Chapter 557: Return to Yuan Mansion, Something Happened to Cai Lin
Watching Soul Xiu and his companion depart, Mang Tianchi snorted coldly and then turned to Mo Yu behind him, asking, "Are you all alright?"
Lei Fei'er gently shook her head, while Mo Yu hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "Dean, do you know where Little Doctor Immortal and the others are now?"
"They left three months after you entered the Heavenly Tomb. I assume they returned to Yuan Mansion, but they didn't say exactly why. They just left a message that, if you came out, you should return to Yuan Mansion quickly," Mang Tianchi pondered for a moment before answering.
Hearing this, Mo Yu frowned slightly, then nodded.
Seeing his reaction, Mang Tianchi hesitated a bit, then said, "Mo Yu, I suppose you've received the legacy of Ancestor Lei Zhen?"
Mo Yu was startled for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I didn't disappoint the clan leader. I managed to find the tomb of Ancestor Lei Zhen in the Heavenly Tomb, and I was fortunate enough to be recognized by him and receive his legacy."
"No wonder your strength has increased so rapidly..." Mang Tianchi nodded, then his expression turned serious as he looked at Mo Yu and said, "If possible, Mo Yu, I hope you can stay in the Thunder Realm and enter seclusion for a while. Wait until your strength reaches the Saint level before you come out. You are a divine bloodline that hasn't been seen in the Lei Clan for thousands of years, and now you've also gained the recognition of Ancestor Lei Zhen. None of us in the Lei Clan want you to encounter any danger."
"Enter seclusion in the Thunder Realm until I break through to the Saint level..." Mo Yu frowned upon hearing this.
Even with his talents, breaking through to the Saint level would not be easy. Besides, Little Doctor Immortal and the others had hurried back to Yuan Mansion, indicating something important had happened. How could he hide away in the Lei Clan and do nothing?
"Dean, what's going on? Why are you suddenly asking me to go into seclusion in the Thunder Realm?" Mo Yu asked with a serious tone.
Mang Tianchi's expression shifted slightly before he sighed and said softly, "The Spirit Realm has suddenly closed."
"The Spirit Realm? Closed?" Both Xiao Yu and Lei Fei'er were startled, with Lei Fei'er's face immediately changing.
"The Spirit Clan?" Xiao Yu looked confused, and Mo Yu quickly explained. "The Spirit Realm is the space where one of the Eight Ancient Clans, the Spirit Clan, resides."
"Why would the Spirit Realm suddenly close? No wonder the Spirit Clan didn't send anyone to the Heavenly Tomb this time," Lei Fei'er said, frowning.
"We don't know the details. We sent some powerful experts to investigate, but we received no information. The space where the Spirit Realm once existed has completely disappeared. Even the elders we sent to investigate found nothing. It's as if the Spirit Realm has completely hidden itself," Mang Tianchi said with a deep frown, clearly puzzled by the bizarre occurrence.
"Sealing off a space and hiding it completely… something major must have happened. Could it be that the Spirit Clan encountered a disaster even they couldn't handle?" Lei Fei'er murmured softly.
"I don't know. The Spirit Clan has been declining over the years and rarely interacts with us, but their foundation is incredibly strong. Even the other imperial clans would struggle to push them to such extremes," Mang Tianchi said with some concern. "All the major imperial clans, including our Lei Clan, are investigating this. If the Spirit Clan truly faced a disaster, we must be extra cautious. That's why I hope you'll stay in the Thunder Realm, Mo Yu. Given the serious situation and the fact that many forces are watching you, staying in the Thunder Realm is the safest option."
Lei Fei'er bit her lip in worry as she looked at Mo Yu. This was the first time in many years that she had heard of an ancient clan sealing off its space and disappearing entirely.
"Husband, if the timing isn't right, perhaps you should stay in the Thunder Realm. With my father overseeing things, it's the safest place for you," Lei Fei'er advised.
Mo Yu frowned deeply but slowly shook his head.
He had already figured out what had likely happened to the Spirit Clan. If his guess was correct, the entire Spirit Clan had probably been wiped out, and their Dou Emperor bloodline completely absorbed by the Soul Clan. This meant that the Soul Clan had started making their moves, and the Spirit Clan wouldn't be the first imperial clan to fall, nor the last.
