"I have no more information about the Skeleton, but I can tell you about me. However, you can't mention this to anyone. At all. I don't lie unless I have to."
Julong was then forced to explain his whole back story from the Hunyuan Heaven to the two girls. Awe covered their features, particularly at the mention of his connections to the four different Saints that were technically backing him, those, of course, being Zi Xiao, Wan Zu, Cang Yuan and Cang Xuan.
He was someone incredibly important from the sounds of things. However, that didn't explain why he wanted to keep his identity a secret, outside of the fact that he could be targeted for ransom. But just as they thought that Julong addressed the issue.
"There are things that not even my master knows about me. As such I cannot tell you two either, however, the issue is, if I am taken for ransom by the Sacred Race, and they do find out those things about me - even I'm not sure what will take place. Much like the identity of the fossil in the territory, it's better if my backing stays hidden for now. The Cangxuan Heaven is the Heaven with the most Sacred Race influence after all. That and it has no living Saints to protect me if anything were to happen in relation to me."
Qingchan and Xiao Dai nodded in understanding. Qingchan especially felt like she was talking to someone completely different now. She didn't realise who she had been interacting with. As such she became curious about who else knew.
"Does anyone else know about this?"
"Zhou Yuan, Yao Yao, some friends from the Saint Remains Domain, and the Sect Masters. That is why they give me so many opportunities."
"I see."
Xiao Dai who had been holding in a question since her father was killed by Ling Kei, finally got the courage to speak up.
"This may sound a bit stupid, but right before my father was killed. He seemed to realise something, is that something what you are referring to when you say you can't tell us?"
Xiao Ming thankfully never specified that the Ancient Dragon Scales were actually Ancestral Dragon Scales. This meant him pulling the Scales to his hand he could play off as his 'blessing'. He originally wanted to inform the two of the Scales true origin, but in doing so he would also reveal the truth that Xiao Ming had figured out and of course, that was what Xiao Dai was referring to.
"I don't know, I highly doubt it was what he thought it was, but I'm sure he was headed in the right direction, whatever he thought of."
It hurt him to lie yet again since he just said he would tell them both the truth, but he had no choice. They weren't stupid and would figure it out if he gave them any hints.
Qingchan gave him a slightly upset look as if she knew he was lying again, but didn't prod any further. He had explained himself enough for her to understand his reasoning.
"Speaking of the Ancient Dragon Scales, where are they?"
"They are in my dwelling."
"Really? How is that possible? You are only able to store things in your dwelling if you're able to refine them. That shouldn't be possible, generally, only people in the Heavenly Sun Stage and up can comprehend Ancient Dragon Scales."
"Remember that Blessing I mentioned in my story? It's the first of its kind and does stuff like this a lot. They believe it is on par or greater than the Sacred Dragon blessing."
"That really is incredible. That would explain your Grade-7 Genesis Qi."
Xiao Dai muttered, not that she thought Julong wasn't in the first place. But in accordance with her usual tardiness, she only realised how strong Julong's Genesis Qi was when he killed Chai Chu.
"Well, that kind of makes me relieved if I'm honest."
Qingchan caught both of their attention.
"I was wondering for a moment if they could have been the Scales of the Ancestral Dragon. But if you're able to refine them, then that shouldn't be possible. I've heard that only Saints can comprehend Divine Relics, and only a few at most, let alone the actual Scales of the Ancestral Dragon. For you to be able to refine those you'd have to be some kind of God..."
"Yeah that would be ridiculous!"
Julong nodded and gave a forced chuckle. Not that Xiao Dai or Qingchan knew.
That was close.
"I was worried they might have been at first, which was why I was in such a hurry after what happened when I touched the Skeleton. Even so, I think playing off the Ancient Dragon Scales as Ancient Serpent Scales will be safer in the long run. Remember we can't tell anyone about the fossil, even the Sect Masters."
Julong remembered what Cang Xuan had said about a traitor in the Sect plotting his death in accordance with the Sacred Palace.
The two girls nodded before they looked up at the boy as he began to stand up from their sitting positions. Even so, it was clear he was still a little exhausted.
"Either way, we have more pressing concerns. If the Sacred Palace were able to blackmail Sect Master Won Feng, then that most likely means someone very powerful is also in the city. Meaning they will soon notice that Ling Kei and his entourage are now dead. If they don't come searching for us, then they will likely attack the city. The reason we were able to kill the three who came after us was because they didn't know that our Sect was in the area since our mission was Secret. But if we go to defend the city from the main forces, our presence here will be instantly given away and the Sacred Race will have every right to start something with the Cangxuan Sect. However, I refuse to leave knowing that this territory is in danger."
Qingchan adopted a thoughtful expression.
"Technically we were here before the intended arrival date of the Sacred Palace, meaning we were not impeding on their intentions. Maybe if we are able to form an alliance between our two Sects, we can deter their advances on the city."
"Well, how would we go about that?"
Xiao Dai just watched in shock as the two from the Cangxuan Sect devised a plan to save the territory they were in. She was half expecting them to leave without trying at all.
"This isn't your issue you know? This would have happened regardless of your presence. They have been trying to get rid of us for a long time."
Julong gave her a stupid look.
"Well, it is my issue now. Won Feng and yourself have helped us immeasurably. You have housed us, given us supplies, and helped us on our mission. It would be an insult to leave now. Better yet, we would be leaving you with nothing if they succeeded. I refuse to let that happen."
Xiao Dai smiled as she looked down at the dirt she was sitting on. She was a little embarrassed she had spoken.
Qingchan who was also standing up at this point, offered her a hand to get up. Which she tentatively took.
"Don't worry. All we need to do now is get back to the Spiralling Poison Corrupting Sect and we should be able to sort the rest of this out."
It was clear Xiao Dai had been going through a lot in the past few days. They were just waiting for the goofy Xiao Dai to return.
"Okay."