Well, it's fine; as long as I'm able to figure out how to get more scum points, I can safely reach the peak of the Nascent Profound Realm without any issue.
After thinking for a few moments, Huang Shi then looked at Fang Lei before asking another question.
"All right, if Guo Peng is the most powerful of the Iron Cloud Sect's younger generation, the second-ranked disciple shouldn't be too bad, right?"
Fang Lei nodded his head as an expression of disgust suddenly appeared on his face, as if just thinking about this person was enough to give him the icks.
"The other person you need to worry about is a person named Qian Bo! Unlike Guo Peng, who is a proper swordsman, Qian Bo is known to be a very despicable and vile individual, and is quite arrogant as well.
In fact, from the information that I've gathered, he is known to outright kill people who so much as look at him the wrong way and is constantly using his status to bully people weaker than him!"
Huang Shi suddenly felt a strange feeling well up inside of his chest when this person was mentioned, and it was very uncomfortable.
Is this... fear that I'm feeling right now? I'm actually afraid of this Qian Bo person? Is there some sort of backstory between the previous Huang Shi and this Qian Bo?
Interesting...
Huang Shi suddenly gave a malevolent smile as the fear welling up inside of him vanished, to be replaced by bloodlust; it was clear that his pride would never allow himself to feel fear towards another person.
Qian Bo, is it? I don't care what you did to the previous owner of this body! Since it feels fear towards you, I will make sure you feel the same fear towards me!
Realizing that this person would obviously be his enemy, he quickly asked for more information about him.
"Tell me all that you know about Qian Bo: the level of his cultivation base, his techniques, his habits, his battle prowess."
Seeing the sinister look in Huang Shi's eyes, Fang Lei suddenly shivered as he seemed to have thought of something before quickly dismissing the thought; he didn't want to offend this monster of a young master.
"Qian Bo is the son of the current Sect Master of the Iron Cloud Sect. His cultivation base is at the 5th level of the Nascent Profound Realm, but like all geniuses, they are known to be able to fight against cultivators of a higher level than them—although I don't know by how much."
Huang Shi listened attentively, trying to absorb all the information present about this person.
"As for his primary cultivation technique, he is using the orthodox cultivation technique of the Iron Cloud Sect, the Iron Cloud Sword Art, and he is said to have already reached the realm of greater mastery!"
Greater mastery? What does that mean?
He wanted to ask Fang Lei this question but felt that it would be too suspicious for him to not even know this basic thing about cultivation, and so he planned to learn about it in the Information Hall instead. Seeing that Huang Shi was still listening to him attentively made Fang Lei feel a bit embarrassed as he spoke with a bit of a stammer.
"Uhm, Young Master, that's all I know about Qian Bo. Sorry if I couldn't be of much help."
That's a bit disappointing, but it's fine. It would be weird if he had more detailed information considering he's not even part of the Iron Cloud Sect; this is actually quite good already.
Huang Shi gave a nod of acknowledgement as if he understood, as he then shifted the topic to something else.
"Alright, how about the Red Sand Sect? Any information about them?"
Fang Lei then started to think for a few minutes as if he was organizing his thoughts before speaking in a strangely unsure manner.
"As for the Red Sand Sect, to be quite honest, I have very little information regarding them. As you know, Young Master, compared to our Azure Dragon Sect and the Iron Cloud Sect, the Red Sand Sect are actually a bunch of newcomers in Reshi City!"
What do you mean I should know about this? I don't know jackshit!
At least, that's what Huang Shi thought on the inside; on the outside, however, he calmly nodded his head as he spoke.
"That's right, but you should have more information about them than I do, isn't that right?"
Fang Lei gave a wry smile before nodding his head and continuing to speak.
"That's right, Young Master. From all the information I've gathered, the Red Sand Sect appeared in Reshi City in the last hundred years. They started from a low-level sect without any power and influence and, using their unorthodox cultivation techniques, quickly rose in power, eventually becoming the third most powerful sect in Reshi City."
Hmm? If they were able to become so strong in such a short period of time, they must have something special about them, right?
And Fang Lei didn't disappoint, as he heard something very interesting from what Fang Lei told him.
"There are many debates as to why the Red Sand Sect became so powerful so quickly, but the general consensus is that the current Sect Master of the Red Sand Sect is an incredibly powerful cultivator!
In fact, he is known to be the most powerful cultivator in all of Reshi City! The only reason why the Red Sand Sect isn't known to be the most powerful despite his presence is because, at the end of the day, he is only one person!"
Hearing these words, Huang Shi was shocked; clearly, he didn't expect that the third-ranked Red Sand Sect would unexpectedly have the most powerful cultivator in all of Reshi City.
This person must be at the True Profound Realm at the very least, right?
"What is this person's name, Fang Lei?"
Fang Lei then became solemn as he spoke with a bit of fear in his voice.
"The Sect Master of the Red Sand Sect is known as Ma Rui, the Crimson Coffin