Chapter 5

Who is the 'young master' in the voice?

To force a marriage, could they really drive an entire family to their deaths?

Who is the 'one from Longyuan City'?

Chen Xi's mind raced frantically, the information from the sound rune was obscure, but there were traces to follow. Once a starting point was found, everything would fall into place!

Longyuan City, the only place related to me seems to be...

The Su Family!

Yes, it must be the Su Family of Longyuan City!

A flash of insight struck Chen Xi, and he suddenly had a realization.

He remembered his grandfather telling him that when he was born, his mother, Zuoqiu Xue, had arranged a marriage with the head of the Su Family in Longyuan City, agreeing that Chen Xi would marry the head's daughter, Su Yao, eighteen years later. However, after the Chen family was exterminated and his mother disappeared, when he was four years old, the Su Family of Longyuan City sent over a dozen experts of the Yellow Court realm to publicly tear up the marriage contract in front of everyone in Songyan City.

The only force capable of influencing Songyan City and prompting three Purple Mansion cultivators to ambush his grandfather and younger brother must be the Su Family of Longyuan City!

Yes, it must be so!

The more he thought, the clearer his thoughts became, confirming that his speculation was almost certainly correct.

As for the identity of the 'young master,' it was also easy to explain. To prevent him and his younger brother from escaping Songyan City, they had set up a vast network outside the city. Such a grand operation could only be carried out by a major power within Songyan City.

Their purpose was undoubtedly for the 'young master's' marriage, possibly to form an alliance with the Su Family of Longyuan City, with the key condition being to force his family to their deaths!

Thinking of this, Chen Xi felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Tearing up the marriage contract was already outrageous, but to drive his entire family to their deaths was a cruel and vicious act!

Chen Xi took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and began to think about which power in Songyan City this 'young master' might belong to.

Nanjing is the southernmost territory of the Great Song Dynasty, spanning over a million miles, with numerous cities. Songyan City is just a small town in the Nanjing region, covering only ten thousand miles.

Moreover, Songyan City is adjacent to the Southern Barbarian Mountains, where beasts run rampant, and there are no excellent spiritual lands or mineral veins, making it a place of poverty and hardship. Therefore, the major powers in Songyan City are few.

As far as Chen Xi knew, the current Songyan City is controlled by three major forces: the General's Mansion, the Li Family, and the Songyan Academy.

The General's Mansion is the military force of the Great Song Dynasty stationed in Songyan City, maintaining order with strict discipline, standing above all.

The Songyan Academy is a place for the children of Songyan City to cultivate, teaching and guiding disciples. While it has many Purple Mansion cultivators, the academy never involves itself in power struggles and remains extremely low-profile.

The Li Family, on the other hand, is a family power in Songyan City, with over a dozen Purple Mansion cultivators. After the Chen family was exterminated, the Li Family became the first family in Songyan City, rising to prominence.

Chen Xi's gaze was firmly fixed on the Li Family.

Among these three forces, the one with the deepest grudge against the Chen family is undoubtedly the Li Family. Before the Chen family's downfall, the two families were bitter enemies, constantly at odds.

Even his grandfather, Chen Tianli, had suspected that the Li Family was involved in the Chen family's destruction.

"Having the power to set up a vast network outside Songyan City and a grudge against the Chen family, the 'young master' must be from the Li Family!"

At this point, all the clues were mostly sorted out. Chen Xi let out a long sigh, muttering to himself, "Grandfather, you were always in pain because you didn't know who destroyed our Chen family. Don't worry, I have a crucial lead. Once I become stronger, I will avenge you! Avenge our thousands of clan members!"

"Brother, have you figured out who the enemy is?" Chen Hao looked up with a face full of hatred.

Chen Xi shook his head. Before he had the strength to destroy the Li Family, telling his younger brother would do more harm than good.

"Xiao Hao, since you've decided to cultivate the left-hand sword, work hard. When you become strong, I'll take you to kill our enemies!"

Chen Xi patted his younger brother's shoulder, his expression calm, "I will also work hard and become stronger, so that you won't suffer any more."

Chen Hao nodded fiercely, "Brother, for Grandfather, for our Chen family, let's work hard together!"

"Good!"

The two brothers looked at each other, their expressions resolute and identical.

In the days that followed, besides making talismans to earn spirit stones, Chen Xi devoted almost all his time to cultivation. Although his cultivation had stagnated at the third level of the Innate realm for five years, he was not discouraged. Instead, he practiced diligently, neglecting sleep and meals, unwilling to waste even a moment.

Persistence is key; only by persevering can one see hope!

Chen Xi, who was usually silent and stubborn, thought and acted this way.

Chen Hao had also changed. Due to losing his right hand, almost all the sword techniques he had learned were useless, and practicing with his left hand was like starting over.

He worked hard to adapt to his left hand, adjusting his sword rhythm, and gradually building a solid foundation for left-hand sword techniques.

In the morning sun and under the night sky, one could see his slender figure, drenched in sweat, practicing diligently!

