Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Mystery of the Family Records (Part One)

"The head of the four great guardians under the patriarch of the Xuanyuan family—Dongfang." Zixuan was stunned by the mention of this name. The most valued member of the Xuanyuan family, Dongfang, was actually from the Ouyang family. No matter how hard they racked their brains, they could never have guessed the truth about this person. Now, Zixuan was finally certain: even without the earlier schemes, the Ouyang family would sooner or later become the sole cultivator clan. Yet, he provoked the wrong people—Yaya, dragging Tang Wei and Zixuan into the fray, sealing his fate to fall at their hands.

The old ancestor of the Xuanyuan family, who had been silent, sighed after hearing this. "Ouyang, you truly hid your men deeply! I must admit, your strategy surpasses mine. If it weren’t for you targeting these two seniors, my Xuanyuan family would have been devoured by you eventually. In the end, you were one move short."

"I always believed this game to be flawless," Ouyang’s ancestor replied, "so I’m genuinely curious: when did the master first contact your Xuanyuan family? How was it done? And using the fake death trick to lure me into the trap—I still can’t quite believe I lost so completely. Ha!"

Now resolved to his fate, Ouyang’s ancestor was only curious how they saw through him.

"It was simple," Zixuan replied with a casual smile. "After seeing the corpses of the Twin Freaks of Tianshan, I felt something was off, though I couldn’t figure out what. So I used a secret technique to locate Yaya. Following the clues, I discovered she was in the Xuanyuan family’s rear mountain. I was furious and wanted to confront Xuanyuan directly, but I decided to remain hidden and investigate further. To my surprise, I overheard Xuanyuan instructing the patriarch to search for Yaya to win my favor. This struck me as odd, so I revealed myself for a direct confrontation."

Zixuan paused, indicating the Xuanyuan ancestor should continue.

Without hesitation, the Xuanyuan ancestor picked up the story. "When you questioned me, I was terrified! I could guarantee my clan had done nothing wrong, so there was only one possibility—a spy in the Xuanyuan family! I never expected someone could, without my knowledge, spirit people away to our forbidden grounds. The depth of this hidden hand is unimaginable! Seeing my sincerity, you suggested the fake death tactic to draw out the mastermind. I picked a few trusted elders to act with me, further confusing you. But you were so impatient, you revealed yourself on the very first day."

"From the moment Long Jiu met me, he subtly guided my suspicions toward the Xuanyuan family," Zixuan continued, "so I played along with his plan. As expected, he forced Xuanyuan to resolve things himself. Of course, Dragon Wei from the security department also had his own motives, which helped everything go smoothly." Zixuan recounted the events from the moment his doubts began.

Listening to this tale, Tang Wei suddenly recalled something, and fiercely pinched Zixuan a few times, scolding, "Come to think of it, you fooled even me at first! Did you suspect I was the traitor? How dare you trick me like that—I haven’t settled scores with you yet!"

Faced with Tang Wei’s relentless questioning, Zixuan felt a bit embarrassed and explained awkwardly, "I was afraid you’d slip up! If your acting wasn’t convincing, everything would have been wasted. Otherwise, I’d have discussed it with you—I wouldn’t dare hide anything from you! See, everything worked out in the end."

Not wanting to embarrass Zixuan in front of their peers, Tang Wei decided to save her grievances for later, giving him a sharp look before falling silent.

Zixuan felt uneasy under her gaze. After being together so long, how could he not know her temperament? He thought to himself, "Sigh, I’ll get an earful when we get home."

"Do you have any other questions?" Zixuan refocused, turning to Ouyang’s ancestor. Business first; the rest could wait. Who knows—if enough time passed, Tang Wei might even forget. It wasn’t impossible; she was naturally absent-minded.

"I have one question. If you could use secret techniques to find people, why didn’t you do so from the beginning?" Ouyang’s ancestor was genuinely curious. Had Zixuan and his companion used this method sooner, he might not have been trapped.

Zixuan smiled and explained ambiguously, "This secret technique is harmful to the user, so we avoid it unless absolutely necessary."

"I see. But with your cultivation, such things are effortless. Ouyang admits defeat wholeheartedly! Had I known from the start you were at the Golden Core stage, I wouldn’t have acted as I did." Ouyang’s ancestor praised Zixuan, subtly implying his defeat was due to inferior cultivation.

