Chapter 144 : Uncle Liu’s Past
Chapter 144: Uncle Liu’s Past
On Long Tao and Fang Wuqi’s side, after finally sending off the group of friends who had been asking endless questions, Fang Wuqi returned to his own master first.
The moment Long Tao turned around, he discovered that his entire family was already waiting for him.
“Young Master! You must have prepared for that commentary for a long time, didn’t you? And you even kept it from us all along!” Xiao Ying was the first to rush forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Long Xi also joined the commotion, tugging at his sleeve. “Brother, how did you dare to sit in a place like that? And even on equal footing with Senior Brother Fang! You’re clearly just a Qi Refining Disciple!”
The two girls flanked him on either side. To outsiders, it might have looked like a scene of pure happiness, but Long Tao only felt utterly exhausted, wishing he could collapse and fall asleep immediately.
Only Jiang Wuyun stood obediently to the side.
“I just wanted to give you all a surprise. Your brother has a bit of face and connections in the sect too.”
“But you made the Sect Master lose so much face. Won’t you get put in a bad position later?” his younger sister Long Xi asked worriedly.
“Probably not. Anyone who can become Sect Master must be magnanimous. He wouldn’t care about a child’s careless remarks.”
Their parents, hearing this, felt somewhat reassured.
Besides, their son had performed quite well today.
While sitting in the audience, they had heard occasional words of praise from those around them—of course… there had also been some unpleasant remarks—but overall, the tone had been mostly positive.
Just as the group was discussing where to go for dinner, two figures appeared silently before them.
When Long Tao’s mother and Uncle Liu saw the newcomers, both were startled and immediately bowed.
“Greetings, Sixth Imperial Princess!”
Long Tao recognized them at once.
They were the Sixth Imperial Princess of the Suhuang Heavenly Dynasty and Shao Yuezhu of the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land.
These two noble women seemed inseparable, inevitably arousing curiosity about the relationship between them.
Since their identities were extraordinary, he quickly led the three little girls to bow as well.
For a first meeting, leaving a good impression on such important figures was essential.
“Hehe,” the Sixth Imperial Princess’ gaze first lingered on Long Tao’s mother. “I heard that the little fellow doing commentary today was named Long Tao. I wondered if he might be related to you. Who would have thought he truly is your son.” Her tone suddenly turned meaningful. “Yueyin, are you truly not planning to return?”
“Your Highness is too kind to worry,” Long Yueyin replied with her head lowered. “This subject has been living well here.”
“Alright, alright.” The Sixth Imperial Princess waved her hand. “Your parents and grandmother have already agreed that you may return home. Stop sulking. You already have both a son and a daughter—it’s time to let the family meet them.”
Her gaze swept faintly over Long Tao’s father, yet she did not utter a single word, as if this son-in-law was not worth her breath.
However, when she turned to Uncle Liu, a teasing look immediately appeared in her eyes. “Oh? Why is our great genius so silent today?”
“Your Highness jests.” Uncle Liu bowed neither servile nor arrogant. “Liu is now merely a house steward. How would I dare to speak recklessly before Your Highness?”
“Is that so?” The Sixth Imperial Princess raised a brow. “Yet my precious daughter still cannot forget you. When she formed her Golden Core, she nearly developed an Inner Demon because of you. Tell me, what am I to do?”
The words shocked the younger ones.
Shao Yuezhu, the prodigy of the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land, had only recently broken through from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core—yet she was actually the daughter of the Sixth Imperial Princess of the Suhuang Heavenly Dynasty?! Was this something they were even allowed to hear? Would they be silenced for knowing too much?
Uncle Liu, however, showed no intention of concealing his identity. His gaze grew complicated as he looked at the female cultivator beside the Princess.
At first glance, mother and daughter looked nothing alike.
The Sixth Imperial Princess was elegant and imposing, standing there like an Empress herself.
Shao Yuezhu, on the other hand, appeared somewhat shy, like a delicate young girl—completely unlike a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator.
