"That day, I was on the outskirts of the ancient capital when I was attacked by a group of people.

Among them, someone summoned a large snake with four heads and four tails.

The snake inhaled towards me, and my essence blood and inner qi involuntarily began to seep out of my body.

At that time, there were two half-step Semi Venerable Venerables with me fighting against them.

I had no choice but to forcibly burn my soul in order to escape with my life!"

Listening to the Lou Family Patriarch's recount, everyone was shocked.

But Jiang Chen was even more horrified, "A snake with four heads and four tails? Was it a snake made up of black mist?"

The Lou Family Patriarch looked at Jiang Chen in surprise, "Mr. Jiang, you know of this secret method?"

"I know, I have encountered it before!" Jiang Chen nodded gravely.

"Head of the Jiang Family, do you know which power practices this secret method? They dared to attack my grandfather, I definitely won't let them go!" Lou Wenkang spoke fiercely.

Jiang Chen did not answer Lou Wenkang's question, but instead looked solemnly at the Lou Family Patriarch, "Patriarch, you just said you encountered the attack on the outskirts of the ancient capital? Not abroad, right?"

The Lou Family Patriarch blinked and said somewhat amused, "Mr. Jiang, although I am old, I am not yet senile. I can still tell the difference between the outskirts of the ancient capital and abroad!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen's expression turned completely grim, his eyes revealing deep concern.

"Mr. Jiang?" Noticing Jiang Chen's expression, the Lou Family Patriarch became serious and asked softly, "Is there something wrong?"

"Patriarch, have you heard of any ancient martial artists from any family going missing or dying in the last two years?" Jiang Chen's face darkened to an extreme.

The Lou Family Patriarch was slightly startled, then turned his head to look at Lou Wenkang.

Lou Wenkang nodded, "In the past two years, there indeed have been a few ancient martial artists attacked and killed. In our ancient capital, an heir of a First-Class Family was attacked and killed. What does this have to do with my grandfather being attacked?"

Lou Wenkang looked perplexedly at Jiang Chen, "Although ancient martial artists getting attacked and killed isn't frequent, but still..."

Lou Wenkang still wanted to argue a point or two but suddenly changed his expression, as if he had remembered something:

"No, that's not right! Ever since the martial arts conference twenty years ago, where the Six Great Sects and the Four Great Families jointly accredited, to practice Ancient Martial Arts needed very strict conditions. Ordinary people, even if they obtained Ancient Martial Arts, could not practice it! Since then, attacks on ancient martial artists have decreased a lot. But these last two years…"

"They have started to increase again, right?" Jiang Chen spoke gravely.

"Yes! And it's centered around the ancient capital!" Lou Fengfeng quickly interjected.

Jiang Chen looked at Lou Fengfeng in surprise, "How do you know it's centered around the ancient capital?"

"I have been collecting information on this over the last two years. The most frequent attacks on ancient martial artists are happening in our A province, and although in the ancient capital only the Tang Family heir was attacked, from the locations of other ancient martial artists who were attacked, it seems centered around the ancient capital and radiating outward!" Lou Fengfeng explained softly.

"Why are you collecting this kind of information?" Jiang Chen perceived something unusual.

"I..." Lou Fengfeng opened her mouth, hesitation flashing in her eyes.

Lou Wenkang chuckled lightly, "Fengfeng is just curious for a moment, Head of the Jiang Family, let's continue discussing the mysterious secret method!"

"It's okay, I trust big brother," Lou Qiangqiang suddenly spoke, "My sister is collecting those messages because she is worried about me!"

"You?" Jiang Chen looked at Lou Qiangqiang, his eyes revealing a moment of realization.

Lou Wenkang wanted to intervene, but it was too late. Hearing this, he could only look at Jiang Chen somewhat defensively, "Head of the Jiang Family, Qiangqiang is an ancient martial artist, we agreed to send him to Dingjing for schooling, to keep him away from the ancient capital, to avoid..."

