Chapter 77: Should I Say It?

Holding the long wooden weapon case, Ji Jiuxuan opened it with curiosity. The moment she saw the weapons inside, her eyes lit up at once.

“A Hundred Treasures Box for hidden weapons—not bad, there’s quite a variety,” the system couldn’t help but exclaim as soon as the lid opened. “Your little junior uncle’s skill in crafting is impressive.”

Ji Jiuxuan stroked the box. “Can this also be shrunk down?”

The box itself was rather large, and beside it lay a sheet of instructions.

After studying it for a bit, Ji Jiuxuan eagerly performed the binding ritual. As the contract array activated, the box instantly shrank, finally becoming no larger than her wrist, transforming into a totem hidden at her wrist.

She gave her hand a little shake. At this moment, Ji Jiuxuan was like a child with a new toy. Infusing spiritual power into her right hand, she brushed the totem on her left wrist. The box appeared at once, glowing with a deep purple light that exuded both danger and subtlety.

Another brush, and the box turned back into a totem.

Meanwhile, within the ring, a shadowy figure hovered in midair. Ji Jiuxuan’s image flickered in the void, her glance and her smile captured in the scene.

“Who exactly are you?” the shadow murmured softly, the voice echoing emptily through the space.

In that void, Ji Jiuxuan’s childlike form suddenly became that of an adult, dressed in blue robes, with a long sword radiating a sharp, spirited aura. Each stroke of her sword carried the profound will of the Dao.

It was as if the woman in the scene could see him; just then, she smiled, such a joyous smile. Her swordplay grew even more ethereal, her entire being exuding a carefree spirit.

Lifting his hand slightly, he gazed at the woman in the void, as if he could reach out and touch her face in the next instant. “Why do I always feel such sorrow whenever I see you?”

Ever since the black dragon fell into slumber and his soul entered the void within the ring, these visions would appear from time to time.

There was joy, but even more sorrow—the overwhelming sense of anguish left him unable to find peace. That was the reason he had avoided seeing the little girl during this period.

Each time he saw her, he couldn’t help but reveal that sadness, suffocating him. He feared seeing her, yet longed for her all the same.

Such a feeling was deeply conflicted.

He was certain something was wrong with him, so he locked himself in the ring’s void. Unless the little girl called for him, he would not emerge.

At dawn, before Ji Jiuxuan had even woken naturally, she was roused by the clamor outside.

Opening her eyes in confusion, she glanced outside. The commotion seemed unusual.

She got up, dressed, and walked out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Moonwhite in the courtyard. The Moonwhite Rabbit always absorbed moonlight at night, so even when sleeping, it stayed outdoors.

At this moment, the rabbit was looking up at the sky.

Puzzled, Ji Jiuxuan followed its gaze and discovered her little junior uncle in a fight with an old man. Her uncle was clearly on the defensive, never truly striking back.

“Moonwhite, who is that? Why is he so ruthless, and why does uncle keep holding back?” The old man’s cultivation was clearly not low; he was going all out, each move aiming to end Nie Xingyuan’s life, but all were easily evaded.

“He’s an elder of the Yu family. Yu Heng has disappeared, so he’s come to demand answers from Elder Nie.”

Ji Jiuxuan frowned. “Such baseless accusations? If everyone in the sect who went missing had to be traced to my uncle, how would he ever find time for anything else?”

Though she trusted Moonwhite Rabbit deeply, for its safety, she decided not to mention sending Yu Heng away last night.

“Don’t worry, Xuanxuan. That Yu elder isn’t your uncle’s match—he’s just putting on a show.”

Moonwhite had barely finished speaking when Qi Shuoyuan’s voice rang out, a wave of absolute pressure forcing Elder Yu to his knees, unable to rise.

“The sect master breaks his word! When my Yu family’s patriarch resigned his post, what promise did you make? And now, what is this?” Elder Yu was full of defiance, showing not the slightest respect to Sect Master Qi Shuoyuan.

Ji Jiuxuan finally understood why Yu Heng was so arrogant—clearly a family trait!

“Oh? Is that so? Tell me, then.” Qi Shuoyuan’s expression was all smiles, but the look in his eyes demanded a clear answer, or else.

Ji Jiuxuan found her grandfather’s domineering presence awe-inspiring. Look—Elder Yu, so arrogant before, now hung his head, all defiance gone from his voice. “Yu Heng has disappeared. There’s no trace of him within the sect.”

“Where Yu Heng goes is no concern of Xingyuan’s. Our Xuantian Sect never restricts the comings and goings of disciples above the third level of Qi Refining.”

Qi Shuoyuan’s face suddenly hardened, his gaze cold as he looked at Elder Yu. “Your family’s patriarch may have let Yu Heng off for his last mistake, but he never entrusted Yu Heng to us for supervision. Don’t get it twisted.”

With that, Qi Shuoyuan turned to the assembled crowd, his voice ringing through the entire Xuantian Sect. “Yu Yang, you have broken the law, disregarded the sect’s rules, and stirred up discord. From this day forth, you are stripped of your elder status and banished to the wastelands.”

Yu Yang glared at Qi Shuoyuan, full of anger. “You will suffer Heaven’s punishment for breaking your word! Our family’s patriarch is not yet gone, but you can’t wait to strike at us Yu disciples. Your wolfish ambitions are plain to see! Just you wait, you’ll all pay for this…”

The noisy tirade was abruptly silenced by a muting spell. Yu Yang struggled, unable to make a sound, and was promptly bound by the Disciplinary Hall’s spirit-binding rope, rendering his spiritual power useless.

“Is everyone in the Yu family this delusionally self-assured?” The Xuantian Sect was by no means the Yu family’s domain alone. Even if their patriarch were still alive, Yu Yang would hardly get away with this.

Ji Jiuxuan didn’t care where Yu Yang was taken. Her little junior uncle was already walking toward her, having seen her rise.

“Did A-Jiu get woken by the noise?” Despite the recent conflict, Nie Xingyuan appeared as calm and elegant as ever—a true gentleman.

If she hadn’t witnessed his fight with Yu Yang herself, she’d have thought he’d just returned from a morning stroll.

“Good morning, Uncle!” Ji Jiuxuan looked him over carefully, seeing that he was unhurt, and let it pass. “Uncle, was that the Shadow-Stepping Technique just now?”

It looked very similar to what she’d learned, but her uncle’s mastery was on a level she couldn’t hope to reach yet.

Yu Yang had been so aggressive, yet her uncle hadn’t even drawn a weapon to deal with him.

“That’s right. Little A-Jiu obtained the Shadow-Stepping Technique last time. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your uncle.” He noticed the totem peeking out from under her hand on the Moonwhite Rabbit and smiled. “Do you like your gift?”

Ji Jiuxuan happily brushed the totem on her left wrist, summoning the box instantly. “I love it, thank you, Uncle.”

She hesitated, uncertain whether to tell Nie Xingyuan about Yu Heng’s disappearance.

After all, everything she saw yesterday proved her uncle had arranged everything—he would surely be prepared for Yu Heng’s vanishing.

The little girl always put on a grown-up air before outsiders, but in front of family, her emotions easily showed.

“What’s wrong? What’s troubling our little Jiu?” Nie Xingyuan crouched down, his eyes full of concern.

Good evening, everyone! There’s been a delay today, so this chapter is going up a bit late. Another one is coming later, but it will be even later.

(End of chapter)