But upon closer inspection, their facial features were indeed similar. It was simply that temperament and attire made all the difference.
“I’m sorry, Yuezhu.” Uncle Liu sighed softly. “After all these years, I still made you worry.”
“It’s enough that Senior Brother is safe.” Shao Yuezhu replied gently.
Wait! This atmosphere, this form of address! There was gossip here!
Long Tao and the three girls instantly perked up their ears. What could be more entertaining than listening to elders’ gossip?
“I am nothing more than a failure who could not form a Golden Core.” Uncle Liu gave a bitter smile. “Your future is boundless. There is no need to waste your heart on me.”
“Senior Brother, please do not say that!” Shao Yuezhu stepped forward urgently.
“You still have a chance. Come back to the Sacred Land with me. I now have my own peak—I will never allow anyone to scheme against you again.”
Wow! So Uncle Liu truly had a story.
In Long Tao’s mind, at least several melodramatic immortal-sect plotlines had already formed.
“Sigh… In my youth, I relied too much on my talent and was overly arrogant. What happened afterward was merely retribution.”
Not wanting to disturb Uncle Liu and his suspected former lover, Long Tao and the others moved closer to their parents and asked in low voices,
“Mother, was Uncle Liu very powerful in the past?”
Long Yueyin nodded solemnly.
“More powerful than you can imagine! Back then, your Uncle Liu was the only unparalleled genius after True Person Zhiying who, while still at Foundation Establishment, could battle Golden Core cultivators without defeat. If he had not been ambushed while forming his Golden Core, he would at least be the master of a peak in the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land by now.”
The sheer absurdity of that information left them completely stunned.
Although Long Tao had always known Uncle Liu was a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator with some background, he had never imagined something so earth-shattering.
True Person Zhiying could fight Golden Core cultivators while in Foundation Establishment because of the innate Power of Time. Then what about Uncle Liu? To achieve the same, he must have possessed an equally heaven-defying aptitude.
At the same time, doubt deepened in Long Tao’s heart. If Uncle Liu had truly been such a dazzling figure, how had he never heard of him?
At the very least, there should have been some fame across various regions.
Just as he was about to press his mother further, the Sixth Imperial Princess approached and provided the answer with a smile.
“That is because your Uncle Liu belonged to the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land. After he failed to form his Golden Core, in order to protect him, the Sacred Land and our imperial clan exerted some effort to gradually erase his reputation.”
The explanation only made things more confusing. Long Tao bowed and continued to ask,
“Your Highness, please enlighten us.”
“How much do you know about the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land?” the Sixth Imperial Princess countered.
“Not much. But I’ve heard that once disciples there reach a certain cultivation level, they can obtain what is called the Heavenly Eye—supposedly a third eye on the forehead.”
Long Tao’s tone lacked confidence, because neither Shao Yuezhu nor Uncle Liu had any visible third eye.
“Correct.” The Sixth Imperial Princess nodded. “After reaching Qi Refining Ninth Layer, every disciple of the Sacred Land has the opportunity to open the third eye upon their forehead. This is the origin of the name ‘Heavenly Eye.’ Normally, however, this eye remains hidden between the brows, so you would not see it.”
Her gaze swept over Long Tao’s puzzled expression as she continued,
“The abilities of this Heavenly Eye vary from person to person. Some are extraordinarily gifted, yet their Heavenly Eye’s power is mediocre. Others rely on the might of their Heavenly Eye to rise among the strong.”
“Then Uncle Liu’s Heavenly Eye…” Long Tao could not help but ask.
A trace of reminiscence flashed through the Sixth Imperial Princess’ eyes. “Back then, he was not only a peerless genius comparable to Fang Wuqi and Nan Yuchen of your sect, but he also awakened a Heavenly Eye that made all others envious—‘All-Phenomena Returning-to-Extinction Eye.’”
Just hearing the name sent a chill through them all, as if they had brushed against some unspeakable Great Dao.