C42 The People from the Su Family

In the opulent cultivation chamber, surrounded by treasures and jewels, white jade stones radiating spiritual energy encircled Zhao Yafu at the center. Wisps of milky-white energy flowed with her breath, entering her mouth, nose, and lungs, turning her small face a flushed red, as if she were intoxicated.

Beside her, Zhao Zhenghao, Zhao Dongsheng, and Zhao Xi stood tense and anxious. Their eyes flickered between Zhao Yafu and Yu Yuan, who remained serene and composed, offering guidance only sporadically.

"Swallow the Fire Breath Pill. Let its power flow to the Xuan Gate at your middle dantian," he instructed calmly.

"Connect with the young dragon's soul using your soul's intent."

"Now, ignite all your power, blend it with your spiritual energy, and thrust into that mass of blood light!"

...

As he spoke, Zhao Yafu's body turned a bright red, reminiscent of a boiled shrimp. Her exposed arms, neck, and waist occasionally flashed with a streak of blue blood light.

This blue blood light, sensing an impending doom, darted frantically beneath her pale skin, within Zhao Yafu's body—its sanctuary, its last refuge, and once a place where it roamed freely. But the sanctuary, where it had once feasted on blood and weak soul power, was now as searing as a magma pool, a prison clamping down on it relentlessly.

Another blood light, seemingly sentient, pursued it doggedly. This blood light aided Zhao Yafu, seeking to consume the blue light.

In desperation, the blue light attempted to flee Zhao Yafu's body, to find refuge elsewhere, to send a message to its kin at Hidden Dragon Lake. Alas, it could not shake free.

Its nascent consciousness grew clouded, its power ebbed away.

"The blue blood light is diminishing, growing fainter by the moment," Zhao Xi observed, a spark of excitement in his voice. "Yu, you truly have a gift!"

"Enough talk!" Zhao Zhenghao shot him a stern look. "Without him, how could we have possibly refined the young dragon's soul?"

"Hu!" Zhao Dongsheng exhaled deeply, mopping his brow with a handkerchief, visibly more anxious than Zhao Yafu herself. Once he regained his composure, he said, "Yu Yuan, I can't thank you enough for this."

He had noticed the young dragon's soul was dissolving.

Because of this, his beloved daughter's energy was surging in strength.

"I made a promise to help her resolve the issue with the young dragon's soul, and I intend to keep it," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "Besides, the Zhao family has shown considerable goodwill recently."

"With the Huang family out of the picture, Darkmoon City is set for more harmonious times ahead," Zhao Dongsheng remarked with ease.

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment, then abruptly stated, "The young dragon implanted in Yafu has been dead for some time. It won't be long before Hidden Dragon Lake discovers its death and the existence of that soul. They will surely seek you out."

"And when that time comes?"

He was probing to see if the Zhao family was prepared.

Prepared to face Hidden Dragon Lake's wrath and bloody retribution.

"In all honesty, the Zhao family has established another alliance," Zhao Zhenghao, the family head, said with a forced laugh. "The talks are ongoing, but we anticipate no major issues."

"That's reassuring," Yu Yuan responded with a nod, choosing not to delve deeper.

"Yafu will be taking part in the upcoming grand event. I'm hoping you can lend a hand if she runs into any trouble," Zhao Dongsheng requested.

Yu Yuan glanced at Zhao Yafu and replied, "Once the young dragon's soul is refined, the very thing that once restrained her will become her aid. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Little Sister Yafu should swiftly advance to the Yellow Court Stage. With her at that level of cultivation, would she still need my oversight?"

"Absolutely!"

Zhao Zhenghao, Zhao Dongsheng, and Zhao Xi chorused their agreement.

Yu Yuan paused, then let out a chuckle.

"We can work out the details," Zhao Dongsheng hurried to add.

Yu Yuan gave a slight nod. "Let me give it some thought."

"Oh, and one more thing," Zhao Zhenghao interjected with a slight frown. "We've heard that your betrothed will also be attending the grand event. Keep an eye out for her. Rumor has it she'll be stepping into the Profound Break Stage during the festivities."

"Heh, talk about a small world for adversaries."

...

At the Yu residence.

"Old Master, congratulations."

In the grand hall, once a scene of carnage, Su Yin offered a slight bow to Yu Cann, who, despite being able to sit, chose to stand with a tremble. He smiled warmly as he extended his felicitations.

Su Yin, a mid-Profound Break Stage cultivator, was a scion of the Su family from the Silvermoon Empire.

