Normally, Lei Hong would not be in the tribal soil city at this time. Even if he were, there wouldn’t typically be any special interactions between the tribe and the Inspector-General. The Inspector-General’s role is one of fairness, which is enforced not only by strict laws but also by his immense strength. The Inspector-General is an existence beyond the innate realm, and even among top-tier experts in the catastrophe realm, they stand at the peak. Even in the prosperous city of Feixue, the Inspector-General is considered an important figure. Thus, with the tribe's financial capabilities, it would be nearly impossible to bribe the Inspector-General, who would look down upon such attempts.

The tribe doesn’t need to build connections with the Inspector-General, and the Inspector-General rarely deigns to regard "tribal barbarians" favorably. For thousands of years, this has been the case, and it has been normal for there to be no private exchanges between the tribe and the Inspector-General during the life-and-death battles.

Therefore, Lei Hong never expected that Jiang Xuan would suddenly come to seek an audience.

Jiang Xuan stepped into the delicately arranged courtyard and kneeled, saying, "I pay my respects to the Inspector-General."

"Mm." Lei Hong looked at Jiang Xuan’s frail figure with a neutral expression. "Get up."

"Thank you, Lord." Jiang Xuan rose.

"Do you need something?" Lei Hong asked.

"Lord, I would like to ask for your help," Jiang Xuan said, his tone urgent. "My mother, Wei Baiyun, took my sister to visit relatives in Feixue City four days ago. She said she was going to my grandfather’s house, and according to our agreement, she should have returned by now. But there has been no word from them. The Jiang tribe has no connections in Feixue City, so I would like to ask you to help me."

Whether they were visiting relatives or fleeing depended on how it was phrased.

This kind of situation was very common during the life-and-death battle, and the Inspector-General typically wouldn’t intervene.

However, Lei Hong didn’t expect Jiang Xuan’s mother and sister to break the rules of the life-and-death battle and disappear, and now Jiang Xuan had the audacity to come to him for help.

"You’ve got some guts," Lei Hong said, his tone low.

Jiang Xuan’s spirit wavered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, thanks to his breathing technique, which surprised Lei Hong, who thought to himself, "Such strong mental fortitude!"

"Please forgive me, Lord," Jiang Xuan said, not attempting to justify himself.

This attitude made Lei Hong feel more comfortable.

"Why should I help you?" Lei Hong asked calmly. "You know my position. If I help you find your family, word will spread that I’m favoring the Jiang tribe, and it will be said that I am not impartial. The life-and-death battle between your tribe and the Shentu tribe is at a critical point. As the Inspector-General, I cannot, nor should I, help you."

Jiang Xuan quickly sensed that Lei Hong was "playing the formalities"!

No Inspector-General would genuinely fear being accused of lacking impartiality, and no one would dare to say so! They were too powerful, strong enough to disregard many rules.

"Lord, your impartiality is well-known," Jiang Xuan said earnestly. "Even if you help me, there will be no criticism. It’s just a matter of investigating two people’s whereabouts."

Jiang Xuan continued, "I’ve heard from the tribe that you’ve been searching for someone recently, someone hiding in Heitan Mountain? Lord, I can make a deal with you. I am the current leader of the Jiang tribe. With this ancient ring, I command the forty-seven tribes under Jiang tribe’s rule. Our people have lived at the foot of Heitan Mountain for generations; no one knows the mountain better than us. We have the best guides, the best hunters!"

"Lord, as long as you help me find my mother and sister, I can order them to assist you in searching for the person hiding in Heitan Mountain, even in the outer regions of the Ten Directions Desolate Land. Our people can enter as long as it’s not too deep..."

Jiang Xuan felt a bit uneasy.

He didn’t know who Lei Hong was looking for or how important that person was! People like the Inspector-General typically didn’t easily change their principles. Jiang Xuan didn’t know if he could convince Lei Hong; he was essentially taking a gamble.

