Ning Qi keenly caught the keywords.
Here it comes again.
He naturally knew about the Purple River Sword Sect; it was one of the top-tier Sects in Qing Province, and its strongest member, Purple River Sword Lord, was also a top-tier expert of the Yuandan Realm.
"Senior Brother, has the Purple River Sword Sect been here more than once?"
Ning Qi asked.
Luo Wentian nodded:
"This is the second time. Next month is Purple River Sword Lord's 120th birthday. By rights, Master should attend, but he was in seclusion last time they came. Now they're probably here to invite him again."
"Master has a lot of Face in Qing Province. It's not a big deal for me to meet them. You just focus on your own matters."
Luo Wentian patted Ning Qi's shoulder, preparing to leave.
Ning Qi, however, said:
"I'll go with Senior Brother."
Luo Wentian was stunned; it was rare for Ning Qi to make a request proactively.
"Alright, you'll have to see more of the world eventually."
Soon.
The group met the visitors from the Purple River Sword Sect. The leader was Purple River Sword Lord's third Disciple, who looked about the same age as Luo Wentian but had a lower cultivation.
"Brother Luo, I apologize for the abrupt disturbance. It's truly because my Master misses Dragon Mountain Senior and hopes he can come for a visit. I wonder if Dragon Mountain Senior has already come out of seclusion?"
Luo Wentian shook his head:
"Thank you for Purple River Sword Lord's kindness, but unfortunately, my Master is still in seclusion. At that time, I will represent my Master. Please forgive me."
The third Disciple waved his hands repeatedly:
"Brother Luo, you're being too serious. It's already an imposition for us to come a second time to invite him. It's just that my Master was thinking of seeing if Dragon Mountain Senior needed any help, so he just had me come and check."
Luo Wentian narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled:
"Thank you for Purple River Sword Lord's concern, but my Master's current seclusion is for breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm, and it's almost certain, just a matter of time."
There was some awe in the third Disciple's eyes:
"So that's how it is. Then I wish Dragon Mountain Senior a successful emergence from seclusion. I still have others to invite, so I won't disturb you further."
Watching the Purple River Sword Sect members leave.
Ning Qi, who had been silent, slowly spoke.
"Senior Brother, why does it feel like these Purple River Sword Sect people aren't here to invite us to a birthday banquet, but rather to probe Master's condition?"
Luo Wentian said:
"Junior Brother is clever. Do you know what rumors are circulating in Qing Province now?"
"No."
"Some say that Master's Origin was injured by a Demon Sect expert, forcing him into seclusion to heal, and that he's even critically wounded and on the verge of death."
Jiang Baishan, who was beside them, snorted coldly:
"If not for that traitor, how could such a thing happen?"
Luo Wentian shook his head slightly:
"It's also because our True Martial Sect has become too prominent in recent years, which inevitably attracts some covetous gazes. This time, Master's seclusion to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm is also a test for us. Fortunately, Fifth Brother has already advanced to the Gang Yuan Realm; with him in charge, there won shouldn't be any big problems."
"The Purple River Sword Sect isn't the only one probing, but they are not to be feared. Since he invited me, I will go openly; otherwise, it would seem like we lack confidence."
"When I go to the birthday banquet, Fifth Brother, you must stay vigilant. Discuss things more with Second Brother and the others if anything comes up."
Jiang Baishan nodded repeatedly.
"Senior Brother, don't worry. With us here, nothing will happen to the Sect. You can go to the birthday banquet with peace of mind."
Ning Qi's eyes flickered slightly.
He always felt that things weren't that simple and secretly decided to stay vigilant during this period.
He worried.
Fifth Brother Jiang Baishan might not be able to hold the fort.
Time passed.
Half a month later, Luo Wentian selected a few outstanding Foreign Disciples and Inner Yuan Realm Disciples, preparing to descend the mountain to attend Purple River Sword Lord's birthday banquet.
The journey was long, so they needed to depart early.
