit tree was a hidden cave. That high-level demonic ape had hidden in the cave back then, so Zhu Qing didn't discover it.