169: information

Without a moment to lose, Mr. Zhao immediately brought the Medicinal Pill in his hand to the lips of the middle-aged man beside him and helped him swallow it.

As the blood marrow pill entered his stomach, the middle-aged man Shu Qingfeng's increasingly withered aura finally calmed down like a receding tide, and the restless Dantian within his body gradually returned to a state of harmony.

Mr. Zhao finally let out a long sigh of relief, his heart finally settling down.

He turned to instruct the two people beside him to carefully help City Lord Shu Qingfeng into the inner room to rest.

Steward Ding's gaze swept over the various wounds on Mr. Zhao and his companion. His brows furrowed as he said in a deep voice, "You two should also take a blood marrow pill each to suppress your injuries."

"No, no," Mr. Zhao hurriedly waved his hand in refusal, his tone solemn. "Such a fifth-grade treasure should only be used in life-or-death situations. For now, it's better to keep it safe."

After a brief pause, his eyes filled with confusion. "By the way, where exactly did this blood marrow pill come from?"

One must know that a fifth-grade elixir was an extremely rare item in Biyun City.

Just then, a calm voice came from the direction of the main gate.

Chen Xuan walked out slowly, his white robes as pure as snow, his bearing extraordinary. "There's no need for you two to be formal; just take them. It's merely a fifth-grade elixir, not some particularly valuable item."

Hearing this, Mr. Zhao almost blurted out "Nonsense," but when he looked up and saw the bearing of the Man in White Robes, he forced himself to swallow his words.

"Who is this?" Mr. Zhao couldn't help but look at Steward Ding.

Steward Ding hurried forward and explained respectfully, "This is the distinguished guest who came to visit the Master today, Young Master Chen." After saying that, he leaned close to Mr. Zhao's ear and lowered his voice to remind him, "That bottle of blood marrow pills just now was a casual gift from Young Master Chen."

Mr. Zhao's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. The slight trace of contempt remaining in his eyes instantly vanished, replaced by complete awe.

The focus wasn't on the word "gifted," but on the word "casual."

To be able to give away fifth-grade elixirs as if they were ordinary items—such a grand gesture was definitely beyond any power near Biyun City.

He wondered which Immortal this was, like a Dragon swimming in shallow waters.

Mr. Zhao and his companion quickly straightened their blood-stained collars, cupped their hands, and bowed to Chen Xuan, their tone respectful. "We have made a fool of ourselves before Young Master Chen."

Chen Xuan didn't mind. He raised his hand and took another bottle of Medicinal Pills from his storage ring, handing it over. "The man from earlier must be the City Lord of Biyun City, right? I observed his complexion just now; his internal injuries are quite severe. Take this bottle of sixth-grade Nourishing Origin Pills and give them to him quickly to help him recover."

Since this man was Shu Shichan's father, Chen Xuan naturally had no reason to be stingy.

Moreover, these pills he was giving away were gifts from the enthusiastic Fellow Daoists of the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven, costing him zero Reputation Points.

Why not do it?

"A sixth-grade Nourishing Origin Pill?"

Mr. Zhao and his companion were both stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief. Giving away a bottle of fifth-grade blood marrow pills was shocking enough, but now he had produced a bottle of sixth-grade elixirs? Such a grand gesture was simply unheard of!

"Thank... thank you, Senior Chen!" Mr. Zhao didn't even dare to say any polite formalities. If he declined and Senior Chen actually took the sixth-grade elixir back, he would regret it so much he'd beat his chest in despair.

He paused and quickly added, "If Senior has any needs in Biyun City, just say the word, and we will do our utmost to help!"

Steward Ding's hands trembled slightly as he took the medicine bottle, his fingertips twitching with excitement.

He really didn't feel comfortable handing such a precious item to a servant, so he immediately gripped the bottle tightly and hurried toward the inner room.

Seeing this, a faint smile played on Chen Xuan's lips. He spoke, "Speaking of which, I do have a few things I'd like to ask you two about."

...A moment later, inside the hall of the City Lord's Mansion.

Mr. Zhao and his companion had changed into clean clothes. It would have been far too disrespectful to receive Chen Xuan while wearing blood-stained garments.

Although their injuries were still quite serious, at Steward Ding's repeated urging, they had each taken a blood marrow pill. Their internal injuries were finally suppressed for the time being, and their complexions had improved significantly.

As soon as they sat down, Mr. Zhao was the first to speak, his tone respectful and sincere. "What does Senior Chen wish to inquire about? As long as it is something we know, we will tell you everything without reservation."

Chen Xuan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, asking, "Have you two ever heard of a Sect called the 'Yin Shen Sect'?"

Upon hearing this, their expressions turned solemn, and their relaxed postures stiffened. Mr. Zhao replied in a deep voice, "We have certainly heard of it. In this Flame Continent region, the Yin Shen Sect is one of the top great Sects, with immense power and a far-reaching reputation."

Hearing this, the weight on Chen Xuan's heart finally lifted; he finally had a lead.

It seemed they weren't scattered too far apart.

Mr. Zhao immediately added, "Traveling northwest from our Biyun City for about five thousand miles, you will see a range of continuous mountains. The highest peak among them is where the mountain gate of the Yin Shen Sect is located."

"Thank you both for letting me know," Chen Xuan nodded slightly.

"Senior is too polite; it's just a small matter," Mr. Zhao waved his hand, not daring to take credit.

He was actually very curious as to why the Man in White Robes was asking about the Yin Shen Sect. What was their relationship? But then he worried that asking would make him seem like he was prying, so he suppressed his curiosity and didn't dare to ask more.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan took the initiative to change the subject, asking, "By the way, I heard you mention earlier that the City Lord was injured while on an expedition to suppress the Qinglan Sect?"

At the mention of this, the expression on Mr. Zhao's face instantly darkened:

"Indeed! We just didn't expect to have underestimated the Realm of that demonic beast, which led to the failure of the expedition. If the City Lord hadn't fought to the death to cover our retreat, the two of us might have already perished within the territory of the Qinglan Sect."

Hearing the name "Qinglan Sect," Chen Xuan suddenly thought of the group of Qingfeng Village villagers he had encountered in the forest earlier.

Wasn't that Lin Yan from the Qinglan Sect? In that case, were Biyun City and the Qinglan Sect enemies?

No, it didn't seem like it!

If they were Mortal enemies, why would Lin Yan have taken the initiative to give him directions to Biyun City? It didn't seem to make sense.

To Lin Yan, he was a powerful Senior; he wouldn't push him toward an opposing camp.

Since he couldn't figure out the connection, Chen Xuan stopped wasting time and asked directly, "What kind of place is the Qinglan Sect? Why did you specifically go to suppress them?"

Before Mr. Zhao could speak, Sun Qian, who was sitting nearby, couldn't contain himself. With a hint of indignation in his voice, he said coldly, "That Qinglan Sect is simply a group of Demonic Cultivators who deceive the ignorant masses!"

"Demonic Cultivators?" Chen Xuan's brow twitched slightly.

Mr. Zhao added, "A decade or so ago, the Qinglan Sect was just an insignificant power nearby, and its Sect Master was only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. But now, the Qinglan Sect has long since colluded with Demonic Beasts, deluding Mortals into 'cultivating immortality,' causing chaos in the region, and even leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of people."