Elder Yu frowned and said, "When the Chief Elder of the Qian Family died, no, perhaps it’s more accurate to say feigned death, I was still young, and my cultivation was not high. I only saw him from a distance a few times, witnessing him exchange blows with the now-deceased Monster Hunt Elder a few times."
"In everyone’s understanding, the Chief Elder of the Qian Family was dead, so when I encountered him at Black Mountain Stronghold, I didn’t think in that direction at the moment."
"But if, as Mo Hua said, the Patriarch of the Qian Family is indeed the Camp Leader of the Black Mountain Stronghold, then this Householder, is very likely, the supposed dead Chief Elder!"
Elder Yu paused to reflect, then continued:
"Moreover, on the day we attacked the Black Mountain Stronghold, I fought with this Householder. He had one arm without spiritual power, like an iron limb fitted afterwards, and the Chief Elder of the Qian Family back then had lost an arm."
Everyone’s faces looked as grim as water.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family is the Camp Leader, the Householder is the Qian Family’s Chief Elder.
That being so, everything made sense.
The Qian Family concocted a deception, feigning the death of the Chief Elder to become the Householder of the Black Mountain Stronghold, recruiting sin cultivators, practicing evil skills, and refining Human Pills.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family then used the substantial family resources to secretly support and establish the vast Black Mountain Stronghold, allowing it to grow stronger step by step.
This matter was known to very few in the Qian Family, and not many evil cultivators in the Black Mountain Stronghold were aware either.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family could thus stay hidden in the shadows, so that even if the Black Mountain Stronghold was eradicated and most evil cultivators were either killed or captured, no one would suspect him.
Because most of the evil cultivators didn’t know he existed.
And if the Black Mountain Stronghold wasn’t eradicated...
Then the Patriarch of the Qian Family could use the Human Life Pill to extend his life, surviving in this world; meanwhile, the Qian Family would always have the support of the Black Mountain Stronghold in the shadows, establishing an undefeatable position.
No matter how much loss the Qian Family suffered openly, with just a little endurance, they would always be able to rise again.
Near Tongxian City, there were no forces capable of contending with the Black Mountain Stronghold.
"What a profound scheme..." Elder Yu lamented.
Yang Jiyong and Zhang Lan also nodded with serious expressions.
Elder Yu sighed again, "The Patriarch of the Qian Family was eccentric and vengeful when he was young. In his later years, he became much more low-profile. I thought it was because he was nearing death, so his competitive spirit faded, but I didn’t realize that he was biding his time, playing such a long game."
Mo Hua also pondered:
"So is this why the Qian Family has endured so many losses these past years, with much uproar but little impact, and lightly glossed over it... all because they were afraid their secret would be exposed, so they remained low-profile and endured?"
It began with Qian Xing getting injured by an explosion, which the Qian Family didn’t investigate thoroughly;
Losing the competition for spiritual mines afterward;
Failing in the competition with Refinery Shops and Alchemist’s Businesses;
And lastly, failing to kill Mo Hua, with his exceptional talent for Formation...
All of these setbacks were endured by the Qian Family.
Because the foundation of the Qian Family wasn’t the cultivators, the Spirit Stones, Artifact Refining and Alchemy businesses, or disputes over Formation; it was the Black Mountain Stronghold, nourishing hundreds of evil cultivators.
Mo Hua also performed a greeting, and said, "Old Master An, you are too polite."
Old Master An sat down and took a sip of tea before asking:
"For what matter does Mo Hua pay a visit?’
Mo Hua glanced around the room.
Old Master An understood and proceeded to dismiss everyone nearby, making sure there were no outsiders in or around the parlor. He then said:
"Now, we can talk."
Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Old Master An, are you familiar with the Patriarch of the Qian Family?"
Old Master An looked slightly taken aback, "You could say that, but our relations are not good. The confrontations between the An Family and the Qian Family, whether openly or in secret, are well-known in Tongxian City."
"Why has the An Family never beaten the Qian Family?" Mo Hua inquired.
A sour feeling arose in Old Master An’s heart.
He was unwilling to admit that the An Family couldn’t beat the Qian Family, even if it was indeed the case, nor would he swallow such pride.
On usual days, no other Cultivator dared to ask him such a question to his face.
But Mo Hua was an exception. If he asked, then he asked.
Old Master An sighed and said truthfully:
"The Qian Family is crafty and ruthless. Our An Family cannot bring ourselves to be as cruel, and so naturally, we cannot beat them."
"Is the Patriarch of the Qian Family also ruthless?"
Old Master An’s gaze turned icy, "The most ruthless of all, cold-hearted and vengeful, he has harmed countless lives... but heaven sees everything. He’s aging rapidly, his Blood Qi declining. Now, he’s doing well just to keep breathing."
There was a hint of schadenfreude in Old Master An’s tone.
Mo Hua thought to himself that, in all likelihood, he’s not only not aged, but his Blood Qi has not declined, and instead, his life has been extended; breathing just fine, indeed...
Mo Hua fell silent for a moment, then asked the question he cared about most:
"Old Master An, have caravans from your An Family ever disappeared in Big Black Mountain?"
Old Master An started, his eyes shone with incredulity as he looked at Mo Hua and said:
"How did you know?"
Seeing Old Master An’s expression, Mo Hua thought to himself that it was as he suspected, then said:
"Could you tell me the details of the incident? Afterward, I’ll tell you how I came to know of it."
Old Master An’s brow furrowed deeply, and after a long contemplation, he slowly exhaled:
"Very well, it’s all old history now, no harm in telling you...
Mo Hua cradled the teacup, listening attentively.