Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

If that were truly the case, the Xiao family had suffered an undeserved calamity.

Suddenly, Meng Jiangchu’s expression changed. He pulled out a jade slip, its light flashing urgently.

Li Guanqi’s chest tightened. He recognized the jade slip, noting it was the one the Meng family’s informants used. Something important must have happened for them to make direct contact.

Meng Jiangchu’s face grew solemn as he closed his eyes to listen.

Swish!

He shot to his feet, expression grave.

Li Guanqi rose. “Father-in-law, what’s wrong? Has something happened?”

Meng Jiangchu’s expression turned grim, his eyes chilling as he said, “The Ancient Clans... it seems someone can’t resist showing themselves to the world...”

Li Guanqi frowned in confusion, and Meng Jiangchu explained. “The Six Territories’ factions aren’t the only powers. They’re merely what’s visible on the surface. There are even older clans known as the Ancient Clans, or sometimes the Hidden Clans.”

He sighed as he reminisced. “At your level, it’s time you knew… This isn’t the first time Abyssal Demons have appeared.”Li Guanqi frowned deeply. “What? They’ve appeared before?”

“Yes. About ten thousand years ago, countless spatial cracks suddenly tore open across the skies and lands. Many incomparably powerful Abyssal Demons emerged from these rifts. Back then, the Six Territories united and fought for centuries before finally sealing them away.

“The Dungeon Abyss was sealed the same way, through the combined might of all six territory lords. That war nearly shattered the Six Territories, so a lot of clans withdrew from the world to recuperate, while others stayed behind to guard the cracks deep in the abyss.”

Li Guanqi nodded. If these clans truly had ten thousand years of heritage, their foundations would be unimaginable. “Are they planning to reemerge together?”

Meng Jiangchu shook his head with a sneer. “Hmph, some of them are probably growing impatient. Ten thousand years have made them forget many things, and their resources are nearly exhausted. Of course they want out. They might have thought duty came first, but…”

Li Guanqi nodded. “But over time, that duty became shackles.”

Meng Jiangchu sighed. He understood the Ancient Clans, but their reemergence now would cause immense panic. Factions that once dominated states, and even entire territories, would be overthrown. Bloody battles over resources would erupt, plunging the Six Territories into chaos.

Meng Jiangchu rose, eyes flashing coldly. He muttered, “I don’t care about the other territories. I can’t control them. But in the Divine Treasure Territory, I call the shots. If I say they can’t reemerge, they can’t reemerge.”

They left the study.

Li Changqing flew over, holding a projection stone. He bowed to Meng Jiangchu and presented it. “Territory Lord, this projection was leaked from one of the Ancient Clans, the Liu family. Please take a look.”

Li Guanqi prepared to leave. Cao Yan was about to break through, and he wanted to be there.

Everything here was settled. Meng Jiangchu had said he didn’t know how long Meng Wanshu’s closed-door cultivation would take. If her clone couldn’t stabilize, she could choose to merge back with it. But if she then pursued the Combined Body Realm, there was no telling how long that would take.

“Father-in-law, I’ll head back to the Daxia Territory for now. Please take care of Xiao Chen.”

Meng Jiangchu nodded with a smile and took the projection stone from Li Changqing.

As Li Guanqi turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of the projection stone’s recording.

Many cultivators had been tortured beyond recognition. Their spirit roots had been forcibly extracted while they were still conscious. Such agony was comparable to having one’s bones torn from the flesh. It seemed the Ancient Clans harbored cruel tastes.

Meng Jiangchu scoffed. “I knew they wouldn’t stay hidden. They’re still sneaking out of their realms!”

Li Guanqi shook his head and turned to leave. However, a figure in the projection stopped him cold. His eyes went wide.

Boom!

Li Guanqi’s aura erupted violently. Blood-red veins spread across his eyes, killing intent surging like a storm. Lightning filled the skies, and his sword intent pierced the clouds.

He turned slowly toward Meng Jiangchu.

Meng Jiangchu and Li Changqing paused. They could tell something was wrong.

“Do you know that girl?” Meng Jiangchu asked solemnly.

Li Guanqi didn’t answer. He gritted his teeth. “Uncle Meng, which Ancient Clan is this? Where are they?”

Meng Jiangchu frowned. “Don’t be foolish. Let me handle this.”

But Li Guanqi’s mind was consumed by the image of Yu Sui’an and her lifeless eyes. His fury drowned all reason. He seized the projection stone, glared at the youth in the scene, and turned to leave.

Walking away, he pulled out his heavenly intelligence jade pendant and growled, “Which Ancient Clan is this projection from? Where are they?”

The pendant did not respond immediately. Li Guanqi turned back to Meng Jiangchu. “She… she’s my younger sister. I watched her grow up. The war against the Purple Sun Pavilion… it was because of her.”

Li Changqing felt his scalp go numb. He knew how tragic that battle had been. And now, this Ancient Clan had captured that girl. They’d extracted her spirit root by force, using some heretical technique, and from the look of it, she’d been imprisoned for a long time.

No wonder Li Guanqi was enraged.

Meng Jiangchu remained silent for a long moment, then tossed out a jade slip. “I’ll go with you.”

Li Guanqi shook his head. “No. This is personal.”

He turned. Behind him, three jade slips shattered.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

His voice carried pure fury. “Follow me. We’re destroying a clan.”

In the Xiao family’s realm, Xiao Chen was speaking with his mother when his expression changed. He rose, his vital force surging. “Mother, I need to go out for a while.”

At the Daxia Sword Sect, Ye Feng sat atop a mountain, drinking wine and watching heavenly lightning gather in the sky. He murmured, “Big Head’s tribulation looks fierce…”

Then he sprang to his feet, his expression turning anxious. Before he could call out, a distant peak exploded.

Cao Yan soared into the sky. The heavens darkened instantly, clouds rolling in as bolt after bolt of lightning crashed down on him.