533: Transcendence

Murong Gu's heart jolted; so this Dragon-patterned key was the key to opening the ancient secret treasure, passed down through generations of the Zhao Family, who schemed to use it to dominate the world.

Just then, he sensed that a trace of Zhao Yao's remaining Divine Soul fragments had not yet completely dissipated. Murong Gu's eyes narrowed; a golden Opportunity must not be missed!

He immediately circulated the "Divine Illumination Seamless Record," his Divine Soul power transforming into invisible threads that wound directly around those Divine Soul fragments. He carefully guided them, beginning to search the soul and piece together the memory fragments within.

Chaotic memory fragments flooded into Murong Gu's Sea of Consciousness like a tide—Zhao Yao was no nobody. Two thousand years ago, he had been a Genius Cultivator from a branch of the southern Zhao Family, possessing outstanding natural talent, with a Cultivation speed far exceeding his peers, a rarity in a thousand years.

Yet, in the strictly hierarchical Zhao Family, branch Bloodlines were always considered inferior. Even though he was powerful, he was repeatedly suppressed and bullied by the main branch's Young Lord, even having his Cultivation resources stolen and being stripped of his qualifications to participate in the Family Legacy grand ceremony.

"On what grounds! My natural talent far exceeds yours, yet just because my Bloodline is from a branch, I must be treated this way!" In the memory fragments, the young Zhao Yao's roar carried unwillingness and resentment.

Years of oppression caused the baleful Qi in his heart to grow increasingly heavy. Finally, one late night, unable to endure it any longer, he wielded a sharp blade and broke into the main branch Young Lord's residence, personally slaying the main branch Young Lord who held the right of inheritance. He also stole the bronze box that the Zhao Family had passed down for thousands of years from the Zhao Family's secret room and fled overnight.

The Zhao Family was furious and dispatched countless Cultivators to hunt down Zhao Yao, pursuing him for a full several hundred years.

Yet they never imagined that Zhao Yao had long since secretly joined the Black Wind Stockade, and under the protection of the Black Wind Stockade's power, he had hidden beneath the dry well in this Chen Family Village. He hid for several hundred years, guarding the blood sacrifice point while using the power of the blood sacrifice ritual to Cultivate, eventually reaching the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

"The Zhao Family..." Murong Gu gripped the Dragon-patterned key in his hand, a towering killing intent flashing in his eyes.

He never expected that this Zhao Yao was actually a person from the Zhao Family that had annihilated the Murong Family!

The ways of the world are truly wondrous.

The Zhao Family had annihilated the Murong Family to seize their treasures, but now, through a twist of fate, he had obtained the Zhao Family Patriarch token and the Legacy secret key, equivalent to holding the lifeline of the Zhao Family's scheme to dominate the world.

Perhaps this is the Reincarnation of the Heavenly Dao, and retribution is swift.

Now is not yet the time for revenge.

The Zhao Family has a Legacy of thousands of years, with deep foundations and countless experts.

He had just reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage; facing the massive Zhao Family, it was undoubtedly like throwing an egg against a rock.

"The matter of revenge requires long-term planning; at the very least, I must wait until I reach the Deity Transformation Realm and possess the strength to contend with the Zhao Family before returning to settle this blood feud!"

He carefully put away the Dragon-patterned key and the Zhao Family Patriarch token, placing them into his internal Immortal Cave.

These two items were both the Zhao Family's Legacy treasures and important bargaining chips for his future revenge, which must never be lost.

Subsequently, Murong Gu circulated the "Divine Illumination Seamless Record," completely dispersing Zhao Yao's remaining Divine Soul fragments, leaving him without even a chance for Reincarnation.

The smell of blood in the karst cave gradually dissipated, and calm was restored.

Murong Gu took one last look at the scattered remains on the ground and did not linger. Grasping the flowing cloud sword in both hands, his figure became like a golden streak of light, speeding toward the outside of the dry well.

He darted out of the dry well and landed steadily in the weeds beside the wellhead.

