Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone Descends, Martial Souls Across the Farack Kingdom Undergo a Transformation

Farack Kingdom, royal capital.

The weather had been wonderful these past few days. The autumn sun hung high overhead, bathing the entire royal capital in clear, bright light.

The streets were bustling with people, presenting a picture of peaceful prosperity no different from any other day.

Yet the inner courtyard of the royal palace was another story entirely.

Night had just fallen. In the main residence's great hall, three people sat quietly, each in their own place.

Seated in the middle was a middle-aged couple.

The man was around forty, with a strong, deeply etched face and a steady bearing between his brows. He was Xue Yao's father, Xue Lang.

His cultivation had been stagnant for many years, stuck at a bottleneck with no way forward or back. That chasm before him was the deepest ache in his heart. Others never spoke of it, and he himself rarely mentioned it, but the weight of that frustration had pressed down on him for all these years.

The woman seated beside him had a gentle temperament and delicate features. The years had left no trace of hardship on her face; instead, they had settled into a composure and resilience that grew ever deeper. She was Xue Yao's mother, Gao Nianzhen.

A little farther away sat a slightly plump old man. It was Feng Cang.

The three of them waited.

No one spoke.

Only when nearly soundless footsteps came from outside the hall did a figure seep in from the darkness.

Uncle Chen stopped at the entrance to the great hall and silently dropped to one knee in salute.

He had travelled through the night and spent days on the road. The dust of his journey still clung to him, but his eyes remained steady and clear, showing no hint of fatigue. He