Hidden Dragon Sword Sect.
At the peak of the Condensed Essence Peak, this was the cultivation place of Senior Elder Huosong.
"There is indeed something strange about this Su Yi."
Inside an elegant bamboo building, an old man with a youthful appearance and white hair sat cross-legged. A hint of astonishment appeared between his eyebrows.
"Master, have you noticed something?" Chang Guke couldn't help but ask.
Tonight, when the Ten Directions Pavilion announced the news to the outside world, he was the first to learn about the bloody battle that took place in the Governor's Mansion of Gunzhou. His heart was shaken to the extreme.
Therefore, he specially came to consult his master, Huosong.
"In the Great Zhou Empire, there are indeed some figures who have encountered extraordinary events, such as Su Hongli, the former head of the Su family when he was young, Hong Canshang, the National Teacher, Yue Shichan, the Feather-Flowing Queen, Ning Xi'huo, the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy, Feng Jianying, the Palace Master of Xingya Academy, and Mu Xi, the Zhenyue King, and so on..."
After a moment of contemplation, Huosong said, "But most of their encounters and fortunes are related to the Eight Great Demon Mountains. Some have obtained genuine cultivation inheritances, some have obtained certain cultivation treasures, some have inherited mysterious powers, some have consumed rare heavenly treasures or earthly treasures..."
"But Su Yi is different!"
Speaking up to this point, Huosong's eyes were deep and shimmered with a wise light. "According to what you said, he entered the Qinghe Sword Mansion to cultivate at the age of fourteen, lost all his cultivation at the age of sixteen, became a discarded disciple, married into the Wen family as a son-in-law. All of this seems ordinary."
"But on the second day of the second month, he began to show abnormal traits. Until now, in less than two months, he was able to reach the Martial Master First Order, and he could easily kill Xiahou Ling, a congenital Martial Ancestor. This is undoubtedly too strange and abnormal."
"This can no longer be explained by any fortuitous encounters and fortunes. I suspect..."
Huosong hesitated for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "This child is highly likely to have been possessed!"
Possession!
Chang Guke took in a sharp breath of cold air.
The Hidden Dragon Sword Sect was the number one sacred land for cultivation in the Great Zhou Empire.
And his master, Huosong, was one of the few Primordial Dao cultivators in the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect, a true immortal on land!
When such a deduction came from Huosong's mouth, it naturally shook people's hearts even more.
"Of course, it's also possible that he has other secrets."
After pondering for a moment, Huosong continued, "But no matter what, I can be certain that Su Yi is likely to bring about great trouble."
Chang Guke's expression changed, and he said, "Master, what do you mean by that?"
"Extraordinary things must have monsters behind them."
Huosong's eyes were profound, "Su Yi is only seventeen years old, and in just two months, he has advanced his cultivation from the Blood-Shifting Realm to the Martial Master First Order. His combat power is also so extraordinary. Who wouldn't see that there are great secrets hidden within him?"
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "The innocent are innocent, but those who possess treasures are guilty. Who wouldn't long to know what secrets Su Yi holds? Among those who cultivate, who wouldn't hope to make him their own?"
Chang Guke's face changed, finally understanding.
But he couldn't help but say, "With Su Gongzi's current strength, he can already kill a congenital Martial Ancestor. In such a situation, who would dare to target him?"
Huosong whispered, "Ordinary martial artists in the secular world naturally wouldn't dare, but don't forget, there are still land immortals in this world!"
"Even if we take a step back and consider, there are many formidable figures hidden among the congenital Martial Ancestors, far more powerful than Xiahou Ling, such as the Feather-Flowing King, Su Hongli, Hong Canshang, and others."
Speaking of this, Huosong looked at Chang Guke. "These are just the ones we can see. In the Great Zhou Empire, there are countless formidable individuals unknown to the public. And don't forget, forces like the Yin Sha Sect still lurk in the world."
"This..."
Chang Guke's face fluctuated uncertainly.
Just at this moment, footsteps sounded, and a tall and beautiful young woman in a green robe walked in.
Hastily saluting, the young woman quickly said, "Master, just now, the Vice Sect Master sent members of the Fengliu Faction to leave the sect. It seems they are heading to Gunzhou to deal with Su Yi!"
"What?"
Chang Guke was shocked.
Huosong frowned. "Who did he send?"
The young woman whispered, "Elder Lu Dongliu from the Inner Sect Transmission Hall, Elder Li Cang from the Outer Sect, and Second Elder Liao Yunliu."
Chang Guke couldn't sit still anymore.
Lu Dongliu!
He was a veteran who had been at the congenital Martial Ancestor realm for twenty years, with immense strength and true cultivation secrets. He was far superior to those of the same generation in the secular world.
