328: No clue

Zheng Shanhe, the Old Ancestor of the Zheng Family, who had consumed the dignity-breaking spirit seal pill, began to experience violent fluctuations in his aura.

He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his brows furrowing and relaxing intermittently, as if muffled thunder rumbled within him.

A thick, mountain-like, incomparably vast earthen-yellow Dou Qi uncontrollably emanated from the pores all over his body, forming a solid energy field around him that repelled the dust on the ground.

The barrier he had been stuck at, Peak Seven-Star Dou Zong, for many years, was now emitting faint cracking sounds, unable to bear the powerful impact of the medicinal properties.

Judging by this surging momentum, he would likely, in less than an hour, naturally and steadily step into the realm of Eight-Star Dou Zong!

The two elders of the Zheng Family felt their Old Ancestor's aura steadily climbing, and their faces were filled with excitement and ecstasy. They quickly walked to Jiang Donghua, bowed deeply again, and spoke with immense reverence.

"Thank you, Master Jiang, for bestowing the pill! The Zheng Family will never forget this great kindness! The task of protecting Old Ancestor during his breakthrough can be left to the two of us; we dare not trouble Master any further!"

Jiang Donghua nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zheng Shanhe, who was at the critical moment of his aura's transformation, with little ripple in his heart.

To him, this was merely a successful alchemy transaction.

He was about to turn and leave the alchemy platform to return to his quiet room to recuperate when he saw the figure of Xiao Zhen, the Old Ancestor of the Xiao Family, rushing from a distance, his face bearing an unusual solemnity, landing directly in front of him.

Jiang Donghua's heart stirred slightly.

Normally, if it were just ordinary matters or no important news, Xiao Zhen would never personally come when he had just finished refining pills and needed rest, and certainly not with such a solemn expression.

A premonition surfaced in his mind.

Jiang Donghua suppressed the slight sense of relief that had just arisen from the successful alchemy, his eyes returning to their usual profoundness and calm. He looked at Xiao Zhen, and without waiting for him to speak, he slowly said in an exceptionally steady tone, as if he had already prepared for the worst.

"Senior Xiao, just say it directly. Whether it's good news or bad news, whatever the outcome, I can accept it."

Xiao Zhen looked at Jiang Donghua's eyes, which could see through people's hearts, and his composure, which was beyond his years, and sighed inwardly.

He took a deep breath, organized his words, and then spoke in a low, deep voice, ensuring only the two of them could hear.

"Young Friend Jiang, there are results for the two matters you entrusted our Xiao Family to investigate."

He paused, then began.

"Regarding the whereabouts of the Hong Family and Miss Hong Ling, we used all available channels, practically turning the Northern Region upside down, but found nothing."

Xiao Zhen's tone carried regret and a hint of helplessness.

"The extermination of the Hong Family seems to have been deliberately covered up by a powerful force, with all traces erased. Those who knew either kept silent or have long since disappeared. As for Miss Hong Ling, there is even less concrete information circulating; her life or death is unknown, as if she vanished into thin air."

This result caused Jiang Donghua's heart to sink slightly, but his expression remained impassive, only his eyes growing a few shades colder.

He motioned for Xiao Zhen to continue.

Xiao Zhen's expression grew even stranger, even carrying a hint of disbelief, and he continued.

"As for the Netherworld Sect you asked me to investigate... I wondered why it was so difficult to find, with clues completely severed..."

He looked up, his gaze complex as he looked at Jiang Donghua.

"It turns out that this sect was exterminated by a mysterious strong individual, single-handedly, over ten years ago!"

"The entire sect, from top to bottom, was wiped out, not even a chicken or dog left alive, and their mountain gate was reduced to ruins! This incident caused quite a stir back then, but with so many sects in the Central Plains, it's rarely mentioned now."

Xiao Zhen spread his hands, smiling wryly.

"If you want to seek revenge for your master Mo Xuan, you might not find the place. So now it's even harder to know where your master Mo Xuan actually went!"

After listening to Xiao Zhen's narration, Jiang Donghua fell silent.

Red Silk's whereabouts remained a mystery, her life or death unknown, and the clues were completely cut off.

As for his master Mo Xuan, he had thought his master went missing while seeking revenge, but he never expected that the enemy was already dead. But if that was the case, where did his master go? Why was there no news?

The two most important clues: one was completely severed, and the other pointed to an even deeper mystery.

After hearing Xiao Zhen's investigative results, which were both unexpected and reasonable, Jiang Donghua remained silent for a long time, finally just shaking his head gently, a helpless bitter smile playing on his lips.

The clues seemed broken, yet they also seemed to point to something more profound and enigmatic.

The Hong Family's affairs were completely wiped clean by an invisible hand, and his master Mo Xuan was even more untraceable.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his heart. At present, impatience and frustration were useless.

The most urgent task was to improve his strength.

Only with sufficient power could he continue his pursuit in this vast Central Plains and clear away the fog.

He looked at Xiao Zhen beside him, whose eyes held concern and a hint of apology, his tone returning to its usual steadiness, even carrying a touch of lightness.

"Senior Xiao, don't worry. It's already difficult to find this information; at least it lets me know which direction to exert myself."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two Xiao Family elders in the distance who were protecting Zheng Shanhe, and further still, the representatives of various forces gathered at the Xiao Family because of his name, then continued.

"After continuous pill refining these past few days, I also need to meditate and recuperate. Once my condition recovers..."

Jiang Donghua's gaze returned to Xiao Zhen, with a sense of promise, and he clearly stated.

"I will then open the furnace for Senior and refine the dignity-breaking spirit seal pill we discussed earlier."

"dignity-breaking spirit seal pill"!

Upon hearing this name, even with Xiao Zhen's Peak Dou Zong temperament, his breathing involuntarily hitched slightly, and his eyes burst forth with an uncontrollable burning light!

This was a spiritual pill that could be called a top-grade among seventh grade high-tier medicinal pills!

Its effects were said to be heaven-defying, not only significantly increasing the success rate for Peak Dou Zong powerhouses to break through the Dou Zun bottleneck, rumored to reach over fifty percent, but also, during the breakthrough process, assisting the user to prematurely comprehend and initially grasp a trace of spatial power, laying an incredibly solid foundation for truly stepping into the Dou Zun realm and freely utilizing spatial power!

For Xiao Zhen, who had been stuck at Peak Dou Zong for decades, the value of this pill was immeasurable!

It was the opportunity he had dreamed of!

At this moment, hearing Jiang Donghua proactively mention it and promise to open the furnace, Xiao Zhen's excitement was imaginable.

The solemnity and apology on his face were instantly replaced by immense joy. He quickly waved his hand, his tone full of gratitude and understanding.

"Young Friend Jiang, you exaggerate! Your agreement to refine this pill is an immense favor!"

"You can rest assured and recuperate. The medicinal ingredients are already prepared, everything is ready, just waiting for your optimal condition!"

"Not to mention a few days, even if I have to wait for several months, this old man will have no complaints! Everything takes your condition as priority!"

Jiang Donghua nodded, saying no more.

Xiao Zhen looked at his retreating back, stroked his beard, and smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation. He already saw a spiritual pill containing the opportunity to break through to Dou Zun, and the glorious future of the Xiao Family rising with it.

And all of this rested in the hands of this unfathomable young grandmaster.