The Mystery of Yang Tian

"Uncle Yang, we only wish to learn everything about our father. Are you really unable to fulfill even this modest request?" 

A glint of determination gathered in Yang Fan's eyes as he exchanged a fleeting glance with his brother. A flicker of intensity crossed their gaze. If Yang Gang refused to divulge any information this time, Yang Fan might just entertain the thought of using force.

Yang Lei stood silent, his hand trembling behind his back, blue veins stark against his skin. 

The entire living room fell into a heavy silence, punctuated only by the soft thump of heartbeats and shallow breaths. 

Suddenly, Yang Gang felt a rush of foreboding, a subtle chill settling over him, as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees. Given his cultivation at the mid-stage of the Mind-Consolidation Realm, it was astonishing to sense such ominous signs. He couldn't shake the thought of Yang Fan's mastery of lethal poisons; even foundation-level cultivators could suffer devastating injuries from such skills. In an instant, beads of cold sweat began to gather on his forehead.

However, as a senior cultivator in the Mind-Consolidation stage, he quickly regained his composure, his mind racing with calculations. If it came to confrontation, the best course of action would be to incapacitate or eliminate Yang Fan in a split second. But then there was the unpredictable variable: Yang Lei. 

Standing close by, Yang Lei was also a cultivator in the Mind-Consolidation stage. If Yang Gang acted against Yang Fan, whom would Yang Lei side with? On one hand, he owed a debt of gratitude to his mentor; on the other, he shared a blood bond with his brother. 

Yang Gang felt uncertain, increasingly anxious that Yang Fan might have already employed his deadly poison unnoticed... 

"Uncle Yang, both my father, Yang Tian, and my brother belong to the 'Nanling Yang Clan.' If you withhold even the matters of our father's past from us, how can we truly pledge our loyalty to the Yang Fortress?" 

Yang Fan's tone softened slightly. "Very well, I can reveal a fragment of the truth…" 

With a heavy sigh, Yang Gang's expression morphed into one of nostalgia, as if he were swept back to a distant past. 

"Your father, Yang Tian, is a legendary figure. Thirty years ago, he arrived at the 'Yang Fortress.' After being evaluated by the clan elders, it was discovered that he possessed a remarkably rare 'exotic spirit root'...," Yang Gang exhaled deeply, a look of longing and envy flickering across his face, a whirlwind of complex emotions swirling within him. 

**Exotic Spirit Root!**

Upon hearing this, both Yang Fan and Yang Lei were visibly shaken. 

If Yang Tian indeed possessed an exotic spirit root, then his potential far surpassed that of both brothers.

It is well known that spirit roots in the cultivation world are classified into several tiers: the worthless spirit root, the mundane spirit root, the earthly spirit root, and the heavenly spirit root. The heavenly spirit root represents the pinnacle of potential, a talent rarely seen in a century.

Beyond these classifications exists a more ethereal and mysterious category: the exotic spirit root. The capabilities and talents of the exotic spirit root are elusive; at the very least, they are on par with earthly spirit roots, and at their peak, they might even exceed the finest heavenly spirit roots.

"This was the greatest secret of Yang Fortress. The elders of the previous generation deemed it a taboo and publicly proclaimed that Yang Tian was merely a practitioner with an earthly spirit root, fearing that the knowledge might leak to outsiders. Afterward, Yang Tian's performance was remarkable; he advanced to the Mind-Consolidation stage at the age of twenty, establishing himself as a paragon among the contemporary youth." 

"Since my father was an exotic spirit root cultivator, why did he only reach the Mind-Consolidation stage at twenty?" Yang Fan inquired, perplexed.

Yang Gang smiled bitterly. "I once thought the same, only to discover later that we were all ensnared by illusions…" 

"Was there an unexpected change?" 

"Your father concealed himself deeply. The younger generation of our clan was bewitched by him until one fateful day, when the young master of the Kyoto Yang Clan came to participate in our 'Yang Fortress' question-and-answer conference, revealing merely a glimpse of his true self…" Yang Gang's voice dropped to a somber tone as he continued, "The young master of the Yang Clan at that time is now the head of the Kyoto Yang Clan. At twenty, he had reached the late Mind-Consolidation stage, radiating charisma and strength. Consider this: with his cultivation at the late Mind-Consolidation stage, even the second-generation elders were no match for him. Among the third-generation disciples, who could stand against him?"

Yang Gang sighed deeply, but then a glimmer of pride mingled with something odd appeared on his face. "However, the outcome was far from what we anticipated." 

"Though the Yang Clan's young master was formidable, ruling over the third generation and unmatched even by the second-generation elders, when Yang Tian finally made his move, he opted for a private confrontation…" 

"That battle, known to few, witnessed less than five observers. The outcome left everyone astounded… the late Mind-Consolidation stage Yang Clan young master was utterly defeated, rendered mere plaything in front of Yang Tian, not only suffering a loss but also enduring a humiliating defeat." 

As he recounted this, Yang Gang exhaled, seemingly buoyed by the tale. "Your father was truly extraordinary back then…" Yang Fan and Yang Lei exchanged a glance, their expressions brimming with awe and pride. 

"However, from that moment forth, your father, Yang Tian, also made an enemy of the young master of the Yang Clan, who is now the head of the Kyoto Yang Clan. Fortunately, it was merely a private duel, a personal vendetta. Our Yang Fortress, though somewhat apprehensive, ultimately remains a branch of the Kyoto Yang Clan, thus unscathed."

