Making Friends

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the Wu family was indeed the most likely culprit.

Because Liu Chun's background was relatively clean. For decades, he had not been involved in anything strange, and his interpersonal relationships were simple. The only conflict he ever had was his falling out with Wu Sanbao of the Wu family at the Immortal Fragrance Pavilion in Yuanling City.

Since this incident happened only a year ago, randomly asking anyone in Yuanling City would reveal that nine out of ten people knew about it, making it not difficult to find out at all.

Moreover, it was said that Wu Sanbao was an evil and petty person who sought revenge for the slightest grievance, making it highly likely that he would cause trouble for Liu Chun over a minor conflict.

It was also heard that the Wu family had become increasingly rampant in Yuanling City over the past two years. Having previously been subordinate to the Yuan family, for some unknown reason in the last two years, they began to clash with the Yuan family—the head of the various families in Yuanling City—at every turn, acting as if they had nothing to fear.

Meanwhile, the Yuan family was constrained in many ways due to the issues with their own patriarch.

As a result, the Wu family recently became even more domineering and arrogant in Yuanling City.

From this perspective, the Wu family of Yuanling City was highly suspicious.

With this ninety percent certainty, Lianyintang immediately dispatched personnel to Yuanling City for a thorough investigation.

Who could have expected that when the people from Lianyintang rushed to Yuanling City at maximum speed, they would hear a shocking piece of news the moment they entered the city.

The Wu family had been wiped out!

The entire clan was annihilated, leaving no survivors!

Upon first hearing this news, Lianyintang and the major sect forces behind it were extremely shocked.

From the day of the incident to the inquiries and investigation, only a few days had passed! Once they confirmed the news, the people of Lianyintang believed their speed was already fast enough.

Yet they never expected that before they could follow the clues from that bit of suspicion, the mastermind behind the scenes would strike directly!

And with such ruthlessness, directly wiping out an entire large family with generations of heritage in the city!

Furthermore, it was heard that the extermination was extremely thorough. Not only were there no survivors within the entire Wu family, but even their ashes were gone. Things like divine souls were wiped completely clean. Even when they used high-level tracing artifacts, they could not trace a single mark, as if the people of the Wu family had never existed in this world.

"At least we can confirm one thing."

Inside Lianyintang, the persons in charge stationed here by the major forces had all given up their seats, settling for the lowest positions in the discussion hall.

Sitting at the very front were impressively the leaders of these sect forces. The one sitting at the highest seat was none other than the sect master of the number one sect in the Northern and Southern Spiritual Realms—the Talisman Sect's Daoist Lord Taihua.

At this moment, the one who spoke was precisely this Talisman Sect Master, Daoist Lord Taihua.

He looked calmly at the crowd below and said:

"That is, this Ji Stone has indeed been mastered by someone again, and they intend to use it to achieve certain goals."

The sect master of the Sky Profound Sect next to him continued:

"Daoist Lord Taihua is absolutely right. To think that after more than ten thousand years, this Ji Stone has actually made a comeback. Who knows what the mastermind's purpose is..."

On the other side, the sect master of the Earth Fiend Sect snorted lightly and said:

"What else could controlling that ghostly thing be for? Of course, it's to expel spiritual energy and return the world to the living hell it was ten thousand years ago!"

Not knowing what he thought of, he couldn't hold back from lightly pounding the armrest of his chair, his face filled with indignation.

Another sect master nearby spoke mildly:

"Anyway, no matter what, since they have exposed themselves now, there must be traces to follow. Let's investigate carefully, root out the mastermind as soon as possible, and strive to stop this matter before the situation becomes severe."

During these days, Liu Chun had come into contact with many people from Lianyintang, and as a result, he befriended an elder of the Sky Profound Sect.

That elder also loved crafting talismans and quite appreciated Liu Chun. After interacting more recently, the elder found him to be a very honest and pure person, so he intentionally sought to befriend him.

Liu Chun naturally sensed his intentions as well.

In truth, he also intended to befriend this elder.

Now he no longer counted on using some status to join the Sky Profound Sect. After all, he was already a member of the Lingxian Sect, and he did not want to leave the Lingxian Sect.

But he still had to find his sister's whereabouts.

The only way was to know someone from the Sky Profound Sect, preferably someone with a certain amount of connections and power, making it much easier to investigate someone.

This Sky Profound Sect elder was surnamed Zhang. During his interactions with Liu Chun, Elder Zhang learned that Liu Chun had joined the Wu family and worked as a minor talisman enshrined guest for ten years, all to obtain a quota to enter the Sky Profound Sect and find his sister. This made him feel even more that Liu Chun was a man who valued relationships and loyalty.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, since this is the case, why don't we do this: I'll go back and speak to the sect, allowing you to join our sect. How about it?"

Today, after the competition, just as the sky was getting dark, Elder Zhang happily came to find Liu Chun and said.

Not expecting such a proposal, Liu Chun froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"It's not that I don't know what's good for me and want to refuse your kindness, Fellow Daoist. It's just that after the incident with the Wu family, I have grown fearful of collective organizations like sects and families. Having been idle for over a year, I increasingly feel the benefits of being alone. Now, my only concern is my sister..."

Hearing this, Elder Zhang thought of what the Wu family had done to him, sighed, and nodded:

"True. You did your utmost for the Wu family for so many years, and not only did they go back on their word, but they also treated you like that. Now that their entire clan has been wiped out, it can be considered..."

"Sigh, let's not mention it. Since that's the case, do you have any clues about your sister? Which fellow sect member did she become a disciple under back then? I'll go back and help you investigate! When it comes to popularity within my Sky Profound Sect, I, Lao Zhang, am number one!"

Saying this, he gave a thumbs-up to himself.

Seeing this, Liu Chun broke into a smile, then showed some concern:

"I know your good intentions, Fellow Daoist, but won't this be too much trouble for you..."

Elder Zhang immediately waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"No trouble, no trouble at all. It's just finding a person, what's troublesome about that? It's just a matter of asking friends a few more questions! I just feel that Fellow Daoist Liu's character really suits my taste, and I want to make you a friend! Helping a friend find someone is no big deal!"

Thus, Liu Chun immediately stood up and gave a formal bow to Elder Zhang:

"Then I will have to trouble Elder Zhang. I, Chun, thank you here. In the future, if you have any requests, I will definitely not disappoint you!"

After seeing Elder Zhang off, Liu Chun closed the door and stared blankly at the candlestick in the room.

After a good while, he snapped back to his senses and let out a faint sigh.

He felt a bit of guilt in his heart.

Although he genuinely felt that Elder Zhang was a good person, his association with him truly carried a very strong purpose.

But he had to find his sister.

And he didn't want to leave the Lingxian Sect either.

It was he who was too selfish.

Liu Chun silently made up his mind that if Elder Zhang ever needed his help in the future, he would definitely do his utmost to assist him...

The candle on the table gradually burned out.

The pale moonlight spilled into the room, illuminating a lonely and guilty silhouette.