Chapter 55: The Intentions of the Ximen and Yang Families

July.

The sky was a clear, transparent blue, with a blazing sun hanging overhead like a ball of fire. The clouds seemed to have melted under the sun's heat, vanishing without a trace. The scorching sunlight poured down onto the lake's surface, where a breeze stirred up ripples of gold, dancing in the sun like shattered fragments of light.

By the shore of Shaolin Lake, Chen Yu stood side by side with Ximen Rongcheng.

"Rongcheng, while anyone from your family could've come, I didn't expect you to leave everything in Douhun City to come here."

"Uncle Yu, it's been years since I last came. I had to make the trip eventually. All these years, I've either been meditating or stationed on duty—too much stillness makes you crave movement. I've already sent word home and submitted my resignation."

"Hit a bottleneck?"

"More or less."

Ximen Rongcheng was the direct heir of the Ximen Clan's patriarch. With exceptional talent and astounding comprehension, he had cultivated deep strength. He was a key figure in the clan's development, assigned to the Douhun Legion and had risen through merit to become a corps commander.

"That's not a bad thing. The dao of the sword, like the dao of the blade, is best pursued through vigor and boldness—like a tiger's roar. Staying in one place too long stifles growth. Go out into the world—witness its grandeur and beauty, immerse in the mountains and rivers. In clarity and serenity, let go of pride and shame alike—that is the way to grasp true will."

"Life should be lived bravely, romantically, freely, and boldly—like a blade flashing across a frigid frontier; like a poem sung into the lonely distance; like a desert wind stirring a lone steed; like strong wine before snow at dusk. If life has no flavor, I'd rather not live it at all."

Ximen Rongcheng smiled broadly, leaving Chen Yu briefly stunned.

"Still, Uncle Yu—before I head out, I want someone to check the state of my body."

Though his voice had a metallic edge and a hint of aggressiveness, Ximen Rongcheng didn't appear rough. In fact, he was fair-skinned, with refined, handsome features—a touch of elegance amid strength, and gentleness in his charm.

His aura was complex, like a blend of contrasting qualities—but amid the gentle handsomeness, there was a uniquely ethereal elegance.

Like jade among men, a peerless gentleman!

Chen Yu focused for a moment before speaking:

"Your body—how is it exactly? Are you here for Xiuxin?"

Ximen Rongcheng turned around, revealing a silver-white inner armor, and with a tone hard to describe, said:

"Years ago, I suffered damage to my kidney meridians, leading to blockages in my lung meridians. Metal qi surged in my body. That caused my Hellfire Red Lotus Path Scripture cultivation to grow rapidly due to the abundance of metal qi.

"But with the Demonic Fire Blade's trinity of metal, fire, and spirit attributes, my fire and spiritual energy became unstable. Now, my demonic blade qi is becoming hard to control—unless I ascend to Titled Douluo.

"Luckily, the Demonic Goat Sect recently acquired this piece of inner armor—it greatly suppresses the blade qi's rampage. That allows me to use most of my power without triggering a backlash.

"So this time, I'm here to let Sister Xiuxin take a look and evaluate. You know, Uncle Yu, my relationship with the Ye family is a bit… delicate."

After lunch, Chen Yu visited the guest room where Yang Zhiqiang was staying under the ancestral hall.

"Zhiqiang."

"Brother Yu."

Yang Zhiqiang, already in his 70s, was an 86th-ranked Soul Douluo. He specialized in long-range, strength-based combat, with a masculine presence. Towering in stature, with solid legs, knotted arms, a broad muscular chest, and a deep voice—he exuded raw power.

"Let's skip the pleasantries. What's your business here? Earlier the room was full—now it's just the two of us. Speak plainly."

"Then I won't hold back. My sister had a breakthrough after a recent battle and has gone into seclusion to try and reach Rank 90.

