Xin Yan dared not reply.
He never expected to encounter Xuan Qi in this desolate place called Dongzhou.
This traitor of Xuan Kong Mountain.
Xin Yan knew this fellow was extremely powerful and dared not provoke him.
Just as he was about to flee, he turned around.
Only to find Xuan Qi suddenly appearing before him, looking at him with a half-smile. Xin Yan felt a chill down his spine.
"What do you want?"
Xin Yan looked at Xuan Qi nervously.
"Brother Xin Yan, don't be nervous. I just want to share some good news with your Xin family. I mean no harm."
Xuan Qi smiled slightly, appearing refined and elegant.
Xin Yan knew he couldn't escape, so he braced himself and looked at Xuan Qi, saying, "Xuan Qi, what good news do you have for me?"
"This is the news your Xin family has always wanted!"
Xuan Qi smiled, then extended his right hand, and a stream of light entered Xin Yan's mind.
"This... this is impossible! How could that person still be alive!"
Xin Yan exclaimed upon seeing the information flowing into his mind.
Xuan Qi said with a smile, "Nothing is impossible! Old man Xin Li should know that as long as Xin Ci is alive, he can never truly control the Xin family."
Xin Yan was still in shock from learning that Xin Ci was alive and couldn't react for a moment.
"How did you know?"
When he finally came back to his senses and wanted to ask Xuan Qi, Xuan Qi had already vanished without a trace.
"Regardless of whether this news is true or false, for my father to gain real power, it's better to kill by mistake than let go!"
Xin Yan thought to himself.
...
Tian Yuan City, Four Symbols Academy.
Xin Ci and Mo Qian had returned to the academy and were cultivating within its grounds.
Due to their performance in the Dongzhou Grand Competition, they had become prominent figures in the academy overnight.
Xin Ci did not wish to attract too much attention, so he immediately went into seclusion for cultivation in his room upon returning to the Vermilion Bird Courtyard.
After the Dongzhou Grand Competition, Xin Ci had noticed that Mu Qing Qing seemed preoccupied, and he was puzzled.
"Qing Qing, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Mu Qing Qing emerged from the consciousness space and shook her head, saying, "No, I'm not unwell. I'm just thinking about something."
"What is it? Can you tell me?"
Mu Qing Qing hesitated for a moment and asked, "What do you think Xuan Kong's purpose is?"
"Xuan Kong?"
Xin Ci blinked in surprise, then pondered, "Xuan Kong's origins are mysterious. Currently, we only know he might be from Xuan Kong Mountain."
"However, Qing Qing, why do you ask?"
"It's nothing."
Mu Qing Qing felt a sense of unease. The original novel did not feature a character named Xuan Kong.
What worried Mu Qing Qing even more was that she had been trying to ensure the main personality, Xin Ci, didn't deviate from the original plot.
But now, Xuan Kong's appearance had disrupted the main storyline of the novel for the first time.
In the original novel, the first place in the Dongzhou Grand Competition went to the main personality, Xin Ci. Now, it was Xuan Kong.
Mu Qing Qing worried if this change would have some impact.
"However, no matter Xuan Kong's purpose, I will not let him harm Xin Ci!"
Mu Qing Qing's eyes were resolute, she vowed inwardly.
In the following days, Xin Ci continued his secluded cultivation, paying no mind to external affairs.
Because he knew his achievements in the Dongzhou Grand Competition were due to Qing Qing's help, Xin Ci felt no pride.
Instead, he felt he was still very weak. He hoped that one day he could protect Mu Qing Qing in return, so he had to cultivate diligently.
However, it was this haste that kept Xin Ci stuck at the Half-Step King Realm, unable to break through further.
Elder Han, seeing this, advised, "The King Realm is already a major hurdle for breaking through to the Upper Realm. You won't be able to break through with such impatience. It's best to calm down and stabilize your cultivation!"
"I understand, Elder Han."
Xin Ci nodded and replied calmly.
Mu Qing Qing did not disturb him these past few days as he was immersed in cultivation.
But as the day of the Su family's ancestral rites, from the original plot, drew nearer, Mu Qing Qing couldn't help but feel anxious.
The day of the Su family's ancestral rites was the day the original Xin Ci learned of his true identity.
It was time to guide the male lead to the next stage of the plot.
Mu Qing Qing thought to herself and emerged from the consciousness space.
Xin Ci stopped cultivating when he saw Mu Qing Qing appear and asked, "Qing Qing, what's wrong?"
"Um... Xin Ci, have you forgotten something important?"
"What important matter?"
Xin Ci frowned and pondered.
Seeing Xin Ci's bewildered look, Mu Qing Qing, who was truly impressed by this cultivation fanatic, couldn't help but remind him, "Have you forgotten that the Su family's ancestral rites are approaching?"
"Ah? Really?"
Xin Ci's face showed surprise. He had been so busy cultivating lately that he had forgotten about it.
Come to think of it, he should visit Aunt Yun too. After all, she had taken good care of him when he was at the Su family.
He wanted to see her before heading to Zhongzhou.
Xin Ci thought of this and said to Mu Qing Qing, "Qing Qing, thank you for reminding me. I wonder how Aunt Yun has been lately?"
Since he couldn't break through to the King Realm anytime soon, it was time to return to the Su family and clear his mind.
Xin Ci walked out of his room and found that Mo Qian had also emerged from his room and had packed his bags, seemingly about to leave Four Symbols Academy as well.
Seeing this, Xin Ci asked, "Mo Qian, where are you going?"
"Xin Ci, it's been a pleasure meeting you at Four Symbols Academy. However, I have some personal matters to attend to, and I need to return to the Mo Yuan Empire. I may not be back at Four Symbols Academy for a while."
"We part ways here. May we meet again if fate allows!"
Mo Qian cupped his fists at Xin Ci and then left the academy.
Watching Mo Qian's receding back, Xin Ci could vaguely guess Mo Qian's purpose for going to the Mo Yuan Empire.
However, he did not stop Mo Qian from leaving. Xin Ci greatly admired Mo Qian's strength and believed in Mo Qian's decision.
He hoped that one day Mo Qian could clear his name of the false accusations of being a former prince and let the people of the entire Mo Yuan Empire recognize the true Mo Qian.
"By the way, where has that little fatty Luo Fei gone? I haven't seen him around?"
Xin Ci had been back at Four Symbols Academy for some time but had not seen the little fatty who had entered the academy with him back then.
Although that little fatty Luo Fei was a bit greedy for money, he was a friend Xin Ci had made in the Vermilion Bird Courtyard.
Even though he always got into trouble, he never did anything excessive.
Xin Ci actually quite liked the little fatty.
So, Xin Ci went to Luo Fei's room, intending to bid him farewell before returning to the Su family.
The door was pushed open, but Luo Fei was nowhere to be seen. Xin Ci frowned. "Could this little fatty have gone to earn spirit stones again?"
However, he noticed a letter on the table in the room.
This letter belonged to Luo Fei.