Chapter 49: Ancestral Hall

In the cold and desolate ancestral hall, only a few faint blue flames flickered slowly, casting an eerie and ghostly atmosphere throughout the hall.

In front of the hall, there was a massive camphor wood table, on which were placed the spirit tablets of the Du family ancestors.

Standing before the table, Du Zhen Tian casually took out three incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner. He then turned to Du Fei behind him and said indifferently, "Come and pay your respects to the ancestors of the Du family."

Upon hearing this, Du Fei did not object. He followed Du Zhen Tian, offered a stick of incense, and then slowly retreated to the side, remaining silent.

Although he did not know why Du Zhen Tian had called him here after the clan meeting, Du Fei did not intend to ask too many questions.

"Let's set up a spirit tablet for Tian here," Du Zhen Tian said after a moment of silence.

Hearing this, Du Fei was taken aback and, after a moment, gritted his teeth and said, "No!"

"Why?" Du Zhen Tian turned slightly, but his figure was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see his expression clearly.

"Although I don't know if Father is dead or alive, I have a fifty percent certainty that they won't make a move... After all, they haven't gotten what they want yet!" Du Fei hesitated for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Moreover, even if Father has already died, I won't set up a spirit tablet until I have avenged him with my own hands!"

Seemingly giving Du Fei a deep look, Du Zhen Tian then sighed and said, "Since you are determined, I won't say much more. I will instruct someone to write both your and your father's names back in the family register. As for your father's matter, I don't want to ask too many questions. I believe you will handle it better than I can."

"Thank you, Clan Head!" Du Fei bowed slightly.

"Still calling me Clan Head?" Du Zhen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"Grandfather... Grandfather..." After a moment of hesitation, Du Fei spoke softly.

"Ha ha! Very good! I never thought Du Zhen Tian would have such a grandson!" Du Zhen Tian laughed, but his laughter carried a hint of sorrow.

Du Fei could understand his grandfather's feelings to some extent. He only had one son, his father, who, despite his exceptional talent, betrayed the family for a woman. Even if the old man didn't say it, he must have been extremely heartbroken.

While his return brought the news of his father's misfortune, it also brought some rare joy to the old man, didn't it?

After a moment, Du Zhen Tian seemed to calm down. He looked at Du Fei carefully and then said in a low voice, "The cultivation technique you practice is the Ice Heart Decree, right?"

Du Fei knew he couldn't hide this, so he raised his right hand slightly, casually formed a finger seal, and a thin layer of ice crystals appeared in his palm, disappearing instantly.

"Indeed, it is the Ice Heart Decree of our Du family. Since you have practiced it, you can continue to do so. When you are willing, you can return the technique to the Du family." Du Zhen Tian did not oppose Du Fei's practice of the Ice Heart Decree. After a moment of hesitation, he continued, "However, although our Ice Heart Decree is only a fragment, it comes with two martial techniques: Ice Peak Leg and Profound Yin Finger. I assume you already have the Ice Peak Leg. As for the Profound Yin Finger... it has always been a technique that only the Clan Head can learn. But since you are my only grandson, there is probably no one else to pass it to! Focus and listen carefully!"

Without giving Du Fei a chance to object, Du Zhen Tian extended his fingers and instantly touched Du Fei's forehead.

With Du Zhen Tian's action, a mysterious stream of information quickly flowed into Du Fei's mind. At the same time, a cold electronic voice in Du Fei's head quickly recorded the information into the system.

"Profound Yin Finger, a seventh-grade martial technique, rooted in the Ice Heart Decree and guided by Ice Heart Qi, it condenses yin energy into a finger, and the strike is as deadly as a curse..."

After quickly browsing through the technique, Du Fei was surprised to find that the Profound Yin Finger was more profound and difficult to understand than any martial technique he had practiced before. However, precisely because of this, its power was extremely great. If he could master this technique, although he wouldn't be invincible among ninth-grade martial artists, it would greatly enhance his strength.

"Thank you, Grandfather..." After a moment, Du Fei bowed slightly.

"Would you rather take it to the grave?" Du Zhen Tian smiled faintly and then sighed, "Although I don't know where you learned alchemy, I won't ask. However, if you need any medicinal herbs for alchemy in the future, just let me know, and the clan will try to meet your needs. As for the clan's martial techniques, although I can let you practice all of them, I don't recommend it. Greed is not good. In short, you don't need to worry too much about clan affairs; just focus on your cultivation."

