Xiao Ye's face was twisted in pain, the muscles along his body twitching uncontrollably. He was clearly doing everything he could to endure the agony.
"Father, you have to hang on. We're so close to the final step!"
Xiao Ye, nearly unconscious from the pain, forced his eyes open. When he saw the worried expression on his son's face, he tried to smile in reassurance. But even that effort only produced a feeble twitch of his lips.
"Father, you must stay conscious. I'll be right here with you. Once your spirit root, corrupted by evil qi, is completely dissolved, we can move to the next phase."
Xiao Ye opened his mouth but managed only a barely audible "Alright" before closing his eyes again to continue his struggle against the pain of spiritual disintegration, trying desperately to stay lucid.
Elsewhere, in the secret chamber of Xiao He's residence, Wei Lingkai had already fallen into unconsciousness. A spirit-sealing ring still bound his wrist, and his entire body was secured by a black chain, fixed to a formation. The array slowly siphoned away his vitality. His complexion was turning pale, then blue; his hair had begun to whiten.
Xiao Lei, locked in another room, paced like a trapped beast. She had tried attacking the warding barrier, but it was no use.
She was torn. She wanted to save the Daoyou she had fallen for at first sight, but she also couldn't bear to watch her father die. She knew her brother was in the wrong, but her own cultivation was insufficient to stop him. Sending out Wei Daoyou's token had been the limit of what she could do. At the very least, her conscience was clear.
After another failed attempt to break the restriction, Xiao Lei sank down onto her meditation cushion in defeat. She knew that by this time tomorrow, Wei Lingkai would likely be gone—silently and without a trace.
Just then, the restriction that had imprisoned her abruptly deactivated.
Xiao Lei sprang to her feet and turned to the open door, startled.
"Who are you? Why are you intruding into the Xiao Manor at night?"
It was Wei Chenyin and Yun Xi who had broken through the restriction.
Yun Xi looked at the girl before her, whose cultivation was only at the late Qi Refining stage. Despite her youth, she shared the same nose and lips as Xiao He—this had to be his younger sister. And if that was the case, she almost certainly knew where her Martial Uncle had been taken.
Wei Chenyin gave her a sweeping glance and spoke calmly:
"You were the one who sent me Lingkai's token. Where is he now?"
Xiao Lei's hands clenched involuntarily. She swallowed hard and asked hoarsely, "You're Elder Wei Chenyin?"
"Yes. I'm Wei Lingkai's grandaunt. Now, can you tell us where he is?"
Wei Chenyin's tone held a growing sense of urgency. Something wasn't right.
Xiao Lei gave a bitter smile and said, "Senior Wei, I was locked up precisely because I helped Wei Daoyou send out his token. After my brother found out what I did, he confined me here in my own courtyard. It's been six days. I truly don't know where he took Wei Daoyou."
Yun Xi could tell the girl wasn't lying. Still, she pressed further:
"What exactly does your brother plan to do to my Martial Uncle?"
At this, Xiao Lei's expression changed. She pressed her lips together tightly, clearly aware of the truth but unwilling to speak it.
Yun Xi pressed again. "Does it have something to do with your father's injuries?"
That finally shook Xiao Lei. Her eyes went wide in shock as she looked straight at Yun Xi.
Yun Xi knew she had guessed correctly. She kept going, voice cold. "Whatever injuries your father suffered, using human lives to heal him is evil cultivation. If you don't want to see your brother and father fall into that path and ruin their future as cultivators, you'd better tell us the truth."
This time, Xiao Lei's entire body trembled. Yun Xi's words hit painfully close to the truth—only the details were missing.
Wei Chenyin's face darkened. She raised her sleeve, and a white ribbon lashed out, instantly binding Xiao Lei and pulling her forward.
Wei Chenyin was not as patient as Yun Xi. With an icy expression, she said, "Girl, since you won't speak, I'll just search your soul. I've already given you your chance. This is what the Xiao family owes us."
She raised her hand, preparing to forcibly search Xiao Lei's soul. Yun Xi did not stop her.
"No! I'll tell you!"
Xiao Lei's eyes flew open. Tears the size of pearls rolled down her cheeks. She looked helpless, fragile. Then, choking on her words, she said:
"Father was gravely injured. Evil qi entered his body, and because it wasn't treated in time, his spirit root became corrupted. My brother... I don't know where he found the method, but he said he could regrow Father's spirit root."
She didn't even finish her sentence before Yun Xi's heart roared in fury. She stared straight into Xiao Lei's eyes, her voice sharp.
"So your dear brother intends to rip out my Martial Uncle's spirit root, is that it?"
This time, Xiao Lei didn't deny it. She nodded through her tears. "I only found out about it after I realized Wei Daoyou had been imprisoned. I tried to stop my brother, but it was like he'd fallen into madness. He wouldn't listen to reason! I couldn't bear to watch Wei Daoyou die for nothing, and I was sure Haoran Sect would investigate the Xiao family sooner or later, so I secretly sent out his token..."
Wei Chenyin snorted and withdrew her hand from Xiao Lei's head. She turned to Yun Xi and said darkly, "Five days. That's more than enough time for them to prepare. And since we demanded his return in broad daylight, they've likely already begun the ritual."
Yun Xi nodded. "Then let's follow the plan. You act in the open, I'll move in the shadows."
She tossed the recording jade from her waist to Wei Chenyin.
Wei Chenyin caught it in mid-air, then dragged Xiao Lei out of the courtyard. Hovering in mid-air above Xiao Manor, her voice rang out, cold and commanding:
"Xiao He, whatever it is you're doing, I advise you to stop immediately. Hand over Wei Lingkai, or your sister Xiao Lei will die."
Wei Chenyin's voice exploded across the night sky above the Xiao residence, shocking everyone in the manor—including Xiao He, who had been keeping vigil over his father.
His heart skipped a beat. That ominous feeling was back. But his father was at a critical moment. He didn't dare leave. Gritting his teeth, he stayed beside the jade tub.
Inside the tub, Xiao Ye had vaguely heard his daughter's name. He forced his eyes open and looked at his son.
Xiao He quickly tried to calm him. "Father, don't worry. The clan elders will handle this. Your only priority right now is to reconstruct your spirit root."
Xiao Ye could tell his son was hiding something. But his body was wracked with such pain he couldn't even lift himself out of the tub.
Above the Xiao residence, three figures had appeared in the sky. They were the Xiao family's Golden Core elders. One of them, a stern-looking woman, snapped coldly:
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into the Xiao Manor? And you've kidnapped a member of our clan! What is the meaning of this?"
Wei Chenyin responded just as coldly:
"Hmph. That's a question for your Patriarch's esteemed son. He dared to use an evil technique to extract the spirit root of a Haoran Sect disciple. Is the Xiao family now consorting with evil cultivators?"
This was no small accusation. The three elders' faces darkened, and they prepared to strike.
But Wei Chenyin sneered and threw the recording jade into the air. It replayed the earlier conversation, projecting it for all to see. Then her voice amplified, echoing throughout the city.
"Xiao Manor does not rule all of Xiaohe City. Evil cultivators must be exterminated. Before you act, think carefully—does the Xiao family truly have the strength to oppose the entire cultivation realm?"
At this point, not just the Xiao residence, but half of Xiaohe City had been alerted. Even the City Lord's Mansion had received the news.