Chapter 536 - 487: The Xie Family’s Fire Seed

Chapter 536: Chapter 487: The Xie Family’s Fire Seed

"Greetings, Senior!"

When the Array Prohibition in the cabin dissipated, Zhao Shuang and her sister quickly rose and bowed.

"You’re being hunted by the Overlord Saber Alliance, and even a Golden Core True Master has personally made a move..."

"And now, as far as I know, the entire Bazhou, including the Overlord Saber Alliance, is filled with countless Cultivators searching for you two sisters everywhere."

At this, Chu Mu paused, looking at the two Zhao sisters with a deep, meaningful gaze. His voice was level, yet it carried a domineering tone that brooked no refusal.

"Can you tell me what you did to cause such a massive commotion?"

Hearing this, Zhao Shuang’s expression shifted slightly, but she seemed to have been prepared for it. She thought for a moment before slowly bowing to Chu Mu. "I won’t hide it from you, Senior. My Dao Companion recently stirred up quite a disturbance in Bazhou, which is what led to all this..."

Chu Mu’s brow twitched in apparent surprise, but the look vanished in a flash. He lifted his hand, and a brilliant golden light appeared, hovering over his palm. It was a fist-sized piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold, a thing of absolute beauty.

Chu Mu studied the Nine Heavens Profound Gold for a moment before looking at Zhao Shuang. "Did this come from your Dao Companion?"

"When I first arrived in the Vast Sea, I had heard of your reputation, Senior, but I wasn’t certain it was truly you. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand."

A bitter look crossed Zhao Shuang’s face; it was unclear whether her words were sincere or mere flattery.

"Hahaha..."

Chu Mu laughed heartily. "Profit moves the hearts of men, but I, at least, have some principles. I’m not as shameless as the Overlord Saber Alliance."

Hearing this, Zhao Shuang was taken aback, and the worry on her brow seemed to dissipate considerably.

She hesitated before mustering the courage to ask, "Is Senior also searching for my Dao Companion?"

"I wouldn’t say I’m specifically searching for him."

Chu Mu shook his head, then abruptly changed the subject. "This Nine Heavens Profound Gold... does your Dao Companion have any more of it?"

"If he does, you could trade it with me."

"A fair trade, honest and square. What do you think, Miss Zhao?"

"This..."

Zhao Shuang hesitated.

Chu Mu maintained his smiling expression, showing no change in his demeanor.

Although he didn’t know the full story, it wasn’t hard to see that Zhao Shuang didn’t have many options.

He, an old acquaintance, was likely her last hope, and also her best choice.

Zhao Shuang steeled herself and said, "To be honest, Senior, the last piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold has already been taken by the Bazhou Alliance."

Chu Mu’s smile faded. "Is your Dao Companion a Great Chu Cultivator?"

Zhao Shuang paused, silent for a moment, before speaking slowly. "My Dao Companion is a True Inheritor from the main line of the Xie Family."

Chu Mu’s eyes narrowed as he asked in a low voice, "The East Lake Xie Family?"

"Yes."

Zhao Shuang nodded, her face filled with sorrow. "I met my husband in Jingmen. During the great upheaval there, the Nascent Soul Senior who was slain by the Longevity Sect was my husband’s grandfather."

"Later, Jingmen fell, and the Xie Family retreated..."

Zhao Shuang spoke slowly, and an unknown secret gradually came to light.

After about a quarter of an hour, Zhao Shuang stopped speaking.

For Chu Mu, a clear timeline of events had unfolded before him.

According to Zhao Shuang, her Dao Companion’s name was Xie Yu. His father was the renowned Cold Cyan True Master of the Xie Family, and his grandfather was one of the Nascent Soul experts slain by Xu Lingtian at Jingmen.

After the great upheaval in Jingmen, the Xie Family retreated, clinging to the banner of the Righteous Alliance to survive.

But as the Longevity Sect became more aggressive, the Xie Family, despite managing to maintain a semblance of independence, inevitably grew more and more reliant on the Righteous Alliance—or rather, on the Changping Zhao Family, which was entrenched in the Northeast Three Provinces.

Under this new reliance, the once-equal standing between the Xie and Zhao Clans was clearly no more.

When the weak depend on the strong, they are inevitably driven by them. Maintaining complete independence becomes nearly impossible.

Although the threat of the Longevity Sect meant the Changping Zhao Family wouldn’t do something so self-destructive as to openly annex the Xie Family, it was a different story behind the scenes.

With the Xie Family having lost its former status and now sheltering under the Righteous Alliance’s banner, the Zhao Family had countless ways to slowly devour the East Lake Xie Family piece by piece.

Over the years, the Xie Family had struggled to maintain its independence, but to little avail.

This was especially true after the turmoil in the Vast Sea began in recent years. Following a major offensive by the Longevity Sect, the Xie Family’s last remaining Nascent Soul expert fell...

With that, the former glory of the East Lake Xie Family was officially extinguished.

The Xie Family, once a lofty player in the great game, had unavoidably become cannon fodder in the war.

But just as countless powers have left their mark on the history of the Cultivation Immortal Realm over its long Spring and Autumn Period, the Xie Family was unwilling to simply fade away.

In the midst of the chaotic war, talented clan members were sent away one by one, carrying the Xie Family’s legacy with them. They scattered all over the world, becoming the last, almost illusory hope for the clan.

