The old ancestor, Huo Tongtian, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and panted for a long moment. His spirit was clearly much diminished.
Those at his side all watched the old ancestor with reverent gazes. Throughout the entire Huo Family—even the entire Ancient Race Continent—Huo Tongtian's Inference Skill was considered top-tier!
But inferring the location of someone like Beidou's Eighth Star, a being of immense destiny, was no easy task. Even for someone at Huo Tongtian's level, which was near the Divinity Transformation realm, he would still suffer a powerful backlash.
It was like a Fortune Teller who only infers an individual's fate, never the fate of a nation. The destiny of an entire nation is immensely powerful. The backlash from forcibly attempting such an inference is something no ordinary person could possibly withstand.
But for Huo Tongtian, the backlash from inferring a nation's destiny was nothing compared to what he suffered from inferring Beidou's Eighth Star. Because Beidou's Eighth Star was a literal star in the heavens!
The gazes directed at Xu Luo grew even more complex, especially that of the Huo Family Patriarch.
If Xu Luo's first display had been a fluke, then this time, he had clearly come prepared!
'Dammit... If he wasn't prepared, why the hell would he be carrying so many white handkerchiefs? It's not like he's a woman!' the Huo Family Patriarch cursed inwardly, but not a hint of it showed on his face.
Instead, with a concerned expression, he looked at the old ancestor and said in a grave tone, "Ancestor, you must look after yourself!"
Huo Tongtian waved his hand and said slowly, "It is of no concern. At my level, I have no other desire besides longevity... so I will not let go of even the slightest chance!"
Longevity!
That single word, like a magic spell, sent a tremor through the hearts of everyone present.
That's right... Longevity!
In all the world, who wouldn't want to live forever?
If they could obtain Beidou's Eighth Star... they would have a chance to truly step into that domain!
It was a temptation no one could resist.
Huo Tongtian had recovered some of his strength by now. He spoke, "According to my inference, Beidou's Eighth Star... should not be far from us!"
This statement once again drew cries of alarm from the Huo Family members.
"What? Beidou's Eighth Star... is not far from us? What is he trying to do?"
"The nerve of this person! Does he really think he can come here and overthrow our family? What a joke!"
"How audacious! If I find him, I don't care if he's Beidou's Eighth Star or Seventh Star, I'll capture him on the spot!"
The Huo Family Patriarch's eyes flickered. He saw this as a rare opportunity, a perfect chance to establish his grandson Huo Lin's position!
He trusted the old ancestor's Inference Skill. Over the years, Ancestor Huo Tongtian had performed his inferences a limited number of times, but every single one had been perfectly accurate, without a single error.
Therefore, since the old ancestor said Beidou's Eighth Star was here on the Ancient Race Continent, and nearby at that, it had to be true!
"Old Ancestor, since Beidou's Eighth Star has likely appeared on the Ancient Race Continent and is not far from us, we must capture him this time!" After carefully considering the matter, the Huo Family Patriarch had an idea and spoke up.
"That's right! We cannot let him escape! Therefore, I request permission to leave at once and track down Beidou's Eighth Star! I will do my utmost to capture him and present him to you, Ancestor!" Xu Luo declared loudly from the side.
The Huo Family Patriarch's face darkened, and he seethed with inner rage. 'You parasite, just a fox borrowing the tiger's might! Why must you be everywhere? It's already a tremendous honor that you were allowed to attend. What right do you have to speak here? You're just relying on the old ancestor's favor!'
Ancestor Huo Tongtian, however, had a gratified expression. He nodded and said, "It is rare for you to show such devotion. Go, then!"
"As you command!" Xu Luo declared. Then, ignoring everyone else's expressions, he strutted out, puffed up with pride like a little rooster.
The Huo Family Patriarch was furious. He even had a feeling: 'That little turtle, Huo Feng... seems to be doing this just to spite me!'
Although he had no proof, it was a gut feeling he couldn't shake.
"Alright, the rest of you are dismissed. The great responsibility of finding Beidou's Eighth Star still falls to you." Huo Tongtian gave the crowd a cool glance and added, "I trust you won't prove to be less capable than a child, will you?"
Everyone in the room grumbled to themselves, 'Didn't you just say this was a personal request...?'
Of course, no one would actually dare to quibble over this. The old ancestor's status in the Huo Family was supremely revered; no one would dare talk back to him.
A Saint Realm expert... could kill with a single glance!
After leaving, Xu Luo found Huo Wanchong and the other four waiting for him outside. He deliberately announced in a loud voice, "The old ancestor has given his order! We are to immediately go and find Beidou's Eighth Star!"
"Does Young Master Feng already have a target in mind?" Huo Jinshan asked with a smile. "We should at least make a plan before we act!"
Huo Wanchong glanced at Huo Jinshan, feeling a little puzzled. He had always been well aware that Huo Jinshan was reluctant to be by Xu Luo's side. Why the sudden change of heart? 'Has he finally seen the light?'
Xu Luo glanced at Huo Jinshan and said coolly, "The old ancestor said that Beidou's Eighth Star is in our vicinity. I think the most likely hiding place is none other than Great Cyan Mountain, seven hundred miles away! So, I've decided we'll start our search from there!"
