Long Xiao practiced in the hotel, while the Nangong family members watched his every move outside. The hotel's internal surveillance also recorded his situation.
When the surveillance footage was delivered to Nangong Ming, he laughed heartily after watching it and said, "This Hu Lei is really interesting. With him alone, no matter how much he cultivates, he can't contend with my Nangong family."
Nangong Tianming looked at the surveillance footage and said, "Dad, why don't I send a few people to take care of him?"
Nangong Ming waved his hand and said, "No, Long Xiao hasn't appeared yet. He can't die. If he dies, where will we find Long Xiao?"
What worried Nangong Ming slightly was Long Xiao's prolonged absence.
This was a large-scale operation, and he could only control a part of it. Long Xiao was the key to this plan. If Long Xiao didn't show up, the plan might fail.
The personnel were gradually arriving, and everyone who should be here had come. In recent days, Nangong Ming had been meeting with representatives from various influential families, providing them with necessary assistance as agreed upon beforehand.
This was the Nangong family's territory, and the operation was primarily led by them. Upon success, the Nangong family would receive the lion's share of the benefits.
Since becoming the heir apparent, Nangong Ming had been contemplating how to elevate the Nangong family to become the foremost family in China.
To achieve this, a devastating blow must first be dealt to the formidable Long family.
Once the Long family's core strength was ruthlessly crippled, there would be no need to destroy the rest. The Nangong family would gradually absorb the Long family's remnants, thus maximizing their profits.
As soon as Nangong Ming discovered that Long Xiao was the rebellious son who had escaped years ago, a plan began to form in his mind. As time passed, this plan became increasingly clear.
Communicating with other families took Nangong Ming three full months. During these three months, he dispatched dozens of people to travel across the globe, persuading several families to participate in the plan through sheer persistence.
After all, the Long family was too vast and deeply entrenched in China. Any force in the world that dared to challenge the Long family had to deliberate carefully, lest they face utter ruin.
With six days remaining until the main event, guests from various circles had already begun arriving in Funin Town. Those who arrived a few days early were families friendly with the Nangong family. Some families were participants in the plan and had to arrive early to discuss the details.
On this particular morning, a Rolls-Royce and an extended Lincoln entered Funin Town. Nangong Ming received news that Liu Dayong, the Divine Chef from the Southwest, had arrived. He hurriedly took a few young members of the Nangong family to personally welcome him.
The car doors opened, and Liu Dayong and his entourage alighted. Upon seeing Liu Dayong, Nangong Ming rushed to greet him.
Although Liu Dayong was a cook, his title of Divine Chef and his peak Earth realm cultivation commanded Nangong Ming's utmost respect.
After a few pleasantries, Liu Dayong introduced his assistant and nephew, Xiao Ming, to Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming shook hands with each of them, extending a welcome.
After some polite exchanges, they followed Nangong Ming into the Nangong Manor in Funin Town.
The Nangong Manor was vast, occupying almost eighty percent of Funin Town's land.
Although everyone in Funin Town belonged to the Nangong family, only those residing in the Nangong Manor were considered core members.
As Xiao Ming entered the Nangong Manor, he looked around everywhere, memorizing the environment in preparation for the action six days later.
No one suspected that Xiao Ming was there to disrupt things. As a child of about ten years old, his curiosity about everything was normal, and no one harbored any suspicions.
All staff members arriving at the Nangong Manor were assigned to the western side of the estate. Xiao Ming and his group were no exception, though they were given a separate courtyard and two servants.
After settling in, Xiao Ming prepared to go out exploring, but Liu Dayong stopped him. Liu Dayong told Xiao Ming that he had to act like a cook until the wedding banquet began, so as not to give himself away.
Xiao Ming abandoned his idea of going out and remained in the small courtyard. With nothing else to do, he listened to Liu Dayong talk about the Crazy Blade Sect.
Liu Dayong was not the highest-ranking member of the Crazy Blade Sect. He told Xiao Ming that the sect leader had entered the Heaven realm, and the eight lineages of the Crazy Blade were already at the peak of the Earth realm, nearing the Heaven realm. However, they focused solely on cultivation and did not reveal their strength, hence no one knew about it.
"Isn't it said that there are only a few Heaven realm experts in all of China?" Xiao Ming asked, puzzled.
Liu Dayong shook his head and said, "That's the saying in the secular world. In reality, among the hidden sects, there are many people at the early Heaven realm. The Heaven realm experts you mentioned as few in China refer to the middle Heaven realm."
"Is the Heaven realm, like other realms, also divided into early, middle, peak, and great completion?" Xiao Ming inquired.
Liu Dayong nodded and said, "Yes, you are correct."
"Then what realm is above the Heaven realm?" Xiao Ming asked.
Liu Dayong shook his head and said, "I don't know that. Perhaps only those in the middle or peak Heaven realm would know."
Xiao Ming had always thought that Heaven realm experts were unreachable, but he never expected them to be common in hidden sects.
Xiao Ming then asked about the situation with hidden sects.
Liu Dayong told Xiao Ming that hidden sects kept a low profile and rarely interacted with the secular world. Therefore, no one knew how many hidden sects existed in China or how powerful their disciples were.
Xiao Ming, who was worried about being pursued by the Bian Que Sect, asked, "Is the Bian Que Sect considered a hidden sect?"
Liu Dayong shook his head and said, "It shouldn't be. In fact, there's no strict distinction between hidden sects and ordinary sects. Generally, sects that focus solely on cultivation and whose disciples do not live in the secular world are called hidden sects."
The Bian Que Sect used to be a hidden sect. However, over the past century, disciples of the Bian Que Sect had appeared all over China, and their conduct, ranging from good to bad, had led them to commit many heinous acts. Now, no one considered the Bian Que Sect a hidden sect anymore.
Although the disciples of the Crazy Blade Sect lived in the secular world, they focused on cultivation and rarely interfered in worldly affairs.
Few people knew about the existence of the Crazy Blade Sect, and its disciples rarely got into conflicts with others, which is why the Crazy Blade Sect was considered a hidden sect.
In addition to hidden sects, Liu Dayong also revealed some secrets that had been passed down since ancient times.
Liu Dayong told Xiao Ming that human history was not just a few thousand years old; humans had existed for hundreds of thousands of years, or even longer.
Long ago, humans already lived in the land of China. At that time, there were many races, and humans were just one of them.
Human survival was difficult. It was only after the emergence of cultivators within the human race that the living conditions of humans gradually improved.
At this point, Liu Dayong asked, "Young Master, do you know the Long family?"
Xiao Ming nodded and said, "Of course I do. The Long family in the capital can be said to be the foremost family in China."
Liu Dayong nodded and said, "That's right. Tens of thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Long family led the human race to carve out a path of survival, allowing humanity to persevere. Since then, the Long family has been the foremost family in China."
"Are there still other races?" Xiao Ming asked.
Liu Dayong nodded and said, "Of course there are. These races are hiding all over the world, disguising themselves as humans and plotting to destroy humanity."
With that, Liu Dayong sighed and said, "Although our Crazy Blade Sect was founded late, we are also contributing to humanity and maintaining peace in China."