Ancestors in the Booklet

The conversation, in essence, served to familiarize them with Yan Yun, while simultaneously reassuring them and alleviating any psychological burden. They promised that once Yan Yun arrived at the Jiang family, they would be treated as if they were their own son.

Throughout the entire exchange, Yan Yun maintained an impeccable demeanor, much to the satisfaction of the three Jiang family members, who perceived them as inherently gentle, delicate, and utterly obedient.

Naturally, this entire display was nothing more than an elaborate act on her part. After all, she was about to embark on a new life under someone else’s roof, and when one lives beneath another’s eaves, one dares not but bow their head.

After approximately half an hour of conversation with Yan Yun, the three Jiang family members took their leave from the Yan household, not forgetting to extend an invitation for Yan Yun to visit the Jiang family frequently.

No sooner had they departed than Su Muyu, too, rose to her feet, offered a polite farewell, and led Yan Yun away.

“Husband, shouldn’t you find some time to foster a closer relationship with that mother and son? With such estrangement, if little Yun were to become Yao’er’s husband in the future, he might not be inclined to help our Yan family should we face difficulties, would he?” Wu Peiping murmured, watching the departing pair.

At this suggestion, Yan Long found himself compelled to give the matter considerable thought.

“Indeed, it’s true; I have neglected that mother and daughter pair somewhat over the years. However, are you certain you want me to grow closer to Xiao Qi? Aren’t you typically quite averse to my interactions with other women?” Yan Long inquired, casting a sidelong glance at Wu Peiping.

Upon hearing this, Wu Peiping immediately let out a cold snort.

“Hmph! Were it not for the sake of our son having an ally in the future, would I ever debase myself in such a manner?”

Having delivered her retort, Wu Peiping, too, rose and departed.

Yan Long let out a profound sigh.

“Ah, she’s truly difficult to please. But then again, it’s undeniable that compared to a decade or so ago, Xiao Qi seems to have blossomed into quite a woman.” Yan Long remarked, stroking his chin with a smile spreading across his face.

The difference between a budding teenage girl and a woman in her twenties, a young married lady, was, of course, stark.

****

Back in her own quarters, the smile that had graced Yan Yun’s face vanished completely. She reached for the booklet resting by her bedside and began flipping through its pages once more.

She now confronted a pressing issue: ordinary poisons possessed inherent limitations, capable of advancing her cultivation only to the minor accomplishment stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

To advance further, she would require poisons of far greater potency, the formulas for which could only be extracted from rare spirit herbs.

Yet, on the surface, she was merely an ordinary person, and it was utterly inconceivable that her family would furnish her with such precious cultivation resources.

Thus, Yan Yun was left with no recourse but to devise a solution herself.

While the Poison Scripture meticulously documented a myriad of potent poisons, the necessary medicinal ingredients were, by her current capabilities, entirely beyond her reach.

Since the family could not procure them, only one alternative remained: she could purchase them from the medicinal herb market in Qifeng City, which specialized in cultivator materials, or from other pill shops. However, this would necessitate the currency of cultivators: spirit stones.

“Alas! Yet another intractable problem.”

Yan Yun found herself once again mired in vexation, a familiar headache beginning to throb.

However, just as she was deeply engrossed in her own thoughts, a mocking laugh echoed in her ear, utterly without warning.

“Heh heh, this particular predicament is, indeed, rather troublesome for a young fellow such as yourself.”

The utterly unheralded voice momentarily stunned Yan Yun, leaving her unable to react. Thus, she responded almost instinctively.

“Nonsense, I’m merely an ordinary person; where would I possibly acquire such things…?” Yet, even as the words left her lips, a belated realization dawned upon Yan Yun. Suddenly, every hair on her body stood rigidly on end.

She shot upright, her gaze sweeping frantically across her surroundings.

“Who—who is speaking to me?”

A voice materializing out of thin air in such an abrupt manner was not merely frightening; it felt akin to a scene ripped straight from a horror film.

“Cease your searching; I am upon your table,” the voice resounded once more.

Startled, Yan Yun quickly averted her gaze to the table, only to discover the booklet resting there was now emanating a soft, violet glow.

“Are you speaking to me? Has the booklet come to life?”

From within the booklet, a woman’s voice promptly retorted, sharply challenging Yan Yun.

“You’re the one who’s ‘come to life’! Had I not shielded you from your mother’s spiritual sense probing today, your cultivation of poison arts would undoubtedly have been exposed long ago.”

These words jolted Yan Yun into immediate realization.

Her mother was, after all, a cultivator, and if she truly wished to spy upon her, Yan Yun herself would be utterly incapable of detecting it.

It was simply beyond her wildest imagination that this mere booklet possessed such astonishing capabilities.

However, Yan Yun’s initial shock quickly subsided, and she swiftly regained her composure.

