Talisman Emperor

The interior of Conscience Hall seemed ordinary, but numerous pockets of space had actually been established here by a supreme technique.

Every single pocket of space was like a small world that was isolated from the outside word, and one would be unable to notice anything that occurred in the outside world upon being confined within them.

Within one of the pockets of space.

Clang! Clang!

Wind and snow suffused the surroundings while a wave of clear and soft music from a zither drifted up into the air.

Zuoqiu Xue sat beneath an ancient and magnificent tree with a zither laid out in front of her. Her fair hands were lightly plucking the zither's strings while she maintains a calm and composed appearance, and her movements were smooth like flowing water.

Chen Lingjun sat on the ground at the side while listening to the tune of the zither, and he stared blankly at her in silence.

Snow fluttered through the air while the pair of husband and wife enjoyed the tune of the zither beneath an ancient tree, and a rhythmic tune that carried otherworldly and distant emotion curled up into the air and resounded through the surroundings.

But in next to no time, this scene was destroyed by a wave of clamorous clapping.

"Enjoying the zither beneath the snow, how carefree and unrestrained! Big Brother, Sister-in-law, what refined interests you have!" A figure strode through the snow from afar while clapping and praising. Surprisingly, it was Chen Lingkong.

Clang!

Zuoqiu Que pressed down upon the zither strings, and its tune instantly vanished.

Chen Lingkong who was staring blankly at her shook his head with a helpless expression on his face, and then he said to her, "I have no further mood to enjoy it. Let's do it again later."

Zuoqiu Xue nodded and said, "Alright."

From the beginning until the end, the both of them hadn't paid any attention to Chen Lingkong.

However, Chen Lingkong didn't care at all. He just walked over to the ancient tree and sat in front of Chen Lingkong before he said, "I'm sorry for disturbing the two of you."

Chen Lingkong glanced indifferently at him and said, "If you're sorry, then you shouldn't have come and made us unhappy."

Chen Lingkong roared with laughter and said, "Looks like Big Brother still harbors ill feelings towards me."

After that, he sighed and said, "Unfortunately, I had no choice but to come here this time."

"Oh?" Zuoqiu Xue and Chen Lingjun exchanged a glance, and they seemed to be in deep thought.

The atmosphere here actually became slightly silent, and only the snow that filled the sky was still fluttering about while the chilly whistles of the wind resounded.

Chen Lingkong was still the first to break the silence, and he said, "Elder Brother was right, someone really does intend to rescue both of you from our clan."

Zuoqiu Xue and Chen Lingjun couldn't help but exchange a glance upon hearing this, and a wisp of bright light flashed in their hearts.

Merely this scene alone clearly showed that the two of them didn't need to speak at all before they could understand each other and guess what each other was thinking.

However, they still didn't speak a single world.

Chen Lingkong couldn't help but frown because of this. After a short while, he actually suddenly started laughing before he said, "I know that imprisoning the two of you here for these years hasn't just made you hate me to the bone, but haven't the two of you thought about the reason why I imprisoned you here?"

"You're my older brother and sister-in-law. How could I have possibly turned against my own brother unless I had no other choice?

"The crux of the matter if that Big Brother, you were too presumptuous all those years ago! You actually didn't hesitate to take a precious treasure of the clan away in order to attain the Ultimate Path towards the Dao. Could it be that you haven't realized your errors at all after so many years have passed?"

As he finished speaking, Chen Lingkong's voice carried a wisp of indignation and emotion. It was like he was deeply distressed and was unable to let go of the grief and anger he felt.

On the other hand, Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue's expressions remained unchanged since the beginning, and their faces were extremely calm as if they hadn't heard him at all.

After a long time, Chen Lingjun raised his eyes to gaze at Chen Lingkong as he said, "You've mistaken many things. Firstly, the precious treasure I took with me all those years ago was something I obtained myself, and it wasn't inherited from the sect. Secondly, there's no relationship between me and the Chen Clan anymore. So, don't call me big brother anymore. I, Chen Lingjun, don't have a younger brother like you!"

Chen Lingkong couldn't help but laugh coldly when he heard this. "Big Brother, do you still intend to draw a line between us? It's impossible! Your memories carry the brands of your past life, and it possesses all the inheritances of the Chen Clan. So on what basis do you say that there's no relationship between you and the Chen Clan?"

Chen Lingjun frowned. In the end, he didn't say anything because they'd been arguing about this for many years, so it was pointless to continue on the topic.

"Go on, tell us exactly why you came here." Zuoqiu Xue who'd been watching coldly from the side until now had suddenly spoken, and her voice was cold and indifferent. "Please leave if you intend to continue beating around the bush. We don't have the time to listen to your nonsense."

She spoke without holding back at all.

Chen Lingkong's eyelids twitched imperceptibly. After a short while, he said, "It's very simple, I want to make a trade with the two of you."

"Go on." Zuoqiu Xue just lightly spat out two words.

Chen Lingkong grinned instead when he heard this, and he seemed calm and composed in this situation as he spoke in a neither fast not slow manner. "To tell you the truth, you son, Chen Xi, has come to the clan. That little fellow's cultivation isn't bad, and he's very much stronger than the two of you."

Xi'er! It really is him!

When they heard that someone had came to rescue them, both Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue had vaguely guessed that it was Chen Xi. However, when they obtained confirmation of it, they still couldn't help but be shocked and filled with complicated emotions. They felt gratified but even stronger emotions of guilt.

