"Damn that Heavenly Devil Cult."
Han Xuanji muttered.
He felt that the Heavenly Devil Cult had it in for him.
Though he had no particular feelings for the Han Household, they were still related by blood, and at least the household had never done him any harm.
Back when his aptitude had been discovered, Father Han had even planned to send him to the Han Household.
"Let's take a look."
Han Xuanji swept his Divine Sense over the entire Han Household.
He didn't even need the Void-Penetrating Divine Eye. With Spirit Transformation Realm Divine Sense, he could easily take in everything in the Han Household.
And as long as a Spirit Transformation cultivator wished it, the other party wouldn't even notice.
Soon, he detected the presence of an aged Golden Core Realm cultivator in a secret chamber deep within the Han Household.
"That presence is strong on the outside but hollow within. I'm afraid his breakthrough really did fail."
Han Xuanji frowned slightly and sighed inwardly.
He had originally suspected that the Han Household ancestor was feigning illness to make his enemies underestimate him, but now it seemed he really was close to the end.
No matter how well the ancestor disguised it, Han Xuanji could clearly see how terribly weakened he was...
"At this rate, I'm afraid he won't last many more years."
Han Xuanji carefully examined the Han Household ancestor's presence and made his judgment.
The ancestor hadn't had much life left to begin with. He must have tried and failed to break through to the Golden Core Seventh Level, suffering severe backlash.
"I should think of a way to help the Han Household."
Han Xuanji thought silently.
"If the Golden Core ancestor dies, the Han Household will surely descend into chaos. Other families might even carve it up."
"There's no need to stand by and let him die."
Han Xuanji pondered.
The main thing was that saving the man's life wouldn't cost him anything.
Deep in the Han Household's rear courtyard.
The clan elders had gathered, their faces filled with grief.
"Is there really no way to save the ancestor?"
Han Xiu, the current head of the Han Household, looked at the grand elder and asked in a grave voice.
Three years ago, the Han Household ancestor had entered seclusion to break through and take another step forward. If he could become a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, he could deter quite a few families from coveting what they had.
But things hadn't gone as he wished. Not only had he failed, but he had also suffered severe backlash.
The grand elder shook his head slightly, his expression grave:
"I've already asked a senior. Even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator like him would be helpless if he came. At most, he could extend the ancestor's life by a few years. As for making a full recovery, I'm afraid we'd need someone stronger. He also told me the city lord isn't skilled in this field and would be helpless as well..."
At those words.
The other clan elders fell silent.
A being above the Nascent Soul Realm?
How could a little Han Household like theirs possibly invite someone like that?
Han Xiu in particular looked utterly grim.
As someone who had only just entered the Golden Core Realm, he wasn't capable of holding up such a large family.
If the ancestor fell, the Han Household would have a hard time holding on in the face of pressure from the various powers.
"Alas, blame my incompetence."
The Han Household ancestor emerged from the secret chamber and spoke in a low voice.
His face was pale. Though he didn't look seriously ill, his presence was unstable. Rather than a Golden Core cultivator, he seemed like an old man with little time left.
"Ancestor, you'll be all right."
Han Xiu immediately went to him, his eyes reddening.
He was a direct descendant of the Han Household ancestor. He had also reached the Golden Core Realm thanks to the ancestor's wholehearted support, and the two were very close.
The Han Household ancestor shook his head and looked at Han Xiu:
"The Han Household will be counting on you from now on. Thank you for your efforts."
Han Xiu nodded, his expression heavy.
No matter what, the Han Household still had some reserves. As long as they devoted everything to nurturing another Golden Core cultivator, the situation would improve considerably.
Suddenly.
Someone noticed a figure slowly approaching the Han Household ancestor.
"Who are you?"
A Foundation Establishment Realm clan elder of the Han Household shouted, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Large numbers of disciples were patrolling outside, and quite a few formations had been set up.
How had this person gotten in?
"Hmph."
Han Xuanji used the Myriad Phenomena Instruction to conceal his appearance and figure, leaving everyone present unable to see his true face.
"I never thought the Han Household would have declined to such a state."
Han Xuanji walked at an unhurried pace. Each step carried a powerful pressure that made everyone too afraid to breathe heavily.
And Han Xuanji had already held back a great deal. Otherwise, his presence alone could have knocked them unconscious.
By now, no matter how slow the Han Household's clan elders were to catch on, they realized this person was an expert far beyond their imagination. At the very least, a Golden Core Realm cultivator couldn't have brought such pressure to bear.
He had also passed through numerous formations without a sound, and none of them even knew when he had entered. Just how terrifyingly powerful did he have to be to accomplish that?
Still, when they saw Han Xuanji walking slowly toward the Han Household ancestor, someone couldn't help shouting:
"Protect the ancestor!"
The Han Household clan elders immediately came to their senses and, forcing down the fear in their hearts, tried to stop Han Xuanji.
But after taking only one step closer to Han Xuanji, they felt that unbelievably powerful presence even more keenly, and their bodies instinctively retreated a step.
"Stop!"
At that moment, the Han Household ancestor stared at Han Xuanji, his eyes wide and his face full of shock.
The pressure Han Xuanji brought to bear was even greater than that of the many Nascent Soul Cultivators he had met. That meant... Han Xuanji was very likely a mighty figure above the Nascent Soul Realm!
If such a being had meant him harm, he would already be dead.
Besides, if the man wanted to destroy the Han Household, it would take him no more than a thought.
As Han Xuanji drew closer, the Han Household ancestor suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
"That's the presence of the Han bloodline."
The fundamental presence of a bloodline was very difficult to change.
Could it be...
"Ancestor?"
The Han Household ancestor asked tentatively. He was no longer afraid; that presence from the same root and source put him completely at ease.
But when had the Han Household ever produced someone like this?
Han Xuanji offered no explanation. He examined Han Yuan's injuries at close range.
"Damaged foundations, deteriorating Qi and Blood..."
With his perception, Han Xuanji saw through all the injuries inside Han Yuan's body.
Over his many years of signing in, he had learned an enormous variety of cultivation methods and mastered more things than he could count.
Naturally, he also knew the art of healing, and was quite proficient in it.
If a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator had failed to break through to Void Return, he figured he would have been helpless.
But a mere Golden Core Realm problem was easy to solve.
"Han Feng of the Han Household pays his respects to the ancestor!"
Ignoring his weakened body, Han Feng immediately dropped to his knees before Han Xuanji and said through tears:
"This unfilial descendant has let you down, Ancestor!"
The ancestor's ancestor?
The people of the Han Household were instantly dumbstruck, their eyes wide.
They looked at their usually dignified ancestor, who now resembled a child who had done something wrong and been treated unfairly.
At once, the Han Household members found a thousand words stuck in their throats, unable to speak.
"Try circulating your spiritual power again."
Han Xuanji tapped Han Yuan lightly on the chest, sending a stream of gentle spiritual power into him.
"Circulate my spiritual power again?"
Han Feng was taken aback and smiled bitterly:
"Ancestor, my foundations are severely damaged. Even if you expend your cultivation to preserve my life, I'll be reduced to a cripple. Why do that for me..."
But when Han Yuan subconsciously circulated his spiritual power, his pupils shook.
"This..."
The moment Han Feng circulated his spiritual power, he felt a warm current surge in, helping him heal the injuries throughout his body. Even his damaged foundations were now repaired.