Chapter 935: Returning to One's Roots

Cai Yong's expression shifted as he furrowed his brows. "Child, Grandpa knows you've suffered a lot, wandering alone all these years.

Ah,

blame me for how I treated your father back then..."

Ling Feng's lips twitched. The old man was getting further from the truth with every word. He hurriedly raised his hands. "Senior, I truly have no idea what you're talking about."

Nearby, Yue Zhonglian, Deng Xian, and Mu Yunsang exchanged glances. General Cai Yong might have aged, but surely he wouldn't mistake some random youth for his own flesh and blood.

Unless... the old general had grown so desperate for an heir that he'd begun claiming any promising young man who caught his eye.

If that was the case, his shamelessness truly knew no bounds.

"Old Cai, you've got the wrong person. I know this boy well. He has nothing to do with your Cai family!" Deng Xian said bluntly, though his eyes held a rare gleam of admiration as they landed on Ling Feng. Truth be told, if it were up to him, he'd gladly claim Ling Feng as his own descendant too if he could!

"Silence, Old Deng! You know nothing of this!" Cai Yong snapped, his gaze never leaving Ling Feng. "So... your father never told you anything, did he?"

"My father?" Ling Feng's brows drew together in confusion.

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the spectator stands.

"Ling Feng, stop lying to yourself! The fact that you could use our Cai family's Word Spirit Curse proves everything. You are one of us!"

It was Cai Yan.

As she stepped forward, Ling Feng finally recalled the incident.

Back during the Sword Team Grand Tournament between the Four Major Academies, he had used the Eye of the Emperor to mimic her technique and defeat her. Even now, a month later, she still stubbornly believed he was her second uncle's son.

Glancing between Cai Yan and the old general, Ling Feng could only sigh.

Cai Yong had helped him today, so he couldn't very well embarrass the man in front of everyone.

He smiled faintly and said, "Senior Cai, as for whether I'm a descendant of the Cai family, perhaps we can speak on that another time, at your residence?"

Cai Yong stroked his beard, visibly reluctant, but gave a small nod. "Very well. But don't think you'll escape this so easily. One way or another, I'll have you recognize your heritage!"

Ling Feng shook his head with a wry smile. Clearly, the old man had gone half-mad from longing for a grandson.

"Little one, I'll await you at Tiger Awe General's estate. If you don't come within five days, I'll personally fetch you." With a meaningful look, Cai Yong departed with his granddaughter.

As she left, Cai Yan shot Ling Feng one last glare over her shoulder. Her lips moved silently, mouthing a single line: "You'd better get ready to start calling me Cousin!"

Ling Feng was left speechless. This family truly was one of a kind.

"Young friend Ling Feng," Deng Xian asked with interest, "could you truly be a descendant of the Cai family?"

Ling Feng sighed and replied, "What do you think?" Then he bowed deeply. "I'm deeply grateful for your timely aid today. I will never forget this debt."

Yue Zhonglian nodded with calm composure. "Now that you've stepped into the Transformation Realm, you should consider condensing your Mark of Brilliance. Once you've recovered, come visit the Cangqiong Sect. I know the perfect place for the process."

Mu Yunsang chuckled. "Sect Leader Yue wastes no time trying to recruit talent. But he's right, there's no better place in the empire for condensing a Mark of Brilliance."

Deng Xian stroked his beard with a smile. "You're truly blessed, boy."

Though Ling Feng didn't quite understand their cryptic remarks, he sensed no ill intent. "Many thanks for your guidance, Sect Leader."

"No need for formalities," Yue Zhonglian replied with a faint smile, his eyes filled with knowing intent.

Noticing his granddaughter's eager gaze from the spectator stands, Deng Xian added, "I may not have treasures to give you, but do stop by the Ascendant Eagle General's estate when you're free. My granddaughter still dreams of her teacher giving her a proper lesson now and then."

"

Uh

..." Ling Feng scratched his nose in embarrassment. He had indeed neglected his teaching duties. "Once everything settles down, I'll be sure to visit."

Even as he said this, his heart felt slightly heavy. The tournament had ended, yet his burdens had only grown.

"

Haha,

I won't take up more of your time!" Deng Xian gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "If it weren't for us old fellows standing around, the crowd would've gone wild by now."

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

With that, the elders turned and left, and the arena finally erupted in thunderous cheers.

That day marked the birth of a new legend. From then on, the names of Ling Feng and the Tianfeng Sword Team would echo across the empire.

Yet the victorious team did not linger. They returned straight to General Weiyuan's Mansion to tend to Ling Feng's injuries. Gong Cheng was still unconscious, and both Jiang Xiaofan and Li Bufan were gravely wounded.

...

Imperial City, Cining Palace.

Inside a quiet chamber, a breathtakingly beautiful woman reclined on an embroidered couch, her phoenix eyes half-closed. Beside her, a veiled young woman gently massaged her shoulders with practiced ease.

"Even after all these years, your hands remain unmatched," the woman murmured, then slowly opened her eyes.

"Grandmother Empress Dowager," Yan Shuying said through clenched teeth, "I still don't understand why you're giving

The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

to him."

"Do I have a choice?" The Empress Dowager sat up slowly. "Jinghong is the hope of our Yan family. Can I really just stand by and watch Ling Feng kill him?"

"But you're the Empress Dowager! He wouldn't dare defy your order!"

"You underestimate him." Her eyes narrowed. "The death waiver has already been signed, and the forces backing him include two marshals, the sect leader of the divine guardian sect, and two peak Human Emperors. Even the Emperor was forced to yield. What else could I possibly do?"

"B-But..." Yan Shuying bit her lip. "It's just too frustrating!"

The Empress Dowager's gaze turned icy. "Heh, he may have taken the treasure, but he won't take anything else so easily." She looked up. "Shuying, go and summon someone for me."

"Who?" Yan Shuying asked, a trace of confusion in her voice.

The Empress Dowager slowly rose to her feet and spoke each word with chilling weight. "Yan. Cang. Tian."