"Hmm... Great Cyan Mountain... The terrain there is perilous, with clusters of jagged peaks. It's indeed an excellent hiding place!" Huo Jinyin remarked from the side.
"Great Cyan Mountain?" Huo Wanchong frowned slightly and mused, "That place is treacherous, but it's also rather desolate. The Spiritual Qi is adequate... Would Beidou's Eighth Star really be hiding there?"
Xu Luo waved his hand decisively. "We're going to Great Cyan Mountain!"
He sneered inwardly. 'Beidou's Eighth Star is right in front of you! That place is the burial ground I've chosen for Huo Jinshan! Hmm... and now it looks like I'll have to add Huo Jinyin to the list! And maybe those other fools like Huo Dong who are courting death!'
Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin exchanged a subtle look, a cold sneer in their eyes. They both thought the same thing: 'What a fool, courting death!'
Xu Luo also shot them a cool glance, thinking, 'They're the ones courting death!'
"Young Master Feng, since we're going to Great Cyan Mountain, I think we should make some preparations before we depart. What do you say?" Huo Jinyin proposed.
Huo Wanyu asked, confused, "It's only seven hundred miles. What is there to prepare?"
Huo Wanchong added, "We have everything we need in our Storage Rings. There's nothing to prepare, is there?"
Although the "Wan" generation wasn't considered part of the oldest generation in the Huo Family, none of its members were young. The saying "with age comes cunning" was a perfect fit for them.
Although they couldn't be certain, they all instinctively felt that something was off about Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin.
But Xu Luo said, "A single glance tells me you two are getting old. Your minds have gone stiff! It's over seven hundred miles away! We'll need some form of transport! You don't expect to walk all the way there, do you? Because I'm certainly not walking!"
With that, Xu Luo looked at Huo Jinyin and said, "Prepare all sorts of preserved fruits, pastries, and fine wine, so we don't get bored on the way!"
Huo Jinyin's eyelid twitched, but he kept a smile on his face. "Rest assured, Young Master Feng. I'll be sure to prepare everything!"
Huo Wanchong's mouth twitched violently as he lamented inwardly, 'A spoiled brat is still a spoiled brat. He'll never amount to anything great!'
Huo Wanyu sighed faintly, thinking, 'Is this a mission or a pleasure trip? Could it be... that I misjudged him? Were Young Master Feng's diligent efforts these past few days really just for show, like everyone said? If that's true, then I can only say... I've been terribly unlucky!'
Huo Jinshan sneered coldly in his heart. 'Showing his true colors this quickly. And to think Young Master Lin and the others took him so seriously. He really is a lost cause. How could someone like this ever be qualified to be Young Master Lin's rival?'
Among the group, only the most low-profile elder of the "Wan" generation, Huo Wanhua, watched Xu Luo with a profound look in his eyes.
Those who speak little often think much, and Huo Wanhua was precisely such a person.
Among all the members of the Huo Family's "Wan" generation, Huo Wanhua was by no means the most outstanding; he was even somewhat inconspicuous. He lacked the fame of people like Huo Wanchong and Huo Wannian, and he didn't have Huo Wanyu's seniority. He had always remained low-profile.
In truth, however, Huo Wanhua was a man of hidden depths!
He was exceptionally intelligent.
Although he had been somewhat reluctant when first assigned to follow Huo Feng, he quickly discovered certain qualities about him!
They were not traits one would ever find in a spoiled brat!
He had only ever seen such traits in the most outstanding members of the Huo Family's younger generation. In fact... some of Huo Feng's qualities even surpassed those of the family's most brilliant young scions!
It was a feeling that could only be understood intuitively, not put into words, and Huo Wanhua trusted his intuition was not wrong.
Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin's behavior seemed normal on the surface, but in truth, he, as well as Huo Wanzhang and Huo Wanyu, could all sense that something was amiss. He refused to believe that Huo Feng couldn't sense it as well.
Therefore, this trip to Great Cyan Mountain was very likely Huo Feng's first real counterattack within the entire Huo Family!
At this thought, Huo Wanhua felt a thrill of excitement. Due to his birth in a branch family, despite having shown excellent talent from a young age, he had never truly entered the Huo Family's inner circle.
All these years, he had remained on the periphery.
Now, he finally had a chance to participate in the Huo Family's internal affairs. If he hadn't misjudged, then the Young Master Feng before him would likely become the true core figure of the entire Huo Family in the future!
And when that time came, he... would become a true... Minister of the Dragon!
Huo Wanhua glanced at Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin, thinking, 'If you two harbor no ill intentions, that's one thing. But if you truly do, then don't blame me... for disregarding the bonds of our clan!'
'I will kick aside anyone who blocks my path to advancement!'
Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin took their leave. After a moment's thought, Huo Wanhua also said he needed to return and prepare.
Only Huo Wanchong and Huo Wanyu remained by Xu Luo's side. After everyone else was out of earshot, Huo Wanchong began to offer a worried reminder, "Young Master Feng, I think those two, Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin..."
Before he could finish, Xu Luo gave a faint smile and waved his hand. "It's of no concern. Just let them prepare."