"But the good times did not last long. About four to five years later, for reasons unknown, Yang Tian's relationship with the current young master of the Kyoto Yang Clan soured, entangling numerous powerful individuals, including the enigmatic Mr. Xu. Moreover, there was an even more formidable person: a notable disciple of the 'Moyang Sect,' the eldest disciple of the Three-Yin Old Demon, Lie Wuhuan." 

**Lie Wuhuan?!** 

Yang Fan and Yang Lei exchanged surprised glances. 

They had not anticipated that the matter would involve the upper echelons of the Xuanyang Kingdom's cultivation world. 

From what they knew, Lie Wuhuan was a high-ranking cultivator, a figure who towered at the peak of the Xuanyang Kingdom's cultivation hierarchy. A character of such stature likely deemed a small faction like the Yang Fortress insignificant.

"With Lie Wuhuan's emergence, the young master of the Yang Clan, Mr. Xu, and others began to fall one after another. That day, I saw Yang Tian return injured, but he merely rested for a moment before mysteriously vanishing." 

"And not long after that, he returned, carrying you, his face filled with sorrow and guilt…" 

Yang Gang's gaze turned toward Yang Fan. 

Yang Fan understood that year, his father had brought him back to Wuliu Town. As for his biological mother, he had never met her.

"By the way, after my father brought me back, did the Kyoto Yang Clan not take action against him?" 

Yang Fan raised a question, recalling his time in Wuliu Town, which had been peaceful and harmonious.

"Regarding that… I later learned that the Kyoto Yang Clan seemed to harbor some fear toward your father. The specifics of the underlying secrets remain unclear," Yang Gang hesitated. 

Back then, Yang Tian was indeed formidable, to the extent that even the Kyoto Yang Clan harbored fear toward him.

"What happened next?" Yang Lei pressed for more information. 

"After he entrusted you to the elder 'Liu Wuhen' of Yang Fortress, he mysteriously disappeared again. However, rumors circulated that during this period, the Golden Elixir-stage Lie Wuhuan had gone out once and returned heavily injured. As for your father, he never returned…" 

"Ah!" 

Upon hearing such a conclusion, Yang Fan felt his throat tighten. 

It seemed plausible that Yang Tian had engaged in a fierce battle with Lie Wuhuan. As a result, while the Golden Elixir-stage Lie Wuhuan returned grievously wounded, his father Yang Tian had vanished without a trace. "Afterwards, we believed Yang Tian had narrowly escaped death. However, apart from his close friend Liu Wuhen, no one could ascertain his fate. Regrettably, Elder Liu was also an enigmatic figure who mysteriously vanished shortly before the last question-and-answer conference."

"Did anyone inquire about the reasons for Lie Wuhuan's injuries?" Yang Fan asked, anxiety palpable in his voice.

"Lie Wuhuan has never spoken a word regarding this matter. Although he is a demonic cultivator, he possesses an exceptional sense of pride. Ultimately, he is a high-ranking cultivator, far removed from our reach…" Yang Gang shook his head with a bitter smile. "After all, this is an ancient story, a minor ripple in the vast ocean of the cultivation world, remembered only by our generation."

"Then, may I ask, Uncle, who can definitively say that my father has passed?" 

Yang Fan's eyes burned with intensity. 

"Unfortunately, no one can provide a 100% guarantee. Perhaps this is why the Kyoto Yang Clan has treated you two with indifference for so long. Only in recent years have

 they begun to make small moves," Yang Gang reflected. 

In essence, it was highly probable that Yang Tian was in a perilous situation, and the chances of survival were slim. In the minds of certain elders, he might already be considered deceased.

"I have shared all I can with you… Know this matter but do not spread it further." 

Yang Gang sighed heavily, imparting one last warning. 

Moments later, Yang Fan watched as Yang Gang departed, his silhouette seemingly a bit forlorn and solitary.

"Brother, do you believe what he said?" 

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Lei's lips pressed into a thin line. 

"He may be hiding something, but I believe about six or seven parts of it." Yang Fan replied nonchalantly. "Take care of yourself. Our safety is only temporary. In a few days, I will journey to Kyoto…" 

"Kyoto? What do you intend to do there?" Yang Lei was taken aback. 

"The secrets of heaven cannot be disclosed." 

Yang Fan replied with a mysterious smile. 

He naturally wouldn't divulge that his initial purpose for going to Kyoto was to meet with a certain woman. 

"Brother, you must think carefully. Kyoto is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, where powers intertwine. It is nothing like the remote Yang Fortress," Yang Lei warned, his demeanor serious. "I hope that two and a half years later, we can reunite at the 'Question-and-Answer Conference' of Yang Fortress."

"Do not worry about my safety," Yang Fan said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Let us repeat what our father once did." 

"Very well, it is settled!" 

Yang Lei's aura surged subtly, reminiscent of a dragon emerging from the depths. 

As their gazes intertwined, they clasped hands three times, solidifying their pact. 

After the handclaps, Yang Lei turned without a backward glance and swiftly left Wuliu Town. 

From that day onward, he dedicated himself to intense training within the Yang Fortress, seldom appearing in the outside world. 

As for Yang Fan, he began to manage the medical clinic, often sneaking away to the nearby cultivation marketplace to procure materials, elusive as a shadow. 

Until one month later, Yang Fan suddenly vanished from Wuliu Town, leaving no trace behind.