The Black Nether Abyss was an infamous deathtrap in the Northern Spiritual Realm.
Unlike the Northern Spirit Plains, almost no adventuring teams ventured into the Black Nether Abyss. In recent years, those who entered had faced nine chances of death and one of survival.
And the Nine Nether Sparrow was inside the Black Nether Abyss.
"It looks like we'll have to enter the Black Nether Abyss," Su Qing analyzed. "First, the Nine Nether Sparrow is worth the risk. Second, no matter what, we can't let the Liu Domain get her."
"Exactly," Mu Chen agreed. "If the Liu Domain gets the Nine Nether Sparrow, it'll mean enormous trouble for us."
"Death Miasma drifts through the Black Nether Abyss all year round. It only lies dormant in late autumn and early winter, then reappears the following spring. By my reckoning, that time is almost here."
Su Qing continued his analysis. "If the Liu Domain makes a move, they'll probably choose that time."
Mu Chen picked up where Su Qing left off. "Send some capable men to watch the Liu Domain first. The moment they move, we follow. They won't dare make a big show of it, either. They can only act in secret, unless they want to compete with everyone in the Northern Spirit Domain."
"Good. That's a sound analysis." Watching Su Qing and Mu Chen accurately assess the situation as they traded remarks, Mu Feng felt deeply reassured.
Jing, look. Our son has grown up, and the little fellow we brought home all those years ago can stand on his own now, too.
"When your Uncle Zhou returns, I'll discuss the detailed arrangements with him. You two have brought me quite a gift this time." Mu Feng smiled.
"Heh, all in a day's work. Oh, right, Dad, don't forget to include spots for the two of us." Su Qing smiled faintly.
Mu Feng stared silently at Su Qing for a while before saying, "Come along if you want. With your current strength, few people in the Northern Spirit Domain can do anything to you."
"But you..." Mu Feng turned to scrutinize Mu Chen doubtfully. "The Black Nether Abyss is a bit dangerous for you. It's not a suitable place for you."
"I did come out of the Spirit Road, you know! Dad, the conditions there weren't much better than the Black Nether Abyss," Mu Chen said.
"All right. Since you want to come, you can follow us. But remember, no reckless behavior."
Mu Feng was soon persuaded.
Mu Chen nodded, then looked at Mu Feng with a broad smile. "There are also a few things I'll need your help clearing up, Dad."
"What?" Mu Feng asked, puzzled.
"Ever since I started cultivating the Great Pagoda Art, I've felt as though something was hidden inside my body. Do you know what's going on, Dad?"
Mu Feng paused. "Really?"
Mu Chen stared wide-eyed at Mu Feng, while Su Qing watched the show from the side with a smile tugging at his lips.
"Dad, you can't keep hiding it from me forever, can you?"
Faced with Mu Chen's earnest, persistent gaze, the smile on Mu Feng's face gradually faded, and a wry smile crept onto his lips.
"I didn't expect you to notice so soon. I thought it would take at least another six months."
"There's no point asking me about this, because your mother did it."
Su Qing cut in from the side. "Was my guess right or what?"
Mu Chen rolled his eyes. "Heh, it was completely obvious, okay? Dad isn't strong enough to pull off something like this."
"Tch! You little brats, you're asking for a beating!" Mu Feng's face reddened. Both his sons were looking down on him.
"What did Mother do to me?" Mu Chen lowered his head to examine his body and asked with some confusion.
"She placed a seal inside your body when you were born. That's also why your Spiritual Vein can't be detected," Mu Feng explained.
"Mother sealed my Spiritual Vein? Why?" Mu Chen was astonished. He had always thought he had no Spiritual Vein, never imagining that his mother had sealed it.
"There were two reasons," Mu Feng said after a moment's thought.
"Although a Spiritual Vein can give your cultivation wings like a tiger, excessive talent can sometimes become an obstacle instead."
"To become truly strong, you must possess a temperament that matches that talent. The world has never lacked geniuses, but how many can truly stand above all their peers?"
Mu Feng smiled faintly and continued, "Your brother is an example. He chased quick results and suffered cultivation deviation. He nearly scared me to death back then."
Su Qing covered his face and smacked his lips.
"What about the other reason?" Mu Chen asked.
"The other one..." Mu Feng gave a bitter smile. "If your mother hadn't sealed your Spiritual Vein, the three of us would be in serious trouble."
Mu Chen frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I've told you everything I can. There are some things I really can't explain right now."
Mu Feng sighed. "All you need to know is that your mother did this to protect you."
"And... you mustn't act rashly. Your mother has already paid a heavy price for you. Until you're strong enough, don't tamper with the seal inside your body!"
At this point, Mu Feng's expression became much more serious.
"To sum it up, our family probably offended some powerful faction before. They could track you through your Spiritual Vein, and Aunt Jing's seal blocks their search."
Su Qing chimed in from the side.
"Mother..."
Mu Chen murmured to himself, lost in thought.
"Once you've truly grown strong, you'll naturally learn everything." Mu Feng patted Mu Chen's shoulder.
"Then when can the seal inside me be undone?" Mu Chen hesitated before asking.
"When the dog has licked up all the flour, the chicken has eaten all the rice, and the fire has burned through the lock. Just take your time cultivating."
Su Qing spoke from the side with little enthusiasm.
"Exactly. Just as your brother said." Mu Feng chuckled.
"Also, take a look at some books on Spirit Arrays later. Starting tomorrow, I'll find a Spirit Array Master to teach you," Mu Feng suddenly said.
"Spirit Arrays?" Mu Chen was somewhat surprised. "Why?"
"Your mother is extremely accomplished in that field. As her son, you can't know nothing about it, can you? Otherwise, she'll blame me when we meet again."
Mu Feng smiled as he ruffled Mu Chen's hair.
"Don't worry," Su Qing said. "You have plenty of talent for Spirit Arrays. Besides, learning another skill will give you a better chance of making it further down the road."
"No, I was just marveling at how Mother seems to know everything." Mu Chen shook his head.
"Huh? Speaking of which, why didn't Mother seal you?" Mu Chen suddenly realized something and turned to ask.
"That monstrous talent of yours fits Dad's first reason perfectly."
Mu Feng fell silent for a moment. "Your mother couldn't seal it."
"Huh?!"
"Qing's talent had too keen an edge. Forcing a seal on him would have harmed him instead, so she only sealed that sword."
Su Qing drew Kunwu from his sleeve and waved it through the air.
"You've already figured out how to undo the seal, haven't you?" Mu Feng asked Su Qing.
"I figured it out ages ago. I'm not like this foolish little brother of mine."
Su Qing cast Mu Chen a disdainful glance as he spoke.
"Hey! Su Qing, what's that supposed to mean?" Mu Chen cursed with a laugh.
"Bleh, bleh, bleh!"
The two started roughhousing, while Mu Feng watched the brothers with a smile.
"Would you like to study Spirit Arrays with Mu Chen?" Mu Feng asked once they had finished fooling around.
"No. That's not my path," Su Qing declined.
In battle, Su Qing could wield all manner of techniques with effortless ease, but when life and death hung in the balance, he still trusted the sword in his hand.