97: Chapter 97: The Imperial Family's Grandeur, Undercurrents Surge!

Behind him were over a dozen core Elders of the Chu Family.

Each wore a smile, their Auras extraordinary.

The entire spectacle was of a scale and grandeur never seen before.

Chu Wanqing took a deep breath, trying to steady her expression.

But she couldn't quite suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.

Clutching the imperial zither tightly, she flew swiftly towards the main peak.

The moment she landed, two rows of Disciples knelt in unison on one knee.

"We welcome the Imperial Daughter's return to the clan!"

Their voices, perfectly synchronized, shook the mountains, causing dust to sift down from the rocks.

Chu Wanqing pressed her lips together, straining to keep her face composed.

But her eyes were already growing warm.

Her days in the Chu Family since childhood had not been easy.

Though she held the title of Imperial Daughter, because of Chu Ningshuang's presence,

she had always been suppressed, ostracized, and doubted.

How many times had those Elders looked at her with eyes full of disdain and scorn?

How many times had she overheard the whispers behind her back?

Saying she was unworthy of being the Imperial Daughter, that Chu Ningshuang was the true Genius.

And now,

everyone knelt before her.

Welcoming her with the highest honors.

At this moment, she felt all the grievances she had endured over the years were worth it.

Chu Chengdao strode forward to meet her.

This Quasi-Emperor powerhouse, who had controlled the imperial clan for tens of thousands of years, his emotions never showing on his face,

now wore a smile so genuine, without a trace of pretense.

"Wanqing!"

He pulled his daughter into a tight embrace, patting her back firmly.

"Good! Good! Excellent!"

He repeated the word 'good' three times, his voice trembling.

Chu Wanqing's tears instantly fell.

She buried her face in her father's chest and called out, muffled,

"Father..."

"I'm back."

Chu Chengdao held his daughter, his old heart swelling with comfort.

Releasing her, his gaze fell upon the imperial zither in Chu Wanqing's arms.

That world-suppressing imperial zither emitted faint imperial Dao fluctuations, its Aura ancient and profound.

Chu Chengdao's pupils dilated sharply.

Although he had received the news long ago, witnessing the real thing firsthand still sent a massive tremor through his heart.

An extreme dao imperial weapon!

The very item with which the Ancient Desolate Emperor proved his Dao!

And this imperial weapon that had suppressed the ages was now lying peacefully in his daughter's arms,

held by her as if it were an ordinary musical instrument.

"The news was true."

Chu Chengdao took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions.

"My child has gained the recognition of the Ancient Desolate Emperor. Truly worthy of being the Imperial Daughter of my Chu Family!"

He turned to face the Elders behind him and declared loudly,

"You have all seen it."

"During the Imperial Fall Valley Secret Realm this time, my daughter Wanqing overpowered all rivals and obtained the Ancient Desolate Emperor's Dao-proving imperial weapon—the world-suppressing imperial zither!"

"This is an immense glory for our Chu Family, unparalleled throughout the ages!"

The Elders behind him cupped their hands one after another, offering congratulations.

"Congratulations, Family Head! The Imperial Daughter is a heaven-sent Genius, a blessing to the Chu Family!"

"With the imperial weapon returning to the clan, our Chu Family is bound to ascend to even greater heights!"

"Imperial Daughter, mighty and majestic!"

Flattering words came in an unending stream.

Chu Wanqing stood at the center of the crowd, basking in a glory she had never known before.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, happy enough to almost float away.

Thinking to herself that when Brother Lin Yi arrived, she must play a beautiful piece on the zither in front of him,

to show him she wasn't just a little girl who only knew how to hug a zither and giggle foolishly.

However, she didn't notice.

In the back rows of the welcoming party,

several pairs of eyes were watching her with completely different gazes.

Grand Elder Chu Wanjun stood at the forefront of the Elder ranks, smiling and nodding frequently.

He looked happier than anyone.

But his right hand, hanging within his sleeve, trembled slightly at the fingertips.

His gaze remained fixed on that imperial zither.

It never wavered from beginning to end.

An imperial weapon!

An extreme dao imperial weapon!

How could such a thing be entrusted to a junior?

Could she even handle it properly?

If it were placed under the unified safekeeping of the Family, housed within the Ancestral Hall, that would be the correct way to truly utilize this imperial weapon.

And then, who would be in charge of the Ancestral Hall?

Naturally, himself, the Grand Elder.

The corner of Chu Wanjun's mouth twitched slightly upward.

Then it returned to normal.

Behind him, Third Elder Chu Canglan exchanged an extremely concealed glance with two other Elders.

The meaning in that glance was simple.

What right does a mere slip of a girl have to monopolize an imperial weapon?

Further back in the ranks,

a young woman with a graceful figure and stunningly beautiful features was smiling as she watched Chu Wanqing.

Chu Ningshuang.

Unnoticed, she had already changed into clean robes and blended into the welcoming party.

The smile on her face was gentle and lovely, revealing not a single flaw.

As if the wretched, bloodied figure crouching in the shadows within Imperial Fall Valley had never existed.

After the welcoming ceremony concluded, Chu Ningshuang proactively stepped forward.

She reached out both hands and warmly grasped Chu Wanqing's hands.

"Sister!"

Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

"When I heard the news, I was so excited I couldn't sleep all night!"

"Sister, you're amazing! Obtaining an extreme dao imperial weapon! You've brought immense honor to our Chu Family!"

Chu Wanqing, her hands held, was momentarily stunned.

To be honest, Chu Ningshuang was usually not very warm towards her, even somewhat cold.

On the surface, their relationship was that of sisters, but in reality, there had always been a subtle distance between them.

Why was she so enthusiastic today?

"Thank you, Sister Ningshuang."

Chu Wanqing responded with a smile, but she felt something was off.

Chu Ningshuang's smile didn't change. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the imperial zither.

And quickly returned.

"Sister, you must be tired from your journey. The Family will hold a banquet tonight to celebrate your achievement."

"You must tell us all about your experiences in the Secret Realm then!"

"Especially about that Saint Lin Yi. I heard he shone brilliantly in Imperial Fall Valley. I'm dying to know the details!"

Mentioning Lin Yi, Chu Wanqing's eyes lit up again.

"Brother Lin Yi is, of course, amazing! He..."

The words on the tip of her tongue, she suddenly swallowed them back.

Brother Lin Yi had so many hidden cards; she couldn't just blurt them out.

"Well, I'll tell you about it later!"

Chu Ningshuang nodded with a smile.

"Alright, Sister. No rush, no rush."

She released Chu Wanqing's hands and took a step back.

Still wearing that gentle, lovely demeanor.

But the instant she turned around,

a flash of icy, bone-chilling killing intent passed through those smiling eyes.

The extreme dao imperial weapon.

Lin Yi's favor.

The Chu Family Head's high regard.

All belonged to Chu Wanqing.

And what about her?

She had nothing.

Not even this face, this body,

this title of 'Imperial Daughter'—it was all stolen!

Chu Ningshuang quickened her pace, walking into the shadows of a side hall.

She took out from her bosom the fragments of the communication jade talisman she had long since crushed.

The imprint on the fragments had already dimmed.

The message had been sent on the way back.

Second Elder should have received it by now.

"The plan has changed. Act now."

These six words were her final gamble.

With Chu Wanqing returning with the imperial weapon, her prestige would skyrocket rapidly.

If they didn't act now,

once she firmly established her footing, it would be too late for everything.

They had to be fast.

They had to finish everything before Lin Yi arrived!