The night outside remained calm, yet the moment Yao Yue heard her attendant's words, her movements came to an abrupt halt. Her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing slightly. The Ancestors would never summon her unless it was a matter of utmost importance—something that could threaten the very future of the pavilion itself. What could possibly be so urgent that they would call for her now?
"Very well," she replied curtly.
She quickly reached for her robe and slipped it back on, but in her haste, the thin silk shifted, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, delicate shoulder. Yao Yue paid it no mind—her thoughts were already focused entirely on the mysterious summons.
Her steps carried her toward a place few dared to tread—a restricted area woven with hidden formations, some defensive, others deadly.
She walked calmly yet with careful precision. As the Pavilion Mistress of Liuyao Pavilion, she had no trouble passing through the formations, though any outsider would have been instantly annihilated for daring to intrude.
Her steps came to a stop before what appeared to be a cavern—the ancestral chamber of the Liuyao Pavilion, hidden behind the main pavilion itself. As Yao Yue crossed the threshold, a wave of ancient aura swept over her, as though the very air carried the weight of a thousand years. Dim, muted light from glowing stones embedded in the walls revealed two figures sitting cross-legged within the chamber.
The first was an old man in a gray robe. His hair, white as snow, cascaded down his back, and his face was etched with deep wrinkles, as though time itself had carved its story there.
Beside him sat an old woman in a yellow robe. Though her age was evident, her face was almost free of wrinkles, still bearing traces of the beauty she had once possessed. These two were the highest pillars of Liuyao Pavilion, cultivators who had lived for centuries.
Sensing Yao Yue's presence, the two ancestors slowly opened their eyes. With a single glance, Yao Yue felt her chest tighten as if a mountain had descended upon her. A faint breeze stirred through the chamber—not from nature, but from the overwhelming aura radiating from them.
The loose silk of Yao Yue's robe shifted again, baring more of her pale skin, but she kept her composure even as her heart trembled. From the aura alone, she could sense that both Ancestors had grown stronger—far stronger than the last time she saw them.
"Greetings, ancestors." Yao Yue said respectfully, bowing her head and bringing her hands together before her chest.
The old woman's gaze was calm but piercing as she spoke. "Yao Yue, who are the two you brought into the pavilion?"
The question startled Yao Yue. She hesitated for a brief moment before replying, her voice steady though tinged with uncertainty.
"They are two experts, likely at the stage of Heavenly Venerable. I only wished to befriend them."
The old woman's lips curved into a faint smile, her expression softening. "You have grown. That is a wise choice."
Yao Yue blinked, slightly taken aback, then slowly nodded. But her mind was already racing, trying to guess why the ancestors would bring this up. Before she could think further, the old man in the gray robe suddenly spoke.
"Yao Yue, you are mistaken if you believe they are merely at that stage."
Her eyes widened, her breath held. For a heartbeat, it felt as if the world had turned still.
The old man's tone grew grave, the weight of his voice pressing down on the very air. "The two of us have sensed the aura of the three people you brought into the pavilion."
He paused briefly before continuing, his eyes sharp. "The woman in the crimson robe is still weak, yet her potential is extraordinary. Talents like hers are rarely seen."
Yao Yue listened intently. The old man let out a deep sigh.
"But as for the man in the black robe and the woman in the flowing amethyst robe…"
He stopped, allowing the silence to stretch, making the atmosphere even more tense. Yao Yue's heart pounded as if time itself was holding its breath, waiting for the rest of his words. The old man closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, his gaze filled with caution.
"Though we are not at their stage, we attempted to probe the depth of their power using the artifact left behind by the founding ancestor. What we discovered… shocked us."
From the long sleeve of his robe, the old man drew out an object. A pale golden light filled the chamber. In his hand rested an ancient mirror, cracked yet exuding an aura that seemed to weigh upon the soul itself. The mirror trembled faintly, as though alive.
Yao Yue nearly gasped. She recognized it immediately—the legendary artifact of their pavilion, the Liuyao Mystic Mirror. This was a Tier 9 artifact, an heirloom left behind by the Liuyao Emperor himself. It was said that in its prime, the mirror could reveal the depth of anyone's cultivation, even peering into the power of the most exalted experts. It was with this artifact that Liuyao Pavilion once reigned supreme over the entire Northern Region of the Tianxian Continent, establishing an unmatched legacy.
The old woman's voice rang softly through the dim chamber.
"You know the legend of this artifact. We used it to examine the strength of the three guests you brought. But when it came to those two… this mirror failed to reveal anything."
The old man nodded grimly. "When it tried to peer into their depths, it began to tremble violently—and cracked. Had we not stopped in time, the artifact might have been destroyed entirely."
Yao Yue's body quivered, her voice faltering as she spoke. "Ancestors… you mean… they…"
The old woman's eyes locked on Yao Yue's, her gaze filled with both warning and fear.
"We can only guess… but they are far above the Heavenly Venerable stage."
Her voice quivered despite her effort to keep it steady. The old man's expression was equally grim, both of them showing a rare humility. For once, they did not appear like lofty ancestors, but like mortals staring at a storm they dared not provoke.
"If that's true, then…" Yao Yue nearly lost the strength in her legs.
The old man's tone grew grave, carrying the weight of a warning. "Remember this well—never offend them. If you can befriend them, it will be a great fortune for our pavilion. If not, then at the very least, do not incur their wrath."
Cold sweat trickled down Yao Yue's back. Her body still trembled, yet she forced herself into a deep bow.
"Thank you for your guidance, ancestors," she said, her voice steady despite the storm within her heart.
She left the chamber, her steps slightly unsteady, her heart a swirl of fear and relief.
As her figure vanished, the two Ancestors exchanged a long glance, as though silently weighing the fate of their Pavilion.
"It seems the world is about to change." The old woman murmured. A heavy silence fell, burdened by the realization of their own insignificance.
"Indeed. May our pavilion endure." The old man replied. He looked at the cracked mirror on his lap.
"But… could those two truly be at such a stage?" The old woman asked, her voice carrying her doubt.
"Since ancient times, very few have ever reached that height. Now, two such beings appear so easily. Something feels… wrong," the old man muttered, his face clouded with unease.
The old woman fell silent, deep in thought, before finally saying, "Whatever the truth may be, we must not offend them. Even if they are not truly at that level, they already possess the power to erase our pavilion."
The two ancestors heaved a long, weary sigh. This was the law of the cultivation world—the strong endured, and the weak could only bow their heads. They returned to their cross-legged positions, closing their eyes once more, sinking back into meditation.
The chamber fell silent again, so quiet that even the rustling of leaves outside could be heard clearly.
Then, a strange voice sliced through the silence, sharp and sudden as a blade.
"Ancestors, you are truly cautious."
At once, both ancestors opened their eyes, their expressions turning solemn!