Tea and Conversation in the Ancestral Hall

The Chi Lineage family, the patriarch's palace, is filled with a light fragrance. Wisps of white mist rise slowly from between the teacups on the table and spread out between the ancient beams and pillars high above.

Outside the window, the sea of clouds surged, and the distant peaks of the Chi Lineage were softened by the sunset. The strange black and white phenomenon that had alarmed the entire Chi Lineage earlier had long since dissipated. However, the atmosphere in the palace was not tense at all. On the contrary, it was particularly relaxed because Qin Yu had returned from his three-year seclusion.

Chi Boqian sat in the main seat, with Qin Yu and Chi Xiyue sitting on either side.

Before each of the three sat a cup of freshly brewed ancient tea, its clear broth carrying wisps of subtle Daoist charm that slowly dissipated with the steam. Chi Boqian was clearly in an exceptionally good mood today; ever since returning from the back mountain, his joy had remained undiminished.

He picked up his teacup, glanced at Qin Yu sitting not far away, and unconsciously raised the corners of his lips. His eyes were clear and bright, and his joy was completely revealed from the bottom of his heart. Even the usual composure and dignity of the clan leader was much less pronounced.

"Young friend Qin," Chi Boqian raised his teacup. "Come, come, come. Today, I will offer tea in place of wine to congratulate you on reaching the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme!"

As he said this, he glanced at Chi Xiyue again, his smile widening. "Such talent..." "Even surpasses Xiyue's back then."

"Hahaha!" A hearty laugh echoed throughout the hall.

Upon hearing this, Chi Xiyue showed no displeasure at being compared. She was already sitting calmly, and when Chi Boqian mentioned her, a more genuine smile appeared in her eyes.

Having reached the Wuji Realm over the years, she naturally knew that a cultivator's true progress was never solely based on the praise of others. Therefore, she felt more admiration and satisfaction at Qin Yu's significant breakthrough over the past three years.

"The clan leader is right." Chi Xiyue picked up her teacup, her gaze falling on Qin Yu. "Young Master Qin's talent is indeed remarkable."

She smiled gently. "In just three short years, you've progressed from the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage to its Supreme, and your Fate Soul essence and Dao foundation haven't fluctuated at all—that's especially remarkable."

Her tone was calm, and there was not a trace of secret competitiveness in her eyes. Even though she had already stepped into the Wuji Realm and was one of the Five Great Heavenly Prodigies of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, she was still very clear about how long the path of cultivation was. Being ahead today did not mean that she would not be surpassed in the future; with every step she took, there were still countless areas that could be improved.

Hearing their repeated praises, Qin Yu remained humble, gently shaking his head. "You two seniors are truly too kind." "My breakthrough to the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme was largely due to the noble's Life Source Pool. Without those three years of nurturing, my Fate Soul essence wouldn't have recovered so smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Chi Boqian's eyes showed even greater admiration. The more Qin Yu acted this way, the more he felt this young man was exceptional. There are many people with talent, and there are just as many with powerful supernatural abilities.

After making such astonishing progress in such a short time, he can still clearly remember who helped him and does not take it all for granted as his own talent. In Chi Boqian's view, this integrity is more admirable than mere skill level.

"Eh--" Chi Boqian waved his hand with a smile. "Young friend Qin, you're being modest again." "The Life Source Pool does indeed have the ability to nourish the Fate Soul and stabilize the foundation of one's Dao." "But that also depends on who goes in."

He pointed at Qin Yu. "If your own Fate Soul essence isn't strong enough, and your Dao foundation can't withstand such continuous breakthroughs, then no matter how many Life Source Pool have, it will be useless, and you'll easily suffer a backlash from your Fate Soul." "The Dao essence in the pool can only assist you." "Ultimately, it's still you who truly climbs step by step."

Qin Yu didn't argue further. The three exchanged smiles, and Chi Boqian raised his teacup. "Here." Chi Xiyue also picked up her teacup. Qin Yu followed suit.

The three teacups gently tapped together in mid-air. A crisp, clear sound rang out, and the three simultaneously downed their tea in one gulp. The aroma of the tea filled their throats, and the atmosphere in the palace grew even more harmonious.

After setting down his teacup, Qin Yu pondered for a moment before suddenly speaking. "Oh, by the way," Chi Boqian looked up. Qin Yu's expression became slightly more serious. "Senior, there is something I need to tell you."

Seeing his expression, Chi Boqian was taken aback at first, then smiled. "Hmm?" "Young friend Qin, there's no need to be coy." "Just speak." Qin Yu nodded slightly. "When I left the Life Source Pool..." "I took some water from the pool."

