Pei Ni clearly sensed Zhong Shenxiu’s arrival, turning back with tears welling up, her face showing a look of unwillingness and resistance.

“Xiu, help me!” At this moment, Kaynie was a woman trapped in utter despair! “En!” Zhong Shenxiu agreed softly.

Though his expression remained unchanged, an unusual light flickered in his eyes.

Alfred was thoroughly dead by this hour.

The current Zhong Shenxiu was not yet powerful enough to resurrect the dead, but that didn't mean he couldn't help Kaynie! There was a technique in the Ghost Path called ‘Soul Search and Transformation,’ which could search the memories of a soul, but Alfred’s soul was extremely fragile and had already dissipated.

But that was fine.

Although his soul could no longer be manipulated, his residual memories had not entirely vanished, and what he wanted could still be extracted! The ‘Soul Search and Transformation’ technique was quite vicious.

Zhong Shenxiu would rarely use it, but this time it was entirely for Kaynie! After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Zhong Shenxiu withdrew his hand and stood up.

He already knew where Clyde was imprisoned! As for Alfred’s remains, they had dissolved into a pool of viscous fluid—that was the cruelty of the ‘Soul Search and Transformation’! Kaynie looked at Zhong Shenxiu with helpless silence.

Now, she could only place all her hope upon him! Zhong Shenxiu did not speak immediately.

Instead, he summoned his sword, ‘Calamari’! “Let’s go,” Zhong Shenxiu said, turning to Kaynie, who was still slumped on the ground.

Kaynie paused, and then a smile finally bloomed.

Traces of tears remained, but her smile naturally emerged, captivatingly charming.

She understood Zhong Shenxiu.

She knew exactly where he was taking her! The advantage of sword flight was its sheer speed.

With no obstructions, they could advance in a straight line! About half an hour later, Zhong Shenxiu and Kaynie finally descended.

It was a dense thicket, not very large, with no magical beasts prowling about.

It looked as if it had been artificially constructed.

Zhong Shenxiu ignored the strange flora around them and led Kaynie straight forward.

Kaynie was extremely tense, following closely behind Zhong Shenxiu without uttering a word.

They hadn't walked far when Zhong Shenxiu stopped.

With a sweep of his hand, the weeds and dust covering the ground were cleared away, revealing a stone door.

Pulling the stone door open, the two descended a narrow flight of stone steps.

Although it was exceptionally dark inside, their cultivation allowed them to see everything around them clearly.

The steps were not long; after a short walk, they reached the bottom level.

Before them was only a stone chamber; presumably, the person was held there.

There was a handle on the side.

A gentle pull, and the stone door slid open automatically! Before Zhong Shenxiu and Kaynie could enter, an aged and weak voice drifted out: “I know nothing.

I have given you the same answer countless times!” Hearing this voice, Kaynie’s body trembled again.

Yes, she was now certain that the person inside was Clyde, the man who had doted on her since childhood! Several torches were mounted on the walls of the stone room inside.

Zhong Shenxiu casually unleashed a fire-elemental spell, igniting them and instantly illuminating the small chamber.

In the corner of the room sat an old man, looking to be in his fifties, with white hair, withered skin, and a face etched with exhaustion.

Heavy chains were shackled around his ankles, anchored to the wall, and the tendons in both his legs appeared to have been severed, leaving behind shocking scars! Perhaps due to the sudden light, the old man squeezed his eyes shut, only slowly opening them after a long moment! This old man was indeed Clyde.

Initially, he thought Alfred had returned to play some trick, wondering why he would send a woman and a youth.

But when he saw the two people before him, he froze.

His expression was not one of excitement, but confusion.

He didn't recognize Kaynie; after all, they hadn't met for over a decade, and Kaynie had changed dramatically.

The little girl of the past had become a mature woman.

However, Kaynie recognized Clyde instantly.

Although Clyde had aged considerably, his facial features remained completely unchanged! “Grandpa Clyde!” Kaynie’s tears streamed down again as she rushed toward him.

Clyde was bewildered.

