Chapter 277: Qu Qinger's Guess

However, the news was clearly suppressed. Beyond this piece of information, Qu Qing'er couldn't deduce anything further.

But what did it matter?

Just because he attacked the Spirit Palace, could it really shake the Sacred Temple?

Qu Qing'er found it laughable. She stopped dwelling on it and focused her thoughts on the "Xuyue Gray Palace."

While there were some clues regarding the "Sacred Slaves," for this organization, she truly only knew its name!

"Elder Jin, these two factions..."

"Investigate them yourself. Consider it a test from headquarters!"

Qu Qing'er was momentarily stunned, then a look of delight spread across her face. Headquarters... noticed me?

She was so excited she almost jumped. Realizing this was a big opportunity, she immediately ran over, grabbed the elder's arm, and started shaking it.

"Elder Jin, Elder Jin, tell me, please!" she pleaded. "I finally have this chance, I can't miss it!" The young woman's large eyes were sparkling and fluttering.

"No, this is a test!"

"Just a little, just a tiny hint..." Qu Qing'er let go of Elder Jin's hand altogether and went behind him to massage his shoulders.

Elder Jin couldn't resist. The young lady was already charming, and with her acting so endearing, who could resist?

"Alright, alright, just a small hint," he conceded. "Those two youngsters from earlier are likely members of the 'Xuyue Gray Palace'."

"As for the rest, you'll have to find out yourself!"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Qu Qing'er's eyes, and she immediately began to ponder deeply.

"Xuyue Gray Palace, that invisible ghost beast... Is this organization connected to ghost beasts?"

Elder Jin remained silent, but his eyes showed surprise.

As expected of someone noticed by headquarters, her reaction speed was quite fast!

Although even headquarters only had a conjecture, reaching this conclusion had already consumed a vast amount of financial and material resources.

It was only after painstakingly tracking down a clue related to the Xuyue Gray Palace that Elder Jin had come to this branch in Tiansang City.

Now, just from a conflict outside the window, Qu Qing'er had discerned the underlying connection?

Then again, witnessing the facts firsthand, along with his subtle prior hint, it wasn't hard to deduce...

Elder Jin dismissed his surprise, realizing he had been somewhat prejudiced, which had affected his judgment.

But Qu Qing'er's deductions didn't stop at all. She continued to pace, her slender fingers tapping, and murmuring to herself.

"Why would the Xuyue Gray Palace come to Tiansang City without reason? There must be a reason..."

"And the 'Sacred Slaves' have also been active in Tiansang City recently..."

"If both of these are the major hidden forces you mentioned, Elder Jin, it's impossible for them to converge on this small place by such a coincidence. There must be a reason!"

"What could it be?"

Qu Qing'er's brows furrowed deeply, then suddenly relaxed, and she clapped her hands in realization. "The clue is... those three swordsmen!"

"Those three guys are also extraordinary. The existence of two renowned swords, aside from 'Canyue Immortal City,' only 'Sword Tomb' has the power to possess them."

"What are these guys doing coming to Tiansang City?!"

Qu Qing'er realized something was wrong. This was truly terrifying to think about!

'Canyue Immortal City' and 'Sword Tomb' were major forces unlike the 'Xuyue Gray Palace' and the 'Sacred Slaves'.

These were renowned presences throughout the Eastern Region!

As the saying goes, "Half the sword cultivators in the Eastern Region come from Immortal City, and half from Sword Tomb," referring to these two factions!

Were these guys' arrivals also a coincidence?

"Impossible!"

Qu Qing'er flatly denied it. She suddenly recalled a recent rumor from outside Tiansang City, and her thoughts instantly connected, fully comprehending everything.

"White Cave?"

"The rumor of the Eighth Sword Immortal's 'Four Swords' — is it true?!"

Connecting the dots, Qu Qing'er's eyes widened in shock.

Elder Jin clicked his tongue in admiration. This young lady truly had some talent.

