The Red-lined Falcon's cultivation, when converted to human terms, was around the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Among the four disciples from the Beast Taming Sect, only Xiong Zhuangzhuang's cultivation could surpass it.
Perhaps because of this, it disdained the questions from the Beast Taming Sect disciples, as if it didn't believe the four of them could do anything to it.
Fei Hua was so angered by the Red-lined Falcon's fearless demeanor that he stomped his feet, rolled up his sleeves, and loudly declared he would show the falcon a thing or two.
However, when he actually rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the Red-lined Falcon, he found that his senior brothers and sisters had no intention of stopping him. He looked at his own small arms, then at the Red-lined Falcon's massive body, and finally retreated sheepishly.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang ignored Fei Hua's antics, pondered for a moment, then walked directly to the Red-lined Falcon and whispered a few words in its ear.
The Red-lined Falcon's arrogant expression visibly turned panicked at a visible speed, and its body trembled slightly.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang straightened up and threatened, "Since you've had dealings with people from the Beast Taming Sect, you should know that we have various methods to deal with disobedient demonic beasts. If you don't tell the truth, then I'll have to use them on you one by one."
The Red-lined Falcon shuddered at the thought of its feathers being plucked one by one, eventually becoming a bald bird. It had its dignity, after all.
It would talk!
And so, amidst a cacophony of chirps, the four disciples of the Beast Taming Sect obtained some clues. The Red-lined Falcon had indeed been specially trained, hence its ability to completely ignore the items Yin Li threw at it. However, the Red-lined Falcon stated that the person who trained it was the Holy Emissary, and it had not seen any other humans besides him. With the Holy Emissary dead, this lead was effectively broken.
"Were there any other demonic beasts trained with you?" Yin Li asked.
"Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp chirp!"
We were all trained separately and did not see any other demonic beasts.
The Red-lined Falcon's answer did not surprise Yin Li. The Saintess Sect was cautious in its actions, otherwise, despite the repeated inquiries from disciples of the Five Great Sects, there would have been less to discover.
The Red-lined Falcon was eventually taken by Xiong Zhuangzhuang into his spirit beast pouch and entrusted to Xiong Da for safekeeping. Xiong Zhuangzhuang, after discussing with Yin Li and the others, decided to conceal the Red-lined Falcon's connection to the Beast Taming Sect. They would inform Xu Yi of some of the situation, also allowing other sects to prepare themselves mentally.
After hearing Xiong Zhuangzhuang's explanation, Xu Yi did not doubt his words. Instead, she thought the Saintess Sect was truly capable, to the point of increasing its strength by training demonic beasts. She couldn't help but wonder if the Saintess Sect was indeed linked to the demonic race, thus gaining the assistance of some demonic beasts. If that were the case, the Saintess Sect must be eradicated as soon as possible, lest it continue to develop and become a serious threat. However, all this was just Xu Yi's speculation; she needed more evidence regarding the Saintess Sect's situation, at least she wanted to see the Saintess herself to make a more accurate judgment.
"The descent of the Saintess is the best opportunity we have, based on what we know," Xu Yi said earnestly to Xiong Zhuangzhuang and the others.
"But we don't know when or where the Saintess will appear?" Xiong Zhuangzhuang furrowed his brows.
Xu Yi uttered a single word: "Wait."
"Wait?"
After a moment of stunned realization, Xiong Zhuangzhuang understood. Indeed, the best course of action now was to wait. Since the Saintess had already instructed the Holy Emissary to convey her divine decree to the followers, she would undoubtedly make a grand appearance in a highly anticipated setting in the near future. All they needed to do now was to find an ordinary follower and leave a mark on them. Then, they could follow the mark and all meet the Saintess together. Therefore, their best approach was to bide their time and wait patiently.
"But what if the Saintess doesn't appear for three to five years, and we just keep waiting here?" Fei Hua asked softly.
"No, it will be at most a year, and at least three to five months. She will definitely appear," Xu Yi said with conviction. "Her followers are getting impatient. If she doesn't appear soon, the Saintess's prestige will be undermined, and she will have to show herself as soon as possible to stabilize morale."
All the world rushes for profit, and all the world bustles for gain. It is impossible for the Saintess Sect to win over the masses based solely on its reputation. Appropriate benefits and deterrence are necessary for a sect to flourish.
"Xu Yi is right. In that case, why don't we stay in Mo City and wait for her to reveal herself," Xiong Zhuangzhuang sneered. He wanted to see what kind of schemer this person was, who had managed to steal and learn the Beast Taming Sect's secret techniques from somewhere. Such a person deserved to be killed.
After discussing with Xu Yi, Xiong Zhuangzhuang and the other four finally decided to split into two groups. Xu Yi, Yin Li, and Zuo You would go to Mo City with Zhang Nannan and Wang Yao to await news. Xiong Zhuangzhuang and his brother Fei Hua would use the treasure-seeking rat to find a follower, leave a mark on them, and then return to Mo City to rendezvous with Xu Yi and the other two. Zhang Nannan, whether she had come to terms with it or given up, did not respond at all to the decision to return to Mo City. Xu Yi took out a shuttle-shaped flying artifact from her storage ring, carrying the group to Mo City.
The streets of Mo City were as lively as ever. The cultivators living in Mo City showed some surprise when they saw Xu Yi and her group. However, upon seeing Wang Yao being carried into Mo City behind them, and Zhang Nannan looking dejected, the crowd erupted. Wang Yao and Zhang Nannan had lived in Mo City for many years, and as assistant instructors at Qiming Academy, more than half of Mo City's cultivators knew their names. Seeing them in such a sorry state, they instinctively became wary of the elegantly dressed Xu Yi and Yin Li. Some vigilant cultivators had already hidden in the shadows, beginning to send messages to Qiming Academy.
Xu Yi paid no attention to the subtle actions of the crowd. In fact, she couldn't stop them even if she wanted to. Those people had already made up their minds, and even if she explained, they might not believe her. It would be better to wait until they were in front of the instructors from Qiming Academy to explain things clearly once more. Therefore, Xu Yi remained exceptionally calm and composed, unaffected by the gazes of the crowd.
Yin Li also felt awkward at first, but later got used to it. Zuo You, however, was introverted and somewhat resistant to the undisguised scrutiny of the crowd, his gaze becoming somewhat evasive. His expression, in turn, caused the Mo City cultivators to solidify their suspicions, and their gazes towards him became increasingly unfriendly. If it weren't for their consideration of Xu Yi and Yin Li's profound cultivation, which made them unfathomable, they would have probably attacked the timid Zuo You right then and there to apprehend him.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long, because the instructors from Qiming Academy arrived. "Quick, quick, make way, the instructors are here!" "Greetings, instructors!" "Instructors, blessings upon you!" Cheers and greetings erupted from the crowd. All the cultivators bowed slightly in a gesture of respect. The footsteps of Xu Yi and her group, who had been walking towards Qiming Academy, also stopped. When she saw the three instructors striding towards them, Xu Yi's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward, saying loudly, "Greetings, instructors."