Chapter 38

Xiao Che spoke each word with determination. He was not trying to comfort Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi, nor was he joking. It was his most resolute decision, one that he was forcing himself to complete no matter what.

His words left Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi stunned for a long time. Then, Xiao Lingxi shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him: "Xiao Che, I don't need you to do this. I just want you to be safe, to take care of yourself... When the day comes, I will find you... But you mustn't do anything foolish, or anything dangerous."

In her eyes, he was still the young boy who needed her protection. She could hear the resolve in his words... His willingness was enough. How could she bear to let him risk his life for them?

"Rest assured, I will take care of myself," Xiao Che smiled at her. "Because Grandfather and Aunt are still waiting for me. Because... I still have a promise to Aunt that I haven't fulfilled."

"Promise?" Xiao Lingxi's eyes flickered, looking at him with confusion.

Xiao Che did not explain. He walked to Xiao Lie, knelt down, and bowed deeply: "Grandfather, I am your grandson, Xiao Lie. I have lived a peaceful life for sixteen years under your protection. It's time for me to spread my wings. You are a great grandfather, and your grandson will not continue to be a disgrace to you... Wait for me, I will definitely come back. Before I return, you must... take care of yourself."

"Good... Good!" Xiao Lie nodded slowly, his voice trembling, tears welling up in his eyes. He helped Xiao Che up, then took out a wooden plaque with a white tassel and placed it in Xiao Che's hand: "Xiao Che, the Xiao Clan has expelled you, and this Flowing Cloud City can no longer accommodate you. Your spirit is crippled, and you have never left Flowing Cloud City. Although I am extremely worried, your eyes give me great peace and comfort. If you have no other place to go, take this plaque to a city called 'New Moon' and find a man named Sikong Han."

"Sikong Han came to Flowing Cloud City a few years ago. Because of some matters, I did him a favor, and he gave me this plaque. When you find him in New Moon City, show him this plaque and tell him you are my grandson. Perhaps he can provide you with a place to stay."

Though he spoke of "peace" and "comfort," the worry and concern in his eyes and expression could not be hidden. His grandson, who had almost no spirit power and had never left Flowing Cloud City, would now be alone and without support. How could he not be worried, how could he not be heartbroken?

Xiao Che held the plaque in his hand, nodded firmly, and said: "Before I leave, I want to pay my respects to... Uncle Xiao."

"Um." Xiao Lie nodded with satisfaction.

"Xiao Che!" As Xiao Che turned to leave, Xiao Lingxi grabbed him again, her hands gripping tightly, her eyes filled with lingering affection, almost melting Xiao Che's heart.

How much he longed to take Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Lie with him... But he had the heart and the impulse, but not the ability or the right... At least in this dark place, they were still safe.

"Aunt." Xiao Che gently held Xiao Lingxi's hand, looking at her with gentle eyes: "I can't bear to part with you, more than Aunt can bear to part with me... So, I will return as soon as possible... I swear, I will fulfill the promise I made to Aunt that night..."

Xiao Lingxi's hands slowly loosened, and Xiao Che's grip on her hand gradually released... Then, he turned and walked straight ahead, his steps slow, but he never looked back... Because he was afraid that if he looked back, he would never be able to leave... And he was even more afraid that if he looked back, they would see the two tears that finally escaped as he turned away...

Grandfather... Aunt... I will definitely return within three years... Wait for me!! Wait for me!!!!

Promise... Promise...

Xiao Lingxi watched Xiao Che's figure grow smaller, her eyes blurred with tears, her mind lost in thought... Suddenly, a phrase from that night echoed in her heart...

"If you weren't my aunt, I would marry you!"

Xiao Lingxi covered her mouth, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally burst forth like a flood.

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Xiao Clan Cemetery.

Standing before Xiao Ying's grave, Xiao Che gazed at the old tombstone for a long time, then knelt down and bowed three times. When he lifted his eyes, they were filled with determination...

"Uncle Xiao, the great kindness you showed to my family will never be forgotten. If I ever learn that my parents are still alive, I will do everything in my power to find them, and the son you lost. When I have the ability, I will find those who assassinated you and avenge you and Grandfather!"

Before Xiao Ying's grave, Xiao Che made a solemn vow. After rising, he bowed deeply again and left with heavy steps.

"From now on, I am no longer Xiao Che... My name is Yun Che!"

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The news of Xiao Yulong's cruel torture shook the entire Xiao Clan, leaving them restless all night. Xiao Yunhai, in a fit of rage, fainted for a long time. When he awoke, he ordered the entire clan to search for the culprit, but after a whole night of effort, they found not a trace of the culprit.

The best explanation was that it was the work of someone within the clan!

Xiao Kuangyun was also furious about the incident, but his anger was short-lived. He regretted losing a loyal and capable servant. However, such servants were easy to find. Now, the deformed and unrecognizable Xiao Yulong could not be taken back to the Xiao Sect, so his choice naturally fell on the person who had performed second-best in yesterday's "test."

The youngest grandson of the Third Elder, Xiao Ze—Xiao Chengzhi.

This news brought great joy to Xiao Ze and Xiao Chengzhi.

