CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: NINE DRAGON KEY (FIRST UPDATE)

Hearing that the Xuanhuang Sect Leader had agreed to see him, Wang Sanjin breathed a sigh of relief. After all, before coming here, he had been instructed to personally deliver the invitation to the Xuanhuang Sect Leader.

However, within the entire Fengxiang Prefecture, few had ever seen the Xuanhuang Sect Leader. Rumor had it that this person was a reclusive, peerless expert who had lived for a hundred years. Others suggested the Xuanhuang Sect Leader was actually a woman, and all her disciples were kept as pampered consorts. Some even claimed he was a young man of overwhelming power. Very few people had actually seen Xu Nian, so the circulating rumors remained just that—rumors.

Escorted by a group of players, Wang Sanjin apprehensively followed Daytime Alms up the mountain. Along the way, the buildings on the mountain filled him with surprise. Is this really a martial arts sect? Surely not some kind of bandit stronghold?

Upon reaching the mountain peak and seeing the opulent Great Halls, Wang Sanjin finally relaxed.

Xu Nian sized up Wang Sanjin, noting he was just an ordinary person, which sparked a hint of puzzlement in him. He had thought someone from one of the Jianghu sects had arrived. Why would it be an ordinary person?

"I am Wang Sanjin, chief steward of the Jin Mansion in Fengxiang Prefecture City," Wang Sanjin said, bowing respectfully to the crowd of players on the mountain. "Might I ask who among you is the Sect Leader of the Profound Yellow Sect?"

Standing at the entrance of the Great Hall, Xu Nian responded with a smile, "I am Xu Nian, Sect Leader of the Profound Yellow Sect!"

Hearing the voice, Wang Sanjin turned his head toward the youthful figure at the Great Hall’s entrance. The shock in his eyes was plain to see; he hadn’t expected Xu Nian to be so young.

No! In fact, he realized that among all the leaders of the various powers within Fengxiang Prefecture, none could compare to Xu Nian. This young man seemed to surpass all those he had met before in both aura and strength!

"Greetings, Sect Leader Xu!" Wang Sanjin bowed respectfully again, taking out a gilded invitation. Presenting it with both hands, he said, "On behalf of my Patriarch, I have come to invite Sect Leader Xu to visit our Jin Family. We hope Sect Leader Xu will honor us with his presence."

The Jin Family of Fengxiang Prefecture?

Xu Nian knew little about them; indeed, he knew little about Fengxiang Prefecture itself.

However, the Blood Demoness standing behind him furrowed her brows slightly. The members of the Profound Yellow Sect might not know, but she was all too aware. The Jin Family Patriarch, Jin Mantang, was actually the Celestial Yi Daoist, who had faked his death in the Jianghu years ago and survived. His son, Jin Fugui, had previously died at the hands of the Black Wind Stronghold. Jin Mantang inviting Xu Nian to the Jin Mansion now was almost certainly because of the Nine Dragon Key! After all, one such key was originally in Jin Mantang’s possession. It had accidentally fallen into the hands of Black Wind Stronghold and then, by a twist of fate, ended up with Xu Nian. Their sending someone now was most likely because of the Nine Dragon Key.

Xu Nian, however, was unaware of this. He didn’t know Jin Yutang, and this invitation to visit struck him as suspicious. A First-Grade Martial Artist is indeed formidable, but Fengxiang Prefecture has Grandmaster Realm experts. If I die, there’s no coming back!

"I don’t believe I’m acquainted with your patriarch," Xu Nian said with a light laugh. "For Steward Wang to come all the way from Fengxiang Prefecture just to deliver an invitation... you must think quite highly of me, Xu."

The implication was clear: he was telling Wang Sanjin that the invitation seemed suspicious, and without a clear explanation, he wouldn’t go.

