AVL Chapter 76

After the Qiaoqi Festival, Xi Jue hadn’t been able to leave the Tianyan Shrine.

 

He felt like a Buddha statue—no matter who came by, they would look at him with reverent eyes, leaving a twelve-year-old child utterly bewildered.

 

“Where’s my mother?” Xi Jue asked, grabbing a mild-tempered elder. “She said yesterday she was going to get me pastries. How come she hasn’t come back? I want to see my mother.”

 

The elder smiled gently: “Our Jue’er has awakened a spiritual-grade xiangwen. Lady Xi and the family head are naturally both busy. Tell me what you’d like to eat and I’ll fetch it for you.”

 

Xi Jue pouted and shook his head.

 

He only wanted to see his mother.

 

The elder smiled and turned to leave.

 

Upon reaching the adjacent side hall after leaving the Tianyan Shrine, he hadn’t even entered when he heard fierce arguing.

 

“…I will not permit it!”

 

Lady Xi sat coldly, her face expressionless: “He is your biological son too. How hardened must your heart be to say such things?”

 

Xi Ze rested his head on his hand, looking thoroughly irritated: “That is Tianyan spiritual force. If we let him go out and other families learn of his xiangwen, have you considered what they might do? Can we protect him?”

 

Lady Xi said: “I will tell Jue’er not to reveal even a hint of spiritual force. There’s no need to…”

 

“Ha.” Xi Ze laughed coldly. “You’ve indulged him to the point of being lawless. How would he listen to you? Moreover, next early autumn he enters Tianyan Academy—this is already settled with Protector Wen. He’ll be there for four years, surrounded by the children of so many families. Do you truly think his reckless, ostentatious nature can be hidden?”

 

“Then what exactly do you want me to do?!”

 

“I’ve already said it. He cannot leave the Tianyan Shrine even half a step. The family elders have already informed the outside world that Jue’er did not awaken a xiangwen, to avoid unnecessary trouble.” Xi Ze said. “Do you truly wish to kill him?”

 

Lady Xi fell silent for a long time, seeming to compromise as her head drooped weakly.

 

“I’ve already had someone prepare a spiritual residence beneath the Tianyan Shrine. He’ll move in today.” Xi Ze, exhausted, rested his head in his hands. “He’s been fussing all day wanting to see you. Go look in on him.”

 

Lady Xi rose and left immediately.

 

In the Tianyan Shrine, one couldn’t be too reckless. Xi Jue’s legs ached from kneeling and his bottom hurt. When he asked to have someone bring him a soft couch to lie on, he was refused.

 

He was just getting angry: “You can’t even get me a soft couch? Then send me back to sleep! What good is it to leave me hanging here like this?!”

 

The elder guarding the door gave a dry laugh.

 

Xi Jue had a naturally poor temper and would normally have cursed for half a day, but for some reason, ever since awakening his xiangwen, he felt inexplicably anxious, so he could only mutter a few complaints. He found two cushions, pushed them together, and curled up to lie on them.

 

He muttered softly: “Never mind then. Anyway, my mother will definitely come get me later.”

 

Lady Xi, who had just reached the doorway, paused in her steps.

 

The elders had already opened a crack in the barrier, but she stood frozen in place for a long time, seeming to not dare enter.

 

“My lady? Won’t you go inside?”

 

Lady Xi had a domineering nature and was swift and decisive in all things, but now she seemed afraid, nearly disheveled as she turned around and left.

 

She didn’t know how to face this child for a moment.

 

After nightfall, Xi Ze came to the Tianyan Shrine and led Xi Jue outside.

 

Xi Jue had been lying on the cushion so long his entire body ached. Thinking he could finally return to his luxurious bed for proper rest, he was disappointed to discover that after leaving the Tianyan Shrine, they descended along a long flight of stairs leading downward.

 

“Father?” Xi Jue hugged Xi Ze’s arm. “Where are we going? I’m scared.”

 

Xi Ze looked down at him and said softly: “Don’t be scared. Father is here.”

 

His low voice, tinged with weariness, echoed through the empty stone steps in a strangely eerie manner.

 

Xi Jue said “oh” and didn’t sense anything amiss. He only felt compelled to turn back and look once.

 

A last ray of sunset poured down at the entrance of the steps, brilliant and magnificent, like the final radiance of candlelight burning out.