"Fifth Brother, you are the strongest. Be careful recently. And Second Brother and Third Sister, all of you must heighten your vigilance. You absolutely cannot let anyone disturb Master's seclusion," Luo Wentian instructed.
"Senior Brother, don't worry. It just so happens that my sword hasn't been stained with blood since I broke through to the Gang Yuan Realm."
Jiang Baishan's words carried a murderous intent.
It was true that the True Martial Sect upheld justice, but as Martial Artists, whose hands weren't stained with blood?
"Don't be careless."
After another reminder, Luo Wentian took his people and left.
Inside the Seeking Dao Courtyard, Ning Qi received the news, his eyes subtly moving.
He told White Ape to pay close attention to the Sect's movements recently and to inform him immediately if there were any unusual circumstances.
No one knew.
This Junior Brother, who was just over six years old, was the most powerful existence in the True Martial Sect apart from Dragon Mountain Daoist.
Luo Wentian's departure did not cause much change in the True Martial Sect.
In a book bar, there were no mistakes in the version!
Jiang Baishan's presence in Zhenwu Mountain reassured all the Disciples.
Looking across the land, there were not many Sects that had Gang Yuan Realm experts; these were all renowned grandmasters. Although Inner Yuan Realm was only a Disciple in the True Martial Sect, if placed outside, they would also be first-rate experts.
The Great Yan Dynasty was divided into provinces, prefectures, and counties. In a single county, a cultivator at the peak of Body Tempering was already enough to dominate and become a local magnate.
However, Jiang Baishan and the others remembered Luo Wentian's instructions and did not relax their vigilance.
The Disciples' patrols became even tighter.
In a blink of an eye.
It was already ten days later.
The night was deep.
At the foot of Zhenwu Mountain.
Three shadowy figures in black crouched on tree branches, their true Faces hidden, only their fierce eyes visible, like night hawks, somewhat chilling.
One was burly, one was slender, and the one in the middle had the fiercest Aura.
If someone familiar with the three were here, they would recognize their identities.
The Iron Ridge Three Fiends: Hun Jianglong Tie Long, Ground-Walking Tiger Tie Hu, and Flying Sky Eagle Tie Ying. The three were notorious villains in the Qing Province, known for exterminating Sects and slaughtering, with uncertain whereabouts. All three were in the White Mist Realm, and even general first-rate Sects dared not provoke them.
"Boss, we've waited so many days, when are we going to attack?"
Tie Hu couldn't help but lick his lips, his eyes somewhat bloodthirsty.
"It's been a long time since we've done such a Sect-exterminating deed. I'm afraid the Qing Province is about to forget our three's prestige!"
He chuckled coldly, sending shivers down one's spine.
But Tie Long, in the middle, snarled in a low voice:
"Tie Hu, are you looking for death? Dragon Mountain Old Taoist is still here; you want to exterminate his Sect?"
"Qing Province has a rumor that Dragon Mountain Old Taoist's heart meridian was severed by a Demon Sect expert, and he's probably not far from death. I haven't killed a Core Formation expert yet, tsk tsk, if I could kill a Core Formation expert, this life would be worth it." Tie Hu was dismissive.
"Idiot!"
Tie Long roared.
"Do you really believe that rumor is true? There's also a rumor that Dragon Mountain Old Taoist is about to advance to Heavenly Human; why don't you believe that?"
Tie Hu immediately shut up.
A Heavenly Human Realm expert killing him was no different from crushing an ant.
Tie Ying, who had been silent, spoke with a smile.
"Alright, Boss, you've known that the third brother has no brains, it's not the first day. Don't get angry with this fool."
"Whether he's critically wounded or breaking through to Heavenly Human, I don't know if it's true, but there's one thing that Wang certainly didn't lie to us about: Dragon Mountain Old Taoist is in death seclusion. As long as we don't make too much noise, he will absolutely not come out and fight to the death."
"Without Dragon Mountain Old Taoist, the True Martial Sect only has Jiang Baishan, who just broke through to the Gang Yuan Realm. The others are not to be feared."