When Cangshu Haoxue left Zhenyue Mountain City this time, he had specifically promised the clan elders that he would definitely return with Old Man Longsword's treasure.
Later, when Hongfu suddenly appeared halfway, Cangshu Haoxue thought he could perhaps use his status as the Third Young Master of Zhenyue Mountain City to gain some face with Hongfu, get a share of a few ordinary treasures, and take them back to complete his task.
However, Hongfu was too arrogant and completely refused to see him.
Now that Hongfu was injured and Old Man Longsword had escaped, wasn't this a perfect opportunity?
Cangshu Haoxue took a few of his lackeys and avoided the crowd, arriving at a secluded bamboo forest. If he wanted to call for backup, he naturally couldn't do it with great fanfare; otherwise, it would arouse others' vigilance and make things difficult.
Under the expectant gazes of his lackeys, Cangshu Haoxue took out a jade token.
This jade token was a life-saving measure given to him by his father before he left home. With this jade token, anyone from the branch families of the Cangshu clan had to come and help him unconditionally. If they didn't come, they could just wait for the main family to cut off all their resources, letting them slowly degenerate into ordinary mortals.
Cangshu Haoxue activated the blood-red patterns within the jade token. The translucent jade token faintly emitted a glow, and he declared, "Members of the Cangshu clan, come pay your respects at once."
The wind blew, the bamboo shadows swayed, but no one was seen, nor was there the slightest response.
A lackey asked in confusion, "What's going on?"
Another person said, "Do the branch family members really dare to disobey the orders of the main family?"
Yet another person chimed in, "Unless they are crazy. Do they not know the consequences of offending the main family?"
Cangshu Haoxue said impatiently, "Shut up!"
The others immediately fell silent out of fear.
As if refusing to believe it, Cangshu Haoxue once again activated the blood-red patterns in the jade token. This time, there was a rippling response from the blood-red patterns, meaning someone carrying the bloodline of the Cangshu clan had arrived.
Sure enough, a figure slowly appeared.
Slanting rain swept across the sea of bamboo, dampening the tips of his black hair. His green robes were as clean as if freshly washed, and his steps were light and slow, just like a breath of spring breeze walking out from the mountain mist.
The man who appeared had a completely unremarkable face. He was too ordinary, lacking any memorable features, as if one would completely forget this unexceptional-looking man the blink of an eye later.
Cangshu Haoxue glanced at the jade token in his hand and said, "You are from a branch family of the Cangshu clan."
The ordinary-looking man in green cupped his hands in a polite greeting and said gently, "Indeed. I am Cangshu Ran from the Song City branch family."
Cangshu Haoxue didn't care what a mere underling from a branch family was called, nor did he care to remember the name of a minor character. He cast another glance at this unremarkable man, seeing he was merely at the Foundation Establishment realm, incapable of being of any great use.
Cangshu Haoxue stood with his hands behind his back, his demeanor arrogant. "Why are you the only one from the branch family here? Where are the others?"
Cangshu Ran replied, "Half a month ago, the Cangshu family in Song City was attacked by madmen and suffered heavy casualties. The family head is currently leading the others in recuperating and healing their wounds at the estate. Having received the bloodline summons, the family head did not dare to be negligent, so he specifically ordered me to come and explain the situation to you, Young Master. Please do not take offense."
Cangshu Haoxue frowned. "Someone actually dared to touch the people of the Cangshu clan? Who has such audacity?"
"The madmen were cunning and could no longer be tracked. The family head guesses that the other party came for the branch family's ultimate treasure, the Primordial Glazed Chalice."
Any family would always have some hidden magical treasures at the bottom of their trunks. Even if the Cangshu family in Song City was just a branch family, they would still have one or two treasures that others envied.
"A branch family is just a branch family, truly unpresentable." Cangshu Haoxue had no intention of helping the branch family seek justice. He couldn't be bothered to meddle in other people's business and turned around to leave.
But Cangshu Ran spoke again: "The family head has a premonition that he cannot protect the ultimate treasure and fears it will fall into the hands of outsiders. Upon learning that someone from the main family has arrived, he was overjoyed. He wishes to entrust the ultimate treasure to you, Young Master, to bring back to the main family. He hopes that you might put in a good word for us upon your return, and considering that the branch family is wholeheartedly devoted to the main family, he earnestly requests that the head of the main family bestow a few holy healing pills."
Cangshu Haoxue's heart stirred.
The person beside him whispered, "Third Young Master, the Primordial Glazed Chalice is a good item that can help one break through. If this thing is in your hands, it will definitely play a greater role."
Cangshu Haoxue had just thought of this as well. Even if he couldn't bring back Old Man Longsword's treasure, having the Primordial Glazed Chalice to take back and complete his task wouldn't be bad.
Cangshu Haoxue said coldly, "Cangshu Ran, is it? Lead the way."
Cangshu Ran turned around and walked slowly forward.
The group followed behind him, still doing their utmost to flatter Cangshu Haoxue.
"When we return to Zhenyue Mountain City this time, the Third Young Master will definitely have the greatest merit. Not to mention the disciples in the sect, even the family head and the elders will look at you with new respect."
"That's right! So what if the Eldest Young Master is called a rare prodigy seen once in a century? He is always a lone wolf and doesn't interact with anyone in the sect. Nobody is convinced by him."
"And the Second Young Master, with his background... tsk, there's no need to say more about that."
"The Fourth Young Master is still young, just a good-for-nothing."
"Only the Third Young Master has a clear temperament and handles matters thoroughly. Returning to the city this time, you will surely be what everyone hopes for. In the future, it is only most fitting for the Third Young Master to take charge of Zhenyue Mountain City."
Everyone chimed in one after another, an endless stream of flattering words that filled Cangshu Haoxue's heart with joy, as if that high seat in Zhenyue Mountain City had already been prepared for him in advance.
Cangshu Haoxue raised his head proudly and said, "Once I take the position of family head, I will first conquer Chiyan Peak and make Hongfu my bed-warming concubine. Then there's Biyun Mountain; I've heard there are many beauties up there. It's just a pity that the most beautiful one married into the Wuyu Palace."
Someone chimed in, "I've heard that there was an Eldest Miss from Biyun Mountain whose name was struck from the genealogy and who was driven down the mountain. Her whereabouts are still unknown."
"Really?" Cangshu Haoxue's eyes lit up. "I wonder how this Eldest Miss's beauty compares to the little lady we saw in the tavern today? If she can surpass that little lady by a point or two, I wouldn't mind taking in this homeless Eldest Miss."
The figure leading the way in front suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Someone asked, "Hey, what are you—"
Before he could finish his sentence, his head tilted and fell off his neck, dropping into the dirt.
It took a moment for the others to react, and then they were instantly struck with sheer terror.
"What's going on?"
"There's a trap here!"
"It's an array!"
The last word was still stuck in his throat when, at the very moment they stepped into the gate of death, the entire bamboo forest erupted with a bone-chilling danger.
Invisible restrictions were completely activated beneath their feet. Pale green spiritual light darted up everyone's ankles like venomous snakes, and dense, fine bamboo spikes burst forth from the earth, instantly piercing through the soles of their feet.
Immediately, agonizing screams echoed one after another.
Someone tried to circulate their spiritual power to break free, only to find that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around them had already been devoured by the array. The true essence within their bodies vanished like clay oxen entering the sea, impossible to gather even the slightest bit.
