Chapter 2230 - Crying Her Eyes Red

Su Yi was stunned.

The old-timers Qi Wei spoke of were undoubtedly no ordinary Master Gods.

There was no doubt about it. Qi Wei had been busy calling for reinforcements last night.

After a moment’s silence, Su Yi said, “This is just my personal opinion, but I still don’t think Su Yi needs the Qilin Trading Company’s support.”

Qi Wei sneered to herself.

You still won’t admit that you’re Su Yi? You really know how to put on an extraordinary act!

Outwardly, however, she chuckled. “Still, it’s better to be prepared and ‘mend a roof before it rains.’ That will stave off future troubles.”

A moment later, she said energetically, “I really went all out this time and invited an extraordinary top expert!”

“Who?” Su Yi asked curiously.

Qi Wei blinked. “It’s a secret.”

Su Yi laughed dryly. “Since the Three Purities Daoist Court plans to attack the Xi Family in seven days’ time, the grand elder and I have decided to set course for Skybright Mountain today!”

Skybright Mountain was the ancestral home of the ancient Xi Family.

“You don’t plan to take action beforehand?” Qi Wei couldn’t help but ask.

Su Yi sighed. He knew he couldn’t trick Qi Wei, so hiding it any longer would just seem disingenuous.

“There’s no urgency,” he said. “First, I’d like to see just what kind of force the Three Purities Daoist Court rallied to defeat the Xi Family. While I’m at it, I’ll see how many old-timers can’t help but jump out of hiding.”

Qi Wei was obviously excited, and her eyes sparkled. “Are you... planning something big?”

Su Yi shook his head. “I wouldn’t call it that. I just want to take this time to see what kind of waves this storm will create.”

Qi Wei said thoughtfully, “You seem quite confident in yourself. Are you that confident you can save the Xi Family from this crisis?”

Su Yi smiled. “It’s a secret.”

“...” Qi Wei was at a loss for words.

This guy sure knows how to create suspense!

She quickly made a decision. “Very well. I’ll just accompany you to Skybright Mountain.”

......

That very day, word that the Three Purities Daoist Court would attack the Xi Family in seven days’ time spread.

It was like a hurricane sweeping throughout the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent, causing widespread uproar.

Everyone knew that this long-brewing storm would soon descend upon the Xi Family’s Skybright Mountain!

“Will Su Yi show up?”

“I’m sure he will! Otherwise, why would the Three Purities Daoist Court have gone to such great lengths? Or caused such an enormous disturbance?”

“That’s right. They say that the Three Purities Daoist Court joined forces with several other top factions to seal Skybright Mountain off two weeks ago!”

“The Xi Family are like beasts in a cage, unable to escape even if they grow wings. When the curtains open on the impending storm, they’ll have no hope of victory whatsoever. All they can do is wait to be slaughtered!”

“Their lives and deaths are in Su Yi’s hands. Seems to me that he has no choice but to show up!”

...Similar discussions arose throughout the God Domain.

It was also on that day that countless factions took action, sending their experts to Skybright Mountain!

......

A downpour clattered against the roof, then rolled down the eaves. Dark clouds hung beneath the dome of heaven, rumbling with thunder and flashing with lightning.

From time to time, streaks of electricity tore through the curtain of heaven, illuminating the overcast landscape with startlingly intense white light.

Xi Ning stood alone before the window lattice, gazing into the downpour with indelible sorrow in her eyes.

She wore plain hemp clothing, and her hair was casually tied back with a red string. That aside, she had no adornments or embellishments to speak of.

But that did nothing to disguise her extraordinary charm and beauty.

The downpour had already gone on for seven days and seven nights, but it still showed no sign of stopping.

It was indistinct through the rumbling of thunder and the clattering of the raindrops against the roof, but the sound of a fierce argument emanated from afar.

Xi Ning knew that this was the sound of the clan’s higher-ups arguing in the ancestral hall. Such arguments had become a daily occurrence.

Xi Ning pursed her lips and sighed to herself.

“A’Ning, can’t you think of a way to make Su Yi hurry up and show himself?” Divine Venerate Xi Yue couldn’t help but say. “If things go on like this, the clan will proclaim you the primary culprit behind this disaster and give you to the Three Purities Daoist Court. Not even your father will be able to protect you.”

Her brow was fraught with anxiety.

The mountain had been sealed completely for the past two weeks. The forces of several top factions had, under the leadership of the Three Purities Daoist Court, thoroughly surrounded the ancient Xi Family.

All of this put enormous pressure on the Xi Family.

It was as if a sword were hovering over their heads, but no one knew when it would fall. Everyone in the clan felt helpless and frantic, from the older-generation experts to the women and children. No one could eat or sleep in peace.

Moreover, many of their clansmen saw Xi Ning as the cause of this disaster. They thought she was responsible for the imminent threat to the family. Even her father, the leader of the family, had been under relentless pressure to give Xi Ning to the Three Purities Daoist Court!

Xi Ning had been under house arrest in this room for days. She was like a captive, unable to go anywhere.

Her situation couldn’t have been any more dangerous!

Moreover, she’d had only Divine Venerate Xi Yue for company all this time.

