"Grandfather, you've finally come out of seclusion!"

"Grandfather, did you successfully break through to the Sky Soaring Realm during this retreat?"

Seeing the elder in the purple robe flying through the air, Chu Qingyun and Chu Qingzhi both showed expressions of joy and hurriedly greeted him.

Without a doubt, the elder in the purple robe was the Second Elder of the Chu Family, Chu Qianshan, the grandfather of Chu Qingyun and Chu Qingzhi.

A month ago, Chu Qianshan began his retreat, focusing all his efforts on breaking through to the Sky Soaring Realm.

Finally, this morning, he succeeded.

After coming out of seclusion, he immediately went to find Chu Qingyun, wanting to share his joy with his grandson.

However, he couldn't find Chu Qingyun and instead learned that his grandson had been stripped of his position as Young Master and, along with his granddaughter, had been expelled from the Chu Family.

Chu Qianshan was furious, but he didn't lose his composure.

He didn't waste time arguing with the Family Head and elders of the Chu Family.

Instead, he suppressed his anger and rushed to the Abandoned Garden as quickly as possible to check on his grandson and granddaughter.

As he arrived outside the Abandoned Garden, he used his Spiritual Sense to 'see' Ling Zhan making a move to kill the Chu siblings.

Although he intervened in time to save them, he was filled with fear at the thought of what might have happened if he had been a moment too late.

"Qingyun, Qingzhi, you've suffered!"

Chu Qianshan looked at Chu Qingyun, covered in blood, and Chu Qingzhi, pale-faced, with eyes full of compassion.

"Don't be afraid. With me here, no one will harm you!"

With that, Chu Qianshan turned to look at Ling Zhan, his deep eyes blazing with a fierce killing intent.

"Ling Zhan, you dare to harm my grandchildren? I'll kill you first!"

Chu Qianshan shouted angrily, his hands surging with killing intent as he struck out with two golden palms, aiming directly at Ling Zhan.

"Chu Qianshan, you don't know right from wrong..."

Ling Zhan wanted to explain, but Chu Qianshan attacked directly, changing his expression instantly.

He could only swing his sword with all his might, creating a shield of over twenty sword lights in front of him.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the first golden palm shattered the sword light shield.

Immediately after, the second golden palm sent Ling Zhan flying.

He spat blood as he flew back more than three meters, his face turning pale, and his hair disheveled.

Fortunately, he wore a protective armor under his robe, which shielded his heart and organs.

Otherwise, Chu Qianshan's palm strike would have seriously injured him.

"Ling Zhan! Your life is mine!"

Chu Qianshan shouted again, leaping towards Ling Zhan, raising his hands once more.

His palms surged with spiritual light, ready to form two palm shadows.

Knowing he couldn't dodge, Ling Zhan was filled with terror and shouted, "Chu Qianshan, Chu Qingyun has gone mad! He crippled my nephew Ling Zifeng!

If you kill me, the Ling Family will surely go to war with the Chu Family!"

Chu Qianshan paid no heed to the latter part of the sentence.

But the words 'Chu Qingyun has gone mad' struck him like a bolt from the blue.

His expression changed dramatically, his gray eyebrows furrowing deeply, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Swish!"

The spiritual light in Chu Qianshan's palms dissipated as he landed back on the ground.

Seeing him withdraw his attack, Ling Zhan, who narrowly escaped death, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly pointed to several corpses in the courtyard, explaining to Chu Qianshan, "Chu Qianshan, look closely. Those corpses are all guards from my Ling Family.

Your grandson practiced evil demonic arts and drained them into dried corpses!"

Chu Qianshan turned to look at the corpses on the ground, a flash of shock in his eyes at their mummified state.

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Ling Zhan continued to retreat towards the gate, explaining, "Chu Qianshan, I wanted to capture Chu Qingyun to give justice to Ling Zifeng.

Yesterday at noon, Chu Qingyun fought with Ling Zifeng at the Jiang Family's gate and drained him into a husk!

Ling Zifeng is now crippled, his vitality drained, with only a few days left to live..."

As Ling Zhan lamented Chu Qingyun's crimes, the captain of the guards and six guards retreated to Ling Zhan's side.

They surrounded Ling Zhan, retreating to the gate of the Abandoned Garden, ready to flee at any moment.

No longer as arrogant and domineering as before, they appeared timid and full of fear.

Chu Qianshan withdrew his gaze, looking at Ling Zhan with a cold expression, "These are just your words. I absolutely do not believe them!

If you dare to slander my grandson again and tarnish his reputation, I will take your life!"

Ling Zhan felt aggrieved, his voice filled with resentment, "Chu Qianshan! Don't pretend to be ignorant!

Many people witnessed Chu Qingyun drain Ling Zifeng into a husk.

You've seen the guards' corpses with your own eyes...

With both witnesses and evidence, do you still want to defend Chu Qingyun?"

"Silence!" Chu Qianshan grew angrier, his eyes fierce as he coldly shouted, "How my grandson conducts himself is not for you to judge!

If you say another word, this place will become your burial ground!"

With that, his body exuded a terrifying killing intent, his wide purple robe billowing, and his hands surged with multicolored spiritual light.

Seeing him about to attack again, the guards were terrified, quickly dragging Ling Zhan away from the Abandoned Garden, fleeing into the alley in panic.

The sound of hurried footsteps gradually faded, and Ling Zhan and his men soon disappeared at the end of the alley.

The Abandoned Garden finally returned to peace.

