"You shouldn't have come to Jue Xian Valley..."
In an ordinary courtyard, Tang Muan slowly shook his head, then sighed again.
On the table made of vine wood, Lu Yin was drinking hot tea at the rim of the cup. Hearing this, she couldn't help but look up at the strange old scholar.
"Fellow Daoist can rest assured, with me by your side to protect him, he will be in no danger."
Jiang Yun Zhou smiled lightly, his expression calm and breezy, yet filled with immense confidence.
After all, he was an existence just one step away from being comparable to the Golden Core realm.
With his own powerful cultivation and realm, even though the divine path had gradually declined in the current world, he still possessed formidable strength. In his full capacity, even a great cultivator in the early Golden Core stage would not have absolute certainty in keeping him trapped.
Once things went awry, with his strength, it would be an extremely simple matter to escape with someone.
"Elder Tang, please be at ease."
Ji Yuan smiled, having complete confidence in Jiang Yun Zhou beside him.
After all, the other party was a direct disciple of the Nine Profound Sect Master. It would be unbelievable if he didn't possess any special means or carry any protective treasures.
If any accidents were to occur, Jiang Yun Zhou would definitely be able to protect him. Coupled with Tang Mu Huan, a cultivator in the third realm of Confucianism, unless they encountered five or six cultivators of the same realm, or great cultivators above the Golden Core realm, they would be safe.
"Alas, I hope so."
However, Elder Tang was not so optimistic. Despite sensing Jiang Yun Zhou's cultivation realm, he still appeared dejected and gloomy.
Seeing this, the two looked at each other, clearly sensing something unusual.
"May I ask Elder Tang, have you learned any news?"
Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then spoke.
Judging by his demeanor, he must have learned something they were unaware of, and the inside story was far more serious than they had imagined.
Hearing this, Tang Mu Huan glanced at Lu Yin on the table, appearing hesitant to speak.
Under Ji Yuan's expectant gaze, he finally spoke without reservation, revealing the information he had learned.
"A friend I have in the Yu Clan once hinted to me that if any abnormality occurs, I must not act rashly and should seize an opportunity to escape as soon as possible."
He sighed, his face looking somewhat gloomy.
According to Tang Mu Huan's friend from the Yu Clan, the current predicament facing the Yu Clan was unprecedented in their history and one of the few potential calamities that could lead to their extinction.
It was known that as one of the ancient hundred clans, although the Yu Clan had gradually declined, they still possessed some foundation. They had faced several near-extinction calamities and had always managed to pass through safely.
However, facing what was about to happen, even the Yu Clan lacked absolute confidence. They had even put aside their pride and status as one of the ancient hundred clans, sending a distress signal to the Great Yu Dynasty.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan and Jiang Yun Zhou's eyes immediately narrowed. According to Elder Fu Sheng's earlier explanation, the reason people from the prefecture had come was most likely to take advantage of the chaos and seize some benefits.
But according to the information held by Tang Mu Huan, it was the Yu Clan who had proactively sought help from the Great Yu Dynasty, which led to the arrival of people from the prefecture.
With two conflicting accounts, it was impossible to determine at the moment whether Elder Fu Sheng or Tang Lao's friend in the Yu Clan was lying.
Of course, it was also possible that neither of them was telling the truth, intentionally spreading misinformation to achieve some purpose.
Just like Elder Fu Sheng, who was testing the waters and wanted to use their hands to spread some news.
Since there were no restrictions on their actions, the two would inevitably move around the village and even the valley, encountering people from various factions. Through communication, they would successfully disseminate certain information.
However, regardless of which scenario was true, one point was already certain: the Yu Clan was indeed facing an unimaginable disaster.
Otherwise, with their power, which was not inferior to any prosperous sect, and their pride as one of the ancient hundred clans, they would absolutely not engage in such petty maneuvers.
"Elder Tang, do you have any insights?"
Ji Yuan looked at the old man before him, a sudden thought crossing his mind.
With his knowledge and experience, he should have seen through some of the truth.
After all, he had been staying in Jue Xian Valley for so many days, and they had met people from various factions. The information he had obtained should be far more than what the two of them had.
"The curse within the Yu Clan's bloodline has mutated, this should be true."
Tang Mu Huan pondered for a long time, then slowly said, "The valley appears peaceful now, but it is actually a carefully constructed facade. As for the purpose, it is temporarily unknown."
Many factions had already gathered in Jue Xian Valley, including at least seven or eight prosperous sects that had been passed down for hundreds of years, not to mention various chambers of commerce and special organizations.
However, as Elder Tang contacted them one by one, he found that almost every faction had heard slightly different accounts.
Meanwhile, beneath the peaceful exterior of the valley, undercurrents were surging. Even the four vassal races of the Yu Clan were secretly meeting with external forces.
"I want to take a walk around the village and the valley."
Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then made a decision.
Jiang Yun Zhou did not refuse and nodded in agreement. After listening to Elder Fu Sheng and Tang Mu Huan, he also wanted to see for himself.
"Since that is the case, I will accompany you on this trip."
Tang Mu Huan clapped his hands on his thighs and immediately rose from the vine chair.
Seeing that the three were about to go out, Lu Yin quickly jumped onto Ji Yuan's shoulder, holding a small wooden stick in one hand and a lock of his hair in the other.
The three smiled at each other, feeling a bit helpless with the little fellow. Coupled with the speculation that its identity might be special, they simply indulged its whims.
After all, as far as they could see, Lu Yin would not cause them any trouble, nor did they mind it overhearing their conversations. In fact, they had intentionally said some things for it to hear.
Since the people of the Yu Clan were deliberately releasing information of uncertain veracity, with unclear intentions to achieve some purpose, they could also use Lu Yin to spread some misinformation.
Of course, all of this was premised on the Yu Clan intending to use Lu Yin to probe for information.
Not long after, the three left the courtyard and began to wander around the Yu Clan's village. They seemed to have no clear purpose, appearing to be casually strolling around.
As the ancestral land of the Yu Clan, the area was quite vast, divided by a giant tree. In front of the treehouses was where the clan members lived and resided, while behind it lay a forbidden area.