Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Qin Du and Qin Wei, the two Sword Venerables from the Qin Family, had just begun to relax when they suddenly heard Gongsun Huang speak.

"On my recent trip out to sea, I encountered a curious affair. I wonder if you all would be interested in hearing about it?"

An affair a Tier Six Sword Venerable would call "curious" would surely be earth-shattering, so everyone nodded. Gongsun Huang’s eyes swept over the two Sword Venerables from the Qin Family before he continued, "On my trip, I visited several overseas nations and inadvertently discovered that the hidden families and sects in those countries are facing an unprecedented crisis!"

At Gongsun Huang’s words, Ling Xiao glanced thoughtfully at the two Sword Venerables from the Qin Family. The Sword Venerables from the Jingwu Family, seeing Gongsun Huang change the subject, were conveniently relieved of their awkward predicament. They watched him intently, knowing he would not speak without reason.

The expressions of the two Qin Family Sword Venerables and Qin Zhaoran suddenly turned grim. Qin Feng, on the other hand, wore a look of utter ignorance, completely unaware that what the elderly Tier Six Sword Venerable was saying concerned his very own family!

Qin Du and Qin Wei were overcome with anxiety, regretting their decision to come to Ling Xiao’s place. ’If a fight really breaks out, one of us is Tier Two and the other Tier Four. How could we possibly be a match for Gongsun Huang? Besides, if the truth comes out, even the three Sword Venerables from the Jingwu Family won’t let us go!’

After all, absorbing a person’s Essence Blood to increase one’s strength was an exceptionally evil act. Anyone with even a shred of righteousness would be repulsed by it.

Gongsun Huang said in a deep voice, "After some investigation, I discovered that in recent years, many Martial Artists who specialize in killing people to absorb their Essence Blood have appeared in those overseas countries! They are said to cultivate an evil Cultivation Technique that allows their strength to increase with extreme rapidity. They build their foundation by absorbing Child’s Essence Blood from ordinary children with good aptitude and absorb Martial Artists at the Demon Sword Master level and above to advance. In just a few short years, many prominent families over there, and even some entire clans, have been wiped out!"

As Gongsun Huang finished, the gazes of the three elderly Sword Venerables from the Lie Family naturally fell upon the two Sword Venerables from the Qin Family. If one were to ask which family’s strength had grown the fastest in recent years, everyone would admit it was the Qin Family! A year ago, they were rumored to have six experts in the Sword Venerable Realm. No one knew how many they had now, because just two years ago, they’d only had five!

At the time, many people suspected that the Qin Family must have obtained a Secret Manual for improving strength from some Ancient Ruins. The Lie Family had even considered making a move but ultimately turned their attention to Ling Xiao because the Qin Family’s hidden strength remained unknown.

After all, the mysteries surrounding Ling Xiao were every bit as intriguing as those of the Qin Family. Most importantly, however, they believed Ling Xiao was weaker than the Qin Family!

It was a classic case of picking the softest persimmon to squeeze—a tactic that even a super-family like the Lie Family used with great skill.

Gongsun Huang paid no mind to the Qin Family members, whose faces were growing increasingly grim. He let out a light sigh. "Some of those overseas families are no weaker than our own. They joined forces to capture those Martial Artists who cultivate by absorbing Essence Blood, but to their surprise, those people were as slippery as eels and vanished without a trace. So, I’m reminding all of you to be extremely careful. Watch out for them slipping over to our side!"

Qin Du and Qin Wei had been ready to lash out and flee, as this whole affair was, in fact, the Qin Family’s doing! Both of them had even participated in the atrocities overseas, so it was impossible for them not to feel a pang of guilt when Gongsun Huang brought it up. However, to their surprise, Gongsun Huang only seemed to have suspicions; he didn’t have any conclusive evidence that it was the Qin Family!

A person of Gongsun Huang’s status would not act rashly without absolute proof that the Qin Family was responsible.

Qin Du and Qin Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Qin Family’s Young Master, Qin Feng, however, declared with an indignant expression, "What kind of shameless people would do such a despicable thing! If they come here, they deserve to be hunted down and killed by everyone!"

The hearts of Qin Du and Qin Wei, which had just settled, leaped back into their throats. Their faces turned ashen, and they wished they could strangle the clueless brat on the spot!

Qin Zhaoran berated him in a low, angry voice, "Insolence! This is not your place to speak!"

Ling Xiao, however, wore an odd smile as he said, "Young Master Qin Feng speaks well! Slaying evil and upholding justice is our duty. Patriarch Qin, wouldn’t you agree?"

Qin Zhaoran chuckled dryly. "Of course, of course!"

The Patriarch of the Sea Domain Song Family, the Tier Six Sword Emperor Song Qi, who had said little until now, commented faintly, "After hearing Elder Gongsun’s words, we must be doubly careful. Scum like that might be hiding right here among us!"

Song Qi had not the slightest goodwill for the East Sea Qin Family. His own granddaughter, Song Mingyue, had almost married into their family. Thankfully, she hadn’t. Otherwise, she might have been killed without anyone ever knowing.

Gongsun Huang smiled at Song Qi. "When you return, send my regards to the old master of your family. It’s been years since we last met. Tell that old coot we’ll meet in the Holy Sanctuary!"

Song Qi, who also appeared to be in his sixties, trembled slightly. He stood and bowed to Gongsun Huang once more. "This junior will be sure to deliver your message, Elder Gongsun."

When the members of the Lie Family, including their three Sword Venerables, looked at the Qin Family delegation again, their gazes were now filled with wariness.

Gongsun Huang, however, said no more on the matter.

After these two interludes, the meal naturally became tasteless. The first reason was their shock at Ling Xiao’s connections. They never expected that Gongsun Huang—the pride of the Gongsun Clan, an iconic figure among the hidden families, a Tier Six Sword Venerable—would personally come to support Ling Xiao and even call him "Little friend Ling Xiao." This attitude was essentially a declaration to the world: ’I am protecting this young man!’