He had been trying to decipher Alfred’s scheme, wondering why he’d send a woman and a child, but upon hearing that cry of “Grandpa Clyde,” his entire body jolted.

There was only one person in the world who called him that! “You… you are…” Clyde’s voice trembled, seemingly unable to believe it was real.

“Grandpa Clyde, it’s me, Nizi, and I’ve come to take you away!” Kaynie nodded firmly, resembling a little girl who had finally met a loved one.

No matter how mature a person becomes, in front of their elders, they are forever a child! Clyde’s aged, trembling hand reached out to stroke Kaynie’s hair.

Tears welled up again in eyes that had perhaps been dry for years! After the emotional reunion, Kaynie calmed down considerably.

She said to Clyde, “Grandpa Clyde, let’s go out and talk more!” Unexpectedly, Clyde’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

He said, “My Lady, this old man is now a cripple.

To have seen you again in this lifetime is enough; please do not concern yourself with me!” Clyde did not wish to be a burden to Kaynie.

If it weren’t for an unresolved matter, a dying man like him might have ended his own life long ago! “Grandpa Clyde, you are my only remaining family now; I cannot leave you!” Kaynie’s expression was resolute! Looking into Kaynie’s bright eyes, Clyde realized that the spoiled, coquettish Nizi of the past had truly grown up! “But the key is in Alfred’s hands.

These chains are forged from ‘Heavenly Rock.’ Ordinary Dou Qi cannot easily sever them!” Clyde said mournfully.

Alfred had taken meticulous care to prevent his escape.

Not only had he severed Clyde’s leg tendons, but he had also hired specialists to forge these chains.

Never mind that Clyde’s Dou Qi was sealed; even if it weren't, escaping would be almost impossible! However, the scene that unfolded next was something he could never have dreamed of.

Kaynie extended her delicate hand and merely touched the chain lightly.

Instantly, the chain shattered into several segments! Clyde’s eyes went wide.

He picked up a small segment of the chain and examined it closely.

The cut was incredibly smooth, as if it had been severed by something moving at an extreme velocity! “This… this is…” Clyde’s brain nearly short-circuited, and he stared at Kaynie in utter bewilderment.

“Grandpa Clyde, it’s a long story.

Let’s get out first!” Kaynie had so much she wanted to tell Clyde, especially about the suffering she had endured over the years, but Clyde didn't press further.

Instead, he turned his gaze to Zhong Shenxiu and asked a question that greatly troubled Kaynie.

“My Lady, are you married? What is this child’s name?” He had mistakenly assumed Zhong Shenxiu was Kaynie’s son! Kaynie looked up at Zhong Shenxiu and replied, “Grandpa Clyde, I will explain everything to you later!” Then, Kaynie called out to Zhong Shenxiu, “Little Xiu!” Zhong Shenxiu seemed to know what she was about to say and replied, “You can place him in the bracelet for now!” Kaynie blinked, then remembered her bracelet had the function to store living beings! “Grandpa Clyde, please bear with me for a moment,” Kaynie apologized to Clyde.

Although Clyde didn't quite understand, he nodded nonetheless! Without further ado, Zhong Shenxiu brought Kaynie back via sword flight.

They didn't return to the auction house but went directly to the inn! When Clyde was brought out, he looked around blankly, unable to comprehend how the environment had changed so drastically in such a short time.

“My Lady, where is this?” Clyde asked.

He hadn't been outside in so long that he clearly felt disconnected from the outside world! Kaynie smiled.

“Grandpa Clyde, we are at the inn now; it’s very safe here!” Clyde said nothing, instead gazing out the window at the street.

Although it was already night, the streetlights shone brightly on both sides, allowing him to see quite far! Clyde’s expression showed a touch of excitement.

After over a decade confined in the stone chamber, he had finally seen daylight again! “Hey, old man!” Just as Clyde was admiring the view outside, Zhong Shenxiu’s voice suddenly cut in.

Clyde started, turning around with an incredulous look toward Zhong Shenxiu.

Zhong Shenxiu remained expressionless, then continued, “You should rest for a while now.