Chu Qingyun, who had been holding on despite his injuries, finally relaxed, unable to suppress a few coughs of blood.

"Brother, are you okay?" Chu Qingzhi asked anxiously, full of concern.

Chu Qianshan also flashed to Chu Qingyun's side.

"Qingyun, let me check your injuries."

As he spoke, Chu Qianshan grabbed Chu Qingyun's wrist, channeling a stream of wood-based energy into him to stabilize his injuries.

At the same time, he released his invisible Spiritual Sense to examine Chu Qingyun's condition.

"Grandfather, I only have internal injuries, nothing serious. You don't need to worry," Chu Qingyun shook his head, forcing a smile for Chu Qianshan.

Chu Qianshan frowned, pondering for a moment before his expression turned grave.

Seeing her grandfather's reaction, Chu Qingzhi's heart skipped a beat, and she cautiously asked, "Grandfather, what's wrong? Is Brother Qingyun okay?"

Chu Qianshan withdrew his hand, giving her a gentle and kind smile.

"Qingzhi, don't worry. Your brother is fine.

Go inside and rest. I have something to discuss with your brother alone."

"Oh, okay."

Chu Qingzhi didn't quite believe her grandfather's words, feeling something was amiss.

But she was always obedient, so she nodded and turned to go inside.

The courtyard was left with only Chu Qianshan and Chu Qingyun, falling into silence.

Chu Qianshan gazed at Chu Qingyun, speaking in a heavy tone, "The injuries you sustained from fighting Ling Zhan will heal with a few days of rest.

But your meridians were severely damaged before, and even your dantian has disappeared.

This morning, I only heard that you were seriously injured, your dantian damaged, and your cultivation dropped to the Qi Condensation Realm. I didn't expect your injuries to be so severe!

Qingyun, I long suspected you had thoughts of going to Tianjue Valley and advised you many times.

But why wouldn't you listen?"

Seeing the worry in Chu Qianshan's eyes and hearing the heaviness in his voice, Chu Qingyun reassured him, "Grandfather, my father died saving me, and my mother disappeared in Tianjue Valley.

No matter what, I will go to Tianjue Valley to investigate my mother's whereabouts and clues.

What's done is done, and I don't regret it.

Don't worry, my meridians have healed.

Although my dantian is gone, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise...

In short, I can still cultivate, and soon I'll be back to the Spirit Sea Realm."

Hearing this, Chu Qianshan felt a mix of emotions but also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"The fact that you survived and can still cultivate is a blessing in disguise.

From now on, focus on your cultivation and regain your strength as soon as possible.

Moreover, you must abandon the idea of going to Tianjue Valley.

Even if you recover to the Spirit Sea Realm and reach the Sky Soaring Realm in the future, you must not take such risks again!"

Chu Qingyun asked in confusion, "Grandfather, do you know some secret? Are you familiar with Tianjue Valley?"

Chu Qianshan pointed to the green stone steps under the eaves and sat down with Chu Qingyun, speaking in a leisurely tone, "Qingyun, you are already sixteen this year and have gone through this ordeal.

It's time to tell you some secrets."

Seeing his grandfather's solemn expression and the mysterious tone, Chu Qingyun immediately perked up, listening intently.

Chu Qianshan gazed at the distant sky, a look of reminiscence on his face, his voice low, "Sixteen years ago, Zhiyuan and Ziyue had been married for over a year and were both cultivating at the Royal Martial Academy in Royal Capital.

At that time, Ziyue was already pregnant, with only a month left before giving birth.

The couple asked Martial Academy's headmaster for leave to return to Lingjiang City for the delivery and recovery.

The headmaster agreed and arranged for an old coachman to drive a carriage to take them back to Lingjiang City..."

Chu Qingyun knew that the Zhiyuan and Ziyue his grandfather mentioned were his and Chu Qingzhi's parents.

His father, Chu Zhiyuan, was once one of the top martial arts talents in Lingjiang City in his youth.

He reached the Spirit Sea Realm at nineteen and successfully entered the Kingdom Qian's top martial arts academy, the Royal Martial Academy.

His mother, Ji Ziyue, was not from the Kingdom Qian but was said to be a noble from a distant, declining kingdom.

She was also exceptionally talented, entering the Royal Martial Academy at eighteen and quickly becoming a renowned talent on the academy's ranking.

Chu Zhiyuan and Ji Ziyue were classmates for three years, experiencing many things together, forming a deep bond, and married seventeen years ago.

Chu Qingyun had heard from his grandfather that his parents' marriage not only caused a sensation in Lingjiang City but also became a celebrated story at the Royal Martial Academy.

At this point, Chu Qianshan continued, "On their way back to Lingjiang City, as they passed near Tianjue Valley, a sudden mist covered the sky despite the clear weather.

The old coachman disappeared, and the carriage lost control, rushing into Tianjue Valley.

The carriage was shattered, and Zhiyuan and Ziyue fell into a valley.

Ziyue was injured and had to give birth prematurely, delivering a baby girl in the valley..."

Chu Qingyun furrowed his brows, puzzled, "Was the baby girl Qingzhi? Did Mother only give birth to her?"

Chu Qianshan nodded, explaining, "After Ziyue gave birth to Qingzhi, they rested in the valley for half a day.

As they were leaving with Qingzhi, they encountered a Jade Flood Dragon blocking their path.

Flood Dragon carried a bamboo basket on its back, and after setting it down, it flew away.

Inside the basket was a baby boy, still in swaddling clothes..."