Chapter 213: Chapter 211: The Four Great Families and the Three Great Sects
The old man shook his head slightly. "I heard that one of the higher-ups in the Qin Family let it slip accidentally while drunk. He never expected to stir up a hornet’s nest. Upon hearing the news, nearly all the major families and sects swarmed in, demanding to purchase this elixir. Although none of those powerful factions have openly said they want the pill formula... well, I’m sure you understand, young man. They all have ulterior motives."
The old man sighed emotionally. "Faced with massive orders from these powerful families and sects, the Qin Family simply couldn’t refine that many elixirs in such a short time. And if they can’t produce them, they’re bound to offend those families and sects. People will say, ’This is your business. If you can’t produce the quantity we demand, you’re delaying our affairs, and the consequences of that are immense. How about this... just sell us the pill formula!’"
"Using their power to bully others!" Qin Li said through gritted teeth.
The old man nodded and said with a wry smile, "Of course the great families and sects use their power to bully others. If it were just one, it might be manageable. The problem now is that all of Profound Island’s four great families and three great sects—the Seven Great Superpowers—have sent people to station themselves in Fengsha City. These seven factions are all extremely powerful and refuse to yield to one another, and the Qin Family is caught in the middle, taking heat from all sides! So, you see, Fengsha City is truly chaotic right now. Just think about it—the Seven Great Superpowers! We can’t afford to provoke any of them. If we go there and accidentally offend one, it’ll be a disaster. Especially..."
The old man said, gesturing outside, "And you’re traveling with a Spirit Beast like that. If those people see it, don’t you think they’ll get ideas about it?"
Qin Li nodded. He had to admit the old man had a point. With a faint smile, he asked, "Sir, what trouble could possibly be happening in Four Seasons Valley? As far as I know, there’s only the Four Seasons Sect there, and it has always been very quiet, hasn’t it?"
Hearing this, the old man glanced at Qin Li and smiled. "You know a bit about the place, young man. That’s right, since the beginning of the Ancient Era, the Four Seasons Sect has always been peaceful. This is mainly because most of its disciples are female and they don’t involve themselves in worldly conflicts. Besides, they have marriage ties with most of the families and sects on Profound Island, so things have always been calm. However, in recent years, a female disciple of peerless talent and beauty has emerged. She’s said to have an Innate Spirit Body!"
’Shiyu?’ Qin Li’s heart sank, but he remained outwardly calm and continued to listen.
"A few years ago, this matter didn’t spread widely; only a small number of people knew. What’s more, that female disciple from the Four Seasons Sect wore a veil all day, so no one knew what she looked like, and it didn’t cause much of a stir. But last spring, word is that a young man—her fiancé—came to the sect to take her away. Something happened, and the female disciple removed her veil, revealing herself to be a peerless beauty. As for the young man, he disappeared for some unknown reason. Then, this news was intentionally leaked. The Grand Elder of the Four Seasons Sect even publicly announced that she would select an outstanding husband for the disciple from across Profound Island. As a result... many young masters from the great families have swarmed there!"
As he spoke, the old man glanced at Qin Li. "You wouldn’t happen to be harboring the same idea, would you, young man?"
"The Grand Elder of the Four Seasons Sect? That old crone in gray?" Qin Li was inwardly shocked. ’Don’t tell me that old bitch is still alive?’ "What about the Sect Leader of the Four Seasons Sect?"
The old man shook his head. "I heard that after the young man disappeared, the Sect Leader of the Four Seasons Sect also departed, and her whereabouts are now unknown. All the sect’s affairs were left to the Grand Elder to handle."
’She actually tricked me! Bing Mengyun, you damn woman, just you wait! And that old bitch—I absolutely won’t let you off this time!’ Qin Li thought furiously. Then he said to the old man, "Thank you for your candor, sir. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave!"
As he spoke, Qin Li stood up, ready to leave.
At that moment, the old man, Xu Gui, also stood up. His eyes flickered, and after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, "Young man, are you heading to Four Seasons Valley?"
Qin Li nodded and said in a deep voice, "That’s right. I... am the fiancé of the girl with the Innate Spirit Body!"
"Ah?" Xu Gui couldn’t help but be stunned. He had guessed this young man might have some connection to the affair, but he never imagined that one of the protagonists of his own story was standing right before him!
After a brief hesitation, the old man stood and cupped his fist toward Qin Li. "Young man, is it true, as the rumors say, that you have a feud with the Grand Elder of the Four Seasons Sect?"
Qin Li gave a cold smile. "I have sworn to kill her!"
"In that case... I’ll risk these old bones and go with you!" A ferocious look appeared on Xu Gui’s otherwise peaceful and calm face. He then added excitedly, "When the time comes, young man, could you... leave that old bitch for me to kill?"
"Huh? You... you have a feud with her too?" Qin Li was completely dumbfounded. ’Isn’t this too much of a coincidence?’ he thought. ’Or has that old bitch just made too many enemies? How could I run into one of her nemeses even out here?’
"A feud? I wish I could cut her into a thousand pieces! I had originally planned to settle this grudge after I broke through to the Venerable Realm. Unfortunately, this unresolved hatred has become the greatest obstacle preventing my breakthrough."
As Xu Gui spoke, tears streamed down his aged face. "But I’m a coward. I don’t dare to confirm whether the Four Seasons Sect Master has truly left. It’s rumored she has already broken through to the Venerable Realm, and... I... I don’t know how I would face the woman I once loved!"