“Very well, then who exactly are you, and are you residing within this booklet?” Yan Yun inquired, her gaze fixed upon the tome.

Immediately thereafter, the booklet erupted in a blinding flash of white light. Once the dazzling radiance receded, an ethereal woman, with flowing silver hair and piercing violet eyes, clad in a white and purple gown, materialized before Yan Yun.

She descended slowly, gracefully drifting down from above, her gaze fixed upon Yan Yun with a gentle smile.

Her appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to Yan Yun’s own transformed state after activating her poison arts.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yan Lingyun. Strictly speaking, I suppose I could be considered an ancient ancestor of your Yan family. The Heavenly Poison Scripture you cultivate was, in fact, my own creation,” the ethereal woman declared by way of introduction.

A palpable aura of malevolence seemed to emanate from Yan Lingyun; her violet eyes, in particular, possessed an unnerving, almost demonic allure. Yet, setting aside these sinister characteristics, she was undeniably a beauty of the highest caliber.

“You—you are an ancestor of our Yan family?”

Yan Yun, surprisingly, remained relatively composed.

“Indeed. Your Yan family descends from my younger brother’s bloodline,” Yan Lingyun clarified.

By that reckoning, the woman was indeed Yan Yun’s ancestor, though clearly of a progenitor or foundational lineage.

“Is that so? Then what exactly is your current state—a remnant soul?” Having devoured countless books, Yan Yun was able to surmise Yan Lingyun’s present condition with remarkable accuracy.

Yan Lingyun nodded, her expression entirely earnest.

“One might say so. Many years ago, I encountered a spot of trouble, and as a precaution, I concealed a portion of my soul within this very booklet before entrusting it to my younger brother. I merely never anticipated being awakened by you.”

Yan Lingyun’s manner of speech was remarkably casual, utterly devoid of the reserved temperament typically associated with traditional women.

“Is that so? Well then, esteemed ancestor, since I’ve learned your poison arts, I suppose that makes me your disciple, doesn’t it? Both a descendant and a disciple. Do you happen to possess any inheritance? If so, perhaps you could bestow it upon me? I am in dire need of funds at this very moment.” Upon learning the woman’s true identity, Yan Yun’s own demeanor had grown equally unconstrained.

Yan Lingyun, however, shook her head with an air of absolute finality.

“None whatsoever. This booklet and the Poison Scripture are my sole remaining legacy. All my other possessions, I fear, were long since interred with my true body in some forgotten resting place.”

These words caused the initially hopeful Yan Yun to plummet into instantaneous disappointment.

“Alright, consider it unsaid. Hmph!” Yan Yun sighed heavily, settling back down, and adopted an air of complete indifference towards Yan Lingyun.

This sudden, unexpected feeling of being utterly disregarded caused Yan Lingyun’s composure to fray.

“Hey! You little brat, what kind of attitude is that? Could you possibly cultivate without my Poison Scripture? Show some proper respect!”

At this particular remark, Yan Yun’s temper flared.

“How dare you even bring that up? This Poison Scripture carries such enormous side effects, and I’ve paid an agonizing price for it! Why didn’t you address these drawbacks when you created this contraption?” Yan Yun demanded, her voice laced with accusation.

Yan Yun’s sharp retort momentarily rendered Yan Lingyun speechless. As the creator of the cultivation technique, she naturally understood its every intricacy. She had, in fact, been awake for quite some time, secretly observing Yan Yun from the shadows.

“Hmph! The cultivation technique I forged is a rare and extraordinary art in this world, one that permits even ordinary mortals to cultivate. Is it not perfectly natural for such a profound method to possess certain side effects? Furthermore, the fact that you transformed into a woman—well, one can only say your luck was simply terrible,” Yan Lingyun declared with a dismissive wave.

Yan Yun had no inclination to waste time bickering with her. While Yan Lingyun’s sudden appearance was certainly a surprise, if she proved incapable of offering assistance, then her presence held little meaning.

Moreover, she harbored a deep distrust for this ancestor who had so abruptly manifested.

“Alright, then. If you have nothing useful to offer, kindly refrain from disturbing my thoughts. You may return from whence you came,” Yan Yun stated, an unmistakable air of impatience clinging to her words.

Yan Lingyun, it seemed, possessed an equally fiery temperament. Having been so blatantly dismissed by Yan Yun, her composure began to unravel.

“You? You little brat, you’re quite adorable, but your personality is truly unlikable.”

“Fine! Very well, I know what you require. If you prostrate yourself three times before me and call me ‘Grand-Ancestor,’ I shall, in my boundless benevolence, resolve your financial woes.” Yan Lingyun stated, crossing her arms, adopting an expectant pose, awaiting Yan Yun’s entreaties.

However, she waited for a considerable time, yet no reaction came from Yan Yun.