Before he could finish, the Lou Family Patriarch and Lou Wenkang both stared straight at Jiang Chen, wanting to see his reaction.

"Oh!" Jiang Chen nodded lightly, noticing the guarded expressions of the two members of the Lou Family Patriarch, and said with amusement, "What's the matter? Are Ancient Martial Artists that rare? I am one too!"

"You are too?!" exclaimed the two members of the Lou Family Patriarch, soon putting their minds at ease.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, "Are you afraid that I would steal your people? What use would that be to me?"

"Hehe!"

"Haha!"

The two members of the Lou Family Patriarch chuckled awkwardly, indeed fearing Jiang Chen might steal their people. An Ancient Martial Artist was vitally important to any family, potentially able to propel a family to great heights!

"Who else knows about Lou Qiangqiang being an Ancient Martial Artist?" Jiang Chen suddenly asked, his voice grave.

The Lou Family Patriarch replied seriously, "Only the three of us know about this, and now..."

After glancing at Zhang Wenjie and others, the Lou Family Patriarch solemnly said, "I hope you all can help our Lou Family keep this a secret."

"Don't worry, sir!"

"Rest assured, we're not blabbermouths!"

Everyone expressed their stance. Although Zhang Wenjie felt some resentment about the Lou Family wanting to use him, he felt much relieved after knowing their predicament.

"Old Patriarch, about the assassination two years ago, don't you have any suspects?" Jiang Chen brought the conversation back.

The face of the Lou Family Patriarch changed, and after hesitating briefly, he said in a deep voice, "The only ones who could exert such great power in the ancient capital are from one family!"

"The Ouyang Family?!" A strange light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he turned to look at Zhu Wenqiang.

Zhu Wenqiang smirked, "Mr. Jiang, don't look at me. I've been away from the Ouyang Family since I was young. I don't know or want to know about their affairs."

Upon hearing this, the Lou Family members were stunned and looked at Zhu Wenqiang curiously.

Unable to help it, Zhu Wenqiang shared a bit about his own situation.

"This..." The members of the Lou Family were all taken aback.

"Mr. Jiang, you haven't yet spoken about that secret method..." The Lou Family Patriarch turned the conversation back again.

Jiang Chen's expression darkened as he said, "That secret method is a type of sorcery from the Divine Palace of Beihai National, a kind of Shikigami. I had just encountered someone abroad using this sorcery not long ago. I didn't expect that they already had people infiltrated in Flame Dragon. That sorcery relies on devouring others' essence blood and inner Qi to increase their own power. Ancient Martial Artists are the best nourishment for that dark serpent!"

"Sorcery from Beihai National?!" The Lou Family members were all startled.

The Lou Family Patriarch clenched his teeth and said vehemently, "Bastards! I thought the Ouyang Family was only worried I would break through the Barrier between Heaven and Man and threaten their status. I didn't expect them to collude with people from Beihai National, utterly betrayal and damnation!"

Jiang Chen spoke gravely, "The Ouyang Family is one of the Four Great Families. With them as an inside threat, those who practice sorcery could recklessly seek out Ancient Martial Artists. This cancer must be eradicated!"

"Indeed, it must be eradicated!"

The Lou Family Patriarch nodded heavily, then furrowed his brow tightly, "But... given how powerful the Ouyang Family is, and with the sorcery being so sinister, just relying on us... can we do it?"

"Old Patriarch, if your soul injury could be healed, how many Semi Venerable Venerables could you withstand?" Jiang Chen looked at the Lou Family Patriarch seriously.

The Lou Family Patriarch pondered for a moment, then said softly, "If my soul injury could be healed, I could withstand three to five Semi Venerable Venerables without a problem. After all, I've touched upon the Barrier between Heaven and Man and have some understanding, but to recover... that's easier said than done!"

Jiang Chen smiled and suddenly said:

"I can."

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