"I just don't know what has befallen the Yu Clan now," Jiang Yunzhou murmured to himself.
His words carried a hint of worry, as he himself walked the path of the divine, and the number of beings treading this path in this world was steadily decreasing. Those who had embarked on this journey due to imperial decree, rather than by choice, were naturally not considered true peers by genuine divine path cultivators.
Although he had never visited the Yu Clan before, his brief interactions thus far had already instilled a great deal of goodwill towards them. The primary reason for this was the pervasive divine aura that naturally drew him in.
"Although I know what has happened, I cannot tell you due to the rules," Lvyin said, pacing back and forth on the tea table, occasionally sighing.
Seeing its demeanor, both of them couldn't help but laugh, and the slight worry in Jiang Yunzhou's heart immediately dissipated.
After about a quarter of an hour, Elder Fusheng returned. However, unlike his smiling departure, his expression was now quite complex. He slowly sat down, leaned his wooden staff against the table, and then said with a troubled expression, "The Clan Leader has agreed to provide three drops of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan and Jiang Yunzhou's eyes lit up with joy. They had not expected the trip to be so smooth, and to obtain three drops of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence at once. On their way, their original plan was that obtaining even one drop would be considered a successful endeavor.
However, seeing Elder Fusheng's expression, their joy quickly faded, replaced by a touch of concern, suggesting that things were not as simple as they had imagined.
"But the Clan Leader also stipulated that the three drops of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence can be gifted to you, Fellow Daoist, with the Yu Clan asking for no remuneration."
Indeed, after a long silence, Elder Fusheng sighed and said, "However, in exchange, we request that you, Fellow Daoist, remain here for a period of time. Should our clan encounter any difficulties, we implore you to lend your assistance."
He slowly conveyed the Yu Clan Leader's request, solemnly stating that Jiang Yunzhou only needed to provide some help within his capabilities.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunzhou's face showed hesitation. He desperately wanted to agree immediately, but unfortunately, he was not alone at this moment; he was accompanied by someone crucial to the Nine Xuan Sect. He instinctively glanced at Ji Yuan, and upon seeing his slow nod, he turned back to Elder Fusheng.
"May I ask for how long you require me to stay?" Jiang Yunzhou asked after a brief contemplation.
As soon as his words fell, Elder Fusheng immediately replied, "Less than ten days, more than a month!"
"If that is the case, then we shall trouble your clan. Should any incident truly occur, I will certainly do my utmost to assist," he said, his meaning clear: he agreed.
"No trouble, no trouble at all. Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Hearing this, Elder Fusheng's face broke into a smile, and he then produced three ice crystals, handing them to Jiang Yunzhou.
These three ice crystals exuded an astonishing coldness, capable of freezing ordinary cultivators of the second realm if not shielded by power. Within the ice crystals, a drop of water was frozen in each, its interior glowing with circulating light, containing extremely pure life force.
"The Heavenly Cloud Water Essence from different seasons holds different powers. Among them, the early rain from spring has the best effect," Elder Fusheng explained.
Jiang Yunzhou naturally knew nothing of such intricacies, and had never even heard of such a spiritual item before this matter. However, seeing Ji Yuan's subtle nod of affirmation, he confidently accepted them.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what difficulty your clan has encountered?" he pondered, then asked directly.
Even now, both of them were still completely in the dark about what was happening within the Yu Clan. They had not observed anything that suggested a major event was about to occur during their journey from the valley.
Elder Fusheng's gaze sharpened, and he let out a long sigh, his face filled with helplessness.
"It is not a matter that cannot be spoken of," he said, stroking his long beard with a wry smile. "Fellow Daoist, you must have heard some rumors about our clan, such as in ancient times, when we angered several celestial beings and were cursed."
Jiang Yunzhou nodded. This matter was widely circulated in Feiyun Prefecture, and any mountain or swamp hermit with some experience would have heard of it, with numerous versions even emerging. However, the truth of what happened back then was something that not only outsiders, but even the Yu Clan itself, could no longer clearly recall. After all, a vast expanse of time had passed from ancient times to the present, at least hundreds of thousands of years. Too many things had been buried in history. It was already a formidable feat for the Yu Clan to ensure their bloodline remained unbroken, having faced near annihilation several times, with much lost to time.
However, while the truth of those ancient events was forgotten, their bloodline did indeed carry a powerful curse. Even after the passage of such a long time, this curse still held immense power, to the point where even two or three powerful beings working together could not completely eradicate it.
"Could the predicament your clan currently faces be the ancient curse within your bloodline?" Jiang Yunzhou furrowed his brow, instinctively feeling that the matter was not so simple.
Upon hearing this, Elder Fusheng's expression became complex; he nodded and shook his head, leaving both of them utterly confused.
"Yes and no," he sighed, his voice tinged with bitterness. The power of this curse, though formidable enough to baffle even great beings, had the sole effect of restricting the Yu Clan's reproduction, causing their population and bloodline to dwindle. Even their ancestor, a heavenly god who was nearly invincible across heaven and earth, could do nothing about this curse. Fortunately, over the long ages, the Yu Clan had found several methods to ensure the birth of a certain number of clan members, barely maintaining the clan's reproduction and lineage.
"But now, someone has actually mastered a method to detonate the curse!" Elder Fusheng's face darkened, and a hint of anger flickered in his eyes. This was something that had never happened to the Yu Clan since ancient times. Despite having many enemies in the past, no one had ever been able to research a method to detonate the curse within their bloodline. However, a few months ago, in the ancestral land, the curse within the bloodline of a Yu Clan member was suddenly detonated. The individual was engulfed in black flames and instantly turned to ash. To this day, more than ten Yu Clan members have perished. Once the curse within their bloodline was detonated, even those within the clan comparable to the Golden Core realm could not save them.