Chapter 12

The Grand Hall of the Tian Ding Sect

The sky gradually darkened, and the atmosphere inside the hall was oppressively heavy. A group of elders and hall masters stared straight ahead at the sect leader seated on the dais, not daring to breathe loudly. The hall was eerily silent for a moment. Incense smoke rose continuously from the incense burner, and on the dais was carved the figure of an old man in a green robe, with a sword on his back and eyes that seemed to gaze calmly at everyone in the hall.

"Speak! Why aren't you speaking?" A cold, icy voice echoed in the hall.

"Usually, I tell you to pay more attention to the cultivation of the disciples within the sect. Look at what you've done, always closing yourselves off in seclusion, neglecting your duties."

"Bang!" Seeing the silent crowd, the sect leader, seated on the dais, angrily slammed his chair, filling the hall with his furious aura.

"Look, in the triennial competition among the three major academies, our Tian Ding Academy came in last place in every category. This is unprecedented in the history of our school. Do you still have the nerve to seclude yourselves every day?"

"That's because the Righteous Qi Academy is too despicable, tampering with the draw. Our academy always faces stronger opponents, and even our strongest were eliminated by their two world-class geniuses." A hall master complained softly.

"Do you still have the nerve to say that? As one of the three great holy lands of the Tian Yuan Continent, not a single disciple of ours is stronger than others. If they can cultivate geniuses, why can't we? You've disgraced me!"

Everyone muttered in their hearts, thinking that losing face was the real reason for his anger.

"Geniuses are hard to find. They are rare talents that appear only once in several hundred years, capable of breaking through to the Immortal Realm within a century." An elder replied.

"Hmph! World-class geniuses? Reaching the Immortal Realm within a century, what's the point! True geniuses only exist in the War Clan." A middle-aged man standing at the front crossed his arms and sneered. He bore a striking resemblance to the person on the dais, clearly a brother.

"Fine, you all treat my words as if they were mere wind. In a few decades, it will be the fifty-year competition among the young generation of the Tian Yuan Continent. If you don't cultivate a decent successor for me, you will all be sent to the Martial Hall on the back mountain to seclude yourselves, and you'll seclude until you can't anymore."

Hearing the sect leader's words, everyone's lips twitched, seemingly thinking of the severe consequences, and they all promised, "Don't worry, Sect Leader, this time we will do everything in our power to prevent our Tian Ding Sect from losing face."

The group of elders and hall masters left, leaving only the sect leader, Yang Qingtian, and the middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to him. They were brothers, with Yang Qingtian being the leader of the Tian Ding Sect and Yang Batiang being his brother. They were known as the "Twin Swords of Tian Ding," renowned throughout the world.

"Damn it, the elders of other sects are fighting for power, but they all hide in seclusion, leaving me to handle everything alone. This time, none of them will get off easy." Yang Qingtian sneered.

"Brother, be content. Others would love to have what you have. But Brother, the Righteous Qi Sect has gone too far this time, it's utterly shameless."

"Hmph, the Righteous Qi Sect is infamous for its despicable nature, from their founding ancestor to the present. Damn it! Just because they have two geniuses, they think they're so great."

"Brother, what about in a few decades? I don't want to see their arrogant faces."

"What can we do? Geniuses are hard to find."

Seeing his brother's worried expression, Yang Batiang suddenly said, "Brother, there is a way. We just need to find a few people to stand in."

"Oh? Do you have candidates?"

"In this world, who can match the War Clan in terms of geniuses? Our Tian Ding Sect has always had a good relationship with them. We can invite a few over, and everything will be solved."

"But aren't they cursed? Are there still such geniuses now?" Yang Qingtian asked uncertainly.

"Why not? I remember twenty years ago, I met a War Clan woman in her twenties. Compared to her, all other geniuses are nothing."

"Really that strong?"

"Not just strong. At just over twenty, she broke through to the Immortal Realm! This isn't just a genius, it's a monster. Damn it! Is this even fair?"

"But... in a few decades, won't she exceed the maximum age limit?" Yang Qingtian mused.

"Brother, the War Clan has so many people. Even if they can't match that woman, they won't be far off. I think the Righteous Qi Sect will be humiliated." Yang Batiang laughed coldly.

"Find people to stand in, hmm? This... doesn't seem right," Yang Qingtian hesitated.

"Hmph! So what? If the Righteous Qi Sect can be shameless, we can find people to stand in." The two brothers laughed coldly, clearly reaching an agreement.

"What are you two whispering about? Not planning to exterminate another family, are you?"

A pleasant female voice echoed in the hall, and the two brothers looked at a beautiful figure that had appeared. She was noble and elegant, exuding a refined aura. Her smile could melt your heart, even the hardest of hearts would open up, and she seemed to be always protecting you.

Her cultivation technique was very special, faintly resembling water or mist, elusive and indistinct, making her seem like an ordinary woman who had never practiced any cultivation technique, shrouded in a veil of mystery.

