When Xu Che took a few more steps closer, Zhou Lu saw that the person was not the one he had been waiting for and immediately felt a sense of loss, silently letting go of the iron bars and sitting back down.

Seeing that he hadn't recognized him, Xu Che subconsciously touched his face, his gaze flickering, wondering about something.

Zhou Lu, noticing that the visitor had not left and was still standing in front of his cell, subconsciously lifted his head again and took another look at Xu Che.

"You are…" he asked suspiciously.

"Hehe, have I changed so much that even you can't recognize me, uncle?" Xu Che chuckled softly.

"You... you are Xu Che!" Zhou Lu exclaimed as if struck by lightning.

"It seems uncle has not forgotten his nephew, good, but think about it, how unpredictable life is. The year you had me thrown in jail, it was in front of a cell like this where you told me many things. Now that the situation is reversed, I wonder if uncle still remembers what was said back then?"

As Xu Che spoke, he suddenly reached out and tapped the iron bars in front of him, immediately producing a crisp sound that rang in Zhou Lu's ears and shook his heart.

"…from now on, you and the Zhou Family will have no more involvement… but, but Xu Che, blood is thicker than water, after all, I am your uncle, your mother's brother. When you were little, I even carried you, you can't just watch me die! You have to save me! Xu Che, you have to save me!" Zhou Lu said, suddenly becoming emotional.

"Yes, I will save you, but before that, I need you to answer one question for me—how did my mother die?" Xu Che said, suddenly stepping close to the iron bars, staring at Zhou Lu, and pausing between each word.

"She, she died… of illness," Zhou Lu's lips trembled, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Is that so? I see," Xu Che said expressionlessly as he stood up straight, turned around, and left without saying another word.

"No, Xu Che, please, save me, I am your uncle, your real uncle, Xu Che, Xu Che!" Zhou Lu seemed to sense something and cried out desperately, but Xu Che never looked back.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist," Xu Che said to the Nascent Soul cultivator from Chang Chun Temple who had led him into the spirit prison as he was leaving.

"It's a minor matter, Fellow Daoist Xu shouldn't take it to heart. However, about that Zhou Lu, do you need me to…" the middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator said, making a cutting gesture.

"No need, let bygones be bygones. I came here only to confirm an answer. Besides, in my childhood, he truly did assist my mother and me a great deal. It was only for the Immortal Path that things turned out this way. Anyway, it's time to let go," Xu Che sighed deeply, speaking both to the middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator and to himself.

After saying this, he felt as if he had finally freed himself from a heavy shackle, feeling a sense of relief.

Being unchained from the past is the only way to move toward the future.

Now, he was free.

Xu Che reflected on this, ready to leave, but suddenly he heard an argument nearby.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, I'm sorry, but by the rules, I can't let you go in," a Nascent Soul Cultivator dressed in Shengye Sect's robe firmly refused.

"Why, I'm just here to find a junior in Foundation Establishment; can't you bend the rules a little?" the Nascent Soul Cultivator from Fire Origin Sect, Chu Changkuang, said angrily.

Suddenly, he caught sight of Xu Che leaving the cell and grew even angrier.

"Wasn't it said that without an order from a Nascent Soul senior, no one could go in? How come he can enter and exit, whose backdoor did he go through?" Chu Changkuang pointed at Xu Che, asking bluntly.

However, before Xu Che could speak, the middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator beside him coughed and stepped forward first.

"This is Fellow Daoist Xu Che from the Moon Sect; entering the spirit prison was approved by our temple's Junior Master Liu," he explained.

"The Moon Sect? Could it be… Um, Fellow Daoist Xu, I apologize, I was just irritated, please don't take my words to heart," Chu Changkuang said, startled, hurriedly smoothing his expression and bowing apologetically to Xu Che.

"No worries," Xu Che said somewhat dispiritedly, waving his hand dismissively and leaving without another word.

After he left, Chu Changkuang wiped his sweat, originally planning to argue further, but the middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator from Chang Chun Temple spoke again.

"If I'm not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Chu, you were here to see Zhou Lu, right? I heard he was an undercover agent you placed in the Wu Yue Sect… tsk tsk, I should remind you, this Fellow Daoist Xu is Zhou Lu's nephew, and there seems to be some old grudges between them," the middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator said coolly.

"This… I understand, thank you for the reminder. That Zhou Lu, well, actually he's a fraud, using my reputation to flaunt himself everywhere. I came here to sever ties as well, and since it's inconvenient to enter by the rules, I won't go then," Chu Changkuang chuckled sheepishly and turned to leave.

The middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator squinted his eyes watching this scene and, after a moment, suddenly transmitted a message to the disciple guarding the spirit prison.

"Apply some techniques to that one called Zhou Lu, but remember not to kill him, record the process in a jade scroll, and send it to Fellow Daoist Xu later under my name," he ordered softly.

At the same time that Xu Che went to see his uncle, Yuan Ming's retreat location also welcomed two "guests."

