In any case, those words naturally could not be taken entirely at face value. Still, rumors would not have spread without some basis. As for Lu Xiaotian, he was completely in the dark about the Valley of Dark Winds, and the Primordial Spirit inside the Soul-Sealing Pearl could not be wholly trusted either. One must not harbor the intention of harming others, but one must guard against others as well. Lu Xiaotian would never simply choose to trust a stranger.
To sum up the middle-aged man's words, Qi Refining cultivators simply lacked the strength to enter. They could only make guesses based on rumors. Some Qi Refining cultivators had been brought to the outskirts of the Valley of Dark Winds, where they had seen, from afar, ghosts and monsters from inside the valley chasing Foundation Establishment cultivators out and engaging them in fierce battle. Lu Xiaotian had heard of some of those ghosts and monsters. In any event, he had finally gained a preliminary understanding of the Valley of Dark Winds. It was still very one-sided, but that was not important.
"Senior, s-senior, that's everything this junior knows. I wonder if Senior has anything else to ask?" The middle-aged man realized only after speaking that his words had seemed somewhat unfocused. Worried that Lu Xiaotian might become angry, he asked cautiously.
"Do you know whether there are any large lineages, sects, or other forces around the Valley of Dark Winds? Have there been any large-scale movements recently?" Lu Xiaotian asked again.
"That's simple. Within a thousand miles of the Valley of Dark Winds, there are no immortal sects or great schools with inheritances stretching back a thousand years. There are, however, several fairly powerful sects. I've heard of Black Fox Stronghold, Zhu Family Ridge, and the Dark Charm Sect. They