Jiang Yao Returns Home

A profound solemnity etched across her face, Yan Yun made her way back.

Soon, she passed by Su Muyu’s residence. After a moment of deep contemplation, she stepped inside.

“Oh, Young Master, you’ve arrived! I heard something significant has happened within the family?” Upon seeing Yan Yun enter, Su Muyu’s maid immediately spoke up, her voice laced with curiosity.

Yan Yun nodded.

“Yes, where is Mother?”

The maid quickly offered an explanation.

“Ah, Young Lady’s cultivation is on the verge of a breakthrough; she is currently in seclusion. She might not be able to see Young Master for now. If you have anything to convey, you can tell me first, and I will immediately inform her once she emerges from her cultivation.”

Originally, she had intended to unburden her heart to Su Muyu, to share the vexation that weighed upon her, and to seek her counsel.

She was resolved to secretly confront the Zhou and Song families, and even the Lin family, on behalf of the Yan family. Yet, she found herself unable to guarantee the full extent of the repercussions should she make a move.

Yan Lingyun had informed her that, provided she was willing, there were myriad ways to make the Zhou and Song families pay a heavy price. However, acting on such a plan would undoubtedly force the Yan family to endure attacks from all three clans.

Considering the Yan family’s current strength, such a confrontation was unwinnable. Thus, she urged Yan Yun to bide her time, to swiftly master alchemy, and to refine potent poisons in vast quantities to rapidly elevate her cultivation.

Reason, however, compelled Yan Yun to temper her fervor and regain her composure.

“Very well, then it is nothing important. I shall return now.” Yan Yun offered no further words before departing for her own residence.

For now, she found herself utterly powerless.

“Old Ancestor, please, I implore you, dedicate yourself entirely to teaching me alchemy!” The moment she entered her room, a sharp, resolute glint appeared in Yan Yun’s eyes.

“Hmm, then let us begin.” Yan Lingyun, too, abandoned her playful demeanor, recognizing that given the present circumstances, their time was rapidly dwindling.

****

Meanwhile, on Yan Kun’s side, Yan Long brought Yan Kun to the entrance of a secret underground chamber within the Yan family estate.

He gazed at the sealed door, drawing a deep breath, before producing a specially crafted token. Simultaneously, a drop of essence blood emerged from his brow and struck the token. Finally, he spoke respectfully to the token: “Father, a major change has befallen the family. Please, open the door.”

Not long after his words faded, the door to the secret chamber slowly swung open.

“Enter.” An ancient voice echoed from within.

Yan Long immediately carried the unconscious Yan Kun and stepped inside.

This was a scorching secret chamber, akin to a blazing furnace, with an exceptionally high temperature.

In the center of the chamber sat an elder, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies.

This elder was none other than Yan Hua, the previous patriarch of the Yan family.

“Father, please save Kun’er. His Qi Sea has been crippled by a member of the Song family. He possesses the finest talent our family has seen in several centuries; he cannot be so tragically lost under my watch.” Yan Long presented Yan Kun before Yan Hua.

Yan Hua’s expression stiffened upon hearing this. After a swift glance at his grandson, he immediately waved a hand, and Yan Kun’s body was enveloped by a surge of power, drawing him directly before the elder.

He instantly released his own power, meticulously examining Yan Kun.

“What? What has transpired within the Yan family recently? How could you have led the family? Hmm?” After completing his examination, Yan Hua’s anger flared instantly.

Yan Long immediately knelt, hastily recounting the recent events to Yan Hua.

Yan Hua, who had initially been furious, slowly suppressed his anger as he listened to his son’s detailed account.

After all, this entire affair was a clear case of the Lin family’s excessive bullying. The Yan family had never, from beginning to end, given them cause for offense; the Lin family was simply venting their wrath upon the Yan family.

“Alas! This is the bitter fruit of insufficient strength. Unable to trouble the Jiang family directly, they can only target the forces allied with the Jiang family through marriage. However, our Yan family is not a soft persimmon to be easily crushed, Yan Long. You must prepare for a fight to the death. As for Kun’er, I shall take him away from the Yan family to seek a supreme expert who can help restore his Qi Sea.” Yan Hua sighed deeply.

These words conveyed to Yan Long that even he possessed no means to repair Yan Kun’s Qi Sea.

“Understood, Father. Kun’er is entrusted to your care.” Yan Long did not press Yan Hua on whom he intended to seek out.

And so, swiftly, Yan Hua, carrying Yan Kun, transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distant horizon.

He must have known some powerful individuals, embarking on a journey to visit an acquaintance and implore them to heal Yan Kun.

