As the night deepened, within Chi Ninghua's palace, the warm glow of spirit lamps illuminated the vast hall, lending it Anran tranquility. Qin Yu sat cross-legged, his Fate Soul slowly circulating, the Daoist energy flowing like a gentle stream through his body, coursing through his limbs and bones. At that moment, hum—
The void rippled slightly, and a pale blue Soul Sound Talisman appeared out of thin air, its shimmering light slowly spreading out.
The next instant, Chi Boqian's deep and steady voice emanated from the talisman. "Fellow Chi Zhihan Fellow Daoist Qin, Ninghua, the candidates to lure the traitor have been decided. They are my clan's siblings, Chi Zhiwei. Tomorrow, proceed according to the original plan. I will personally issue the clan's mission, luring the two to the clan leader's hall to receive the mission. All other matters have been arranged."
As the words faded, the Soul Sound Talisman transformed into countless starlight points, slowly dissolving into the void. Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed. "The curtain has finally been drawn." Chi Ninghua nodded slightly, her brows furrowed in deep thought, "I hope this plan can completely expose the traitor in one fell swoop." Qin Yu slowly rose, raising his eyes to look out the window at the horizon, where a faint glimmer of dawn was already appearing. "Tomorrow, we will know."
The next day, as dawn broke, the entire Chi Lineage was still immersed in the atmosphere of morning cultivation. Countless disciples occupied their respective source peaks. Some were tempering their Fate Soul by the hundred-foot waterfall, some were practicing their supernatural abilities in the martial arts arena, and some were quietly resting under ancient trees, calmly comprehending their own Great Dao Laws.
In this peaceful scene, boom—the sky above the Chi Lineage trembled slightly for a moment, and the next instant, the clouds slowly parted to both sides, and a majestic Dharma image tens of thousands of feet tall materialized and appeared in the world from the heavens.
The figure, clad in the ceremonial robes of the Chi Family Lineage patriarch, possessed a dignified and solemn demeanor. His eyes surveyed the vast mountains and the entire territory of the Chi Lineage —it was none other than Chi Boqian!
As the patriarch's Dharma form manifested, all the Chi Lineage cultivators who were diligently cultivating in all directions stopped in their tracks, raising their heads to look up, their faces filled with disbelief and shock. Countless years had passed, and they had never seen the patriarch personally activate his Dharma form to announce this to the entire clan.
Chi Boqian's deep, resonant voice swept across the heavens and earth, echoing in every sacred peak and every palace:
"All cultivators of the Chi Lineage, listen to my command! An important matter is hereby promulgated. Anyone whose Fate Soul essence possesses both water and fire elements and whose cultivation has reached the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage must immediately proceed to the Clan Head Hall without delay!"
The roar echoed and lingered for a long time. In an instant, the entire Chi Lineage was in an uproar. "What? The clan leader personally issued the mission?" A young man who was meditating suddenly stood up, his mind shaken.
On another peak, several deacons exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment and doubt. "What kind of important matter could possibly require the clan chief to personally oversee it? And the conditions are so stringent—one must simultaneously possess both water and fire destiny, and have reached the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage!"
Someone gasped, "With such a high threshold, there are very few people in the entire Chi Lineage who meet the requirements." A deacon beside him said solemnly, "This matter is far beyond the scope of ordinary disciples, and even ordinary deacons are not qualified to participate."
An elder on one side slowly shook his head. "Such stringent requirements are enough to show that the mission is at the highest level of the clan. If it weren't of great importance, the clan leader would never have used his Dharma Form to inform the entire clan."
Inside the training ground, countless young disciples erupted in clamor. "My god! The clan leader's Dharma form has appeared in the world! I've been cultivating in the Chi Lineage for so long, and this is the first time I've ever seen it!"
"For the clan leader to treat this with such seriousness, it must be an incredible opportunity! If we can successfully complete it..." someone's voice trembled slightly, "It might even lead to a meteoric rise."
Meanwhile, on another spiritual peak, hundreds of deacons simultaneously interrupted their arduous cultivation. Among the crowd, two figures froze. One was a man, and the other a woman, both clad in deacon robes, their Fate Soul auras calm and refined. They had both reached the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage. The man was named Chi Zhihan, and the woman was his older sister, Chi Zhiwei.
The siblings' eyes met, both filled with undisguised shock. A fellow steward of the same rank excitedly stepped forward and patted Chi Zhihan heavily on the shoulder. "Wow, Senior Brother Chi Zhihan! A tremendous opportunity has finally fallen upon you two! This is a mission personally assigned by the clan leader!"
Another deacon quickly approached, his eyes filled with envy. "Congratulations, Zhihan Brother Zhihan! Congratulations, Zhiwei! In this vast Deacon Hall, only you two siblings possess both the Water and Fire Destinies and have both reached the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage. This mission is practically made just for you two!"
Envious glances were cast from those around them, and whispers arose. "Out of tens of thousands of deacons, only this brother and sister meet all the requirements."
"If the mission is completed successfully, it will be a great achievement, and you will have enough qualifications to compete for the position of elder in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent, and a deep longing arose in everyone's eyes.
The Chi Lineage's power is deeply rooted, with tens of thousands of deacons, but it is extremely difficult to ascend to the position of elder. In addition to having a solid cultivation level at the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage, one also needs to possess a unique protective treasure and a unique inherited divine ability; neither can be lacking.
