Chapter 370: The Power Behind the Scenes

After Qiu Shuang, Zhang Hubiao, Li Ya, Yang Wei, and Jia Zhengjing escaped from the Hehuan Sect, they hurried without rest to the Zhengyang Sect, preparing to seek help from them.

Although the Four Great Powers of the Northern Territory are in constant competition.

They maintain an allied stance toward the outside world.

They were not worried that the Zhengyang Sect would refuse.

However.

After arriving at the Zhengyang Sect full of hope, they discovered that the Zhengyang Sect was also besieged by mysterious powerhouses.

What made them even more desperate was.

The moment they appeared outside the Zhengyang Sect, the powerhouses besieging it detected them.

The old man who had just fallen was one of the powerhouses besieging the Zhengyang Sect.

In order to escape the other party's pursuit and seek a glimmer of survival for the Hehuan Sect.

Zhang Hubiao, Li Ya, Yang Wei, and Jia Zhengjing resolutely decided to stay behind to cover the retreat.

At the cost of self-detonation, they managed to drag down this Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator.

Allowing Qiu Shuang to gain time to escape.

However.

The gap between a Golden Core Stage cultivator and a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator is too great.

Although Qiu Shuang has outstanding talent, she is far from reaching the level where she can bridge this gap.

She was soon caught up by them.

That led to the scene Wang Jianqiang saw.

"Grandma is dead!"

Mu Lingxi grew up following Lin Xueran and Mu Yutong since she was a child, and she had deep feelings for Lin Xueran.

Upon hearing the news of Lin Xueran's fall, her face instantly turned pale.

Wang Jianqiang also fell silent.

Shangguan Yurou is dead?

The image of a beautiful middle-aged woman could not help but surface in his mind.

For the sake of freedom, she had plotted for many years.

Having finally gained her freedom, how many years had it been?

Recalling the moments he had interacted with Shangguan Yurou.

His pupils trembled, and a strong killing intent could not help but rise within him.

"This Fairy, you said the Zhengyang Sect was also besieged?"

"Then what about my Wan Jian Sect and Xuanqing Palace?"

Just then, Liu Qing'er, who had been silent all along, could not help but speak up.

Hearing this, Qiu Shuang.

Looked at the beautiful woman who carried a long sword on her back and had a figure as straight as a sword.

Is this woman a Disciple of the Wan Jian Sect?

Her expression shifted, and she shook her head, "After I left the Hehuan Sect, I only had time to head to the Zhengyang Sect; I have not been to the Wan Jian Sect or Xuanqing Palace."

Wang Jianqiang came back to his senses.

He thought again of the fact that the life or death of Dong Yue and Yan Qingxuan was unknown.

He forcibly suppressed the boiling killing intent in his heart.

He flipped his palm and took out a Nascent Soul.

This Nascent Soul was exactly that of the old man from just before.

To be safe, he had not killed him, but simply sealed him.

He tapped his finger on the Nascent Soul.

The Restriction on the Nascent Soul was partially lifted.

The sleeping Nascent Soul woke up.

"Brat, if you don't want to die, release this old man quickly, otherwise you won't have a good end."

Just after waking up, a look of resentment appeared on the old man's face, and he looked at Wang Jianqiang with a stern tone.

Wang Jianqiang's mood was already very poor, and hearing the threat from the old man's Nascent Soul, his brows immediately furrowed.

He pointed his finger at the body of the Nascent Soul.

Five-Colored Spiritual Power erupted.

The old man's Nascent Soul was instantly severely damaged, and the energy of the Nascent Soul dissipated.

A shrill scream came from the mouth of the old man's Nascent Soul.

Taking advantage of the moment when the old man's Nascent Soul body was severely damaged and his Soul was weak.

Wang Jianqiang's Spirit Sense surged into his brow, instantly crushing his Soul.

He began to read his memories.

A moment later.

