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"Eaten..."

Shen Qi stared blankly around, and for some reason, he had a very eerie feeling. When Chen Qing said this, he felt as if he could be eaten at any moment too...

This feeling was incredibly strong, making him involuntarily tense up all over.

Just as his body was reflexively releasing energy, a heavy pressure came from his shoulder. Shen Qi came back to his senses and looked at the person holding his shoulder, slightly startled, "My lord?"

"Stay calm..." said Chen Qing, looking at him, "Do not use any power and maintain a peaceful mindset at all times..."

"Hmm?" Shen Qi was puzzled by these words, and a guess suddenly surged in his heart.

Could it be...

"Thank you, Old Madam Beiyu, for your assistance." Chen Qing expressed his gratitude to the stunned Old Madam Beiyu next to him.

"My lord, you’re too polite..." The Old Madam regained her composure and hurriedly responded with a salute. Having been stationed in the Beiyu Family for many years, the Old Madam, although shocked by the scene before her, was still able to keep her composure and didn’t panic immediately.

"My lord, what... exactly is going on? My family’s old master, he..."

Chen Qing glanced at the bones filling the courtyard and said in a low voice, "Old Master Beiyu is a smart man; he shouldn’t have run into trouble so quickly. However, Old Madam should not be careless. If you trust me, please answer a few questions for me."

"Whatever you say, my lord," the Old Madam eagerly said. "Now that Northern Yan has submitted to Jiangnan, Your Highness, the Prince of Qin, you are effectively the ruler of Northern Yan. I will follow your commands."

Her stance was quite decisive, and Chen Qing nodded slightly. The Old Madam Beiyu was indeed sensible.

"Please inform me, Old Madam, just how many noble houses within Northern Wolf City were co-opted by those sects initially? How many have been involved in this conflict? Do you know an approximate number?"

The Old Madam was taken aback at the question. The Prince of Qin didn’t know about this?

With this level of intelligence control, how did he convince the Emperor to declare allegiance publicly? And how did he manage to have all the major families not oppose it?

This was indeed quite strange.

But, puzzled as she was, she didn’t dare to neglect her duties. Her own old master had mysteriously disappeared, and the secret chamber now had such a chilling scene. The man before her might have a way to save their family’s old master!

"The activities of these sects began last year.

Those sect people and the giant snakes outside seem to be connected.

Even though they are not from the same group, they all seem to be able to command those giant pythons not to invade the Northern Wasteland.

The key... is that they can provide cultivation techniques that allow a First Rank sorcerer to advance further. "

"Such temptation is simply irresistible to any Sorcerer Family..."

Shen Qi, standing beside them, nodded. First Rank represented the pinnacle for all sorcerers in the world.

The so-called ’Super First Rank’ was really just a hypothetical concept.

Everyone knew that once a sorcerer reached First Rank, there was no further path; the only difference laid in the quality of their techniques, their lethality, but as for the realm, no one could really be much higher than anyone else.

Cultivation techniques that surpassed First Rank were the ultimate temptation for any practitioner who had reached that level.

"These so-called sects were distributing cultivation techniques as if they were free. Without even finalizing the conditions, as long as a family was willing to promise support to their sect, they would deliver the techniques directly. They didn’t discriminate between big and small families.

As long as it was a family with even a slight foundation in sorcery, they were the targets of their recruitment. "

"Under such circumstances, which family would want to fall behind?

Thus, out of fear of being left out, almost all families were divided by the various sects within a few short days.

The Mingyue Sect held the largest power, but our Beiyu Family stabilized somewhat and ultimately chose the Solaris Sect. "

"Which families have spread their influence the most?" Chen Qing continued to inquire.

"Sorcerer Families mostly choose between the Mingyue and Solaris Sects, while those with a lineage of military generals tend to choose the same sect as the Murong Family. That sect is relatively low-key, but it has the support of almost all the Martial Families with bloodline warriors."

Chen Qing nodded at this information. He had anticipated this situation.

Different techniques attracted different allies; bloodline families were naturally not very interested in spiritual cultivation, while the methods that focused on infinitely compressing the body were the fastest way for many First Rank warriors to improve and produced the best results.

The slightest practice could lead to progress, so it was no wonder they were popular.

The Mingyue Sect, after setbacks in other areas, had managed to establish a foothold here and was unlikely to concede easily.

The Solaris Sect had already taken control of three cities. Strategically, Northern Wolf City was the last gateway to the north. If it fell into the hands of the Solaris Sect, the entire northern situation would be dominated by a single power, which the other various forces were unlikely to allow.

Therefore, as Chen Qing had thought, the battle for Northern Wolf City would likely be exceptionally fierce.

However, judging by the words of Old Madam Beiyu, it seems that only three families are mainly competing for control here...

Three families...

Chen Qing pondered the information Mister Tianji had given him: the most ancient powers were almost monopolized by the four major guilds!

If there are three sects in contention, then what of the fourth?

The Dark Moon Sect is part of the Shenwu Guild, and the other two remain a mystery, but could the last one have given up on the north?

Would the force behind Dragon Mother in the Central Plains just watch the north, this piece of fat land, with indifference?

It’s true that the techniques of Ghost Temple can keep up with Celestial Serpent Palace, but to completely give up on the north just doesn’t sit right with Chen Qing, especially now that the situation could very well be...

"Madam, please go out and inquire," Chen Qing said as he snapped back to reality, "Ask about the secluded elders of the noble families you’re friendly with, and whether they are still in their chambers."

"This..." Old Madam carefully said, "Your Highness, are you suspecting... that the family heads in seclusion from all the noble families have disappeared like our Beiyu Family?"

"Yes..."

"Then... If this old lady were to ask so openly, wouldn’t that startle the snake in the grass?"

"Not at all..." Chen Qing said with a bitter smile, "If I’m not mistaken about the cause of all this, whatever it is poses no threat to either you, Madam, or anyone else who hasn’t gone into hiding. Go ahead and inquire with peace of mind."

"This..." Old Madam was startled, and, concerned for her husband’s safety, she couldn’t help but say, "Your Highness, are you suggesting... that all this... has been caused by one thing?"

Looking at the vast expanse of white bones in the chamber, she whispered, "Is it a demon?"

"Sort of..." Chen Qing muttered with a wry smile, unsure of how to explain.

"It seems I am not privileged enough to know what it is," the old lady said with a bitter smile.

"For your safety and for the safety of the Beiyu Family, I cannot tell you for now," Chen Qing spoke in a low voice. "But rest assured, madam, if Old Master Beiyu is still alive, I will do my utmost to rescue him."

"Then I must rely on you, Your Highness."

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"Your Majesty, have you already figured out what it is?"

After leaving the Beiyu Family, Shen Qi couldn’t help but ask, casting a wary glance around them.

"I shouldn’t have brought you here," Chen Qing sighed.

"What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?" Shen Qi was puzzled.

"Your feeling just now wasn’t wrong," Chen Qing said to Shen Qi, "Did you feel as if something was by your side, as if... it could eat you at any moment?"

Shen Qi felt a chill in his heart; that was exactly the sensation he had experienced. He even felt like that thing seemed to be sniffing him...

"I thought wrong at the beginning..." Chen Qing sighed, "I’ve been outplayed!"

"Outplayed?" Shen Qi looked at Chen Qing. It was the first time he’d heard him admit... to having been outplayed.

"By whom?"

"By that creature outside the city that seems very docile... that big fellow..."