"Madam." Seeing the newcomer, Yang Qingtian's face softened into a gentle smile. This was his wife, Situ Wanyue.

"Sister-in-law, come to see Brother."

"Hmph! Qingtian, won't Xing'er and her daughter be in danger in the Southern Ling Province? Remember, Xiao An has gone to Da Shen, and no one is taking care of them. What if something happens?"

"Ha ha ha! Madam, don't worry. With my reputation of hundreds of years, who would dare to harm them?"

"Hmph, that's your reputation for being a tyrant, always exterminating families." Situ Wanyue said with a huff.

"Ha ha ha!" The hall echoed with Yang Qingtian's proud laughter.

"Sect Leader! A disciple has something to report." A young disciple burst in, looking nervous as he saw Yang Qingtian laughing.

"En, what is it?"

"Just received an urgent message from Southern Ling. The young madam and the young miss were attacked."

"What? Say that again?" Yang Qingtian stood up, his voice harsh.

"The... young madam and the young miss were attacked." The young disciple felt suffocated, struggling to breathe.

"Ah, are they okay?" Situ Wanyue's face changed, and she asked anxiously.

"The young madam and the young miss were saved by a passing War Clan member and were not harmed." The young disciple quickly said.

"Who dared to attack my daughter-in-law and granddaughter?" Yang Qingtian was furious. Just moments ago, he was boasting about his reputation, and now someone was attacking his family, a serious challenge to his authority.

"Seems... it was the Soul Sect." The young disciple, facing the enraged Yang Qingtian, trembled.

"Soul Sect! Yang, you were just boasting about your reputation. How can a small sect like the Soul Sect dare to attack your granddaughter on your territory? What kind of leader of the Tian Ding Sect are you?" Situ Wanyue, who had been gentle moments ago, now showed her fiery side.

"Where is my granddaughter now?"

"In... in the Tian Ding Sect's base in Southern Ling's Bian City."

"Ah, my poor granddaughter! Yang, if anything happens to my granddaughter, I'll never forgive you!" She disappeared from the hall.

Yang Batiang watched his sister-in-law disappear, a strange smile on his face. He thought to himself, "Sister-in-law, you've wasted your cultivation technique. Your fiery nature hasn't changed a bit. Being single is better, free and easy."

Yang Qingtian's face was ashen, his entire body like a volcano about to erupt, his anger overwhelming. The hall was filled with a terrifying aura, and soon a roar echoed through the hall.

"The Soul Sect, a bunch of cowards hiding in the shadows, dared to attack my granddaughter. I will exterminate their entire family!"

"Hehe, Brother, it seems we haven't been active for years, and the world has forgotten our reputation. They dared to attack your granddaughter on our territory." Yang Batiang's face showed excitement as he laughed coldly.

"Hmph! Brother, gather information on the Soul Sect. I will personally exterminate their entire family. They have grown tired of living!"

"Ha ha ha! Brother, rest assured, I will take care of it."

"Remember, don't let the news leak. Otherwise, those cowards will hide in the forbidden areas, and it will be troublesome."

"Ha ha ha, rest assured, I will handle it perfectly."

"Ah! No, I need to see my granddaughter."

Watching his brother disappear from the hall, Yang Batiang's face showed excitement. He laughed heartily, the hall echoing with his terrifying laughter.

"Ha ha ha! It's been a long time since someone dared to challenge us. Over twenty years, since the last time we exterminated a family, no one has dared to provoke us. Ha ha! The Soul Sect, you have some guts. Ha ha! You are polluting the air of the Tian Yuan Continent. For the sake of the people, I will exterminate your entire family."

The next morning, in Bian City, the Tian Ding Sect's base.

"Xian Ge, will you come to the holy land to see Xing'er in the future?" Xing'er, her gem-like eyes red, clung to Xiao Ran's clothes, looking pitiful.

Xiao Ran stroked the little girl's head lovingly and said, "Don't worry, when I become strong, I will come to see my Xing'er."

"Really? Xian Ge, you mustn't lie."

"En, don't worry, Xian Ge never lies."

Although they had only known each other for a short time, a sense of shared suffering had firmly connected their hearts. Xiao Ran would never forget this adorable little junior sister, no matter what the future held.

"Xian Er, it's time to go." Zhan Wanyue said gently.

Watching Xiao Ran get into the carriage, Xing'er called out, "Xian Ge, remember to come see Xing'er!"

Xiao Ran turned and waved, then entered the carriage, which slowly left under the escort of the guards. Xing'er's eyes were filled with tears, and she asked her mother with a sob, "Mother, will Xing'er see Xian Ge again?"

"Don't worry, your Xian Ge promised, so he will definitely come to see you."

Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, looking at the sobbing little girl with concern. "Oh, my precious granddaughter, who has hurt you? Grandma will make them pay."

"Grandma!" Xing'er threw herself into the newcomer's arms.