Transcending the Magic Era: The Supreme Female Archmage

After watching the performance for a while, Chu Qiuchi couldn't help but speak up: "Alright, let's not waste any more time. I'll just get straight to the point. The reason I think Huo Heng isn't dead is because—"

She deliberately drew out the last syllable of her sentence and looked at the eager-to-learn Chu Yichen.

Chu Yichen noticed her teasing gaze, immediately straightened up, and pretended to cough twice: "It's not that I didn't think of it, it's that you insisted on saying it."

“Yes, that’s what I wanted to say, not that you’re not smart enough.” Chu Qiuchi’s eyes were full of smiles. “We have a misconception that only when a person dies will the things in their mental space fall out. However, if someone controls him with a mind control skill, he can also take out the things in his mental space on his own.”

“Hey, that’s not right, Qiu Chi. Huo Heng is about to become an eighth-level alchemist, so his mental strength level must be at the Divine Realm. There shouldn’t be many people who can easily control him.” Pu Yangminghui frowned, looking serious.

Nalan Xingyao smiled and replied, "Under normal circumstances, it's unlikely, but what if he's seriously injured and on the verge of death?"

Puyang Minghui suddenly realized: "You mean, the siege by the Poison Demon Wolf Clan?"

"Oh, I see! Sigh, give me just one more minute, and I'll have figured it out!" Chu Yichen said stubbornly.

Chu Qiuchi composed himself, his gaze becoming distant: "If Huo Heng really isn't dead, then who's behind it all? What's their purpose in researching the mutation potion? Why target the Holy Maiden's child? Was Huo Heng forced to research the mutation potion? These are all questions we must address. Most importantly, we need to verify whether this potion is the same one the Holy Maiden's child took. Otherwise, all our guesses will be for nothing."

"Not necessarily. Even if these two medicines are not the same, Huo Heng's matter is still questionable." Ji Moyu resurrected again.

Chu Qiuchi glanced at him, slightly raised his chin, and gave a soft snort.

Chu Yichen thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you suspect the patriarch of the Heavenly Spirit Clan? He is also an eighth-level alchemist, and the Heavenly Spirit Clan is rich in magical potions. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

Puyang Minghui looked up at him, her expression slightly heavy: "The wife of the Tianling Clan Chief and his son both died at the hands of the Beastmen, so he probably won't help the Beastmen research potions."

"When did this happen? How come I didn't know?" Chu Yichen exclaimed.

"It seems to have been twenty or thirty years ago. I don't know exactly what happened, but his wife and son died on the same day. He claimed that the beastmen killed his wife and son, and then he stayed in the shrine of the Heavenly Spirit Clan to pray for his wife and son, and never stepped out of the shrine again."

After listening to Puyang Minghui's explanation, a thoughtful look flashed across Chu Qiuchi's eyes: "This timing is very sensitive! Moreover, the behavior of the Tianling Clan Chief seems rather illogical. If he harbors hatred towards the Beast Clan, shouldn't he seek revenge? Why is he staying indoors?"

Chu Yichen was exasperated and started again: "Sis, now you see everyone as someone with a problem!"

Chu Qiuchi's lips curled up slightly, his eyes gleaming: "Make bold assumptions, but verify them carefully. There are only a handful of level eight alchemists, so let's take them one by one! Anyway, we don't have any evidence right now!"

Puyang Minghui smiled maliciously and said, "Qiu Chi, why don't you cook a nice meal and try to get some information out of Mu Yunman!"

"Hey, Minghui, you're being a bit naughty!" Chu Qiuchi put her hands on her hips and glared at her angrily.

"I think it's a good idea, Qiuchi, we're counting on you!" Nalan Xingyao teased.

"What do you mean, 'rely on Qiuchi'?" Ao Nanxi's soft, sweet voice suddenly came from outside the tent.

Chu Qiuchi immediately stored the mutation potion and detection device into his mental space. Looking at Aonanxi who had lifted the curtain and walked in, he smiled and said, "It's alright, we're researching the potion. They're too stupid, so we're relying on me!"

Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "Isn't this the perfect solution for my sleepiness?" She quickly pulled Ao Nanxi over and pressed her into a chair. "Nanxi, do you know the patriarch of the Heavenly Spirit Clan?"

Ao Nanxi looked at her curiously, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

Chu Qiuchi feigned nonchalance, her eyes alluring, "Hey, we were just researching potions when I suddenly thought of this amazing level eight alchemist. Do you know anything about him?"

Looking at Chu Qiuchi's winking and gesturing, Ao Nanxi couldn't help but twitch her lips slightly. "I know a little bit. What do you want to know?"

Chu Qiuchi immediately put on a gossipy act, "Tell me everything. By the way, I heard that his wife and children died at the hands of the beastmen. Is that true?"

“It’s true!” Aonanxi looked at her lewd appearance, silently rubbed his forehead, thought for a moment, and then said, “This matter is also a secret. In fact, his wife and children did not die from the beastmen, but from suicide. It is said that a group of people wearing black masks kidnapped his wife and children and threatened him to hand over something. At first, he wanted to negotiate and did not agree directly.”

At this point, Onanxi clenched his fists, a hint of anger in his expression. "But those beasts actually tried to humiliate his wife in front of him. His wife, unwilling to be humiliated and even more unwilling to see him coerced, committed suicide. He was afraid that his son would also be implicated, so he wanted to agree to the exchange, but his son, equally unwilling to see him coerced, also committed suicide. He later fought with those people and discovered that they were beastmen."

Hearing this, the group was deeply shaken, never expecting such a painful truth to be behind it all.

Chu Qiuchi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Then why did he choose to retire? Did he just endure such a great hatred?"

Ao Nanxi's expression became even more complicated: "Of course not. The reason he went into seclusion was because of Mu Yunman. Those people left him a message that if he dared to investigate, they would retaliate against his daughter. He was afraid that his only remaining daughter would also be harmed, and because he was unable to avenge his wife and children, he stayed at home and prayed for them in the ancestral hall."

After hearing this, Chu Qiuchi sighed deeply: "This is truly... every day he lives must be filled with pain and torment. But what exactly is it that has caused the beastmen to mobilize such a large force?"

Ao Nanxi shrugged helplessly. "As for what it is, he didn't say. He just secretly entrusted the matter to my father, asking him to help investigate it secretly. But after all these years, it seems that no clues have been found. They have disappeared without a trace."

Chu Qiuchi pondered to himself: What exactly do they want to hand over? They wanted it so aggressively, but why did they change their minds later? Did they find a substitute, or... did they reach a cooperation agreement? Or perhaps they don't want anything in particular, but rather something else, something they want him to help refine? As for the masked man in black, he simply disappeared, because he started playing the tunnel warfare game.