Past Events

"That was about ten years ago. A seriously injured woman was found in the Xu Family estate, with a child in her arms."

The Clan Elder pondered for a moment before continuing, "After that, I saved her, and she stayed with the Xu Family, beginning to work for us. Naturally, I also urged her to return home, but whenever this matter came up, your mother would fall silent. Later, I stopped bringing it up."

"Your mother was not only a Soul Emperor-level powerhouse, but also a Battle Armor Master. Her strength was formidable, and within just a year, she greatly elevated the Xu Family's standing in Eastsea through her sheer capability."

At this point, the Clan Elder let out a soft sigh. "Everything was still fine up to then, but that was also where the problem began. Xu Junwen was the deputy minister of the Eastsea Finance Department at the time. Young and ambitious, he was obsessed with becoming its minister. Later, your mother's identity as an Evil Soul Master was exposed, so he secretly joined forces with others in Eastsea City to capture her. But when your mother was finally overwhelmed, she gave up resisting and instead..."

The Clan Elder sighed. "She chose suicide. But before that, she placed a mark on Xu Junwen. That mark is connected to you. If he dies, you will be fine, but if you die, even if he does not die, he will lose half his life. And every month, there will be a time when the pain becomes unbearable."

"Later, we sought out many healing-type Soul Masters. In the end, they could only determine that the mark would last about ten years. The exact date, however, depended on the treatments from the healing-type Soul Masters. And it just so happened that a few days before your birthday, the mark on his body disappeared. That was why he made his move against you."

The Clan Elder's words set off a raging storm in Lin Xiuran's mind. So that was how it had been. No wonder Xu Junwen had chosen those particular days to act.

And his mother... had actually been an Evil Soul Master?

But so what if she was an Evil Soul Master? She was still his mother, the mother who should have loved and cared for him.

The Clan Elder's mood had also grown somewhat heavy, but he still comforted him. "Although your mother was an Evil Soul Master, I never saw her commit any extreme acts. Even when she was surrounded and attacked, she never truly harmed anyone. With her strength and her Battle Armor, she would not have been so easy to capture."

Lin Xiuran clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. He absolutely hated Xu Junwen.

But his current strength did not allow him to take revenge. Besides, there was the Clan Elder. Whether toward him or his mother, the Clan Elder had shown them kindness.

The Clan Elder blamed himself. "Both matters were my fault. I was in seclusion back then and did not learn of this in time. And having Xu Junwen adopt you at first, as compensation to your mother, was also my greatest mistake!"

During the first few years, with the Clan Elder watching over him, Xu Junwen had treated Lin Xiuran fairly well. But later, as the Clan Elder's health worsened, he rarely appeared in public and mostly rested and recuperated. He had also handed the position of Xu Family head to Xu Junwen. After that, Xu Junwen began acting without restraint, until he finally tried to kill Lin Xiuran.

The Clan Elder let out a long sigh. "In the end, it is my Xu Family that has wronged both you and your mother. Xu Junwen will not make another move against you from now on. As long as I am alive, he will never have the chance."

After a pause, he added, "And if you wish to take revenge, I hope you can wait until I am gone. By then, all the debts and grudges should be settled. But at that time, I will no longer be able to interfere."

The Clan Elder's words seemed to strike a balance between both sides, but they also ensured Lin Xiuran's safety. Even if he wanted revenge, he could not do it now. As long as the Clan Elder remained, he would have the chance to grow stronger.

In the end, the Clan Elder still left with Xu Junwen and the other members of the Xu Family. What the outcome would be no longer mattered. Lin Xiuran had learned the whole truth, and that was enough.

But many questions still lingered in Lin Xiuran's mind. If his mother had been an Evil Soul Master, then based on the Clan Elder's description of her cultivation as a Soul Saint and her status as a Battle Armor Master, even within the Holy Spirit Cult, her position should not have been low. Why would someone like that come to Eastsea City and stay with the Xu Family?

Lin Xiuran stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought as he recalled everything, only noticing Wu Zhangkong when he approached the bedside.

"Teacher Wu..."

Wu Zhangkong shook his head slightly and said coldly, "Recover from your injuries, then come with me."

"Ah!?"

Lin Xiuran froze, clearly not expecting Wu Zhangkong to say that.

Wu Zhangkong seemed to realize what Lin Xiuran was thinking and merely added, "I knew your mother."

Lin Xiuran had just wanted to ask a question, but Wu Zhangkong cut him off again.

"When there is a chance, I will tell you about your mother. For now, recover."

Since Wu Zhangkong had put it that way, Lin Xiuran had no choice but to obediently lie in bed and recuperate.

Wu Zhangkong placed the food he had brought back on the bedside table, then did not linger in the room and left.

Wu Zhangkong had many matters to handle. He was still looking after the members of Zero Class, so he left after Lin Xiuran woke up. At the hospital, Lin Xiuran could simply call for a doctor if anything came up.

Lin Xiuran was hungry as well. During the days he had been unconscious, aside from receiving energy through IV drips, he had barely eaten anything.

He quickly wolfed down all the food Wu Zhangkong had brought back. Not long after lying down, he grew sleepy.

After all, he had taken in far too much today and thought about even more. He had only just awakened, and his body was still weak. This time, he quickly drifted into sleep.

But Lin Xiuran's consciousness did not sink fully into slumber.

"This is... the Sea of Consciousness!"

Lin Xiuran looked at the vast space around him. Everything was pitch-black, and he immediately realized that he had entered the Sea of Consciousness.

"How did I get here?"

He was somewhat puzzled, but he still instinctively began observing his surroundings.

In the scattered darkness, three balls of light floated at the highest point. Two were side by side, one green and one red.

Below them was another silver ball of light, gleaming brightly. It appeared somewhat larger and brighter than the other two.

Lin Xiuran had wanted to examine the three balls of light more closely, but at that moment, the purple ball of light suddenly burst forth with dazzling radiance.

The brilliant light instantly blinded Lin Xiuran. When his vision returned, the silver ball of light had already vanished from where it had been.

"Where did it go?"

Lin Xiuran was confused. In the blink of an eye, the ball of light had disappeared right before his eyes.