In Celestial City.
As the Dragon Elephant Beasts left, the ground rumbled and shook as if it would collapse at any moment.
Ye Qingxuan watched them leave. "Sister Lan, you know that person."
Tantai Lan nodded. "He is the eldest young master of the Huo Clan, one of the four great clans of Celestial City, Huo Du. He cultivates in Yuhua Sect and is the personal disciple of an inner sect elder."
"Sister Lan, it was because of him that you left Celestial City back then!" Ye Qingxuan seemed to have thought of something. "Brother, your love rival has appeared."
Ye Xuan glanced at Tantai Lan. "Love rivals don't exist."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone walked toward the Tantai Manor under Tantai Lan's lead. The cultivators on the long street were in a heated discussion. They were very envious of Huo Du for being able to become a personal disciple of the Yuhua Sect.
Yuhua Sect was one of the three oldest sects in the world, on par with the Heaven's Sect and the Dao Sect.
At this moment, outside the Huo Manor.
It was packed with people who had come to welcome Huo Du.
Even the City Lord of the Celestial City was in the crowd. Because of the existence of Huo Du, the entire Huo Clan had become the strongest clan in Celestial City, standing above the City Lord's mansion.
It was truly a case of one man's achievement, and the rest rode on his success.
In comparison, the Tantai Manor was much more deserted. The doors were tightly shut, and no one was there.
Tantai Lan knocked on the door for a long time before an old servant opened the door. "Uncle Nan, it's me, Lan'er!"
Uncle Nan quickly said, "It's you, Young Miss. Look at me, I'm old, and my eyes are blurry. I can't even recognize you."
It was mainly because Tantai Lan had been gone for five years, and she had changed a lot. It was normal for Uncle Nan not to recognize her at first glance.
"Young Miss has entered the mansion. I will inform the master."
Tantai Lan led everyone into the manor. Looking at the familiar environment in front of her, it was as if a lifetime had passed. Everything was still the same as before.
The group of people came to the front hall. Uncle Nan appeared pushing a wheelchair, and the person sitting on it was Tantai Zhan.
Tantai Lan rushed forward and threw herself into Tantai Zhan's arms. "Father, your leg..."
"Lan'er, you're back." Tantai Zhan caressed her long hair. "My legs are fine. It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."
At this point, his gaze fell on Ye Xuan and the others. "Lan'er, hurry up and introduce your friends to me."
Tantai Lan stood up and introduced, "Father, he is Ye Xuan, the Crown Prince of Great Xia. Qingxuan, Princess Yongning of Great Xia, Iron Slave, and Senior Dugu are all Ye Xuan's old friends."
"Ye Xuan, you're that child from back then." Tantai Zhan's expression was a little agitated. "Xuan'er, come here. Let uncle take a look at you."
Ye Xuan came to Tantai Zhan's side. "Greetings, Patriarch Tantai."
Tantai Zhan raised his hand and motioned for him to stand up. "You look so much like your mother. How is your father?"
Ye Xuan nodded. "Everything's good!"
"Uncle Nan, make the arrangements for everyone!" Tantai Zhan said in a low voice, "Xuan'er, Lan'er, follow me."
Tantai Lan pushed the wheelchair forward, and Ye Xuan followed closely by her side. The three of them walked along the long corridor and came to a Tingyu Pavilion. The two of them stood quietly behind Tantai Zhan.
"Lan'er, when you return from the secret realm, go back to the imperial capital with Xuan'er. Don't stay at home for too long."
"Why?"
"Father, what happened?"
Tantai Lan knew that Tantai Zhan was definitely hiding something. "And your leg. Who was the one who injured it? Father, if there's anything you need to tell me, I can help you share your worries."
Tantai Zhan did not speak. He slowly raised his arm, and an explosion rang out. The water on the lake in front of them shot up into the sky, splashing water everywhere and causing ripples to form. A rusty metal box appeared and floated in front of the three of them.
"Lan'er, open the metal box!"
Tantai Lan took the secret key and opened the rusty iron box in front of her. There was a roll of wet animal skin and a Seven Stars Divine Sword inside.
"Lan'er, give the animal skin to Xuan'er, and this sword is yours!"
"Patriarch Tantai, you can't. I won't accept a reward without any work!" Ye Xuan looked at the animal skin Tantai Lan handed over and took it to store in the system. "How can I accept this?"
He said no, but his body was very honest.
"Xuan'er, this item originally belonged to you!" Tantai Zhan said in a deep voice as he fell into endless memories. "This animal skin scroll was left behind by your mother. Back then, we had agreed that when you and Lan'er got married, we would send the animal skin to the imperial palace!"
"All these years, the various forces had attacked the Tantai family for this item. Initially, they could have destroyed the Tantai family. However, since they could not find the item, they gave me a chance to survive."
"Now that this item has fallen into your hands, I have fulfilled my promise to your mother. I can finally do something for the family."
At the end of his speech, his eyes were filled with cold killing intent. He was like a completely different person in an instant. The anger that had been suppressed in his heart seemed to explode at this moment.
Ye Xuan knew that the animal skin scroll was not ordinary. So many people wanted it, so it must be a supreme treasure. Furthermore, his mother was the reason why Xia and the Tantai family were suffering.
Were the descendants of the Yu Clan really like this?
At this moment, a wave of spiritual Qi fluctuated, and the calm lake surface rippled again. A few figures fell from the top of the nine Heavens and stood on several ancient pavilions by the lake.
When Tantai Zhan saw who had arrived, he was calm and collected. He was not surprised at all. What was supposed to come had come. "Xuan'er, Lan'er, you two can leave!"
"Patriarch Tantai, do you really not need my help?" Ye Xuan asked.
Tantai Zhan replied, "No need. Take Lan'er and leave!"
"Father, I won't leave," Tantai Lan said.
Whoosh!
An old man in a white robe stepped on the water and arrived. His eyes fell on the iron box, and finally on Ye Xuan. "Kid, hand it over!"
Ye Xuan was startled. "Do I have to give it to you if you want it? Do you think I don't care about my reputation?"
The old man in a white robe laughed. "Your reputation? You've already lost your life, yet you still cared about your reputation!"
"Old man," Ye Xuan said, "I advise you to be kind and leave this place quickly. Otherwise, you'll die."
"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. You're forcing me to personally take it!" The white-robed old man's figure flashed, and he charged toward Tingyu Pavilion. At this moment, a shocking scene occurred. Tantai Zhan stood up from his wheelchair and rushed out of the pavilion to meet the white-robed old man.
"Your leg has healed!"
"What, are you surprised?"
"If I can cripple you once, I can cripple you a second time!" The white-robed old man said coldly, "Men, kill them and take their things!"
At his command, the figures on the ancient pavilion on the lake turned into afterimages and charged toward Ye Xuan and Tantai Lan.
This old man was a particular person. He was clearly robbing, but he insisted on saying taking it.
Tantai Lan was the first to attack. She unsheathed her Seven Stars Divine Sword, and with a slash of the sword, the raging waves swallowed the sky, blocking the cultivators from flying over. "Ye Xuan, it's none of your business. Leave quickly!"
Ye Xuan laughed bitterly. "It seems that the invincible me has to make a move!"
At this moment, Iron Slave and Dugu Qiubai appeared behind him. "Young Master, we're going to fight again. Let me show you a sword technique!"
"Please start your performance!"
Ye Xuan looked at Iron Slave that has rushed out, and his face was full of helplessness. His swordsmanship was never proper. "Dugu, pay attention to the person in the dark. If he dares to move, stab him!"