In the dim and damp prison cell,
Xiao Tianque looked at the hurriedly arriving Zijin with disbelief and asked, "Girl, why did you come?"
"Grandfather, I'm here to take you out," Zijin said excitedly.
When she saw Xiao Tianque's emaciated and haggard appearance, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. She quickly approached and helped him up.
"Take me out?" Xiao Tianque was stunned. "Does Xiao Zhongying have such good intentions?"
Zijin took a deep breath and smiled, "Grandfather, Xiao Zhongying is already dead."
"What!?" Xiao Tianque widened his eyes. "Girl, what is going on?"
"Grandfather, let's leave this place first," Zijin said, supporting Xiao Tianque as they walked out of the prison cell.
...
Not long after, Xiao Hengqiu and the other imprisoned members of the Xiao clan were freed from captivity and saw the light of day again.
When they arrived at the Yin Feng Tower,
Xiao Tianque, Xiao Hengqiu, and the others saw a group of prominent figures from the Xiao clan who used to follow Elder Xiao Zhongying, all kneeling on the ground.
In front of a table, a young man in a green robe sat, sipping tea and gazing at the scenic lake in the distance, displaying an elegant and leisurely demeanor.
Pei Yundu stood beside him, smiling as he poured tea.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Hengqiu couldn't help but be stunned and asked in confusion, "Zijin, who is this person?"
Not only him, but all the recently liberated members of the Xiao clan were filled with astonishment. The scene before their eyes was truly strange.
Before Zijin could speak, Xiao Tianque suddenly realized, excitedly stepped forward, and greeted with a fist salute, "Xiao pays respects to Mister Su!"
He understood completely. Xiao Zhongying's death and the person kneeling before them were all the work of Su Yi!
"Xiao Lao," Su Yi withdrew his gaze, stood up, and said with a hint of emotion, "I didn't expect you to stand against the Su family in Yujing City because of me."
Xiao Tianque showed a tinge of remorse and smiled bitterly, "But in the end... I still couldn't help Mister Su."
"Mister Su?" At this moment, Xiao Hengqiu also suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Zijin, could this be the person who once saved your grandfather's life and helped us repair the ancestral secret technique, the 'Golden Ripple Formula'—Mr. Su Yi?"
Zijin smiled and nodded, "Exactly."
With these words, all the recently liberated prominent figures of the Xiao clan reacted and revealed expressions of astonishment and shock.
So, this young man in the green robe was Su Yi!
On this day, Su Yi entered the city of Baizhou, swiftly resolved the internal troubles of the Xiao clan in Lanling, and freed Xiao Tianque and the others from captivity, allowing them to regain control of the clan's authority.
...
On that day, thirty miles outside of Baizhou City, there was a vast and expansive military camp.
Mo Yun Army!
Under the command of King Shilan Mountain of Mo Yun, this formidable army permanently stationed in Baizhou, guarding the region surrounding the capital.
"Report!"
A scout hurriedly entered the military camp and arrived at a majestic stone palace situated in the center.
"Inform the Lord, news has arrived from Baizhou City that Su Yi entered the Xiao clan of Lanling half an hour ago!"
Inside the palace, incense wafted through the air, and a red carpet adorned the floor.
King Shilan Mountain of Mo Yun was in conversation with a young man dressed in a robe of wind and fire.
Upon hearing the news, Shilan Mountain's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "Su Yi has appeared? Excellent!"
He showed delight on his face and ordered the scout, "Spread the word and closely monitor his whereabouts for me!"
"Yes!"
The scout received the order and quickly departed.
Shilan Mountain turned his gaze to the young man in the robe of wind and fire and smiled, "Young Master You, as expected, Su Yi has arrived in Baizhou City."
The young man, known as Young Master You, smiled and said, "At present, we cannot confirm whether Lü Dongliu and others from the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect were killed by him. However, there is no doubt that Su Yi has the ability to annihilate Martial Ancestors of the innate realm. My Lord, please don't underestimate him."
He had a handsome appearance, with slightly slanted eyes and a quirked lip, exuding a lazy and casual aura.
Even facing such a young man, Shilan Mountain's expression carried a trace of respect. He clasped his hands and said, "To take down Su Yi, we must rely on Young Master You."
Young Master You shook his head with a smile, "I am merely a messenger. The task of eliminating Su Yi can only be carried out by my master."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly after a pause, "I have to admit, the news from Ten Directions Pavilion is quite alarming. If I were to take action, it would require going all out, and perhaps even then, I might not be able to defeat Su Yi."
Shilan Mountain quickly said, "Young Master You is too modest. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, perhaps not many people know of Young Master You's reputation. But within the Great Qin Empire, who doesn't know that Young Master You is one of the most renowned true disciples of Xuan Yue Guan's younger generation?"
His expression was filled with admiration as he praised, "Moreover, the Young Master is also listed as one of the 'Eight Exquisites of Great Qin,' regarded as a naturally gifted cultivator."
"As far as I know, if it weren't for your pursuit of a more powerful path of elemental cultivation, you would have had the opportunity to become a land-immortal three years ago."
"Compared to you, Su Yi... heh, is nothing more than a rebellious scoundrel."
These words brought a hint of self-satisfaction to Young Master You's features.
He sighed and said, "My Lord, you shouldn't praise me so highly. That Su Yi... is not as despicable as you make him out to be."
