"Mother, please calm down and don't let your anger affect your health," Su Bonong looked at You Qingzhi with concern.
At this moment, You Qingzhi's eyes were hollow, and she seemed lost and devastated, devoid of any vitality.
"Some time ago, I sought help from the clan to kill that little bastard Su Yi. Your cousin, You Xinglin, and Li Changning came to assist immediately. But in the end, they all fell victim to that little bastard's poisonous hands," You Qingzhi murmured. "And now, even your second uncle was killed by that little bastard. How can I not blame myself and face my clansmen in the future?"
Her tone was bitter, low, and hoarse.
Upon learning the news of the battle at Jiuzhi Mountain, Su Bonong was filled with shock and anger, but he had to endure it for now and comfort his mother, You Qingzhi.
"Mother, the sky hasn't fallen yet. Don't forget, Father is still here. He will certainly not let Su Yi get away with it!" Su Bonong said through gritted teeth.
"Your father..."
A flicker appeared in You Qingzhi's hollow eyes, like a drowning person grasping a straw. She suddenly became excited. "Yes, your father is still here. With his abilities, not to mention killing Su Yi, he can easily dominate the entire Great Zhou Empire!"
"Let's go. We'll go see him!" You Qingzhi stood up and headed outside.
"Dominating the entire Great Zhou Empire? Is Father really that powerful?" Su Bonong felt puzzled.
Although he was the son of Su Hongli, these years he had no idea about his father's true cultivation level.
He only knew that ten years ago, his father had shaken the world and was hailed as one of the ten most mysterious Grandmaster-level cultivators. He had formed the Double Wall of the Great Zhou Empire together with the National Teacher, Hong Canshang.
As for the rest, he knew nothing at all.
However, upon hearing his mother's words, Su Bonong keenly sensed that his father, who had been in seclusion at home all these years, was likely even stronger than his uncle, You Tianhong!
...
Qingwu Courtyard.
Su Hongli rubbed his forehead and looked at You Qingzhi, who stood there with a mournful and desolate expression. He couldn't help but sneer, "How clever of you!"
With just a few words, he ruthlessly pierced into You Qingzhi's heart like a sharp blade.
She trembled all over, her face turning pale as she said, "Hongli, I have the best interests of the Su family in mind. How can you rebuke me like this?"
Tears welled up in her eyes as her expression grew more sorrowful and desolate.
Su Hongli's expression remained cold as he spoke, "For the Su family? No, you're just jealous. Jealous that Su Yi, that bastard, is stronger than Bonong. You're worried that I might change my mind, accept that bastard, and even let him replace Bonong in inheriting the position of the Su family patriarch, isn't that right?"
You Qingzhi stiffened, her face changing unpredictably.
"Leave," Su Hongli said, his interest in the conversation seemingly lost, waving his hand dismissively.
A strong sense of dissatisfaction surged within You Qingzhi. She stubbornly raised her head, facing Su Hongli's gaze, and said, "Hongli, all I want to know now is how you're going to deal with Su Yi. I just want a clear answer!"
Su Hongli furrowed his eyebrows slightly, but he suppressed his inner displeasure and uttered a word lightly:
"Death."
His tone was flat, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
But that single word made You Qingzhi burst into laughter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart, and she felt instantly relieved.
She wiped away the tears from her face and turned to leave.
Watching her figure fade away, Su Hongli couldn't help shaking his head and said, "Wasn't my attitude before clear enough?"
He seemed somewhat disappointed.
The elder in the Daoist robe whispered softly, "Worry leads to chaos. Fourth Madam's elder brother and nephew both died at Su Yi's hands. It's understandable that she has lost her sense of proportion."
Su Hongli waved his hand, unwilling to discuss the topic further, and said, "Daoist brother, tell me your analysis of this battle."
After a moment of silence, the elder in the Daoist robe spoke, "This young man is indeed formidable."
"Formidable?" Su Hongli's eyebrows furrowed slightly upon hearing these words from the elder. "Please elaborate, Daoist brother."
The Daoist elder recalled the details of the battle at Jiuzhi Mountain and pondered, "Everything that the world can see, Su Yi doesn't seem to be concerned about being exposed. What truly concerns me is the hidden extent of his power."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "In the Grandmaster realm, he possesses divine consciousness, mastery of the Dao, and wields divine radiance. His swordsmanship prowess surpasses that of ordinary immortals. These are powers that can be discerned one by one."
"I believe that the National Teacher, Shi Fengliu, and Ji He can also see through these mysteries."
"But I dare say that so far, there's probably no one who truly knows just how much power Su Yi is hiding."
"If that's all, then it's not a big deal. After all, who doesn't have some hidden cards up their sleeve?"
Upon hearing this, Su Hongli nodded and calmly said, "Please continue, Daoist friend."
The elder in the Daoist robe's eyes flickered, "But Su Yi is different. His cultivation breakthroughs have been too rapid."
"When he left Gunzhou City, he was merely a Second-stage Grandmaster. In less than twenty days, he has already reached the Fourth-stage Grandmaster's pinnacle!"
"You should understand, for someone like Su Yi, with each breakthrough in cultivation, his combat power undergoes a remarkable and astonishing transformation."
