147: Chapter 147 Promise

Duanmu Hongdie condensed a drop of essential blood at her fingertip.

It dripped gently onto the ink-black ten thousand soul banner.

In an instant, the banner erupted with blinding spiritual light.

"Alright, I have acknowledged the master, now can you finally put it away!"

She raised her hand, intending to store the ten thousand soul banner into her storage ring.

"Wait!" Xiang Tian's figure flashed.

He immediately reached out to stop her action.

"This ten thousand soul banner has an artifact spirit; you can try to summon her."

Duanmu Hongdie's movements paused, and a flash of surprise instantly crossed her eyes.

Her brows lifted with joy as she said, "It actually has an artifact spirit? Then I must take a good look and see if this artifact spirit is cute!"

With a thought, a wisp of her Divine Thought probed into the ten thousand soul banner.

The next second.

A slender figure slowly appeared within the spiritual light, hovering before the two of them.

But when she saw the appearance of that figure clearly.

The smile on Duanmu Hongdie's face instantly froze, and her body trembled slightly.

Her voice carried an unbelievable tremor.

"Mother?"

The artifact spirit's brows, eyes, contours, and even the faint aura around her.

Were exactly the same as her mother, Chu Ji, without the slightest difference!

Xiang Tian stood to the side, his tone gentle yet heavy.

He softly explained, "This... is indeed Mother-in-law. Moreover, your clansmen have all been sealed within this ten thousand soul banner."

"Mother~" A sob escaped her throat.

Duanmu Hongdie could no longer hold back and stepped forward quickly.

She pulled Chu Ji tightly into her embrace.

Yet, the person in her arms remained indifferent, her eyes hollow, without the slightest response.

Duanmu Hongdie buried her face in Chu Ji's shoulder.

"Mother, why won't you respond to me? Look at me..."

"System, what is going on with my mother-in-law?"

[Host, Chu Ji's consciousness has been forcibly erased; she is no different from a vegetable.]

"Then can her consciousness be restored?"

Xiang Tian's gaze rested on Duanmu Hongdie's trembling back.

[It is not difficult; as long as the Host's strength reaches another level, you can reshape her consciousness with a wave of your hand and restore her sanity.]

"But... Hongdie is like this now..." Xiang Tian frowned deeply.

[Host, since she is your mother-in-law, you should be working even harder to improve your cultivation, rather than spending all day surrounded by women.]

"When have I been indulging? Haven't I only been resting for a few days?"

Xiang Tian retorted in a low voice.

He stopped arguing with the System and turned to walk toward Duanmu Hongdie.

To his surprise, Duanmu Hongdie was not crying.

She was just holding Chu Ji tightly.

Xiang Tian stepped forward and gently pulled her into his embrace.

"Hongdie, don't force yourself. If you are sad, just cry; I am here."

Duanmu Hongdie slowly looked up, her eyes rimmed with red.

Yet she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall, and asked softly.

"Xiang Tian, is my mother still salvageable? My clansmen... are they still salvageable?"

It was as if she were grasping at the last straw.

Xiang Tian raised his hand and gently wiped the wetness from the corners of her eyes.

"That is only natural; they will definitely be restored to their original state, rest assured!"

Hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Duanmu Hongdie's eyes.

She immediately raised her hand, intending to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao.

"Good, I swear to the Heavenly Dao, in this life I will definitely..."

Before she could finish, Xiang Tian reached out and gently covered her mouth.

He shook his head: "Fool, leave the matter of revenge to me; you don't need to swear an oath. Don't bottle everything up inside. Have a good cry, and you will feel better. Trust me, your family will all be safe and sound."

Xiang Tian knew in his heart that with the System as his cheat.

Restoring the Duanmu Family and waking Chu Ji was only a matter of time.

He did not want Duanmu Hongdie to bear this heavy oath.

Duanmu Hongdie looked at his firm gaze, and the stubbornness in her eyes gradually faded.

She nodded gently.

"I believe in you; you will definitely be able to do it."

"Of course." Xiang Tian gently stroked her trembling little face.