 

That was the last ray of sunlight he would see in his youth.

 

Xi Jue followed Xi Ze down the steps one by one, his youthful footsteps crisp and clear, carrying no uncertainty.

 

Tap, tap—each step sending himself toward hell.

 

At the end of hundreds of steps lay the Xi family’s Tianyan earth vein.

 

Xi Jue had never been here before. Each time he cultivated using Tianyan, it was by absorbing mere scraps of spiritual force in the Tianyan Shrine. He tilted his head up, gazing at the golden spiritual force on dozens of thick stone pillars. His gaze finally settled on that ribbon of Tianyan earth vein floating in midair like a river.

 

Xi Jue exclaimed in surprise: “Father, so this is Tianyan?”

 

Xi Ze nodded.

 

Seeing that Xi Ze neither warned him nor stopped him from wandering, Xi Jue happily ran up to the spiritual vein and curiously reached out to touch the Tianyan earth vein.

 

Tianyan seemed extraordinarily intimate with him. It materialized an invisible hand that gently wrapped around Xi Jue’s wrist.

 

“Ah!” Xi Jue turned back happily. “So this is what Tianyan is like.”

 

Xi Ze watched with deep, unfathomable eyes.

 

Tianyan had never been this gentle and affectionate with anyone else, not even with Xi Ze as the family head.

 

Xi Jue played with Tianyan to his heart’s content while Xi Ze stood quietly watching.

 

Before long, Xi Jue himself began to feel uneasy. After all, Lady Xi doted on him greatly, but Xi Ze was extremely strict with him—even coaxing wouldn’t work and he’d get scolded instead.

 

“Ahem.” Xi Jue withdrew his hand and ran back to Xi Ze’s side, smiling ingratiatingly at him. “Father, let’s go.”

 

He thought this was a standard procedure after awakening his xiangwen and hugged Xi Ze’s arm, about to head back to sleep.

 

Xi Ze stood there without moving.

 

Xi Jue looked up at him in confusion: “Father?”

 

“Jue’er.” Xi Ze lowered his gaze to look at him and said softly, “Do you know what your xiangwen is called?”

 

Xi Jue nodded: “The elders told me it’s called ‘Kan Tianyan.'”

 

Xi Ze, seeing his confused expression, placed a hand on his head and explained: “Your xiangwen can generate Tianyan spiritual force.”

 

“Oh.” Xi Jue seemed to half-understand. “Isn’t that very powerful then? So why…”

 

Xi Ze: “Why what?”

 

Xi Jue looked at Xi Ze, seeming to weigh whether he should speak, but after hesitating for a long time, he said softly: “Why is Father so sad?”

 

Xi Ze froze, not expecting him to be so perceptive.

 

“Tianyan spiritual force is desired by everyone in the thirteen states. If it becomes known that your xiangwen has this ability, it will cause great upheaval.”

 

“Then I won’t tell anyone.” Xi Jue nodded. “I’ll never tell anyone from now on.”

 

But as soon as he used his ability, anyone with eyes would see through it in an instant.

 

Xi Ze took a deep breath and pointed to a spiritual residence beside a pillar: “You’ll stay here for a few days first. Once I’ve discussed this matter with the family elders, I’ll let you out.”

 

Xi Jue was startled: “Ah? Alone?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Xi Jue didn’t dare throw a tantrum in front of his father and said hesitantly: “But I’m scared.”

 

“There’s no need to be scared. Tianyan won’t hurt you.”

 

Xi Jue gazed at the gently flowing Tianyan spiritual vein in the distance. While he was still in a daze, Xi Ze had already turned and begun climbing the stairs.

 

Xi Jue, unprepared, hurried to follow, but before he could even take the first step, a powerful barrier blocked him.

 

“Father!”

 

Xi Ze didn’t look back, climbing the steps one by one.

 

“Father…” Xi Jue called out several times without response. He choked up and said softly, “I, I’ll be good.”

 

Facing an unpredictable future, the fearless young wastrel experienced for the first time what it meant to be “obedient,” yet Xi Ze never turned back.

 

Ever since Xi Jue could remember, he had been surrounded by attendants. Even taking a walk, countless servants waited upon him. He had never experienced quiet or loneliness. Bewildered, he stood in the Tianyan earth vein, watching the golden spiritual river flow silently and peacefully.

