Two days later.

Suspended City West City, South Land Square.

"Hey, nephew, have you heard?"

"Uncle, are you talking about... that thing?"

"Is there anything else to see in the city these days besides that big event? I heard that all the family heads of the branches have been summoned back for that matter."

In a teahouse in the market, a dozen or so tea patrons were seated scatteredly, and a pair of uncle and nephew sitting by the window were whispering mysteriously, exchanging secrets.

At this time, Chen Mingxue, who was sitting at the table next to them, happened to overhear, but he was confused and couldn't understand what the "big event" was.

This year, Chen Mingxue was already in his sixties. After a lifetime of cultivation, he only managed to reach the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. Born in the Suspended City, he spent his life guarding the teahouse passed down from his ancestors and had hardly ever traveled far.

Hearing the conversation next to him becoming more and more mysterious, Chen Mingxue stroked his greying beard and couldn't help getting up to sit across from the uncle and nephew.

"Xiao Liu, bring a pot of Spiritual Gui Tea! Make sure it's aged over a hundred years, don't try to fool people with decades-old substitutes, understand?" Chen Mingxue called out.

"Yes, shopkeeper, just a moment!" the teahouse servant replied loudly and hurried downstairs.

At this moment, Chen Mingxue looked at the uncle and nephew with a smile and humbly said, "I'm the shopkeeper of this teahouse. I just overheard you two talking about something. May I boldly ask, what is it?"

The uncle and nephew exchanged a glance, and the older middle-aged man suddenly laughed, "It's nothing serious. Anyway, you'll know about it in due time since you've treated us to a pot of Spiritual Tea. Let me tell you then."

As they spoke, the servant approached briskly with a tea tray, deftly placing the teapot and two plates of snacks on the table before stepping back courteously.

The middle-aged man smiled upon seeing this and continued, "I, too, just heard about it! Rumor has it that the clan recently obtained a strange treasure. This treasure is extraordinary, and it can only be obtained by someone with a destined bond!

In the past few days, the Golden Core Masters in the family have been urgently summoned back for this strange treasure. If they can't find a destined one among the Golden Core, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators will have a chance. If no one among them is found, the search might extend even to the Qi Refining First Level."

The middle-aged man chuckled at this point, "I see that you, old brother, have a full forehead and a square chin, with an excellent facial appearance. Maybe you're the destined one!"

Chen Mingxue stroked his goat beard and shook his head, self-deprecatingly saying, "Guests, don't joke. From head to toe, I don't exude even a hint of being the destined one! By the way, do you know what that strange treasure is?"

The middle-aged man's tone hesitated, "This... this stumps me! I only heard about it; how would I know what the treasure looks like? However, this is not just hearsay. Frankly speaking, my ancestors belong to the line of Ancestor Jue, so some news might be more accessible to us than ordinary clansmen."

Seeing that he couldn't get any more information, Chen Mingxue sighed regretfully and found an excuse to get up and leave.

In the following weeks, the rumors about that strange treasure were abuzz throughout the city, becoming the most talked-about topic lately.

Chen Mingxue thought it had nothing to do with him at all, after all, he was an old man living on ancestral heritage, almost giving up hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment.

Surprisingly, not long afterward, he received a summons, and it was from the Business Hall of the family.

The Business Hall is one of the core halls of the Chen Family, responsible for managing the enrollment and removal of Cultivation Clan members, genealogy, ancestor worship, soul lamps, and other important matters.

Chen Mingxue was baffled but dared not neglect the matter. He hurriedly followed the instructions and arrived at the square near the Business Hall on the same day.

When he got there, he discovered that not only had he been summoned, but a large group of decrepit folks in their sixties and seventies had also been called here.

Just a glance at the crowd made Chen Mingxue's heart skip a beat; suddenly realizing everyone had some level of cultivation, but all were below the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Looking around, he unexpectedly saw many "acquaintances." He wanted to greet them, but due to the solemn and grave atmosphere, he withdrew his extending foot and obediently stood still as instructed.

After waiting for a short while, a succession of grey-haired elders left the square and entered the Business Hall.

Among the crowd, Chen Mingxue suddenly remembered the rumors about the strange treasure, and his heart began to pound erratically.

After over an hour, it was finally Chen Mingxue's group's turn.

He followed the group, led by a guide, through the gate of the Business Hall, crossed three courtyards, turned through three corridors, and finally entered a very spacious hall.

The hall was circular, with round walls embedded with Jade Plates three feet square, each carved with countless complex patterns, emitting colorful brilliance.

After entering, Chen Mingxue followed the group, walking along the base of the walls in a circle, then exited from another large door.

Afterward, they were summoned one by one into a closed room to be asked some questions.

When it was Chen Mingxue's turn, the first question posed left him bewildered: "Did you see any anomalies in the Jade Hall just now?"

Chen Mingxue struggled to recall everything he had seen moments ago, and images of unusually complex patterns continuously flashed in his memory.

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