"Secret Technique?" Jiang Xuan stood up suddenly. "What is it?"

Jiang Xuan had heard of secret techniques before. Unlike martial arts or skills, secret techniques are abilities that cultivators can master in addition to their primary techniques. However, not mastering them does not affect one’s cultivation realm. There are many types of secret techniques. For example, the Jiang tribe has a "tribal secret technique" called "Beast Return."

This technique is used to tame beasts with demon bloodlines. It’s not highly ranked and the effects are average, but it is still useful and rare. The old hunters in the tribe have practiced this technique.

"I’m going to teach you a... searching secret technique!"

The ethereal voice continued, "You just mentioned that Inspector Lei Hong is searching for something in Heitan Mountain. You said he’s looking for a person, and he didn’t deny it. Whatever he’s looking for, this secret technique will be useful. The Inspector-General is an elite existence under the gods and demons, not only possessing immense power but also holding significant authority. If you can establish a good relationship with Lei Hong, it will likely help you rescue your mother and sister in the future."

"Senior, are you asking me to learn this secret technique to help the Inspector-General find someone and build a relationship with him?" Jiang Xuan understood.

"Not entirely."

The ethereal voice continued, "This secret technique’s power will exceed your expectations. It can search for more than just living beings; it can even break through barriers of earth and sense buried treasures or mines deep underground. It’s a divine skill for searching, tracking, exploring, and even sensing impending danger, especially for searches."

"This world, every piece of land, has had powerful individuals walk upon it. This world is ancient, and there are ruins everywhere, treasures yet to be discovered. For example, in the Heitan Mountain where your tribe resides, there must be undiscovered treasures!"

Jiang Xuan knew this even without the senior telling him.

After all, there was a place known as the Ten Directions Desolate Land deep within Heitan Mountain, and its dangers and opportunities were famous.

"What does cultivation rely on? Apart from talent and techniques, it also relies on resources! And your tribe is too poor! Now, if you learn this searching secret technique, even if it doesn’t guarantee finding a great treasure, as long as you’re willing to go out more, you will definitely find something! It will greatly benefit your cultivation journey and be useful for a lifetime!"

"So strong?" Jiang Xuan said.

"Believe me, it’s stronger and more useful than you think!" the ethereal voice replied. "Actually, I had planned to teach you this technique earlier. It would greatly help you, but there was no good reason until now. This is the perfect opportunity, so I’ve decided to teach it to you." The Qian Emperor openly admitted, without hiding his thoughts.

"I can tell, though your voice doesn’t show emotion, you’re in a good mood today, Senior," Jiang Xuan said.

"Smart." The Qian Emperor responded candidly and acknowledged it!

Indeed! "I’m in a good mood, so I’ve decided to teach you a heaven-defying secret technique!"

This was the attitude of a true strong person, a person whose thoughts were open and clear. The kind of strength that allowed one to act on their whims, and the strength to give away extraordinary techniques just because they were in a good mood! Jiang Xuan admired the Qian Emperor’s power, strong enough to do whatever they pleased and teach powerful techniques just for the sake of mood!

"Thank you, Senior." Jiang Xuan bowed deeply toward the sound transmission stone.

"Don’t thank me yet, let’s set some rules first." The ethereal voice said. "Apart from those conditions we’re both familiar with, I must remind you that this secret technique must not be known to others, at least not before you become a god or demon. Otherwise, it will bring you great danger. Use it with caution!"

"I understand!" Jiang Xuan solemnly committed to memory the Qian Emperor’s words, not daring to be careless.

"Good! Listen closely, this secret technique is called… ‘Thousand Threads Technique’!"

The next morning.

In the temporary camp of the Shentu tribe, inside a tent.

"This won’t do!" Jiang Jingsheng paced back and forth in front of a long table, muttering to himself. He looked extremely anxious. The matter of Shentu Yu trying to convince Jiang Xuan to join the Shentu tribe through marriage had been brought up to him a couple of days ago. Although it hadn’t worked out, it had still caused him to break into a cold sweat.

What would have happened if it had worked?

Others might not know, but Jiang Jingsheng already knew his fate! Jiang Xuan would surely make the Shentu tribe kill him! He had no doubt about that! In fact, killing him might have been one of the conditions for Jiang Xuan’s joining the Shentu tribe!

Though the plan had failed, it had made Jiang Jingsheng feel a strong sense of crisis.

Even though Jiang Jingsheng was at the late stage of the innate realm, with great strength, and had not been persecuted after joining the Shentu tribe, he knew well that people like him were looked down upon. The Shentu tribe would never trust him. Their kindness toward him was just a façade, intended to attract others to join. If his life could be exchanged for the Shentu tribe’s benefits, even a small one, they would undoubtedly abandon him without hesitation.