Wang Sanjin was a perceptive man; of course, he understood. He quickly explained, "This is a custom in Fengxiang Prefecture. The Profound Yellow Sect is now the foremost power here, and our patriarch, who has always admired the Jianghu, has prepared a banquet to honor Sect Leader Xu. Naturally, representatives from other powers will also attend. After all, we all operate within Fengxiang Prefecture. We’re bound to cross paths, so it’s good to foster relations for future convenience. Furthermore, Lord Zhou Yuntong, a Thousand Household of the Brocade Guard, will also be present. Sect Leader Xu, please rest assured, it’s merely a formality."

A formality like this? Xu Nian turned with a trace of curiosity and glanced at the Blood Demoness. She nodded lightly, seemingly confirming that such a custom indeed existed.

This put Xu Nian in a dilemma. Going felt potentially problematic, yet refusing seemed unreasonable. After all, everyone involved was in Fengxiang Prefecture, and they had gone to the trouble of sending someone to deliver the invitation personally. It would be too ungracious to refuse.

"Alright then, I’ll accept the invitation," Xu Nian finally said.

The Blood Demoness stepped forward, took the invitation, and handed it to Xu Nian.

Seeing this, Wang Sanjin breathed another sigh of relief. His task was done, and he could now return. The Profound Yellow Sect had always struck him as somewhat unsettling, and the disciples’ gazes were too peculiar; it was best to leave as soon as possible.

Xu Nian had several disciples escort Wang Sanjin down the mountain, while he himself took the invitation back into the Great Hall.

Just as he sat down to examine the invitation, the Blood Demoness spoke from behind him.

"Jin Yutang, the Patriarch of the Jin Family, is no simple character. He’s one of the few Grandmasters in Fengxiang Prefecture. You should be very careful."

Hearing this, Xu Nian chuckled. "You seem to know him quite well?"

"The Nine Dragon Key!"

The Blood Demoness’s words puzzled Xu Nian. The last time people from the Blood Demon Sect came, wasn’t that Protector I kicked to death also searching for the Nine Dragon Key? What exactly is this thing?

"The Nine Dragon Key is indeed within the Profound Yellow Sect, in the hands of a disciple named Junlin," the Blood Demoness mused. "The Black Dragon Dagger is one of the Nine Dragon Keys. Furthermore, Jin Yutang was the previous owner of that Black Dragon Dagger. His original name was Celestial Yi Daoist, a mountain master from the Taiyi Dao of Cangyun Mansion."

She recounted some details about Celestial Yi Daoist, briefly explaining his life experiences and mentioning that the Blood Demon Sect was also searching for the Nine Dragon Keys.

After she finished, Xu Nian raised an eyebrow. "You know a lot about this Jin Yutang?"

As Xu Nian looked at her, the Blood Demoness hesitated. After a long moment, she let out a breath. "He’s my father. Or rather, I’m his illegitimate daughter. He abandoned me when I was young. Later, I was adopted by the Blood Demon Sect Leader and grew up within the Blood Demon Sect."

Having said this, she turned and walked out, as if it were a topic she deeply wished to avoid. Why she had told Xu Nian, she wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps it was because this Seventh Prince was different from others, or maybe the Profound Yellow Sect itself was different from other powers. The people here were capable of anything, every one of them talented, and they spoke so pleasantly. Living here these past days, she had almost forgotten her identity as an Elder of the Blood Demon Sect.

So melodramatic? Xu Nian stared at the invitation in his hand, murmuring, "It seems I’ll have to make a trip to Fengxiang Prefecture after all. The Nine Dragons Secret Treasure is certainly attracting a lot of attention; perhaps I can use this situation."

As this thought occurred to him, a System Task notification appeared.

[Task: Nine Dragons Secret Treasure (Part One)]

[Introduction: This is the most mysterious treasure in the Jianghu. It’s rumored that gathering all the Nine Dragon Keys will unlock the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure, granting the power to dominate the world.]

[Objective: Investigate information about the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure.]

[Time Limit: None.]

[Reward: The whereabouts of a Nine Dragon Key.]

[Hint: This task is exclusive and can only be undertaken by players or player teams possessing a Nine Dragon Key.]