In such a short time, she was able to grasp all this. She was truly teachable!

"Whether the rumor is true or not, I don't know," Elder Jin said, "but since all these people have come, I suppose Tiansang City will become even more lively within the next half month."

Qu Qing'er's heart began to burn with excitement. If the White Cave rumor was true...

No, whether it was true or not no longer mattered.

Even major forces like 'Canyue Immortal City' and 'Sword Tomb' were getting involved. Once the news spread, the entire Eastern Region would likely be shaken.

Even if it started as a falsehood, it would become reality.

In a situation like this, regarding the 'White Cave,' if she could also get involved, even if she couldn't get the 'meat,' just the 'soup' would be enough to fully establish herself at headquarters!

"White Cave spots?"

Qu Qing'er raised her head, looking at Elder Jin. "According to custom, in ten days, the City Lord's Mansion's banquet should be when the major powers of Tiansang Commandery divide the spots."

"This time, I'm afraid it will be quite bloody..."

"It's only bloody if you hold a bowl and can't get any meat," Elder Jin chuckled. "If you hold a bowl and can eat the meat, that's a feast!"

Qu Qing'er smiled.

In terms of strength, even though their mercantile house only had this one branch in Tiansang City, it was in no way weaker than the Four Great Families.

She wanted a taste of this "feast" too!

Elder Jin waved his hand. "Go now, and make ample preparations."

"Yes, Qing'er won't let Elder Jin down!"

Qu Qing'er bowed slightly and was about to leave, when she suddenly remembered something and said, "That fellow from earlier... Xu Xiaoshou?"

"He seems to be the one Report No. 32 mentioned wanting to put on the blacklist," she continued, "and the explosion on Back Street also seems related to him?"

Elder Jin waved his hand dismissively. "You can look into it, but it's irrelevant now. That's the Imperial Guards' concern. Remember to focus on your main priorities."

Whether it was Xu Xiaoshou, Xu Zhongshou, or even Xu Dashou, if he dared to approach a ghost beast, his end wouldn't be good.

Did he really think the Sacred Temple was just for show?

After all, headquarters' assumption was just that—an assumption. Even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance, when it truly came down to it...

Even if those two organizations harbored ill intentions, the Sacred Temple might not even pay them any mind.

At most, they were just two slightly stronger ants.

As for 'Sacred Slaves' and 'Xuyue Gray Palace'...

Once the Red and White Robes appeared, they would all be utterly annihilated!

Elder Jin shook his head and sighed. He had been fortunate enough to glimpse the side of the sky that ordinary people couldn't see, and had witnessed the Sacred Temple's formidable combat power.

—They were not even on the same level!

This was also why he advised Qu Qing'er not to engage with those people.

Look at that swordsman; he immediately retreated upon seeing a ghost beast. That's how people from major forces behave; they have foresight.

Those who instead plunged headfirst into it...

Heh.

Qu Qing'er didn't know what Elder Jin was thinking. She simply acknowledged him and then exited the room, but felt a lingering doubt in her heart.

"Is it really not important?"

Her female intuition made her vaguely feel that things were messy. Amidst all the changes, it seemed the young man named Xu Xiaoshou couldn't be ignored either.

Two assassins, a ghost beast, three swordsmen, Xuyue Gray Palace...

Upon closer thought, how did everything seem to be connected to this guy?

Qu Qing'er was startled by her own thoughts. She couldn't help but pat her cheek and forcefully dismissed the absurd connections her wild imagination had drawn.

"Phew, headquarters is important, headquarters is important..."

"Elder Jin finally gave me a chance, I must seize it well."

"At the City Lord's Mansion's banquet, I must distinguish myself this time and secure more spots!"

As for that young man...

Qu Qing'er smiled, thinking it was absurd. She then dismissed the insignificant passerby from her mind and scoffed softly.

"Only a Xiantian realm cultivator..."