Chapter 87: The Return of the Sovereign Family (Part 2)
The Return of the Sovereign Family (Part 2)
"I’m only a cultivator at the Third Level of the Mortal Forging Realm."
"My cultivation is practically worthless."
"Hahaha!"
Before anyone else could respond—
Nux suddenly burst into loud laughter.
The cold, blood-soaked executioner from moments ago vanished completely.
His laughter echoed throughout the hall.
"A cripple?"
"Brother..."
"Why belittle yourself like that?"
He walked forward and firmly patted Austin’s shoulder.
His crimson eyes shone with complete confidence.
"As long as our Clan Patriarch leads the Salvatore Family..."
"Every member of our bloodline..."
"...will one day soar like dragons across the heavens."
His voice wasn’t boastful.
It carried absolute certainty.
The certainty of someone who had personally witnessed miracles happen one after another.
Austin looked into Nux’s eyes.
There wasn’t even the slightest trace of doubt there.
Only unwavering faith.
That confidence...
Was contagious.
Austin couldn’t help becoming curious.
What kind of person...
Was this mysterious Clan Patriarch?
His cultivation had indeed declined because of the mysterious soul sleeping inside his ring.
Now that he understood the truth, he no longer blamed fate.
Instead...
He found himself wondering.
What gave Nux such absolute confidence?
Then...
Another figure surfaced within his mind.
The mysterious black-clad elder.
The old man whose mere touch had transformed a Great Perfection Celestial Gate Realm expert into a dried corpse.
Austin slowly raised his head.
"That black-clad elder..."
He had barely spoken four words—
When suddenly—
An ancient voice echoed directly inside every person’s mind.
"I..."
"...am merely the most insignificant attendant serving the Lord."
The voice was calm.
Ancient.
Weathered beyond imagination.
It carried neither arrogance nor pride.
It was simply stating an undeniable fact.
Yet those few words struck every member of the Blackstone City branch like heavenly lightning.
Silence filled the hall once more.
Someone capable of effortlessly killing a Great Perfection Celestial Gate Realm expert...
Was merely...
The lowest-ranking attendant?
Austin’s breathing became uneven.
His pupils trembled violently.
Merely an attendant...?
Impossible...
Even Damien and Nux unconsciously straightened.
Although they already knew Elder Black served Victor...
Hearing Elder Black personally describe himself as the least significant among Victor’s attendants still sent chills through their hearts.
If Elder Black ranked at the very bottom...
Then...
Just how many terrifying beings surrounded the Clan Patriarch?
Nobody dared imagine the answer.
The surrounding clansmen swallowed hard.
Every heartbeat thundered inside their ears.
Their mysterious Clan Patriarch...
Whom none of them had met...
Had already become a godlike existence within their hearts.
Austin slowly clenched his fist.
His heart pounded violently.
For the first time in years...
A burning anticipation ignited inside him.
He wanted...
To meet this man.
The man who had completely changed the fate of the Salvatore Family.
The man every clansman worshipped with absolute devotion.
Instinctively...
Austin lowered his consciousness toward the mysterious black ring on his finger.
Inside his mind, he called softly,
"Teacher..."
"What level..."
"...does Elder Black possess?"
He waited.
Seconds passed.
No answer came.
Austin frowned slightly.
That had never happened before.
His teacher always answered.
Always.
Yet now...
Silence.
Inside the ring...
Akeno’s beautiful soul remained motionless.
Her purple eyes stared blankly into the endless distance.
She had heard Elder Black’s voice.
She had sensed his aura.
And at that very moment...
The soul of the once-revered Purple Flame Empress...
Had completely fallen silent.
She didn’t answer Austin.
She couldn’t.
Because she herself...
Had no answer.
The existence called Elder Black...
Exceeded everything she had ever known.
Austin waited for several more breaths.
Still...
No reply came from the black ring.
A faint crease formed between his brows.
Over the past year, no matter how difficult the situation became, his teacher had always offered guidance. Even if she chose not to explain something in detail, she had never remained completely silent.
This...
Was the first time.
Austin slowly lowered his hand from the ring.
Perhaps...
Even his mysterious teacher had been shaken by what had happened today.
He chose not to ask again.
Instead, he drew a slow breath and looked toward Damien and Nux.
The two younger clansmen stood side by side.
One radiated an incomparably sharp Sword Intent, his eyes calm and unwavering.
The other stood like a mountain stained by countless battles, his crimson eyes carrying an intimidating aura that vanished the moment he looked at his own family.
Two completely different paths.
Yet both possessed strength that far surpassed ordinary geniuses.
Austin couldn’t help smiling bitterly.
"The main family..."
"...really does produce one monster after another."
Damien scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed grin.
"Brother Austin, don’t praise us too much."
"The Clan Patriarch says that true strength isn’t measured by talent alone."
"It comes from protecting the family."
"If we can’t even protect our own people..."
"...then no amount of talent has any value."
Nux nodded in agreement.
"Our Clan Patriarch has never judged anyone by their current cultivation."
"He only asks one thing."
He looked around at every clansman gathered inside the hall.
"Loyalty to the Salvatore Family."
"Everything else..."
"...can be cultivated."
Those words settled deeply into everyone’s hearts.
Many of the branch family’s younger disciples unconsciously clenched their fists.
For years...
They had believed the main family had abandoned them.
Now they finally understood.
Their Clan Patriarch hadn’t forgotten them.
He had been waiting.
Waiting until the Salvatore Family possessed enough strength to bring every scattered branch home.
At that moment—
Magnus Salvatore stepped forward.
His eyes swept across every member of the branch family.
Although his face remained composed, the excitement hidden beneath it couldn’t be concealed.
"Enough."
His deep voice echoed through the hall.
"We’ve wasted enough time."
"The Whitecliff Family has already been wiped out."
"The Crimson Abyss Sect no longer exists."
"Our Clan Patriarch has personally issued his decree."
He slowly raised his right hand.
"From this moment onward..."
"The Blackstone City branch ceases to exist."
A brief silence followed.
Then Magnus smiled.
"We are once again..."
"...become one and only the Salvatore Family."