Black Mountain, Xie Mansion.

Silent.

After the sunset.

This luxurious residence, built at the most prosperous core of the Inner City during the era of "Black Mountain Guardian" Song Chai Xin, lay shrouded in mourning.

Since the chaos erupted not long ago in Wutong Prefecture.

The fourth step demonic force "Xuanqing Demon Vein," leading several top-level Great Demon Fiends, invaded Wutong Prefecture as the vanguard army, provoking the demonic descendants of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to follow suit.

It has caused major cities to frequently suffer invasions by demonic threats.

As an area with millions of households, the manpower from the Demon Hunting Department and Military Department is only enough to maintain the order in the Inner City.

As for the Outer City, demons infiltrate every now and then, or small-scale clashes occur, and they can only rush to the scene when incidents happen, beyond that, their help is limited.

Even the seventh-ranked "Black Mountain Guardian" Chen Zhao, along with his second son, the eighth-ranked "Military Department Commander" Chen Jing, and the eighth-ranked "Demon Suppression Bureau Chief" Ye Jing, who was reportedly transferred from Baoping Mansion in recent years.

These days, they are all burnt out, running around exhausted, even personally donning armor to slay demons, but it's merely addressing symptoms, not the root cause.

Every now and then,

In Black Mountain City, many households don mourning clothes, something people have grown accustomed to.

Within the temporarily reconstructed "Spirit Hall," Xie Qiaoxuan's coffin is placed in the center.

Several direct descendants of the Xie Clan kneel below.

Wutong Xie Family.

Ever since "Xie Qiaoxuan" arose to Primordial Pill, laying the foundation.

He became the first generation of direct lineage.

Later, his four offspring were named "An, Ping, Yuan, Wei," becoming the second generation of direct lineage.

Now, with decades of wind and frost passing.

Xie An, Xie Ping, Xie Yuan, Xie Wei.

The second generation's four high-ranked members of the Xie Family, apart from Xie An, who participated in the "Xuanqing Lake" siege on Gua Hua, stuck between the second and third steps, nearing his limit and barely holding on.

The rest have gradually all already passed away, going before Xie Qiaoxuan, causing him to "send off black-haired with white-haired."

After all, Martial Artist lifespan is short unless they refine Primordial Pill, otherwise, extending life is almost impossible.

Moreover, who practicing martial arts dare say that years of pounding the body, refining True Qi, and fighting with others, could leave no hidden injuries?

Most martial artists, unless they are those top-notch "Great Innate," otherwise at eighty or ninety years, life reaches its end, few can live to the human limit of 120 years.

"Could it be that my Xie Family is going to decline from now on?"

"Ever since that 'outside cousin' took over as the 'Wutong Prefecture Venerable', thought my Xie Family would revive, who knew it was the beginning of our decline..."

"Ah!"

"Now the second generation is gone, the first-generation old master is stranded in this Black Mountain, now in chaos, how can we transport his coffin back to 'Wutong Prefecture'?"

"If we can't bury him in the 'Ancestral Hall', we are all unfilial descendants!"

Xie Wutong knelt in front of the coffin.

Beside her, a generation higher than her, a "clan uncle" Xie Ke from the third generation, spoke.

He looked at the ancestor's coffin before him, his eyes filled with both sorrow and worry.

Xie Ke possesses Great Innate Cultivation.

With Xie Wutong's father, now the Xie Family's pillar, one of the third-step Primordial Pill cohort.

During his youth, Xie Ke also participated in the 'Xie Clan Ancestral Festival' with talented clan members, competing for a chance at the 'Wutong Prefecture Examination.'

However, he later failed, and after a series of tumultuous events, only achieved Great Innate ten years later, never again receiving an opportunity for fame across the prefecture.

He experienced the shift from prosperity to decline at Xie Mansion.

No matter some topics considered 'taboo'...

To him, they are merely buried secrets in the heart, unutterable 'secrets.'

"Wutong, you mentioned someone sent a letter, traveling thousands of miles to reach the old master, keeping him alive till he arrived at Black Mountain, and... even accepted a foster grandson?"

"I heard that person is 'Jixia,' originally merely an Outer City hunter, very young, around twenty, what qualities or abilities does he possess to be regarded by the old master as his own?"

"Even back when that Song... showcased prowess on Yunluan Mountain, during the Ancestral Festival, defeated both your father and me, winning everyone's favor, receiving high hopes from the old master!"

"What qualifies him?"

"Also..."

"Received the old master's deathbed teachings!"

"Your father Xie Bridge is a third-generation direct grandson, your grandfather Xie An the old master's firstborn son, the purest of pure lineage!"

"Originally believed that this 'Primordial Pill legacy' would be inherited by you, how could an 'outside' suddenly appear halfway?"

"And the old master, before his end, didn't require him to change surnames! It's outrageous, utterly outrageous..."

Xie Ke, in a gray long shirt, carries the marks left by years on him, even his hair has become withered yellow, but even if his Vajra Body is flawless, once engaging in battle, it can restore to peak condition, still 'old and frail' remains irreversible.

He looked at the coffin before him, ultimately didn't dare speak loudly, only murmured softly a few phrases.

The nearby Xie Clan Members, upon hearing, resonated collectively, empathizing deeply.

Indeed!

What identity does Xie Wutong hold?

Due to Xie Bridge's late birth of offspring, she is the fourth generation of direct lineage, not only ranking high, with a high position, but also has the advantage of youth, now only one step away from enlightenment!