 

For the first few days, an elder came daily to deliver three meals, and the food remained exquisite.

 

Xi Jue finally put his heart at ease, hopefully expecting that after just a few days he could return to his comfortable life and resume his ordinary days.

 

Until one day, while he was dozing off at the edge of the Tianyan earth vein, he suddenly felt a sharp pain at his wrist. The pain was so intense it jolted him awake, and he flailed his hand frantically.

 

When he looked carefully, he discovered that a thread of Tianyan spiritual force from the vein had burrowed into his wrist like a spiritual thread, penetrating deep into his meridians. It seemed to be sucking at the intense spiritual force of his “Kan Tianyan” xiangwen.

 

Xi Jue was stunned.

 

The spiritual thread continued to suck relentlessly. In less than ten breaths, Xi Jue felt a wave of exhaustion surge through his meridians, making him suddenly collapse in fatigue. His pupils gradually lost focus.

 

The spiritual thread finally withdrew from the young master’s wrist.

 

In an instant, the Tianyan spiritual river burst with brilliant light, as if parched earth had finally received rain. The earth vein seemed to thicken noticeably, and the spiritual force churned violently.

 

The elder standing guard at the stairs detected the commotion and immediately rushed in. Upon seeing the Tianyan spiritual force as if newly revitalized, he paused slightly.

 

Xi Jue’s “Kan Tianyan” not only generated Tianyan spiritual force—those spiritual forces could actually nourish the Tianyan earth vein in return?!

 

Xi Jue was unaware of any of this, already having lost consciousness.

 

When he awoke again, the surroundings were still empty. Xi Jue looked at the slowly flowing spiritual river and shivered all over. Suddenly recalling that he seemed to have had something sucked out of him before fainting, he scrambled back into the spiritual residence and hid.

 

He was truly terrified of the agony of having Tianyan spiritual force forcibly extracted from his xiangwen meridians. Those few breaths felt worse than death itself.

 

But that night, as darkness fell, the depleted Tianyan earth vein seemed to instinctively seek its source, silently probing into the spiritual residence and sucking from Xi Jue’s restored xiangwen once more.

 

The young boy, ignorant of human malice, still harbored foolish hopes of one day escaping this lightless place.

 

In a place without light, Xi Jue completely lost track of time—perhaps three days had passed, or perhaps three months, three years. Sometimes he couldn’t even hear the elders bringing food.

 

Xi Jue called for his parents every day, but never received any response.

 

“What did I do wrong?” Xi Jue thought hazily. “Wasn’t I good enough?”

 

For a fleeting moment, his muddled mind cleared. Xi Jue suddenly realized he perhaps truly wasn’t good enough.

 

Since childhood, he had been willful and indulgent, throwing tantrums at the slightest displeasure and letting Lady Xi solve everything for him. Even the collateral branch elders had each suffered his bullying—names like Xi Minghuai and Xi Qingfeng.

 

Xi Ze always said he shouldn’t be indulged, but Lady Xi only felt tender affection for this only son, doting on Xi Jue until he lost all sense of proportion. He believed that no matter what trouble he caused, someone would always cover for him.

 

But now…

 

Xi Jue thought fearfully: “Does Mother not want me anymore?”

 

If Lady Xi no longer cared for him, was everything he was experiencing now punishment for his years of arrogance and excess?

 

In that instant, overwhelming terror flooded his heart. A twelve-year-old child trembled with fear, his face streaked with tears, crying for his mother.

 

He cried until his voice grew hoarse, but received no response—only the Tianyan spiritual threads, which wouldn’t hurt him, probing into his meridians.

 

In what seemed like endless suffering, Xi Jue suddenly stopped being afraid. In its place bloomed intense hatred.

 

If all the love and indulgence he received since childhood came with a price tag, destined to be reclaimed someday, why give it to him at all?

 

Twelve years of carefree living, exchanged for boundless torment.

 

“Mother…”

 

Xi Jue curled up in a corner as several Tianyan spiritual threads burrowed into his meridians, the agony making his body convulse violently.

 

Suddenly, from nowhere came a surge of strength. Xi Jue let out a piercing shriek, and gold light flashed across his pitch-black pupils.

 

The spiritual threads shattered completely, and the backlash sent the small boy sprawling to the ground, vomiting blood profusely.

