Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Ling Xiao and his father sat facing each other in the room, with Huangpu Yue’s letter lying on the table between them. In truth, Huangpu Yue had not asked Ling Xiao for help, nor was there even a hint of it within the letter. This was a testament to her intelligence. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Ling Xiao’s aid—he was likely the only person in all of Lanyue who could help her.

But she couldn’t bring herself to ask. The letter did, however, go into detail about two experts who had seemingly appeared out of thin air at the Wulan Clan’s residence. They were far stronger than the people who had previously been with Wulan Tuo. Huangpu Yue suspected they were also from a hidden family. Furthermore, considering the Wulan Clan’s sudden aggressive stance, she suspected that these experts were targeting Ling Xiao, not her!

Huangpu Yue’s suspicions were not without reason. Although she had not been by Ling Xiao’s side, her correspondence with Yisha had never ceased, so she was well aware of everything happening around him. Huangpu Yue understood that if she also went south, she would be forever branded with labels like "Ling Xiao’s confidante" or "Ling Xiao’s woman." She would be no help to him, just another person for him to protect.

She didn’t want that. Huangpu Yue believed she could be of more help to Ling Xiao by remaining in the Imperial Capital.

She just hadn’t expected the Wulan Clan to suddenly become so aggressive. Her father, Huangpu Cangran, had approached her not to suggest they yield to the Wulan Clan, but to ask her to seek help from Ling Xiao!

Everyone knew that the young mistress of the Huangpu Clan was very close to Ling Xiao. Even now, she was still managing his auction house business in the Imperial Capital. This alone made it clear that even if Huangpu Yue and that Ling Xiao weren’t lovers, they were at the very least the closest of friends!

If a close friend was in trouble, would Ling Xiao really just stand by and do nothing?

However, Huangpu Yue was in a very difficult position. As an ordinary person facing the Wulan Clan’s aggression, she gained a new and profound understanding of what it felt like to be oppressed by a powerful force.

’If this situation can’t be resolved, and if I insist on not marrying Wulan Tuo, the Huangpu Clan will face annihilation!’

And so, after hesitating again and again, Huangpu Yue sent the letter to Yisha.

"What do you think?" Ling Tianxiao asked his son, his expression grave. Ever since coming to Penzes New City, he had felt his own significance greatly diminish. As a general who had spent years leading troops and guarding the borders, Ling Tianxiao was not accustomed to this kind of life.

So, when his son took the initiative to seek him out for a discussion, Ling Tianxiao felt an unexpected thrill of excitement. ’Looks like this old dad isn’t completely useless after all!’

Ling Xiao, of course, understood how his father felt. He only wanted his family to live better lives, free from any harm. To that end, he would stop at nothing.

That was why Ling Xiao had gathered his entire family here with him. But in doing so, they had lost their freedom.

Most of his family members lacked a Daoxin or a Spirit Root. All Ling Xiao could do was grant them a mere hundred years of happiness. Even if he used Elixirs to madly cultivate their strength, at best, he could only let them live for a few hundred years.

Of course, there was another method: the Soul-Stabilizing Pill. This heaven-defying Elixir could prevent a soul from becoming lost in the cycle of reincarnation. After being reborn, if one had mastered a Cultivation Heart Method, they could even begin cultivating from within the womb!

’What is a Spirit Root? What is a Daoxin? They’re things you’re born with, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be changed! At least, I have the power to do it.’

But Ling Xiao felt that now was not the right time to bring such a thing out.

Therefore, Ling Xiao always felt a sense of suffocation in his heart. He could sense that behind the smiles his family members wore, they were hiding even greater anxieties.

’I have too many enemies! And... my family thinks their very existence is holding me back!’

Ling Xiao hated this feeling. He wanted his family to be happy, and he wanted the same for his female confidantes.

Ling Xiao smiled and said, "What else is there to think? The Wulan Clan’s sudden aggression can only mean they’ve found a powerful backer. And the fact that His Majesty the Emperor is personally arranging the marriage makes it even more interesting. He wouldn’t dare do such a thing without a powerful figure supporting him from the shadows."

Ling Xiao stated this as a simple fact, and Ling Tianxiao nodded in agreement. "The Royal Family is backed by the Western Li Family, which is an incredibly powerful clan," he said. "However, the Western Li Family doesn’t really like to interfere with the Royal Family’s affairs in the Mortal World. As long as imperial power remains in the hands of someone with the Li surname, they almost never intervene. Therefore, the idea that the Li Family is the power behind the Emperor in this matter isn’t very realistic."

Ling Xiao replied, "Not only is it not the Li Family, but the Emperor’s backer is currently at odds with the Li Family—they’re like fire and water! The Li Family is in no position to care about what he does anymore!"

"Is that really true?"

Ling Tianxiao was slightly surprised, but he didn’t press for details. Having already decided to withdraw from the Empire’s circles of power, he was gradually adapting to his new life. After all, Penzes also had vast lands and countless soldiers, which was enough to keep his warrior’s spirit alive.

"If what you say is true, then there’s a much deeper meaning behind the Emperor’s actions."

Ling Xiao nodded. "Among my enemies, the Zhe Family suffered heavy losses in our last battle, so they shouldn’t be making any moves for a while. That leaves the powerful Qin Family and that bizarre Jingwu Family. Strangely enough, I have no memory of ever crossing paths with the Jingwu Family. Yet, not long ago, a Tier Five Sword Emperor from their family came to our door to kill. If I hadn’t returned in time, we would have suffered devastating losses here."