Chapter 1120: Kneel and Apologize
The woman laughed and said, "Of course I know them, we belong to the same era as old Qing, also part of the hidden families and hidden sects. Although we’ve been in seclusion for many years, we occasionally meet once or twice."
Liu Zixuan raised his eyebrow: "Do you know where they are now?"
The disappearance of that group of experts led by old Qing gradually became a mystery in the Star Sea Martial Realm. With a war looming, if they don’t appear, the martial realm will undoubtedly be in jeopardy.
The woman bitterly smiled: "You’re looking for them, so are we. The reason I know your name is because old Qing mentioned you. Not long ago, he gathered with my husband and those old guys from other sects and families to discuss the war at Yudu."
"How did they disappear?" Liu Zixuan asked.
"Netherworld Hall not only has great power, but its disciples have infiltrated major sects and families. If a war truly breaks out, it would be a devastating blow. So after discussing, those old guys concocted a plan, and because of that plan, they never returned."
"What plan?" everyone asked in unison. Even Ai Patriarch and others were extremely curious, knowing little about such ancestor-level secrets.
The woman sighed: "A hundred years ago, an ancient ruin appeared in the Star Sea. Many masters went there, and after the trip, all experts above the Emperor Realm disappeared without a trace, but a few people with lower strength returned with treasures from the ruins, leaping to become high-level forces in the Star Sea."
"It was those people from the Willow Association." Liu Zixuan murmured as he stroked his chin: "Could old Qing’s plan be to search for that ancient ruin?"
"That’s right, the treasures in the ancient ruin are beyond ordinary imagination. Many of them were at the Third Heaven of the Emperor Realm or had touched the threshold of that mysterious realm. They only needed a single opportunity to break through to a stronger existence. So they prepared to take a gamble. After consulting some ancient texts, they headed west to try their luck. Initially, we could contact them, but later they completely disappeared."
The woman paused: "Later, we sent people to investigate but found no trace of them, unsure if they entered the ancient ruin or vanished from the world."
"Recently, Netherworld Hall deliberately released news, rumors that old Qing and his group are dead. They probably encountered Netherworld Hall people in the ordinary ancient ruin. Thus, the news is partly true and partly exaggerated to intimidate many martial artists in the Star Sea. And the true part of the news indeed worries our hearts even more."
Liu Zixuan frowned: "With all this, it’s likely that old Qing and his group are in great danger!"
"Exactly, with less than ten days until the Yudu battle, if they don’t return, we’re left to handle it."
The woman spoke, raising her head to ask: "You didn’t come here just for revenge, did you?"
With the enemy at the door, the woman had heard old Qing mention that Liu Zixuan would never act impulsively in critical situations, so she determined their visit wasn’t merely for revenge.
Liu Zixuan nodded and glanced at Ai Patriarch: "We have confirmed information that Dragon Spirit and Netherworld Hall destroyed two hidden sects here some time ago, tearing a hole in the Star Sea border. Recently, they’ve sent many masters here, and if our guess is correct, they’re aiming to wipe out both the Ai Family and Mo Family."
At this point, he suddenly changed his tone, deliberately raising his voice: "In this way, during the Yudu battle, they could send martial artists to Yudu, or retreat swiftly from this border area."
"So, you’re here to kindly warn the two hidden families?" the woman asked with deep meaning.
Though she asked, her gaze was fixed on Ai Patriarch.
Upon hearing this, Ai Patriarch’s complexion grew increasingly grim, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"That’s right." Liu Zixuan spread his hands, teasingly smiled and said: "Unfortunately, Ai Patriarch doesn’t appreciate it. Of course, I can understand. After all, you’re both hidden families, descendants of the royal lineage, while we’re just country bumpkins from the village."
"What a scoundrel!"
The woman raised her hand and sent a forceful gust, directly striking at Ai Patriarch’s knees, causing his legs to weaken and making him kneel on the ground.
Raising his head to speak, the woman immediately commanded: "Apologize to him!"
"Aunt!"
Slap!
Ai Patriarch was unwilling, but the woman slapped him again: "What are you trying to argue? With both Netherworld Hall and Dragon Spirit already at our doorstep, instead of preparing for battle, you’re targeting your own people!"
"Aunt, they’re just recently rising martial artists in the Star Sea. Is it necessary to treat them this way? Besides, what’s the big deal if Netherworld Hall and Dragon Spirit come? Our hidden families, connected with the Mo Family, can easily fend them off."
Ai Patriarch is still concerned about saving face. He can’t explode in front of his aunt, but he can’t kneel and apologize to an unknown junior either!
The woman’s face showed even greater fury upon hearing this, and she took three steps, which turned into two, to stand before Ai Patriarch, slapping him once more: "Insolent! You foolish thing, at this time, you still care about your worthless face?"
"What do hidden families mean? During the Willow Association battle, your uncle and the peak figures in the Star Sea Martial Realm couldn’t deal with the Netherworld Hall master. Do you think the Ai Family alone can stop Netherworld Hall and Dragon Spirit now?"
"But they can’t, can they?" Ai Patriarch persisted stubbornly!
Slap!
Yet another slap, directly making Ai Patriarch’s nose and mouth bleed. The woman furiously shouted: "Whether they can stop Netherworld Hall is another matter. These people came to help us out of goodwill, and how did you treat them? Calling them country bumpkins, do you think even if we joined forces today, we could stop them? If not, do you know what the fate of the Ai Family would be?"
"Could they really destroy the Ai Family?" Ai Patriarch, beaten to this point, whispered softly.
Liu Zixuan chuckled, speaking with deep meaning: "I can give you time to invite the Mo Family over, and we’ll see if Zhao Yi and I alone can destroy you."
Before he went into seclusion, Liu Zixuan might not have dared to say that, but after the seclusion, he dared to say it and do it.
In the Martial Realm, strength is the ultimate proof!
Ai Patriarch raised his bruised and swollen face, suddenly believing Liu Zixuan’s words. Because on normal days, if someone spoke such bold words, the family’s uncles and tributors would certainly refute it, but now, the strongest aunt had no reaction at all.
His heart sank secretly, pondering: Could Liu Zixuan be powerful enough to surpass hidden families?