 

His face was streaked with tears. Staggering, struggling, he crawled toward the barrier at the stairs. Countless Tianyan spiritual forces temporarily bent to his will, semi-translucent golden force flickering in his palms as he crashed through the barrier deep within the earth vein with a thunderous boom.

 

Boom—

 

Xi Jue escaped.

 

Before even a quarter hour had passed, the entire Xi family descended into panic. Everyone who knew of Xi Jue’s spiritual-grade xiangwen rushed to search for him.

 

If Xi Jue fled the Xi family and fell into the hands of another clan, the consequences would be unthinkable.

 

Lady Xi stood expressionless at the courtyard gate, watching all the Xi family members search for Xi Jue with lanterns, observing coldly.

 

It was deep autumn, and osmanthus flowers bloomed abundantly. In the dead of night, layers of frost coated the branches and leaves, glinting faintly in the candlelight.

 

Lady Xi didn’t search. Instead, she turned coldly and returned to her room.

 

But before she could light the lamp, she felt the tightly shut window suddenly open. A piercing wind swept through, and a figure suddenly crashed into her arms, trembling hands gripping her tightly.

 

Lady Xi froze.

 

Xi Jue was covered in blood, trembling uncontrollably. He sobbed and hugged Lady Xi like someone who had finally found a harbor after enduring endless suffering. Yet fearing those outside would find him, he desperately suppressed his cries, choking out with restraint: “Mother, Mother!”

 

Lady Xi’s tears fell in torrents at that cry of “Mother.”

 

In the darkness, Lady Xi’s trembling hand reached out to touch Xi Jue’s face, which had grown noticeably thinner. Her voice trembled as she spoke barely above a whisper: “My child, what are you doing here? Why don’t you leave?”

 

Xi Jue, feeling the long-missed tenderness, suddenly grinned: “I, I came to find Mother. I missed you.”

 

Lady Xi froze, staring at him blankly.

 

“Mother… Mother, I’ll be good.” Xi Jue, fearing he might be dragged back, forced a smile to show he truly had changed. He spoke urgently: “Tell me what I did wrong and I’ll fix it. I’ll never throw tantrums again, okay? Mother, I was wrong!”

 

Yet he had no idea what grave error he had committed to deserve such torment.

 

Lady Xi wept with restraint. She reached out to touch Xi Jue’s face, trembling as she said: “Jue’er, go. Don’t come back.”

 

Xi Jue froze, quickly forcing a smile: “I, I’ll be good from now on.”

 

After more than a month without talking to anyone, he could only speak in fragments, repeating “I’ll be good.”

 

But Lady Xi said: “Go quickly. Find somewhere with no people.”

 

Xi Jue was bewildered: “I, where should I go?”

 

Across the vast thirteen states, was there anywhere he could go?

 

Lady Xi was about to speak when the door suddenly burst open. Countless people rushed into the dim room and forcibly seized Xi Jue.

 

Xi Jue struggled desperately, but was dragged away by force.

 

“Mother!”

 

Struggling, Xi Jue grabbed the doorframe, extending his hand to Lady Xi with all his hope: “Mother! Mother, save me! I was wrong! Mother, I really will be good…”

 

Lady Xi stood in darkness where her expression couldn’t be seen, only the faint sound of water droplets falling to the floor.

 

Drip. Drop.

 

Throughout it all, Lady Xi never moved.

 

Xi Jue’s five fingers were slowly pried open one by one, like teetering at a cliff’s edge.

 

But the person he relied on most never reached out her hand.

 

Xi Jue’s hope burned like a candle flame burning out, gradually consumed to ash, leaving only a handful of desperate grey despair.

 

“Mother…” Xi Jue murmured. “Do you… not want me anymore?”

 

The last finger was completely wrenched away. Xi Jue no longer remembered who dragged him off, only the deep autumn wind making his body shudder.

 

When he was dragged back beneath the Tianyan Shrine to the Tianyan earth vein, Xi Jue’s face was utterly expressionless. His long hair hung in tangles as he sat there, head lowered, murmuring: “Mother doesn’t want me anymore.”

 

The person in front of him said nothing.

 

“Oh.” Xi Jue said quietly. “She abandoned me.”