Du Fei nodded slowly. Regardless, he would be going to the Dan King's ruins with Yun Yuqing in three months, so he didn't have time to deal with too many things.

As for alchemy, with his current strength, he should be able to refine the Bone Washing Pill. He needed to prepare enough of it for his trip to the Dan King's ruins.

"There is one more thing," Du Zhen Tian said after a moment, looking at Du Fei indifferently. "You must have heard about the Profound Yin Secret Realm from your father, right?"

"Profound Yin Secret Realm?" Du Fei was slightly taken aback and quickly recalled the information.

According to legend, the Profound Yin Secret Realm was the location of the mountain gate of the once-renowned Profound Yin Sect in the Da An Dynasty. The Profound Yin Sect's cultivation techniques and martial arts were said to be extremely mysterious and powerful, but also extremely difficult to practice.

Thus, although the sect was once prominent, it gradually disappeared from people's sight over time.

However, a few hundred years later, a great power emerged in Buyue City and, while practicing in the wild, accidentally discovered the site of the Profound Yin Sect's mountain gate, which was then called the Profound Yin Secret Realm.

It was said that the Profound Yin Secret Realm was planted with various precious medicinal herbs and was home to countless demonic beasts. Moreover, it was rumored that in the deepest part, there was the site of the Profound Yin Sect's mountain gate, where the legendary cultivation techniques and martial arts of the Profound Yin Sect were said to exist.

Since its discovery, many people have entered the Profound Yin Secret Realm over the years to search for the site of the Profound Yin Sect. Although no one has found it yet, everyone who has entered and survived has gained significant benefits.

However, the Profound Yin Secret Realm has a peculiar characteristic: no one can enter it more than once. Once someone has entered, they can only circle around the perimeter, no matter what methods they use. Additionally, the Profound Yin Secret Realm can only be entered on a specific day every three years; at other times, no one can enter.

Because of these two characteristics, the Profound Yin Secret Realm has become a place for the younger generations of various forces around Buyue City to undergo trials. After all, no matter what, the younger generations of the clan who can undergo trials in such a place are likely to gain significant benefits.

Over time, these trials have evolved from simple trials to include open and covert struggles among various forces.

Back then, Du Fei's father, Du Tian, stood out in the Profound Yin Secret Realm and became the top person of his generation in the Du family. It was also said that he met Du Fei's mother, the so-called demoness of the Du family, in the Profound Yin Secret Realm... "What do you mean, Grandfather?" Du Fei shook his head slowly, clearing the mixed information from his mind, and then spoke softly.

Du Zhen Tian nodded slightly and said, "Fei, you are now the top person among the younger generation in Buyue City. Therefore, you must go to the Profound Yin Secret Realm in a month... I believe you won't suffer any losses with your strength, but you need to be aware that any medicinal pills will be ineffective in the Profound Yin Secret Realm, and naturally, your alchemy skills will also be useless."

Du Fei was taken aback, not expecting this. However, he quickly understood why Du Zhen Tian had taught him the Profound Yin Finger at this time—it was for the trip to the Profound Yin Secret Realm!

Realizing this, Du Fei knew he had no choice but to accept it. He laughed and said, "Grandfather, rest assured. Even without my alchemy skills, do you think I, Du Fei, will fear anyone? Even an eighth-grade martial artist, I have the confidence to fight!"

Du Zhen Tian glanced at him, seemingly impressed by his boldness, and then said indifferently after a moment, "Besides you, Du Han and Du Qian will also participate... Qian is indifferent and is your fiancée. In the Profound Yin Secret Realm, you should take extra care of her... As for Du Han, I haven't figured out his character yet, but since we are all from the Du family, there shouldn't be any problems. However, you need to be particularly cautious of the Lian family and the Gongsun family... They won't miss such a great opportunity in the Profound Yin Secret Realm! The forces around Buyue City probably don't want our Du family to have another alchemist, do you understand my meaning?"

Du Fei smiled faintly, a cold expression on his face. After a moment, he clapped his hands lightly and said, "If no one provokes me, we can all get along peacefully. But if someone wants to harm me, I don't mind killing a few more... After all, I have already killed enough people!"

Hearing this, Du Zhen Tian sighed softly, his expression unreadable, whether it was joy or worry. After a moment, he gently waved his hand, signaling Du Fei to leave.

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End of Chapter 49