When Xi Ning heard Xi Yue’s request, she fell briefly silent, then said calmly, “Fellow Daoist Su has no bond with the Xi Family whatsoever. Even if I could contact him, I wouldn’t want him to get involved!”

“You...” Xi Yue was instantly angry. “How can you be so muddle-headed even at a time like this? Everyone knows that it’s your extraordinary relationship with Su Yi that invited this calamity!”

Xi Ning’s pretty face paled. “You think this is my fault too?”

Xie Yue instantly realized she’d misspoken. She couldn’t help but sigh. “This isn’t your fault, and this isn’t the clan’s fault, either. All of this is Su Yi’s fault!

“The way I see it, if he really cared for you, he’d step forth and bear responsibility for all of this. He wouldn’t let our clan bear the weight of his sins!”

Xi Ning shook her head. “You’re wrong. The Three Purities Daoist Court is the only one to blame for all this.”

She looked away from the downpour, then turned to face Divine Venerate Xi Yue. She said gently, “You needn’t worry about me. I’ve long since been prepared to sacrifice myself.”

She paused, then said lightly, “I’ll use my life to save the family from this unprovoked disaster.”

Divine Venerate Xi Yue’s heart shook, and she growled, “Just what’s so good about Su Yi, anyway? Why would you rather die than see him come to your aid? Is he worth it?”

Xi Ning remained calm. From beginning to end, her exquisitely beautiful face didn’t so much as ripple with emotion. It seemed she’d long since let go of it all.

She said softly, “There’s no need for you to worry about this. It would be terrible if you strained yourself.”

Divine Venerate Xi Yue’s expression shifted erratically, and she said with grief, “A’Ning, surely you’ve realized that even if you die, the Three Purities Daoist Court is still going to wipe out our entire clan! Our only hope is for Su Yi to step forth and save us from this disaster. Nothing else will work!”

She practically roared that last sentence. It was obvious how angry she was.

Xi Ning’s gaze was bleak.

Bang!

But then, someone suddenly kicked open the tightly shut doors, and a tall, dark-robed old man walked inside.

He said icily, “The high elder has commanded me to take the criminal Xi Ning away!”

Divine Venerate Xi Yue’s expression shifted. “Why? Surely the family head hasn’t agreed to that? Also, what do you mean, ‘criminal?’ When was A’Ning convicted of any crimes?”

The old man in black glanced coldly at her before saying, “The family head has been stripped of his position. Convicting A’Ning of crimes was the clan’s joint decision!”

Then, he looked at Xi Ning. “Come with me.”

Xi Ning’s beautiful face paled, but she just nodded in silence.

“Wait!” Divine Venerate Xi Yue roared. “I know you want to give A’Ning up in hopes that the Three Purities Daoist Court will spare us, but....”

Bang!

The old man in black swung his sleeve, sending Divine Venerate Xi Yue flying. She slammed into the corner.

“The lives of the entire clan are on the line. Can you bear the responsibility of that?” The old man said sinisterly. “I’m not afraid to tell you that the Three Purities Daoist Court has already announced that they’ll attack us in just seven days!”

As he spoke, he seized Xi Ning by the shoulder. “Don’t blame the clan for our heartlessness. You caused this disaster, and you must naturally bear the consequences. Don’t you agree?”

Xi Ning nodded. “That’s only natural, and I’m already prepared to die. I won’t resent or blame the clan. I just hope you won’t make things too hard on my father.”

The old man in black was briefly stunned, and his gaze was suddenly conflicted. He let out a long sigh. “If Su Yi shows up, there might not be any need for you to go to your death.”

With that, he led her out of the hall, his hand firmly on her shoulder.

Divine Venerate Xi Yue slumped in the corner, visibly overcome with grief. She knew that there was nothing she could do to stop this from happening...

Outside, the rain intensified and the bitter winds howled. The mountains and rivers were overcast.

The higher-ups of the Xi Family were gathered in the ancestral hall. Even the old-timers who’d long since gone into seclusion were present.

As soon as Xi Ning entered the ancestral hall, she saw her father, Xi Jingshan!

Xi Jingshan sat woodenly in the corner, completely downtrodden. His gaze was utterly bleak, and he looked as if he’d aged countless years overnight.

Whoosh!

All eyes were instantly on Xi Ning.

But Xi Ning was just looking at her father. Her heart ached at the sight of him, and the rims of her eyes reddened.

She hurried to his side and knelt beside him, then said in a quavering voice, “Father, your daughter was unfilial. I’ve implicated the entire clan, and I’ve implicated you, too.”

Teardrops poured down her pallid but beautiful face, then splattered when they hit the ground.

Waves of emotion coursed through Xi Jingshan’s heart. He suddenly took a deep breath, then helped Xi Ning to her feet and smiled. “A’Ning, it was the Three Purities Daoist Court who caused this, and it’s our fault that we’re too weak to stand up to them. It has nothing to do with you! In my heart, you’ve never done anything to hurt the clan, and I’ve never considered you a criminal!”

He spoke slowly and emphatically. Every word echoed throughout the ancestral hall.

Many of the gathered higher-ups’ expressions darkened.

Xi Ning looked at her father in a daze. In the end, she could no longer keep her emotions in check.

Tears fell like rain, and she wept until her eyes were red.