And Zhao Shuang’s Dao Companion, the direct grandson of a former Xie Family Nascent Soul, was naturally among them.

Many years ago, led by a Xie Family Golden Core, several hundred talented Xie Clan members set out from Changping, preparing to go into hiding in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World and preserve a branch to carry the clan’s flame.

But for some unknown reason, news of this group leaked out. The Longevity Sect ambushed them on their journey. A group with only a single Golden Core expert had no chance of fending off the attack.

The Xie Family Golden Core fell on the spot, and the rest of the Xie Family Cultivators were either killed or scattered.

Zhao Shuang, her sister, and her Dao Companion were lucky enough to escape the disaster. After reaching the Vast Sea, they stayed in Chixia, hoping to reunite with other possible survivors from the Xie Clan.

But after waiting bitterly for several years without seeing any other Xie Clan cultivators, they had no choice but to forge their own path.

After exchanging for a sum of resources at the True Understanding Pavilion, the group wandered the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World like startled birds.

With the help of those resources from the True Understanding Pavilion, the Xie Family cultivator, with his Earth Spirit Root aptitude, smoothly broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

After that, they made their trip to Bazhou, which led to the current commotion.

"You surely understand the principle that profit moves men’s hearts, don’t you, Miss Zhao?"

"What profit could possibly be so great that you were willing to take such a risk and bring out that piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold?"

After Zhao Shuang finished speaking, Chu Mu only pondered for a few breaths before asking another question in a low voice.

By now, Zhao Shuang seemed to have calmed down. She was silent for a moment, then bowed to Chu Mu. "Please forgive me, Senior. This is my husband’s secret, and I cannot make the decision."

The moment these words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere seemed to freeze in an instant.

Chu Mu’s expression was as calm as still water, showing no fluctuation as he quietly stared at Zhao Shuang.

"Please forgive me, Senior. When I see my husband, I will be sure to discuss it with him and report back to you."

Zhao Shuang steeled herself and spoke again.

Zhao Yu stood to the side, clearly at a loss for what to do.

"It seems... your feelings for your husband run quite deep, Miss Zhao..."

In the end, however, Chu Mu suddenly chuckled. The way he looked at Zhao Shuang had a hint of something different.

Zhao Shuang was surely already in the Foundation Establishment Realm. For someone of her Cultivation to become Dao Companions with a Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivator, it might have initially been because of Xie Yu’s status.

But after reaching the Vast Sea, Xie Yu was just a mere Qi Cultivation Cultivator who also carried the secrets of the Xie Family. Yet, Zhao Shuang remained by his side. When faced with the pursuit of the Overlord Saber Alliance and pushed to a dead end, she was even willing to die for him...

Such devotion was truly rare in this Cultivation Immortal Realm.

As for Zhao Shuang’s words, they were clearly more than just a simple refusal. Her underlying meaning was clear.

It wasn’t enough to just guarantee her and her sister’s safety; he also had to guarantee her husband’s safety. Only then would she reveal the true secret.

’I am quite interested in this secret,’ Chu Mu thought.

The East Lake Xie Family, a colossal power with a legacy spanning tens of thousands of years.

Even if it had nearly vanished like smoke, it was only the Xie Family as a power that had disappeared.

The resources and legacy accumulated over tens of thousands of years couldn’t have just vanished into thin air.

A group meant to carry the clan’s flame, like Xie Yu’s, must have been carrying a portion of the Xie Family’s legacy. Only then would they have a chance to rise again.

And judging from the two pieces of Nine Heavens Profound Gold, Zhao Shuang’s husband likely had quite a few secrets.

After some consideration, Chu Mu asked, "Where is your husband now, Miss Zhao?"

Zhao Shuang was silent. After a long moment, she looked at Chu Mu. Their eyes met, and Zhao Shuang mustered her courage.

"Can... can I trust you, Senior?"

Chu Mu was taken aback, then laughed heartily. "I may not be some righteous gentleman, but I haven’t fallen so low as to resort to robbery."

"Besides, with my reputation, why would I need to steal by force?"

Zhao Shuang fell silent, looking at Chu Mu with a complicated expression. Then, a voice transmission slowly sounded in Chu Mu’s ear.

"Alright."

Chu Mu nodded, then waved his hand to dismiss the Array Prohibition in the cabin. "This Flying Boat of mine has a special construction. As long as you two sisters don’t leave it, it’s more than enough to ensure your safety."

"You can stay on this Flying Boat for a few days. Once we find your husband, Miss Zhao, we can make further arrangements."

"As you command, Senior."

Zhao Shuang bowed respectfully, then led a timid Zhao Yu into the cabin and entered a Secluded Meditation Chamber on the side.

Chu Mu waved his hand, and a projected light screen appeared, displaying a detailed map of Bazhou’s terrain.

He gazed at the projection, scanned it, and tapped his finger. Amidst the mountains and ravines, a point of light appeared.

It corresponded with the point of light representing the Flying Boat’s current location, forming a straight line between the two points, a distance of several thousand miles.

Chu Mu’s gaze shifted, finally settling on Bazhou City in the center of the projected map. He thought for a moment. Judging by the time, as long as there were no unexpected delays, he should have plenty to spare.

He pondered for a moment. With a thought, the Flying Boat, which had been flying aimlessly through the sky, abruptly changed direction and sped towards the target he had set on the projection screen.

...