The feeling of being on the edge like this had kept Jiang Jingsheng up all night.

All of this was Jiang Xuan’s fault!

If Jiang Xuan hadn’t intervened that day, the life-and-death battle would have already been over! The entire Jiang tribe would have been absorbed into the Shentu tribe, and Jiang Jingsheng would no longer be the "only traitor." To stabilize the tribe after the merger and smoothly control the forty-seven tribes of the Jiang tribe, the Shentu tribe would definitely have re-used him!

But alas, there was no "if."

"Damn it!" Jiang Jingsheng cursed under his breath.

Jiang Xuan hadn’t just ruined his plans; he was now his biggest threat. Since the Shentu tribe was eager to merge with the Jiang tribe before the life-and-death battle, anything could happen now. If Jiang Xuan suddenly backed down and agreed to marry into the Shentu tribe, Jiang Jingsheng felt that he would have to pack up and leave the next day.

"My lord," a guard’s voice suddenly sounded from outside.

"What is it?" Jiang Jingsheng asked, though his position was precarious, he still held a higher nominal rank, and the Shentu tribe’s later stage warriors addressed him as "sir."

"My lord, someone is looking for you at the back gate of the camp... You need to come out." The guard reported.

Moments later.

At the back gate of the temporary camp was a forest.

A figure wearing a gray robe, with a tattered cloth covering their face and a conical hat, stood under a tree, looking at the guards standing at the gate.

"You’re looking for me?"

Jiang Jingsheng walked out, accompanied by two guards. He immediately recognized the person, but couldn’t quite place them. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"It’s me, Five Elder!" The person removed the tattered cloth from their face, revealing a rugged man, about thirty years old, with a faint scar near his eye.

"Ah Bao?" Jiang Jingsheng exclaimed in surprise, but then cautiously sized up Jiang Bao.

The life-and-death battle between the tribes was, in itself, a gamble.

Both sides put their assets and their people on the line! During the life-and-death battle, weaker tribes often had members who fled in advance. It was common for later stage warriors to escape, though it was difficult for them to survive. Those at the innate realm still had a chance, but Jiang Bao had once been a warrior at the innate realm of the Jiang tribe. A year and a half ago, the day before the life-and-death battle, Jiang Bao had disappeared.

"Five Elder, I heard that you understood the greater good and decided to join the Shentu tribe in advance." Jiang Bao said uneasily, "I’ve come to pledge myself to you. I want to…"

Jiang Jingsheng immediately understood!

At this critical moment, coming to join the Shentu tribe meant he didn’t want to become a fugitive! After all, once the life-and-death battle started next month and Jiang Xuan was killed, the Jiang tribe members who fled would become fugitives, and those who didn’t would become slaves. Only by submitting in advance could they obtain a legitimate status! Though they would still be looked down upon and not trusted.

"Come, follow me!" Jiang Jingsheng said, his eyes brightening with excitement as he suddenly came up with an idea. "You’ve come at the right time! I’ll take you to meet Tribe Leader Shentu Lie!"

An evil plan had already formed in Jiang Jingsheng’s mind.

On the way to meet Tribe Leader Shentu Lie, Jiang Jingsheng asked about Jiang Bao’s recent activities and shared the plan with him.

Upon entering the large tent, where both Shentu Lie and his daughter Shentu Yu were present, Jiang Jingsheng hastily introduced, "Jiang Bao, you haven’t met Tribe Leader Shentu Lie, and this is Miss Shentu Yu."

"Greetings, Tribe Leader Lie, Miss Yu!" Jiang Bao quickly knelt and bowed.

He was very perceptive!

Shentu Lie, seeing that he was here to join them, greeted him warmly, "Please rise!"

"Excellent! Another Jiang tribe warrior has come to join, which will strengthen our tribe’s reputation!" Shentu Yu looked at her father. "Father! I’ll send people to spread the word about this, so that everyone will…"

"No! Not yet!" Jiang Jingsheng hurriedly interjected, glancing at Shentu Lie. "Tribe Leader, we shouldn’t announce it yet. I have a plan to take control of the Jiang tribe in advance!"

"Speak!" Shentu Lie said decisively.

Jiang Jingsheng then explained his plan. It was simple: Jiang Bao would pretend to return to the Jiang tribe and wait for the opportunity to assassinate Jiang Xuan!

Once Jiang Xuan was dead, Jiang Bao would become the last male and could lead the Jiang tribe to surrender!

"Tribe Leader, Jiang Xuan is only at half-step innate. Jiang Bao was at early innate stage years ago. Although he hasn’t broken through yet, he is still stronger than most in the early innate realm. Even if they fought head-on, it would be easy for Jiang Bao to kill Jiang Xuan! Not to mention poisoning or ambushing him! A half-step innate is not a true innate! There is no chance of failure!"