Soon, three Martial Saint elders of the Jiang family were summoned to the main hall.
The Jiang family head stood in the centre of the hall and said directly, “Elders, the God-Beating Bamboo has lost contact with the linked artefact. Do you know what arrangements were made for it previously?”
The three were greatly shocked. The clan-suppressing treasure had lost contact?
This was a matter of utmost importance! No wonder the patriarch had emerged personally.
The Great Elder quickly replied, “Patriarch, previously Elder Jiang You took the God-Beating Bamboo to Cold Demon Ridge. It is said a Blood Demon Physique was attempting to break through to Martial Saint there, and a supreme treasure had appeared.”
The exact nature of the treasure was unclear to the Jiang family. Jiang You had received information, sealed it, and requested the clan treasure to go.
The patriarch had entrusted family affairs to the Great Elder to focus on cultivation, hence his question now.
Coincidentally, the family conference held every few years was approaching, and several Martial Saints had returned to headquarters, allowing the patriarch to gather them quickly.
Hearing the Great Elder’s words, the Jiang family head fell into thought.
“With the treasure lost, could something have happened to Elder Jiang You?”
A green-robed Martial Saint elder beside him said. Losing the treasure was not just about the item itself; it concerned a Martial Saint elder.
“With Elder Jiang You’s strength plus the God-Beating Bamboo, even a second-layer Martial Saint could not touch him. He could escape a third-layer Martial Saint unless the opponent was third-layer and also carried a treasure.”
Another Martial Saint elder said.
“Could a patriarch-level figure from another force have acted?”
The green-robed elder suggested again.
“With the measures we placed on the God-Beating Bamboo, even other clans would struggle to erase them.”
The Great Elder said. “Unless someone found a special method. But touching a clan-suppressing treasure is declaring war. The major forces likely lack such boldness.”
“Then perhaps Elder Jiang You was caught in an anomaly at Cold Demon Ridge?
I hear many anomalies appear there that even Martial Saints cannot withstand.”
The green-robed elder speculated further.
“That is possible. Or Elder Jiang You entered a special ancient array or space. If so, the place must be extraordinary. After all, within Xuan Domain we can still sense the God-Beating Bamboo.”
The Great Elder added.
“All the elders’ suggestions are possible.”
The Jiang family head spoke now. “There are two other possibilities.”
“One, Jiang You colluded with outsiders and erased the measures on the God-Beating Bamboo. However, this is unlikely. Elder Jiang You has no sufficient reason or benefit to betray the clan.”
“Two, an eighth-grade spirit controller acted, severely injuring Jiang You, enslaving him, and using special means to erase the measures on the God-Beating Bamboo.”
Mentioning an eighth-grade spirit controller, vigilance appeared on the patriarch’s face. “Ximen Haoyue of Spirit Pool Island appears low-key and unassuming, but he harbours great ambition. He once had ties to Lin Tianshu. He may harbour malice and plot schemes. We must guard against him.”
With that, the Jiang family head continued. “I will personally visit Cold Demon Ridge. Any major matters in the clan to report?”
The Great Elder said, “The Hong family in northwest You Province is making moves. Progress on that ancient mine is steady, but the anomalies inside grow more frequent.”
“The Heavenly Spiral Spirit Snail clan has been restless lately, occasionally sending younger members to harass. The Tyrant Sky Crab in Zhu Province is stirring, clashing increasingly with the Dantai family. The beast races may make major moves.”
“Also, recent news says a Martial Saint from the Ji family’s Sacred Province branch fell, reportedly to a youth. The truth is unconfirmed.”
The Great Elder briefly reported the main issues.
“Oh?”
The Jiang family head showed surprise. “A Martial Saint has not fallen in a long time. Once one does, it may cause upheaval. If there is a conspiracy, major changes will follow. If merely a rising youth, it may be pure chance.”
“Who is the youth?”
The patriarch asked again.
“Reportedly from Yang Province, deeply connected to Canglong Gate, with grudges against the Ji family. Only twenty-two, dual cultivating Yuan Spirit. With fifth-layer Martial Emperor Yuan Force cultivation, he swept the young Yuan cultivators of the nine provinces. With seventh-grade initial spirit force, he defeated seventh-grade advanced spirit controllers from the Dantai and Spirit Pool families, taking first in the continental spirit controller competition. Later became a guest elder of Spirit Pool Island…” The Great Elder summarised Lin Xiao’s deeds.
This left even the Jiang family head quite surprised.
“Another heaven-defying prodigy has appeared. If he grows, he will surely stir changes like twenty years ago. But he will not grow. For now, let the Ji family worry.”
The patriarch said. “Other matters will be discussed at the clan conference!”
The Great Elder and others nodded. They all understood that recovering the God-Beating Bamboo was now most critical.
Then the Jiang family head flashed out of the hall.
…
At Cold Demon Ridge, on a quiet and hidden mountain peak, a man and woman sat on rocks, talking knee-to-knee.
The pair were Lin Xiao and Huo Ru Yan.
After dealing with the God-Beating Bamboo, they had left the cold glen and come here.
Old acquaintances unseen for six years had too much to say.
For Lin Xiao, reaching today was remarkable achievement: sweeping the young generation of the nine provinces, taking first in the continental spirit controller competition, slaying a Ji family Martial Saint.
Yet along the way, he had no one to truly confide in.
The admired Feng Youyu met only in hurried encounters or farewells. Their distance left little deep conversation.
Hu Yue was always nearby, but exchanges were everyday and ordinary.
Zi Ling was a close friend, Ling Hu a sworn brother. But even with friends and brothers, there was not so much to pour out.
When trouble arose, one simply charged in to help.
The one he could truly open his heart to was Huo Ru Yan.
The one he wanted to share everything with was Huo Ru Yan.
The first girl he met on his first true journey away from home, his first real trial.
A girl enduring hardship yet pure, with mutual affection between them.
Their relationship was neither as close as lovers nor so distant.
Perhaps everyone has such a person: things unsayable to the most beloved could be said to her, things unsayable to family could be said to her, things unwilling to say to friends could be said to her. To her, everything could be shared without reserve.
In six years, Lin Xiao had never stopped moving, never deeply sighed from the soul, never fully exchanged with anyone.
Time truly flew; six years passed like a snap of the fingers.
Now he needed to pause, recall the past, imagine the distant future, open his heart fully.
Huo Ru Yan felt the same.
The two talked through the entire night.
