“That we then not disturb, Grandma. Please, at your convenience.”

The Gate Master of Five Immortals Gate, an old woman in a robe the color of purple clouds, showed no hint of resistance and truly turned to leave.

And Elder Fan Qingqing, her expression still natural and respectful, bowed, “Grandma has commanded, we and others naturally obey.”

As she spoke, she subtly glanced at Jiang Wang, “Two esteemed guests, please converse at your leisure.”

The assembled high-ranking cultivators of Five Immortals Gate instantly withdrew, leaving only Jiang Wang and Grandma Bi Zhu within the towering main hall.

Regarding this archipelago near the sea, Jiang Wang had long anticipated meeting Grandma Bi Zhu. After all, the matter of rescuing Zhu Biqiong, no matter how it was viewed, could not bypass her master.

Even his visit to Five Immortals Gate as a guest was, to a significant extent, due to having heard that Grandma Bi Zhu stood behind Five Immortals Gate.

However, he truly had not expected to meet her this early.

What kind of person was Grandma Bi Zhu?

From Zhu Biqiong’s occasional narratives in the past, this old woman’s character should be relatively overbearing, instilling some fear in Zhu Biqiong, yet she was very good to her disciples. As a true power elder, her status within Diao Hai Lou was also self-evident.

Even after Zhu Suyao was almost completely crippled, Grandma Bi Zhu still strived for her to obtain an opportunity within the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm, proving that Grandma Bi Zhu was indeed good to her disciples.

And after Zhu Biqiong returned to the island and reported the process of Zhu Suyao being framed, although Hu Shaomeng was already dead, his name was quickly removed.

Grandma Bi Zhu’s protection of her disciples could be seen from this as well.

And according to Jiang Wang’s initial observations upon meeting her now…

Grandma Bi Zhu was undoubtedly a formidable character!

The moment she appeared, with just two sentences, she firmly grasped the situation.

On one hand, within the grand hall of Five Immortals Gate, she dismissed all the high-ranking cultivators of Five Immortals Gate, demonstrating her strong control over Five Immortals Gate to Jiang Wang.

If Jiang Wang truly represented someone from the State of Qi and harbored any intentions towards Five Immortals Gate, he would be forced to reconsider carefully.

On the other hand, she chose to personally engage Jiang Wang, yet excluded the high-ranking cultivators of Five Immortals Gate. This completely denied Five Immortals Gate any opportunity to ‘borrow the fox’s might’ and adapt to the circumstances.

She was able to personally observe Jiang Wang’s purpose for visiting Five Immortals Gate without any interference.

Conversely, Fan Qingqing and the others, who were completely unaware of what would be discussed outside the hall, would inevitably feel hesitant in the future, unsure of what should and should not be said.

Unless Jiang Wang, or rather the force behind Jiang Wang, already had an intimate and firm cooperation with Five Immortals Gate, all intentions that were only in the initial stages of contact should dissolve.

And another point Jiang Wang observed was Grandma Bi Zhu’s casual dismissal of the high-ranking cultivators of Five Immortals Gate… This suggested that she was no longer merely the backer of Five Immortals Gate, nor just involved in an exchange of interests, but had begun to control this sect, gradually turning Five Immortals Gate into her own subordinate vassal.

Perhaps this was the reason for Fan Qingqing’s ambiguous attitude towards Despair Island previously.

One old, one young, both sides with their own observations and considerations.

Upholding politeness, Jiang Wang was the first to speak, greeting, “Grandma, please be seated.”

“Where is the principle of a guest sitting before the host?” Grandma Bi Zhu said pointedly, “You please be seated first.”

Solemnly asserting her position as the host.

Jiang Wang smiled, not engaging in a dispute with this old woman who seemed fearful of others claiming territory, and directly sat down in his original position. Then he said, “I wonder what matter Grandma wishes to discuss with me?”

Grandma Bi Zhu slowly walked over and sat down in the main seat, quietly listening to the sound of the tide for a moment, then suddenly sighed, “I’m old!”

Jiang Wang thought to himself, isn’t that obvious? The wrinkles on your elder’s face are so deep they could trap a dead fly.

