Why do I have so many masters?

Wang Anfeng and Xue Qinshuang ultimately did not come to blows.

The young girl lept down from Myriad Swords Mountain, and even as a martial artist proficient in External Cultivation, she couldn't avoid being seriously injured.

When Wang Anfeng learned of Xue Qinshuang's action, which could only be described as insane, he was hugely startled and did not dare attempt to fight her. With some persuasion, and Gong Yu using her future prospects in martial arts as a 'threat', the Sect Leader intervened and reluctantly took the girl back to the Pill Pavilion in Qingfeng Edge.

There, a Sixth Rank Martial Artist skilled in healing was fully capable of treating Xue Qinshuang's foundation.

This matter could not be taken lightly by Qingfeng Edge. If the very roots of a talented disciple from Fufeng Academy were damaged there, even the mere thought could give the elders of Qingfeng Edge a headache.

Baili Feng and Tuoba Yue were concerned about Xue Qinshuang's injury and followed suit.

Wang Anfeng, however, was left on Myriad Swords Mountain with the elder known as Jiu Zizai, who stared at him with piercing eyes, measuring him from head to toe, making the young man feel uneasy as he shrank his neck into his shoulders and asked,

"Senior… do you need something?"

Jiu Zizai's gaze receded, and he chuckled, saying,

"Need something? What could I possibly need?"

As soon as he uttered these words and realized the slip of tongue, Jiu Zizai's voice slightly paused, and he quickly corrected himself, saying,

"However, speaking of it, there was one thing I hadn't asked yet… You, lad, are not bad at martial arts. Staying within the Sutra Loft of Qingfeng Edge, is there something you do not understand?"

The old man's gaze fell on Wang Anfeng's face. He had a high regard for the young man, both for his temperament and his martial arts skills, and did not mind clarifying his doubts. Smiling broadly, he said,

"Feel free to speak up."

"As someone who has traveled the world for decades, I might know."

Wang Anfeng paused briefly, sensing the elder's implication. He hesitated but felt there was nothing secretive about his question. After a moment's delay, he bowed and said,

"I do indeed have some confusions, senior."

The elder casually took a swig of his drink and said,

"Just speak your mind."

Wang Anfeng fell silent, recalling the banquet of Zhao Zhengshou, the demonically possessed Ni Tianxing, and the martial artists who pursued him. With a slightly stern expression, he asked,

"Senior, do you know of an organization called White Tiger Hall?"

Jiu Zizai, naturally carefree and usually smiling, could even resist the temptation of Divine Weapons due to his strong temperament. However, the smile on his face stiffened and slowly faded, replaced by silence. He set down the liquor gourd, turned his gaze to Wang Anfeng, and after a moment of silence, asked,

"White Tiger Hall… How did you come into contact with this organization?"

"I was once pursued by them during my travels," Wang Anfeng replied.
Experience tales at empire

Jiu Zizai shook his head and said,

"Not truthful."

"This organization is not just any assassin hall. If they wanted to kill you, there would undoubtedly be other reasons."

"And yet here you are, sitting well and good. Obviously, you were inadvertently involved in this matter. They did not use their real experts against you."

Hearing the elder's tone, which clearly showed he was quite familiar with the organization, Wang Anfeng felt a burst of joy. He got up and, looking at Jiu Zizai, his voice unconsciously rose a bit as he said,

"Senior, you know of White Tiger Hall!"

The elder looked at him and said, "I've told you, I've wandered the world for decades. Naturally, I've encountered these demons and monsters of Jianghu."

"Of course, I know of White Tiger Hall."

The young man's face brightened, but he saw the elder shaking his head and saying,

"However, I cannot tell you about it."

Wang Anfeng was momentarily stunned, then recalling the elder's expression when mentioning the real experts of White Tiger Hall, a realization dawned on him, and he spoke softly,

"Is it because my strength is still insufficient?"

Surprised, Jiu Zizai looked at him and nodded slightly, saying,

"Disciples from the Academy really do have different minds. Very sharp!"

He first praised him, then straightforwardly said,

"Correct."

"You lad have a disposition that suits this old man's taste, and good martial arts and character to match. Thus, I absolutely cannot allow you to simply walk to your death. If you were to die prematurely, it would truly be a loss for the Jianghu."