The gate to the cave mansion was opened from outside, and Vajra walked in with Purple Thunder and Chi Xiao, whose Mana had been sealed.

"Master, I have brought Purple Thunder and Chi Xiao with me," said Vajra, bowing to Yuan Ming, who was meditating cross-legged in his seclusion.

"Junior Purple Thunder (Chi Xiao), greets Senior Yuan," Purple Thunder hurriedly bowed with clasped hands, their attitude extremely humble.

Though they were Nascent Soul cultivators, they were now prisoners and their lives hung on Yuan Ming's whim, compelling their utmost respect and humility.

Moreover, when Vajra brought them here, he had not spoken a word to them; they knew nothing of Yuan Ming's purpose for summoning them, which left them deeply anxious.

In their fearful unease, Yuan Ming slowly opened his eyes; his indifferent gaze swept over the two, making them involuntarily shiver.

"What took you so long?" Yuan Ming looked at Vajra.

"They couldn't defeat me, but they were quite fast at fleeing, so it took more time, please punish me, Master," Vajra said apologetically.

"No matter, bringing them back is your merit," Yuan Ming nodded, then his gaze shifted back to Purple Thunder.

"As elders of the Double Immortal Sect, you must be quite familiar with the disciples within your sect, right?"

"This... There are numerous disciples in the Double Immortal Sect, we dare not claim to know all of them, but at least..." Purple Thunder hurriedly began.

"Kato, do you recognize this person?" Yuan Ming impatiently raised his head, cutting him off and directly asking.

At this name, Chi Xiao's eyes showed a blank expression, while Purple Thunder pondered thoughtfully, but after a long pause, they seemed unable to recall who exactly this person was.

Yuan Ming's gaze grew increasingly impatient, and under the pressure, Purple Thunder desperately racked their brains, finally remembering something.

"Senior, I remember now! There was indeed someone named Kato managing Foundation Establishment in our sect years ago, said to have climbed up from the Outer Disciple ranks with outstanding talent. He topped the Sect's grand competitions several times. I was in Core Formation back then and even thought of taking him as a disciple, but he disappeared during an outing and never returned," Purple Thunder said quickly.

"Do you know his origin and background?" Yuan Ming continued to inquire while contemplating.

"He is from Luota Town in the Western Regions of the Southern Border. I even sent people to investigate him; he was from a local farming family, never left the town, and has a very clean background," Purple Thunder explained in detail.

"I understand now. Vajra, take them to Tian Jizi," Yuan Ming got the information he wanted and had no desire to keep them any longer.

As soon as the words were out, Vajra stepped forward, blocking Purple Thunder's view.

"As commanded," he said in a muffled voice, turning around and dragging Purple Thunder and Chi Xiao away.

"No, Senior Yuan, give us another chance, we are willing to be your followers, even if you place us under a seal. Don't send us back, Tian Jizi will surely kill us! Senior Yuan, Senior Yuan..." Purple Thunder and Chi Xiao became frantic.

However much they shouted, Yuan Ming showed no intention of paying them any heed.

Two Nascent Soul followers would have been a tantalizing prospect in the past, but Yuan Ming was now uninterested in dealing with these scheming fellows. Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М V L Е М Р Y R) аpprесiаtеs yоur rеаdеrship аt thе sоurсе.

Furthermore, whether it was Tian Jizi or the Cloud Desolation Alliance, none would dare refuse his requests now, even if some were discontented, at least they would make a show of compliance.

After Vajra took Purple Thunder away, Yuan Ming resumed his cultivation.

Over these days, his realm had mostly stabilized, and thanks to his advancement to Spoken Witch, his Soul Power had greatly increased. He made new breakthroughs in his mastery over the Stealing Heaven Tripod, unlocking up to thirty layers of its seals, deepening his connection with the Divine Artifact significantly.

In time, he would once again wield this artifact.

But before that, he likely needed to visit Luota Town as Purple Thunder had just mentioned.

Without clarifying the origins of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, he would never be at peace.

Yuan Ming was contemplating this when he suddenly sensed something, casting a spell to open the grand door of his cave mansion.

Moments later, Wulu appeared in front of him out of thin air.

"Hehe, Brother Yuan, did you know I was coming?" Wulu asked with a grin.

At this time, the injuries Wulu had sustained from his fight with the Blood Demon Ancestor had healed, and his strength was considerably enhanced compared to before.

"You deliberately leaked a trace of your aura outside; if I couldn't detect even that, I would hardly deserve to be called a Spoken Witch," Yuan Ming replied with a smile, emphasizing the words "Spoken Witch."

"Sss— You rascal, how did you advance again? We both entered Biluo Cave together, I even started on the Immortal Path before you, so how can I not catch up to you now?" Wulu drew in a breath of cold air, greatly frustrated.

"I have my own opportunities, and you're not doing badly either. With your current cultivation, aren't you close to advancing to Returning Void?" Yuan Ming replied with a smile.