He spoke in a very humble tone, his expression devoid of any sense of entitlement. "I did not inform you beforehand, senior." "This was indeed my rudeness." "Please forgive me for taking it without permission, senior."

After speaking, Qin Yu lowered his gaze slightly. He did not feel that it was only right to take a part of the Life Source Pool just because he had helped the Chi Lineage or won first place for them in the martial arts competition three years ago. The Chi Lineage's things ultimately belonged to the Chi Lineage. He had taken them without asking, and he had to explain the proper etiquette.

Chi Boqian paused for a moment after hearing this, then smiled and waved. "Hey!" "Young friend Qin." "It's nothing, nothing at all."

He looked completely unconcerned. "Just a little bit of Life Source Pool." "Nothing to worry about." "Even if you only took a little, and even if you needed much more—tens of millions of cubic meters of water—would I have bothered with you over such a small amount?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu's respect deepened. "Then thank you, senior." Chi Boqian waved his hand again. "No need to be so polite." "No need to be so polite." "Between you and me, why go back and forth over such a trivial matter?"

Qin Yu nodded slightly.

Chi Xiyue, who had been standing to the side, remained silent until this moment. Only then did she pick up the freshly refilled tea in front of her and take a small sip. The teacup was placed back on the table, and her previously gentle and relaxed expression gradually faded. The smile in her eyes disappeared, and her voice became steady and calm.

"Young Master Qin." Upon hearing this, Qin Yu immediately sensed the change, and the previously relaxed atmosphere quieted down somewhat. Chi Boqian's smile also slowly faded.

Qin Yu's brows furrowed slightly. "Please speak, senior." Chi Xiyue glanced at Chi Boqian. Chi Boqian did not stop her, but simply nodded solemnly.

Chi Xiyue then looked at Qin Yu again. "There's something we haven't had a chance to tell you. It happened shortly after you entered the Life Source Pool for seclusion."

Qin Yu remained silent, listening attentively.

Chi Xiyue slowly said, "At that time, our clan, as per custom, dispatched disciples into the Void Dharma Realm of the Fourth Multidimensional Universe to carry out routine patrols in the Azure Wood Divine Forest. Qingchen and Qingyuan were among them."

Upon hearing those two names, Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly, Chi Xiyue continued, "They were attacked during that patrol."

Qin Yu's calm expression tightened slightly. "Who were the attackers?" "A member of the Primordial Dao Clan." Chi Xiyue's tone was flat. Qin Yu's brows immediately furrowed.

Chi Xiyue slowly said, "According to the disciples who were traveling with them at the time, there were seven of them. Six of them were responsible for the encirclement and attack. There was also a leader."

Her fingers lightly touched the edge of the tea table. "And what's strangest is..." "Those people's initial goal wasn't to kill Qingchen and Qingyuan directly."

Qin Yu looked up. Chi Xiyue was looking at him. "They want to capture the two of them alive." The hall fell silent immediately. Qin Yu did not speak right away.

Chi Xiyue continued, "Qingchen and Qingyuan were already severely injured at the time." "A Chi Lineage disciple who was traveling with them was also listed as a kill target." "Later, at the critical moment of life and death, that disciple awakened her Lineage bloodline supernatural power, which had been hidden for many years." "With that power, she killed all six attackers."

Qin Yu's expression grew serious upon hearing this. "All six are dead?" "Yes," Chi Xiyue nodded. "All six Annihilation." "But the leader escaped."

A hint of regret flashed in her eyes. "Later, I went to that area myself." "Although the battlefield had been destroyed, some traces of supernatural powers remained." "It was based on those traces that I confirmed the identities of those seven people." "They were all from the Primordial Dao Clan."

Qin Yu slowly leaned back in his seat without interrupting.

Chi Xiyue's voice grew increasingly deep. "After returning to the clan, I reported this matter to the clan leader." "The clan leader and several elders then began a secret investigation." "Especially the escaped leader." "Since he was able to severely injure Qingchen and Qingyuan in that confrontation, and then successfully escape at the last moment, his identity must be extraordinary."

Sitting in the main seat, Chi Boqian's expression grew even more solemn upon hearing this.

Chi Xiyue continued, "For the past three years, we haven't stopped investigating. The clan has sent out many people to secretly investigate various branches of the Primordial Dao Clan, and we've also checked their personnel movements and travel history in recent years." "But here's the strange thing."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "No matter how we investigate, we haven't found the leader from back then." "We've even secretly dispatched many disciples from the entire Primordial Dao Clan to investigate." "Still, we haven't found any trace of him."

After Chi Xiyue finished speaking, the palace fell silent again. The steam from the teacup was still rising slowly, and Chi Boqian's expression was solemn. Qin Yu sat in his original position, his eyes slightly lowered, memorizing every word Chi Xiyue had just said.