Chapter 5

Who is the 'young master' in the voice?

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

Who is the 'one from Longyuan City'?

Chen Xi's mind raced madly, the information revealed in the sound symbol was too obscure, but there was a trail 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 thought of a possibility.

He had heard his grandfather say that when he was born, his mother, Qiu Xue, had made a marriage pact 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, with the Chen family being exterminated and his mother disappearing, when he was four years old, the Su Family of Longyuan City sent over a dozen experts of the Yellow Court realm to tear up the marriage pact in front of everyone in Songyan City.

And the only ones capable of influencing Songyan City and prompting three Purple Mansion cultivators to ambush his grandfather and younger brother were undoubtedly the Su Family of Longyuan City!

Yes, it must be so!

The more he thought, the clearer Chen Xi's thoughts became, confirming that his speculation was almost 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 web of traps outside the city. Such a grand scheme could only be carried out by a major force 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 as an exchange!

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 pact 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 ponder which force in Songyan City this 'young master' belonged to.

Nanjing is the southernmost territory of the 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 forces in Songyan City are few.

According to Chen Xi's knowledge, 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 Song Dynasty stationed in Songyan City, with strict discipline, dedicated to maintaining order in the city, and standing above all.

The Songyan Academy is a place for the children of Songyan City to cultivate, teaching disciples and spreading knowledge. The academy has many Purple Mansion cultivators, but it never involves itself in power struggles and acts very low-key.

The Li Family is the only family force in Songyan City, with over a dozen Purple Mansion cultivators, making it the strongest family. After the Chen family was exterminated, it 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 greatest enmity towards the Chen family is undoubtedly the Li Family. Before the Chen family was destroyed, the two families were bitter enemies, constantly in conflict.

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

"Having the ability to set up a vast web of traps outside Songyan City and having a grudge against the Chen family, the 'young master' must be from the Li Family!"

At this point, all the clues were roughly sorted out, and Chen Xi let out a long sigh, muttering to himself, "Grandfather, you have always been in pain not knowing who destroyed our Chen family. Don't worry, your grandson has found an important clue. Once I become stronger, I will avenge you! Avenge our Chen family of over a thousand 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 Chen Hao 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 and said calmly, "I will also work hard and become stronger, so that you won't suffer any more in the future."

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 firm and resolute.

In the days that followed, apart from making talismans to earn essence stones, Chen Xi almost devoted 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.

Water can wear through stone; only by persisting can one see hope!

Chen Xi was silent and taciturn, with a stubborn and obstinate nature. He thought and acted this way.

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

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 the sword!

Chen Hao had excellent talent, and his foundation was solid, thanks to his grandfather. In less than ten days, he had completely mastered left-hand sword techniques, and his sword skills had improved significantly.

Notably, on the eighth day of intense practice, Chen Hao broke through 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 impossible.

Chen Xi was naturally delighted and felt a sense of无形的压力. With his younger brother advancing to the Innate realm, when would he break through the third level of the Innate realm?

However, although his realm remained stagnant, Chen Xi had other gains. With the essence stones earned from making talismans, he had paid off the 100 essence stones he owed Uncle Zhang and even had some left over, which improved his mood.

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

For Chen Xi, who was used to a life of poverty, using essence stones for cultivation was a luxury. Over the years, to maintain a living, he had meticulously planned every use of essence stones, trying to stretch them as far as possible.

However, to improve his realm, he could no longer consider so much.

The essence in the outside world was too thin. Only by earning more essence stones and using them for cultivation could he and his younger brother Chen Hao become stronger.

With this plan in mind, Chen Xi divided the four essence 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 essence stones for cultivation, there was no increase in the essence in his body.

Is this how my life will be forever?

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

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

He circulated the *Purple Dawn Art*, and the essence from the outside world transformed into a stream of true essence, flowing through his meridians. After eighteen cycles, it slowly flowed into his dantian.

At the Innate realm, with each step of advancement, a cloud of true essence would form 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* is divided into eighteen levels, a family legacy of the Chen family. Chen Xi had practiced it since childhood and had reached 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 the true essence in his body was abundant, Chen Xi finished his cultivation and was about to sleep when he suddenly heard a very subtle cracking sound. Although the sound was small, it was very clear in the quiet night.

Following the sound, his gaze quickly fell on a longevity lock hanging against his chest. This was given to him by his mother, Qiu Xue, at birth, symbolizing a life without disasters and growing up safely.

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 the surface of the lock, causing him to feel a pang of pain.

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

Chen Xi reached out to touch the longevity lock, but as soon as his fingertips touched the surface, countless cracks spread rapidly across the entire lock. 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 was not enough to process this. He stared at the jade pendant, which was about the size of a longan, round and transparent, black and lusterless, resembling a high-quality black pearl.

Could this be a gift from his 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 flowing water of a stream, 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 rotated 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 began to swirl violently, and gradually, a figure of a woman in white appeared out of nowhere!

The woman in white had flowing white robes, a face like a painting, elegant and refined, with large, clear eyes that exuded a lively and playful spirit.

Seeing her, Chen Xi felt a strange mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity, a sense of long-lost affection. He couldn't help but wonder who this woman was and why she made him feel such a subtle emotion.

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

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

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

Is... is she his mother, Qiu Xue?

—

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