As parents, they were unable to take care of their children since their children were young. Now, they even needed their son to come and rescue them, so how could they not feel guilty?

"It isn't just that, that little fellow isn't someone that's bold but foolish. I relief on the might of Oracle Mountain and the Tang Clan when he came here this time, and he made me have no choice but to make concessions and allow him to participate in the competition for the next successor of the clan that's being held soon." At this moment, Chen Lingkong seemed very frank and didn't conceal anything.

Both Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue couldn't help but feel surprised when they heard this, and they seemed to be in deep thought and didn't reveal any happiness.

Because they were very clearly aware that Chen Lingkong would definitely not accept defeat just like that.

Sure enough, Chen Lingkong continued in the next moment. "However, unfortunately, no matter how prepared he is this time, it will still end in failure for sure."

"Why do you say so?" said Chen Lingjun with a frown on his face.

"Big Brother, don't forget that our Chen Clan is a Divine Dao Protector Clan that possesses countless experts. Even though that son of yours is extraordinary, but do you think he can seize the position of succession with a cultivation at the Fourth Star of the Region Lord Realm?" When he spoke up to here, Chen Lingkong had a wisp of disdain on the corners of his mouth. "He doesn't have the ability of an Innate God nor does he have the bloodline of my Chen Clan. Such a little fellow isn't worthy of mentioning at all!"

"Since it's like that, then why have you come here?" Zuoqiu Xue spoke coldly because anyone would probably be infuriated upon hearing others speak badly about their child.

"I told you, I've come to make a trade." Chen Lingkong sighed and said, "This matter has already been delayed for too long. So, isn't it about time that we resolve it?"

Zuoqiu Xue pursued an answer. "What sort of trade?"

Chen Lingkong suddenly straightened his figure, and his imposing aura was oppressive and haughty as he said in a low voice, "It's very simple. Hand that precious treasure over and I'll let the two of you go. I'll allow your family to be reunited. Alright?"

"What if we don't agree?" said Chen Lingjun.

Chen Lingkong seemed to have not expected that Chen Lingjun would still reveal such an attitude after he'd provided such sincere conditions, so he couldn't help but frown as he said, "If you don't agree? If it's really like that, then it'll probably be impossible to save the two of you even if Oracle Mountain and the Tang Clan pressure our Chen Clan!"

He paused for a moment, and then a wisp of coldness appeared in his eyes. "Don't forget that your fate is still in my hands. This is something that no one can change!"

"I understand now." Chen Lingjun had a composed expression. "You can leave. I won't agree to these conditions."

Chen Lingkong's face sank. "Aren't you worried that your son would suffer an accident?"

"Don't you dare!" Zuoqiu Xue's clear eyes turned icy cold, and she was completely infuriated by these words. Perhaps she could ignore the fate of any other person, but how could she ignore the fate of her own flesh and blood?

"Hahaha! Why wouldn't I?" Chen Lingkong roared with laughter, and his voice was icy cold and ghastly to the extreme. "The Chen Clan will sooner or later fall into a complete decline without that precious treasure, and it's even to the extent that it might be swallowed by other clans. Since it's like that, then what else do I have to care about?"

His expression even carried a wisp of madness.

Chen Lingkong was a Daolord that possessed extraordinary ability and monstrous authority. Yet now, he'd actually spoken such words, so it was absolutely not an exaggeration.

"Just leave." Chen Lingkong didn't reveal any emotions towards this, and he said indifferently, "Come talk with me when you really dare to act in that way. Perhaps… I would consider it seriously then."

"Hmph! Then we'll wait and see!" Chen Lingkong stood up and left in anger, and his figure gradually vanished amidst the snow that covered the surroundings.

"Lingjun, what if…." As soon as Chen Lingkong had left, a wisp of worry couldn't help but creep onto Zuoqiu Xue's face.

"Don't worry. I know Chen Lingkong. He finally gained authority over the entire Chen Clan with great difficulty, so how could he possibly do something that might destroy the entire Chen Clan as well. Don't forget that Xi'er didn't come here alone." Chen Lingjun's eyes were deep as he said in a light voice. "No matter if it's the Oracle Mountain or the Tang Clan, they both aren't existences that the current Chen Clan dares to offend…."

Zuoqiu Xue thought for a moment, and then her tightly knit brows eased up while she nodded. "Everything else is inconsequential as long as Xi'er is fine."

When she mentioned Chen Xi, a wisp of a smile couldn't help but arise on the corners of Chen Lingjun's mouth, and he sighed with emotion. "In my past life, my greatest pride was leading the entire Chen Clan to occupy the Ninth Spirit World. But in this lifetime, my greatest pride is possessing you and two intelligent and obedient children."

Zuoqiu Xue's expression became gently as well, and she muttered. "Aren't I the same as well?"

Chen Lingjun stood up and embraced Zuoqiu Xue before he said, "A'Xue, you should be clearly aware that Xi'er possesses the River Diagram, so Oracle Mountain would absolutely not watch as something happens to him. So, you don't have to worry. I have a feeling that it won't be long before our family will truly be reunited, and we won't have to be separated again…."

Zuoqiu Xue laid in his embrace while her face was covered in longing.

…

Time passed by without noticing, and only 3 days were left before the Chen Clan's Ancestral Worship Ceremony began.

It was also on this day that Chen Xi who was cultivating in meditation had been suddenly jolted awake by clamorous noise.

He stood up swiftly and walked out of the abode, and his face instantly turned cold and indifferent when he witnessed the scene occurring in the distance.