Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 60 - 59: Family Legacy

In the main hall of the mansion, after Liu Zhiyuan dismissed everyone, only he and Liu Shuyue were left sitting face to face.

"I know you find us very unfamiliar because you left here before you became aware." He looked at Liu Shuyue with a face full of kindness, "Now that you’ve finally come back, I should decorate the place to welcome you, but unfortunately, you see the family’s dire situation. I heard you had a conflict with the King of Qi in Qing State? Can you tell me more about it?"

There was no trace of blame in his words, as if he never thought the Liu family’s siege by the government was Liu Shuyue’s fault.

Even Liu Shuyue couldn’t help but be slightly moved.

For the past five years, she had traveled tirelessly, always alone. The only place she found peace was that mystical store.

She had never imagined she would be missed by strangers she had never met.

Yet facts are facts, unchanging due to one’s attitude. She was born in the Lotus Cloud Sect, and all Lotus Cloud Sect disciples were like this.

"The matter with the King of Qi can be discussed later. What I want to ask is, where did your daughter and that young man learn their spells? As I understand, privately mastering magic and sect techniques is strictly prohibited in any country."

Just like private forging of weapons and armor is banned.

Of course, there are violators. Occasionally, a few Loose Cultivators emerge here and there. If they don’t cause trouble, the government usually turns a blind eye; if they do, then they are considered Evil Cultivators, and the locals will find all means to invite Liu Shuyue to purge the Dharma Path.

Liu Shuyue had killed at least twenty or thirty Evil Cultivators.

In terms of harm, these cultivators with untrustworthy intentions are on par with Demon Fiends.

As for rulers of different countries, they secretly cultivate practitioners to reinforce royal power, which is an open secret. Since the Lotus Cloud Sect does not plan to intervene, its disciples naturally do not interfere.

"Of course, it’s a direct transmission from the Liu Family." Liu Zhiyuan’s answer greatly surprised her, "I know learning these things is forbidden and could ruin the family, but no one can stop the Liu Family from inheriting ancestral teachings. It’s a tremendous secret to outsiders, but not to you. We’ve excavated many cultivation rooms underground, nurturing potential heirs like sect disciples. You should be familiar with all this... because it’s not much different from the Lotus Cloud Sect’s cultivation methods."

Impossible!

Liu Shuyue immediately wanted to refute his claim. The Lotus Cloud Sect stands on the Kunlun Cloud Sea Peak, where only the sect can ensure abundant Spiritual Qi, and cultivation methods must match the level of Spiritual Qi activity. It’s not something you can simply imitate. Otherwise, kings of various countries would’ve long been cultivating practitioners themselves.

In the Liu Family’s mansion area, she couldn’t feel much sign of Spiritual Qi abundance; it was even inferior to Hot Pepper Village in the Wanshan Wilderness.

However, she ultimately did not voice her objection.

Because she was the only one who had seen the inside of the Lotus Cloud Sect; whether she spoke the truth or a lie, the other party could not distinguish.

In that case, refuting was meaningless.

"A direct transmission from the Liu Family? Who passed it down?"

"It was also a Lotus Cloud Sect disciple who left the mountain." Liu Zhiyuan said respectfully, "The ancestor was named Liu Zhidong. In terms of cultivation seniority, he would be your uncle-master."

Liu Shuyue felt a tremor throughout her body.

No, she certainly hadn’t heard that name; within the entire Lotus Cloud Sect, there was no record of any past disciples, who they were, what they did after leaving the mountain, or their eventual fate.

She had sought the whereabouts of these disciples after leaving the mountain, but they were the batch sent out a hundred years ago. The secular world could change rulers two or three generations, so the reliable information she obtained was virtually non-existent.

What astonished Liu Shuyue was that she had never expected to hear news of former sect disciples at the Yunzhou Liu Family!

And even more incredible was that the other party was also surnamed Liu!

"Are you sure about this?"

"It’s all recorded in the family genealogy; I have no reason to deceive you." Liu Zhiyuan gave a weak smile, "Not only did he teach cultivation techniques, but he also left descendants, from which the Liu Family prospered. The ancestor even prophesied your birth, saying that a Liu family child would become a new mountain-leaving disciple a hundred years later. That person is you... Shuyue, you were sent away when you were just a month old. Although I was unwilling, I knew that was the path you should take."

Liu Shuyue couldn’t help but shake her head, "No... this doesn’t make sense. If I were sent away by the Liu Family as an infant, how would you know that I’m the one? And in the front courtyard, Liu Qing blamed me for not remembering her. Can a child remember anything right after being born? I spent most of my time cultivating in the sect and have never met any of you!"

Liu Zhiyuan had some confusion in his eyes, "Shuyue, why do you so strongly reject accepting yourself as a member of the Liu Family? You and Qing’Er have indeed never truly met, but surely you’ve seen each other’s portraits."

"Portraits? What portraits?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She couldn’t help but recall the words the other party said when she first met her...

"You look just like the image in the portrait..."

