"Really?!"
When Qin Zi heard this, his eyes immediately lit up. Ancient Dao Bones with such great origins—it felt like destiny calling him!
To him, everything good in the world was meant for him.
However, at this moment, the golden-haired woman hesitated and said, "But the old site of my Night Emperor Clan is now sealed by the Human Clan's Sacred Hall, and they have powerful experts stationed there. It won't be easy for us to enter."
Qin Chuan remained composed.
He looked at her calmly, his voice steady and confident as he asked, "Are there any other conditions we need to meet?"
"Yes, to enter the inheritance site, we'll need a secret rune from the Night Emperor Clan. Don't worry—I know how to activate it," the golden-haired woman replied.
"Then there's no problem," Qin Chuan nodded. "First, we'll return this Dao Bone to that girl, and afterward, we'll head to the Night Emperor Clan's old site."
The golden-haired woman flew back into Qin Zi's body, and Qin Chuan led Qin Zi toward the small town where Yu Wanqing was staying.
He wasn't returning the Dao Bone out of kindness or sympathy; it was mainly to ensure a proper explanation to the Sun-Devouring Emperor.
The recent events had caused quite a stir.
Even though Qin Chuan had already prepared a "heads-up" plan, he wanted to avoid any misunderstanding with the Sun-Devouring Emperor. Paying a visit was the best way to ensure that.
With the Sun-Devouring Emperor's magnanimity and perspective, as long as they showed up, everything would be fine. But if they didn't go, things might turn sour.
Qin Chuan suspected that the Sun-Devouring Emperor had likely reached the legendary "Extreme Realm," a power level that Qin Chuan currently couldn't contend with. If the Sun-Devouring Emperor developed murderous intent toward them, Qin Chuan would be in serious danger.
Such a powerful figure, if convinced they were Tianheng Clan spies, would definitely come after him first, seeing him as the mastermind behind his son, Qin Zi.
Qin Chuan moved quickly.
In less than three minutes, they arrived at the small town.
He sent Qin Zi to find Yu Wanqing and return the Dao Bone, while he went to meet with Song Huaihe.
By the riverbank, a disheveled man with a streak of golden hair sat on the stone steps of the bridge, waiting for him.
"You're here?" the golden-haired man asked.
"I'm here," Qin Chuan smiled and sat beside him.
"This matter has gotten a bit out of hand," the golden-haired man said, gazing at the boats floating on the river.
"I told you before, uncut jade can't become a useful vessel, and you agreed back then," Qin Chuan said apologetically.
"And now you've brought that jade to my house for carving? You even broke down my gate and stole my kitchen knife?" The golden-haired man rolled his eyes.
"I can return the knife," Qin Chuan said, pulling out the Sun-Devouring Emperor Sword and offering it to him.
The golden-haired man didn't even glance at it.
Instead, he stood up, his back to Qin Chuan, and grumbled, "Do you know what's the most infuriating thing?"
He answered his own question:
"That brat exposed the true nature of my Sun-Devouring Emperor Palace in front of the whole world!"
"White-Pillaging Sect? Isn't that exactly what it is—a White-Pillaging Sect?"
"In fact, back then, I really wanted to name the sect White-Pillaging Sect, but Elder Qinlong advised me that if I was establishing a sect, I should choose a formal name to avoid ridicule. So, it became the Sun-Devouring Emperor Palace."
"And now? The name I once hesitated to use has come back to bite me, turning my sect into a laughingstock!"
"So, tell me, how do we settle this score?"
Qin Chuan's expression twitched a few times, finding the situation both amusing and frustrating.
After some thought, he said, "That kid willingly returned your disciple's Dao Bone. You have to at least acknowledge that, don't you?"
The golden-haired man sneered, "Hmph, I think he's just lusting after her beauty! Does he think I can't see through his motives? It's like showing off a poor trick to an expert!"
After pondering for a moment, Qin Chuan said, "I think you're sitting here not to meet me, but because you tried to white-pillage a boat ride and got kicked off by a boatman, right? How about this—I'll cover the cost this time, and you can enjoy a grand ride?"
"Heh…"
The golden-haired man scoffed, but the smirk froze on his face when Qin Chuan handed him a large gold ingot.
"Deal!" Without hesitation, he grabbed the gold ingot and rushed to the riverbank, waving his hand toward a boat: "Boatman! I'm boarding! I'm boarding!"
Soon, a boatman noticed the golden-haired man—or rather, the gold ingot in his hand.
"Sir, right this way!"
The boatman, an old man holding a long bamboo pole, energetically pushed the boat toward shore. Through the bamboo blinds of the cabin, one could see a graceful young woman tidying her hair.
Watching this scene, Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for this simple and wholesome town.
Before long, the boat reached the shore, and the golden-haired man was courteously invited aboard.