 

He had been born clever, and had long known why the Xi family imprisoned him here, yet he didn’t dare believe it. He deceived himself, painting a grand picture—if he was just a bit better behaved, he could return to how things were.

 

But Lady Xi’s indifference now showed him the truth clearly.

 

Compared to one wastrel, the entire Xi family chose Tianyan.

 

For some reason, Xi Jue suddenly laughed softly. The elder guarding him looked over in confusion, only to see Tianyan spiritual force pour out from the young boy’s thin frame like a torrential flood, in that instant bending even the Xi family’s Tianyan earth vein to his will.

 

Boom!

 

A sound deafening and earth-shattering echoed across the entire Central State.

 

Dust rose, nearly collapsing the earth vein.

 

In the chaos, people cried out.

 

“He wants to destroy Tianyan!!”

 

“Stop him quickly!”

 

“Family head! The Tianyan earth vein is leaking!”

 

That night, Central State trembled violently.

 

Countless mountains and earth veins split open with cracks like abysses. Finally, with a thunderous boom, a massive chasm slowly opened along the mountain range at Central State’s boundary—where it met the Northern Territory.

 

Yanwen Mountain shook violently. Half-asleep in his dreams, Yan Ling was startled awake by a wave of heat piercing his body. Before he could even see what was happening, Yan Hanque scooped him up and rode the wind away.

 

The next instant, Yan Ling’s dwelling collapsed with a roar.

 

The four of them floated in the sky aboard the river boat. Yan Hanque’s face was grave as he gazed at the massive chasm on the side of Yanwen Mountain.

 

A moment longer and Yanwen Mountain would have split in two.

 

The very edge of the chasm was right where Yan Ling’s quarters stood. Fortunately, Yan Hanque reacted with lightning speed and pulled him away in time.

 

Yan Ling said bewilderedly: “Father, what happened?”

 

Yan Hanque touched his head without speaking.

 

Lady Chao said in surprise: “The thirteen states have never experienced an earthquake this severe.”

 

Yan Hanque said: “We’ll stay on the boat for the night. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

 

Yan Ling, carefree as ever, had never spent a night on a boat before. His sleepiness immediately vanished, and he excitedly tried to pull Yan Yue to play.

 

Yan Hanque tapped his head. Looking at the massive chasm below, his face was even more grim than usual: “Go to sleep.”

 

Yan Ling had no choice but to go to sleep reluctantly.

 

The boat’s cabin was cramped. Yan Ling lay on a soft couch, lazily cultivating drowsiness, when suddenly a faint sound reached his ears…

 

“Mother.”

 

Yan Ling sat up with a start, confused as he touched his ear.

 

Below, it seemed more mountain peaks were crumbling. Yan Ling crawled to the window, pulled open the wooden shutter, and poked his head out to look down.

 

Because of the earthquake, mountain fires had broken out below at some point. He could faintly make out shadows at the massive chasm.

 

Was that candlelight?

 

Yan Ling looked down bewilderedly.

 

Suddenly, a voice seemed to come from afar, like a whispered murmur.

 

“Mother… Mother doesn’t want me anymore.”

 

Yan Ling froze.

 

The next instant, brilliant candlelight suddenly burst forth from the massive chasm, flashing so brightly that Yan Ling closed his eyes. He vaguely felt as if a warm current had shone upon him.

 

Yan Ling sleepily rubbed his aching eyes. When he opened them again to look, the candlelight had vanished.

 

The half-grown boy vaguely sensed something was wrong. His entire body shivered, and he didn’t dare look again. A bit frightened on his own, after thinking for a while, he pattered over to Yan Yue’s quarters and bounced onto his bed.

 

Yan Yue was startled awake.

 

Yan Ling pulled the small Yan Yue into his arms and turned the tables: “You were scared, right? Come, senior brother will hold you while we sleep.”

 

Yan Yue: “…”

 

Never mind.

 

Yan Ling deserved a beating. Just as he was about to sleep, he faintly heard the sound of mountain spring water tinkling.

 

“Hm?”

 

Yan Ling cupped his ear and opened his eyes in confusion, looking around.

 

Nothing—only Yan Yue’s even breathing.

 

Yan Ling didn’t think much of it and flopped back down to sleep soundly.

 

In the deep night, the massive chasm seemed like a gaping, ferocious mouth.

 

**

 

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