Cheng Ze took the medicine and felt his body lighten considerably, even the pain when circulating his true energy had lessened. He quickly stepped forward to bow.
"Young Master Xiao, it's good that you're alright. If anything happened to you, we would have no face to meet our master."
"Let's go, we should leave here first. This Myriad Ghost Forest is covered in poisonous miasma year-round. Ordinary people who stay inside for too long, eroded by the miasma, will affect their Dao heart." Xiao Man led the way out, with Cheng Ze and Cheng Le quickly following.
"Young Master Xiao, do you know the way?"
"It should be correct. Rest assured and follow me. Once we're out of the Myriad Ghost Forest, return to your master and tell him not to waste his thoughts on me; it's useless."
Emerging from the Myriad Ghost Forest, Cheng Le was almost moved to tears. They had been trapped inside, thinking they would perish there, only to be led out by Xiao Man in the end.
"Young Master Xiao..." Cheng Ze looked around, but Xiao Man was nowhere to be seen. Even Nangong Yu, who had been by Xiao Man's side, had vanished!
"Young Master Xiao!" Cheng Ze quickly chased after them in the direction of Nether City. This time, he absolutely could not afford to lose Xiao Man again, otherwise, he truly wouldn't know how to explain it to the Young Master!
As the two headed towards Nether City and disappeared from sight, Xiao Man and Nangong Yu slowly emerged from the Myriad Ghost Forest.
"The guards around Wen Ting are not as cunning as he is."
"He himself is already a person with more cunning than a sieve; he wouldn't dare be with someone with even more." Xiao Man sighed. She had thought he was dead, but he lived on. Truly a lingering spirit!
"Where do we go next?"
"Sky Sword Sect," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "I suspect the one who abducted my mother is from the Sky Sword Sect."
"The Sky Sword Sect is the only one among the Four Great Sects with a Nascent Soul stage expert. If anyone has the ability to tear space and abduct someone, the Sky Sword Sect would be the primary suspect. However, I don't understand why the Sky Sword Sect would abduct your mother?"
"For the bloodline inheritance of the Qin clan," Xiao Man said softly. "Of the four ancient sects, each bears its own inheritance. Nowadays, only the Sky Sword Sect and the Sky Profound Sect can be considered orthodox inheritances."
"Aren't the Sky Spirit Sect and the Beast Taming Sect also among the four ancient sects?" Nangong Yu asked in surprise, as the Sky Spirit Sect had a long history.
Xiao Man shook her head. "The founding ancestor of the Sky Spirit Sect was an ancestor of the Qin clan, meaning my ancestor. The current leader of the Sky Spirit Sect is merely occupying the nest. Power can be seized, but bloodline cannot."
"Then what about the Beast Taming Sect?"
"The Beast Taming Sect is another force that rose rapidly after the demise of the Sky Shield Sect. They have no connection to the four ancient sects at all," Xiao Man explained. "However, to be able to establish their own sect, the Beast Taming Sect's capabilities should not be underestimated." Su Dan Novel Network.
"Could the Beast Taming Sect have any connection to the Sky Shield Sect?" Nangong Yu inquired.
Xiao Man shook her head, then hesitated. Who could guarantee that no one from the Sky Shield Sect had survived that calamity? But to escape divine punishment would likely not be easy.
"I don't know. The secrets within are likely not for outsiders to know. After the Sky Shield Sect fell, it was followed by the replacement of the Qin clan. The Sky Sword Sect and the Sky Profound Sect must have been walking on thin ice." Xiao Man was somewhat worried. "I'm a bit concerned about my mother."
"If that's the case, let's go to the Sky Sword Sect first," Nangong Yu said decisively. "I'll infiltrate, and you can provide support from outside..."
"It concerns my mother; how can I wait outside? I must personally visit the Sky Sword Sect." Xiao Man calmly analyzed. "Moreover, I have a good relationship with Yue Ran. At a critical moment, he might help me. If you go, you'll be alone and unsupported, which would be disadvantageous."
"Then I'll infiltrate with you. We can look out for each other."
"No rush," Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu. "Before that, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"Between us, when did we become so polite?" Nangong Yu asked softly. Since their reunion, Xiao Man had been exceptionally polite to him, which made him uneasy.
"I need your help."
"Please, tell me."
"Go to the Sky Spirit Sect for me and find Lu Qing." Xiao Man handed a token to Nangong Yu. "This is the clan token of the Qin clan. Once you find Lu Qing, give him the clan token and ask him to find something within the Sky Spirit Sect."
"What thing?"
"A seal."
Nangong Yu looked confused. "A seal?"
"Yes, a seal. Just tell him the word 'seal,' and he'll understand what I'm looking for."
Nangong Yu looked at Xiao Man, not taking the clan token. "A'man, you've not only grown distant from me, but you're even unwilling to tell me the truth."
Xiao Man paused slightly, then sighed. "I want to release Yu Ju from the Forbidden Land. What Lu Qing needs to find is the seal related to Yu Ju."
"You want to release the Demon Lord?" Nangong Yu was startled. "Do you know the consequences of releasing Yu Ju? Are you willing to gamble with the lives of the people of Cang Xuan to deal with the Sky Sword Sect?"
"In your eyes, am I such a mad and heartless person?" Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu and asked. "I know how terrifying the Demon Lord is, but I know even better how terrifying the person hidden behind all this is!"
"No matter how terrifying the person behind it is, the Demon Lord's slaughter of living beings is a fact, an undeniable fact. Once the Demon Lord is released, across the Cang Xuan continent, who do you think can contend with him?"
"A'yu, rumors are not the truth," Xiao Man explained. "In fact, rumors might be used to conceal the truth!"
"Are you saying that the Four Great Sects sealing the Demon Lord was to hide an unknown truth?" Nangong Yu asked, confused.
"The Four Great Sects are likely just pawns. The person hidden behind them has the power to make clouds and rain appear with a flip of their hand. The Four Great Sects have probably long become puppets. We need other helpers, and the demon race would be an excellent helper. You and I have also been to the Ghost Domain and seen its people; do you think the people of the Ghost Domain are truly as wicked as the rumors say?"
Nangong Yu didn't answer immediately. He had indeed entered the Ghost Domain, but he had rarely interacted with people outside. All his energy was focused on subduing the Black Dragon.
"I've only had brief contact with the people of the Ghost Domain, but the Demon Lord is indeed infamous for his bloodthirsty nature."
"A'yu, the dragon race is the proudest. Do you think the dragon race would willingly acknowledge a completely wicked devil as their master?"
Although the dragon race was avaricious and lustful, they also had their pride. They disliked interacting with people. Anyone who could make them submit must possess extraordinary strength and outstanding character; otherwise, the dragon race would never submit, even if it meant death.
"Is this your reason for wanting to release Yu Ju?"
"This is just one of them."
"What other reasons are there?" Nangong Yu grew more confused, unable to understand what had prompted Xiao Man to decide to release the Demon Lord, as this decision was too reckless.