Xiao Man went to the Qian Ji Sect to gather information. To avoid being recognized, she disguised Ze Fang as a pretty little girl.
Ze Fang's expression shifted rapidly. However, in his child-like form, he was utterly incapable of resistance.
"I never imagined Little Qi would look so good in women's clothes. If she were a daughter, she'd surely grow up to be a beauty that could topple kingdoms," Xiao Man pinched Ze Fang's tender cheek and couldn't resist planting a kiss on it.
Ze Fang's face immediately turned even redder, like an overripe apple, flushed and exceptionally beautiful.
"Daddy, where are we going?" Ze Fang asked with a beaming smile. It was just as well that those women suspected him of being Xiao Man's illegitimate child; if he solidified this notion, those women should abandon their covetous thoughts of her.
"Let's go take a look at the Qian Ji Sect," Xiao Man's gaze drifted towards the recruitment station of the Qian Ji Sect not far away. Although the number of people coming to register for the Qian Ji Sect was not as great as for the Lie Yang Sect, there were still many. Xiao Man, holding Ze Fang's hand, walked towards the registration point.
"Name, cultivation level," the young man at the registration desk asked without looking up.
After a long silence, the young man impatiently raised his head, staring at Xiao Man and repeating, "Name, cultivation level."
"I'm not here to register."
"If you're not registering, then move aside and don't block us!" Immediately, someone pushed Xiao Man aside, stepped forward, stated their name and cultivation level, received a Qian Ji Sect token, and left happily.
Xiao Man's gaze swept over the disciples of the Qian Ji Sect when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. That person seemed to have also seen Xiao Man and did not approach her, but instead slowly shook his head at her.
Xiao Man lowered her eyes. It seemed that within the Qian Ji Sect, there were many secrets! And since Xi Wen loved investigating secrets the most!
Xiao Man walked around the perimeter wall of the Qian Ji Sect. Because it was enrollment day, the outer formation had been withdrawn. Xiao Man stopped at a certain spot, leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and transmitted a message to Xi Wen.
"Xi Wen, are you alright?"
"Boss, I'm fine, but Xiang Jian is likely in trouble." Xi Wen answered Xiao Man while keeping an eye on the surrounding movements.
"Is Xiang Jian's enemy someone from the Qian Ji Sect?"
"Yes and no, Boss. Xiang Jian's enemy is not simple. Someone has issued an order to the Seven Great Sects that none of them are to accept Xiang Jian as a disciple. Furthermore, the Seven Great Sects must join forces and use the opportunity of this newcomer elimination competition to kill Xiang Jian." Xi Wen spoke rather quickly. "Boss, I can't return for now. I will also participate in the newcomer elimination competition this time. We'll meet at the competition then. Also, please tell Xiang Jian not to participate in the enrollment competition."
"I understand."
"In addition, the top three disciples in this elimination competition can choose any sect they wish to join and will directly become inner disciples."
"Xi Wen, can you not participate in the newcomer elimination competition?" Xiao Man instructed, "This elimination competition might have unforeseen changes."
"Boss, is it related to the people who attacked us?"
"It's not certain whether it's related yet. Can you avoid participating this time?"
"No, if I don't participate, I won't be able to enter one of the Seven Great Sects to cultivate. I've only pre-registered for the Qian Ji Sect, but technically, I'm not yet an outer disciple of the Qian Ji Sect, so I must participate in this elimination competition."
"Alright, be careful with everything."
"Oh, by the way, Boss, Xiang Jian might have offended someone from a noble family."
Xiao Man frowned. Noble families, to the Seven Great Sects, were like monsters. With their current capabilities, they couldn't even shake the Seven Great Sects, let alone the noble families. If Xiang Jian's enemies were from a noble family, then it would be necessary to change her identity. At least, she must not reveal herself until he had the ability to contend with a noble family!
"Do you know which family it might be?"
"That, I don't know."
Xiao Man was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, I understand. Take care of yourself, and we'll meet at the elimination competition."
"Boss, which sect are you planning to join?"
"Bai Yao Tang." Xiao Man did not hide it. The Seven Great Sects were merely temporary resting places. Her goal was to enter a sect. Only by entering a sect would the possibility of finding the others be higher. She also believed that others would find ways to meet her at the sect.
"Are you planning to follow the path of alchemy?" Xi Wen asked in surprise. He had originally thought Xiao Man would go to the Cang Lang Sect or the Lie Yang Sect, as those two sects were very powerful. At the very least, he thought she would go to the Ling She Sect or the Qian Ji Sect. He never expected Xiao Man to choose Bai Yao Tang, which had the weakest combat power.
"I just hope that when you encounter danger, I will have the ability to save you."
Xi Wen's expression changed slightly. He never imagined that Xiao Man's reason for going to Bai Yao Tang was this.
"Zhou Yan is gone. If my medical skills were a bit better, perhaps I could have saved him, but I couldn't save him." Xiao Man's tone carried a hint of sadness. "I don't want any of you to get hurt again, so, Xi Wen, you must live well."
"Boss, don't worry, I will take good care of myself. You must also take care."
"Okay, I'm leaving now."
Hearing that there was no more movement outside, Xi Wen took a deep breath and hid all his emotions before leaving. As soon as he stepped out, he encountered a disciple of the Qian Ji Sect.
"Greetings, Senior Brother."
"Xi Wen, Elder has summoned you."
"I'll be there shortly," Xi Wen said gratefully and headed towards the Grand Elder's courtyard. In the Qian Ji Sect, only one person could be called Elder, and that was Zong Yi. Although he was in Wu Ji City, he did not handle any enrollment matters; he was merely present to provide support.
"Disciple greets Elder."
Zong Yi was fiddling with a crossbow in his hand, disassembling it into parts at a rapid pace. However, after disassembling it, he could not reassemble it, which greatly troubled Zong Yi.
"Are there any individuals skilled in intricate craftsmanship among those who entered from the Land of No Law?"
Xi Wen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. He hadn't really noticed anyone who knew the art of intricate craftsmanship, but he found the crossbow in Zong Yi's hand somewhat strange, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Zong Yi looked up and saw Xi Wen curiously looking at the crossbow in his hand. He immediately raised the crossbow, "This thing is a good item. It can kill cultivators below the Golden Core stage. However, it's too expensive. I bought one and studied it for a long time, but I couldn't figure out how it works. It's easy to take apart, but impossible to reassemble. Do you like it?"
"Even Elder doesn't know how this thing is made?"
"The Qian Ji Sect is indeed skilled in intricate craftsmanship, but this thing comes from a noble family. How could we, from the Qian Ji Sect, replicate something from a noble family?" Zong Yi sighed, his face filled with distress. He had originally thought that by spending a large sum of money to buy one, he could surely replicate it with his skills, but he never expected it to turn out like this. "I really want to meet the person who made it and ask him for advice on how it's made, and why it can't be reassembled after being taken apart?"