Chapter 3376 — Preparations for the Heavenly Tier Trial

Of course, Yu Xiaochen had been handsome and dashing in his youth, and had Yu Xiaojin not married the wrong man, she too would be standing here now.

"Grandfather!" Yuning said, somewhat embarrassed.

Wei Zhao, for his part, made no attempt to hide anything. Since Yu Tianxing had invited him here today, that amounted to a formal acceptance of him. So Wei Zhao took Yuning's small hand in his—and the sensation sent a sudden thrill through his heart, as though he had been carried back to that year, that month, that night of the lovers' festival.

The bonfire, the cave, the wild beasts outside, a beautiful young girl sitting by the fire, pouring out her heart to him—all of it came flooding back to Wei Zhao, as though a lifetime had passed since.

This time, having taken her hand, he would never let go for the rest of his life. What he had missed before, he would never miss again!

"Xiaoning, go and receive the inheritance with a peaceful heart. For your sake, and for Xiaoshu, Yaoyao, and Xiaoxiao—I will take part in that plan, and no one will be able to stand in my way," Wei Zhao said solemnly.

Yuning had heard Yu Bing speak the names Shen Yushu, Gu Mengyao, and Feng Xiaoxiao, and knew they were all close to Wei Zhao's heart. So at this moment she felt no jealousy—only moved by how earnestly he took responsibility.

Of course, another reason Yuning did not resist becoming the inheritor was precisely because of these people. Wei Zhao could never abandon them; by the same token, he surely would not abandon her either. Yet, because of the Yu family, there had always been a lack of a solemn promise.

Today, Wei Zhao had made that promise, and Yuning's heart was at ease. Whatever hardships and thorns lay ahead on this departure, she would face them with a smile!

Night.

In a cave on the back mountain of the Yu estate, Wei Zhao brought Yuning and kindled a bonfire there.

The back mountain was forbidden ground, hidden away by the Yu family; none of the Yus, Yu Yi and Yu Xiaochen included, dared linger on the mountain without cause. Yet Yu Tianxing turned a blind eye to what Wei Zhao and Yuning were doing.

That night, Yuning sat quietly shoulder to shoulder with Wei Zhao at the cave mouth, gazing at the blazing bonfire before them. Though there were no wild beasts here, nor any worry of war-torn chaos, the memories of the two seemed to have carried them both back to the past.

Yuning rested her head against Wei Zhao's shoulder, and the two of them sat nestled together just like that, the thousand words in their hearts all hidden away in the long, slow night.

Between Wei Zhao and Yuning, it was more a communion of the heart: each seemed to know what the other would say, and without saying anything at all, they could feel the deep concern each held for the other.

Yuning, too, would soon have to leave.

Wei Zhao had to return home as soon as possible and have a talk with Xiaoshu—because after Yuning, she would be next!

Kang Jingming ultimately never found Xiaoyi's corpse. He drove back to the Five Luminaries Sect alone, and then, at the first opportunity, went to see Old Ancestor Xuanchen.

"Zhaoming, you're back? Did you find Xiaoyi's corpse?" Old Ancestor Xuanchen glanced at Kang Jingming and asked.

"No." Kang Jingming shook his head. He, too, found the whole affair rather terrifying—the corpse of a grown, living man, just gone like that? It seemed a little unreal. But so what if it was unreal?

"Then what happened?" Old Ancestor Xuanchen frowned. Xiaoyi's soul jade token had only cracked, not shattered—what did that mean? Could there be some uncertain factor at play here?

"Father-in-law, I don't know either," Kang Jingming said with a bitter smile. "In any case, the whole thing is too bizarre. If you hadn't called me, I wouldn't even have known that our eldest senior brother's corpse had gone missing."

"Never mind. Let us set this matter aside for now—perhaps some accident occurred." Though Old Ancestor Xuanchen's scalp prickled a little too, he was, after all, a cultivator of the highest rank, and so could govern his emotions well. He glanced at Kang Jingming and said: "Earlier, you told me that Wei Zhao does not have the strength to slay an expert at the peak great perfection of the late Heavenly Tier?"

"That should be so. Otherwise he would not have let the Paoli clan make a move and incurred such an enormous debt of gratitude!" Kang Jingming nodded.

"In that case, this is an opportunity to kill Wei Zhao!" Old Ancestor Xuanchen clicked his tongue and mused for a moment. "As things stand, we cannot make a move against Wei Zhao—Chief Bai is watching over there, and the opening of the Cloud Tier Island plan is at a critical juncture. I do not wish to stir up complications. This time we acted through the Paoli clan, and we suffered a loss besides; Chief Bai may not blame us. But if we strike directly, I cannot guarantee he will not be driven to desperation!"

"But if we let Wei Zhao go on developing like this, whether the Cloud Tier Island plan can even be carried out will be another matter entirely!" Kang Jingming had learned a thing or two about the Cloud Tier Island plan from following Old Ancestor Xuanchen. "Those inheritors are mostly Wei Zhao's women. If he opposes us then, all our efforts will be washed down the drain!"

"That is true." Old Ancestor Xuanchen closed his eyes. After a moment he opened them again, and a sharp light shot from them. "It seems the Heavenly Tier Trial is the only chance to be rid of Wei Zhao!"

"Father-in-law, is our Five Luminaries Sect going to hold a trial?" Kang Jingming was slightly startled and asked hastily.

"Indeed. Our Five Luminaries Sect has not held a trial in a long time. Taking advantage of the approach of the Cloud Tier Island plan, we shall hold one trial and strike Wei Zhao dead there!" Old Ancestor Xuanchen nodded. "Deaths and injuries in a trial cannot be pursued afterward. Even if Chief Bai is unwilling, there will be nothing he can do!"

"But who shall we send to kill Wei Zhao this time?" Kang Jingming asked.

"I intend to have Xiao'er and the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation join forces to kill Wei Zhao! I refuse to believe that two experts at the peak great perfection of the late Heavenly Tier, two against one, cannot defeat Wei Zhao!" Old Ancestor Xuanchen gave a cold laugh. "Zhaoming, go down and cultivate. You will take part in this Heavenly Tier Trial as well—go and see something of the world, but be sure to mind your safety."

"Uh—but with my strength, a mid-Heavenly Tier alchemist, what ability would I have to protect myself? If I go and don't come back, then little Shiyi, she—" Kang Jingming was startled. Going to the trial would surely be fun, but losing one's life for the sake of fun was not worth it. (To be continued)