When the two seniors were about to leave, Yao Shaolan courteously said, "I have already booked a private room at the nearby Black Bull Cuisine. Why don't the two of you at least stay for a meal before leaving? We can continue to chat while enjoying the food."

Eat what? There was nothing more to discuss! The two seniors immediately declined.

After getting up, Yu Shangzhen, still somewhat unwilling, asked, "Junior Qian, in your opinion, could Yu Honglian and the others be trapped somewhere?"

Qian Guran had actually hinted at Yu Honglian's situation earlier with the words, "Senior Lin Qingshuang came to Qi Yuan specifically to find me to investigate the death of her disciple Lin Hua Lei, just like how the two seniors came to find me today."

But such hints were only understood by Qian Guran himself. Seeing Yu Shangzhen ask this, he answered cooperatively, "Of course, we can't rule out that possibility; perhaps they have encountered a unique opportunity."

So-and-so fell off a deep cliff, survived against all odds, and gained a great fortune, reappearing with phenomenal martial prowess. Such stories exist not only in novels but also in legends throughout the Magic Sect's history. Some ancestral masters have recorded such experiences.

Theoretically, Zhao Hai Zhen, Yu Honglian, and Peng Xian are currently only missing. Thus, Yu Shangzhen still held onto a sliver of hope, and such an obsession is completely understandable.

So, even though Yu Shangzhen came today with a questioning intent, Qian Guran wouldn't take issue with him. Instead, he sympathized greatly and offered words of comfort when bidding farewell.

Not only did they refuse the meal, but they also declined Yao Shaolan's offer to drive them, leaving the office building on their own. After confirming they had gone, Qian Guran finally exhaled in relief, subconsciously making a wiping sweat gesture.

There was one thing he hadn't mentioned, nor had the chance to report to the Ancestral Hall—after waking up from the hospital, his cultivation had advanced yesterday, and he was now a Tier Four "Government Official" of the Qi Observation Sect.

"Government Official" is merely an ancient moniker, which sounds far less prestigious than a Tier Three "School of Cross and Vertical."

After the sorcerers of each sect break through to Tier Four, they all have similar monikers that sound like very ordinary roles in the world.

The intention is to remind these Magic Sect disciples not to become arrogant or forget their roots after their cultivation becomes strong, as they are still ordinary members of society.

But in reality, a Tier Four Sorcerer can already be called a Cultivator, capable of mastering various supernatural skills and qualified to learn many legendary Profound Mysterious Secret Skills, practically no longer ordinary people.

Once one's cultivation breaks through Tier Four, naturally they become part of the Magic Sect's higher-ups, and according to tradition, a celebration should be held by their peers in the sect branch.

Even if Qian Guran doesn't want to hold a celebration, he must report to the Ancestral Hall and personally visit the Qi Observation Sect Ancestral Hall to conduct a ceremony, receiving a second initiation under the guidance of an Elder.

The so-called second initiation involves accepting sect rules specifically designed for high-tier cultivators like him, knowledge of which ordinary disciples are not even qualified to know unless they break through Tier Four.

Based on this foundation, he qualifies to receive higher-level secret technique teachings. Correspondingly, he will also receive more support in cultivation resources while taking on more significant responsibilities.

Qian Guran has no intention of participating in Magic Sect affairs, but he must go through this process, and in the future, if the Qi Observation Sect requires a high-tier sorcerer, he must comply with sect rules and respond.

Qian Guran didn't mention these things earlier because he was concerned. How would the others react? They came with grief and indignation; was he supposed to expect them to congratulate him?

According to Magic Sect tradition, such matters must be congratulated. Yu and Wan, as elders of the Magic Sect, would need to present gifts appropriate to their status upon such an occasion.

In this light, Qian Guran had already been modest today. As Yu Shangzhen internally complained, "What's the big deal about being a mere deputy general manager of a subsidiary company?" What truly deserves boasting, Old Qian hasn't even mentioned.

Precisely because he broke through Tier Four, Qian Guran more acutely experienced the powerful capabilities of high-tier sorcerers. Although he disdained Wan Zhongle's character, he had to concede that the latter's cultivation was authentic.

As for Yu Shangzhen, as far as Qian Guran knew, the Tier Five "Jianghu People" from the Heart Plate Sect possesses a naturally formidable ability, even without other secret techniques—they can vividly remember every path walked and place visited.

This person's daily movements naturally form an incredibly complex 3D map, marking all their footprints, and by combining other secret techniques, they can even note all the people and things they see.

The Heart Plate Sect sorcerers have a high "combat power," are proficient in stealth and tracking, making them very troublesome. After the Hidden Moth Lineage vanished, the responsibility of monitoring the actions of disciples worldwide fell onto the Earth Masters of the Heart Plate Sect, and this is the reason why.

So, Qian Guran didn't want them running into Huang Xiaopang or going to find He Kao.

After the two Magic Sect experts left the Qi Yuan Tengxin Mansion, Wan Zhongle, limping on his cane, walked a significant distance before using a secret technique to ask clustered audio, "Brother Yu, do you think Elder Jiang taking on a secret disciple is reliable?"

Yu Shangzhen replied, "Not reliable at all, just using the Heaven-Reaching Ladder! Words from Qi Observation Sect disciples are always layered with meaning, profiting from both sides while appearing virtuous. It seems the rumors are true, Qian Guran has a decent relationship with that kid He Kao.

He was the first to tamper with things, seizing the biggest advantage. Seeing things go awry, he again actively used Lin Qingshuang to set up a scheme, then played the good guy to earn forgiveness and trust…"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.