Qin De successfully survived Tribulation Transcendence and returned safely to the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. It was already the third day.
Over these three days, the entire mansion had been jubilant, everyone in high spirits. Qin De had just formed his Golden Core and spent each day consolidating his cultivation. His Golden Core-stage true essence grew ever more refined and steady. Drawing on the insights he had gained during the tribulation battle, Qin Yu's mindset and cultivation also became more solid. Yun Ce remained calm and composed, occasionally offering guidance to Qin Yu and Qin De. The mansion was peaceful and secure.
By contrast, a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the imperial palace.
Xiang Guang sat restlessly in the hall, his face ashen and utterly grim.
Three days had passed. He had spent a fortune on the Crimson Prosperity Pill to enlist the two immortals, Wu De and Wu Xing, yet they had vanished without a trace.
Not only had there been no word that Qin De was dead, but instead, he had received a secret report—
Qin De had returned to the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion unharmed, his aura even more unfathomable than before. Anyone with eyes could tell he had successfully survived Tribulation Transcendence, entered the Golden Core stage, and become a true immortal!
"Useless! Every last one of them is useless!"
Xiang Guang kicked over the table before him. Jade ornaments and antiques shattered across the floor.
"Two immortals, along with the Four Directional Killing Gods, and they still couldn't stop Qin De, who had only just survived the heavenly tribulation! In the end, they even let him become an immortal unharmed, bolstering the Qin Family's power!"
The thought that the Qin Family now had Feng Yuzi, Yun Ce, and the newly ascended Qin De—three immortals in all—made Xiang Guang's heart pound. A suffocating sense of danger gripped him.
"If this goes on, the Qin Family will swallow the lands of my Xiang Clan sooner or later!"
He paced frantically around the hall, so agitated he was nearly mad, yet there was nothing he could do.
In terms of force, no one in the imperial palace could stand against the Qin Family. In terms of schemes, any plot was futile before absolute strength.
Just as Xiang Guang was consumed by despair and agitation, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall.
A guard stumbled in, nearly crawling, his face alight with excitement as he announced loudly:
"Your Majesty! Wonderful news! Wonderful news!"
Xiang Guang furrowed his brow and barked, "What are you panicking for? Has the sky fallen?" He hadn't even registered that the guard had said it was good news, not bad.
"Your Majesty! It's... it's the Old Ancestor! The Old Ancestor, Xiang Yang, has emerged from seclusion! He's outside the hall right now and has asked to see you by name!"
"The Old Ancestor?!"
At those three words, Xiang Guang froze for a moment, then shuddered violently. The gloom, agitation, and fear vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by overwhelming joy!
He didn't even bother with the dignity of an emperor. He rushed forward, grabbed the guard by the collar, and asked in a trembling voice:
"What did you say? The Old Ancestor has emerged from seclusion?! Is it really him?"
"Absolutely! The Old Ancestor is just outside the palace!"
Xiang Guang released him at once and threw his head back, laughing so hard that tears nearly came to his eyes.
Xiang Yang!
He was the true pillar of the Xiang Family!
A centuries-old monster with unfathomable cultivation, far beyond the likes of Wu De and Wu Xing!
With the Old Ancestor here, what did one newly ascended Qin De matter? Even if the Qin Family really had three immortals, so what!
"Heaven hasn't abandoned my Xiang Family! It hasn't abandoned us!"
Xiang Guang straightened his robes and hurried out of the hall without a moment's delay, going to welcome Xiang Yang in person.
Deep within the imperial palace, in a quiet chamber.
An elderly man sat in the seat of honor, clad in an old-fashioned black robe. His face was aged, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
His aura was restrained, yet it carried the faint, terrifying pressure of one who could suppress the ages. Just his presence made the entire space feel stifling and heavy.
He was none other than the Xiang Family's Old Ancestor—Xiang Yang.
The moment Xiang Guang entered, he found his rock of support. He dropped to his knees with a thump, then began to weep and complain, exaggerating every detail.
"Old Ancestor! You've finally emerged from seclusion! If you'd been any later, Qin De would have bullied your grandson to death!"