"She asked me to inquire on her behalf—she's preparing for her ninth spirit ring, and you know how proud she is. If the spirit beast isn't at least 90,000 years, she won't even look at it.

"Before she went home, she told me to come ask if you had any leads on a suitable beast."

Yang Zhiqiang looked troubled as he spoke.

Saint King-level spirit beasts were exceedingly rare and hard to find—suitable ones even more so. Even if one knew which beast was compatible, such high-level spirit beasts advanced very slowly. A new Saint King might appear once in a hundred or two hundred years, if the heavens were merciful.

Information at this level was considered strategic resource material by major clans—essential for higher-rank breakthroughs. It widened the pool of options for compatible soul beasts, especially for top-tier rings like the eighth and ninth.

While the first four rings (below 10,000 years) could be steadily supplied, the next three were relatively stable with effort. But the last two—especially the ninth—were all about planning, opportunity, and luck.

That's why major forces preferred settling near major soul beast habitats. Though dangerous, the access to rare spirit beasts brought immense benefits.

"You don't have anything on your side?" asked Chen Yu.

"Brother Yu, you know… after that calamity, our family took heavy losses and declined. Only recently have we started to recover.

"The spirit beast groups we've tracked over the years haven't seen new Saint King evolutions—let alone any at 90,000 years.

"And without a Titled Douluo to lead, even Soul Douluos are useless in those areas where Saint Kings live."

When he said "declined," he was referring to their high-level spirit master numbers. But the Yang clan still had quite a few—between their main bloodline and vassal forces, they had a dozen or two Soul Saints and Soul Douluos.

They could easily crush a sect like the Demonic Goat Sect in a head-on battle. So their "decline" was really only in comparison to other great families. The legacy and depth of a thousand-year clan was terrifying to lesser powers.

The Yang Clan was based in Flower Garden City of the Silas Kingdom, east of the Balak Kingdom—right next to Star Dou Forest.

That primeval forest was vast beyond belief, home to towering trees and countless dangerous soul beasts. The deeper one ventured toward the center, the stronger the beasts and the higher the risks.

The forest's central zone alone spanned tens of thousands of square kilometers—comparable to an entire island province on Earth.

Even in the future, when the Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos led elite teams to search for the Lake of Life, they spent a whole month and still couldn't find it.

So even with the Yang Clan's strength, venturing into Star Dou Forest could mean massive casualties. That's why Yang Zhiqiang had come to ask about the Xieluo Mountain Range instead.

"I do," Chen Yu replied calmly.

"Really?!"

Yang Zhiqiang shot to his feet.

"Sit down. Look at yourself."

"Brother Yu, I'm just excited!"

"Our two families are iron-blood allies. If we don't help you, who would?"

"Tell me—what kind of spirit beast? A solitary one, or part of a group? Is it hard to kill?"

"Howling Moon Silver Wolf."

"Howling Moon Silver Wolf? That's fantastic!

"My sister's eighth spirit skill came from a Golden Crow—if her ninth comes from a moon-attribute beast like the Silver Wolf, combining sun and moon with the Ten-Thousand Fusion Art, the synergy would be incredible. One of the best options for her!

"I was only hoping for something—I never dreamed it'd be this perfect!

"By the way—how many years? What's its group's strength like?"

At first overjoyed, Yang Zhiqiang's brows then furrowed slightly—he remembered that Silver Wolves were pack hunters, and individuals were often powerful.

"Close to 100,000 years."

"WHAT!"

That was his second total breakdown of the day.

"Here's the full story…"

Chen Yu laid out the details. Since the Yangs were their sworn allies, there was no need—and no reason—to hide anything.

"If your sister is interested, Uncle Chenglin will have to personally step in."

Yang Chenglin—the last surviving top-tier powerhouse of the older generation—was the one who had held the Yang Clan together after the great catastrophe. A Level 96 Titled Douluo, bearing the title: 'Qijue' (Seven Absolutes).

(End of Chapter)