"I allow you to have a good cry; I will be here with you."

Duanmu Hongdie's nose tingled, and she leaned softly into his embrace.

She whispered: "Being able to see Mother again, I am already very happy. Even if she does not have consciousness right now, I am very satisfied."

For the following period of time.

Duanmu Hongdie had a thought and summoned the Duanmu clansmen from within the ten thousand soul banner.

There were the playmates she had frolicked with in her childhood.

There were the elders who had doted on her since she was young.

And there were those familiar faces of her clansmen.

Each one was vivid and familiar, making her eyes rim with red.

"Seeing you all again is truly wonderful."

Duanmu Hongdie suppressed the emotions in her heart and said softly.

"Rest assured, Xiang Tian will definitely avenge our Duanmu Family."

After exchanging pleasantries with her clansmen for a while.

She took everyone back into the ten thousand soul banner.

She turned to look at Xiang Tian, her eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

She said softly: "Xiang Tian, I want to be with you and rebuild a Duanmu Family that belongs to us."

She took the initiative to throw herself into Xiang Tian's arms.

The romantic spring scenery lasted for a full three days and three nights.

When the two walked out of the room hand in hand.

They saw that several people were already standing in the courtyard.

Haotian Sect Grand Elder Supreme Elder Yan Shang and Sect Head Sect Master Xun Yan were sitting at the stone table.

Yue Lin and Xiahou Yu were standing quietly on either side, their expressions varied.

"Xiang Tian, come over here." Supreme Elder Yan Shang raised his eyes, his gaze landing on Xiang Tian.

Hearing this, Xiang Tian quickly pulled Duanmu Hongdie forward.

He bowed slightly to Supreme Elder Yan Shang: "Grand Elder, are you looking for me?"

He then turned to Sect Master Xun Yan at the side.

He cupped his hands in a salute.

"Sect Head."

A flash of surprise passed through Sect Master Xun Yan's eyes, and he scrutinized Xiang Tian closely.

"Xiang Tian, isn't your cultivation improving a bit too fast? How long has it been?"

Most importantly, his Aptitude back at the Haotian Sect was notoriously low-grade!

Xiang Tian smiled and shrugged his shoulders, feigning helplessness.

"There is no helping it; I am also very puzzled. Perhaps I just had good luck and broke through by accident."

Naturally, he would not reveal the secret of the System.

Sect Master Xun Yan saw that he did not want to say more.

He sensibly did not pursue the matter further and just nodded gently.

Just then, Supreme Elder Yan Shang slowly stood up.

He looked at Xiang Tian with deep eyes and spoke slowly.

"Xiang Tian, I know that you harbor many secrets, and I also know that you are not as simple as you appear on the surface."

As he spoke, he reached out and took hold of Yue Lin, who was beside him.

He brought her to Xiang Tian.

He placed Yue Lin's hand into Xiang Tian's palm.

"If this old man is not mistaken, you should be the 'Chosen One' of this generation. Looking through history, every generation of the Chosen One rises from the very bottom; their Aptitude seems mediocre, but they are actually uniquely gifted and by no means comparable to ordinary people. In this world, there is no man more worthy of trust than you."

He paused.

He continued: "Today, I, representing myself, entrust Yue Lin to you. As for how to persuade her grandmother and parents, and how to protect her, that depends on your own ability."

Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow and looked down at the soft little hand in his palm.

He then looked up at Yue Lin's beautiful face, his heart overjoyed.

"Grand Elder, are you... are you truly willing to entrust Yue Lin to me?"

Such a charming, lively, and highly cultivated beauty.

He naturally could not ask for more.

Supreme Elder Yan Shang saw his appearance and frowned slightly.

He said with feigned displeasure.

"What? Are you not willing?"

"Willing! Naturally, I am willing!" Xiang Tian nodded quickly.

He instantly put on an upright and gentlemanly expression.

He took the opportunity to pull Yue Lin into his embrace.

"It's just... you have seen it too, I already have Hongdie and Xiahou Yu by my side; are you truly not bothered by this?"

