Chapter 92: She’s Still Alive!

“They said it was the village chief’s wife and son from that village,” the manager whispered.

When Xu Haoguang heard this, his face turned ugly. He glanced at Xu Haoran’s questioning look, then sighed softly and told everything that had happened exactly as it was.

After hearing this, Xu Haoran’s face became frighteningly dark. He gave a cold snort and said:

“What is there to report about such a matter? Just kill them directly.”

“Yes!” The Outer Hall manager hurriedly bowed, a layer of cold sweat seeping onto his forehead.

“Wait!”

Xu Haoguang stopped the Outer Hall manager who was about to leave. He sighed lightly and said, “Let them go. The crime does not extend to wives and children.”

Xu Haoran shook his head slightly and said to Xu Haoguang somewhat angrily, “Eleventh Brother, you are still too soft-hearted!”

After saying this, he turned to the Outer Hall manager and said, “Send people to escort them back to the village. Tell the new village chief to keep an eye on them. If they run out of the village again, he will be held responsible.”

“Yes!”

The Outer Hall manager bowed his head, bent his waist, and backed away. Only after turning the corner did he straighten up and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

After sending away the Outer Hall manager, everyone’s attention returned to the “Closed-Door Cultivation” sign on Xu Ziyan’s door. Suppressing their anxiety, they stood quietly outside Xu Ziyan’s room. The New Disciples living near Xu Ziyan saw the Clan Leader and some Hall Masters standing neatly outside Xu Ziyan’s door, waiting for her to finish her Closed-Door Cultivation. They felt both shocked and proud.

They were shocked that such a thing was happening before their eyes, and proud that Xu Ziyan was their leader. In the room next to Xu Ziyan’s, Xu Qingxue sat on her bed, clenching her fists tightly. There was only one thought in her heart:

“I want this too! I want to be the center of attention too!”

On a hillside further away, Xu Huniu silently watched everything happening outside Xu Ziyan’s door. She thought about whether she should ask Xu Ziyan one more time after she finished her Closed-Door Cultivation, to have her agree to be the Plum Blossom Gang Leader. Or perhaps she should lead the Plum Blossom Gang disciples directly to join Xu Ziyan, letting Xu Ziyan do whatever she wanted with the gang?

Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao also stood at a corner of the hillside, looking towards Xu Ziyan’s door with complicated expressions. At this moment, they no longer had any thoughts of competing with Xu Ziyan. They were even much more polite to Xu Huniu, hoping to improve their past relationship with Xu Ziyan through Xu Huniu. After all, in their minds, Xu Ziyan was only at the Houtian level, yet she received such attention from the clan. If she reached the Innate Realm, wouldn’t she become the clan’s key focus for training? How could they hope to match her?

The sky gradually darkened. The sun was using its last warmth, lingering as it set in the west. Xu Haoliang frowned slightly and said to Xu Haoran:

“Big Brother, waiting like this isn’t a solution. Why not call Xu Ziyan out!”

“No!”

Xu Haoran quickly waved his hand to stop Xu Haoliang, somewhat angrily saying, “Ninth Brother, you know very well that a cultivator must not be disturbed during Closed-Door Cultivation. That would ruin Yan’er’s training. In mild cases, her Realm might drop; in severe cases, she could suffer Qi Deviation. How can you say such a thing?”

Xu Haoguang and his wife, standing nearby, also glared angrily at Xu Haoliang. Xu Haoliang gave an awkward laugh and said:

“I’m just anxious! The clan is in a crisis now. If her Closed-Door Cultivation lasts for months, wouldn’t that delay the clan’s important matters?”

Xu Haoguang snorted coldly from the side and said, “But if my daughter suffers Qi Deviation because of you, even if you call her out, what can she do for the clan?”

Xu Haoliang’s expression stiffened, and anger flashed in his eyes. But because Xu Haoran was present, and the clan needed Xu Ziyan’s help now, he just glared fiercely at Xu Haoguang, turned his head, and said nothing more.

Xu Haobo, who had been standing to the side deep in thought, suddenly had a bright look in his eyes. He looked up and said:

“Big Brother, I remember Xu Wenli mentioning that night when Yan’er rescued them. She said Yan’er used a Second-grade Talisman, and finally even took out a Fifth-grade Talisman!”

“That’s right!”

Xu Haoran’s face showed shock, then wild joy. He gazed fervently at Xu Ziyan’s door and said excitedly:

“Doesn’t that mean Yan’er can make Second-grade Talismans! But what about that Fifth-grade Talisman?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Xu Haoguang. Xu Haoguang quickly waved his hands and said:

“Don’t ask me. I don’t know anything. I only know that a few months before Yan’er left the village, she met a Female Immortal outside the village. She taught Yan’er a Cultivation Method and the Talisman Crafting Art, but did not take Yan’er as a disciple, saying they would meet again if fate allowed.”

“Oh!” Xu Haoran nodded gently, his face showing understanding. “That Female Immortal might be an Immortal from that Sect. That Fifth-grade Talisman was probably also given to Yan’er by that Female Immortal.”

Everyone nodded after hearing this. But just the fact that Xu Ziyan could make Second-grade Talismans was enough to make them excited. During the clan’s crisis, having such good news was truly uplifting! Even Xu Haoliang’s heart was churning. On one hand, he was happy that the clan had such a talent. On the other hand, he felt disappointed because Xu Ziyan was not from his faction.

Inside the room, Xu Ziyan had reached a state where she forgot both the external world and herself. She continuously circulated the True Essence in her Meridians. The Water Ice Art constantly flashed in her consciousness. Each time she completed a Grand Cycle, her Realm stabilized a bit more, and her understanding of the Water Ice Art deepened.

The True Essence circulated through her Meridians over and over, then trickled into her Dantian. Her Realm stabilized bit by bit. A Mighty Pressure slowly emitted from Xu Ziyan’s body, clinging closely to her skin. With her long, steady breaths, it pulsed—exhaling and inhaling, appearing and disappearing.

Outside, Xu Haoguang and the others looked at the sky. He waved over Xu Tieniu, who had been secretly watching from a distance, and said:

“You wait here for Xu Ziyan to come out. As soon as she emerges, have her come to the Main Hall immediately. Tell her we are waiting for her there.”

Xu Tieniu puffed out his chest and answered in a deep, muffled voice, “I guarantee I will complete the task.”

Xu Haoran nodded with satisfaction and led everyone away. After returning to the Main Hall, everyone sat down. Xu Haobo said excitedly:

“Big Brother, with Yan’er’s Second-grade Talismans, we have one more layer of protection. Even if the Zhou Family from Canglang City and the Yang Family from Nanlin City ally, we can still hold them off for a while.”

“Don’t say that…”

Xu Haoran looked worriedly through the Main Hall’s door towards the night sky.

Under the night sky, Floating Snow Peak.

The moonlight fell from the horizon onto Xu Lin’s body, covering him with a silver glow. Xu Lin’s gaze looked into the distance in the night towards Xu Ziyan’s residence. His resolute face glowed with happiness. There was only one thought in his heart:

“Ziyan isn’t dead. She’s still alive!”