Separation

Xue Ying held his younger brother, feeling both nervous and astonished. Was this gray-robed youth his mother's brother?

"Brother, it has been so many years." Moyang Yu revealed a smile. "I am truly happy to see you again. You have already stepped into the Star realm? You are a Silver Moon Mage?"

"Mm." The gray-robed youth nodded.

The Star realm of mages is similarly divided into three major tiers: Meteor, Silver Moon, and Title.

This gray-robed youth was, in fact, a Silver Moon Mage.

Even within the clan, his status was quite high.

"To become a Silver Moon Mage through your own efforts, you must be ranked in the top three of the clan's younger generation." Moyang Yu said with envy. "Once you become a Title Grand Mage, that will be truly remarkable."

"There has never been a Title Grand Mage in the clan to this day. How difficult it is to step into the Title level." The gray-robed youth sighed.

Title level...

It meant possessing a unique title recognized throughout the entire Longshan Empire! These were terrifying existences worthy of absolute respect, having reached the pinnacle of mortals! To go any further would be to become a Transcendent.

This Silver Moon Mage might seem formidable, capable of easily destroying an army, but in front of a Title existence... he likely wouldn't even be able to cast a single spell.

"You have violated the clan laws. You must know that our clan has relied on these clan laws for over a thousand years to pass down our legacy!" the gray-robed youth said. "Without rules, even the most prosperous clan will eventually fall. Our clan has seen times of decline, but we have flourished once again. It is all thanks to the clan laws, and those who violate them must accept punishment."

"Tell me your choice." The gray-robed youth said.

The atmosphere instantly froze. Dongbo Lie, the lion-man, and Xue Ying, who was holding his brother, were all incredibly tense.

"I am a noble! I am protected by the laws of the Empire! You cannot violate Imperial law to take us away. Although you are powerful, if you violate Imperial law... you will only meet your death." Moyang Yu stared at her brother.

"A noble?"

The gray-robed youth shook his head. "You truly refuse to give up until the very last moment. Stop looking; I have indeed brought an Imperial decree this time."

The expressions of Moyang Yu, Dongbo Lie, and the lion-man changed drastically.

The gray-robed youth extended his right hand, and a golden scroll appeared out of thin air. As he unfurled it, a mysterious power permeated the area. Xue Ying, holding his brother, felt this power and could only feel how transcendent and mysterious it was, unable to stop a sense of awe from rising within him.

"Imperial Decree, Moyang Clan Edict: Clan member Moyang Yu is sentenced to one hundred years of solitary confinement! Baron Dongbo Lie is sentenced to one hundred years of hard labor! Executor: Mo Yangchen!" The gray-robed youth's voice resounded throughout the castle.

Dongbo Lie and Moyang Yu looked at each other, a trace of relief in their eyes.

"One hundred years of confinement? One hundred years of hard labor? That is too long, that is far too long." The lion-man beside them grew anxious. "A normal person's lifespan is only about a hundred years. Even if they step into the Star level, their lifespan is only a little over a hundred years. They are already this old; to be confined for a hundred years and serve a hundred years of hard labor... wouldn't that mean confinement until death and hard labor until death?"

"No, Uncle, you are the executor. Please, save my parents, save them." Xue Ying, holding his brother, cried out.

The word 'Uncle' caused the gray-robed youth's body to tremble.

"I cannot save them. No one can save them. The Moyang Clan's laws are strict; it is useless for anyone to plead for them." The gray-robed youth shook his head.

"Wuu, wuu..." His younger brother Qing Shi was crying in his arms. Qing Shi was only two and didn't understand much, but he could feel the atmosphere around him.

Xue Ying wanted to cry too.

But he was even more anxious. He was already eight years old and very sensible. If his father and mother were to be confined for a hundred years and serve a hundred years of hard labor, that would truly be punishment until the day they died! His own father and mother, his most important family!

"Save my parents, please save my parents." Tears welled up in Xue Ying's eyes. "Uncle, you must have a way, you must have a way."

"Xue Ying, don't cry. Shi Tou, don't cry either." Moyang Yu walked over, crouched down, and hugged her two sons. She turned to look at the gray-robed man. "Give Dongbo and me some time, will you?"

"Very well." The gray-robed youth nodded.

*******

On an unnamed high mountain in the Snow Eagle Territory, there stood a wooden cabin.

Thump, thump, thump...

The mountain path shook.

The lion-man 'Tong San' was anxiously riding a Frost-Flying Magic Beast Colt. The colt was extremely fast, and this time it wasn't even wearing armor. It had taken only a short time to rush from Snow Stone Castle to this mountain peak.

