Naturally, neither Black Owl nor Ji Fengming showed their true selves.

Both of them wore unremarkable human skin masks and were dressed as ordinary rogue cultivators, easily blending into the crowd.

The Daoist banquet in Qujing Huai ended unhappily, and the crowd that had flocked to Tianque City to watch the spectacle gradually dispersed.

Although Tianque City is still bustling and prosperous, the inns are not exactly full.

Hei Xiao and Ji Fengming easily got two superior rooms, which were even adjacent to each other.

The two did not rush to inquire about the news, but returned to their rooms to rest and waited until it was mealtime for ordinary people before coming out to sit in the lobby.

Ji Fengming has been somewhat listless ever since he entered Tianque City.

He originally intended to sneak into the Qu family's house at night and go to the Qu family's prison to see if the person they had arrested was indeed Ji Fenghua.

But after he entered Tianque City, he realized that he had been too naive.

Tianque City truly lives up to its reputation as the main city of the Qu family. The city's patrol guards are all cultivators at the Core Formation stage or above, and the number of rogue cultivators coming and going in the city is not only numerous but also quite common.

With their current cultivation levels, they're guaranteed to be able to enter the Qu family but never leave.

"Now I finally understand why Yao'er repeatedly told us to keep a low profile when we were out in the world before we set off." Ji Fengming leaned on the table by the window, looking at the majority of the people coming and going on the street who were cultivators, and a little worry appeared between his brows.

Black Owl's gaze fell on Ji Fengming's slightly furrowed brows. His right hand, resting on the table, curled its five fingers slightly, and he replied through telepathy, "Don't be discouraged. It is said that this matter concerns the Second Miss of the Hidden Sect. As long as we keep a close eye on the news from the Hidden Sect, we will definitely gain something."

"Sigh, that little rascal Fenghua, why is he so disobedient now? He doesn't even know to call his family when he's in trouble. Why is he running off on his own?" Ji Fengming gritted his teeth and said fiercely, but his worry was not diminished: "When I find him, I will definitely give him a good beating!"

"Don't blame him, he must be feeling extremely inferior and scared right now." Black Owl's gaze also shifted to the crowded street.

After a long pause, she added softly, "I can empathize with Fenghua's current situation."

Ji Fengming looked up at the cold-faced Hei Xiao, and his heart clenched as he thought of the torture he had suffered in the Black Purgatory.

He straightened up, a slightly unruly smile playing on his lips, and said, "I won't beat him up anymore, okay? Once we find him, I'll definitely comfort him and protect him. We... are family after all."

Black Owl's right hand, resting on the table, clenched slightly. He remained silent for a long time, simply staring at the people on the street.

It was as if Ji Fenghua could be found directly from the endless stream of people.

Persistence pays off. Just then, three or four ordinary-looking rogue cultivators arrived at the next table.

They chatted all the way here, and their conversation didn't stop even after they sat down:

"I heard that the disciples of the eight great families have taken up 90% of the spots when the Immortal Realm opens this time, leaving only 10% for us independent cultivators. I think we shouldn't bother with that. They're clearly just using us independent cultivators as free labor."

"What's even stranger is that the Azure Water Sect actually withdrew from the Immortal Fate Secret Realm, a high-level secret realm, which is why we rogue cultivators got these 10% of the spots. I wonder what kind of trickery is behind this."

“In my opinion, the Azure Water Sect is observing and avoiding suspicion,” the eldest of the rogue cultivators suddenly said.

The others were puzzled and asked, "What is the Azure Water Sect trying to avoid that it would give up even a spot in a high-level secret realm?"