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Venerable Heavenly Severing's cave abode had originally been a secret, known to no one.
But 1,500 years ago, someone had accidentally discovered a Heavenly Severing Stele left behind by Venerable Heavenly Severing, and learned the secret.
The southwestern region had consequently fallen into turmoil. The Chaoyang Sect, which had been founded only 500 years earlier and had become one of the five great sects of the southwestern region, was wiped out by the other four sects working together because its deputy sect master, Liu Feng, had mastered one of Venerable Heavenly Severing's three ultimate techniques, the Heavenly Severing Steps.
From then on, the Chaoyang Sect became part of the southwestern region's history. However, it had not been completely wiped out, and in the end, the four great sects had not obtained the Heavenly Severing Steps.
For Liu Feng's clansmen, the leading clan faction within the Chaoyang Sect, had fled the sect with the Heavenly Severing Steps under Liu Feng's desperate protection. From then on, however, they could only live far from home like dogs that had lost their masters.
With the Liu Clan gone and the whereabouts of the Heavenly Severing Steps unknown, the four great sects were naturally furious. They sent most of their people out to search, scouring everywhere and wiping out several clans on good terms with the Liu Clan, but ultimately found nothing.
Liu Feng had not died at the time, but he had been gravely wounded and was at death's door; his death was only a matter of time. As he lay dying, Liu Feng had used the insights gained from a lifetime of cultivation to leave behind the Gold-Inscribed Plaque, as well as the scroll now in Xiao Yan's hands, the Heavenly Severing Steps.
He had waited for another outstanding talent to emerge from the Liu Clan and cultivate the Heavenly Severing Steps to great accomplishment, ensuring the clan a place in the southwestern region. Unfortunately, the Liu Clan's descendants had been ignorant and wasted the Gold-Inscribed Plaque. Although they had now discovered it, the four great sects had already stretched their hands into this place. For the Liu Clan to rise to power without relying on outside help was utterly impossible.
Now Xiao Yan also knew the true reason Liu Xincheng had given him the scroll of the Heavenly Severing Steps. He wanted both to befriend Xiao Yan and to bind him more tightly to the Liu Clan. But to Xiao Yan, that no longer mattered.
Xiao Yan would protect the Liu Clan without question. What Liu Xincheng had done was, as far as Xiao Yan was concerned, like drawing legs on a snake.
The next morning, at dawn.
Xiao Yan woke from his cultivation and stepped outside. He looked up at the eastern sky, where a streak of morning light told the world that today was another new day, another new beginning.
Xiao Yan walked slowly out of the courtyard and through the Liu residence. Along the way, everyone from the Liu Clan greeted him with respectful expressions and cupped their hands in salute. Xiao Yan returned each greeting with a smile as he walked past.
In the Liu Clan's council hall, Liu Huabai, the Liu Clan head, was holding a morning meeting with Liu Xincheng and the other elders when a guard suddenly reported from outside that Xiao Yan had arrived before the hall.
Liu Huabai, Liu Xincheng, and the others all changed expression slightly. They hurried to their feet and ran outside the hall. As Liu Huabai passed the guard, he shot him a fierce glare. The guard looked embarrassed and quite helpless.
"Senior, you honor us with a visit so early, yet I failed to come out and receive you. Please forgive me, senior!"
Liu Huabai strode up to Xiao Yan and, together with the Liu Clan elders, cupped his hands in salute as he spoke. Xiao Yan smiled faintly and excused them from the formalities. Then he looked at Liu Huabai with a gentle smile and said, "Clan Head Liu, since coming to Qingyang City, I've imposed on the Liu Clan for many days. I have matters to attend to soon, so I can't stay much longer. I'll leave today, and return when I have time."
Liu Huabai and the others all changed expression slightly. They exchanged glances before looking back at Xiao Yan together, and Liu Huabai couldn't help asking, "Senior, are you leaving already?"
Xiao Yan looked at the reluctance on Liu Huabai's face, but still smiled and nodded. "I already have matters to attend to, and I may soon be caught up in a great battle with someone. If I stay with the Liu Clan any longer, I'll only bring harm to you, so I plan to leave today."