As soon as he steadied his footing, he sensed a drastic change in the surrounding atmosphere—the cold, resentful Qi that had originally lingered over Chen Family Village, thick and impossible to disperse, was rapidly fading like melting ice and snow. The blood and evil in the wind were replaced by a faint fragrance of grass and trees, and even the sunlight pierced through the previously persistent haze, spilling onto the desolate village and casting a warm glow.

He looked up and saw that in the streets and alleys of Chen Family Village, countless translucent souls were emerging from wall corners, houses, and field ridges.

These souls were no longer as hideous and twisted as they had been in the Ghost Crying Forest, with black mist swirling around them; instead, they were gradually restoring their appearance from when they were alive. Although their clothes were still old, it was hard to hide the peace between their brows.

They looked around blankly, feeling their Divine Souls no longer imprisoned within their bodies. Their eyes were first filled with confusion, then transformed into unbelievable ecstasy.

"The shackles have disappeared?" A white-haired old man tremblingly raised his hand, looking at his own translucent palm, his voice choked with emotion.

He was the old Village Chief of Chen Family Village. When the blood sacrifice ritual began back then, he was the first to lead the villagers in resistance, ultimately being slain by Black Wind Stockade Cultivators. His Divine Soul had been imprisoned here for several hundred years, enduring the pain of resentment's erosion every day.

Just then, a heart-wrenching yet urgent call pierced the tranquility of the village: "A-Fu! My A-Fu!"

Murong Gu followed the sound and looked over, seeing that the black-clad woman who had blocked him in the Ghost Crying Forest with a hideous face had now returned to the appearance of an ordinary farm woman. Wearing coarse cloth clothes, with a haggard face but clear eyes, she was running through the streets like a madwoman, looking around everywhere.

Centuries of imprisonment had caused her Divine Soul to be tainted by resentment, becoming violent and terrifying; her only obsession was to find her young son who had been killed along with her.

Now that the resentment had dissipated and her mind was clear, that motherly love buried deep in her heart instantly gushed out.

"A-Fu! Mother is here!" The woman's voice carried a crying tone, tears streaming down her cheeks and turning into fine specks of spiritual light that drifted away.

"Mother..." A childish call came from under the old locust tree not far away.

A soul of a child about five or six years old was standing there, looking timidly at the woman; it was her son, A-Fu. The child's Divine Soul was still somewhat ignorant, yet he vaguely remembered his mother's scent and opened his arms toward the woman.

The woman rushed over and carefully gathered the child into her arms, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.

Her movements were unbelievably gentle, fearing that even the slightest force would shatter this hard-won reunion. Tears fell like broken beads onto the child's head, carrying the ecstasy of regaining what was lost and the longing of hundreds of years.

"A-Fu, I'm sorry, Mother couldn't protect you well..." She choked, her voice trembling, "Mother will never be separated from you again."

A-Fu hugged the woman's neck, seemingly understanding yet not, his little head resting on her shoulder as he softly comforted her: "Mother, don't cry, A-Fu is not afraid."

Sunlight shone on the figures of the mother and child embracing. Their translucent Divine Souls glowed with a soft white light. Seeing that motherly love that spanned life and death and had not dissipated after hundreds of years, Murong Gu felt a warmth in his heart, and his eyes also grew slightly hot.

At this moment, the old Village Chief walked over slowly with a group of villager souls. They bowed deeply toward Murong Gu, their expressions respectful and grateful.

"Thank you, Benefactor! Thank you, Benefactor, for saving our souls and allowing us to be liberated!" The old Village Chief's voice was old yet sincere. The villagers behind him also bowed one after another; some were streaming with tears, others had their hands pressed together, their eyes filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and gratitude toward Murong Gu.

Murong Gu hurriedly stepped forward to help the old Village Chief up, his voice gentle: "Old man, there is no need for such formalities. The Black Wind Stockade has committed many evils and imprisoned your souls for hundreds of years; I merely dealt with the violence in passing, it is nothing worth mentioning."

Looking at these souls who had finally regained their freedom, he was full of relief—this bitter battle had not only saved the Divine Souls of thousands of innocents but also caused his Cultivation to soar, reaching the Nascent Soul.