The silver threads of light slowly receded, as if exhausted, only once Shi Ruolan’s injuries had been completely healed.

Upon the city wall, even Zong Shou himself was filled with astonishment. The last time he had used the Illusion Heart Mirror to probe Shi Ruolan, he had sensed something hidden deep within the young girl’s sea of consciousness.

The probe of spiritual energy just now had been an attempt to stir that entity. He had never imagined, however, that his careless action would accidentally draw out something so formidable.

A chilling cold settled in his heart; he realized his assessment of Shi Ruolan’s recent circumstances had been far too optimistic.

Possessing such formidable regenerative power, yet still bearing so many scars, indicated the kind of brutal torment the girl must have endured during the twenty-odd days he was absent. For any ordinary person, she would surely have perished long ago.

He truly was foolish. He should have realized that Shi Ruolan’s own clansmen held little affection for her.

He had been naive enough to send the young girl back to the Snow Lion Clan and ignore her plight, thinking it would appease the feelings of her direct relatives. He never considered that Shi Ruolan’s so-called blood kin would treat her in such a manner.

“That is the Berserk Lion Snow Seal!”

An aged voice suddenly rang out atop the city wall, startling everyone back to a sliver of awareness.

Zong Shou’s brow twitched as he looked toward the source of the sound. Two elders were approaching them with trembling steps. One of them bore a resemblance to Shi Fatian; despite his advanced age, he possessed a towering physique, not inferior to Shi Fatian’s, exuding majestic authority and unfathomable strength, suggesting a position of considerable nobility. The other elder was dressed as a ritualist and was the one who had spoken. His eyes blazed with divine light, tinged with excitement, as he gazed upon Shi Ruolan.

The Berserk Lion Snow Seal?

Zong Shou was momentarily startled, but quickly dismissed it. He guessed that this ‘Snow Seal’ was likely something akin to his own Star Mark.

With a faint glance at the two elders, Zong Shou averted his gaze, a hint of a smile in his tone. “Ruolan, does it still hurt? Do you hate these people? Shall I kill them all for you?”

The two elders choked, staring at the youth with palpable dread. They sensed that although the boy’s tone was calm and even, his words were spoken with absolute sincerity.

It felt as though, with just a word from Shi Ruolan, Zong Shou would annihilate the entire Snow Lion Clan. Shi Ruolan, however, decisively shook her head. “Kill? Like those Blood Foxes from the mountains? Xue’er doesn’t want that. Xue’er is in pain, but it’s alright. Mother used to say it was because Xue’er was too weak. Once Xue’er gets stronger, Father and Brother will treat Xue’er kindly. Also, Big Brother, what does ‘hate’ mean? Is it being angry?”

She finally spoke, but her words were intermittent, clumsy, and disjointed, as if articulating them cost her immense effort.

Zong Shou understood that Shi Ruolan spoke this way because she rarely communicated with others. His gaze, however, grew colder and sharper, like knives scraping against the people present.

He then couldn't help but curl his lip. Despite his prior expectations, a sense of unwillingness persisted. He wondered what kind of person this little girl’s mother was—she was utterly bizarre.

With such a mindset, it was no wonder the girl clung to these wretches. Even when stripped of all military authority later, she never betrayed them, ultimately choosing to be buried with the Snow Lion Clan.

“Then what about your mother?”

“Mother? Big Brother means Mama? Mama is gone. Just like those Blood Foxes, she won't speak anymore, and she won't keep Ruolan company.”

She looked down at her own hands, her expression growing dimmer. “Ruolan counts every day. Today makes forty-seven times. After this, Ruolan almost can’t count anymore...”

Chu Xue and Yiren were already weeping, understanding that Shi Ruolan was counting the four hundred and seventy days since her mother’s death.

Zong Shou suddenly experienced a moment of clarity, grasping Shi Ruolan’s mentality. Perhaps the girl didn't truly adore these people. It was simply an overwhelming yearning for kinship that drove her.

A small child constantly bullied and ignored; even the slightest warmth offered would cause Shi Ruolan to cling tightly, like a drowning person refusing to let go until absolute despair set in. For some inexplicable reason, Zong Shou felt a sharp ache in his chest. The murderous intent that had subsided earlier surged up once more.

Yet, a smile played on his lips as he gently stroked Shi Ruolan’s head.

“Ruolan, you truly want a Father and Brother? How about this: if they don't want you, I do! From now on, I will be your Big Brother and kin, alright? Brother likes you very much.”

Shi Ruolan’s eyes immediately brightened, and she turned toward Zong Shou with a look of surprise mixed with fear, seemingly unable to believe that what she saw was real. Did someone in this world truly like her?

Zong Shou spoke no further. He forcefully tore off the expensive fur cloak worn by Hu Zhongyuan and wrapped Shi Ruolan’s frail body tightly within it.

