Elder Yu frowned and said, “That year when the Qian family’s Great Elder died, no, perhaps it would be better to say when he faked his death, I was still young, and my cultivation wasn’t high. My interaction with him was limited to observing him from a distance a few times and witnessing him exchange blows with the late Hunt Demon Elder.”

“In everyone’s understanding, the Qian family’s Great Elder was already dead, so when I encountered him at Black Mountain Stronghold, it didn’t immediately cross my mind.”

“But if, as Ink Painting said, the Qian family’s old ancestor truly is the Stronghold Master of Black Mountain Stronghold, then this ‘Great Boss’ is extremely likely to be that supposedly deceased Great Elder!”

Elder Yu thought back for a moment and continued, “And that day, when we attacked Black Mountain Stronghold, I exchanged blows with this ‘Great Boss.’ One of his arms had no spiritual power; it seemed to be a later addition, an iron arm. The Qian family’s Great Elder from back then also had a broken arm.”

Everyone’s faces turned somber.

The Qian family’s old ancestor is the Stronghold Master, and the ‘Great Boss’ is the Qian family’s Great Elder.

With this, everything falls into place.

The Qian family used a cunning scheme to deceive everyone, letting the Great Elder fake his death and become the ‘Great Boss’ of Black Mountain Stronghold. He recruited rogue cultivators, practiced evil arts, and refined Human Pills.

Meanwhile, the Qian family’s old ancestor, using the Qian family’s immense wealth, secretly supported and built up the vast Black Mountain Stronghold, causing it to expand step by step.

Few people in the Qian family were aware of this matter, and likewise, few of the evil cultivators at Black Mountain Stronghold knew.

The Qian family’s old ancestor could hide in the shadows. Even if Black Mountain Stronghold were wiped out and most of the evil cultivators killed or captured, no one would suspect him.

This is because the majority of the evil cultivators had no knowledge of his existence.

And suppose Black Mountain Stronghold wasn’t exterminated…

Then the Qian family’s old ancestor could rely on the Human Life Pill to prolong his life and linger on in a dying state. At the same time, the Qian family, with Black Mountain Stronghold’s secret support, would always be in an unbeatable position.

No matter how many losses the Qian family suffered on the surface, they only needed to endure slightly, and they would always rise again from the east.

Near Tongxian City, fundamentally no force would be a match for Black Mountain Stronghold.

“What a deep scheme…” Elder Yu sighed and said.

Yang Jiyong and Zhang Lan also nodded with serious expressions.

Elder Yu sighed again, “When the Qian family’s old ancestor was young, he acted with perversity, seeking an eye for an eye. In his old age, he became much more low-key. I thought it was because he was near death, and his desire for victory had faded. But I never thought he was simply enduring and hibernating, setting up such a grand game of chess.”

Ink Painting also pondered:

“So the reason the Qian family has suffered so many losses in the past year or two, yet it always ended up being a big thunder with little rain, lightly brushed over, is out of fear that their secret would be exposed. That’s why they only endured it in a low-key manner…”

First, Qian Xing was injured in the explosion, and the Qian family didn’t pursue it to the end;

Later, they competed for the spirit mine, and the Qian family failed;

In the competition between the refining tools shop and the refining pills shop, the Qian family lost;

Finally, they wanted to kill the highly talented Ink Painting in array formations, and the Qian family also failed…

In these and other matters, the Qian family endured.

This is because the Qian family’s foundation is not cultivators, not spirit stones, not refining tools and pills shops, not array formation struggles, but the Black Mountain Stronghold that raises hundreds of evil cultivators.

The most crucial thing for the Qian family is that this inside story must not be exposed.

Once they let the situation escalate, attracting more attention, and someone with intentions discovered clues, unraveling them thread by thread, their connection with Black Mountain Stronghold would be revealed.

The Dao Court would surely dispatch Dao soldiers to exterminate Black Mountain Stronghold!

And the Qian family, for colluding with evil cultivators, would have their family confiscated and exiled, falling apart!

Hundreds of years of the Qian family’s operations would be destroyed in one fell swoop!

Everyone was both shocked and fearful, their hearts chilled.

Yang Jiyong sighed, “This Qian family’s old ancestor, fortunately, is only in this small place of Tongxian City, and fortunately only at the Foundation Building stage. If he were in other high-grade state boundaries, having cultivated to high-grade realms, he would likely be a deep and unfathomable great demon head.”

Ink Painting nodded in agreement.

The scheming and forbearance of the Qian family’s old ancestor are immeasurably deeper than Qian Hong’s.