Before his voice had faded, Xiao Yan waved his sleeve, and a furry little beast resembling a cat appeared before everyone. A Storage Ring hung around its neck. Looking at the little beast, Xiao Yan continued speaking to Liu Huabai:
"As I said yesterday, I'll leave this little fellow with your Liu Clan for now. When I have time in the future, I'll come back for it."
Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng nodded. The other elders raised their eyebrows slightly but said nothing.
After giving a few more instructions, Xiao Yan turned and headed out of the Liu residence. Liu Huabai and the others hurried after him to see him off.
Xiao Yan walked slowly toward the city gates. Amid the clamor of the streets, a comfortable smile appeared on his lips. It had been so long since he'd experienced such a peaceful feeling, such bustling, worldly noise.
Xiao Yan walked along the street, looking relaxed. As he went, however, he frowned slightly and looked around. Somehow, he had wandered into the slums. He paid it no mind; he had only planned to wander around the city before leaving anyway.
Xiao Yan walked on, deep into the commoners' district. After a long while, he finally stopped and looked around, as though searching for something.
All was quiet around him. Then Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly lit up, and with a flicker of movement, he vanished from the spot.
Inside a dilapidated little courtyard were three men and a girl. One man lay on the ground, a finely forged steel blade fallen beside him. He showed no sign of life, yet there was not a trace of blood on him. His face was purplish-black, and the whites of his eyes were turned upward. Clearly, he had died of poison.
The other two men wore black martial attire and held steel blades, their backs to the courtyard's badly battered wooden gate. Both were trembling slightly, their eyes constantly darting to their dead companion, full of fear.
Opposite them, a delicate-looking girl in white was retreating step by step. She glanced cautiously at the house behind her as she backed away, her eyes filled with fear she could not conceal.
Suddenly, one of the two men winked at the other. The other man frowned slightly and hesitated for a moment before looking up at the little girl and saying, "Hmph! Little girl, you've got some skills, but unfortunately for you, even if you don't die today, you have to leave Qingyang City. Otherwise, once his lordship arrives, it'll be too late for regrets! So you'd better make your choice quickly: either die, or leave Qingyang City at once and never come back!"
The little girl's face turned deathly pale, and her body began to tremble. Her eyes quickly reddened, and hot tears welled up and spilled over, but she still cried out stubbornly, "No! This is my home! Grandma and the others are all dead! I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave!"
As the little girl cried, purplish-black mist rapidly poured from her body and swept toward the two men. From its color alone, one could tell that the mist was extremely poisonous.
The two men's expressions changed drastically. Dou Qi rushed out of their bodies and formed an energy shield around them. They quickly backed away, fleeing toward the outside of the courtyard.
They had moved too late. The purplish-black mist had already blocked their retreat, making escape impossible. Their faces were full of anxiety; the Dou Qi shield would not hold out for long.
If they could not break through the purplish-black mist before the Dou Qi shield shattered, their deaths would be certain. After all, no expert would be willing to come to the slums.
Bang!
A muffled sound rang out around them. The two men did not know where it had come from, but they could sense the purplish-black mist that had been steadily eroding their shield slowly dissipating.
Their eyes lit up, and a trace of joy showed on their faces. Clearly, someone had subdued the little girl. They exchanged a smile, their eyes full of the hope of survival.
The poisonous mist dispersed, revealing two figures. A man in white robes stood before the little girl, a gentle smile on his face.
The little girl's face was covered in tears, her body trembling incessantly, her hands clenched into fists and her long black hair flying wildly. She looked utterly pitiful.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and bent down to look at the little girl, who was about twelve or thirteen years old. He reached out to brush the strands of hair from her face, but she shrank back in fear.
Seeing the slight fear in her eyes, Xiao Yan curved his lips into a warm smile and spoke softly.
"Little girl, don't worry. I won't hurt you. What's your name?"
The little girl shrank back again before asking, "My name is Lian'er. You... you're not the expert they were just talking about, are you? You haven't come to kill me, have you?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback, and the corners of his mouth twitched. Is my luck really that bad? They had only just mentioned him, and here I am.
Composing himself, Xiao Yan spoke, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Don't worry. I have nothing to do with them, and I won't hurt you. You can do whatever you want; I won't stop you. I only hope you'll come with me."