Northern Xuan Region, Palace Of Darkness
"Great Elder, this news sounds unreliable! A kid under twenty, no matter how talented, couldn't possibly be that strong," voiced the second elder of the Palace Of Darkness, skeptical.
Recently, they'd learned through the spirit mark that their Palace Master had been killed.
They'd sent people across the continent to search for the Dark Ancestral Symbol and the Dark Sacred Scythe, to no avail.
Now, a rumor from the Eastern Xuan Region claimed that a young man had killed their Palace Master.
How could that be? They'd sooner believe the Palace Master perished during a failed breakthrough into the Reincarnation Realm.
The Great Elder pondered, "The rumor originated from a top sect in the Eastern Xuan Region. There's no way to confirm it for now."
"A top sect?" The second elder was taken aback. Could their Palace Master have really been killed by a mere boy? Something didn't add up.
"Still," continued the Great Elder, "I'm certain the ancestral symbol and scythe are now in the hands of the one who killed the Palace Master."
The hall erupted with voices calling for vengeance.
"Great Elder, we must avenge him, or our Palace Of Darkness will lose face in the Northern Xuan Region!"
"Indeed, to kill our Palace Master and seize our treasures—we cannot let this go!"
The Great Elder raised a hand, restoring order. "All of you, if our Palace Master was slain, who among us could face such a foe?"
Silence fell.
True, with the ancestral symbol and scythe, their Palace Master could overpower even ordinary Samsara Realm experts.
How could a boy under twenty have killed him? There must be deception involved—a plot from that sect to cover its own tracks and lay blame elsewhere.
After some discussion, the Great Elder decided to send scouts to investigate.
Once they verified the truth, they would plan their revenge and retrieve their sacred artifacts.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere
In the days that followed, under the devoted care of Xuan Su and the assistance of system elixirs, Chen Xuan recovered and reached the Nine Yuan Nirvana Realm. Similarly, Xuan Su and her companions saw immense improvement in their own cultivation levels.
Chen Xuan led them to the Tianyan Mountain Range. Outside the nirvana ancient tomb, Xia Wanjin and Shi Haotian were waiting.
"They're all inside?" asked Chen Xuan.
"Yes, Lin Xiao, his wife, and Lin Qingtan are inside," Shi Haotian confirmed.
"Good. Stay here and keep watch while I go in."
Chen Xuan had Xuan Su and the others wait above while he entered the main hall of the tomb, where the tomb master's sarcophagus lay shattered amidst debris.
Here was also where Ling Qingzhu had faced her ordeal.
In a corner, Lin Xiao and his wife, shielding Lin Qingtan, looked at Chen Xuan with defiance.
"Scoundrel! What do you want?" Lin Xiao growled.
"Guess," Chen Xuan replied, a spark of energy forming in his fingers, which transformed into a net, binding Lin Xiao.
"Let me go! Release me!" Lin Xiao shouted.
"Up you go!" With a wave of his hand, Chen Xuan tossed Lin Xiao to the ceiling and silenced him.
"Father!" Lin Qingtan cried, her voice trembling.
[System notification: Lin Qingtan has developed an emotion of anger, emotion value +100]
"Please, I beg you," Lin Xiao's wife, Liu Yan, fell to her knees. "Spare Qingtan. She's just a child."
Chen Xuan simply smiled. "Alright," he replied, but then posed a cruel choice: "Would you prefer to watch Lin Dong die or have Lin Qingtan suffer?"
Liu Yan turned pale, frozen in despair.
Both choices tore at her heart; each one felt impossible.
"I... I'll do anything you want, as long as you spare them."
"Mother, no!" Lin Qingtan cried, tears falling like pearls, flowing down her face.
[System notification: Lin Qingtan has developed an emotion of resignation, emotion value +100]
"Silly girl, I would rather die than let harm come to you," Liu Yan said tenderly, wiping her daughter's tears.
[System notification: Lin Qingtan has developed an emotion of sorrow, emotion value +100]
Watching them cry, Chen Xuan remained unmoved. He handed Lin Qingtan a dark, ominous pill. "Take this pill, cultivate diligently, and reach advanced stage in the Qi Creation Realm within a month."
"Huh?" Lin Qingtan was stunned, staring at the pill in confusion.
"Why give me this pill?" She looked at him with surprise and a flicker of something deeper.
[System notification: Lin Qingtan has developed emotions of shock and delight, emotion value +200]
Chen Xuan walked forward, isolated Liu Yan with his energy, and then tilted Lin Qingtan's chin upward, his fingers brushing her delicate skin. "Do you really want to know why?"
Lin Qingtan blushed, unable to meet his gaze, but still nodded slightly. A strange feeling had taken root in her heart.
"Someday, you'll understand." Chen Xuan's smile deepened.
Hearing those words, her face flushed crimson, and she looked away with a shy expression.
Even Chen Xuan felt a twinge of surprise.
What was that look? Could it be...?