It was only because he was in a Divine Soul state that tears could not flow; otherwise, Han Shou would already be weeping bitterly, his face covered in tears.
Scenes from the past flashed rapidly through his mind.
Before Han Xuanji left all those years ago, he had entrusted him with the protection of the Han Family. Over the years, he had exhausted his heart and soul to guard the Han Family, even nurturing a Genius like Han Yun and accompanying him as he ascended to the Immortal Realm, fulfilling the promise made back then.
"My Lord, everything you instructed this old man to do back then, I have accomplished! The Han Family has grown strong, and an ascender has even emerged. I have not brought shame upon you!"
The excitement and sense of grievance in Han Shou's heart erupted entirely at this moment. He never expected that he would actually have the chance to see Han Xuanji again.
Han Xuanji watched Han Shou quietly. The smile on his face remained gentle, but his eyes held a few more traces of gratification as he spoke slowly:
"I know. You have worked hard all these years.
Everything you have done, I have seen and kept in my heart. You have never once violated the promise from back then."
Han Xuanji was deeply moved. For Han Shou to persist for ten thousand years, exhausting himself to protect the Han Family—such perseverance and loyalty were truly rare.
Meanwhile, Han Yun was completely stunned. He knelt on the ground, looking at the emotional Han Shou with a face full of bewilderment, then looked back at Han Xuanji. A thunderous roar echoed in his mind.
The confusion in his heart gradually dissipated as he instantly connected the fragmented pieces of information Han Shou had given him over the years, finally managing to grasp the sequence of events.
For many years, he and Han Shou had shared their hearts. Han Shou had once mentioned offhandedly that he hadn't protected the Han Family of his own free will, but because of a life-and-death promise made to a Han Family ancestor. Even if he were ground to dust, he had to protect the Han Family's Bloodline and Foundation.
At the time, he had only treated it as a casual story Han Shou told and hadn't thought much of it, even finding it a bit hard to believe. Looking at it now, the ancestor Han Shou spoke of was this mysterious and powerful Senior before him.
It turned out that this mysterious Senior was actually his own ancestor!
But a new doubt surged in his heart: exactly which Old Ancestor of the Han Family was this Senior?
He had lived in the Han Family of the Lower Realm for many years. Before the Han Family's decline, there had never been an ascender. Tracing back the Han Family's history, let alone an Immortal, there hadn't even been a Cultivator in the Spirit Transformation Realm. How could there be such a terrifyingly Powerful Expert in the Upper Realm?
However, one thing was certain in Han Yun's heart—there is no such thing as kindness without reason. The reason this Senior acted to save Han Shou and bestow a fortuitous transformation must be because they shared the same origin, and because both he and Han Shou were members of the Han Family.
At this thought, the apprehension in Han Yun's heart gradually faded, replaced by an indescribable sense of pleasant surprise.
It was as if he had suddenly been notified that he had inherited a massive fortune from some distant relative.
"May I ask for the Old Ancestor's name?"
Han Yun asked cautiously.
Han Xuanji replied without hesitation:
"My name is Han Xuanji."
Hearing this name, Han Yun thought back carefully, but he truly had no impression of it.
Still, he must indeed be some Old Ancestor of the Han Family.
Han Xuanji took in the changes in their expressions. Seeing Han Shou's excitement and Han Yun's confusion, he didn't explain further. He simply gave a faint smile and flicked his sleeve, and a gentle yet majestic power instantly enveloped Han Yun and Han Shou.
The two only felt their vision blur as the surrounding scenery changed instantly. The original Nine Immortals Sect medicine garden vanished, replaced by a place wreathed in Immortal Qi.
They were in the Void Realm. Below them, clouds and mist swirled, with exquisite jade buildings and pavilions arranged in an orderly fashion. Cranes cried out in unison, spiritual springs gurgled, and they were surrounded by Immortal Qi so thick it wouldn't dissipate. It was several times purer than the Immortal Qi of the Nine Immortals Sect. Just a single breath made Han Yun and Han Shou feel refreshed throughout their bodies.
"Where is this?"
Han Yun's eyes were filled with shock, feeling that this Old Ancestor had brought him to some extraordinary place.
"Lingxu Heavenly Palace."
Han Xuanji answered calmly.
Today's Lingxu Heavenly Palace was a top-tier Sect of the Immortal Realm in every sense, governing a whole Immortal domain. Countless Disciples lived within it, its Luck was majestic, and every Disciple under its banner was a talent in their own right.
Other forces didn't dare to target Lingxu Heavenly Palace at all, allowing it to grow stronger. They even scrambled to curry favor, fearing they might incur its dissatisfaction.
"Lingxu Heavenly Palace?"
Han Yun's eyes widened. The name of Lingxu Heavenly Palace was famous far and wide. He had heard of it even in the Lower Realm, but he never imagined that one day he would set foot in this legendary Holy Land of the Immortal Realm.
Han Yun asked again:
"Old Ancestor, are you a big figure in Lingxu Heavenly Palace?"
Hearing this, Han Xuanji nodded slightly and said in a flat tone:
"You could say that."
Seeing Han Xuanji admit it, Han Yun became even more excited. He thought to himself: This Old Ancestor is truly incredible. To be a big figure in a major Immortal Realm Sect like Lingxu Heavenly Palace, his cultivation must be unfathomable. Is he a Golden Immortal? Or a Grand Unity Golden Immortal?
Han Yun had never heard of any Realm above the Grand Unity Golden Immortal, nor did he dare to think too deeply. His heart was filled with awe. He felt that it couldn't have been easy for the Old Ancestor to struggle his way to this point alone; the effort he put in must be beyond his wildest imagination.
Once he made a name for himself, he would definitely repay this Old Ancestor Xuanji well.
Han Xuanji looked at the deep-in-thought Han Yun with some confusion.
What on earth is this kid imagining?
Han Xuanji didn't waste any more words. He led Han Yun and Han Shou toward the depths of the heavenly palace below, heading straight for Spirit Void Palace—the place where the current Supreme Sect Master of Lingxu Heavenly Palace lived and handled Sect affairs.
Many years had passed, and the internal structure of Lingxu Heavenly Palace had undergone massive changes. The position of Supreme Sect Master had been re-established, with Ten First Seats appointed below to handle various duties, keeping Lingxu Heavenly Palace in perfect order.
And the current Supreme Sect Master of Lingxu Heavenly Palace was Han Xuanji's nominal Master, the former Yunmiao Immortal Lord—now, he had already broken through to the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm and was now known as Yunmiao Emperor.
Han Xuanji led Han Yun and the other into Lingxu Heavenly Palace. All the Restrictions in the palace were like mere decorations before him, unable to obstruct their steps in the slightest.
At this time, Yunmiao Emperor was handling Sect affairs within Spirit Void Palace. Compared to further Breakthroughs in his Realm, what he cared more about now was how to better build Lingxu Heavenly Palace and nurture more outstanding Disciples.
At the moment, he was holding a Jade Slip, his expression slightly solemn.
As Lingxu Heavenly Palace grew stronger by the day, many Disciples had gradually become arrogant. Relying on their status as Disciples of Lingxu Heavenly Palace, they acted willfully within the Immortal domain, bullying Cultivators from other Sects and tarnishing the reputation of Lingxu Heavenly Palace.
Yunmiao Emperor was pondering how to suppress this unhealthy trend and rectify Sect discipline so that Lingxu Heavenly Palace could develop stably in the long term.
He didn't want his Disciples to think that Lingxu Heavenly Palace could act recklessly by relying on his prestige.