"Hmm..." Lei Hong pondered for a moment, eyeing Jiang Xuan up and down. Finally, he spoke, "Alright, it’s a deal."

"Thank you, Lord!" Jiang Xuan exclaimed with joy.

Lei Hong’s investigation speed exceeded Jiang Xuan’s expectations.

Just one day later, Jiang Xuan received word from a black-armored guard, informing him that Lei Hong had found out the results. Jiang Xuan hurried to the courtyard to meet with Lei Hong, who, as always, maintained a neutral expression. With a nonchalant tone, Lei Hong explained the findings.

"What?" Jiang Xuan felt as though struck by a thunderclap.

His mother… and little sister were captured by the Wei family?!!

His fourteen-year-old sister, Jiang Yao, had been forcibly renamed Wei Yao by the Wei family and had been betrothed to Dong Junchu, a noble from the Dong family of Jinhai, with a planned marriage two years later. Dong Junchu was the man his mother had rejected years ago and was now over forty years old!

"...Your mother is imprisoned in the Wei family’s old residence, and since her imprisonment, she has begun fasting," Lei Hong said calmly.

Jiang Xuan remained cooler than Lei Hong expected but lowered his head to hide his expression.

"Thank you for helping with the investigation," Jiang Xuan said, his voice a little dry. "I will send people to notify the forty-seven tribes..."

"Mm." Lei Hong nodded.

"Lord, how can I save my mother and sister?" Jiang Xuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"You should focus on how to win next month’s life-and-death battle," Lei Hong replied.

"Lord! Is the Wei family… very strong?" Jiang Xuan asked.

Seeing Jiang Xuan’s unwavering attitude, Lei Hong understood the emotions the young man was feeling as a son and an older brother. He then simply explained, "The Wei family is one of the four great families of Feixue City, with tremendous influence in the entire Northern Hongzhou. During their peak, the Wei family had over ten catastrophe realm warriors, and their innate disciples numbered in the thousands. Although the Wei family is now in decline, even a decaying camel is bigger than a horse. They are still a powerful force… You are young and haven’t left the tribal lands, so you might not understand. Let me ask you, do you think I’m strong?"

"Strong." Jiang Xuan nodded.

"How strong do you think I am?" Lei Hong asked again.

"One person could destroy my tribe," Jiang Xuan replied.

"The Wei family is stronger than me," Lei Hong said, looking at Jiang Xuan. "Crushing you would be like crushing an ant. The only difference is whether they want to do it and whether it’s necessary."

"I understand," Jiang Xuan nodded.

Though he nodded, Lei Hong didn’t see any signs of Jiang Xuan wanting to give up. The tribal youth’s gaze was even more resolute than he expected.

"Actually, this may not be a bad thing for your mother and sister. At least they’re still alive. Compared to the women of tribes who lose the life-and-death battle, they are fortunate... Perhaps you should be grateful that, before you die in the arena, you have the chance to know that your loved ones are being protected," Lei Hong said, his tone unusually comforting.

Lei Hong rarely offered such words of comfort.

But Jiang Xuan didn’t appreciate them.

"Thank you, Lord, for telling me all this." Jiang Xuan interrupted, his courage rising as he spoke, "I already know what to do."

"Mm," Lei Hong nodded. "Then go."

Jiang Xuan turned and strode away.

Lei Hong watched Jiang Xuan’s retreating figure, his eyes filled with confusion. This boy was too "confident." He was so confident that he didn’t seem to care about the life-and-death battle next month. He was so confident that there had never been an ounce of helplessness in his expression. He had remained steadfast the whole time! This was something Lei Hong couldn’t understand.

How could a person, knowing they were going to die in the arena, be like this?

"Brother Liao, has the person left? Aren’t you coming out?" Lei Hong suddenly spoke.

Whoosh!

