The Heavenly Sword Sect searched the entire Cangxuan Continent, turning it upside down, yet found no trace of Xiao Man. They were forced to turn their attention to those friendly with Xiao Man. However, neither the Hundred Elixir Hall nor the Jin family had any sign of Xiao Man. Even when the Heavenly Sword Sect deliberately suppressed the Jin family, Xiao Man did not appear.
Yue Tianxia was too severely injured and had to enter closed-door cultivation to recuperate. After Xiao Man's departure, Yue Ran entered the Purgatory Tower alone, becoming the second person to clear it!
"Ten years," Yue Ran sat at the stone table in the courtyard, gazing at the banyan tree before him, his thoughts distant. In the past, Xiao Man always liked to sit on the branches of the banyan tree, saying it was comfortable to lie there. He had tried lying there several times, only to find it uncomfortable, but the view from up there was indeed good.
"Young Sect Master, it's snowing. Let's go back inside," Yang Wei brought out a cloak. Seeing Yue Ran lost in thought while looking at the banyan tree in the courtyard, he couldn't help but sigh. Since Miss Xiao left, the Young Sect Master always stared at the banyan tree in the courtyard, lost in thought. Without guessing, he knew the Young Sect Master was thinking of Miss Xiao.
"It's snowing, isn't it," Yue Ran looked up at the sky. Snowflakes drifted down, piece by piece. "Still no news."
"Young Sect Master, no news is good news. If there were news, wouldn't Miss Xiao be in danger?" Yang Wei lowered his voice. "I heard the Sect Master is about to come out of seclusion."
"What does his coming out of seclusion have to do with me?" Yue Ran asked faintly.
Yang Wei was stunned for a moment, unsure how to answer. After all, the father and son had been estranged since the birthday banquet ten years ago.
"Young Sect Master, the Sect Master is still the Sect Master. You still have to put on a good show," Yang Wei reminded Yue Ran. No matter how defiant Yue Ran was, he was only the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect now, not the Sect Master. If he angered the Sect Master, and the Sect Master removed his position as Young Sect Master, Yue Ran would lose everything.
"A good show?" Yue Ran sneered. "I'm afraid he's currently thinking about how to choose one of his sons for soul possession."
Upon hearing this, Yang Wei quickly looked around. Seeing no one else, he breathed a sigh of relief. "My Young Sect Master, you must not speak such nonsense. If it were overheard by someone with ulterior motives, it could lead to gossip."
"Are there not enough people gossiping about me now?" Yue Ran sneered. "Everyone is saying behind my back that I am the most suitable person for soul possession. After all, I have high talent, am the Young Sect Master, and possess half of the Qin family bloodline. Besides me, is there a better candidate for soul possession?" Su Dan Fiction Network
"Young Sect Master, you worry too much," Yang Wei consoled. "You are the pride of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the future of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Even if the Sect Master were to possess someone, it wouldn't be you. Moreover, the Sect Master has always doted on you."
"Doted on me?" Yue Ran sneered. The only thing Yue Tianxia cared about regarding him was his cultivation. He supposed that after soul possession, it would affect his cultivation. The higher his cultivation, the more beneficial it would be for Yue Tianxia. "I don't think so."
"Even if the Sect Master doesn't dote on you, Miss Xiao certainly dotes on you!" Liu Han came out with an umbrella and held it over Yue Ran. "If Miss Xiao knew you were demeaning yourself like this, she would be heartbroken."
Yue Ran fell silent. For a long time, he didn't speak. Ten years. Ten years with no news. He was beginning to suspect that Xiao Man had met with an accident. In ten years, not even a single message. He had been worried sick for ten years, terrified of receiving news of her being killed. Every day, he both longed for news of her and feared it.
"Young Sect Master."
The First Elder appeared at the doorway. One of his sleeves was empty. He had been heavily injured in the battle ten years ago, losing an arm. Despite using all sorts of precious medicines, it could not be regrown. The First Elder's cultivation had since dropped to the peak of the Golden Core stage. Unable to advance further, he had resigned his post and became one of Yue Tianxia's personal attendants.
"Elder, why are you here? Is something wrong?"
"The Sect Master is about to come out of seclusion," the First Elder said, looking at Yue Ran with a numb expression, as if he were born that way. His cloudy eyes held only coldness.
"What preparations are needed?"
"At that time, the Sect Master will test the Young Sect Master. Please be prepared,"
"Alright," Yue Ran replied indifferently.
As the First Elder finished speaking and was about to leave, Yue Ran called out to him.
"Elder, do you know why your arm cannot recover?"
The First Elder stopped and turned around. He had tried everything, but his hand could not regrow. He only remembered a wisp of ethereal blue flame that had shot up his arm, turning it to ash. If he hadn't immediately severed his arm to save himself, he would have lost his life.
"The Young Sect Master knows?"
"No, but I know of a method that can revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone."
"What method?" the First Elder asked calmly. He had been disappointed too many times over the past ten years. Now, he held a sliver of hope, but not much.
"North of the Northern Darkness, there is a spiritual spring. Drinking from it can revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone."
"That's just a legend."
"But Underworld Fire is also a legend, yet Elder's arm was burned by Underworld Fire and turned to ash," Yue Ran said coldly. "Do you think anything in this world is impossible?"
The First Elder frowned slightly. "Young Sect Master, please speak plainly if you have something to say."
"I am merely informing Elder that if your cultivation cannot recover, your position as Elder may have to be vacated," Yue Ran said with a chilling tone. "My good father, what kind of person he is, Elder must know better than anyone."
The First Elder looked deeply at Yue Ran before turning to leave. Of course, he knew what kind of person Yue Tianxia was. A man who would kill his own flesh and blood. Others, he probably wouldn't hesitate to kill them!
Yet, even knowing this, what could he do? Yue Tianxia was a mighty cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage. Besides that person from the Heavenly Profound Sect, who else could rival him? Submitting to the strong was the only choice for the weak.
Yue Ran watched the First Elder's retreating figure, a shadow lurking in his eyes. It seemed Yue Tianxia was indeed severely injured. After ten years of seclusion, he was eager to test him as soon as he came out. It must be that his body was heavily injured by Lei Tianze and could no longer be used.
"Young Sect Master, the Sect Master is coming out of seclusion. Will he test the cultivation of the other young masters?"
"Why test them?" Yue Ran said faintly. "Since the result is already known, how could I be unprepared? If he has no ill intentions, so be it. If he dares to do anything to me, I will not consider him my father!"
Yang Wei swallowed hard. He felt as if his head was shaking on his neck, unstable, and his neck felt cold. He felt his future was uncertain. If it were in the past, he would have sought another path. But now, he wanted to take a gamble and continue to follow Yue Ran. If one could only share wealth and not hardship, then he would only be a servant who could be ordered around his entire life!