Even the seemingly safe Lei Clan had been infiltrated by the Soul Clan. Otherwise, how could the ancient imperial clans have lost their Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade in the original timeline?
So, even if he stayed in the Thunder Realm, if the Soul Clan truly wanted him dead, it would be hard to avoid. Since that was the case, there was no point in hiding.
Moreover, the fact that the Soul Clan had quietly destroyed the Spirit Clan meant their plan wasn't fully ready yet. They wouldn't openly confront the Lei Clan at this moment.
With this in mind, Mo Yu cupped his hands toward Mang Tianchi and said, "I'm sorry, Dean. There are matters at Yuan Mansion that require my attention, so I won't be returning to the Thunder Realm."
"Sigh, I knew you wouldn't agree to hide away in seclusion," Mang Tianchi sighed upon hearing Mo Yu's response. He then handed an ancient jade to Mo Yu, saying, "Though Yuan Mansion has some Semi-Saint experts, their strength is still limited. If you find yourself in danger, crush this jade, and I'll come immediately."
Mo Yu was surprised as he took the ancient jade, feeling touched. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Dean."
"No need to thank me. Even if you weren't a divine bloodline of the Lei Clan, as a student of Jia Nan Academy, I wouldn't stand by and do nothing," Mang Tianchi said with a smile, waving his hand.
Tucking the ancient jade away, Mo Yu turned to Lei Fei'er and asked, "I'm heading back to Yuan Mansion. Will you return to the Thunder Realm or come with me?"
Lei Fei'er was about to answer when Mang Tianchi spoke up, "Fei'er, it's better if you return to the Thunder Realm. With the current unrest, the clan leader won't allow you to wander around freely."
After some hesitation, Lei Fei'er could only nod reluctantly. She gazed at Mo Yu with concern and said, "Husband, be careful. Your grudge with the Soul Clan runs deep now. Who knows when they might send stronger forces after you?"
"Don't worry," Mo Yu reassured her with a smile.
After warning Mo Yu, Lei Fei'er turned to Xiao Yu and, after a brief hesitation, softly said, "Sister Xiao Yu, please take care of my husband."
Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned but had already sensed a change in Lei Fei'er's attitude during their time in the Heavenly Tomb. Seeing this, Xiao Yu was actually quite pleased. After all, Lei Fei'er was the daughter of the Lei Clan's leader, far superior in status to her, who came from a declining Xiao Clan.
For Lei Fei'er to address her as "sister" was a great show of respect.
As for jealousy, Xiao Yu had long since accepted the situation.
"Don't worry, Fei'er. I'll take good care of our husband," Xiao Yu said with a smile, holding Lei Fei'er's hand.
Mang Tianchi looked on in surprise at how well the two women were getting along, while Mo Yu chuckled softly. After a few more words with Lei Fei'er and Mang Tianchi, he bid farewell to Xiao Yan and Xun'er and, together with Xiao Yu, set off for the Western Region.
In the center of the Ancient Holy City, the crystal-clear waters of a lake sparkled under the sun's rays, reflecting bright beams of light.
Suddenly, the tranquil lake surface rippled violently as a massive spatial crack tore open in the sky. From within the rift, figures swiftly emerged, landing on the ground below. In an instant, the previously quiet city became bustling with activity.
Mo Yu and Xiao Yu emerged from the spatial crack, their figures appearing atop a building.
"Let's head straight back to Yuan Mansion," Mo Yu said, wasting no time as he pulled out a map to check their direction. He then grabbed Xiao Yu's hand, and their figures transformed into streaks of light, speeding westward and disappearing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.
In Yuan City, the atmosphere was peaceful. Though it wasn't as large as the Thunder Realm, it was still a massive city, capable of housing millions of people.
On the wide training grounds, countless disciples of Yuan Mansion were practicing in unison. Their loud, vigorous shouts gathered together like rolling thunder, echoing throughout the area.
The city itself seemed transformed compared to before, with powerful auras permeating every corner, giving it the feel of an impregnable fortress.