Shilan Mountain replied earnestly, "Indeed, Su Yi is quite remarkable, but as a dying man, how could he be compared to Young Master?"
Young Master You smiled faintly and said, "Enough, don't try to flatter me. I, You Xinglin, know my own capabilities."
Pausing for a moment, he continued leisurely, "As for Su Yi... if he weren't powerful enough, why would my aunt invite me and my master to personally come to the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
The implication was that if Su Yi wasn't strong enough, he wouldn't even be qualified to have Young Master You and his master personally intervene!
Shilan Mountain smiled knowingly. He was well aware that this Young Master You's aunt was "You Qingzhi," the fourth wife of Su Hongli, the head of the Su family in Yujing City.
The plan to deal with Su Yi within the territory of Baizhou also originated from the hands of Madam You Qingzhi!
"My Lord, now that Su Yi has revealed his whereabouts, I will go and meet my master first. As for when to take action, it will depend on your decision."
You Xinglin stood up tall.
Shilan Mountain quickly got up to see him off.
In a corner of the military camp, in front of an elegant and clean palace.
You Xinglin adjusted his attire and respectfully bowed, saying, "Master, disciple You Xinglin has come to pay respects."
Inside the palace, a deep voice sounded, "How many times have I told you, child, don't be so formal when you go out traveling. Come in quickly."
"Yes."
Only then did You Xinglin step into the palace.
Inside the palace, a middle-aged Taoist priest sat cross-legged wearing a dark blue Daoist robe and a coiled topknot. His willow-like beard floated in the air.
In front of him lay a pine-patterned sword, measuring only two feet long and two fingers wide. The clear sword body bore faint ink-like talisman cloud patterns, exuding an ancient aura.
As You Xinglin entered, the middle-aged Taoist was holding a piece of high-quality marrow jade, meticulously polishing the pine-patterned sword in front of him, employing a unique sword-nourishing technique known as "feeding the sword."
"Master's 'Returning Yuan Sword' is becoming increasingly remarkable."
You Xinglin smiled and praised.
"The way of nurturing a sword involves both utilizing external objects to nourish its quality and cultivating our own vitality and spirit as cultivators. Only then can we control the sword with our hearts and use it effortlessly."
The middle-aged Taoist smiled faintly, flicked his fingers, and with a clang, the pine-patterned sword turned into a stream of light, landing in the sword sheath behind him.
"Now, tell me, why have you come?"
The middle-aged Taoist asked.
You Xinglin clasped his hands and said, "Just now, Mo Yun King Shilan Mountain received news that Su Yi has appeared in Baizhou City."
The middle-aged Taoist nodded and stroked his beard, saying, "I indeed want to meet this young man."
You Xinglin chuckled, "If Su Yi can gain the favor of Master, even if he dies, he can rest in peace with a smile."
The middle-aged Taoist shook his head and said, "I'm not eager to kill him, but I am curious about some things regarding him."
"Has Master noticed something?" You Xinglin pondered.
After a moment of contemplation, the middle-aged Taoist replied, "Based on the information from the Ten-Fold Pavilion, it is highly likely that this young man is a pitiful creature who has been possessed by a cultivator from another realm, and his soul has probably already been devoured. As for whether my speculation is correct, we will know when we use the 'Soul-Reflecting Mirror' to take a look at him."
Pausing for a moment, his eyes flickered with a hint of excitement as he continued, "If he is truly possessed, capturing him may allow us to obtain the soul of a great cultivator from another realm within his body! With the methods of our Xuan Yue Sect, we can surely extract some incredibly marvelous inheritance techniques through interrogation!"
You Xinglin's interest was piqued, and he said, "If that's the case, it's worth our personal visit to the Great Zhou Dynasty."
The middle-aged Taoist added, "Actually, besides killing Su Yi, there is another matter of equal importance for our visit to the Great Zhou Dynasty."
You Xinglin was taken aback and asked, "What is it?"
"Not long ago, a group of Buddhist cultivators from Shanglin Temple came to the Great Zhou territory and entered the Baosha Yao Mountain. It seems they are seeking a great opportunity," the middle-aged Taoist said with a deep gaze. "As you know, in recent years, Shanglin Temple has gained knowledge of many secrets related to the 'other realm.' Their purpose for this trip is likely connected to the chances presented by the 'other realm.'"
A sudden realization struck You Xinglin as he said, "The previous information from the Ten-Fold Pavilion mentioned that Su Yi had entered the Baosha Yao Mountain a few days ago, but it seems... he didn't encounter those Buddhist cultivators from Shanglin Temple."
The middle-aged Taoist replied, "That's exactly what confuses me. We'll find out when we meet this Su Yi."
Looking at You Xinglin, he smiled and said, "Once we capture Su Yi, I'll spare his life for now and leave him to you as a whetstone. Fighting against such an opponent will be enough to unleash your potential and refine your innate Qi to the 'First Grade' level. With that, when you step onto the path of the Elemental Dao, you'll be able to establish a top-notch foundation in the Pigu realm."
You Xinglin's eyes lit up with excitement, and he solemnly bowed, saying, "I will never forget the guidance and cultivation from Master!"
The middle-aged Taoist shook his head with a smile, "My child, how many times have I told you that there's no need for formalities between us."
Just as they were conversing, Mo Yun King Shilan Mountain hurriedly arrived to pay his respects.