Han Xuanji walked on the streets of Thousand Souls City. Under his feet was a long street paved with blue stone slabs, lined with shops on both sides, and bustling with people.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the sky, bathing the entire city in a pale gold hue.
His pace was unhurried, his face calm, revealing no emotional fluctuations, but his mind was racing.
Han Xuanji Shi Fang Qin Xin's matter aside.
The other party's identity is indeed astonishing; their true form is an ancient, Eternal Deity.
But what does that have to do with him?
So far, Qin Xin has not shown any hostility towards him; on the contrary, she seems to have a somewhat inexplicable interest in him.
In this kind of situation, he can just pretend he knows nothing.
To rashly probe the secrets of an Eternal Deity is tantamount to courting death.
The most pressing matter is something else entirely.
The application for the Life and Death Ravine has been approved.
The opening of the secret realm requires a total of one hundred participants, and the Soul Household would not open it for him alone, something Han Xuanji had anticipated.
Ticket fees are still being collected, and there's been a lot of wrangling over the allocation of slots among the households. Based on his understanding of the Soul Household's efficiency in deliberations, this process won't be too fast, nor will it be too slow.
It could be months, or it could be years.
This matter can't be rushed, nor is there any need to rush it. He can use this window of opportunity to finish another, more pressing matter.
Those who want to harm him.
After all, improving one's own strength is important, but if there are always hidden dangers lurking behind him, he will not be able to cultivate in peace.
Han Xuanji's gaze turned slightly cold.
Baili Qianchi was nothing more than a pawn, and Wu Congshan was just a lackey.
The real people behind the scenes were Hun Qianchen and Hun Zangfeng, who supported Hun Qianchen.
This third young master of the Soul Household is a strong contender for the Lineage's inheritance.
From the moment Han Xuanji became S-Rank Talent supporting Hun Qianxue, especially from the moment Han Xuanji ascended the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway Ladder, he regarded him as a thorn in his side.
"In that case, we have no choice but to strike first."
Han Xuanji thought to himself.
He was well aware of Hun Qianchen and Hun Zangfeng's ambitions.
Wu Congshan may send Baili Qianchi to test the waters today, but he may send someone even stronger tomorrow.
As long as he is in Thousand Souls City, he will be a thorn in Hun Qianchen's side.
Sitting idly by and waiting for death has never been his style; it will take him some time to grow to the point where he can sweep away these threats.
Make a clean break when necessary, otherwise the consequences will be dire.
Then we'll have to rely on someone else.
What he needs to do is very simple.
Add fuel to the fire, and expose those conspiracies that are still brewing in the shadows ahead of time.
Han Xuanji had originally intended to deal with this hidden threat.
He had previously used the system's detection function to obtain a lot of information during the Lineage council meeting.
The Soul Household, a secluded little building.
There were only three people in the room: Hun Qianchen, Hun Zangfeng, and Heavenly Martial Sect, the sect master of Wu Tianqiong.
"The situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for us."
The first to speak was Hun Qianchen.
His voice was low and deep, carrying an barely suppressed anxiety.
" Hun Qianxue's influence in the clan is growing daily; one word from him carries more weight than ten from me. If this continues, we'll be..."
Hun Qianchen was speechless for the rest of the conversation, as it seemed the outcome was already decided.
Since Han Xuanji ascended the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway, Hun Qianxue's prestige has risen day by day, and those who previously sang dissent have naturally been secretly suppressed.
The sinister look in Hun Qianchen's eyes was almost overflowing.
I never imagined I would lose so humiliatingly, not just knocked down by a thunderous blow, but gradually dismantled from the very foundation.
This feeling is one of resentment and helplessness.
"Elder Zangfeng Feng, aren't you going to offer any advice?"
Hun Qianchen complained somewhat.
Upon hearing this, Hun Zangfeng was speechless. What idea could he possibly come up with?
Others Hun Qianxue, are the head of the family, and their influence has always been greater than yours.
"At this critical juncture, why are you still instructing Wu Congshan to deal with Han Xuanji?"
Hun Zangfeng with a hint of helplessness.
"Hmph, we can't let this kid who ruined our plans get away with it so easily, can we?"
Hun Qianchen snorted coldly.
They saw that the other person had no idea how foolish their decision was.
Hun Zangfeng was truly impressed. No wonder he had so few supporters in his clan; how could he possibly defeat his opponent?
In his view, the only way to Han Xuanji was either to win him over or to eliminate him completely.
As for the former, they have been trying, but unfortunately, the messages have all gone unanswered.
The latter option carries significant risk, with the potential gains being completely disproportionate to the risks.
Even if Han Xuanji is killed, it would only eliminate an Eternal Dao Master, and would instead allow Hun Qianxue to use this matter to exert his influence.
" Qianchen, do you want to be the head of the family?"
Hun Zangfeng, his voice aged and calm, like autumn wind sweeping through withered leaves.
Hun Qianchen and Wu Tianqiong both looked at him at the same time.
"I know all of this, and because I know it, I already have a solution."
Hun Zangfeng didn't finish speaking immediately. Instead, he slowly stretched out his hand, extended his index finger, and gently traced a line on the table.
A line of blood.
Bright red blood seeped from his fingertips, drawing a straight red line on the table and leaving a dark mark.
"As long as the Hun Qianxue remain, we will never have a chance to rise above them."
He spoke in a flat tone, as if he were simply saying that the weather was nice today, but the chill beneath that flatness sent a shiver down Hun Qianchen's spine.
"In that case, we have no choice but to take the last path—beheading."
As soon as the two words were spoken, the air in the sealed room seemed to freeze instantly.
You mean... kill him?
Hun Qianchen's voice suddenly rose. He stood up abruptly, then realized something and lowered his voice, but the shock in his tone was impossible to hide.
"It is clearly written in the ancestral precepts that killing one's own clan is a great taboo, and plotting to harm the head of the family is a capital offense!"
If we are exposed, our entire Lineage will not tolerate us!
"No one will support us then."
Hun Qianchen never expected Hun Zangfeng to play such a big game.
Murdering the head of the family is no joke.
Even if Han Xuanji is killed and the matter is exposed, he will only be severely punished and forced to relinquish his power; his life will still be spared.
After all, a dead talent is no longer a talent; he is merely a corpse.
Their living, Eternal True God undoubtedly has an even greater purpose.
Wu Tianqiong raised an eyebrow, the smile on his face not disappearing, but rather deepening.
Having witnessed the split within the Heavenly Martial Sect and seen this many times before, he wasn't surprised. Instead, he wondered how much benefit he could gain from it.
Hun Zangfeng did not refute him, but simply looked at him quietly.
He only spoke slowly after Hun Qianchen finished speaking.
"Ancestral precepts."
He let out a very soft, cold laugh, a very short laugh:
" Qianchen, you also Soul Household. In your opinion, how much are the words 'ancestral precepts' really worth in the power struggles within the Soul Household?"
Hun Qianchen opened his mouth, but no words came out.