Chapter 264: Goodbye, Qiao Xiaoqiao

"No, I'm going to find out right now where the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect is!"

Qiao Huizhu was in a panic and moved to leave.

He Pingsheng reached out and grabbed her clothes. "Don't rush—I've already found out!"

"Sit down!"

Qiao Huizhu finally sat down.

He Pingsheng pulled out a map.

He poured his magic power into the map jade slip, and instantly an image of the map projected onto the wall of the room.

It showed the terrain around Hongshi County and Hongshi City.

"Before you arrived, I already inquired!" He Pingsheng said. "The Xiao Yao Immortal Sect lies just outside Hongshi City. Its sect is enormous—even the Hongshi City governor's mansion fears them!"

"They're also one of the Top Ten Sects in the entire Hongshi County!"

"Here!"

"There's a great mountain called Wu Xian Mountain."

"The Xiao Yao Immortal Sect sits atop Wu Xian Mountain!"

"It's a colossal force!"

"From Hongshi City to Wu Xian Mountain, even at our speed, it would take about six days to fly there!"

He Pingsheng looked at Qiao Huizhu. "I've asked around. Though Bai Shangli is worthless, as one of Hongshi County's former Top Ten Sects, the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect still maintains decent sect manners—it's a true Xuan Gate orthodox school!"

"If this list's Qiao Xiaoqiao is your sister, she's been in this sect for eleven or twelve years already!"

"A couple of days won't matter!"

"Rest for now. Tomorrow I'll accompany you there—agreed?"

Qiao Huizhu finally calmed down.

Yes, a day or two wouldn't matter.

If she'd been ruined, it would've happened ten years ago.

What good would rushing there now do?

"Fine!" Qiao Huizhu said. "I was too hasty!"

…

The next day, He Pingsheng entrusted the shop to Old Cheng and accompanied Qiao Huizhu toward the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect.

This time he took out a different flying vessel—not the four-restriction Cloud Piercer, but an S-rank spiritual artifact: the Eight Treasures Boat.

After embedding one hundred and eight middle-grade spirit stones into the Eight Treasures Boat, its speed became unmatched, more than twice as fast as He Pingsheng's usual sword flight.

They didn't need six days. Three days later, they arrived at Wu Xian Mountain aboard the flying vessel.

From the air, the vast Wu Xian Mountain was split down the middle by a massive river.

The smaller right side was the outer sect of the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect.

The larger left side was the inner sect.

Between inner and outer sects flowed a vast, roaring river.

Legends said the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect housed several Nascent Soul cultivators.

He Pingsheng dared not be reckless—he immediately landed the flying vessel before the outer sect's mountain gate.

No sooner had they landed than a disciple riding a white crane shot down the mountain and landed not far from He Pingsheng.

The crane's enormous wings flapped, stirring up fierce winds.

Ten zhang above the ground, the disciple atop the crane looked down with arrogance. "Where are you from? Don't you know this is the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect's cultivation ground?"

He Pingsheng lightly swept his spiritual sense over the young man, revealing his cultivation level.

Foundation Establishment, Level One.

Just a newly established Foundation cultivator.

He Pingsheng didn't act haughty—he bowed respectfully. "Brother, greetings. I'm a wilderness cultivator, but one of my relatives joined your sect!"

"I've come to visit family!"

"Visit family?" The crane rider was slightly surprised. Hearing He Pingsheng was here to visit family, he leapt off the crane and stood before him. "Who are you visiting? What's their cultivation level? What's their name? And where in the Xiao Yao Immortal Sect do they cultivate?"

He Pingsheng said, "I don't know. Since she joined your sect, we've had no contact."

"Her name is Qiao Xiaoqiao!"

"Qiao Xiaoqiao?" The crane rider asked. "When did she join the sect?"

"What was her cultivation level then?"

Qiao Huizhu stepped forward. "About eleven or twelve years ago, when she joined, she was already at Foundation Establishment Level Three!"

"I don't know her," the crane rider said. "But based on your description, this sister must've entered the inner sect."

"I'm not familiar with inner sect disciples either!"

"Come with me—I'll take you to our outer sect's Executive Elder to check the records!"

"Let's go!"

Saying this, the disciple leapt back onto the crane and soared upward, heading up the mountain.

In an instant, he pierced through several layers of white clouds.

He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu didn't dare delay—they each mounted their swords and followed close behind.

Within a few breaths, they flew up the mountain, greeted by damp, rich spiritual energy.

"No wonder it's a famous orthodox sect!" Qiao Huizhu marveled. "This spiritual energy is far denser than at our Tianfu Mountain!"

He Pingsheng smiled. "This is still just their outer sect!"

As they flew higher, they saw a distant river like an ocean—broad, calm, its waters seemingly frozen in place.

After the disciple passed several peaks, they finally landed before a grand hall atop a mountain summit.

Above the hall were five characters: Outer Sect Executive Hall.

A male disciple in a white Dao robe stepped out of the hall.

He was tall and imposing.

His cultivation level was Foundation Establishment Level Seven.

The crane rider said, "Ah, Master Zhan! These two say they've come to visit family, but they don't know where their relative cultivates, so I brought them here!"

"Please guide us!"

"Hmm!" Master Zhan glanced at He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu. "Follow me."

The two followed Master Zhan into the hall.

Another round of questioning.

"What?" Master Zhan's face turned pale. "You… you're Qiao Sister's family?"

"My apologies, my apologies…"

"Qiao Sister now cultivates at Biyun Peak's Immortal Talisman Garden under the direct tutelage of Biyun Ancestor—her future is limitless!"

"Wait here—I'll go report immediately!"

Master Zhan immediately mounted his sword and flew across the river toward the inner sect.

Half a stick of incense later, Qiao Xiaoqiao arrived at the outer sect's Executive Hall in a hurry, following Master Zhan.

"This…"

Seeing He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu, Qiao Xiaoqiao froze.

Isn't this supposed to be my sister?

Where's my sister?

At this moment, Qiao Huizhu was still wearing He Pingsheng's Brocade Brocade Robe—her appearance was utterly unremarkable.

"You He!" Qiao Xiaoqiao's face darkened with anger. "Where did you take my sister?"

"What's this woman doing?"

Her face was flushed with fury.

Her jade hand had already gripped the soft whip at her waist.