"There's no way I could allow such a thing to happen."

His voice paused briefly as the elder then thought if he didn't tell the young man now, given the temperament he had shown, he would certainly seek answers from others. If he did manage to find out, it could potentially end his life.

No, he had to protect this young man.

His mind raced with thoughts.

Jiu Zizai's expression remained unchanged as he took a swig of the cloudy wine and said reassuringly, "But you shouldn't be anxious. The old man knows what kind of people they are. Since you have a grudge against them, I naturally won't stop you."

"However, your strength is indeed too weak."

"Not to mention, even if you knew the whereabouts of the people in White Tiger Hall, what could you do?"

"You can't handle a damn thing."

The elder's choice of words was quite crude, but the reasoning was very clear. Wang Anfeng lowered his gaze, knowing that the elder in front of him meant well. Yet, with the information about the person behind the scenes right before him, unattainable, he inevitably felt a bit stifled. Seeing his expression, Jiu Zizai knew it was almost time to move on and lazily said:

"However, I might tell you anyway."

"But well, there are three conditions!"

The elder stretched out three fingers in front of Wang Anfeng and chuckled:

"As long as you fulfill these three conditions, then I guarantee you, whatever you want to know, the old man will spare no detail."

"I'm really putting my neck on the line here, kid. When it comes to martial arts, indeed, there are many in this world stronger than this old man, even considerably stronger. But in terms of extensive knowledge and the secrets of Jianghu, heh, not to boast, but those ancestors who stay within their sects all day long, might not understand more than this old wanderer who has roamed around for decades."

"What do you say?"

Wang Anfeng looked at the elder before him.

In the past three days, even the secluded reputable families couldn't find any news about the White Tiger Hall; it likely belonged to a taboo category, not allowed to be known by ordinary disciples. If that was the case, it would be difficult to find it even in Wind Character Tower.

Better to listen to the conditions first.

With this thought, the young man exhaled a breath of turbid air and asked with a bow:

"May I ask Elder, what are the three conditions?!"

Jiu Zizai chuckled, sizing up Wang Anfeng, and said:

"This first condition... very simple."

"Old man sees your Internal Strength Martial Body should already have reached Ninth Grade, it's not easy leaping to the Third Rank at Longmen, so let's lower the requirement. Whenever your Internal Strength reaches the Seventh Rank Realm, then you'll have met the first condition."

His voice paused slightly, then he explained:

"It's not that the old man wants to make it difficult for you, but only when your internal strength reaches the Seventh Rank do you have the qualification to know about this matter, to think of getting involved, heh..."

The elder did not speak further, only slightly shook his head dismissively.

To his surprise, the young man agreed almost without hesitation.

As long as he could get the information about the White Tiger Hall, it didn't matter whether it was sooner or later.

Wang Anfeng had no intention of investigating at this moment.

If he acted recklessly now, Mr. Ying would probably swell his forehead.

Thinking of this, the young man's forehead seemed to throb faintly.

The elder looked at him in surprise but did not show his astonishment. He shook the wine gourd in his hand and said:

"The second condition, rank among the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend in the Great Qin Constellation Ranking List."

"There are plenty of dunces in the world, whose cultivation in Inner Strength is not bad but their actual skills stink, only good for bullying those with weaker Inner Strength. When they meet a real tough nut, they might as well be wooden stakes; they're only good for getting hit."

"Ugly truth upfront, kid, if you become one of those types, don't even think about learning a single thing from me."

After speaking, he even spat on the side, his face showing disgust, clearly very disdainful of those martial artists who only cultivate their Internal Strength.

Wang Anfeng nodded and agreed.

The elder before him was the only chance he could seize right now, and he was definitely not going to let it slip.

"May I ask the Elder, what is the third condition?"

The elder looked at him and asked:

"You're from Fufeng Academy, right?"

Wang Anfeng nodded. Jiu Zizai stroked his short beard and said:

"Then it's settled!"

"The third condition, in Great Qin, Fufeng County, climb to the thirtieth floor of the hundred-layered tower."

"If you can reach the thirtieth floor, I'll agree!"

PS: Second update