Now that the clan chief has personally entrusted them with this important task, once they succeed, the siblings will take the most important step towards the elder's seat. Chi Zhihan's chest heaved violently, and her hands trembled slightly with overwhelming excitement.
He raised his head and gazed at the towering patriarch's image in the sky, his eyes burning with fervor. Millions of years of arduous cultivation had brought him closest to a turning point in his destiny, and it was also the best opportunity for the brother and sister to knock on the door of the higher levels.
Outside the main peak of the Chi Lineage, the morning mist veiled the continuous mountains like a light gauze. The patriarch's Dharma image dissipated into the sky, but the entire Chi Lineage was still shrouded in a restless atmosphere. Countless cultivators secretly discussed the decree that had just resounded throughout the entire region, and people's hearts were in turmoil.
Within the crowd, Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei's eyes met lightly. The siblings needed no words; the tacit understanding that had grown from years of companionship allowed them to read each other's thoughts in a single glance.
Chi Zhihan exhaled a deep breath, smoothed the wrinkles in her steward's robe, and her eyes shone with barely suppressed excitement. "Sister, let's go to the clan leader's hall."
Chi Zhiwei. Her face was cold and aloof, but her expression was extremely solemn. The two of them did not linger and their figures transformed into two streaks of light, rushing towards the clan's main hall.
Many disciples watched the two figures disappear into the distance, their words filled with envy, "They really are siblings. Water and fire destinies, Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage —in the vast Chi Lineage, there's no other pair who meet the criteria."
"Judging from this, they've really hit the jackpot! When will we ever encounter such an incredible opportunity?" Everyone's attention was focused on this, and no one noticed the person at the back of the crowd.
A figure stood motionless, not participating in the noisy discussion, his face showing no surprise. He lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on the direction where Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei had gone, a faint, almost extinguished light flashing in his eyes.
That was the greed buried deep in one's heart, and the chilling coldness that comes after locking onto one's prey.
Only after the two streaks of light completely disappeared among the mountains did he slowly withdraw his gaze, lower his head slightly, and silently blend into the crowd, unremarkable, and no one gave him a second glance.
Unbeknownst to anyone, this normally unremarkable person was now experiencing a raging storm within him.
... Inside the main hall of the clan, it was solemn and Space Silence. There were no other elders or disciples on duty. Only Chi Boqian stood alone in front of the main seat.
Chi Zhihan and her brother stepped into the hall, their expressions hardening. They quickly stepped forward and knelt in unison. "Disciple Chi Zhihan! Disciple Chi Zhiwei! Greetings, Clan Chief!"
Chi Boqian lowered his eyes and gazed at the two of them. After a moment, he slowly raised his hand: "Rise." "Thank you, Clan Chief."
The siblings stood up one after the other. Chi Zhihan stood tall and straight, exuding the sharpness of years of hard work, and her Fate Soul aura at the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage was calm and profound.
Chi Zhiwei to the side, possessed an elegant figure and resolute eyes. Within her Fate Soul essence, half of the spring water flowed quietly, while the other half of the blazing crimson flames lay dormant. These two opposing essences maintained a delicate balance, which was the reason they were chosen as the mission candidates.
Chi Boqian gazed at the two, his eyes filled with complex emotions, a hint of expectation, and a profound gravity that was difficult for outsiders to discern. After a moment, he gently raised his hand, causing the void to tremble slightly, and an ancient scroll emerged from nothingness.
The scroll appeared unremarkable on the outside, without any dazzling brilliance, but the siblings keenly sensed that it contained an extremely powerful seal.
Chi Boqian gripped the secret scroll, a worried look creeping across his face before quickly returning to normal. "I don't need to say more; you should understand the gravity of this mission. It concerns the future of both the Chi and Ju clans." "You two will take this scroll to the Southern City of the Annihilation Continent, the South City · String Melody Sacred City, and personally deliver it to the Ju Lineage's designated contact."
Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei's expressions suddenly turned solemn. "Upon arrival at the destination, someone will meet you. As for why we selected cultivators with water and fire destiny," Chi Boqian lightly tapped the scroll with his fingertip, a faint Dao pattern flashing by, "The scroll contains a restriction I personally set up. Only if you siblings simultaneously activate your water and fire Fate Soul essence can you unlock the true information within. That is the reason you were chosen."
"Upon your successful return from the mission, the clan will surely bestow a generous reward." Chi Zhihan and Chi Zhiwei exchanged a glance, their gazes resolute, and stepped forward together to receive the secret scroll with both hands.
Chi Zhihan spoke in a deep voice, "Clan leader, rest assured, this disciple will certainly not fail the clan's trust." Chi Zhiwei also bowed, "This disciple will definitely protect the secret scroll and deliver it Anran to the Ju Lineage."
Chi Boqian watched the two of them quietly, remaining silent for a long time.
He knew perfectly well that once the siblings stepped out of the main hall, there were no opportunities ahead, only a trap set in secret. But given the current situation, they had to act as bait in this game.
"Go," Chi Boqian said slowly, his tone carrying a hidden warning, "Be careful on your journey, and never trust unfamiliar cultivators. If you encounter danger, prioritize your own safety. If necessary, completely erase the secret scroll."
The two solemnly accepted the order, bowed again, and said, "Disciples take their leave." They turned and stepped out of the hall, their two streaks of light tearing through the sky and speeding away towards the south of the city.