...
Inside the Four Seasons Sect, the atmosphere was bustling.
The Grand Elder, the gray-robed old crone, sat high in the main seat, a smile on her face as she looked upon the young talents gathered in the room. Disciples from two of Profound Island’s great families and two of its great sects had actually come, all to compete for Shangguan Shiyu!
Moreover, these young elites from the four powers were all exceedingly respectful in her presence, addressing her deferentially as "Grand Elder." Their attitude was a world apart from that little bastard Qin Li!
Whenever the gray-robed crone thought of Qin Li, immense hatred filled her heart. ’If it weren’t for Qin Li, how could I have ended up being controlled by that woman, Bing Mengyun? How could all this trouble have started?’
’Originally, given her disposition, she would never have allowed Shangguan Shiyu to marry outside the sect. But after the incident with Qin Li, the gray-robed crone had changed her attitude. She was now determined to kick this beautiful eyesore as far away as possible. If Qin Li were dead, getting rid of Shangguan Shiyu would resolve a great source of her hatred. In any case, she would absolutely not tolerate Shangguan Shiyu remaining under her nose after the Venerable Tournament.’
’Bing Mengyun cared about two things: the Venerable Tournament, and the reputation of the Four Seasons Sect!’
A venomous light gleamed in the gray-robed crone’s eyes. ’Bing Mengyun,’ she thought, ’didn’t you say I’ve broken up many couples? Well this time, I’ll make one for you! Let’s see what you have to say then! If you refuse, you’ll just be slapping your own face! Moreover, you’ll offend all these great powers! And if you agree, a thorn in my side will be gone!’
’And if Qin Li isn’t dead,’ the crone thought, nearly laughing out loud at the possibility, ’then I’ll let you clash with these great powers!’
’Let’s see you survive that! I don’t know why that girl Bing Mengyun didn’t kill you or what she was planning, but if I ever see you again, I will cut you down with my own sword!’
The gray-robed crone extended her left hand. Looking at the palm that had only a thumb remaining, her hatred intensified.
But as she looked at the unyielding young elites seated before her, a chilling smile appeared in her eyes. ’Qin Li, the news is out. If you’re alive, you’ll surely come. I am... looking forward to it!’
...
Along the way, Qin Li humbly asked Xu Gui about the superpowers of Profound Island, and Xu Gui told him everything he knew.
The four great families of Profound Island were the Cold Sword Cui Family, the Sword Killing Lin Family, the Anger Sword Xiao Family, and the Fire Sword Wang Family!
The names "Cold Sword," "Slaying Sword," "Anger Sword," and "Fire Sword" each represented the characteristics of the respective family’s combat skills. The Cold Sword Cui Family’s heirloom technique was an Ice Attribute combat skill, said to have reached the Sub-Divine Level. When its Sword Qi was unleashed, the frigid energy could instantly freeze a person’s meridians. The most powerful members could even turn a person into an ice sculpture with just the chilling pressure of their aura!
The core disciples of the Sword Killing Lin Family wielded the Thirty-six Paths of Absolute Killing Sword with incredibly ferocious might. It was said that every time they drew their swords, someone died!
When the Anger Sword Xiao Family used their combat skills, it was as if they became a Furious Vajra. Not only did it boost their own aura, but the momentum within the technique could also overwhelm an opponent’s spirit, leaving them agitated and unsettled.
The Fire Sword Wang Family’s heirloom combat skill was also Sub-Divine Level and fire-aspected. The strongest aspect of this technique was said to be that the power of the flames within the Sword Qi increased along with one’s Cultivation Realm.
Those who had cultivated to the point of producing Blue Flame could easily scorch their opponents with the heat of their Sword Qi. Even more terrifying, there were experts in the family who could cultivate it to a blue-white flame, producing an unbelievably horrifying level of destructive power!
The three great sects were Sword Concealment Manor, the Thousand Mechanism Sect, and Ice Edge!
Among them, Sword Concealment Manor was said to possess over a hundred types of advanced Sword Techniques and combat skills, with countless ultimate techniques!
The Thousand Mechanism Sect was more complex, possessing all sorts of Cultivation Methods. It was also said to be the only sect with a significant number of Spirit Beast disciples.
Ice Edge, a powerful sect, was located on the far western end of Profound Island. It was a land of Thousand-Mile Ice Seal and extreme cold. At the same time, Ice Edge was the most mysterious sect on Profound Island! Everyone knew they were strong, but very few of their disciples were ever seen out in the world.
Since the Ancient Era, these four great families and three great sects had stood as the strongest superpowers on Profound Island, each boasting over ten thousand disciples! Their greatest strength, however, was not their combat skills. After all, any family with a deep foundation possessed at least two or more powerful combat skills.
The true strength of these powers lay in the sheer depth of their foundations!
Legend claimed that within these four families and three sects, there were many experts at the Venerable Realm! There were even rumored to be experts at the Divinity Transformation Realm, beings who could break past the Venerable Realm and trigger a world-shaking Thunder Tribulation!
However, such things were mostly the stuff of legend; almost no one could claim to have witnessed it with their own eyes.
Among them, the Cold Sword Cui Family couldn’t help but remind Qin Li of the surname of the Imperial Family of the New Qin Kingdom back in the Mortal Realm.
