No matter how much they discussed, the ancestors of the hidden world couldnât agree on anything.
After all, they didnât know enough about Jiang Zhen and Yu Yue.
In the end, they could only shelf the matter for the time being.
"The ancient relic will open in eight months. Letâs use this time to understand the situation." Someone suggested and the others immediately agreed.
"Speaking of the ancient relic..."
After that, the ancestors talked about the upcoming martial tournament.
By the time they were done, it was already late and each returned to their homes.
When Xue Zhang arrived at the Xue residence, several Xue elders were waiting for him in the main hall.
"Ancestor..." Patriarch Xue started but Xue Zhang raised his hand to stop him.
"Call Xue Hua." Ancestor Xue said.
Hearing this, several elders looked at each other.
After a silent competition, the youngest left the main hall and rushed out to call Xue Hua.
An incense stick later, the elder returned.
However, he didnât just bring Xue Hua,
For some reason, he also brought Xue Ling and when he saw this, the ancestor nodded in approval.
"Xue Hong has fulfilled the task." The elder said and returned to his seat, leaving Xue Ling and Xue Hua standing in the middle of the hall.
"Do you know why I called you?" Ancestor Xue asked while looking at Xue Hua.
Seeing this, Xue Hua sighed in resignation.
As early as when she became a prospective disciple, she knew the family would not let her be.
However, she didnât care.
Although she was loyal to her family, she was also loyal to herself.
Since she had encountered a good opportunity to improve herself, she didnât intend to give it up; not even for the family.
"Ancestor, is it because of my prospective master?" Xue Hua asked without beating around the bush.
"What do you think of swordswoman Yu?" Xue Zhang asked.
Hearing this, Xue Hua frowned.
She hadnât known her master for a long time and didnât have many opinions about her.
What impressed her most was her strength.
Other than this, she only knew that her master and masterâs husband had a good relationship.
After all, this could be seen from casually observing how the two interacted.
"My master is the most powerful person I have ever seen." Xue Hua finally said.
However, this was not the answer that ancestor Xue was looking for.
Although he recognised Yu Yueâs strength, it was uncomfortable when others said it.
âUngrateful girl.â He thought and turned to look at Xue Ling.
"Lingâer, what do you think of those two?" He asked.
"They are in the way of our Xue family." Xue Ling said, her hands clenched into fists.
Originally, everything was mapped out.
As long as they followed the map, the Xue family would be able to dominate the hidden world within five years.
However, the appearance of Jiang Zhen and Yu Yue messed up the plan.
At this point, Xue Ling didnât know if the familyâs plan could still be implemented.
"Ancestor, we canât be impulsive." An elder warned in a cautious voice.
He had also been at Jialan Lake and had seen Yu Yueâs strength.
When he recalled the domineering sword energy, he couldnât help but warn the family.
Although they dreamed of ruling the hidden world, keeping their lives was the most important.
If they messed with those two, he had a feeling their Xue family would encounter a fatal disaster.
"Fifth child, donât be too timid." Another elder spoke and sneered in derision.
"Third brother, people should always be self-aware." The fifth elder said and quickly continued.
"Our Xue family has been passed down for than more ten thousand years. It canât be lost at our hands."
"Is it so serious?" The second elder asked.
Ancestor Xue had fourteen sons and nine daughters.
Among the twenty-three children, eight were grandmasters and the remaining fifteen were master-level martial artists.
This time, most of Ancestor Xueâs children went to Jialan Lake to watch the duel.
Unfortunately, the second child wasnât among them.
Rather, he and several others were left behind to guard the family and prevent others from taking advantage of the ancestorâs absence.
"Yu Yueâs swordsmanship has reached an unprecedented level. Itâs not easy to deal with her." The fifth elder said and sighed in resignation.
As a member of the Xue family, he naturally wanted his family to stand at the top.
Unfortunately, the appearance of Jiang Zhen and Yu Yue was like a basin of ice water.
