After hearing the disciple's report, Duan Mingda immediately stood up.
"What did you say? Say it again?"
His younger brother was at the Soul Formation stage. How could he be captured in such a short time?
"Wasn't it said there were only two people? What? Could they be in the late Soul Formation stage?"
Clear Wind Ancestor was also bewildered. Logically speaking, if two Soul Formation cultivators exchanged blows, it was impossible for there to be zero movement, yet they had heard nothing at all.
Even a mid Soul Formation cultivator could not capture Duan Mingfei so easily; there would still be battle fluctuations for them to detect. Thus, it could only be a late Soul Formation cultivator.
"Replying to the Ancestor and the Sect Master, there were indeed only two people initially. But when the Third Elder moved to capture the opponent, two more people suddenly appeared and captured the Third Elder instantly. Now he is kneeling there as well."
The reporting disciple did not dare conceal anything and reported everything truthfully.
"Could Ye Qiuyue have returned? Did Ye Qiuyue and Ye Tianyi come together? Were the two who appeared women? Right, what do you mean by saying he is 'kneeling there as well'?"
Financial and tactical urgency laced Duan Mingda's hasty questions.
"They were not women; they were two men. Earlier, the fourteen stewards were all captured by the opponent, kneeling beside that youth, and three were executed. Now only eleven stewards remain. After the Third Elder was captured, he was made to kneel there too."
Sweat soaked the reporting disciple's back. He could hardly fathom how his warm mouth could utter such chilling news, but he had no other choice.
"What force could this be? Our Clear Wind Sect only operates within Tianyi City's territory, and we have never offended external powers! If it is not the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, who else could it be?"
Duan Mingda was thoroughly confused. If not the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, who else?
"Replying to the Sect Master, that person is from the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. He told the Third Elder to return the plundered Heavenly Clothes Pavilion supplies and people, and demanded compensation, claiming we injured their Fifth Elder."
The reporting disciple continued.
"Can you finish speaking all at once next time? If you keep reporting in fragments like this, do you believe I will beat you to death?"
Duan Mingda was nearly driven mad by this messenger who could not deliver a complete sentence.
"This disciple understands."
The reporting disciple swallowed his urge to curse. You didn't ask, and now you blame me for leaving it out. Naturally, he dared not voice that thought.
"Enough. Go find the Great Elder and Second Elder, and follow me out to meet the enemy."
Clear Wind Ancestor's anger flared as well. The Heavenly Clothes Pavilion only accepted female cultivators. These two suddenly appearing males were definitely outsiders posing as the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to fish in troubled waters at his Clear Wind Sect's expense.
Outside the Clear Wind Sect, Qin Xiao was busy questioning Duan Mingfei.
"Tell me, you are the Third Elder-do you have any soul restrictions placed on you?"
Qin Xiao still hoped to probe the true depth of the Clear Wind Sect.
"You have a lot of nerve! How dare you blurt out such matters to an outsider?"
Duan Mingfei refused to answer Qin Xiao, instead glaring and shouting at the stewards kneeling beside him.
"Third Elder, we didn't say anything!"
Everyone hurriedly protested.
"If not you, then who?"
Seeing them try to deny it, Duan Mingfei grew even more furious.
"Third Elder... it was him."
Together, the men pointed at the steward who had been the most arrogant earlier before being executed-whose corpse still lay chillingly on the ground.
"Hey, hey, hey! Are you deaf? I asked you a question. If you pretend not to hear me, I'll have no choice but to kill you too."
Seeing Duan Mingfei ignore him, Qin Xiao issued a blunt threat.
"Killing me is useless. All of us have restrictions placed on us; we cannot speak of it."
Faced with the threat of death, Duan Mingfei could only offer a bitter, helpless reply.
This was the terrifying aspect of Clear Wind Ancestor. Nearly everyone in the Clear Wind Sect, from miscellaneous disciples to elders and the sect master, had restrictions planted in their souls. Those who disobeyed had long since perished, their bodies and souls destroyed.
"What? Third Elder, even you have restrictions? Aren't you the Ancestor's adopted son? He doesn't even trust you?"