In addition, Elder Li Cang and Second Elder Liao Yunliu from the Outer Sect were also well-known congenital Martial Ancestors. With their combined force, they could dominate in the secular world of the Great Zhou Empire!
"What does the Sect Master say?" Huosong asked again.
The young woman shook her head. "The Sect Master is currently in seclusion, so he probably doesn't know about this."
Huosong pondered for a moment, and a coldness flickered in his eyes. He said, "In recent years, the Fengliu Faction has become bolder relying on Bixiaozi's support!"
Bixiaozi.
One of the four Senior Elders of the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect, ranked second. In terms of status, he surpassed Huosong, who was ranked third.
Chang Guke hesitated for a moment but still gritted his teeth and said, "Master, Su Gongzi has shown great kindness to both me and Junior Sister..."
But before he could finish, Huosong waved his hand and interrupted, "We can't intervene in this matter. In the current situation, there are countless troubles on Su Yi's shoulders. Whether it's the Great Zhou Imperial Family, the Su family in Yujing City, or those who covet the fortunes on his body, they are unlikely to let him go."
"In such a situation, once we get involved, we will inevitably bring trouble upon ourselves."
At this point, Huosong's expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Listen carefully, don't have any further association with Su Yi!"
Chang Guke's face changed, and he felt indescribable disappointment in his heart. He said, "Master, how can we not repay our debts of gratitude?"
Qingqin also felt somewhat frustrated. If the Vice Sect Master of the Fengliu Faction dared to send people to deal with Su Yi, why was their master so afraid of getting involved?
Huosong looked displeased and said, "You still don't understand the extent of the trouble Su Yi poses even after I've explained so much? Do you, Chang Guke, really think you have the ability to repay the debt on your own?"
"But remember, if you dare to do so, you will no longer be my disciple!"
With that, he stood up and left, sweeping his sleeves.
Chang Guke stood there alone, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Qingqin couldn't bear it and whispered, "Senior Brother, Master is also looking out for our best interests. This matter... really isn't something we can get involved in. Even if we want to repay our gratitude, we can find another opportunity in the future."
Chang Guke's expression was gloomy as he said, "Junior Sister, do you also think we must stand by and do nothing in this matter?"
"I..."
Qingqin hesitated for a moment and said with bitterness, "I don't know either..."
Chang Guke fell silent.
...
Bang!
At the Su family in Yujing City, You Qingzhi slammed an exquisite blood jade tea cup onto the ground, her face turning exceptionally gloomy.
Beside her, Su Bonong comforted her in a soft voice, "Mother, why get angry over this? No matter how powerful Su Yi is, he won't be able to last much longer. In my opinion, Father has already developed a murderous intent this time and won't give him another chance to plead guilty. This is a great thing."
After speaking, he felt a strong sense of unwillingness and resentment.
In the Su family, he was the most dazzling figure among the younger generation. At just sixteen years old, he had entered the Martial Grandmaster realm with an unstoppable momentum, gaining fame in Yujing City and earning the admiration of countless important figures.
Even the current Emperor of Zhou praised him as "a young tiger with the potential to devour oxen, no less impressive than his father in his youth."
This was a high praise.
Bixiaozi, one of the Senior Elders of the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect, had even expressed his desire to take him as a personal disciple.
Although his father, Su Hongli, ultimately rejected the offer, the incident caused a sensation in Yujing City and sparked countless discussions.
It also made Su Bonong the center of attention among the younger generation in Yujing City, enjoying great popularity.
However, now...
A bastard son who was once scorned and trampled upon by Su Bonong had gained the power to kill a Martial Grandmaster in less than two months!
This greatly shook Su Bonong, who had always been proud and arrogant, leaving him emotionally unbalanced and struggling to accept it all.
Nevertheless, Su Bonong concealed his inner emotions very well. At least on the surface, he appeared calm and composed as before.
"I never expected that the changes in that bastard born of Ye Yufei would be so significant. If I had known earlier, I would not have hesitated to get rid of him before he went to the Qinghe Sword Sect at the age of fourteen!"
You Qingzhi gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with hatred.
No one knew that when Su Yi secretly left home at the age of fourteen, You Qingzhi had almost sent forces to kill him several times.
The reason she ultimately didn't take action wasn't due to compassion but rather her understanding that killing Su Yi at that time would surely incur the resentment and rejection of Su Hongli. After all, no matter what, Su Yi still carried Su Hongli's blood.
That was the reason why You Qingzhi didn't dare to act on her own back then.
Su Bonong took a deep breath. "Mother, it's not too late to kill Su Yi now. The more he struggles, the more miserable his death will be! Don't be angry about this, it's not worth it."
You Qingzhi steadied her mind and looked at Su Bonong with a gentle gaze. She said, "Child, I know you must also be unwilling to let that bastard surpass you. Rest assured, even without utilizing the power of the Su family, Mother can help you kill him!"