But the way everyone in the clan looked at Xiao Ze changed. Especially Xiao Yunhai and Xiao Li, whose eyes were filled with intense killing intent when they looked at Xiao Ze!

If Xiao Yulong was crippled by someone within the clan, then Xiao Ze was the most likely suspect.

However, this was not something Xiao Kuangyun needed to worry about. In the afternoon, the four people from the Xiao Sect left Flowing Cloud City with Xiao Chengzhi, accompanied by the clan's and the city's nobles. In fact, with the Xiao Sect's capabilities, sending a few flying spirit beasts would be easy, but this time, the Sect Master had ordered that Xiao Yulong be trained, and the use of flying spirit beasts was forbidden.

After Xiao Kuangyun and his group left, Chu Yueyi also prepared to take Xia Qingyue back to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace.

"Master." Xia Qingyue, after saying goodbye to her father and brother, returned to Chu Yueyi's side.

Chu Yueyi turned around, her face cold and beautiful: "The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace is extremely far from here. Once we return, it will be a long time before we can come back. Don't leave any unfinished business behind."

"Master, don't worry. Qingyue is fully prepared and ready to leave with you. Father, though reluctant, is deeply pleased that I can enter the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace."

Chu Yueyi nodded: "If so, let's set off now. The Palace Master has wanted to meet you for many years after hearing about you. I'm sure she will like you."

"Father has already prepared the spirit horses for us. Please follow me to the front courtyard," Xia Qingyue said respectfully.

"No need." Chu Yueyi shook her head. "Spirit horses are too slow. I will use 'Spirit Crossing the Void' to take you back. During this process, you must carefully observe the changes in my spirit energy. This will greatly benefit your future spirit cultivation... Let's go, give me your hand."

Without hesitation, Xia Qingyue extended her slender right hand. Clearly, Chu Yueyi's plan to use 'Spirit Crossing the Void' to fly through the air excited and anticipated her.

Chu Yueyi extended her slightly cold hand, grasped Xia Qingyue's hand, and a cold light flashed from her body as the powerful Ice Cloud Technique rapidly activated... But at that moment, Chu Yueyi's body suddenly trembled, and the Ice Cloud Technique she had just condensed instantly dissipated. She turned around, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xia Qingyue... Her eyes were filled with shock, as if she had seen the most incredible thing in the world.

"Master? What's wrong?" Chu Yueyi's sudden intense reaction frightened Xia Qingyue, who asked in panic.

"It's impossible... Absolutely impossible!!"

Chu Yueyi muttered to herself, her other hand suddenly reaching out, both hands gripping Xia Qingyue's right wrist. A cold light flashed from her body, and this time, Chu Yueyi's beautiful eyes widened again, her body trembling more and more violently, her face and eyes filled with indescribable shock, disbelief... and joy! She gripped Xia Qingyue's hand tightly, looked into her eyes, and was so overwhelmed with excitement that she couldn't speak for a moment.

Her appearance made Xia Qingyue increasingly panicked: "Master... What... What's wrong?"

"Qingyue!" Chu Yueyi felt her heart pounding wildly, unable to calm down. Cultivating the Ice Cloud Technique made one's mind gradually become cold and calm, making it difficult to be moved. It had been many years since her emotions had been so out of control: "Tell me, what extraordinary encounter have you had recently? Did you meet some extraordinary person? Or did you take some miraculous elixir?"

"Human spirit meridians have a total of fifty-four spirit gates. People with ordinary talent can open about ten spirit gates at birth, while those with high talent can open about fifteen. When I found you, I discovered that you had opened twenty-one spirit gates at birth, a talent that is one in a million! The more spirit gates you have, the faster your spirit cultivation and spirit energy circulation. Someone who has opened twenty spirit gates will have cultivation and circulation speeds twice as fast as someone who has opened ten."

"Opening spirit gates after birth is extremely difficult. Even the Palace Master, in a hundred years, has only opened seven spirit gates after birth, reaching the highest level of thirty spirit gates. Currently, in the entire Cangfeng Continent, there are no more than five people who have opened thirty spirit gates after birth! The Spirit Gate Opening Powder given by the Xiao Sect to the Xiao Clan can increase cultivation speed because it can temporarily open three to four additional spirit gates for a few days, but only temporarily... Even so, the Spirit Gate Opening Powder is a very precious elixir even in the Xiao Sect."

"And you, Qingyue..." Chu Yueyi gripped Xia Qingyue's shoulders tightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on her: "You have opened all fifty-four spirit gates! And they are all permanently open... Do you know what this means? It means that your cultivation speed and spirit energy circulation speed are nearly twice as fast as the Palace Master's! Five times faster than ordinary people. And you will have no restrictions in cultivating any spirit technique or skill. When breaking through spirit levels, you will never encounter a 'bottleneck'!"

"Opening all fifty-four spirit gates is known in legends as the 'Heavenly Spirit Divine Meridian,' a meridian that only legendary gods possess! It has never been seen in the Cangfeng Empire! Qingyue... What have you experienced in this period?"

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[Yes. Yun Che has successfully left the beginner's village... Next, it's the 1-10 level monster zone. Let's activate the cheat code!!]

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