The Song Family’s main hall was packed with people.
Song Lianfeng sat in a chair, reviewing the documents handed to him by these people.
After a moment, he threw a few sheets of paper on the ground, looked at the people in front of him, and asked, "Is this the result of your overnight investigation?"
The papers only contained information about where Chen Fan came from, when he appeared in Jiangnan City, and the martial arts he used.
Of course, some information was still valuable.
For example, the process of how he killed Carl, this would greatly aid the family’s two elders in dealing with him later on.
However, what he wanted was information like who Chen Fan was before the celestial change, and how he managed to breakthrough to the Celestial Realm in a small city after the change.
Other than the Martial Arts Association helping him in the background, was there another family’s influence; this was crucial to him!
Once he knew which family or families were supporting him, he would know who was secretly plotting against his family.
Unfortunately, none of this information was found.
The people below dared not breathe heavily out of fear.
They wanted to say that the time given was far too short.
Times were different now, with many cities destroyed by Fierce Beast attacks, many of Song Family’s informants were either dead or injured.
Furthermore, the small city called Anshan City was the first to face the onslaught in the Beast Tide and was destroyed long ago.
This made many investigations impossible to start.
"Patriarch, I just received some news."
At this moment, a voice rang out.
The others breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing it.
"What news?"
Song Lianfeng looked over, it was a man in his thirties or forties speaking.
"Patriarch, I learned that the Anshan City where Chen Fan was located did not get destroyed like other small and medium-sized cities by Fierce Beasts, but still exists."
"What!"
The man’s words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge commotion.
Even Song Lianfeng didn’t expect this.
"You say Anshan City still exists?"
He stared hard into the man’s eyes.
"I don’t need to remind you of the consequences of lying, do I?"
The others looked at each other, finding the words absurd.
Why?
Medium-sized cities no longer existed.
But a small city like Anshan City still exists?
Those Fierce Beasts weren’t blind.
"Patriarch, this news is absolutely true. Because just this morning, someone came out from Anshan City."
"Who was it?"
"It’s the Awakened Association members from Juque City."
The man continued, "They brought back the news that Anshan City still exists, almost everyone in Juque City knows about it. Thus, I also got the intelligence. According to them, Anshan City faced two attacks from the Fierce Beast Tide but managed to hold its ground. The reason they held up was due to the Awakened Association’s chairman inside the city, Li Ping. Only under his leadership could those Juque City members return smoothly from Anshan City."
After hearing the man’s words, the hall was filled with discussion.
"Li Ping? Who is that? I’ve never heard of such a person in the Awakened Association."
"Facing two Beast Tide attacks back-to-back and defending against them, is it true? How could any Li Ping alone withstand two waves? Besides, Anshan City is just a small city with at most dozens to a hundred cannons."
"If the attacking Fierce Beasts included burrowers, those cannons would be useless."
"Quiet."
Song Lianfeng uttered two words.
The hall instantly became silent again.
"Is there concrete intelligence?"
Song Lianfeng looked at the man.
"Yes."
The man produced a letter and handed it over.
Song Lianfeng tore it open. Inside was a sheet filled with dense small characters. His heart was delighted; he feared there would be only a few lines.
He then took out the paper and read it voraciously.
As he read, his eyes widened and his mouth unknowingly opened.
The people below were puzzled. Someone, driven by curiosity, nudged the man, trying to ask what the situation was, and what was written on the paper that got the seasoned patriarch so unnerved.
The man acted as if he didn’t see this, keeping his eyes straight.
Gathering this intelligence had come at significant cost; he’d be foolish to share it with others.
The Song Family faced a crisis with the unsettling feeling.
He could see a chance here, an opportunity for a comeback.
Song Lianfeng read through the document multiple times before placing it on the table. His gaze directed over, "Are you certain that these things are true? That Li Ping is really that impressive?"
"Considering he brought several Awakens from Juque City across ten thousand miles back to Juque City, it seems highly likely."
The man said.
"En."
Song Lianfeng nodded.
He had to admit, the man made a valid point.
But if that were so, the Awakened Association’s strength would grow even more?
Initially, the three S-Class Awakened were already contending with the noble families, and now this suddenly emerging Li Ping would likely become another S-Class Awakened with time. Then, not just the Song Family, but all noble families’ power would be impacted.