Chen Hao's talent was excellent, and his foundation was solid, thanks to his grandfather's training. In less than ten days, he had become proficient with his left hand, and his sword skills had improved significantly.

Notably, on the eighth day of intense practice, Chen Hao broke through to the Great Completion of the Postnatal realm and successfully advanced to the Innate realm!

His advancement was so rapid that surpassing his brother Chen Xi was not out of the question.

Chen Xi was naturally delighted and felt a sense of pressure. His younger brother had advanced to the Innate realm, but when would he break through the third level of the Innate realm?

Although his cultivation had not advanced, Chen Xi had other gains. With the spirit stones earned from making talismans, he had repaid the 100 spirit stones he owed Uncle Zhang and had a little left over, which improved his mood.

He calculated that the spirit stones earned from making talismans each day, after daily expenses, could save him four spirit stones. Originally, he planned to save enough spirit stones to buy a book on second-grade talismans, but to advance his cultivation faster, he decided to use the spirit stones for cultivation.

For Chen Xi, who was used to a life of poverty, using spirit stones for cultivation was a luxury. Over the years, to make ends meet, he had meticulously budgeted every spirit stone, trying to stretch them as far as possible.

However, to advance his cultivation, he could no longer afford to be so frugal.

Chen Xi's true essence could only support him in making thirty talismans a day, earning him ten spirit stones. Once his realm advanced, his true essence would surge, allowing him to make more talismans and earn more spirit stones.

Therefore, advancing his realm was the top priority!

The external spiritual energy was too thin, and only by earning more spirit stones and using them for cultivation could he and his younger brother become stronger.

With this plan in mind, Chen Xi divided the four spirit stones he saved each day, giving half to his younger brother and keeping half for himself to use for cultivation.

However, after more than ten days, even with the use of spirit stones, there was no increase in his true essence.

Is this how my life will be?

At night, Chen Xi sat cross-legged on the bed, silent. Even with his tenacious and resilient nature, he felt a hint of despair.

When troubled, Chen Xi would meditate. Only through cultivation could he forget everything.

He circulated the *Purple Dawn Art*, and the external spiritual energy transformed into true essence, flowing through his meridians. After eighteen cycles, it slowly infused his dantian.

At the Innate realm, each step of advancement would result in a cloud of true essence forming in the dantian, known as the Foundation Cloud Ladder. When nine clouds were formed, one could open the Purple Mansion and become a Purple Mansion cultivator with a Dao foundation.

The *Purple Dawn Art* has eighteen levels and is a family legacy. Chen Xi had practiced it since childhood and was now at the thirteenth level, with the cultivation of the third level of the Innate realm. Three purple clouds had formed in his dantian, floating and absorbing the true essence from his meridians.

Crack!

After a long time, when his true essence was full, Chen Xi finished his cultivation and was about to sleep when he heard a faint cracking sound. Though small, it was very clear in the quiet night.

Following the sound, his gaze fell on a longevity lock hanging against his chest. His mother, Zuoqiu Xue, had placed it around his neck at birth, symbolizing a life free from disasters and a peaceful growth.

This longevity lock was the only thing Chen Xi had that was related to his mother, and he cherished it greatly. However, at this moment, many spider-web-like cracks appeared on its surface, causing him pain.

"What's happening? Why would the longevity lock crack for no reason?"

Chen Xi reached out to touch the longevity lock, and as soon as his fingertips touched it, countless cracks spread rapidly across the entire surface. With a crisp sound, the longevity lock shattered into countless pieces, falling into his lap, revealing a black jade pendant!

There was a jade pendant inside the longevity lock?

Chen Xi felt his mind boggled as he stared at the jade pendant. It was about the size of a longan, round and translucent, black and lusterless, resembling a high-quality black pearl.

Could this be a gift from my mother? But if so, why did she hide it inside the longevity lock?

Buzz!

Just as Chen Xi was puzzled, a gentle and ancient melody sounded, like the clear stream of a mountain spring, light and pleasant. Accompanied by the sound, a blinding white light suddenly shot out from the surface of the jade pendant!

After a moment, countless rays of misty white light poured out from the jade pendant, illuminating the entire room. The white light swirled and dispersed like a mist, creating a dreamlike scene.

Chen Xi felt as if he were in a dream. Just as he was at a loss, the white light suddenly churned violently, and gradually, a figure of a woman in white appeared out of nowhere!

The woman wore a white robe, her features delicate and elegant, her large, clear eyes sparkling with a lively and mischievous look.

Seeing her, Chen Xi felt a strange mix of familiarity and strangeness, a sense of long-lost affection. He was curious about who this woman was and why she gave him such a subtle feeling.

"Well, my dear son, we finally meet again!"

The woman in white crossed her arms behind her back, winked playfully at Chen Xi, and spoke with a clear and pleasant voice, like the tinkling of a mountain spring, lively and cheerful.

Hearing this, Chen Xi's eyes widened in shock, staring at the woman in disbelief, losing his usual calm and composed demeanor.

Is... is she my mother, Zuoqiu Xue?

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