"Elder, aren't we going back to report?" the disciple asked cautiously.
"I've already sent word to the Sect Master, but we can't just leave the Young Sect Master to stay alone at the Jin family's," Elder Ping stayed at the inn closest to the Jin family's residence. With a push of the window, he could see the situation at the Jin family's main gate.
"Then why didn't you stay with the Young Sect Master at the Jin family's?"
"Do you think if I had stayed with the Young Sect Master at the Jin family's, how would the Jin family have treated us?" Elder Ping asked softly.
"Naturally, they would have kept us under strict guard."
"Yes, strict guard," Elder Ping sneered. "But the Young Sect Master is different. The Young Sect Master has a fiery temper and seems easy to appease. If he were truly easy to appease, how could he have ascended to the position of Young Sect Master?"
"Elder, you mean the Young Sect Master deliberately stayed behind?"
"We still need to find out what changes have occurred at the Jin family," Elder Ping said calmly. The Sect Master's goal was to use the Jin family to annex other aristocratic families, thereby unifying them. But now, the Jin family had directly broken free from their control, which was not a good sign.
"Elder, could Elder Chang have already met with foul play?"
Elder Ping did not rush to answer, as he did not know the fate of Jin Chang, but Jin Chang had always been astute. Even if he had met with foul play, he would have found a way to leave them a message. What he found incredible was who had the ability to abduct the entire Jin family contingent silently from the Heavenly Sword Sect's territory? Su Dan Novel Network.
"Go investigate this Xiao Qin for me. I want to know everything about her!" Elder Ping had a hunch that Xiao Man was problematic, yet Xiao Man's cultivation was not high, and she seemed incapable of doing much!
What surprised him most was the defection of the First Elder. The First Elder had actually chosen to assist the eldest son of the Jin family, which was simply unbelievable. After all, the First Elder had always sided with the second son before!
"We've investigated this Xiao Qin before."
"Investigated?" Elder Ping was somewhat surprised. "Who investigated?"
"The Young Sect Master."
"The Young Sect Master investigated her? What for?" Elder Ping's heart grew more uneasy. In his opinion, Yue Ran was very fond of Xiao Man and trusted her greatly. If that was the case, why would he still investigate her?
"What did you find out?"
"Xiao Qin, from the Land of Nowhere, was brought out from the Land of Nowhere by the eldest son of the Jin family."
Elder Ping frowned. From the Land of Nowhere, meaning an ordinary person with no background. However, it was also possible that she had been bought off!
"Anything else?"
"The Five Poisons Sect, one of the Seven Sects, rebelled and communicated with the demons, intending to overthrow Wuji City and release the Demon Lord from the Land of Nowhere. But it was discovered by Xiao Qin, who annihilated the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, saving Wuji City and many from the Seven Sects."
"All by herself?"
"She is an excellent alchemist, unparalleled in her use of poison. Later, she became a disciple of Jun Fei'er of Hundred Herbs Hall, but was personally taught by Lu Qing."
"Lu Qing, that second-rank alchemist from Hundred Herbs Hall?" Elder Ping was a little surprised. Both the sect and the aristocratic families had extended an olive branch to this person before, but Lu Qing had ultimately refused, choosing to remain at Hundred Herbs Hall because the Hall Master there had shown him great kindness. "But I heard recently that Lu Qing seems to have gone to the Heavenly Spirit Sect."
"Yes, Lu Qing did go to the Heavenly Spirit Sect," the disciple replied. "Additionally, the second son of the Jin family had a conflict with Xiao Qin in the trial grounds. It is said that Xiao Qin almost killed him. If he hadn't had so many life-saving items on him, he would have died at Xiao Qin's hands in the trial grounds?"
"I see Xiao Qin's cultivation is not high. How could Jin Yao have fallen into her hands?"
"Wen Ting, the Young Master of the Beast Taming Sect, was involved in this matter. It is said that Wen Ting has a close relationship with Xiao Qin."
"Xiao Qin has a close relationship with our Young Sect Master, and also with the Young Master of the Beast Taming Sect. What a coincidence."
"Not only that, but she is also on good terms with Mu Qi, the Young Master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect," the disciple added. "The reason our Young Sect Master fled thousands of miles with Mu Qi, the Young Master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, was because he disliked him getting close to Xiao Qin."
"Three of the four great sect young masters have a connection with her..." Elder Ping frowned. "The one from the Heavenly Profound Sect, could he also have a close relationship with her?"
"Elder Ping, the one from the Heavenly Profound Sect never leaves the mountain. How could he possibly have a relationship with someone from the Land of Nowhere?" the disciple said with a laugh. The Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Profound Sect was like a turtle hiding in its shell. Even with extraordinary talent, if he remained hidden within the Heavenly Profound Sect, no one would be aware of his existence.
"Is this Xiao Qin a sinner?"
"It is said she hails from the Desolate Tribe of the Eight Tribes."
"People from the Eight Tribes are all natives, so they should have no connection with outsiders. However, to gain the favor of the Young Sect Master and be on good terms with the Young Masters of the Heavenly Spirit Sect and the Beast Taming Sect, she must have some ability." Elder Ping's furrowed brow remained unrelaxed.
This person associated with influential figures: the Young Sect Master, the direct heir of an aristocratic family, and personally tutored by Lu Qing. Elder Ping did not care what kind of friends Xiao Man made; he cared about Xiao Man's involvement in the Jin family's affairs and what she intended to do.
"What is Xiao Qin's reputation?"
"Huh?" The disciple looked at Elder Ping, confused. A person from the Land of Nowhere striving for a high position was common sense. What did reputation have to do with it?
Elder Ping pondered further. Xiao Man had already befriended the Young Sect Master; why didn't she use the Young Sect Master's power to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect directly, but instead went to the Jin family?
"I asked, what is Xiao Qin's reputation among the Seven Sects?"
"Highly respected."
"What does 'highly respected' mean?" Elder Ping was somewhat confused. A person from the Land of Nowhere, even with some ability, shouldn't be so highly respected, should she?
"When the Young Sect Master wanted to investigate Xiao Qin, I personally led people to Wuji City. We found that everyone in Wuji City greatly respected her, and most disciples of the Seven Sects spoke of her with great reverence. However, these were all earned."
"Earned?"
"Yes, the Land of Nowhere opens once every three years, and each opening results in heavy casualties. But Xiao Qin established rules for the Land of Nowhere: on the day Wuji City opens, people from the Land of Nowhere are not allowed to engage in combat. Within three years, the top ten individuals in the comprehensive ranking will earn the right to enter Wuji City."
"What if someone disobeys her rules?"
"Kill without mercy."
A flicker of surprise crossed Elder Ping's eyes. "There is more than one force in the Land of Nowhere, isn't there..."
"Speaking of which, this is another strange matter. She unified the Land of Nowhere. Now, the Land of Nowhere only has one force, called the Eight Directions Sword Sect."
"To be able to unify the sinful forces of the Land of Nowhere is not just about having ability," Elder Ping sighed with emotion. No wonder she had gained the Young Sect Master's favor. "What else has she done?"