Compared to him, Qian Hong’s only specialty is endurance, like an old turtle…

Ink Painting asked, “Uncle Yang, can we dispatch Dao soldiers to deal with the Qian family’s old ancestor?”

Yang Jiyong pondered for a moment and slowly said, “Originally, according to the orders of the Dao Soldier Division, we were supposed to set off tomorrow. But now, due to the urgent situation, I will report to the Dao Soldier Division and delay for a few more days.”

Ink Painting was greatly pleased. Yang Jiyong continued, “However, this matter is best confirmed again. We need to ascertain whether the Qian family’s old ancestor is truly the Stronghold Master of Black Mountain Stronghold, and whether he is truly connected to Black Mountain Stronghold, to avoid making a mistake.”

Ink Mountain thought for a bit and then said, “We can ask that ‘Second Boss’.”

Zhang Lan shook her head, “He’s half-crazy and half-demented; he doesn’t know anything.”

“We don’t need to get anything out of him, only confirm with him whether Black Mountain Stronghold has a Stronghold Master. If he reacts when he hears the word ‘Stronghold Master’, it indicates that Black Mountain Stronghold indeed has a Stronghold Master, and the suspicion on the Qian family’s old ancestor will be heavier,” Ink Mountain explained.

Zhang Lan’s eyes brightened, and she nodded, “That can be done.”

Ink Painting thought for a bit and then said, “Then I’ll go find Elder An and ask. He has fought with the Qian family openly and secretly for so many years; he must know some inside information.”

Elder Yu said, “I’ll also find some old people in the city and ask, to see if there are any clues.”

After everyone finished discussing, they each went their separate ways.

Yang Jiyong reported to the Dao Soldier Division, while the others went to investigate for information.

Ink Painting went directly to the An family.

The An family’s guards all recognized Ink Painting and respectfully led him to the An family living room. Someone brought out high-grade good tea and asked Ink Painting to wait for a moment.

Ink Painting took a sip of the tea and felt it was good, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. He drank a few more sips, still somewhat confused.

And every time Ink Painting finished drinking, someone would come over and personally refill his tea.

After two cups of tea were refilled, Elder An came out and apologized, “Common affairs entangled me; little friend has waited for a long time.”

Ink Painting also performed a salutation and said, “Elder An is too polite.”

Elder An sat down, also drank a sip of tea, and then spoke, “Ink little friend has come to the door; I wonder what matter it is about?”

Ink Painting glanced around.

Elder An understood and then dismissed the attendants, ensuring there were no outsiders inside or outside the living room. Then he said, “You can speak now.”

Ink Painting nodded and asked, “Elder An, are you familiar with the Qian family’s old ancestor?”

Elder An was slightly startled. “We’re familiar, but not on good terms. The open conflict between the An family and the Qian family is something everyone in Tongxian City knows about.”

“Why hasn’t the An family been able to surpass the Qian family?” Ink Painting asked.

Elder An felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

He was unwilling to admit that the An family couldn’t surpass the Qian family. Even if the An family truly couldn’t win, he was still unwilling to swallow this feeling.

Usually, other cultivators wouldn’t dare to ask him this kind of question in front of him.

However, Ink Painting was an exception, so he asked.

Elder An then sighed and said truthfully, “The Qian family has many schemes and vicious methods. We in the An family can’t bring ourselves to be ruthless, so naturally, we cannot surpass them.”

“Is the Qian family’s old ancestor also vicious?”

Elder An’s gaze turned cold. “He is the most vicious. His heart is ruthless, his methods spicy, seeking an eye for an eye. He has harmed countless lives… However, heaven has eyes; he has aged very quickly, his blood energy has declined, and now being able to breathe is not bad.”

There was a hint of gloating in Elder An’s tone.

Ink Painting silently said in his heart, he probably hasn’t aged, and his blood energy hasn’t declined. Instead, he has even extended his life and is breathing well…

Ink Painting was silent for a moment and then asked the question he was most concerned about, “Elder An, has your An family’s merchant team ever disappeared in Great Black Mountain?”

Elder An was startled, and a sharp light flared in his eyes. He looked at Ink Painting somewhat incredulously, “How do you know?”

Seeing Elder An’s expression, Ink Painting knew he was right and then said, “You tell me the process of the matter, and then I’ll tell you how I know.”

Elder An’s brows gradually furrowed tightly. He pondered for a long time and then slowly let out a breath, “Alright, they are just some old matters. There’s no harm in telling you…”

Ink Painting held the tea cup and listened seriously.