Precisely because Old Taoist Ox-Nose was so exceptional, Chu Feng wasn’t the least bit worried, even though his master had ventured alone into the Long clan’s hall filled with experts. Chu Feng was confident he would return safely. Sure enough, about half an hour later, Old Taoist Ox-Nose emerged from the hall, not only unscathed but elated. The wrinkles on his old face bunched up like a steamed bun, brimming with joy. “My dear disciple, it must be fate. We can enter the Long clan’s ancestral land,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said excitedly. “Master, did you find a way to get in?” Seeing his master’s enthusiasm, Chu Feng was thrilled. “Not exactly,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose shook his head. “What? Then why did you say…” Chu Feng was curious. “We’ll enter openly, with the Long clan escorting us,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose declared. “Have them take us in? Master, what’s going on?” Chu Feng grew more puzzled. Instead of answering directly, Old Taoist Ox-Nose gave a mysterious smile. “Master, just tell me,” Chu Feng pressed eagerly. Under Chu Feng’s insistence, Old Taoist Ox-Nose finally explained.
“Do you remember the notices posted across the Long clan’s territory, inviting renowned spiritists to visit and offering great rewards?” “Yes,” Chu Feng replied, recalling them vividly. The notices were recent and seemed urgent. Chu Feng had suspected the Long clan needed spiritists’ help for something pressing. Otherwise, a power like the Long clan could have invited someone like Saint Venerable Wudao directly, rather than resorting to such a broad call for spiritists. “Master, has something big happened within the Long clan?” Chu Feng asked. “Indeed, something significant,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose confirmed. He then recounted the situation. Beyond the ancestral land, the Long clan had another crucial place called the Dragon Vein Source, inaccessible even to clan members. It was said to contain immense power beneficial to the Long clan. A legend passed down through generations claimed that if the Dragon Vein Source were opened, the clan’s strength would soar. Some even said the Long clan’s founder established the clan there because of this source, which predated the clan itself. The promise of a leap in strength came from the founder’s words. Though the source had never been opened, and no benefits had been gained, the Long clan, adhering to ancestral teachings, never neglected it. The Dragon Vein Source was as vital as the ancestral land, guarded just as fiercely.
Recently, the Dragon Vein Source showed signs of activity, drawing immense attention from the clan. Even elders in seclusion emerged. After inspection by the clan’s top spiritists, they concluded this was the best chance to open the source since the founder’s time, but it required a powerful spiritist to guide the process. Missing this opportunity might mean waiting indefinitely, as no one knew how long it would last. This explained the urgent notices seeking skilled spiritists, as there was no time to invite renowned ones formally. “Master, are you planning to help open the Dragon Vein Source, with the condition that they let us into the ancestral land?” Chu Feng asked. “Exactly, my clever disciple,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said. “But you said the ancestral land is sacred to them. Would they allow outsiders like us in?” Chu Feng questioned. “They won’t pass up this chance,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose replied confidently.
Chu Feng and Old Taoist Ox-Nose then left the Long clan’s interior, tore down a notice, and revealed themselves at the clan’s main gate. “Who are you? How dare you come to the Long clan? Get lost!” After stating their purpose, they were not only blocked but driven away. To the Long clan members, Chu Feng and Old Taoist Ox-Nose didn’t look like master spiritists. “Is this how the Long clan treats guests?” Chu Feng asked sharply, his tone cold. He could tolerate insults to himself, but Old Taoist Ox-Nose was his master, and he wouldn’t stand for it. His words immediately angered the guards, their gazes turning hostile. “You think this is a place for ants like you to act tough?” one guard said, advancing towards Chu Feng without releasing pressure but clearly not intending to let it go. The surrounding crowd smirked, anticipating Chu Feng’s punishment. “Stop!” a voice suddenly rang out. The guard, about to act, trembled in fear. Looking towards the voice, Chu Feng’s expression shifted. The speaker was someone he knew!
