292: The Hong family was wiped out.

The Northern Region of Central State possesses a vast territory, with forces deeply entrenched and intertwined, far surpassing the Black-Corner Region or even the Northwest Continent.

Relying on his Three-star Dou Zong strength, Mu Chen traversed countless dangerous lands, crossed mountains and rivers, and even encountered several significant crises. It took him several months before he finally stepped, covered in dust, onto this even vaster and crueler land.

Following the clues provided by Jiang Donghua, he inquired along the way and finally arrived at the city where the Hong Family resided.

However, when he asked people about the exact location of the Hong Family, he found the situation rather strange.

Upon hearing the words Hong Family, the faces of the passersby he questioned instantly changed, their eyes flickering. They either hastily waved their hands, claiming ignorance, or quickly walked away as if avoiding a plague, keeping their silence sealed.

The atmosphere of the entire city seemed to be shrouded in an invisible layer of suppression because of the Hong Family.

Mu Chen furrowed his brow, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart.

Without alerting anyone, he walked into a demonic core shop that looked quite large, intending to sell some materials he had gathered along the way but had no use for, and to gather information at the same time.

He placed several fifth-tier demonic cores, which emitted powerful energy fluctuations, along with some rare ores, on the counter.

The shop owner was initially somewhat nonchalant, but when his eyes landed on those fifth-tier demonic cores, they immediately went wide, bursting with astonishing radiance!

A fifth-tier demonic core —this was equivalent to the core energy source of a Dou Wang Expert, worth a fortune!

"Customer, are these... are these for sale?"

The shop owner's voice was trembling slightly.

Mu Chen nodded and asked casually.

"The price is negotiable."

"Also, I need to ask you something: How do I get to the Hong Family? I was entrusted by a friend to come visit."

Upon hearing the words Hong Family, the greed on the shop owner's face was instantly replaced by terror. He nearly jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and hastily lowered his voice.

"Customer! Watch your words! We dare not inquire about matters concerning the Hong Family!"

The feeling of unease in Mu Chen's heart intensified.

His expression unchanged, he pushed a fifth-tier demonic core, worth at least a million gold coins, toward the shop owner, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force.

"Tell me what you know."

"This item is yours. I guarantee that what you say will only enter my ears and will not implicate you."

Staring at the priceless demonic core before him —an item that could change the fortunes of his small shop —the shop owner's breathing immediately became ragged, his face filled with intense struggle.

The temptation of wealth and the fear of a certain power clashed fiercely within his heart.

Ultimately, greed and Mu Chen's unfathomable presence slightly gained the upper hand.

The shop owner fiercely gritted his teeth, first quickly ran to the door, furtively glanced left and right, and then, with a 'clatter,' pulled down the shop's door panels and bolted them, plunging the interior into darkness.

He leaned close to Mu Chen's ear, speaking in a hurried and terrified whisper that only the two of them could hear.

"My Lord, you are too late!"

"The Hong Family is finished!"

"It was about two or three months ago. No one knows how the Hong Family offended the Xuanming Sect. They are tyrants of our Northern Region of Central State, acting ruthlessly and holding grudges!"

"The Xuanming Sect suddenly sent people to attack, claiming the Hong Family stole some important treasure of theirs —sigh, who knows if that's true or false! It was a massacre!"

"Although the Hong Family was not a small clan, how could they be a match for the Xuanming Sect?"

"I heard the resistance was extremely fierce, but in the end, those who died died, and those who fled fled. The large Hong Family vanished overnight!"

"Now, that place has long been taken over by people from the Xuanming Sect and has become a restricted area. No one dares to approach it! No one in the city even dares to mention the Hong Family anymore, for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves!"

After speaking, the shop owner snatched the fifth-tier demonic core, holding it like a hot potato he couldn't bear to let go of, his face filled with lingering fear and nervousness.

Mu Chen stood rooted to the spot, as if struck by a divine lightning bolt, his entire body frozen.

He had endured hardships, crossed mountains and rivers to rush here, carrying his friend's entrustment and hopes, only to receive the dreadful news that the Hong Family had been annihilated?!

