At those words, the pavilion-guarding elders' expressions all changed at once, and they turned toward the bamboo grove. An elderly man in white robes slowly emerged from within. He was Liu Xincheng, the Liu Clan's current grand elder. He shot the pavilion-guarding elders a vicious look and snorted through his nose, then paid them no further attention. Turning to Xiao Yan, who stood nearby, he smiled and said:
"My juniors are foolish and failed to recognize your great kindness, Senior. I hope you can forgive them, my lord. I would be endlessly grateful."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly at his words, but looked toward Liu Huabai and said:
"If I lacked even that much tolerance, wouldn't all the cultivation I gained through these many years of practice have been for nothing? Besides, this is only human nature. If any clan discovered such a precious ancestral treasure among its possessions, I imagine it would do everything in its power to hold it close, lest it be seized by those with malicious intentions and bring disaster upon the world. So I can understand. As for Clan Head Liu's generous offer, I'll accept it."
With that, Xiao Yan did not stand on ceremony. He walked over to the plaque and sat cross-legged before it, resting his palm lightly on its surface. His soul power rushed toward the three large characters for "Scripture Pavilion" on the plaque. The moment it touched them, a fierce, overbearing suction surged forth, and Xiao Yan's soul power instantly appeared in another world. Mountains and forests rose like cranes standing tall; as far as the eye could see, there were countless peaks and woods. The mountains and trees were lush and green, a scene of flourishing life, with snakes, insects, birds and beasts of every kind. Suddenly, the kindly voice of a middle-aged man sounded beside Xiao Yan's ear. Though it was not loud, it made the entire world tremble faintly, as if a vast heavenly bell were tolling and shaking heaven and earth. Xiao Yan was slightly startled, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily.
"You aren't a member of my Liu Clan, are you?"
Xiao Yan's expression did not change. He nodded and answered that he was not. At this moment, he did not dare be the slightest bit negligent. Judging by that voice, the middle-aged man's strength was probably at least at the Seven-Star Half-Emperor level. With such strength, how could Xiao Yan dare treat him lightly? Thus, Xiao Yan appeared extremely compliant. The middle-aged man's voice sounded again with a soft grunt of acknowledgment. Space twisted slightly before Xiao Yan, and a middle-aged man appeared before him, with shoulder-length black hair, a handsome face, and fine azure robes bearing a pattern of a long sword thrusting straight at the sun on his chest. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. Presumably, this man had once belonged to some sect, but for some reason had brought his clan here to live in seclusion. The middle-aged man seemed to have guessed Xiao Yan's thoughts. He nodded slightly, looked at him, and said:
"My descendants agreed to let you use this Gold-Inscribed Plaque, didn't they?"
Xiao Yan did not deny it. He nodded slightly and said yes. The middle-aged man also nodded slightly and spoke again:
"In that case, you must be the one who told them the secret of the Gold-Inscribed Plaque, right?"
Xiao Yan's expression changed slightly, but he still nodded and said yes. If an expert like this truly wanted to kill him, he would have acted long ago. Why would he waste so many words on him? The middle-aged man nodded again, then let out a sorrowful sigh. His gaze grew somewhat vacant as he looked toward the distant horizon, as if he could see the clan's glorious days of old. But sadly, those days had grown distant and no longer belonged to them. Their past glory had become history; now all that remained was a declining Liu Clan, a Liu Clan that could rise again only with outside help. After a moment, the middle-aged man's gaze finally grew firm again, and it seemed to fill once more with hope. He turned to Xiao Yan, his face full of wistful emotion. The look gave Xiao Yan a sudden start. He swallowed, twisted his mouth, and took half a step back with an awkward laugh. The middle-aged man's lips curved into a faint smile, and he suddenly said:
"Since you were qualified to use this Gold-Inscribed Plaque, that means you have shown my Liu Clan great kindness. I imagine my descendants will also attach themselves to you. In that case, the descendants of my Liu Clan should count as your subordinates, shouldn't they? Hehe! Protecting your subordinates should be part of your duty as their lord, shouldn't it? Then I entrust my Liu Clan to you. I hope you can lead it back to glory. I don't ask that they surpass what I achieved back then; it will be enough if you can secure my Liu Clan a place in this southwestern region. Of course, as compensation, I will entrust to you everything I have comprehended throughout my life of cultivation about the direction of the great Dao of heaven and earth. What do you say?"
Xiao Yan's expression changed slightly at those words, but he immediately felt a surge of excitement. In the end, however, his expression remained unsettled, and he could not make up his mind. Increasing his cultivation was certainly a good thing, but he still had matters to attend to. If he stayed in the southwestern region too long, his search for Hai Mochen would likely be delayed considerably. Thus, Xiao Yan could not decide whether to go or stay.
If he stayed, his strength would grow, and he could comprehend the great Dao of heaven and earth, making cultivation easier in the future. But his progress toward his next objective would be much slower. As for Old Ghost Yan Mo, Xiao Yan still did not know who he was, why he knew him so well, or how he knew where he had come from. All of these were still unsolved mysteries, and he had to seek answers. Xiao Yan did not know whether Old Ghost Yan Mo would bring more people to kill him again. If he did come, those he brought would certainly be opponents Xiao Yan could not face head-on. If Old Gu happened not to intervene then, Xiao Yan would face a calamity of life and death. Under such circumstances, it would likely be difficult for Xiao Yan to reach a quick decision. The middle-aged man seemed to see his worries as well. His own demands did indeed seem a little too high. He blinked several times, looked at Xiao Yan, and spoke again:
"If you have concerns, there's no need to dwell on them. If you have matters to attend to now, you needn't stay with the Liu Clan for too long. As long as you can help the Liu Clan stand firm in this southwestern region in the future and keep it from declining, that will be enough. You don't have to stay with the Liu Clan all the time. I only hope that you can lend my Liu Clan a hand when it is in trouble and not let its bloodline be extinguished. That is my only request of you as your senior!" The middle-aged man sighed softly, a trace of pleading in his voice as he asked.