This question had to be asked clearly, as it was both a sign of respect for Supreme Elder Yan Shang and respect for Yue Lin.

Supreme Elder Yan Shang waved his hand gently.

His tone was calm: "How could this old man not be bothered? However, your identity is special; you are the 'Chosen One' and bear heavy responsibilities. In the future, you will inevitably need assistance and companionship by your side, so having a few Dao Companions is understandable. This old man only hopes that you can treat Yue Lin with sincerity, protect her for a lifetime, and not fail her."

Hearing this, Xiang Tian was overjoyed.

He was no Chosen One; he had merely bound a "damn System"!

But naturally, he would not say this out loud; he just nodded quickly.

His tone was incredibly sincere: "Grand Elder, rest assured. I, Xiang Tian, swear here that I will definitely treat Yue Lin with sincerity and protect her for this life, never leaving her side. Although her cultivation is currently higher than mine, I believe that it will not be long before I can catch up to her, or even surpass her, becoming a reliance that can shield her from the wind and rain!"

These words were spoken with deep sincerity.

Even he was almost moved by himself.

Supreme Elder Yan Shang looked at his firm gaze and nodded with satisfaction.

"With these words from you, this old man is at ease."

He had long since sent people to inquire about Xiang Tian's past; he was by no means an ungrateful person.

"Everything that needed to be said has been said. You young people chat slowly; this old man will not stay here to be an eyesore."

After Supreme Elder Yan Shang finished speaking, his figure moved, turning into a streak of light.

Sect Master Xun Yan also stood up and said to Xiang Tian.

"Xiang Tian, come back to the Haotian Sect to visit often when you have time."

As his voice fell, his figure also flashed, following closely after Supreme Elder Yan Shang.

In the courtyard, only Xiang Tian and the three women remained.

Xiang Tian still held Yue Lin in his arms, looking down at her.

"Yue Lin, if you want to back out now, there is still time."

"Have you two hugged enough yet?"

Xiahou Yu, who was at the side, finally could not hold back any longer and put her hands on her hips.

She glared at the two of them, puffed up with anger, her cheeks bulging like a little bun.

Xiang Tian smiled and shook his head, pulling Yue Lin to the stone table to sit down.

He beckoned to Xiahou Yu and Duanmu Hongdie.

"Xiaoyu, Hongdie, you two come over and sit too."

The two women walked over slowly.

Duanmu Hongdie smiled gently, but Xiahou Yu still had a puffed-up expression.

She urged: "If there is something to say, say it quickly; don't dilly-dally!"

Xiang Tian looked at her coquettish appearance and could not help but laugh.

"My return to the Haotian Sect this time was actually because I wanted to take you two to see my Prince of Equal Rank Mansion."

"Prince of Equal Rank Mansion?" Xiahou Yu's eyes widened.

"Are you trying to trick a ghost! You are just a Cultivator who has only recently risen; how could you possibly have a Prince's Mansion?"

Xiang Tian smiled helplessly; empty words carried no proof.

He changed his approach: "Since you don't believe me, how about this: just consider it as accompanying me on a trip to the Imperial Capital to have some fun, and see it with your own eyes, how about that?"

Xiahou Yu tilted her head and thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine, I haven't been to the Imperial Capital anyway, so I'll accompany you to see. I want to see if you are bragging!"

After the discussion was settled, the group decided to set off for the Imperial Capital.

Before leaving, Xiahou Yu naturally had to return to the Xiahou Mansion.

She said goodbye to her parents before reluctantly walking out of the Xiahou Mansion.

The four of them set off together, speeding toward the direction of the Imperial Capital.

Along the way, it was calm and peaceful, and they did not encounter any obstacles.

The time spent on the journey also felt exceptionally pleasant because of the three women's company.

But just when they were less than a hundred miles from the Imperial Capital.

Xiang Tian's originally relaxed expression changed abruptly, and his pupils constricted sharply.

His gaze locked tightly onto a figure not far in front of them.

That figure had their back to them, dressed in tattered clothes with disheveled hair.

He could almost barely recognize that this person was...