"It can be foreseen that when he arrives on May 4th, his cultivation will have undoubtedly reached the Fifth-stage Grandmaster realm! At this stage, the Five Elements are perfected, rotating as one. His cultivation, physique, and spiritual soul will undergo unimaginable changes."
"This also means that Su Yi at that time will be far more terrifying than when he killed You Tianhong today."
The elder in the Daoist robe sighed softly and said, "This is just one variable that I can infer."
Su Hongli remained silent for a moment and said, "Indeed, this is an unpredictable variable. Are there any other things worth noting?"
His tone was as calm as ever, but a faint expression of concern appeared between his brows.
Upon learning the news of You Tianhong's death, Su Hongli was also somewhat surprised, and his heart stirred with waves. Even he had to admit that his previous predictions of Su Yi's strength had ultimately underestimated him.
It was only at this moment that Su Hongli finally began to take the bastard he had despised for over a decade seriously, unlike before when he dismissed him.
The feeling was quite subtle.
It was as if a monkey, previously watched hopping around, suddenly gained the power to disrupt the world. Unexpectedly, one had to restrain their contempt and disgust, and seriously address the matter.
The elder in the Daoist robe took a deep breath and said, "I suspect that Su Yi possesses an extremely terrifying secret treasure!"
"Is that so? He also has... a secret treasure?" Su Hongli's eyes showed a hint of curiosity.
The use of the word "also" in the sentence was thought-provoking.
The expression on the elder's face became solemn, his gaze drifting as he reminisced, "During his confrontation with You Tianhong, I secretly captured some of the fluctuations emanating from Su Yi's body and made deductions using the power of the 'Xiao Huntuan Disk'..."
Su Hongli immediately showed interest.
The Xiao Huntuan Disk!
It was an extremely mysterious ancient treasure.
An ancient treasure.
By collecting some fluctuations, one can deduce the mysteries and truths hidden behind these fluctuations using this treasure, making it truly extraordinary.
No one knows how many secrets the elder in the Daoist robe has helped Su Hongli deduce using the power of the "Xiao Huntuan Disk" over the years!
For example, the Eight Great Demon Mountains of Da Zhou, the upcoming "Radiant Era," and some perplexities in cultivation, and so on.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Xiao Huntuan Disk is an "unparalleled treasure"!
"Why are you silent, Dao brother?" Su Hongli raised an eyebrow, noticing that something was amiss with the elder in the Daoist robe.
"See for yourself, Daoist friend."
The elder in the Daoist robe smiled bitterly and took out a treasure made of bronze, resembling a round compass, emanating an ancient and weathered aura.
The surface of the treasure was engraved with the sun, moon, stars, as well as totems of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Additionally, intricate symbols were embedded along the edges.
In the center, there was a blood-colored spiritual pearl resembling a pupil.
When activated, enigmatic and peculiar arrays would emerge on the surface, with the symbols and totems arranged like stars, appearing mysterious and unfathomable.
The mysteries and truths deduced would be projected onto the blood-colored spiritual pearl at the center, resembling an eye.
This was the Xiao Huntuan Disk.
The blood-colored spiritual pearl at its center was called the "Huntian Pearl."
However, at this moment, a small crack appeared on the surface of the Huntian Pearl!
Upon seeing this scene, Su Hongli's pupils suddenly contracted, and his usually calm expression finally changed at this moment.
It was a mix of astonishment and disbelief!
Such an expression was rarely seen on the Lord of the Su Family in the Jade Capital City.
From this, it could be inferred that even he couldn't remain calm in his heart at this moment!
The atmosphere grew heavy.
After a long time, Su Hongli steadied his mind, rubbed his brow, and said, "Are you saying that the treasure on that bastard has become so powerful that even the Xiao Huntuan Disk cannot deduce its nature?"
The elder in the Daoist robe nodded. "Indeed, it should be so."
"It seems that I can't underestimate this bastard after all," Su Hongli's eyes flickered with depth and mystery. "However, I am puzzled. Where did he obtain that treasure? Could it be..."
As he spoke, he remembered something, and his expression instantly turned extremely gloomy. His entire presence became cold and terrifying.
The elder in the Daoist robe's eyelids twitched as he asked, "Do you suspect that the treasure was left by Ye Yufei for Su Yi?"
"Besides that reason, I can't think of any other explanation," Su Hongli took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming ominously. "I have long suspected that someone like that vile woman wouldn't fail to leave a trump card. But even after her death, I couldn't find anything among her belongings. Now it seems that the trump card she left behind must be on that bastard!"
His rare fury was completely different from his usual indifferent and calm demeanor. The killing intent in his eyes was extremely intimidating.
"Please calm down, my friend. At present, it is only speculation," the elder in the Daoist robe reassured him in a low voice.
Su Hongli took another deep breath and suddenly looked straight at the elder. His tone was indifferent as he said, "Dao brother, the power possessed by that bastard has forced me to take it seriously. It would be best for you to prepare yourself as well."
At that moment, faced with Su Hongli's gaze, the elder in the Daoist robe stiffened, his expression changing unpredictably.
After a long silence, he nodded and said in a low voice, "Rest assured, my friend. That day will come sooner or later, and I have long been prepared for it."