"Please forgive me, patriarch," Kunpeng began, his voice now fluent in the human language. Panic and fear flickered in his eyes, mirroring that of an ordinary human.
However, as Kunpeng observed the couple's lack of response and their piercing glares, he hurriedly spoke, his fear palpable.
"Your servant, Ping, brings good news! The young master has achieved a breakthrough to the Peak-stage of the Nascent Soul realm! Now he requires a soul to advance to the next realm!"
"What?!" The man, referred to as the patriarch, erupted in a shout. Rising from his seat, he trembled, inadvertently shattering the glass cup in his hand. His eyes widened in astonishment, and his previously furrowed eyebrows shot up.
"A-are you certain?" Meanwhile, the woman, elegant and poised as she leaned against the man, covered her mouth with her pale, slender hands. Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes, revealing dimples on her cheeks.
Both of them remained in a state of disbelief, even as the miniature Kunpeng regarded them with a sense of relief. Anticipating their reaction, the creature continued,
"The young master personally requested a soul to aid his advancement. I implore the patriarch to dispatch a soul immediately, as yesterday a mortal dared to plot against the young master, attempting to end his life."
At the mention of this, the miniature Kunpeng hastily covered its eyes with its fins and hesitated to proceed. As expected, after relaying the information, it suddenly flew into the air, colliding with a pillar in the gazebo.
"What did you say? A mortal dared to conspire against my son?!" The patriarch thundered furiously at the diminutive Kunpeng.
His rage infused his voice, resonating throughout the entire mansion with a roar befitting a mighty dragon.
In the next moment, footsteps approached, belonging to individuals clad in layered Hanfu garments, exuding a formidable aura. They hastened toward the couple, their faces etched with concern.
"What about you? Have you protected my son?" Elder Danya inquired, but as those individuals attempted to enter the backyard, an invisible barrier impeded their advance.
They cast worried glances at the couple engaged in conversation, yet the barrier deprived them of any auditory access.
Nevertheless, the surge of Qi and the preceding tremors undeniably emanated from their patriarch alone, daring to manifest such phenomena within the Xia Family residence.
As Elder Danya voiced her query, her icy gaze pierced the very soul of the mini Kunpeng. Her unwavering stare immobilized its movements and tethered its existence to its distant physical form in the lower realm.
Under the dual pressure of these formidable figures, the miniature Kunpeng strained to speak and maneuver its soul.
"Patriarch, Elder Danya, I implore you to regain your composure," the miniature Kunpeng pleaded, causing its aura to wane and the spinning cyclones on the ponds to gradually subside.
Noticing this shift, the couple composed their thoughts, withdrawing the pressure they had imposed upon the tiny creature. Though they appeared calm on the surface, their unwavering gazes remained fixated on the mini Kunpeng.
"Ha! So be it. I shall dispatch Ai and Qi to accompany you in the lower realm," the patriarch sighed, gesturing with a flick of his hand in mid-air.
The atmosphere cracked, revealing an endless, pitch-black void. Simultaneously, faint shadows were suctioned from the other side of the void and forcefully extracted by the patriarch.
Two bewildered individuals found themselves in a state of disbelief, surveying their unfamiliar surroundings. One of them bore the appearance of a septuagenarian, standing at an impressive height of 188 cm, with short, gray hair.
The other, also elderly, possessed short black hair and stood at a slightly shorter height of 178 cm.
Dressed in attire identical to Xia Ping's, multiple layers of Hanfu adorned with a white dragon emblem on the front, the two individuals quickly comprehended their predicament.
They knelt before the patriarch, their hands respectfully cupped, as they realized they were in the backyard, met with the unwelcoming gaze of their patriarch and Elder Danya.
"Take this gourd," the patriarch instructed, handing them a container. "It contains the soul of the Flood Dragon. Your mission is to deliver this soul to my son in the lower realm and protect him, along with Ping!"
...
In the present time, within the Temporary Hall of the Thousand Illusionary Sect's Lower Area, Xia Wei sat upon a chair, his gaze filled with drowsiness, observing the conversation between the patriarch and the elders with evident boredom.
He sporadically yawned as they deliberated on the fate of Qian Ya, the servant who had brought him wine, and her alleged crime.
"Patriarch, I suggest that we seal her Dantians and execute her parents as a warning to anyone who dares to betray our sect!" one of the elders exclaimed, casting a furtive glance towards Xia Wei.
The other elders, astutely perceiving his underlying intentions and wearing expressions of disdain, attempted to ingratiate themselves with young master Xia Wei.
However, upon witnessing Xia Wei casually wave his hand, as if indifferent to the matter at hand, they mockingly chuckled at the elder's failed attempt at flattery.
"Elder, what are you proposing? It's excessively cruel! After all, her family bears no connection to this murder scheme!
"-Therefore, I suggest that we expel her from the sect without sealing her Dantians, taking into account her contributions over the years," another elder interjected, stepping forward to challenge the bootlicking elder and defend Qian Ya. He then glanced at Qian Ya, nodding in support.
"ENOUGH!" the patriarch thundered, his silence laden with disappointment. He observed their conversation with a sense of shame, then turned his gaze towards the elders, who meekly lowered their heads, patiently awaiting his judgment.
"Elder Xiaowen, I concur with your decision. We mustn't involve innocent mortals in this case. However, I disagree with you, elder, regarding the omission of sealing her Dantians."
"Who's to say that she won't seek revenge against our sect in the future? Have you not realized that your bias towards your former disciple is clouding your judgment?" the patriarch continued, his glare fixed upon Elder Xiaowen.
As Elder Xiaowen caught sight of the patriarch's intense gaze, shock washed over him, causing his complexion to pale under the weight of the patriarch's scrutiny.
However, he soon noticed beads of sweat forming on the patriarch's forehead. The patriarch maintained his unwavering glare, subtly nodding as if conveying a hidden message within his gesture.