"Zong Ling, Zong Ling." The lion-man's booming voice shouted urgently from afar.

The cabin door opened.

A man with long silver hair and a black robe stood there. The robe wrapped around his body, but it revealed a green snake tail about two meters long and as thick as a man's thigh. That unmistakable tail revealed his identity—he was a Snake-man of the beast-kin! His face was the same as a human's, clearly indicating he was of the most precious royal bloodline among the Snake-men—the Six-Armed Snake Demon!

Because he had six arms, he usually wrapped himself in a black robe, not wanting people to stare at his six arms all the time.

"Tong San, what is the matter?" Zong Ling asked.

"The Master's clan has finally tracked us down, and they brought an edict." The lion-man Tong San was on the verge of tears. "You are the smartest among us, please, think of a way."

Zong Ling's body trembled, and he shook his head gently. "The Moyang Clan has already invoked an edict; no one can save them. Unless one becomes a legendary Transcendent, the Moyang Clan will never release Dongbo and the others."

"Then, then... is there really no way?" Tong San was heartbroken.

He could not forget.

During his darkest and most painful days, that young girl had played with him. Year after year, even when they finally fled the Moyang Clan, he had followed her with unwavering loyalty. Through countless adventures and endless life-and-death situations, in his heart... his master was even more important than his own life!

"There is no way. Did A-Yu ask you to come?" Zong Ling asked.

"Mm, the Master asked me to find you," Tong San said.

"Let's go. We must see them one last time." Zong Ling's fists, hidden beneath his black robe, were clenched tightly; his sharp nails dug into his palms. Whether it was Dongbo or A-Yu, they were companions with whom he had experienced life and death time and time again. How could he not be anxious and filled with grief? But he had no choice, and given his nature of not liking to show his emotions, he remained almost perpetually calm.

"Let's go."

Beside the wooden hut stood a Frost-Flying Magic Beast Colt; Zong Ling and Tong San immediately mounted their horses and galloped toward the castle.

Inside Snow Stone Castle.

Dongbo Lie and his wife were giving final instructions to their son, Xueying.

"Xueying, this pendant is a storage magic treasure. It contains a storage space and is extremely rare and precious; its value alone is worth the entire Snow Eagle Territory." Moyang Yu took the pendant from her neck. "From today on, it belongs to you. You must keep it a secret. Aside from Uncle Tong San and Uncle Zong, do not tell a third person! Don't even tell your younger brother; he is still just a child and has no filter—he might accidentally let it slip."

The territory was fixed and could not be taken away.

However, once a storage magic treasure was exposed, it would easily invite plunder.

"Mother, you should keep it," Xueying said quickly.

"When your father and I are taken away, any treasures on our persons will be confiscated." Moyang Yu gently tapped her finger against Xueying's, drawing out a drop of blood. She silently chanted an incantation, and soon, the drop of blood formed a magical sigil that branded itself onto the pendant. Xueying immediately felt his consciousness link to the interior of the pendant.

Inside the pendant were various materials, gold coins, and scrolls.

"The most important treasures in the castle have been placed inside. Oh, and your father has one more treasure." Moyang Yu looked toward her husband.

Dongbo Lie reached into his robes and pulled out a golden book.

The entire book was crafted from gold leaf; gold could endure long ages without decaying, and only the most precious texts were made from it.

"This is a spear technique left behind by a Transcendent," Dongbo Lie said with a smile. "The basics I taught you before are the foundation of this very technique! Those ancient great noble houses all possess three or four manuals left by Transcendents. We don't have many—just this one, and it's only for spear arts. That is why I have taught you spear techniques since you were small. Study it well, and remember, do not leak its existence. Aside from Uncle Zong and Uncle Tong San, you cannot tell a third person... Haha, they were present when we first obtained this manual."

"Understood." Xueying took the golden book and immediately felt a strange ripple emanating from it; with a thought, he tucked it into his storage pendant.

"Let's go. Head out and wait for Uncle Zong and Uncle Tong San."

Dongbo Lie and Moyang Yu waited in the hall with their two children, Xueying and Qing Shi. Soon, two figures rushed in.

It was Tong San and Zong Ling.

"Dongbo, A-Yu." Zong Ling wanted to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

"I must trouble you both before we leave," Moyang Yu said with a faint smile. "Tong San has a rough temperament and cannot manage the entire territory, so the territory will have to rely on you, Zong Ling. Teaching these two children will also depend on you."

"Rest assured," Zong Ling nodded. "Leave it to me."