At this, Xiao Yan finally nodded. A trace of resolve entered his gaze as he looked at the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man also nodded with a helpless smile. Truthfully, although he was strong and had this inheritance to attract Xiao Yan, these things were ultimately not enough. Others might not be able to tell, but how could he fail to see it? Xiao Yan's strength had reached a level not far below his own, and most importantly, Xiao Yan was still young, only middle-aged. Yet the man himself had taken more than a hundred years to cultivate to this level. Thus, judging by Xiao Yan's cultivation talent, surpassing him was only a matter of time. Given enough time, Xiao Yan would surely have a place of his own even on this continent. Then he turned his gaze back to Xiao Yan. Though he found it somewhat difficult to say, he finally spoke, addressing Xiao Yan with some embarrassment:
"Young fellow, this old man has an unreasonable request. I hope you can agree to it."
Xiao Yan frowned slightly, but gestured for the middle-aged man to continue. The middle-aged man spoke somewhat sheepishly:
"I hope you can swear a Lightning Punishment Oath to secure my trust in you. I hope you can agree, young friend."
Xiao Yan's expression changed instantly. The Lightning Punishment Oath was a terrifying thing he had only recently learned about, and now something so terrifying was to be bound upon him. How could he bear it? Xiao Yan's brows knitted tightly as threads of anger slowly rose in his heart. His willingness to help the Liu Clan was already the utmost concession he could make, yet now this old man actually wanted him to swear a Lightning Punishment Oath. How could he endure that? His expression grew distinctly displeased. Seeing this, the middle-aged man lowered his head helplessly. It was truly a last resort. If he did not do this, he could not ensure the Liu Clan's safety, but if he did, he might shut Xiao Yan out. Both choices were difficult, yet he had to act. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan finally calmed down. What this senior had said was not without reason. After hesitating, Xiao Yan finally raised three fingers above his head, pointing straight at the heavens, and said with a measure of resolve in his voice:
"I, Xiao Yan, swear here today in the name of the Flame Emperor that, for as long as I live, I will do everything in my power to safeguard the Liu Clan's peace. For every day that I remain alive, the Liu Clan shall flourish and endure!"
Meanwhile, in the sky outside the Gold-Inscribed Plaque, thunderclouds rolled, and peals of thunder echoed across the heavens above Qingyang City. Serpentine bolts of lightning struck the ground around Xiao Yan, blasting vast patches of earth black. Liu Huabai and the other Liu Clan members quickly retreated from the bamboo grove. Only after the thunderclouds vanished and light returned to heaven and earth did they gather around again. Looking at Xiao Yan, who remained motionless, they seemed to have an answer in their hearts. They did not disturb him again, but waited quietly to one side, driving away the clan disciples who came to watch.
Inside the Gold-Inscribed Plaque, the middle-aged man watched Xiao Yan swear the Lightning Punishment Oath and nodded, his face relaxed. But Xiao Yan turned to look at him, a peculiar expression in his eyes that made him slightly uneasy. Just as he was about to ask about it, Xiao Yan spoke first:
"Senior, now that I've sworn a Lightning Punishment Oath, isn't it your turn?"
The middle-aged man's expression changed slightly. He looked at Xiao Yan in confusion and asked:
"What do you mean by that, young friend? Could you explain it to this old man?"
Xiao Yan smiled faintly. A trace of teasing appeared in his eyes as he looked at the middle-aged man, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he said:
"It seems you truly don't know, Senior. In that case, let me explain it to you properly. Senior, you asked me to swear a Lightning Punishment Oath, and I have now done so as you wished. But if I simply left like this, wouldn't I have to listen to your Liu Clan members in everything once I went outside? So I think you should also swear a Lightning Punishment Oath to bind your clansmen and keep them from using my oath to control me."
When Xiao Yan finished, he narrowed his eyes and silently watched the middle-aged man, who stared back with a deep frown. After a moment, the man let out a long sigh and finally nodded in agreement. Like Xiao Yan, he swore a Lightning Punishment Oath to bind his clansmen. Outside, the Liu Clan members once again witnessed the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning resounding through the sky. This time, however, every member of the Liu Clan felt a binding force upon them within the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning. It was as if something had bound another part of themselves, and if they violated that part, they would surely suffer the punishment of heavenly lightning. Yet, apart from the clan head, the grand elder and a few others, not one of them knew what that mysterious part they themselves could not understand actually was. The grand elder and Clan Head Liu Huabai met each other's gaze, and each saw a trace of helplessness and relief in the other's eyes. But they said nothing, waiting quietly where they were and allowing no one to approach Xiao Yan.
Inside the Gold-Inscribed Plaque, Xiao Yan watched with satisfaction as the middle-aged man swore the Lightning Punishment Oath. A smile appeared on his lips, and the two exchanged smiles, though no one knew what either of them was thinking. Xiao Yan and the middle-aged man chatted and laughed for a few more moments, after which Xiao Yan looked at him with a wistful expression. The middle-aged man seemed to understand. He sighed inwardly. The main event has finally arrived!
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