Chapter 88

Teng Huayuan gave a sinister smile, his eyes revealing a murderous intent as he thought to himself, "Lier, your great-grandfather has come to avenge you." Thinking of Teng Li, Teng Huayuan couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow, for Teng Li, the most promising and talented member of the fourth generation of the Teng family, had been suddenly and brutally killed.

After Teng Li's death, Teng Huayuan had conducted a detailed investigation and finally understood the cause. Apart from Wang Lin, he harbored a deep resentment towards all those involved in Teng Li's death.

At this moment, the cultivator with the air of a sage sighed and said, "Brother Teng, I have already divined that the person you seek is in Jue Ming Valley. Why do you still want to target his close relatives? Forget it, Brother Teng. Grievances have their origins, and debts have their creditors. Venting your anger on ordinary people would be a disgrace if it were to become known."

Teng Huayuan's face darkened as he stared at the cultivator, saying nothing.

The cultivator smiled bitterly, shook his head, and touched the ancient mirror in his hand. He made a seal with his right hand and gently tapped the mirror, which immediately flew out of his hand and hovered in the air, as if searching for a direction. However, after a long time, the ancient mirror turned left and right, unable to find the final direction.

The cultivator frowned, realizing that the clues provided were insufficient. He waved his sleeve and pointed at the ancient mirror in the air, which immediately returned to his hand.

The cultivator bit his fingertip and quickly drew a symbol on the mirror's surface. He then threw it again, and this time the mirror grew several times larger, its surface becoming crystal clear and shimmering with ripples.

The mirror tilted and pointed at Teng Huayuan.

"Brother Teng, don't be alarmed. This ancient mirror needs to absorb the curse between you and that person," the cultivator said solemnly.

A thin stream of black gas emerged from Teng Huayuan's forehead and quickly entered the ancient mirror. The ripples on the mirror's surface increased, and beneath the layers of ripples, a large mansion slowly appeared.

A flash of murderous intent crossed Teng Huayuan's eyes. After a quick glance, he stared at the sage-like cultivator without a word.

The cultivator hesitated for a moment, sighed, and with a wave of his right hand, the ancient mirror descended and instantly grew several times larger, becoming taller than a person. The cultivator smiled bitterly and stepped into the mirror.

A sinister smile appeared on Teng Huayuan's lips as he followed.

After the two entered the mirror, it quickly shrank and disappeared.

A hundred miles away from this place was a small town. The Wang family was considered one of the most prominent clans in the area, with several members said to have joined immortal sects, a fact well-known in the remote town.

The Wang family, originally carpenters, owned several workshops and shops in the town. To outsiders, the Wang family was almost the largest clan within a few dozen miles.

The most luxurious building in the town was the Wang family's mansion. On this day, the sun in the sky was like a giant furnace, scorching the earth. A servant guarding the gate of the Wang family's ancestral home leaned against the doorpost, fanning himself to ward off the heat.

His blue cotton jacket was soaked with sweat on his back and chest.

"This damned weather, it's too hot to live," the servant said, unbuttoning his jacket and fanning himself vigorously.

At this moment, a door in a side room of the mansion opened, and a young maid carrying a blue porcelain bowl walked out. She turned left and right within the mansion and soon reached the gate. Seeing the young servant, she giggled and said, "Brother, have a bowl of plum juice to cool off."

The young servant turned to look at the girl, his face lighting up. He took the blue porcelain bowl and drank it in one gulp, immediately feeling a refreshing coolness. He sighed, "The masters sure know how to enjoy themselves. This iced plum juice is really good. Little sister, did you come out without Young Master Hao seeing you?"

The girl took the fan and, while fanning the servant, said with a smile, "Don't worry, brother. Young Master Hao didn't see me. I came out when he wasn't paying attention. Besides, Young Master Hao is a good person. Even if he saw me, it wouldn't be a problem."

The servant enjoyed the breeze from his sister and nodded, saying, "That's true. Young Master Hao is an immortal. How can he be like us? Little sister, you should show more effort. If you can be chosen as his concubine, then I will have made it. I would be content with a position as a steward."

The girl blushed and gave her brother a playful glare, saying, "Brother, you've been with the Wang family longer than me. I've heard that three young masters were chosen as immortals, but I've been here for three years, and I've only seen Young Master Hao once. I haven't seen anyone else."