The old man with the goat beard appeared beside the stone table under the tree’s shade, frowning slightly. "You’re not really going to interfere in the tribe’s life-and-death battle, are you? You’ve never done this before," the old man said. He had already returned to the city, but when he received news about Lei Hong’s investigation into the Wei family, he came back to the tribal lands. He had just arrived, and upon seeing Lei Hong speaking with Jiang Xuan, he hadn’t revealed himself.

"It’s just a transaction."

Lei Hong gestured for the old man to sit. "I helped him investigate his mother and sister’s whereabouts. He’s sending the tribe’s people to cooperate with the black-armored guards to search the mountain for people. With local help, the chances of finding that person hidden in Heitan Mountain are higher."

"I see." The old man relaxed.

He poured tea for Lei Hong and then for himself. After drinking a few sips, he set the cup down and said, "Yesterday I heard you were investigating the Wei family. I thought something big had happened. I also had someone investigate, and hey! The Wei family really messed up! Wei Chengshan is getting old, and he really doesn’t care about his reputation!"

"He stopped managing things long ago. It was his fourth son’s arrangement," Lei Hong said, adjusting his tea cup. "The Wei family has truly fallen. Sending a young girl to marry a middle-aged man to stabilize their family strength. Even if word gets out, they’re not afraid of being ridiculed."

"Even in decline, they’re not something a little tribe boy can shake." The old man shook his head. "I just observed that boy for a bit. I can only say he has some talent, but it’s still far from enough. If his talent were high enough, with the current state of the Wei family, they’d definitely make him 'acknowledge his ancestors,' and then fully cultivate him. They wouldn’t treat his mother and sister like this. It’s a pity; he’s not worth it."

"Mm, his talent is lacking." Lei Hong nodded and took another sip of tea.

"Damn!"

"The Wei family deserves to die!!"

In the dense forest behind the mountain, in front of the sound transmission stone, Jiang Xuan’s sword light slashed through the air like the wind, more frenzied and rapid than before. His mind was filled with the faces of his mother and sister. He knew how resolute his mother’s character was—she was a strong and determined person. Years ago, she had willingly given up her noble status in one of the four great families and married into the tribe, enduring all the criticism and pressure.

But she did it.

His mother was fasting, and she would fast to the point of death. Though it was difficult for someone at the innate stage to die from hunger, the body would grow weaker and weaker. In a few months, no matter how strong the innate stage, they would be drained dry.

And his sister!

They had grown up together, just one year apart. For his sister, who was brave only in front of him yet timid and clingy otherwise, Jiang Xuan loved her deeply.

"Damn!!" The sword light slashed like rain.

"Kid, what’s wrong?" A soft, puzzled voice came from the sound transmission stone.

Jiang Xuan stopped abruptly.

"Senior, you’ve arrived," Jiang Xuan said dejectedly.

"Who are you cursing?" The ethereal voice asked.

"The Wei family." Jiang Xuan didn’t hide it.

"The Wei family? The one from your maternal side?" The Qian Emperor asked, "What happened?"

"They’ve captured my mother and sister," Jiang Xuan sat down cross-legged in front of the sound transmission stone, placing the sword across his lap. He explained everything to the "Odd Stone Senior," never holding back. Over the years, he had rarely hidden anything from this senior. For Jiang Xuan, Odd Stone Senior was someone he could confide in.

"I see..." The Qian Emperor’s reaction was extremely flat.

Jiang Xuan had become accustomed to this indifference. After eight years, the Jiang tribe had gone through so much, especially in the past three years, with so many deaths. Jiang Xuan had told Odd Stone Senior about it all, but the senior always responded with apathy. As an unparalleled expert, the Qian Emperor would remain indifferent to the lives of ordinary people. Jiang Xuan understood that.

He never expected Odd Stone Senior to show any anger or offer help.

But this time, it seemed different. Odd Stone Senior seemed particularly concerned about him.

"In that case, I’ll pass on a secret technique to you." The ethereal voice said.