Zixuan chuckled dismissively, thinking, "If I’d been at the Golden Core stage from the start, would finding someone have been so difficult?"

"Very well, I’ve answered your questions; now it’s my turn," Zixuan said, hinting at something deeper.

"Ask whatever you wish, master. Ouyang will answer without reservation!" After a moment of silence, Ouyang’s ancestor’s loyalty overcame his reason, deciding to disclose the secrets he’d hidden. The master-servant contract must have played a role; otherwise, such a cunning old fox would not have surrendered so readily.

Zixuan didn’t beat around the bush. "What secret is hidden in the genealogies of the Four Great Families that you’d go to such lengths to obtain it?"

Ouyang’s ancestor sighed deeply. "It all began over a thousand years ago, with the Great Cataclysm."

Seeing all eyes fixed upon him, Ouyang’s ancestor continued, "A thousand years ago, for reasons unknown, the spiritual energy across the planet became chaotic, filled with substances harmful to cultivators. Absorbing such energy blocked the flow of meridians. Over time, the blockage grew worse, and cultivators’ progress not only stalled but regressed. Some tried to force breakthroughs, only to die from their bodies exploding."

"And then?" Tang Wei asked eagerly. She’d heard of the Great Cataclysm at the Shi family, but only in fragments. Now, with someone who truly knew, she was all the more anxious for the full story.

"Eventually, our ancestors realized that Earth’s spiritual energy could no longer support cultivation. Waiting would only weaken them further; they had to save themselves. The elders of the Four Great Families and Four Great Sects gathered to discuss a solution. After days of deliberation, they decided on a mass migration to the Cultivation Realm." Ouyang’s ancestor narrated the events.

The Xuanyuan ancestor, rarely speaking, interjected timidly, "What is the Cultivation Realm?" After generations of deliberate secrecy, local cultivators were almost illiterate in such matters; much knowledge had been lost.

Ouyang’s ancestor hesitated, unsure how to explain. Zixuan offered a concise answer, "Another dimension—think of it as another Earth outside the Milky Way."

Seeing Xuanyuan’s ancestor nod in vague understanding, Ouyang continued, "After arranging the migration, to preserve their lineage, each family left behind a few insignificant members and some resources, and designated a confidant to handle affairs."

"Why leave someone behind?" Tang Wei asked, puzzled.

"Seniors, you may not know—the ancestors fled in disgrace and didn’t want the story to spread," Ouyang’s ancestor explained. Seeing Tang Wei had no further questions, he continued, "After settling everything, they combined the power of several Nascent Soul cultivators to create a barrier at the passage to the Cultivation Realm. Without at least Golden Core cultivation, anyone approaching would be repelled—at worst, their soul would scatter; at best, they’d lose their life."

Tang Wei listened and felt a familiarity she couldn’t place, but soon lost interest in tracing it.

Zixuan’s mind was sharper. He asked, "That location—isn’t it at Heavenly Lake?"

Ouyang’s ancestor smiled and nodded, "You guessed right. The barrier was set there, though something happened and it became a lake."

"No wonder it sounded familiar!" Tang Wei exclaimed, suddenly understanding. Looking worried, she asked, "If that’s true, weren’t the ones left behind just abandoned pawns? Why would they willingly keep the secret?"

"Seniors, you may not know," Ouyang explained, "the ancestors forced them to swear solemn oaths before leaving, so they had no choice but to keep the secret."

"Why not just destroy the teleportation array after leaving, instead of all this trouble?" Tang Wei wondered, twisting her logic.

"Silly girl," Zixuan replied, "whether mortal or cultivator, everyone has a deep-rooted longing for their homeland. After leaving, they hoped that if Earth’s conditions improved, they could return. In their hearts, this was their birthplace, their roots, and if things went badly in the Cultivation Realm, Earth would be a fallback."

"How would they know if Earth’s conditions improved?" Tang Wei persisted.

"That’s why they set up the barrier," Zixuan explained patiently. "If someone could pass through it, they’d need at least Golden Core cultivation, proving Earth’s environment was no longer problematic and suitable for cultivation once more."