Uncle Shi's Astonishment

As night deepened, a somber atmosphere remained over the Shi Family mansion.

Uncle Shi walked out of the oppressive hall alone and strolled slowly in the quiet courtyard. The moonlight stretched his hunched figure very long.

He looked up at the waning moon on the horizon and let out a long sigh.

What should we do about the future?

Three days later, the Zhao Family will surely come to force them. At that time, should the Shi Family humiliatingly surrender their last remaining strength and eke out a living, or should they fight to the death and face total annihilation?

[Am I really wrong?]

His heart was filled with bitterness.

[Back then, sending Qing'er to the Central Continent wasn't just for my own selfish reasons, but also for the future of the entire Shi Family. As long as she could gain a foothold there and break free from the curse, with her talent, she would surely be able to restore the Shi Family's glory in the future.]

But now... distant water can't quench an immediate fire...

Just when he was feeling disheartened and utterly hopeless, a calm voice rang out behind him without warning.

"Uncle Shi, what troubles you so late at night?"

Uncle Shi froze, as if he had been frozen in place!

He turned around abruptly and saw a familiar figure wearing a straw hat, who had silently appeared less than three feet behind him!

[I... I had absolutely no idea how he got there?!]

A tremendous storm raged in Uncle Shi's heart! With his Qi Refining Realm cultivation, it was impossible for him to be completely unaware!

[Could it be... that he has already broken through to the Qi Refining Realm?!]

Uncle Shi stared in astonishment at the young man before him, inwardly sighing, "Such talent! Truly extraordinary! It's a pity he was born in this barren land. If he could go to the Central Continent, his future achievements would be limitless."

"Is... is it Dongfang?" Uncle Shi composed himself and asked tentatively.

"It's me." Dongfang Yueming nodded, unfastened the long sword wrapped in cloth from his waist, and handed it over. "This item is returned to its rightful owner."

Uncle Shi took it with a puzzled look, untied the strip of cloth, and was stunned when he saw the familiar blade and the spiritual radiance flowing on it, which was far more powerful than before.

"This is... Light Snow?"

"It's already an A-grade divine weapon," Dongfang Yueming explained, "But it can't keep up with my pace anymore, so it's no longer useful to me."

"No longer needed?" Uncle Shi asked, even more puzzled.

This is a Grade A divine weapon, and he says... he doesn't need it anymore?

[Could it be... that he has already reached the Inner Force?]

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Uncle Shi chuckled self-deprecatingly, assuming Dongfang Yueming was joking. To reach the Inner Force at such a young age... that was simply too much...

However, when he saw Dongfang Yueming's calm and serious eyes, the smile on his face froze instantly.

"Young friend... you..." Uncle Shi's voice trembled slightly, unable to contain its emotion, "Your current cultivation level..."

"Above Qi Refining," Dongfang Yueming said calmly.

"Boom!"

These four words struck Uncle Shi's mind like a thunderbolt, leaving him completely stunned!

Beyond Qi Refining... lies... Inner Force! Even... Grandmaster?!

Uncle Shi's mind went blank. Looking at the calm young man in front of him, he felt as if he were dreaming.

He suddenly thought of something, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes, but it quickly faded away.

Even if he truly reached the level of Inner Force, the Zhao Family is powerful, and Zhao Wuji is a strong individual who has achieved Lesser Inner Force. The clan also has many other experts. How could he, alone, possibly contend with the entire Zhao Family?

Uncle Shi's face was filled with entanglement and struggle.

"Uncle Shi, have you encountered some trouble?" Dongfang Yueming noticed his unusual behavior and asked.

After hesitating for a long time, Uncle Shi finally smiled bitterly and told the whole story of the predicament the Shi Family was facing.

After listening, Dongfang Yueming simply nodded and said in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Leave this to me."

"What?" Uncle Shi was taken aback, thinking he had misheard, and quickly confirmed again, "Young friend, you mean...?"

"I said, leave the Zhao Family's troubles to me."

"Young friend, you mustn't be reckless!" Uncle Shi exclaimed anxiously, "The Zhao Family may have more than one expert in Inner Force! You..."

Dongfang Yueming offered no further explanation.

He merely released a slight trace of his own Martial Dao True Intent.

In an instant, a terrifying aura, combining the intensity of Fentian and the madness of surging the sea, like an invisible giant wave, instantly enveloped the entire courtyard!

Uncle Shi felt his very soul tremble before this profound truth! He seemed to see a burning ocean, and the terrifying sight of the sun and moon rising and falling!

[This... this is...]

He was completely stunned, his eyes filled with indescribable shock and disbelief!

[This level of Martial Dao True Intent... how is this possible?! This... this is clearly a realm that only the most outstanding geniuses of the Central Continent could possibly reach!]

"Now, do you believe me?" Dongfang Yueming withdrew his true intention.

Uncle Shi fell silent. He looked at the unfathomable young man before him, his heart already overwhelmed by a storm of emotions.

"Young friend..." After a long silence, he spoke in an extremely solemn tone, "This old man has a favor to ask."

"Speaking."

"I hope... I hope that if you have the opportunity to travel to the Central Continent, you could... could help me look after Qing'er."

"Shi Qing?" Dongfang Yueming asked curiously, "Where is she now?"

"Central Continent, Dragon Firmament Academy." Uncle Shi's voice was filled with worry, "Given her status, in a place like that... she'll probably face all sorts of exclusion and harassment."

Looking into Uncle Shi's expectant eyes, Dongfang Yueming recalled the stubborn girl who had given him the cultivation technique.

He nodded.

I promise you.

Upon receiving this promise, Uncle Shi felt as if the heaviest burden in his heart had been lifted. He bowed deeply to the Dongfang Yueming.

Thank you!

"Let's go," Dongfang Yueming helped him up, "Let's go back to the Shi Family first and deal with the current troubles."