I will heal your legs first!” What? Clyde was momentarily stunned, about to say something, when his vision suddenly went black, and he lost consciousness! For an ordinary person, severed leg tendons would mean permanent disability.

But for Zhong Shenxiu, a genius from another realm, healing them was no great difficulty, especially since this world offered so many rare and precious herbs.

As long as the person still had half a breath left, Zhong Shenxiu was absolutely certain he could restore them to their original state! After some industrious effort, Zhong Shenxiu finally declared the task complete.

The wounds on Clyde’s legs had vanished without a trace; his feet were completely healed! Not only that, but Zhong Shenxiu also removed the seal on his body, administered some tonic, and subjected him to a brief physical tempering.

In short, the current Clyde had received a new lease on life! “He will wake up shortly,” Zhong Shenxiu said, turning to leave.

If Zhong Shenxiu hadn’t sensed Kaynie’s distress through his spiritual sense at that time, he wouldn't have come out.

The auction was still ongoing, and Zhong Shenxiu needed to return to check on things—partly to give Kaynie time to speak privately with Clyde, and partly to reassure Robin, who must be worried! “Xiu, thank you,” Kaynie said softly, watching Zhong Shenxiu’s retreating back.

Zhong Shenxiu’s movement paused momentarily, but he did not turn around or say anything further, walking away directly! About fifteen minutes later, Clyde finally woke up.

The moment he opened his eyes, Clyde felt strange; it was as if his entire body was filled with power, and his spirit was far better than before.

What was happening? “Grandpa Clyde, you’re awake?” Kaynie asked with a smile.

“My Lady, I am…” Clyde hadn't fully processed the drastic change.

He only remembered that young boy saying something, and then he lost consciousness.

What happened in between? Kaynie seemed to sense Clyde’s confusion.

She said, “Grandpa Clyde, Little Xiu just healed all your injuries!” “My injuries?” Clyde first froze, then seemed to realize something, sharply looking down at his feet, and instantly, he was dumbfounded! His… his feet had feeling again.

What in the world was going on? Clyde felt as if he were dreaming, yet the sensation was so real that he couldn't doubt it! Suppressing his excitement, Clyde got out of bed and took a few steps.

Not only was there no discomfort, but he felt light as a feather, bursting with energy! Soon, Clyde discovered that the seal on his body was also gone, and he could feel the long-lost Dou Qi coursing through him again! At this moment, words could no longer describe the joy in Clyde’s heart.

For a crippled man who had resigned himself to a hopeless death to not only stand up again but also regain his power—this feeling was beyond description unless one were the person experiencing it! “My Lady, how did I…” Clyde cast a questioning glance toward Kaynie! “Grandpa Clyde, how do you feel now?” Kaynie smiled, resembling a blooming peony.

“My Lady, can you please tell me exactly what has happened?” Clyde finally calmed down.

Kaynie nodded and quickly recounted everything from the moment she met Zhong Shenxiu until now! The more Clyde listened, the more shocked he became.

He never imagined that such an astonishing person existed in this world—this was practically a god-like being! Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu returned to the auction house to find the bidding still underway.

The host was shouting on stage, his gaze sweeping restlessly around: “Seventy-five thousand diamond coins! Anyone else bidding? Seventy-five thousand once… seventy-five thousand twice…” Just as the host was about to bring the hammer down, a voice suddenly rang out by his ear: “Eighty thousand!” The voice was so childish, clearly that of a young boy.

Who? The host was startled.

That voice had sounded as if it were right next to him, yet he was certain no one else was near.

The sounds from the audience seats couldn't possibly carry so clearly to his ear.

What was going on? Perhaps everyone has guessed by now: that voice was emitted by Zhong Shenxiu.

Zhong Shenxiu himself hadn't expected such a coincidence; the moment he walked in, he saw the host auctioning off a treasure that caught his eye.

If he had been a step slower, someone else would have claimed it! He had been forced to use his Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission technique just to make the host pause! Simultaneously, Robin, having received Zhong Shenxiu’s instruction, stood up on his chair again, waving his bidding paddle vigorously—his expression clearly signaling: Look over here!!!