Chapter 942: An Older Wife Brings Prosperity

General Cai had summoned the entire clan with high hopes, eager to witness Ling Feng's triumphant return to the family bloodline.

But reality left them disappointed. Ling Feng did not acknowledge any ancestral ties. Even so, General Cai still passed on the complete Word Spirit Curse to him without reservation.

Ling Feng felt a weight pressing on his conscience. The old man had treated him with generosity and trust, yet he had repaid that kindness with a fabricated tale.

Still, there had been no other path. The truth would never have been accepted, and a carefully crafted lie had been the only way out.

After the elders were dismissed, General Cai led Ling Feng and Cai Yan to his private study. From a locked drawer, he retrieved a slim, timeworn manual and handed it to Ling Feng.

"This is the original copy of the Word Spirit Curse," the old general said. "It was passed down within our Cai family for generations. The technique is profound. The early seals are designed for control, but once you reach the eighth, the power begins to surge. As for the twelfth seal, no one has achieved mastery over it for several hundred years."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and formed a seal. A moment later, a sphere of energy appeared at his fingertip. It shimmered with a mix of elemental qi and the pressure of condensed spiritual consciousness.

"This is the ninth seal, the Spirit Detonation Curse," he said calmly. "It took me more than fifty years to reach this level."

Ling Feng drew in a breath. The energy coiled within that glowing sphere could easily threaten even those who had stepped into the Human Emperor realm.

"I will study it diligently," Ling Feng replied, his tone solemn.

A cold glint passed through his eyes. If he could master this art, it would become a powerful hidden card at his disposal.

With the

Soul Splitting Art

enhancing his spiritual consciousness far beyond what most could reach, he might one day be able to cast hundreds of "Spirit Detonation Curses" in a single breath. When that day came, even groups of top-tier experts would be reduced to dust!

"What a pity you're not really part of the Cai family," Cai Yan said gently as she looked at him. "I was looking forward to having a younger cousin."

Ling Feng rubbed his nose and gave no reply. He had never been one to go around collecting older sisters.

General Cai glanced at the two of them, and a faint smile curved across his lips. After a moment, he chuckled.

"Well, even if you're not one of us by blood, there's still another way to become part of the family."

Cai Yan blinked. "What way?"

"By marrying you, of course. As the saying goes, a son-in-law is half a son, and a grandson-in-law is half a grandson."

He burst out laughing. "Ling Feng, my granddaughter may be a few years older, but there's truth in those old words. An older wife brings prosperity! What do you say?"

Ling Feng's expression turned dark. This old man clearly had too much time to meddle in matchmaking.

Before he could speak, Cai Yan's face turned scarlet. She cast a sharp glare at her grandfather.

"Grandpa, stop saying such ridiculous things!"

With a flustered huff, she turned and stormed out of the room. Usually poised and calm, she had just revealed a rare moment of girlish embarrassment.

"Hey, girl! He's a fine catch!"

General Cai called out toward her retreating figure, but Cai Yan only quickened her steps and vanished beyond sight.

He turned back to Ling Feng, as if preparing to speak again.

Ling Feng gave a wry smile and lowered his head in a slight bow. "Senior, let us not speak of that matter again. I am not considering marriage at the moment. Thank you for sharing the secret art. I should take my leave now. There are other matters I must attend to."

"Very well," General Cai replied with a sigh. "It is a shame. If only you were truly one of our Cai bloodline."

Ling Feng studied the old general's expression. For a moment, he was reminded of his own grandfather, Ling Kun. Since the day he had been sent away to the Wenxian Sect, there had been no news.

Only that one character

Flee

carved into the wall of the inn had been left behind.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Even with the second volume of

The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

in his possession, he still had not found a single clue.

The world stretched wide, its people without numbers. Where could his grandfather be?

His chest grew heavy. He straightened his back and spoke with quiet sincerity. "Senior, I understand how you feel. I believe the day will come when you reunite with your son and make peace!"

The old man regarded him in silence, then nodded with a faint glimmer in his eyes.

"Young man, though you are still in your youth, your words carry the weight of someone who has known hardship. For that alone, I consider you a true friend."

He stepped forward and gently patted Ling Feng on the shoulder. "If you ever find yourself in difficulty, or face trouble mastering the Word Spirit Curse, come to me. My door will always be open."

"My thanks, Senior."

Ling Feng gave another deep bow, then turned and departed from the residence of the Tiger Awe General.

The farce had come to an end, and he had walked away with a powerful technique in hand. All things considered, it had been a worthy exchange.

Since he was already out, Ling Feng decided to fulfill the promise he had made to General Deng. He headed directly toward the estate of the Ascendant Eagle General.

After a few words of polite greeting, he began to teach Deng Yongshi several advanced sword techniques. Before leaving, he handed her a half-finished Sacred Dragon Tyrant-Blood Pill. Though it was incomplete, the medicinal essence within was more than enough to ensure her steady path toward the Human Emperor realm.

By the time dusk painted the skies, Ling Feng had already taken his leave of the Deng estate. When he returned to his own residence, Enshrined Protectors Wu and Sun had just returned as well, having completed their errand.

They brought with them a full batch of the herbs he had requested.

The divine imperial physicians had been seething with anger, but since the decree had come directly from the Tianbai King himself, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and hand over the entire batch of herbs, worth over a million elemental crystals, with forced smiles.

"Well done."

Ling Feng gave a nod of approval. Some of the herbs were intended for Gong Cheng's recovery. The rest were key ingredients he needed to restore pill formulas found in the ruined alchemy furnace at the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons. Even Yan Cangtian's famed herb garden had been unable to provide such materials.

The imperial family's stockpile, however, had contained them all.

That very night, Ling Feng began refining medicinal soup and preparing medicinal baths for Gong Cheng. By day, he applied acupuncture techniques. By night, he administered herbal treatments.

Time passed swiftly, and a full month went by before he realized it.

Both Gong Cheng and Gu Tengfeng had made complete recoveries. Their wounds were healed, and their strength had returned.

As for Ling Feng, he spent his time immersed in study. Whether it was the Terrifying Gaze, the Soul Splitting Art, or the Word Spirit Curse, he practiced each method with unwavering focus.

His progress was steady in every area, except for one. When it came to condensing the Mark of Brilliance, he remained at a standstill.

Even after several consultations with Yan Cangtian, the obstacle remained unmoved.

Then, on one otherwise quiet morning, a guest arrived.

Young lady Yue Yunlan of the Cangqiong Sect appeared at his doorstep, accompanied by her ever-faithful maid Qiao Qiao.