Qin Sang and Gu Shang exchanged pleasantries for a good while within the room.
After some time, Qin Sang found an excuse to end their conversation.
As Qin Sang stepped out of Gu Shang's room, the smile on his face gradually faded.
He looked at the two maids waiting respectfully outside, their heads bowed, and his expression immediately turned serious.
"Remember, you must take good care of the guest inside, understand? If our esteemed guest is displeased, don't blame me for being ruthless later."
Upon hearing this, the two maids, both beautiful and well-proportioned, nodded hastily, their sweet and soft voices responding immediately.
"Lord Qin Sang, rest assured, we know exactly what to do."
Qin Sang did not reply further to their answer.
The maids assigned to serve a peak Tribulation Stage expert like Gu Shang were naturally well-aware of all matters, and nothing untoward would occur. Qin Sang's reminder was merely a formality.
After sternly reminding the maids outside to care for Gu Shang inside,
Qin Sang finally left with a sense of relief.
Apart from peak Tribulation Stage experts like Gu Shang, ordinary cultivators did not qualify for Qin Sang's personal attention.
Rubbing his temples slightly, he realized that the news of his Guild Master Qin Zhang's breakthrough would attract more than just a few peak Tribulation Stage experts.
There might even be one or two cultivators at the Mahayana stage who would come.
By then, he and the other peak Tribulation Stage cultivator would be extremely busy.
After all, besides Qin Zhang, who was preparing for his breakthrough,
only he and the other peak Tribulation Stage cultivator were barely qualified to host such powerful individuals.
With this thought, Qin Sang decided to return to his own residence for a brief rest.
Just then, as Qin Sang was about to head back to his lodging,
urgent footsteps sounded from not too far away.
Qin Sang's gaze followed the sound.
He saw someone in the uniform of the Qin Yang Merchant Guild rushing towards him from nearby, their face looking extremely anxious.
Their complexion was quite grim.
Seeing this, Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he couldn't help but shout,
"What is it? Acting so flustered, what kind of bearing is that?"
Under Qin Sang's reprimand, the person's face turned even paler, but their grim expression remained unchanged.
Qin Sang noticed this and frowned slightly.
"Speak, what has happened?"
Hearing this, the cultivator from the Qin Yang Merchant Guild couldn't help but tremble.
"Re-reporting, Lord Qin Sang, the life tokens of Young Master Qin Tianyi, and Qin Changwan, Qin Li, and the others... they have all shattered!"
As the words fell,
"Boom!"
A terrifying aura erupted from Qin Sang, soaring into the sky.
Under this terrifying aura, even the Tribulation Stage cultivators who had just been ushered into the Qin Yang Merchant Guild headquarters were startled.
Fortunately, the nearly uncontrollable aura from Qin Sang was quickly reined in.
"What is the matter, Fellow Daoist Qin Sang?"
A voice of inquiry came from a nearby room, belonging to Gu Shang.
Turning his head, Qin Sang saw Gu Shang peeking out of his room due to the brief moment of uncontrollability.
Qin Sang's face was now as dark as water, but he forced a smile as he looked at Gu Shang, who was asking with concern.
"Hehe, it's nothing, thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Gu Shang."
With that, Qin Sang didn't even wait for Gu Shang's next words. His gaze fell upon the messenger who had brought him the news, signaling them to follow.
After they had walked a distance away,
Qin Sang's tense expression turned grim again. Trembling, he grabbed the messenger beside him, his voice chilling as he spoke slowly,
"What did you just say? Say it again?"
Under Qin Sang's terrifying gaze, the messenger's face turned even more ashen, but they still stammered,
"Lord Qin Sang, Young Master Qin Tianyi, Lord Qin Changwan, Lord Qin Li, and their entire party, their life tokens have all shattered!"
"How is that possible!"
Qin Sang's body trembled, his voice filled with disbelief.
The atmosphere then descended into an extremely oppressive silence.
After a long while, Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. If anyone were beside him, they would have felt the palpable oppression.
Taking a deep breath, he forcefully suppressed his surging anger.
Qin Sang looked at the cultivator beside him.
"I understand. You may leave now."
Hearing this, the messenger felt as if they had been granted a great pardon and quickly departed.
Qin Sang's eyes, however, were now as dark as water.
He took out a jade token, crushed it, and sent out a summoning message.
Then, Qin Sang turned slightly and headed towards the forbidden area within the Qin Yang Merchant Guild, a place few had the authority to enter.
This was Qin Zhang's current closed-door cultivation location. Qin Zhang had spent the past few decades preparing for his breakthrough to the Mahayana stage.
About two years ago, Qin Zhang had emerged from his secluded cultivation, announcing that he was about to undergo tribulation and break through to the Mahayana stage. It was then that the Qin Yang Merchant Guild learned of Qin Zhang's condition.
By the time Qin Sang reached the outskirts of the forbidden area,
a figure was also seen approaching rapidly.
This person also exuded the aura of a peak Tribulation Stage cultivator. This was the only other peak Tribulation Stage cultivator in the Qin Yang Merchant Guild besides Qin Zhang.
Qin Fang looked at Qin Sang with confusion. The jade token that Qin Sang had crushed earlier had summoned him.
Because of this, he had even hastily excused himself from attending another Tribulation Stage cultivator to come here.
However, seeing Qin Sang's grim expression, Qin Fang knew that Qin Sang had summoned him for something major.
"Tell me, Qin Sang, what is it you called me here for?"
Qin Fang asked.
In response, Qin Sang took a deep breath.
"Let's discuss it inside the forbidden area. This matter might require Guild Master Qin Zhang's involvement."
Hearing this, Qin Fang's already confused eyes widened even further.
"Involve Guild Master Qin Zhang! What on earth have you discovered?"
Qin Zhang was currently at a critical juncture in his breakthrough. It was absolutely impossible to disturb him for any ordinary matter and burden him with worry.
Regarding this, Qin Sang merely said solemnly,
"Let's discuss it inside."
Then, led by Qin Sang, the two of them headed directly into the forbidden area.