Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang repeatedly communicated with Jiang Wan through sound transmission, confirming with certainty that Horn was indeed a powerful cultivator in the early stage of the Heavenly Star Realm.
At that moment, the excitement of Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang was beyond words. A strong cultivator at the Heavenly Star Realm, combined with being a Seven-Star Alchemist and a Seven-Star Array Master—having all these identities converge in one person like Horn was nothing short of extraordinary. If news of this spread, Horn would undoubtedly become one of the most influential figures in the world.
This realization made Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang feel like they had struck gold. This was a monumental opportunity for the Jiang family. If they could secure Horn's allegiance, the Jiang family's influence would extend far beyond Tianhai, bringing about unprecedented changes.
Horn, meanwhile, looked at Jiang Feng, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, and accepted the tea cup he offered. The water was at the perfect temperature, and Horn took a sip. Jiang Feng, with a sheepish smile, said, "Brother-in-law, I was ignorant before. From now on, just give the word, and I'll be there in an instant!"
Su Ming, however, was not so easily subdued. After a brief shock, he yelled out, "You've all been fooled by this fraud! Do you really think powerful cultivators in the Heavenly Star Realm are as common as street vendors? He's just an outcast from our Su family—he'll never amount to anything!"
Jiang Feng, still holding the tea cup that Horn had returned to him, suddenly kicked Su Ming in the head. "Shut up, you fool! You're disturbing my brother-in-law—do you even realize that?"
Jiang Feng was confident in his sister's judgment. If she believed in Horn's strength, then there was no doubt about it. Su Ming tried to speak again, but Jiang Feng kicked him repeatedly until several teeth flew out of Su Ming's mouth. He knew Horn wanted Su Ming dead, but he didn't dare to kill him directly without Horn's explicit command.
Horn looked down at Su Ming, his gaze cold. "Did you ever think it would come to this? In the past, you could bully me without consequence. But now that I'm back in Tianhai, I'll repay the humiliation you caused me a hundredfold."
Su Ming spat out a mouthful of blood. "You can't imagine how powerful the Su family has become," he sneered. "I advise you to let me go immediately. Even with the Jiang family's protection, they won't be able to save you. They'll only be destroyed alongside you."
In response, the storage ring on Horn's finger glowed, and a dark, sinister-looking coffin appeared in the air. Its surface was carved with lifelike ghostly patterns, and mysterious lines intertwined around them. The moment the black coffin materialized, a chilling wind swept through the area, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
Jiang Feng didn't dare to stare at the coffin for too long; just looking at it almost drove him mad. Mr. Jiang, noticing the danger, warned, "This coffin is extraordinary. Don't stare at it."
Horn then waved his arm, and the coffin lid flew open, hovering in mid-air. "Today is that old dog's birthday party," Horn said coldly. "It wouldn't be right to leave empty-handed. Consider yourself lucky, Su Ming. You're the first gift I'll send back to the Su family. Otherwise, you would never have left the Jiang family alive."
With a powerful kick to the ground, Horn sent Su Ming's body flying into the air, landing squarely in the sinister coffin. As Su Ming struggled to free himself, four black chains emerged from the coffin's inner walls, wrapping tightly around his body and rendering him immobile.
Suddenly, Su Ming felt a sharp, needling pain in his soul. At first, he could grit his teeth and endure it, but as time passed, the sensation grew more intense and unbearable. "Ah!" Su Ming finally screamed, his face contorting in agony.
Horn glanced at Jiang Wan and the others. "This is the Thorn Soul Coffin. Anyone who enters it will feel their soul being pricked by needles, and the pain will only grow more severe over time. Eventually, the coffin will induce hallucinations that blur the line between reality and illusion. The torment can drive a person to madness."
With that, Horn motioned towards the floating coffin lid. It slammed shut with a loud bang, sealing Su Ming inside. If one listened closely, Su Ming's muffled screams could still be heard from within.
Jiang Feng swallowed hard, visibly shaken. Jiang Wan, regaining her composure, said, "Brother Horn, let's go and rest for a bit. In an hour, we'll head to the Su family."
At the same time, while Su Ming was imprisoned in the Thorn Soul Coffin, the Su family was bustling with preparations for a grand celebration. Servants hurried about, attending to the final details before the guests arrived.
In a quiet area of the Su family estate, an artificial lake had been created. An elderly man sat by the lake, fishing rod in hand, enjoying the peaceful surroundings. This man was Horne, the patriarch of the Su family. The warm sun reflected off the lake's surface, creating a sparkling, serene atmosphere. A gentle breeze caused ripples to dance across the water.
A young woman in her twenties approached the old man. She wore a blue dress, her long hair tied up casually, and her delicate features radiated an air of indifference, as if nothing in the world could affect her. This was Xia Qingying. Before Horn's immortal bones had been taken, she had been his childhood playmate. She had been brought to the Su family by Horne when Horn was just two years old, and she was five.
No one knew Xia Qingying's true identity. Initially, Horne had encouraged Xia Qingying to play with Horn, but after his immortal bones were taken, she had never appeared before him again.
"It was Su Wu who took Horn's immortal bones," Xia Qingying said calmly. "Are you sure you want Su Wu to kill Horn today? Horn is also your grandson."
Horne, still holding his fishing rod, casually replied, "The fish has bitten."
He lifted the rod, catching a large grass carp. With a dry, firm grip, he held the fish in his right hand. The fish, which had been thrashing wildly, suddenly became still.
"Every decision I make is for the good of the Su family," Horne continued. "I alone have the right to determine the life and death of everyone in this family."
He then tossed the fish back into the lake. "What's done is done. Even if the immortal bones were somehow returned, their mystery and power would be lost."
"If sacrificing Horn can elevate the Su family to greater heights, then it's a sacrifice worth making. It's his destiny."