Tianque City, Qin Clan.

In a large courtyard, some guards and maids were all lying on the ground, trembling.

After participating in the alchemy competition, Qin Fan returned to his family with a furious expression, resulting in serious injuries to several maids and guards.

"Qin Jiu, how's the investigation into Danqing's identity going?"

Qin Fan, his body wreathed in flames, asked the old man in black robes standing before him.

The old man in black robes remained expressionless, his body showing no fluctuations. He seemed completely unafraid of the aura emanating from Qin Fan, which was enough to demonstrate his formidable strength.

"Reporting to Fifth Young Master, Danqing seems to be from the Eastern Wilderness. He has just joined the Tianxuan Sect, and the specific power behind him is unknown."

"However, the clan has a rule that we are not allowed to go to the Eastern Wilderness, so..."

Qin Jiu also directly revealed the investigation into Qin Xin.

"The Eastern Wilderness, huh?"

Upon hearing Qin Jiu's reply, Qin Fan was slightly taken aback. Such a barren land had produced such a talented alchemist, which he naturally found hard to believe.

However, it would take a considerable amount of time to fully investigate their identity and background, and it would likely take even longer if they were using an alias.

However, the old patriarch of the Qin clan had long ago established an ancestral rule that none of the clan's disciples were allowed to go to the Eastern Wilderness, and they did not know why.

The reason why Qin Hongbing's lineage was able to be placed into the Qin Clan of the Eastern Wilderness was mainly because they were from a collateral branch.

However, Qin Qianbei and others went to the Eastern Wilderness on their own and died there, which caused a stir within the clan. Qin Yi was also seriously injured. Because of this incident, the clan now has stricter supervision. If someone is found to have gone to the Eastern Wilderness on their own, they will be severely punished.

Just as Qin Fan was at a loss about Danqing's identity, Qin Shuzhen, who had gone to other towns in the Qin clan to learn business, returned to the family.

Upon learning of Qin Fan's furious outburst, they rushed to Qin Fan's residence.

"Fifth Brother, what's wrong with you? Why are you so angry?"

Before coming, Qin Shuzhen had heard from the servants that Qin Fan had lost the alchemy competition, but this was not enough to enrage Qin Fan, so she came to inquire immediately.

“Sister, since you frequently visit Tianxuan Sect, do you know anyone named Danqing?”

When Qin Fan saw Qin Shuzhen arrive, his furious expression softened somewhat.

"Danqing?" Upon hearing this name, Qin Shuzhen frowned deeply. As Ling Hanyan's close friend, she could freely enter and leave Tianxuan Mountain and naturally knew a lot about the disciples of Tianxuan Sect.

Among the more than one hundred disciples of the Tianxuan Sect, she had never heard of a person named Danqing.

"I've never heard of this name before. Could it be that he only joined the Tianxuan Sect in the last few days?" Qin Shuzhen asked with some doubt.

"I don't think so. Danqing seems to be very familiar with Sister Hanyan and Yun Li, the vice dean of the Tuocang Mountain Pill Academy," Qin Fan said, shaking his head.

Qin Shuzhen frowned for a moment, "That's strange. Sister Ling is naturally aloof and has no friends in the Tianxuan Sect. She usually refines pills and cultivates alone. Apart from being close to Yun Li, she has no other friends."

As they were talking, Qin Shuzhen seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "Oh, right, Fifth Brother, I just thought of someone."

“When I was in Tianxuan Sect before, this guy came to Sister Ling’s herb field and said he wanted to find her.”

"And that guy also participated in this alchemy gathering."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Qin Fan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Sister, tell me quickly, who is it?"

"Hmm... It's quite peculiar, the person's name seems to be Qin Xin, not Danqing," Qin Shuzhen said after pursing her lips.

"Qin Xin?"

Upon hearing the name, Qin Fan felt it was very familiar, but couldn't quite place who it was. He could only murmur softly, "Could it be someone from a collateral branch of my Qin clan? But why hide their identity?"

Qin Fan was somewhat puzzled. If this talent belonged to a collateral branch of the Qin clan, it would have been discovered by the main branch long ago and brought into the clan. Moreover, it would have been an unparalleled honor for their collateral branch.

However, the other party had concealed their identity, suggesting they were not from a collateral branch of the Qin clan, which gave Qin Fan some doubts for a moment.

Just as Qin Fan and Qin Shuzhen were trying to figure out Qin Xin's identity, Qin Jiu, who had been silent all along, seemed to have thought of something and said, "I have heard of this name before."

"You've heard of Qin Jiu? Tell me quickly!" Qin Shuzhen urged hurriedly, naturally very curious about Qin Xin's identity.

"Do you and the young lady remember what happened in the clan six years ago?" Qin Jiu suddenly lowered his voice and said, as if afraid that the people around him would hear.

"Six years ago?" Upon hearing this, Qin Fan seemed lost in memories.

Six years ago, a major event did occur in the clan, and it was from that time that Qin Haotian's status in the clan rose sharply, even completely crushing them.

However, what happened that year has always been a secret within the clan. Although some rumors can be heard occasionally, many people do not really believe them.

"Oh, Fifth Brother, I remember now. Six years ago, there was a boy imprisoned in the courtyard where Second Grandfather and the others lived. I think his name was Qin Xin." Qin Shuzhen suddenly jumped up and said.

"His name is also Qin Xin." A glint flashed in Qin Fan's eyes.

He had heard of the boy named Qin Xin before. Because he possessed martial talent, Qin Haotian discovered it and used some special methods to remove it.

However, what he heard was just hearsay, not what he saw with his own eyes. Moreover, a boy who was fifteen or sixteen years old at the time, whose martial bones had been stripped away, certainly couldn't have survived.

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence," Qin Fan murmured.

Just as Qin Fan and Qin Shuzhen were pondering, a middle-aged man dressed in a magnificent robe slowly appeared in the courtyard.

Qin Ba glared at Qin Jiu, who was immediately sent flying, spitting out blood.

"Qin Jiu, as a servant, you should know that some things are not to be discussed!"

The seriously injured Qin Jiu quickly lay down on the ground and said in a low voice, "This subordinate knows his mistake and will accept the master's punishment."

"Never mind, you can leave now!" Qin Ba waved his hand, dismissing Qin Jiu from the courtyard.

Upon seeing her father arrive, Qin Shuzhen affectionately took his arm and asked in a coquettish tone, "Father, I'm just curious, what happened to Qin Xin in the end?"

Qin Ba was somewhat helpless with his daughter. "After I tell you this, remember not to tell anyone, otherwise it will have a great impact on the reputation of my Qin clan."

"Father, don't worry, I definitely won't say anything wrong."

Qin Shuzhen raised her little fist as if making a vow.

"You silly girl!" Qin Ba chuckled. "It's a long story. The family matters are a bit complicated. But as for Qin Xin, who possessed martial bones, his life essence was lost after his martial bones were extracted."

"The collateral branch of the Eastern Wilderness also made a big fuss over this matter, and they eventually took them back."

"According to the information from our informants in the Eastern Wilderness, it seems that guy is quite resilient and hasn't died."

Upon hearing that Qin Xin was not dead, a strange light flashed in Qin Fan's eyes. "Could it be that this Qin Xin of the Tianxuan Sect is the same person as him?"

"Fan'er, are you saying that there is also a Qin Xin in the Tianxuan Sect?"

Qin Ba was also somewhat surprised.

Qin Fan didn't hide anything and told Qin Xin everything.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ba's expression became somewhat strange. After leaving the courtyard, he quickly headed towards his father's courtyard, wanting to tell Qin Tuohuo about it as soon as possible.