What about Red Silk?

Red Silk, whom Jiang Donghua had entrusted him to look after, where was she now?

Was she alive or dead?

A bone-chilling coldness instantly surged from Mu Chen's feet throughout his entire body!

The shop owner's words felt like a bucket of ice water poured over him, but Mu Chen, having experienced life and death and possessing a firm will, forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart and pressed on with his questions.

"The Xuanming Sect? What is their strength like? What level is the strongest expert within the sect?"

Seeing that Mu Chen seemed unwilling to give up, the shop owner sighed, but in light of the priceless demonic core, he still lowered his voice and explained.

"Customer, you might not be very familiar with the powers in the Northern Region of Central State. Which sect considered a first-rate power here doesn't have a Dou Zun Expert overseeing it?"

A trace of awe and fear appeared on his face.

"The Xuanming Sect is one of them!"

"They truly have a genuine Dou Zun ancestor within their sect! That is an existence capable of walking through the void and controlling a region of heaven and earth!"

To convince Mu Chen to give up, the shop owner even pointed in a direction.

"If you don't believe me, walk toward the east side of the city now, and you'll see some people wearing gray-blue robes with ice patterns embroidered on their chests. Those are disciples of the Xuanming Sect!"

"Every single one of them is arrogant and extremely boastful!"

Dou Zun!

Hearing these two words, Mu Chen's heart plummeted.

Although he was already a Three-star Dou Zong, enough to establish a sect in the Northwest Continent, he was still as insignificant as an ant before a first-rate power that possessed a Dou Zun Expert!

The gap between a Dou Zong and a Dou Zun was like the difference between heaven and earth; it could not be bridged by sheer numbers!

He took a deep breath, nodded to the shop owner, his tone still calm.

"Thank you for the information."

Seeing that Mu Chen seemed to have taken the advice, and noticing his young age —his cultivation couldn't be too high, at best peak Dou Wang or newly advanced Dou Huang —the shop owner kindly offered one more piece of advice.

"Customer, listen to my advice."

"Some things are better left unknown than known. Some forces, if you can't provoke them, you must avoid them."

"I know you might be quite strong, capable of easily killing a Dou Wang Expert, but personal bravery truly means nothing in the face of a behemoth like the Xuanming Sect. Don't throw away your life for a moment of impulsiveness."

His words were quite sincere; after all, he had just earned a million gold coins for doing nothing, and felt slightly guilty.

Mu Chen glanced at the shop owner, neither refuting nor acknowledging his true strength, simply saying softly again.

"Thank you for your kindness, I know what I am doing."

Having said that, he did not linger, turning and walking out of the dim shop.

Standing back on the bustling street, the sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Mu Chen's gaze, however, was coldly fixed toward the east side of the city.

Dou Zun... Xuanming Sect... The Hong Family annihilated, Red Silk's whereabouts unknown, her fate uncertain.

Jiang Donghua had given him such an important entrustment, yet he had arrived too late!

A massive wave of guilt and fury burned in his heart like poisonous fire.

He knew the shop owner's advice was well-intentioned and rational.

With his Three-star Dou Zong strength, challenging the Xuanming Sect, which possessed a Dou Zun, was no different from hitting a rock with an egg —seeking death.

But could he retreat?

Could he pretend ignorance because the enemy was powerful, and then go back and tell Jiang Donghua?

'The person you entrusted me to look after, her entire family was annihilated, and I don't even know if she is alive or dead'?

He could not do that!

Mu Chen's gaze gradually became resolute, even carrying a hint of determination.

He lifted his foot and walked toward the east side of the city without hesitation.

He had to confirm it with his own eyes!

At the very least, he needed to find out if Red Silk was still alive.

If she was alive, where was she?

If something terrible had happened, who was the culprit?

Even if the path ahead led to a dragon's lair, guarded by a Dou Zun Expert, he had to charge forward!

Some things, though clearly impossible, must still be done!

This was not only to fulfill his promise to his friend but also to ensure he had a clear conscience!

He perfectly concealed his Three-star Dou Zong aura, blending into the crowd like an ordinary person, and walked toward that direction.