But he wouldn’t be so rude as to say it out loud. At the same time, he was too lazy to flatter against his heart.

Seeing Jiang Wang not speak, Grandma Bi Zhu said again, “Seeing young people like you in the prime of your youth, I can’t help but recall that year. Only, even in that year, there weren’t many young people who could compare to you.”

“I am just young and vigorous, hardly deserving of such praise.” Jiang Wang asked, “Does Grandma know of me?”

“Jiang Wang of Qingyang Town, how could this old body not know? Hearing this name alone, I know who it is.” Grandma Bi Zhu said this, then let out a long sigh, “After all… my disciple, Biqiong, often mentioned you to me.”

Unexpectedly, she brought up the topic of Zhu Biqiong first.

But Jiang Wang did not respond immediately, instead saying, “You also had your youth, and I will also have my old age. The people and affairs of the world are all thus. What is a heavenly talent or genius but one matter among many.”

He originally thought Grandma Bi Zhu had learned of someone from the State of Qi visiting through her ears and eyes within Five Immortals Gate, or perhaps Fan Qingqing had deliberately released the news.

And Grandma Bi Zhu’s purpose in coming to Victorious Hall should naturally be to protect her ‘base industry’ and prevent outsiders from having an opportunity to intervene in Five Immortals Gate.

But at this moment… what was her intention in mentioning Zhu Biqiong?

Did she know his purpose in coming to the archipelago near the sea?

Jiang Wang needed time to think and did not want to reveal his attitude too early, so he pretended not to hear the mention of Zhu Biqiong’s name.

Grandma Bi Zhu sighed again, “Few young people see through things like you do, truly rare! No wonder Biqiong always mentions you.”

This old woman kept sighing, seeming trapped in heavy matters of the heart, unable to extricate herself. And she repeatedly mentioned Zhu Biqiong.

Jiang Wang finally could no longer avoid it, “Actually, my visit to the archipelago near the sea this time was both to carry out official duties and, more importantly, to visit my friend Zhu. How is she now…?”

“How else can she be?” The old woman’s tone was sad, her voice low, “Just waiting to die…”

She then changed the subject, “Biqiong being able to make a friend like you in the State of Qi is truly fortunate. The matter of Hu Shaomeng was also thanks to your help. It’s just a pity…”

“Killing Hu Shaomeng was merely fulfilling a promise.” Jiang Wang’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Just a pity?”

Grandma Bi Zhu sighed deeply again, “Sect rules are difficult to violate, ah. Even if this old body has some standing and has served as an elder for many years, I still cannot control a big matter like the sea sacrifice. I can only watch with open eyes as Qiong’er she…”

Saying this, she was already somewhat choked up, “Her cultivation was personally crippled by this old body. This old body truly…”

Her voice was miserable, her expression sorrowful, making the listener almost shed tears.

Especially in this Victorious Hall, it was very infectious.

Thinking of Zhu Biqiong’s situation, Jiang Wang also couldn’t help but feel emotional.

But at this moment, he suddenly thought of something, something he hadn’t thought of before, something Chong Xuan Sheng had also overlooked because he didn’t understand Zhu Biqiong well enough—Hai Zongming, as a true power elder of Diao Hai Lou, his actions should have been secretive. How did Zhu Biqiong, with her mind, know about it?

Zhu Biqiong was of course not a fool, but she was by no means shrewd. In the past, she had been protected too well by her sister Zhu Suyao, thus she was pure and not well-versed in the ways of the world.

How could such a pure girl detect Hai Zongming’s movements, and how could she hide it from such a formidable person as Grandma Bi Zhu?

He and Chong Xuan Sheng both knew that Zhu Biqiong’s cultivation was crippled and she was sent to the sea sacrifice because she violated sect rules, indirectly leading to the death of sect elder Hai Zongming.

Their focus had always been on how to pry open Diao Hai Lou’s sect rules, how to influence the sea sacrifice, how to rescue Zhu Biqiong, yet both had overlooked the initial cause of this matter—why was Zhu Biqiong able to relay Hai Zongming’s message to him!