Hearing that Duan Mingfei was similarly restricted, the stewards found it hard to believe. This was the Ancestor's own adopted son and the sect's Third Elder!
"Within the sect, only the Great Elder and Second Elder remain unrestricted. Even the Sect Master and I carry restrictions."
Pressed by the stewards, Duan Mingfei could only smile bitterly. Toward this adoptive father of his, he felt only bone-deep terror, never respect.
Back then, numerous people had been taken as adopted sons, but only he and his eldest brother had survived to this day. How could he not fear?
"Damn, this old ghost Clear Wind is truly ruthless, not even sparing his own adopted son."
Qin Xiao sighed with genuine emotion.
"What manner of force are you?"
Just as Qin Xiao finished speaking, eleven figures strode out from within the Clear Wind Sect, every single one of them possessing Soul Formation cultivation or higher.
At the forefront stood Clear Wind Ancestor, flanked by the Sect Master and nine elders.
"Well, well. They really brought out their entire foundation."
Surveying the formation, Qin Xiao felt a slight tightening in his chest, but the thought of his Master's Wife standing close by instantly steadied his nerves.
"What force are we? Didn't I just say so? Did none of your disciples pass the word along? I am from the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. Hand over the plundered Heavenly Clothes Pavilion supplies immediately, along with compensation for injuring our Fifth Elder. Otherwise, do not blame this young master for being impolite."
Qin Xiao turned to face Clear Wind Ancestor, re-establishing his identity while laying down his demands.
Naturally, he had no intention of genuinely negotiating terms. His sole objective was to goad the old monster out into the open; once drawn out, his Master's Wife could capture him with a flick of her wrist.
"Qin Xiao? It is actually you."
Upon spotting Qin Xiao, Clear Wind Ancestor recognized him instantly.
"Huh? What is this? Old ghost Clear Wind, you know me?"
Qin Xiao blinked in surprise. How on earth did this old bastard recognize him?
"Brat, you certainly have guts. Aside from Ye Qiuyue, no one dares address this old man as 'old ghost Clear Wind.' I know she is nearby. Have her show herself."
Clear Wind Ancestor recognized Qin Xiao because Chen Shunyi had instructed him to deal with the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and eliminate Qin Xiao without hesitation if encountered. He had already memorized Qin Xiao's portrait.
Furthermore, Clear Wind Ancestor knew Ye Qiuyue had gone to Tianyuan City precisely for Qin Xiao's sake. Since Qin Xiao was here, Ye Qiuyue was undoubtedly close by.
"That's right, my Master's Wife is right here. What? Too afraid to make a move?"
Realizing his identity had been seen through instantly, Qin Xiao altered his plan.
"Since you have all come out in full force, I suppose I have no choice but to concede. However, these few people must come with me. If you are dissatisfied, you are welcome to try and snatch them back yourselves."
With that, Qin Xiao stood up, acting as though he intended to haul his captives back to Tianyi City.
"Brat, you cannot take them! Release my younger brother and the stewards at once!"
Seeing Qin Xiao prepare to leave with the prisoners, Duan Mingda panicked and shouted a hasty intervention.
He knew that once these men were dragged away, given his adoptive father's suspicious nature and desire to tie up loose ends, the soul restrictions would surely be triggered to execute them all. He had only one younger brother left; he could not afford to lose him.
"And what if I insist on taking them?"
The more the other party wished to avoid something, the more determined Qin Xiao was to push it.
"State your conditions. This old man can trade with you."
Clear Wind Ancestor's tone softened slightly. It was not out of any paternal affection, but rather because a Soul Formation expert and eleven Nascent Soul experts represented an immense investment of resources. Naturally, he was reluctant to cast them away lightly.
"I have already stated my conditions. If you agree to every single one of them, I might consider letting these people go."
Qin Xiao continued prodding Clear Wind Ancestor. You want to trade? Fine, let's see me bleed you dry.
"Very well. This old man agrees."
Without wasting time on bargaining, Clear Wind Ancestor gave his assent straight away.