"Xueying, remember, all matters regarding the territory are to be left to your Uncle Zong. You are not to take over officially until you are eighteen." Moyang Yu looked at her son, worried that without assistance, the two children would be devoured by outsiders in no time.

"Understood." Xueying hugged his younger brother.

Little Qing Shi huddled in his brother's arms. He was no longer crying, but he felt a sense of dread; he was afraid of Zong Ling and Tong San.

After all, he was only a two-year-old child, and he was frightened by Tong San's lion-like head and Zong Ling's serpentine tail.

"Mother, tell me, where exactly is the Moyang Clan? How can I save you?" Xueying asked, unable to suppress his urgency.

"Save us?"

Moyang Yu and Dongbo Lie exchanged a glance.

"Don't think about such things. Just live your lives well, do you understand? As long as you two brothers are doing well, your father and I will be very happy," Moyang Yu said. Save them? The laws of the Moyang Clan were incredibly strict. To make the Moyang Clan defy their own laws to release them would likely require a Transcendent. For their son to become a Transcendent? They didn't even dare to imagine it.

"Tell me, how can it be done? There must be a way," Xueying insisted anxiously.

"Once you obtain the Black Iron Token from the Dragon Mountain Tower, I will tell you the detailed sequence of events. You will naturally know how to save them then," Zong Ling interjected from the side.

Moyang Yu and Dongbo Lie were stunned and looked at Zong Ling.

"Give the child some hope," Zong Ling said.

Dongbo Lie nodded upon hearing this. Xueying was already eight years old and had been clever since he was small; he would never forget what happened today. Giving him a goal might be for the best. Dongbo Lie immediately said, "That's right. Once you obtain the Black Iron Token from the Dragon Mountain Tower, your Uncle Zong will tell you everything!"

"Dragon Mountain Tower Black Iron Token?" Xueying silently committed it to memory.

Late at night.

The drawbridge of Snow Stone Castle was lowered.

Outside the castle, the silver-armored man and the grey-robed youth stood waiting, while Dongbo Lie and his wife bid farewell to their sons.

"Xueying, take good care of your brother, you hear?" Moyang Yu instructed.

"I will." Xueying nodded, his eyes turning red as tears streamed down his face.

"Waa, waa..." Xueying held his brother's hand, but little Qing Shi suddenly burst into loud sobs.

Moyang Yu could no longer hold back; she knelt to embrace both her sons, kissing them repeatedly. Dongbo Lie stood silently to the side, his own eyes moist.

"Let us go." Moyang Yu gritted her teeth and walked with her husband toward the grey-robed youth in the distance.

As they walked, they couldn't help but look back.

"Waa~~~ Don't go, don't go, don't go!" little Qing Shi cried out.

Holding his brother's hand, Xueying wept as he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Father, Mother, I, Dongbo Xueying, swear... I will definitely save you and bring you back! Our family will be reunited, we will!"

"I swear it!"

"I swear I will save you! No one can stop me!"

Xueying's shout echoed through the silent night sky.

Moyang Yu covered her mouth, unable to hold back her tears, while Dongbo Lie's body trembled as they both stepped onto the back of the Four-Winged Vulture.

"Let's go." The grey-robed youth shook his head slightly.

Save them.

How could he save them? As an older brother, he wanted to, but the clan rules were ruthless. No matter who pleaded, the rules of the Moyang Clan were absolute; only a Transcendent could save them.

Not just him, but even Dongbo Lie and his wife had never imagined their son could rescue them. It wasn't that they looked down on their child, but that saving them required a Transcendent, and Transcendents were nothing more than legends.

"Whoosh!" The Four-Winged Vulture flapped its wings and immediately soared into the sky.

On the back of the vulture, Dongbo Lie and Moyang Yu both turned to look down. At the castle gate, the two children—one big, one small—looked so frail, and the hearts of the couple tightened. How could they bear to leave their children behind?

Live well, please live well, Moyang Yu prayed silently. For the rest of her life, she would pray for her two children, hoping they would be safe.

Xueying held his younger brother's hand, looking up.

The vulture flew rapidly into the distance, quickly shrinking into a speck in the night sky.

"Don't go, don't go." His younger brother, Qing Shi, was crying.

Dongbo Xueying picked up his brother: "Shi, don't cry, don't cry. Father and Mother are just going on a trip; they will be back very soon. Brother promises you."

During the public release period, there will be two chapters daily: one around 12:00 PM and one around 8:00 PM. On this first day of the new book, I ask everyone to add it to your collections and cast your recommendation votes. Thank you~~~~