Suddenly, two beams of light shot across the sky, cutting through the air as they flew straight toward the central tower of Yuan City.
"Who dares to storm into Yuan City?"
As the two streaks of light approached, angry shouts echoed through the air. Soon after, the sound of rustling could be heard as several elder figures appeared, floating in the sky. Together, they shouted, "Seal!"
With their combined efforts, the space in the sky quickly solidified.
However, just when everyone thought the two figures would be forced to stop, they were shocked to see that not only did the light streaks not slow down, but they sped up. In a blink, the figures broke through the sealed space and appeared behind the elders like ghosts.
"Haha, it's been almost a year since I've been back. I didn't expect security to be this tight," a voice rang out as the two figures came to a stop, revealing a silver-eyed young man and a tall woman with long, slender legs.
"Lord of the Mansion! Lady of the Mansion!"
The elders were momentarily stunned but quickly cried out in surprise.
While some of the new elders hadn't met Mo Yu before, they were familiar with his appearance. As the Lord of Yuan Mansion, his portrait was displayed everywhere.
Hearing their cries of surprise, the countless disciples below froze, staring in disbelief at Mo Yu and Xiao Yu.
Mo Yu, being the Lord of Yuan Mansion, was a revered figure, rarely seen even by the older members of the mansion, let alone the new disciples, who were utterly amazed.
"The Lord looks just as young as he does in the portraits, like the boy next door."
"Haha, yes, and he's so handsome."
"Don't get starstruck. There's no way someone like him would be interested in us. The Lady is so beautiful, no wonder she's the Lady of the Mansion."
"..."
"Welcome back, Lord and Lady of the Mansion!"
An elder from the Dongfang family, who had joined Yuan Mansion after the destruction of the Western Alliance, respectfully greeted them.
"Thank you, Elder Dongfang," Mo Yu responded with a smile, sweeping his gaze across Yuan City, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
In just a year, Yuan Mansion had undergone a complete transformation. With so many powerful experts guarding it, not even the Soul Hall would dare to attack easily.
From the powerful auras he sensed, Mo Yu estimated that Yuan Mansion was now on par with, if not stronger than, sects like the Heaven's Nether Sect or Flower Sect.
"Haha, so you're finally back."
As Mo Yu scanned the city, a familiar figure appeared as the space behind him rippled. It was none other than Snake Uncle.
"Snake Uncle," Mo Yu greeted respectfully.
"Greetings to the Grand Elder!"
The surrounding elders quickly bowed as well. Snake Uncle rarely showed himself, making him a somewhat mysterious figure to them. However, as the Grand Elder of Yuan Mansion and a Semi-Saint, his status was almost equal to that of the Mansion Lord, which commanded great respect.
"Grand Elder? You forced that title on me," Snake Uncle chuckled, shaking his head before waving dismissively at the elders. He then looked over Mo Yu with a satisfied expression, but when his gaze shifted to Xiao Yu, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.
"A Three-Star Dou Zun? Xiao Yu, you..."
While Mo Yu's growth wasn't unexpected, even Snake Uncle was shocked by Xiao Yu's transformation.
"Haha, Xiao Yu's bloodline has been restored..." Mo Yu said briefly, as there were too many people around.
Snake Uncle paused, then seemed to realize something. The surprise in his eyes faded as he nodded.
For a Semi-Saint, the existence of Dou Emperor bloodlines wasn't a secret, and he knew that the Xiao Clan was a fallen family of Dou Emperors.
"Let's go inside. I've been waiting for your return for a while now," Snake Uncle said after complimenting Xiao Yu.
"Alright," Mo Yu nodded, scanning the area before frowning slightly. He asked softly, "Snake Uncle, has Little Doctor Immortal not returned?"
"She did, but then she left again," Snake Uncle replied.
"Left? Where did she go?" Mo Yu asked, puzzled.
"That's why I've been waiting for you. Not long after you entered the Heavenly Tomb, we received some intelligence. We had Little Doctor Immortal and the others return quickly, and they headed for the Snake-People Empire."
"The Snake-People Empire?" The familiar name made Mo Yu pause, and in an instant, his expression changed.
"Did something happen to Cai Lin?"
(End of Chapter)