The servant said proudly, "I do know about that. The third young master is called Wang Lin. He can't compare to Young Master Hao. I heard he was a... " He stopped suddenly, staring at the sky.

A long rainbow streaked across the sky and landed on the ground in an instant, revealing a young man in black attire. He had a fair complexion, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes, looking quite handsome. A precious sword was strapped to his back, its tassel fluttering, giving him an ethereal air.

But upon closer inspection, one could see that he was no longer young, with fine lines at the corners of his eyes, and a hint of沧桑 (沧桑 means "沧桑" in Chinese, which can be translated as "weathered" or "world-weary") in his demeanor.

"Zhuo... Young Master Zhuo." The young servant stammered and quickly bowed.

The girl was also startled by his sudden appearance and hurriedly stood behind her brother.

The man was Wang Zhuo. He frowned and looked at the servant, saying, "You are Wang Tao, right?"

The servant, surprised that Wang Zhuo remembered his name, immediately perked up and said, "Young Master Zhuo, this servant is Wang Tao."

Wang Zhuo hesitated for a moment and slowly said, "Wang Tao, who told you about Wang Lin, and what did they say?"

Wang Tao's heart trembled, and he quickly replied, "It was... the steward and others. They said Young Master Lin was too ashamed to return and that he was a waste of talent, trying to compete with you for the opportunity to cultivate."

Wang Zhuo remained silent for a long time, then sighed, as if speaking to himself or to Wang Tao, "He had the courage to leave the sect, something I never had..."

Wang Tao was taken aback, hearing Wang Zhuo's words and immediately feeling puzzled. At that moment, a young man with a broad back and a dignified appearance walked out of the mansion. He stood not far away, looking at Wang Zhuo and said calmly, "Wang Zhuo, it's been a long time."

Wang Zhuo smiled bitterly and said, "Wang Hao, we haven't seen each other for three years. You've changed a lot."

Wang Hao's face showed a hint of melancholy, and both of them fell silent. Wang Tao and his sister stood aside, not daring to breathe, looking at the two men. Wang Tao knew they were the Wang family's pride, high-ranking immortals.

"Do you have any news of Wang Lin?" Wang Hao asked in a low voice.

"Since he left the Hengyue Sect, there has been no news," Wang Zhuo said with a complex expression.

"What is your current cultivation level? In the Xuandao Sect, with your talent, you should have been favored by many elders, right?" Wang Hao sighed and asked.

"It's hard to say. I am now at the 11th layer of the Condensation Qi stage. This was only achieved after I won a competition last year and entered the back mountain," Wang Zhuo said bitterly.

At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and the scorching heat vanished in an instant. A large mirror appeared silently in the air, its surface shimmering with ripples. Two figures stepped out from beneath the layers of ripples. One had the air of a sage, while the other was shrouded in a sinister aura.

A powerful pressure suddenly descended from the sky.

Wang Zhuo and Wang Hao's faces changed, and they dared not breathe deeply. Wang Zhuo quickly clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Junior Wang Zhuo of the Xuandao Sect, I pay my respects to the two seniors."

The sage-like cultivator was taken aback, looked at Wang Zhuo, and said, "Xuandao Sect? Do you have any proof?"

Wang Zhuo's heart raced, sensing something ominous. He quickly took out a jade slip from his storage bag, and the cultivator grabbed it, examining it closely. He then glanced at Wang Hao and said, "You too?"

Wang Hao, being astute, did not hesitate and nodded.

Teng Huayuan snorted and waved his sleeve. Instantly, two loud "bangs" echoed, and the heads of the servant and his sister exploded, blood and flesh splattering everywhere.

Two yellow smoke trails emerged from their bodies. Teng Huayuan waved his right hand, and a black flag floated in the air. With a flick, the two smoke trails were drawn into the flag.

The flag then revealed two faces in pain, those of the servant and his sister.

"Today, not a single chicken or dog will be left alive here!" Teng Huayuan said sinisterly, taking a step and walking into the mansion, passing by Wang Zhuo and Wang Hao.

Meanwhile, Wang Lin was quickly fleeing in Jue Ming Valley. Behind him, two men and a woman pursued him with murderous intent.

As he ran, Wang Lin suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if an invisible needle was piercing him. This pain was not physical but a vague, ethereal pain from his soul.

A sense of inexplicable fear and unease rose in his heart.