****

On another front, Yan Long and Jiang Yuan met.

Upon his arrival, Jiang Yuan immediately explained why their Jiang family had been unable to assist the Yan family.

After listening, Yan Long harbored no resentment towards Jiang Yuan.

With a perfected Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator from the Lin family blocking their gates, the Yan family themselves would likely have been just as helpless.

****

Now, turning to the Zhou family.

Lin Yuan and Lin Ze, along with several other Lin family members, were conversing with Zhou Shichang and others.

“Brother Lin, what should be our next course of action?” The Zhou family head inquired, his expression fawning.

The Lin family’s tactics were undeniably both simple and brutal. In mere moments, they had caused the thousand-year-old preeminent family of Qifeng City to crumble at a touch. It was estimated that in a mere three months, they could bring the Yan family to its knees without shedding a single drop of blood.

“Our Lin family has already severed the Yan family’s retreat and connections. Do I still need to remind you what to do next?” Lin Yuan asked indifferently.

Yet, the Zhou family head remained somewhat apprehensive.

“However, the Yan family still possesses several Divine Mark Realm cultivators, and among them, the previous family head, Yan Hua, is even at the perfected Divine Mark Realm. Relying solely on our Zhou and Song families, if we were to confront them head-on, we might not be their match. Even if we were to win, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.”

Indeed, to defeat Yan Hua, at least a cultivator at the minor accomplishment Soul Transformation Realm would be required. An initial stage Soul Transformation Realm cultivator would certainly not be his opponent.

The Yan family, in total, possessed three Divine Mark Realm cultivators.

“Rest assured,” Lin Yuan hinted again, “as long as your two families exert your full strength, someone will naturally deal with those three old Divine Mark Realm fellows from the Yan family.”

With words spoken to such an extent, the Zhou family head refrained from saying anything further.

He began to orchestrate the next phase of their assault against the Yan family. The Yan family possessed more than just market businesses; they also held medicinal fields and mines. Only after seizing all the resources under the Yan family’s control would it be the optimal moment to launch a full-scale offensive against them.

****

However, their meticulously crafted plans were likely to fall through, or at the very least, be temporarily shelved.

For, the next morning, from the distant horizon, a procession of over a dozen ethereal white spirit beasts, imbued with an otherworldly grace, pierced through the clouds, soaring toward Qifeng City.

The spirit beast flying at the very front had a form strikingly similar to the legendary phoenix, exquisitely beautiful. On each spirit beast, a figure was either sitting or standing.

“Seven years,” Jiang Yao mused, her gaze fixed on the familiar city in the distance, a sigh of emotion escaping her lips. “Finally, I have returned.”

This phoenix-like white spirit beast was Fairy Yunshuang’s mount, named White Phoenix Bird (TL Note: ‘Bai Huang Niao’ in Chinese, literally White Phoenix Bird), a spirit beast possessing a phoenix bloodline.

Though she might appear to be merely a spirit beast, she was, in fact, a formidable Soul Transformation Realm creature.

Fairy Yunshuang’s unique status precluded her from openly appearing before the masses. Thus, she dispatched a contingent of disciples, accompanied by her own esteemed mount, to escort Jiang Yao back to her ancestral home.

“Hmm? What is this aura?” As the people from Yunhua Sect (TL Note: ‘Yunhua Zong’ in Chinese, a prominent cultivation sect) drew closer to Qifeng City, the cultivators within the city instantly detected a powerful aura approaching them.

Those cultivators whose cultivation had reached the Divine Mark Realm immediately flew out from their residences, looking towards the sky.

Upon seeing this, they beheld a gigantic white immortal bird appearing majestically above their heads.

“This? Is this Fairy Yunshuang’s mount from Yunhua Sect, the White Phoenix Bird?” Those with a bit of knowledge immediately recognized the magnificent creature.

But when they looked at the person seated upon the mount, they were all simultaneously stunned.

For sitting on the White Phoenix Bird was not Sect Master Yunshuang herself, but a cold, snow-like young girl clad in pristine white.

The White Phoenix Bird finally arrived above the Jiang family mansion.

Several Divine Mark Realm cultivators from the Jiang family immediately showed expressions of pleasant surprise.

Although seven years had passed, they could still recognize the young girl sitting gracefully upon the White Phoenix Bird.

“Haha, our Jiang family’s proud daughter of heaven has returned!” The old Jiang family head, Jiang Chen, burst into hearty laughter upon seeing Jiang Yao.

In that instant, a palpable surge of confidence emboldened the Jiang family members, and the oppressive gloom of recent suppression was utterly dispelled.