Su Bonong's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded with a smile.
...
Under the same night sky.
Tianyuan Academy.
Shenxiao Peak, inside a pavilion.
Wen Lingxue looked worriedly at her silent sister.
After hesitating for a while, she couldn't help but say, "Sister, no matter what, Brother-in-law... uh, Su Yi, still remembers our family's past affection. Otherwise, he wouldn't have arranged for our parents to take refuge in Tianyuan Academy."
Her voice was gentle, filled with tenderness.
Just a moment ago, when Wen Lingzhang received the news about the battle involving the Governor's Mansion, she seemed to have been struck by the heaviest blow in the world. Her soul was in turmoil, and her exquisitely beautiful face revealed a mix of emotions.
That appearance made Wen Lingxue feel deeply distressed.
After a long silence, Wen Lingzhang seemed to regain her senses. Her gaze slowly shifted to Wen Lingxue, and her voice became low:
"Lingxue, do you think... Have I made a mistake all these years by insisting on breaking off the marriage...?"
Wen Lingxue quickly shook her head and said, "Sister, you didn't make a mistake. If it were me, I wouldn't want to marry a stranger either. But..."
"But what?" Wen Lingzhang asked.
Wen Lingxue hesitated for a moment before continuing, "But back then, Brother-in-law... uh, Su Yi was also forced into this. He's also very pitiful. Throughout this year, while you insisted on breaking off the marriage, you've overlooked how Su Yi feels about it..."
Her voice grew weaker, afraid that if she said more, it would hurt Wen Lingzhang.
But Wen Lingzhang seemed to understand already, her expression complex. She said, "You're right. I've always treated him as a useless burden and never cared about him."
"It's because of that, I was willing to go to any lengths to handle this marriage on my own, without expecting him to be of any help. I even worried that he might use the excuse of being husband and wife to get close to me..."
As she spoke, a tinge of self-mockery appeared on her exquisite face. "But now, I realize that everything I've insisted on for over a year seems like a joke..."
Her voice carried indescribable disappointment and melancholy.
"Sister, please don't say anymore," Wen Lingxue softly comforted. "It's all in the past, and Su Yi never took it to heart. You... just pretend that nothing happened."
"If only I could pretend that nothing happened..."
Wen Lingzhang sighed softly.
Even she hadn't anticipated that the nominal husband she had ignored, the young man who had lost all his cultivation and seemed like a waste, would grow to a point where she could only look up to him after more than a year.
At the Western Mountain Tea Gathering, he slew formidable opponents and reveled in his heroic deeds.
In the battle at the Governor's Mansion, he moved with unparalleled grace and dominance.
Even formidable Martial Grandmasters fell before his sword!
It all seemed so unbelievable.
But Wen Lingzhang knew it was true.
Even the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy, Ning Erhua, whom she revered, regarded Su Yi as a peer.
To maintain her relationship with Su Yi, Ning Erhua even went so far as to behead the Deputy Palace Master of Jixia Academy, Tao Zheng, and the Deputy Palace Master of Shuiyue Academy, Mo Huaque, and personally delivered their heads to Su Yi!
It was precisely because of Su Yi's face that Ning Erhua took in her parents and clansmen, providing them with a refuge in Tianyuan Academy.
All of this shattered the stubborn obsession in her heart like a massive hammer.
It was only at this moment that Wen Lingzhang finally realized why Su Yi had the confidence to say that one day he would personally resolve this marriage matter at the Su family in Yujing City.
Because he truly had the chance to accomplish it!
How ridiculous it was for her to treat all of this as a ludicrous joke back then...
Suddenly, as if summoning her courage, Wen Lingxue timidly spoke up, "Sister, I... I want to go see Su Yi tomorrow."
Wen Lingzhang snapped out of her jumbled thoughts and looked at her sister's anxious yet hopeful expression. She felt an indescribable bittersweet feeling in her heart.
After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath and softly said, "Lingxue, you have grown up. I used to worry that you would follow in my footsteps, so I restricted and interfered in your affairs. But from now on, you can do whatever you want."
"Sister, are you saying you won't control me anymore?"
Wen Lingxue's eyelashes trembled slightly, showing signs of anxiety.
Wen Lingzhang's face revealed a touch of tender affection. She stood up and gently placed her hand on Wen Lingxue's shoulder, saying, "Don't overthink it. In the future, when you encounter troubling matters, you can come to me."
Wen Lingxue immediately breathed a sigh of relief and gave a radiant smile. She said, "Then I can rest assured. Um... I'll go see Su Yi tomorrow, but I'll come back soon. I promise not to worry you, sister."
As she watched her sister's joyful and expectant expression, that subtle bittersweet feeling in Wen Lingzhang's heart seemed to grow stronger.
It couldn't be dispelled.