If the two chose to interfere with the affairs of the hidden world, the Xue family would have no chance.
"Huaâer, what about the swordsmanship? Did you really grasp something?" A female elder asked.
This woman was the fourth elder.
Most importantly, she was Xue Huaâs grandmother.
"If your brothers and sisters can also understand what you grasped, the swordsmanship of our Xue family will improve by leaps and bounds." Another elder said.
Hearing this, Xue Hua almost snorted in disdain.
However, she still knew her place and didnât dare to be so disrespectful.
"Ancestor, elders, to be honest, I did grasp something. However, I have no words to describe it." Xue Hua said and her eyebrows creased in a frown.
In fact, what she said was not a lie.
Although she grasped something when she watched her masterâs sword demonstration, it was nothing concrete.
Rather, it was more like a feeling.
When she closed her eyes, she could clearly see the sword moves and knew how to practice them.
However, if asked to teach others, she didnât know where to start.
"How can you be so selfish?" An elder accused with a cold look in his eyes.
"Elder, you have misunderstood me." Xue Hua said and quickly continued.
"After I watched the demonstration, I felt like the moves were branded in my mind. I can see them and I can practice them. However, I canât teach them to others."
"How is that possible?" Another elder sneered.
"Itâs possible." The fifth elder said and everyone turned to look at him.
"We all saw swordswoman Yuâs demonstration. However, I donât seem to have any memory of the sword moves. Eldest brother, do you recall the sword moves?"
Hearing this, the Xue patriarch frowned.
Like everyone else, he also couldnât recall the sword moves.
In his memory, there was only an exquisite sword dance but when he tried to catch the details, he felt a barrier separating him from the truth.
"Ancestor, should we find a way to stop Qian Chen and Tang Xiao from becoming disciples?" An elder asked.
"I donât agree." Someone immediately objected.
At the moment, they didnât know Yu Yueâs temper.
If they did something and the swordswoman was angered, wouldnât the Xue family be in danger?
"We need to take a long-term approach to this matter." Another said and most of the elders agreed.
"Lingâer, you can continue to stir the relationship between the two." Ancestor Xue suddenly said and everyone turned to look at the old man.
"Yu Yue asked them to resolve their emotional matters. If they canât do it, they can forget about becoming disciples."
"Yes..., why didnât I think of this? This is the simplest way to stop them from becoming disciples."
When she heard this, Xue Hua couldnât help but feel angry.
However, she didnât voice her opinions.
Instead, she carefully listened to everything and planned to speak to Qian Chen and Tang Xiao when she had an opportunity.
Half an hour later, the hall finally fell silent.
"Hua girl, you should go into seclusion." Ancestor Xue suddenly said.
"I understand." Xue Hua immediately agreed.
Even if the ancestor didnât ask her, she planned to retreat.
After all, she wasnât as talented as Qian Chen and Tang Xiao.
If she wanted to learn the swordsmanship within one year, she could only retreat.
"You donât have to worry about the martial tournament. When the time comes, you will receive one of our Xue familyâs placings." Ancestor Xue said in a kind voice.
However, Xue Hua felt cold.
More than anyone, she knew how indifferent the Xue family was.
Without a doubt, she knew the token to enter the ancient relic wasnât a gift but a commodity.
If she accepted it, she would have to give something in return.
âWhat should I do?â Xue Hua wondered.
On one hand, she wanted to refuse but on the other, she couldnât.
If she was at the master stage level, Xue Hua wouldnât need to rely on the Xue family to earn a place to enter the ancient relic.
Unfortunately, she was only an innate stage master and her level was not enough to pass the first round of the tournament.
Considering that, Xue Hua couldnât refuse the Xue familyâs arrangement.
âIf I enter the ancient relic, I will be able to more easily comprehend my masterâs basic sword moves. Even if I have to lose a piece of meat in return, the price will be worth the benefits.â Xue Hua thought.