"Charles's deputy? A vice-count or viscount?" Wu Qi asked.
The little girl probably didn't understand noble ranks, so asking her further would likely be pointless.
Back when he lived with the Wu family, Wu Qi had heard of this person and had even met him once.
A count's deputy was, as the name suggested, a subordinate of a count.
Could the mine she mentioned somehow involve the Wu family as well?
For a moment, everyone realized that there was likely something significant hidden behind this matter.
However, no matter how much they questioned her, He Niannian knew nothing more.
The new noble had never revealed his identity or acted under any official banner.
All he did was force the miners to continue mining.
Seeing everyone deep in thought, Wu Qi reminded them,"Don't get involved in things that aren't our concern."
"We're strangers here. If we get dragged into this, we might miss the Spirit Master Tournament."
Charles had been affiliated with the Wu family. Yet after his death, there had been no news whatsoever from the family.
Whatever forces were involved, even the Wu family had apparently chosen to swallow the loss.
There was no way they could handle something like that.
As they spoke, a Saber-Toothed Leopard with less than a hundred years of cultivation passed nearby.
Changkong immediately said, "Boss, there's the Spirit Ring."
Huo Wu and Ning Rongrong rolled their eyes at him.
Wu Qi had accepted the payment, but that didn't mean he intended to help them obtain only a ten-year Spirit Ring.
He Niannian possessed good talent and had already lost so much time.
If she absorbed a ten-year Spirit Ring now, even someone with full innate Spirit Power would have their future ruined.
"That Spirit Ring isn't suitable. Let's keep looking."
With that, Wu Qi continued deeper into the forest.
Later that day, they finally found a suitable Spirit Beast.
Its cultivation was close to the upper limit for a first Spirit Ring.
He Niannian understood that Wu Qi and the others were helping her.
She sincerely thanked them before sitting down to absorb the Spirit Ring.
Changkong asked, "Wu Qi, should we take her with us?"
"Although she's already lost a year and a half of cultivation time, it's not too late to make up for it. Maybe her future can still be salvaged."
Wu Qi glanced at him.
"Sure. Bring your grandfather here, and then we can get involved."
He Niannian and her father were insignificant figures.
However, the forces behind this matter were likely anything but insignificant.
If they took He Niannian away, the people behind the scenes would almost certainly try to silence them to prevent the truth from being exposed.
But if a Titled Douluo like Changkong's grandfather personally came here, the situation would be completely different.
Therefore, Wu Qi did not oppose the idea in principle.
"You have a grandfather?" Huo Wu and the others asked curiously.
To avoid exposing his identity, Changkong could only play along.
"My grandfather passed away long ago."
"What Wu Qi means is that this matter is beyond our ability to handle."
After all, he certainly couldn't bring his grandfather back from the dead to rescue He Niannian.
Feng Xiaotian nodded in agreement.
"The captain is right."
"We shouldn't be overly charitable."
"If we can help within our means, then we should."
"But the moment our own safety is at stake, we absolutely must stay out of it."
Back in town, He Niannian's father constantly watched the direction of the forest.
When the group still had not returned, his anxiety became increasingly obvious.
Taking pity on him, the innkeeper allowed him to wait inside the inn.
It was not until early the next morning that Wu Qi and the others finally returned.
After absorbing a four-hundred-year Spirit Ring, combined with the Spirit Power she had accumulated beforehand, He Niannian's cultivation jumped directly to Level 15.
Seeing this, her father repeatedly knelt and thanked Wu Qi and the others.
After much persuasion, they finally managed to send the father and daughter on their way.
Over the next six months, nothing particularly interesting happened.
Most of the people who hired them to hunt Spirit Beasts were middle-aged individuals with average talent and limited potential.
On this particular day, Wu Qi was considering whether to renew their lease at the inn when Dugu Bo returned with important news.
"The ruins have opened!"
After the Soul Tool guarding the ruins failed, it shattered instantly. The disturbance it caused was significant enough that it was impossible to miss.
During the past six months, Dugu Bo had uncovered some information and shared it with the group.
"They may be disciples of the Xinshan Sect."
Dugu Bo frowned.
"It appears to be a hidden sect. I couldn't investigate its background in detail. However, guarding this ruin was their assignment, and there's also a Spirit Douluo-level expert watching over the operation from behind the scenes."
"So, if we eliminate everyone involved, there's a good chance no reinforcements will arrive."
"This..."
Sun Buyu hesitated.
They were teachers and students, not killers.
When major interests clashed, bloodshed was often unavoidable. But was he really supposed to lead his students into killing people?
Dugu Bo did not seem particularly concerned.
In any case, he had already set his sights on the treasures inside the ruins.
Even if the Seven Treasures Team chose not to participate, he would go alone.
Feng Xiaotian spoke in a serious tone.
"Killing and being killed are part of the spirit master world. Whenever treasures appear, they are accompanied by conflict and bloodshed."
"If we don't take part and fight for resources, we'll never obtain the opportunities needed to become true powerhouses."
"If anyone is uncomfortable with this, you can stay behind. Those willing to go can come with me."
The group exchanged glances before instinctively looking toward Wu Qi, hoping he would make the decision.
Wu Qi said calmly, "I've heard of people obtaining complete sets of Spirit Bones over fifty thousand years old from ruins. I've also heard of someone born with only Level 1 innate spirit power who found an opportunity in a ruin and eventually became a Titled Douluo."
"How you choose is up to you. Once you've made your decision, follow us."
With that, he called out to Dugu Bo and walked out of the hotel.
"Old man, did you find anything about that mine?"
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"I couldn't locate the mine itself. However, throughout the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom, traces of the Xinshan Sect can be found everywhere."
"If my guess is correct, the mine is probably under the Xinshan Sect's control as well."
The intelligence Ning Fengzhi had provided briefly mentioned the Xinshan Sect, but only in passing. Clearly, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan knew very little about it.
The Xinshan Sect's influence had spread into nearly every aspect of life within the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom. They might even possess the ability to overthrow the kingdom and replace it entirely.
Their ambitions were enormous.
Wu Qi sighed.
"We've only uncovered the tip of the iceberg, yet what we've seen is already alarming."
"In the future, a conflict between them and the Heaven Dou Empire is probably inevitable."
In the original timeline, after Tang San and the others departed for Sea God Island, many events on the continent occurred beyond their knowledge.
Perhaps it was during that period that the Xinshan Sect finally revealed its true intentions and attempted to overthrow the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom.
At that time, a new emperor had ascended the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire. Given Xue Beng's abilities, handling such a crisis would have been difficult.
Most likely, Bibi Dong eventually noticed the situation and intervened to save the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom.
After all, when Bibi Dong established the Spirit Empire, the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom had answered her call and become one of its vassal states.
However, because their territory did not directly border the Spirit Empire, they were unable to take significant action and consequently attracted little attention.
Wu Qi sighed inwardly.
"In the future, dealing with the Xinshan Sect is probably unavoidable."
At the very least, he could not allow the Hargen-Dazs Kingdom to side with Bibi Dong.
The Xinshan Sect's actions were infringing upon Xue Qinghe's interests.
If he wanted to ensure Xue Qinghe's successful rise to power in the future, he would need to help build his reputation and influence.
Using the Xinshan Sect as an example would be the perfect opportunity.
After carefully weighing the risks and benefits, every member of the Seven Treasures Team ultimately chose to join the treasure hunt.
Just as Feng Xiaotian had said, a spirit master who does not fight for resources will never become a true powerhouse.
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