"The ancestor left a Magical Treasure that allows us to continue seeing you after you were sent to the sect, but only in the form of portraits. Liu Qing and the other younger generation grew up watching your portraits." Liu Zhiyuan explained, "And after you left the mountain, we also crafted family portraits to send to you. Haven’t you ever received them?"

"Do you believe it?" Liu Shuyue frowned. In the past five years, she rarely stayed in one place for long. Only the government could track her whereabouts. Many people had written to her, but she hardly had time to read them.

So she could only shake her head.

"Is that so? So in your eyes, the Liu Family is just a bunch of deceitful imposters? Then why haven’t you come to Yunzhou to confront us over these years?" Liu Zhiyuan felt puzzled.

Liu Shuyue didn’t know how to answer for a moment. She rarely paid attention to such rumors. Even if she knew, as long as the Liu Family didn’t cause any outrage, she basically wouldn’t interfere.

So she changed the subject, "That Magical Treasure... can I take a look?"

"Of course, it is placed in the ancestral hall in the backyard."

Leading Liu Shuyue to the ancestral hall, Liu Zhiyuan pointed to a peachwood tower covered with bells, about half a meter high, and said, "This is it."

Liu Shuyue immediately recognized it as a Smoke Soul Pillar. It’s considered a Dharma Artifact, a notch below a true Magical Treasure, but undeniably, it’s much more reliable than the fabled items boasted by those loose cultivators. The way to transmit messages with it is straightforward: write what you want to say on paper, then burn it. The smoke causes the bells to ring, and the message can be heard on the other side.

Conversely, when smoke emerges from the bells, it indicates a message has arrived. Wet special yellow paper placed on top of the tower, and the smoke can imprint text or pictures on it.

It’s unlikely that a general loose cultivator could create something like this.

The notion of a former sect disciple seems a bit more credible.

Liu Shuyue took out a piece of talisman paper, lit it in front of the Smoke Soul Pillar, then quickly formed a Divination Seal with her hands, feeling the direction of the drifting smoke.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, "Liu Zhidong... That ancestor, is his story recorded in the family genealogy?"

Liu Zhiyuan nodded, "Yes, it is."

Being written into the genealogy implies that he has passed away.

"When did he pass away?"

"According to records, it was sixty-five years ago, due to injury and illness."

Liu Shuyue thought to herself, so that means he fulfilled his mission for at most thirty-five years. As for his age, it should have been between forty and fifty, a typical case of untimely death in mid-life.

She wanted to ask this because the direction the smoke drifted toward was by no means the Kunlun Extreme Realm but a certain northeastern territory. Divination cannot yield precise results, only a rough judgment that it’s within a deep mountainous forest, requiring two to three days of travel back and forth from here.

If the Liu Family really did receive a message via the Smoke Soul Pillar, the message source should have come from there.

Could Liu Zhiyuan’s sect disciple possibly still be alive today?

"In ancient times, there was a sage who passed by his home thrice without entering, so even though you never returned home, the Liu Family still thought of you as prideful. After all, you are an Immortal Master of Great Qi, and we understand how heavy your responsibilities are." Liu Zhiyuan earnestly said, "If you still have doubts, I am willing to use the Blood-Dropping Technique to verify."

The Blood-Dropping Technique involves taking fresh blood into a bowl, and mixing it with clear water. If they blend together, it signifies that the blood is of the same origin. But Liu Shuyue knew this method was just a folk tale, not very reliable.

Besides, it doesn’t matter whether she believes it or not. What’s important is that the Liu Family believes in it deeply.

In that case, they are not greedy people seeking benefits by impersonating a relationship with an Immortal Master. Being suppressed by the government isn’t deserved retribution either.

"It’s not necessary," Liu Shuyue said. "When did those people outside start acting against you?"

"Three days ago," Liu Zhiyuan’s tone was heavy. "Governor Yan said you had incurred the emperor’s wrath, and he wanted to punish the entire Liu Family. He aimed to imprison all of us to await the emperor’s decision. Without learning your fate, our Liu Family couldn’t agree, so we organized a family guard to prevent the government office from using force. Unexpectedly, they sent cultivators today, though Qing’Er and You’Er barely managed to hold them off."

"Is that one called You’Er also your child?"

"No, he was originally born of a servant. The ancestor’s laws demand we nurture talent without discrimination, so regardless of whether they’re from the main or side family, even the servants’ children, as long as they have aptitude for cultivation, I treat them equally."

Liu Shuyue nodded, "A wise approach."

Unable to contain himself, Liu Zhiyuan asked again, "Shuyue, what upheaval has occurred in Qing State? Tell me, does the Liu Family truly deserve such a calamity?"

"No, neither the Liu Family nor the people of Jiufeng City should suffer this disaster," Liu Shuyue replied firmly.

Hearing her response, Liu Zhiyuan instantly felt relieved, as if strength returned to his words, "What should we do next? The whole Liu Family is willing to listen to you."

She looked at him, "Arrange a bedroom for me. Before I come out, no one should approach."