Chapter 171: Leaving the City to Search for Someone

At this moment, the old woman smiled and said:

“If Young Hero doesn’t mind, these Mysterious Dao Stones will serve as the Qiao Family’s token of gratitude. If our Qiao Family successfully weathers this crisis, there will surely be generous rewards. If we fail to pull through, then Young Hero may simply flee for your life!”

Gu Fan smiled and then said:

“These are indeed fine items, and Senior is quite generous, which is rare. However, what this junior needs isn’t these. I wonder if Senior could lend a hand?”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Qiao Family members changed.

Could it be that Gu Fan’s appetite was too large? This many Mysterious Dao Stones still weren’t enough?

The old woman’s expression remained unchanged. She raised her hand to stop several sons who wanted to speak.

“Speak freely. As long as it is within the Qiao Family’s capabilities, we will not hesitate.”

Gu Fan took in everyone’s reactions one by one. He had to admit, this old woman had quite the bearing.

Among her sons, aside from the fifth, the others were still lacking.

“To tell the truth, Senior, ever since I began cultivating, I’ve only been using the basic cultivation method that Fairy Ruo Xi handed to me. It’s only suitable up to the Celestial Profound Realm, and continuing beyond that has been rather difficult. I wonder if the Qiao Family might have a cultivation method I could take a look at?”

At those words, the old woman’s smiling expression suddenly turned to one of shock.

“Young Hero must be joking, yes? Ruo Xi told me you two have only known each other for just over ten days. How could you have just started cultivating?”

Gu Fan paused for a moment, then looked toward Ruo Xi and said:

“I truly have only been cultivating for that long, but perhaps because I had long been tempering my physical body, my progress in cultivating Mysterious Power hasn’t been slow!”

Not slow?!

Are you kidding me?!

You call that not slow? Your cultivation speed is downright monstrous!

In just over ten days, having never cultivated before, he had directly reached the peak of the Celestial Profound Realm—this rate of progress was nothing short of freakish!

The Qiao Family members all stood with mouths agape, unable to speak for a long while.

What could they even say?

The old woman’s expression darkened:

“Young Hero, you mean to say you’ve only been cultivating for a bit over ten days, and the only method you’ve used is that basic Mysterious Power cultivation technique commonly seen across the continent?”

Gu Fan nodded. It was the truth, and since Ruo Xi already knew, there was no point in hiding it, nor any need to.

Seeing Gu Fan give a definite answer, everyone fell silent again.

What sort of monster was this?

To accomplish in just over ten days what others would spend years achieving—and using the most ordinary technique on the continent, no less.

If the disciples of those great family clans found out, wouldn’t they die from sheer anger?

At that thought, the white-haired old woman gritted her teeth and said:

“Young Hero, our Qiao Family will give you this chest of Mysterious Dao Stones. In addition, we have three cultivation techniques of excellent quality from which you may choose one. These are the finest available aside from our family’s core method, and each can ensure your progress to the Celestial Heart Realm.”

Gu Fan’s face lit up with joy, then he cupped his fists and said:

“In that case, this junior offers his thanks to Senior!”

He was already quite satisfied with this outcome. After all, the Qiao Family’s core cultivation method naturally couldn’t be passed to outsiders—it involved the secrets of their arts and absolutely couldn’t be taught to anyone outside the direct bloodline.

With this matter settled, both parties were rather pleased.

Then, the white-haired old woman continued:

“There is one more matter we’d like to discuss with Young Hero. We may need your help, though of course we will not force you. Everything will depend on your willingness.”

“Please speak, Senior. So long as it is within my ability, I will not decline.”

Having accepted their favor, and having promised Ruo Xi, Gu Fan had no intention of shirking.

Hearing this, the members of the Qiao Family exchanged glances. Then the eldest of the Qiao Family spoke up.

“That’s the situation. As you already know, under the siege of the Three Families, our Qiao Family has no choice but to shrink back inside the residence. Given time, we will inevitably be trapped to death here.”

“If our Qiao Family Old Ancestor could return in full strength, everything would be resolved. So right now, we hope to ask Young Hero to sneak out of Xuanguang City and help us search for the Qiao Family Old Ancestor.”

Gu Fan furrowed his brows. This task wasn’t exactly dangerous—just finding someone.

Even if he did run into the Three Families, he could still escape. After all, he could retreat to the Apocalypse World for shelter.

But calling it easy was also inaccurate. The fact that the other Three Families had been searching this whole time and still found nothing meant that the Qiao Family Old Ancestor’s hiding place was definitely hard to locate.

How was Gu Fan supposed to find him?

“We understand Young Hero’s concerns. Currently, only our fourth-generation junior disciples can leave the residence without being detected, but their strength is too low. Whether they could find the Old Ancestor is another question entirely.”

“I can take on this task, but there are two issues. First, I’m unfamiliar with the terrain—how am I supposed to search? Second, even if I do find him, how will he trust me?”

At this moment, the Fifth Son of the Qiao Family took out a jade pendant and said:

“No need to worry about that. This jade pendant contains a drop of our Old Ancestor’s essence and blood. As long as he’s within fifty li, it will react. The closer you get, the stronger the reaction.”

But Gu Fan still shook his head.

“The jade pendant could also be something I killed you for—it’s not enough to earn trust. I don’t want to find the person only to be doubted and end up being hunted down by your Old Ancestor. That would be troublesome.”

What Gu Fan said wasn’t unreasonable. At this, the old woman gave a bitter smile:

“In that case, before you depart, I will tell you a secret that only a few members of the Qiao Family know. When the time comes, you can relay this secret to the Old Ancestor. He’ll naturally believe you. After all, unless I willingly tell you, even if you killed everyone in our Qiao Family, you wouldn’t be able to know this.”

Gu Fan considered it. That could work.

He cupped his fists and said:

“In that case, I can make a trip out of the city. When do we set out?”

The white-haired old woman glanced outside.

“We’ll take the secret passage tonight. That way, the chances of being discovered will be much lower.”

Gu Fan nodded, then asked:

“Where was the Qiao Family Old Ancestor last seen? I should have a direction once I’m out of the city.”

“We only know that when the Old Ancestor and the Family Head went out, they had agreed to explore the Bai Luo Mountain Secret Realm together with the other Three Families. I think we may find some clues by starting there.”

Gu Fan nodded. After both sides finalized the remaining details, he returned to his room to rest well and quietly await the arrival of night.

At night, under the guidance of the Qiao Family members, Gu Fan exited the Qiao Residence through a secret passage.

In fact, if he wanted to leave, he could have directly concealed his Mysterious Power using his Spiritual Power and slipped out silently.

But such techniques, if they could remain hidden, should be kept hidden.

By the time he reappeared above ground, he was already in a run-down thatched hut on the outskirts of Xuanguang City.

He looked around for a moment to confirm nothing was amiss, then his figure flickered, and his Spiritual Power instantly enveloped his Mysterious Power.

At last, without drawing the attention of any faction, he quietly left Xuanguang City.

Outside Xuanguang City, less than ten li from the city walls.

Gu Fan stood in mid-air, holding a jade pendant in his hand. He concentrated on sensing it, only to be disappointed.

“Seems like he’s not hiding nearby outside the city. Could he really be lingering in the secret realm?”

Thinking this, he adjusted his direction toward the Bai Luo Mountain Secret Realm. With the jade pendant in hand constantly sensing, his figure shot off at high speed toward the secret realm!

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