Night Without End

During the severe winter, snowflakes drifted down.

Under the night sky, the Cui Mansion with its silver bamboo forest swayed, and the blue lake rippled—a heartwarming spring amidst the brutal cold. Yet, the Cui family still felt a bone-chilling coldness, with the entire mansion gripped by an intense tension and heaviness.

An Ancestor Master of the Sixth Realm appeared, standing up for the former "abandoned child," personally arriving at this small Blessed Land. Who wouldn't be on edge?

In the grand hall, the high-ranking members of the Cui Mansion sat on pins and needles. This person called out the family ancestor as soon as he arrived—what's he planning?

They felt extremely uneasy, their nerves tightly strung. Was Lu Zizai truly going to "uproot" the main roots of the Cui family and eradicate a thousand-year-old family?

"Cui Geng, putting on airs," commented Lu Zizai, having waited a long time, but the Cui family ancestor still didn't show up.

The elder members of the Cui family wondered heavily, could he be planning to "cut down the ancestor"?

Cui Changqing spoke up, "Grandmaster Lu, have a taste of Feilai Peak's 'Enlightenment' Spiritual Tea, please wait patiently. We've already sent someone to invite the ancestor from the quiet room."

He was a core high-level member of the Cui family, ranking second among his peers, over a hundred years old, yet showing no signs of age. His long, lush, green hair draped down as he had mastered the Zhu Shi Scripture to an extremely advanced domain.

This reception hall could hardly be described as splendid, with carved beams and painted rafters; on the contrary, it was rather old, rich with a sense of age, like that tea table, carved out of gray rock.

However, this was the place where the Cui family received their most distinguished guests.

In the hall, whether it was the tea table or the stone chairs, everything originated from relics of celestial sanctuary that fell to the ground. Despite the passage of time, they still held a faint Tao Rhythm.

The various artifacts throughout the hall did not appear luxurious, but each had great stories, returning to simplicity.

Qin Ming sat quietly behind a stone table, gazing at the black teacup before him. Inside, silver stars dotted the surface, resembling a deep night sky. Within the fragrant light green tea, a faint True Dragon shadow swam about, sometimes seen, sometimes not; vivid and exceptionally divine.

These were artifacts unearthed from the celestial sanctuary relics.

Even as a former member of the Cui Family's direct descendants, Qin Ming had only heard of Feilai Peak's "Enlightenment" Spiritual Tea and the tea set before him.

He was indeed receiving extraordinary hospitality.

Madam Cui spoke, "Child, you've suffered over these three years. Indeed, your mother didn't mean to harm you. There were reasons behind it, and I wish to talk to you."

Time had left little mark on her face, her complexion fair, appearing as though she were just in her early thirties, adorned in court dress, gracefully and luxuriously, her cloud-like hair pinned up with a feather hairpin flowing with Golden Light, her expression sincere.

Qin Ming did not respond. His senses were incredibly sharp now, and on her beautiful and amiable face, he sensed no warmth.

No matter if she smiled, it lacked warmth.

Master Cui noticed his lack of response and not acknowledging Madam Cui, immediately turned his gaze towards Qin Ming, remaining as stern and rigid as in the past, exuding the authority of a patriarch.

He was the nominal leader of the Cui family in the secular world, with a powerful aura in his every gesture.

Qin Ming turned slightly, looking at him with an expression as calm as still water—no longer the revered youth of the past, only a composed and confident demeanor.

"Cui Geng!" Lu Zizai spoke those two words once more.

Actually, he knew that Cui Geng had left long ago, likely departing the day before he approached this territory.

After breaking through the Heavenly Gate, the Supreme Grandmaster's senses were extraordinary. Just a moment ago, his Light of the Soul slightly scanned, capturing the "Resonance" left by Cui Geng in the quiet room.

Lu Zizai's desire to see Cui Geng was merely a pressure tactic on the Cui family.

Especially now, after uttering these two words, many hearts felt struck by a Big Hammer—as with Master Cui, whose face went pale instantly, tightly gripping the stone chair armrest, avoiding looking at Qin Ming.

"The ancestor is not in the quiet room; he likely went to the ancestral land or has wandered elsewhere," a young man of the Cui Family's direct descendants returned to report.

The ancestor of the Cui family was not at home, which unexpectedly relieved the hearts of the high-ranking members. Such a deterrent-level power was better kept behind the scenes, instilling eternal fear in opponents.

Just like now, if Lu Zizai dared to wipe out the Cui family forces in this small Blessed Land, then the Cui family's ancestor could equivalently retaliate, later planning lethal actions against the disciples and followers of the Six Imperial Ancestor Court.

Lu Zizai said, "Cui Geng, in his youth, was already said to have the potential of an Ancient Sage. Yet, after advancing to the Grandmaster Domain, time passed without breaking through. However, a year before confrontations with the Hunting Civilization, he sensed something and breached the Heavenly Gate. His foresight in avoiding calamities is indeed extraordinary."

He suspected that Cui Geng, years prior, foresaw a specific historical cycle, understanding that a fierce battle with the Hunting Civilization and Demon Monster Civilization would unfold.

The high-level members of the Cui family remained expressionless; if others dared to speak this way, they would have already lost their temper. Who else would dare to slight or disparage the family ancestor?

Cui Changqing said, "Recently, many disciples of our Cui family fell on the Western Border Battlefield. Indeed, the ancestor began to breach the Heavenly Gate over a year ago, and various Ancestor Masters agreed, making him one of the high-end forces guarding the rear."

"Cui Geng, a man of fortune." Lu Zizai said nothing more.

He then glanced at Master Cui and said, "Speak of where Qin Ming's grandfather ultimately went."

All the Cui family's high-ranking members present bore solemn expressions. For Qin Ming's sake, Lu Zizai personally intervened to this degree; their relationship was indeed too intimate.