The Truth of the Fourteen-Year Disappearance (Part 2)

"Related to the Xiao Family?"

Yao Lao and Xiao Yan were both shaken, especially Yao Lao, whose mind instantly raced through countless possibilities. Though the Xiao Family appeared to have declined, it had once been the Xiao Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans! Even if their bloodline had now withered away, who could say they had not left behind some unknown secrets—or... enemies?

Xiao Chen nodded, his expression turning incomparably grave. With a wave of his hand, he further strengthened the room's spatial isolation, ensuring that no third person could overhear what followed.

"At first, I also believed it was merely an unfortunate accident," Xiao Chen said in a deep voice. "But as my cultivation steadily rose, especially as my understanding of the Power of Space deepened, I reexamined those memories and discovered many suspicious details."

"First, both the location and timing of that Spatial Rift were far too coincidental. The back mountain of Wutan City was not some place where energy gathered, and its spatial structure was stable. How could it collapse for no reason? And why did it happen precisely when I was there alone?"

"Second, when I was swept into the Spatial Rift, although I felt as if the world were spinning and my body was nearly being torn apart, somewhere deep down, I seemed to sense an exceedingly obscure, icy, malicious Soul fluctuation flash past from within the rift! My Soul Power was weak at the time, so I thought it was just an illusion. But looking back now, it definitely was not!"

"An icy Soul fluctuation?" Yao Lao's gaze sharpened. "Soul Hall?!"

Xiao Chen's eyes turned cold. "That's right. It was very likely the Soul Hall! Or rather, that uniquely revolting Soul Aura of theirs!"

Xiao Yan abruptly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as flames of hatred burst from his eyes. The Soul Hall again! They had reduced his teacher to a mere remnant soul, and now it seemed they had even tried to harm his brother over a decade ago!

"But why would they target a ten-year-old child..." Xiao Yan froze halfway through his question. Yes, over a decade ago, although his brother had possessed decent talent, he should not have been worth the Soul Hall making such a massive move and using means capable of tearing space apart, should he? Unless...

Yao Lao took a deep breath and slowly said, "Unless their target was never Xiao Chen alone. It was... the Xiao Family! Or rather, the secret concerning the Tou She Ancient God Jade that the Xiao Family might have been hiding!"

Xiao Chen gave Yao Lao an approving look. "Senior's words coincide exactly with my own suspicions. I believe that Spatial Rift back then was created artificially by some expert of the Soul Hall! Their purpose may have been to abduct me and force me to reveal the whereabouts of the Ancient God Jade, or to use me as leverage to threaten Father. It was simply that they may not have expected the Spatial Rift to be so unstable. Something went wrong, and instead of transporting me to their intended destination, it threw me into the distant Central Plains, nearly killing me outright."

This speculation sent a chill rising from the soles of Xiao Yan and Yao Lao's feet. If that was true, then the Soul Hall's infiltration and schemes against the Xiao Family had begun so long ago! Their intentions were truly vile!

"During the time Master Xu taught me, he also examined my soul and body many times," Xiao Chen continued. "He once vaguely mentioned that deep within my soul, there seemed to be a trace of an extremely ancient and obscure 'mark.' This mark was related to space and exceedingly complex; even he could not completely decipher or remove it at the time. He suspected that it might have been left behind by some sort of tracking or positioning method when I was swept into the Spatial Rift."

"A Soul Mark?!" Yao Lao's expression changed drastically. "If that is true, then your return..."

"Senior, don't worry." Xiao Chen smiled confidently. "After I broke through to the Dou Zun realm and my Soul Power transformed into the Heavenly Realm, I used the power of the Chaos Flame to completely refine and erase that mark. The Soul Hall can no longer use it to locate me."

Only then did Xiao Yan and Yao Lao let out sighs of relief, though their moods remained heavy. The Soul Hall's sinister methods and strength far exceeded anything they had imagined.

"The reason I hurried back was, naturally, partly because I missed Father and Brother Yan and worried for your safety." Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Yan, warmth in his eyes. "But it was also because, after erasing the mark, I realized that the Soul Hall had never stopped coveting the Xiao Family. They may have even shifted more of their attention onto you because of my 'disappearance' and the Ancient God Jade being in Father's hands. I had to return before they made their next move!"

Everything now made sense! Xiao Chen's return was not simply that of a wandering son coming home. He had returned bearing the weighty duty of protecting his family and fighting against the hidden mastermind!

"Brother..." Warmth surged through Xiao Yan's heart, mixed with fury. "Those damned Soul Hall bastards!"

"Now is not the time for anger," Xiao Chen said calmly. "News of my return, along with the strength I displayed, has likely already spread through certain channels. It may temporarily intimidate the Soul Hall's lackeys around the Jia Ma Empire, but it will also inevitably draw the attention of their higher ranks. We must increase our strength as soon as possible!"

He looked at Yao Lao. "That is why helping Yao Lao recover his strength as quickly as possible is of vital importance. An Eighth-grade Alchemist Grandmaster at his peak can provide us with enormous assistance."

Yao Lao nodded heavily, powerful resolve radiating from his soul form. "Rest assured, this old man will recover as quickly as possible! It is time to properly settle the debt the Soul Hall owes!"

Xiao Chen then looked at Xiao Yan. "Brother Yan, you carry the heaviest burden. The evolution of the Fen Jue and the collection of Heavenly Flames cannot stop. Only if you grow quickly will we truly have the means to stand against the Soul Hall—and even the Soul Clan behind it!"

"I understand, Brother!" Xiao Yan's gaze was resolute, without the slightest hint of fear.

The brothers' gazes met, and each saw in the other's eyes an unquestionable determination and trust.

"As for Father," Xiao Chen said after a moment of thought, "do not tell him too much about the truth of the Soul Hall and the Ancient God Jade for now, lest he worry excessively. We only need to protect him in secret."

Yao Lao and Xiao Yan both agreed.

The truth had finally come to light. The massive stone weighing on their hearts seemed to have been removed, yet it brought with it even heavier responsibility and urgency.

The disappearance fourteen years ago had not been an accident of fate, but the beginning of a conspiracy aimed at the Xiao Family.

Now, the returned wanderer had grown into a towering tree. He would stand shoulder to shoulder with his younger brother, personally sever the black hand that had stretched over them for more than a decade, and protect this family!

Outside the window, the first light of dawn emerged, and a new day was about to begin. For the Xiao Family, a new era filled with challenges and opportunities had also officially begun.