"Are you really... my grandfather?"

Xia Chan stared incredulously at the phantom floating before her.

"Blood is thicker than water. Why would I need to deceive you?"

The phantom suddenly flickered, and amidst the shifting radiance, it transformed into an old man dressed in a dark red robe.

The old man had hawk-like brows and a hooked nose, his eyes were long and narrow, and his features exuded a natural killing intent, commanding respect without showing anger.

"Girl, what you see is but a weak Residual Soul of mine, which has manifested in response to your bloodline's awakening and will not last long."

"I believe that our clan, under your leadership, will be revitalized and flourish in the future."

As he spoke, the old man extended his right hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together to touch Xia Chan's forehead.

Xia Chan immediately felt a piercing pain in her brain, clearly sensing a stream of memories that were not her own being forcefully poured into her mind.

The pain gradually intensified, making her dizzy until her consciousness began to fade.

In the moment before she blacked out completely, she saw the old man's phantom dissolve into specks of starlight and vanish.

It was impossible to say how much time had passed.

When Xia Chan woke up again, she found that everything in the tree hollow was as it had been, as if nothing had happened at all.

By now, the memories the old man had forced into her mind had fully merged with her own, becoming hers completely.

"Miss, how do you feel?"

Xue Xiao walked over to help Xia Chan up, asking with concern.

Xia Chan shook her head gently. "Thank you, I'm fine."

Xue Xiao let out a sigh of relief. He then looked around cautiously and asked, "By the way, who was that senior just now?"

When the old man had appeared, Xue Xiao and Yang Zhilu had seen him as well. However, they were suppressed by a mysterious aura, rendering them unable to move or hear.

Xia Chan didn't answer. She reached up to touch the dark red mark on her forehead, then got up and walked out of the tree hollow.

According to the memories her grandfather had passed on to her, this mark was the clan insignia of the Zhu Jiuyin. Only those with the purest bloodline would have a clan insignia of this dark red color.

In fact, Xia Chan had seen such an insignia on Chu Yiguan long ago, though she hadn't paid it any mind at the time.

However, her clan insignia was different from Chu Yiguan's. Along the edge of the dark red mark was a striking blue hue.

This was because her insignia had fused with an Ancient God's Breath!

This trace of an Ancient God's Breath was something Zhu Jiuyin had accidentally obtained during his travels in the Shanhai Territory many years ago.

And this was the most precious thing he had passed on to Xia Chan.

"Grandfather said that with the help of this Ancient God's Breath, I could summon Demon Beasts from the Shanhai Territory. I wonder if it's true," she muttered.

Closing her eyes, Xia Chan let her Divine Sense follow the trace of the Ancient God's Breath into a wondrous space.

After wandering through that marvelous space for a while, she was shocked to discover it was, in fact, the very Shanhai Territory she was currently in!

The only difference was that she was now observing the Shanhai Territory from a "god's-eye view."

"Miss, what are your plans now?"

Xue Xiao's voice suddenly sounded beside her.

Xia Chan withdrew her Divine Sense and said slowly, "We're going to Zhangwei Mountain. That is my clan's Ancestral Land, where the complete Wicked Tenderness Technique can be found."

"And conveniently, the route on the Sea Oracle Map also indicates that to reach the underwater ruins, we must pass through Zhangwei Mountain. So, Chen Shuisheng and his group are bound to come."

Hearing this, Xue Xiao smiled. "That boy definitely won't get away this time. Yingxiao has been with their team the whole time and can contact us at any moment."

"We'll set up an ambush at Zhangwei Mountain beforehand and lie in wait for our prey!"

...

「Mount Luwu, Gu Diao Cave Mansion」

Su Shenyun slowly opened her eyes. A flash of pink light vanished from her pupils as she exhaled a breath of turbid air.

It had taken her a full month, but she had finally finished absorbing Gu Diao's Inner Elixir.

At first, the Spiritual Energy within the Inner Elixir had seemed like a vast ocean, impossible to absorb completely. But gradually, as her Cultivation Realm improved and her Spiritual Power formed a core in her Dantian, the Spiritual Energy contained in Gu Diao's Inner Elixir began to feel insufficient.

Moreover, cultivating within the Shanhai Territory, she felt her bloodline being influenced by a mysterious power that was slowly unlocking its potential.

It wasn't until she reached the Core Formation Realm that this potential was fully unleashed, resulting in a qualitative leap.

"Su Fox, how do you feel?"

Luo Xiu's words pulled Su Shenyun back from her thoughts.

Su Shenyun looked up at him, a smile suddenly curving her lips as she threw him a seductive glance.

In an instant, Luo Xiu froze. He stared blankly at Su Shenyun, his body heating up uncontrollably as if it were about to burst into flames.

Seeing his reaction, Su Shenyun was startled and hurriedly dispelled her Mesmerizing Flame Technique.

Luo Xiu, his senses restored, quickly retreated, staring at Su Shenyun with a strange expression.

"Why is your Mesmerizing Flame Technique so powerful now?"

In the past, her Mesmerizing Flame Technique had no effect on him, yet now, he was utterly defenseless against it.

Su Shenyun smiled faintly. "It's all thanks to this Inner Elixir of yours. It not only helped me reach the early stage of the Core Formation Realm but even awakened my Nine-tailed Fox Bloodline."

"Bloodline awakening?" Luo Xiu asked, astonished.

Su Shenyun nodded lightly, glancing down at her palm with a smile. "I feel like I can truly mesmerize all living things now."

Seeing the confidence on her face and inhaling the indescribable, faint fragrance, Luo Xiu suddenly gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

"Looks like I'll have to keep my distance from you from now on."

He had barely reached the entrance when a fluffy fox tail shot out, coiling around his waist and imperiously dragging him back.

"Su Fox, what are you doing?"

Pulled into Su Shenyun's embrace, Luo Xiu was shocked to discover that nine pink fox tails had appeared behind her!

The nine tails seemed ethereal, not physically attached to her body, yet she could control them at will.

Furthermore, a pair of pointed, pink fox ears had appeared on her head, adding a touch of girlish charm and cuteness to her mature allure.

"You really are a Fox Spirit."

Luo Xiu swallowed hard, unable to stop himself from sighing in admiration.

"Darling, should we give it a try? Let me give you a taste of the Nine-Tailed Fox's power."

"Isn't that a bit improper?" Luo Xiu looked troubled.

Su Shenyun hummed softly. "Didn't you say before that you wouldn't mind me being a fox?"

"That's not what I meant... I meant, there are people outside right now."

Su Shenyun sighed in resignation and stood up to walk outside.

"You're right. We'll have to find another chance for you to see just how formidable your big sister can be."

...

At the entrance of the cave mansion, Dou Dou ran cheerfully up to Luo Xiu. "Chen Shuisheng, where are we heading now?"

Luo Xiu reached out and ruffled her hair. "According to our route, our next destination should be Zhangwei Mountain."

"Will there be a lot of treasures there?" Dou Dou's eyes lit up, her face filled with anticipation.

For the past month, she and Chi Sha had been digging for treasures and gathering herbs every day, practically plundering Mount Luwu bare.

Hearing they were heading to a new place where she could dig for more treasures and herbs, she was happier than anyone.

"Treasures, treasures, Dou Dou is coming to dig you up!"

"Let's go!"

...

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