Translator: Cinder Translations
The four Shadow Gu fluttered their wings and arrived near the small river to the east. They scanned the surrounding area within several dozen paces and found no suspicious individuals except for two Golden Core cultivators fishing by the riverbank.
Song Wen soared into the air and stood above the river's surface.
Both men were wearing masks—one with a ghostly face mask, and the other with a beast head mask. Their true appearances were hidden, but judging by their figures, they were both male cultivators.
"We've been waiting for a while, friend," the ghost-faced cultivator spoke, his tone mocking. "We thought you had become too scared to come."
Song Wen ignored the sarcasm and asked, "May I ask, which one of you is the Leader?"
"Both of us," the beast-head cultivator answered.
"You invited me here, so I assume you have something important to discuss?" Song Wen inquired.
The ghost-faced cultivator raised a hand, forming a soundproof barrier, then replied, "Naturally, we invited you to join the 'Anti-Xing Society' and join us in opposing the Xing Clan."
Song Wen shook his head. "Though I have enmity with the Xing Clan, I'm not interested in joining the 'Anti-Xing Society.' I only want to know the secret of Cloud Ridge Mountain."
He was deeply suspicious of their motivation for opposing the Xing Clan.
The two cultivators might either have other motives and wish to gain some benefit from the Xing Clan, or they were unwilling to take risks themselves and wanted to use others to seek revenge.
Just like Jiang Fen, if she succeeded, these two would consider their vengeance fulfilled. If Jiang Fen failed and died at the hands of the Xing Clan, it wouldn't affect them at all.
Song Wen did not want to be a pawn in someone else's revenge.
"Friend, you want information but don't wish to pay any price. Isn't that a bit too greedy?" the ghost-faced cultivator remarked.
Song Wen replied, "Everyone is fighting against the Xing Clan. What's the difference between joining the 'Anti-Xing Society' and not?"
The ghost-faced cultivator seemed about to say something, but the beast-head cultivator stopped him.
"Friend, you're right. As long as it's against the Xing Clan, we welcome anyone. Let's end today's meeting here. We'll investigate the secret of Cloud Ridge Mountain as soon as possible."
"When will the investigation be completed?" Song Wen asked.
"It won't take more than a month. By the next full moon night, we will notify all members of the 'Anti-Xing Society' through the communication jade slip," the beast-head cultivator replied.
"I find it odd. With such detailed information on the Xing Clan, how did you obtain it?" Song Wen questioned.
"That's not something we can share," the beast-head cultivator answered.
Song Wen cupped his hands in salute and soared into the air.
"This person has an unknown background. Should we really give him the Xing Clan's information?" the ghost-faced cultivator asked.
The beast-head cultivator replied, "Why not? No matter who he is, as long as he is willing to act against the Xing Clan, it's useful to us."
"What if he's a spy sent by the Xing Clan?" the ghost-faced cultivator asked.
"If he's a spy from the Xing Clan, he wouldn't have come alone just now. There would have been a Nascent Soul cultivator with him. Where would we be standing here?" the beast-head cultivator countered.
"Before he arrived, were you not worried this could be a trap set by the Xing Clan?" the ghost-faced cultivator asked.
The beast-head cultivator reassured him, "Don't worry. If a Nascent Soul cultivator enters the Black Market, I will know immediately."
The two cultivators fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, the ghost-faced cultivator asked, "I have kept my promise to you and found dozens of people with grievances against the Xing Clan to join the 'Anti-Xing Society.' When will you fulfill your part of the agreement?"
The beast-head cultivator replied, "Rest assured. We will fulfill our promise to you."
The ghost-faced cultivator nodded and did not ask further. He clasped his hands in salute. "Farewell."
The beast-head cultivator watched as the ghost-faced cultivator's figure disappeared into the dense forest before turning to leave.
Song Wen did not go far. He stopped about forty paces away from the small river.
This distance exceeded the sensory range of Golden Core cultivators, so the two leaders of the 'Anti-Xing Society' couldn't detect his presence. However, he could use the Shadow Gu to observe their movements.
The two cultivators left in opposite directions.
The beast-head cultivator headed towards the Black Market.
The ghost-faced cultivator moved towards the western wilderness.
Without much thought, Song Wen decided to follow the ghost-faced cultivator.
The Black Market was not only protected by formations but also concealed many Golden Core cultivators, making it unsuitable for confrontation.
The ghost-faced cultivator traveled westward, deliberately taking several detours along the way, as if wary of someone following him.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the foot of a tall mountain.
Just as he was about to enter a cave at the base of the mountain, he suddenly heard a shout from behind.
"Friend, please stop."
The ghost-faced cultivator turned abruptly. Before he could see who it was, he spoke in a tone filled with some anger.
"Jing Lie, what's the meaning of this? Why are you following me?"
"Friend, you seem to have mistaken me for someone else. I am not Jing Lie," Song Wen's figure slowly emerged from the dense forest.
Seeing that the person wasn't Jing Lie, the ghost-faced cultivator visibly relaxed, but his expression remained puzzled.
"It's you! Why are you following me?" he asked.
"Where did you get the information about the Xing Clan?" Song Wen asked.
"Why should I tell you?" the ghost-faced cultivator replied.
"Since you're unwilling to speak, I'll have to use some methods to make you talk," Song Wen's voice carried a chilling tone.
"You are only in the early stages of the Golden Core realm. I don't know where your confidence comes from, but you dare speak so arrogantly in front of me, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator?" the ghost-faced cultivator barked, though his expression was unusually cautious, betraying the wariness behind his harsh words.
Song Wen had dared to track him alone without being detected, meaning he must have something backing him up.
The ghost-faced cultivator guessed that Song Wen's cultivation might be a facade.
"Heh, you'll find out once you try," Song Wen's aura suddenly shifted, turning as sharp as a cold wind, and a murderous intent surged from him.
"Friend, please, let's talk," the ghost-faced cultivator quickly raised his hands to stop Song Wen before he could act.
"The information on the Xing Clan came from Jing Feiyao," he confessed without hesitation, revealing the secret of the 'Anti-Xing Society.'
"Jing Feiyao?" Song Wen furrowed his brow. "Why would she reveal the Xing Clan's information to you?"
The ghost-faced cultivator replied, "The beast-headed cultivator by the river earlier was Jing Lie from the Jing family."
"What does your Jing family intend to do by forming the 'Anti-Xing Society'? Do you plan to overthrow the Xing Clan?" Song Wen asked.
After the collusion between Xing Wen Yao and the Jing family, which led to the assassination of Xing Gaohan, the relationship between the two families had grown even closer.
Yet, despite this, the Jing family was causing turmoil within the Xing Clan's territory by forming the so-called 'Anti-Xing Society,' which seemed to suggest ulterior motives.
The ghost-faced cultivator replied, "I'm not sure about that. I'm not from the Jing family. I'm only helping Jing Lie form the 'Anti-Xing Society.'"
Song Wen said, "I'm curious—given the Jing family's vast power, why would they need your help to form the 'Anti-Xing Society?'"
The ghost-faced cultivator answered, "I once served as a Golden Core attendant in the Xing Clan, so I know some of their secrets and have access to the true identities of cultivators who are hostile to the Xing Clan."
"Interesting. Now I'm even more curious about your true identity. Would you mind removing your mask so I can see your true face?" Song Wen's voice had a cold, eerie tone.
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