Xie Ke felt a chill in his heart, yet before he could speak a word,

he saw Jixia walk forward, at first silent, as he took incense and offered his condolences, ignoring the numerous Xie Clan members in the hall as if they were nothing.

After bowing, he pressed his lips together, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes, silently gazing at the coffin before him, where Xie Qiaoxuan lay, for a long time. Without looking back, he suddenly said:

"Everyone, are you dissatisfied with my inheritance of Elder Xie Qiaoxuan's Primordial Pill?"

Although there wasn't even a hint of anger in his words,

when the Xie Clan members of the Black Mountain Xiefu, including the master Xie Ke, exchanged glances:

"This..."

No one dared to reply!

"Is this 'Brother Xie Ke'?"

"I am Jixia. Before Elder Xie Qiaoxuan left, he accepted me into the Xie Family."

"Whether you acknowledge it or not doesn't matter."

"But I am determined to ensure he 'returns to his roots and rests in peace'."

Turning to look at the old man in gray robes, who stood like a withered tree, Jixia's eyes burned brightly.

Xie Ke.

Jixia thought of this name.

In the turbulent and dramatic part of his life with Song Chai Xin,

Xie Ke was merely a passing figure, someone with whom he briefly interacted during the 'Xie Clan Ancestral Ritual'.

At that time, Xie Ke was just a young lad.

But now, he has become a pillar of the Xie Family.

Time truly leaves no trace as it kills.

Ah, the years...

Jixia sighed softly.

Then, without any hesitation,

he approached Xie Wutong, whose eyes were red from fatigue and who had been working hard on the Black Mountain demon-slashing and demon-slaying, but now looked shaky, especially after Xie Qiaoxuan's fall:

"However, there is one thing you did not say incorrectly."

"That is, my 'little niece'... truly can be considered the reviver of the Xie Family!"

The young man looked around, speaking naturally in a loud voice, causing Xie Wutong's face to turn red with embarrassment, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.

Little niece!

Never mind... whether he is really the person from back then or not.

Even if he is!

To say such a thing with this 'extremely young' face, in front of all eyes...

It's too hard to accept! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Xie Wutong ground her teeth in frustration.

"The first time we met, he was merely a Black Mountain hunter, damn it, now he's lording over my head..."

"I truly..."

She grumbled inwardly.

But the next moment.

Jixia pointed a finger decisively, tapping Xie Wutong's forehead, transmitting an extremely 'pure' power of the Primordial Pill, and candidly said:

"Elder Xie Qiaoxuan assisted me with a Primordial Pill breakthrough, but..."

"In my lifetime, Jixia's actions, breakthroughs or not, rely entirely on my own talents and efforts!"

"My 'Huangting' Dao practice is all self-cultivated."

"As for the 'Essence of the Primordial Pill' Elder Xie left behind, there is still more than half remaining."

"Rather than gilding the lily for me,"

"how about... being a timely help in need!"

"After all, as an elder, I cannot covet a junior's fortune, can I?"

He transferred the remaining half of the 'Essence of the Primordial Pill' to Xie Wutong.

Watching her cultivation bottleneck break like a 'silver bottle bursting and the water jetting forth', she advanced rapidly. Jixia smiled faintly, seeing all the surrounding Xie Clan members lower their heads, and lightly scolded:

"Why are you not sitting down, breaking through to the 'Great Innate'? Why wait any longer?"

"Little niece, do you want to leave the old master with regrets?"

Bam!

Xie Wutong, caught off guard, was pressed down by Jixia, feeling as if she faced a towering divine mountain, causing her heart to tremble and be secretly astonished:

"Such profound 'Huangting Power', if outsiders knew about Jixia's rate of advancement, they would be scared to death?!"

No one understands the path of this guy's rise better than her.

Simply terrifyingly monstrous!

Even the top Celestial Prides, known as 'Daoists, Buddhists', would have to kneel!

If word got out, saying he wasn't a 'great power reincarnated, an immortal reborn', people wouldn't believe it!

But, no time to think further.

As her Nine Orifices opened, the surging power of the Primordial Pill rushed in, making Xie Wutong's heart tremble, knowing she could not waste the goodwill of Xie Qiaoxuan and... this little clan uncle, gritting her teeth:

"Thank you, little uncle!"

Then, with a huff, she closed her eyes at her spot, starting to break through. Her jade body glowed with golden light, illuminating the dark night brighter than candle flames!

Jixia stood with his hands behind his back, looking composed, observing the Xie Clan members around, eyes bright, never dodging.

It was the Xie Household's members who looked embarrassed, not knowing what to say when Xie Ke, mustering courage despite inner turmoil, wanted to ask something, just about to speak to Jixia:

"May I ask..."

Suddenly,

a servant rushed into the spirit hall urgently to report:

"The Demon Suppression Bureau Chief of Black Mountain orders Miss Wutong to attend immediately!"

This news instantly shifted the attention of everyone in the spirit hall.

In the dead of night, and since the Demon Suppression Bureau's information is always up-to-date, they certainly knew about Xie Qiaoxuan's fall.

At this hour...

to gather everyone,

something significant must have happened in Black Mountain!

Jixia's gaze sharpened, observing Xie Wutong, who was in the midst of breaking through and needed much time to converge the pill's power, said:

"I'll go."

Xie Ke hesitated to speak: "But..."

"I am acquainted with the current Black Mountain Guardian, and the Demon Hunting Department is familiar territory to me, no big deal."

"You protect 'Xie Wutong's breakthrough."

"As for the old master's coffin..."

Approaching the door, Jixia, dressed in plain black, tidy and neat, gazed at the sandalwood coffin at the end of the corridor:

"Whether it's the Fourth Step Jiao Monarch,"

"or whatever else demons and ghosts..."

"Don't worry."

"Because,"

"I will find a way, by any means, race against time, even before the 'Primordial Pill body' decays in a month, to bury the elder in the ancestral tomb!"

With that said,

Jixia walked into the vast and endless night without looking back!