He tearfully recounted how Qin De had secretly built up his strength, killed court experts, and successfully survived Tribulation Transcendence to become an immortal. He also described how the Qin Family now had three immortals—Yun Ce, Feng Yuzi, and Qin De—and how their arrogance threatened the Xiang Family's rule.
His words were full of grievance, painting the Qin Family as ambitious rebels bent on usurping the throne.
Xiang Yang listened in silence. His composed expression gradually darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"The Qin Family... Qin De?"
His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
"Three immortals have appeared in such a short time, and they even dare to lord it over my Xiang Family. Do they really think my family has no one left? How have you been running this empire?"
The Xiang Family was the imperial clan of the Chu Dynasty and had ruled the realm for centuries. Its foundations ran deep.
The fact that Xiang Yang, an old powerhouse, had remained out of sight did not mean the Xiang Family could be bullied at will.
Xiang Guang looked ashamed. His eyes shifted, and he hurried to press his advantage:
"Old Ancestor! Qin De has grown so powerful that he no longer even respects our Xiang Clan! If we don't suppress him now, he'll become a grave threat!"
Xiang Yang's gaze turned cold. After a moment's thought, he spoke slowly:
"Why panic? From what you've said, Qin De has only just formed his Golden Core, and his foundation is still unstable. No matter how powerful Yun Ce is, he may not dare to openly break with us."
He paused, his tone brimming with confidence:
"Go. In my name, send an invitation and ask Qin De to come to the palace for a discussion.
I want to see what he has to say for himself."
Xiang Guang was taken aback. "Old Ancestor, you mean..."
"It's a feast at Hongmen, and a greeting all at once."
A cold smile curled Xiang Yang's lips. "If he dares to come, I have ways to make him yield. If he refuses, that proves he has something to hide and makes his rebellious intentions plain. Then I'll have proper grounds to suppress the Qin Family myself!"
Xiang Guang understood at once, his joy boundless.
"The Old Ancestor is brilliant! I'll see to it right away!"
Inside the main hall of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion.
Qin De had just received the invitation from the imperial palace. He opened it, and his expression darkened slightly.
He immediately summoned everyone—
Yun Ce, Feng Yuzi, Qin Yu, Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and their military adviser, Xu Yuan, all gathered in the hall.
Qin De set the invitation gently on the table and looked around at everyone, his voice grave:
"Everyone, the imperial palace has sent an invitation, asking me to come at once for a discussion."
Qin Zheng frowned. "Father, you've only just survived Tribulation Transcendence. That scoundrel Xiang Guang sent people to ambush you before. Now he's suddenly inviting you to the palace. I'm afraid he means us harm. This is a feast at Hongmen!"
Qin Feng nodded. "Second Brother is right! Xiang Guang is sly and treacherous. He must have ulterior motives in inviting Father now!"
Xu Yuan stroked his beard, his expression grave. "Your Highness, this is suspicious. Wu De and Wu Xing have disappeared, so Xiang Guang should be panicking. Yet he has taken the initiative to invite you to the palace... Unless someone has appeared in the palace who can suppress Your Highness."
Feng Yuzi's expression changed slightly. "You mean..."
Qin Yu clenched his fists and stepped forward. "Whatever the palace has in store, Father mustn't risk going alone! If you go, I'll go with you!"
Everyone voiced their opposition, all against Qin De entering the palace alone.
Qin De slowly turned his gaze to Yun Ce, who had remained silent off to one side.
Of everyone present, this late-Nascent Soul immortal was the one most capable of seeing through the situation.
Yun Ce lifted his eyes slightly and spoke calmly, settling the matter with a single remark:
"The Xiang Family's old monster, Xiang Yang, must have emerged from seclusion.
We can't refuse the banquet, but we can't go for nothing, either."
The atmosphere grew tense at once as everyone waited to hear what Yun Ce would say next. He continued slowly, "Xiang Guang invited Your Highness to the palace because he intends to suppress the Qin Family, perhaps even force us to submit. When the time comes, Qin De, Brother Feng, Yu'er, and I will go. If Xiang Yang truly pushes us too far, we'll deal with him in the imperial palace and spare the Qin Family's children from being threatened afterward." His words left no room for doubt, and everyone present was shaken. It was the confidence that came from knowing the strength they possessed.
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