And the Su family was the Yu family's superior.

Su Yin was just passing through Darkmoon City when he heard some news and decided to pay a visit.

Previously, his visits to Darkmoon City had only led him to meet with the City Lord, Yuan Lianyao, never once crossing the threshold of the Yu family's estate.

"My esteemed guest, it would have been proper for me to greet you in person," Yu Cann said with a hearty laugh, clearly in high spirits. "However, my legs have only recently healed, and I can just manage to stand. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Not at all," Su Yin replied, glancing around before asking, "Yu Yuan, who might that be?"

Inside the hall, Yu Wei, Yu Lian, and Yu Lili exchanged puzzled looks.

It appeared that this member of the Su family had specifically come seeking Yu Yuan.

"Here's the situation: I had an audience with the City Lord first and learned a few things from City Lord Yuan, which brought me to the Yu family," Su Yin explained candidly. "Truthfully, with my many secular responsibilities, I hadn't intended to linger. However, City Lord Yuan holds your grandson in such high regard that I felt compelled to make time for this meeting."

"Moreover, I've heard that she's reserved a spot for Yu Yuan at the Imperial Feast."

"My Su family also has a few young members who wish to attend. I'm here to see if Yu Yuan might join forces with the Su family's youth, to our mutual benefit."

This trip through Darkmoon City was prompted by rumors of a seismic shift within the city.

The Huang family, which had long oppressed the Yu family, preventing them from holding their heads high, had been abruptly expunged from Darkmoon City.

In a twist of fate, the Yu family had inherited all the mines and spirit veins that once belonged to the Huangs outside the city.

This development had taken Su Yin by surprise.

As a pillar of the Silvermoon Empire, renowned for their medicinal herbs, the Su family had many families supplying them with spiritual medicine and plants. The Yu family was once inconsequential in comparison.

But as the Yu family's fortunes dwindled, the Su family's disdain only grew.

He had just learned that the modest Yu family, nestled far away in Darkmoon City, had seized control of the Huang family's domain and secured the backing of Yuan Lianyao and the Zhao family. This piqued his interest.

Upon inquiring with Yuan Lianyao, one name repeatedly fell from the lips of that ruthless woman—Yu Yuan.

Yuan Lianyao's tales had thoroughly hooked his curiosity, prompting him to make time for a visit.

"Apologies, Yu Yuan isn't around at the moment," Yu Cann, privy to the details, informed him. "He's been with the Zhao family lately. It may be another day or two before he returns."

"The Zhao family?" Su Yin's surprise deepened. "What's he doing there for such a long stretch?"

Yu Cann offered an awkward chuckle, opting not to elaborate.

"Old Master, there's talk that your Yu family is harboring an alchemist in secret, is that so?" Su Yin's eyes darted to his leg, a flicker of excitement in his gaze. "As you're well aware, an alchemist is a treasure our Su family yearns for. Supporting an alchemist demands a vast supply of spiritual materials, and I suspect the Yu family isn't quite there yet in terms of resources."

With these words, he laid bare his second agenda.

The Yu family members grasped his intentions following his statement.

They were curious to meet Yu Yuan, who was attending the grand event, to assess whether he was fit to assist the Su family's participants.

To speak frankly, they expected Yu Yuan, who had received a spot from Yuan Lianyao, to serve as a subordinate to the Su family's offspring, handling menial tasks.

In a dire moment, he would be expendable—a pawn to be sacrificed.

The second matter was straightforward: if the Yu family did indeed have an alchemist, they were expected to come clean and hand them over to be taken back to the Su family.

The Su family's relentless pursuit of alchemists was the key to their strength.

Any alchemist emerging within the Silvermoon Empire would be swiftly incorporated into the Su family upon discovery.

The Su family was also known for collecting talented youths with alchemical potential, regardless of their origins. Whether through invitation or more forceful means, they would be brought into the fold of the Su family.

Due to this issue, a number of violent incidents have occurred.

Yet, the Su family's influence is vast, and their actions are seen as benefiting the empire, which has led many to overlook their transgressions.

The Su family's greed and desire for alchemists is widely recognized.

"This..."

Yu Cann wore a look of difficulty, sighing deeply within, his hesitation apparent.

"The Yu family must understand the importance of gratitude," Su Yin said, his eyebrows arching in a show of displeasure. "It is the strength of the Su family that ensures the Yu family has food on their table. Do well to remember that."

​