Wang Jianqiang's Spirit Sense withdrew from the old man's Nascent Soul, and the old man's consciousness had been completely extinguished.

He flipped his palm and put the Nascent Soul away.

"How is it? Do you know which power is behind this?"

At this time, Mu Lingxi had also recovered from her grief.

Only, at this moment, her face had lost its usual liveliness and was filled with coldness, like a piece of ice that would never melt through the ages.

Hearing Mu Lingxi's inquiry, Wang Jianqiang nodded and slowly spat out three words.

"Xuanqing Palace."

Upon hearing this name, Mu Lingxi's brows instantly furrowed.

Wang Yu Yao, Su Yutong, Liu Qing'er, and Qiu Shuang also revealed expressions of astonishment in unison.

"How could it be Xuanqing Palace?"

"The strength of Xuanqing Palace is comparable to the other Three Great Factions; it shouldn't be possible for them to have so many experts."

Qiu Shuang said, somewhat incredulously.

"In this person's memory, Xuanqing Palace climbed up to a major faction a long time ago, and with the help of that major faction, they have been secretly strengthening their power," Wang Jianqiang said.

The women's expressions tightened upon hearing this.

"Do you know which faction it is?" Mu Lingxi asked.

"This person's status was limited, so he didn't know such secrets, but an envoy from that powerful faction has been stationed within Xuanqing Palace."

"If we can capture him or the true person in charge of Xuanqing Palace, perhaps we can find out."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

In this person's memory, he also learned of another piece of information.

That is, Xuanqing Palace made contact with that powerful faction not long after Luo Yunshang went missing.

Unfortunately.

After entering Xuanqing Palace, Luo Yunshang had always been very mysterious.

Furthermore, this old man had never paid special attention to Luo Yunshang, so he did not know much information about her.

At this moment, a guess suddenly emerged in his heart that he could not suppress.

The reason Xuanqing Palace was able to make contact with that powerful faction.

It is very likely related to Luo Yunshang!

"Daoist Friend Wang, have you seen the current situation of Wan Jian Sect in this person's memory?"

Just then, Liu Qing'er's voice reached Wang Jianqiang's ears.

He came back to his senses and nodded at Liu Qing'er, "I have."

"What is the current situation of Wan Jian Sect?" Liu Qing'er asked hurriedly.

Wang Jianqiang sighed, "Wan Jian Sect has also been besieged."

"At that time, Xuanqing Palace sent out three batches of Cultivators at once to attack Hehuan Sect, Wan Jian Sect, and Zhengyang Sect respectively."

"Among them, the team attacking Hehuan Sect was the strongest, led by two Heaven Pavilion Elders and three Earth Pavilion Elders."

"The other two teams were each led by one Heaven Pavilion Elder and three Earth Pavilion Elders."

"Heaven Pavilion Elders?"

The women's expressions shifted.

Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang explained, "In the current Xuanqing Palace, Elders can be divided into two levels: Heaven Pavilion and Earth Pavilion."

"Ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators can become Earth Pavilion Elders; only Cultivators who have Manifested Will can enter the Heaven Pavilion and become Heaven Pavilion Elders."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Qiu Shuang's expression shifted.

"In that case, Xuanqing Palace has at least three experts who have Manifested Will?"

Mu Lingxi, Wang Yu Yao, Su Yutong, and Liu Qing'er all had shifts in their expressions.

"More than that."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "This person doesn't know exactly how many Elders are in the Heaven Pavilion, but the Earth Pavilion alone has eighteen Elders."

"Only nine have been dispatched now; judging by this, there must be many Elders in the Heaven Pavilion who have not yet taken action."

"Besides that, the Xuanqing Palace Master's strength has greatly increased with the help of that major faction; at the very least, they are also an expert who has Manifested Will."

"Plus the old Palace Master who is still alive and other hidden experts."

"The number of Xuanqing Palace experts who have Manifested Will is definitely no less than eight."