Just before entering the cabin, he glanced back at Qin Chuan, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You really are one of us. See you around."
With that, he slipped into the cabin.
Soon, the sound of rustling clothes filled the air, followed by the impatient whispers of the guest and the coy resistance of the hostess.
"See you," Qin Chuan chuckled, feeling relieved. The man's words—"one of us"—signified his acceptance of Qin Chuan's approach.
In other words, even if Qin Zi's reputation was ruined and he was labeled as a Tianheng Clan spy by the Human Clan's Sacred Hall, the Sun-Devouring Emperor would still back him up.
That essentially gave them a backup plan.
...
At the Night Emperor Clan's old site.
A vast mountain range stretched before them like a sleeping dragon, with remnants of buildings scattered across the peaks.
The Night Emperor Clan had once been glorious. The Night Emperor himself was one of the ten hall masters of the Human Clan's Sacred Hall.
But now, nothing remained but ruins.
For a thousand miles around, the mountains were covered by a massive golden barrier, like a giant glass dome inverted over the land.
"Halt!"
As Qin Chuan and Qin Zi approached the barrier, a stern voice echoed through the sky. A hazy figure appeared, seated on a cloud, exuding an imposing and authoritative presence.
It was a… quasi-emperor!
"Sleep."
Qin Chuan smiled slightly, and a surge of immense mental power invaded the figure's mind, sending the guardian into a deep slumber.
Then, Qin Chuan raised his hand, pressing it against the golden barrier. Instantly, countless runes radiated from his palm, spreading across the surface of the barrier. With a silent flicker, the barrier dissolved.
In his palm, a faint red lotus flower flickered before disappearing—it was the Forbidden Red Lotus of the Heavenly Pivot Palace, capable of breaking through most formations!
"Who goes there!"
"How dare you trespass into the sealed lands…"
Two more stern voices rang out, but before they could finish, Qin Chuan's divine sense swept over them, knocking out the remaining two guardians.
There were only four quasi-emperors guarding this place.
After all, the old site of the Night Emperor Clan had long since been looted by many great forces, leaving behind nothing but ruins. There was hardly anything left to guard.
Their presence here was merely for show.
"Buzz!"
The golden-haired woman emerged from Qin Zi's body, her eyes filled with sorrow as she gazed at the desolate ruins.
Once, this place had been prosperous beyond imagination. Now, only ruins remained. Her relatives had long since turned to dust.
She was the only one left.
Seeing her expression, both Qin Chuan and Qin Zi remained silent. Some pains could never be comforted by words.
Because no one could truly understand the depth of her sorrow.
The golden-haired woman didn't dwell on her grief for long. After wiping her tears, she said solemnly, "Follow me."
She led Qin Chuan and Qin Zi deeper into the ruins.
Before long, they arrived at a broken stone tablet.
The tablet was half-shattered, made from simple material. At first glance, it looked ordinary. Upon closer inspection… it looked even less impressive.
"Night Emperor descendant Ye Lingshuang, here to enter the inheritance site with disciples. Please forgive me, ancestors of the Night Clan," the golden-haired woman muttered softly.
Then, she quickly formed a complex set of seals with her hands, creating a profound rune. She pressed the rune against the broken stone tablet.
"Buzz!"
The stone tablet trembled, glowing with golden light. The broken part of the tablet rapidly grew back.
However, the newly grown part was golden, like a white jade statue repaired with gold.
In fact, the golden portion was intact, but it overlapped with the original half of the stone tablet.
The golden-haired woman formed more seals, tightly closing her eyes as she chanted:
"Lin! Bing! Dou! Zhe! All! Pack! Up! And! Go!"
When Qin Chuan heard the first few words, he thought he could guess the rest, but by the time she finished, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The Night Emperor Clan sure doesn't follow the usual path!
Who would have guessed such an unusual incantation?
"Buzz buzz buzz!"
At this moment, a golden vortex appeared in front of the stone tablet, forming a spatial passage.
"Let's go in," the golden-haired woman said, taking the lead and stepping into the vortex. Qin Chuan glanced around briefly, then followed with Qin Zi.
Soon, the vortex vanished.
Meanwhile, in a hidden corner…
A man in a black robe, holding a recording stone, leaned weakly against the stone wall, his body sliding down as if completely drained.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, and he panted heavily, finally letting out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he hadn't been discovered by that white-robed Emperor!
He was one of the guardians of this place, a quasi-emperor.
There were four quasi-emperors in total guarding this site. Qin Chuan knocked three of them out in a single move, but he was the fourth, the one who managed to evade.
"Thankfully, I'm skilled at hiding. That's how I avoided detection."
"I didn't expect the Night Emperor Clan's remnants would return here. As long as I submit this recording stone, it'll be a great merit!"