His gaze then swept coldly toward Shi Fatian, a flicker of killing intent flashing and instantly suppressed. “I am taking this little one today. She is now my sworn little sister, Zong Shou’s kin. In ten years, she will return to inherit the position of Snow Lion Clan Chief...”

Shi Fakong frowned slightly. “The Clan Chief of our tribe can only be inherited by the direct son of the Shi family!”

Before the words had fully settled, Zong Shou’s eyes flashed with a faint crimson light again. His entire figure vanished instantly, followed by an explosion of lightning, and he was ten feet away, closing in on Shi Fakong.

The latter reacted with incredible speed, showing no signs of timidity despite having been forced back earlier. With a muffled grunt, the muscles across his body bulged, and the silver hair on his head stood straight up like quills.

His two hands, resembling iron pincers, lunged toward Zong Shou’s arms. He dared not completely offend the Qian Tian Demon King, but he was confident this strike could temporarily restrain Zong Shou! His raw power, nearing eight million catties, was subtly augmented by the momentum of hundreds of thousands of Snow Lion tribesmen present, elevating him nearly to the Celestial rank. The mere rush of wind generated caused the surrounding bluestone slabs to crack and splinter apart—Lion-Rending Heaven Dragon! These two hands, even if faced with a true Sixth-Tier Flood Dragon, could crush it to dust!

In that blinding flash, however, Zong Shou’s arm suddenly became entwined with another streak of lightning, and then tens of thousands of purple bolts converged between his fingers and palms. The speed of his punch increased severalfold in an instant, passing cleanly between Shi Fakong’s grasping hands before he could react.

“Raging Thunder Fist Intent?”

At that moment, Shi Fakong was utterly horrified. This Zong Shou had actually mastered the ‘Intent’ of the Martial Dao!

But there was no time for detailed thought or reaction; he merely felt a heavy blow land squarely on his waist.

It felt as though he had been struck in the chest by a massive hammer carrying tens of thousands of catties of force. The purple lightning poured into his body, scattering and exploding wildly, causing his limbs and thought processes to freeze completely.

His entire body was thrown skyward, his waist nearly snapped, tumbling uncontrollably in the air. Just as he was about to hit the ground, Zong Shou’s figure streaked toward him again. He stomped down heavily, driving Shi Fakong’s head forcefully downward into the ground!

With a resounding crash, dust and smoke billowed across the city wall, shattering every bluestone slab beneath.

The elder who resembled Shi Fatian had been growing anxious. Seeing this, he could endure no longer, lunging forward into the thick dust cloud. The speed of his movement was in no way inferior to Zong Shou’s earlier burst.

Zong Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the spear in his hand gave a gentle flick. However, moments later, it returned to stillness, as his spiritual sense detected Zong Shou drawing his sword within the densest part of the smoke.

When that sword was swung, a massive purple lightning serpent suddenly appeared, dancing in the air like a giant dragon.

“Raging Thunder, Slash!”

When the lightning serpent finally descended and erupted, the sharp sword qi contained within it revealed only the tip of the iceberg.

The silver-haired elder’s gaze contracted, followed by a roar that shook the mountains and rivers. His palms also shot out, and behind every claw shadow, it seemed a massive, snow-white giant lion manifested.

It was a full-frontal confrontation with Zong Shou’s Raging Thunder Sword Qi! And it held its ground completely. In the air, bursts of pressurized sound echoed, and the dust cloud raged even more fiercely. The violent winds swept the nearby Snow Lion tribesmen of weaker cultivation far away.

Zong Shou was slightly impressed. This person’s strength was likely only a step beneath that of Yue Guanyun! Being able to withstand so many of his strikes was a first.

He then let out a cold sneer. If he didn’t vent thoroughly today, he couldn't quell the towering rage in his chest!

Zong Shou’s sword suddenly changed. It still raged with thunder, but the core essence suddenly shifted. Water and fire intertwined, swirling around, while myriad lightning bolts coiled on the outside.

The silver-haired elder’s true qi faltered, unable to adjust in time. The entire side of his shoulder was pierced by this Water-Fire Spiral True Energy, which then exploded, blasting out a bloody hole.

His complexion instantly turned deathly pale. His iron-hard palms, strong as spiritual weapons, were nearly shattered.

Moments later, another dull explosion echoed in the air. The silver-haired elder was violently thrown backward.

He appeared utterly disheveled, his clothes tattered, covered in numerous wounds.

His great, muscular hands trembled slightly.

Although not critically injured, the look in his eyes, fixed on the depth of the smoke cloud, was filled with shock and apprehension. He stood rooted to the spot, making no further moves. That last sword strike had clearly shifted its Sword Intent! It was a brand-new martial intent, vaguely similar to the legendary Ice Flame Sword Intent, yet utterly unfamiliar to him!

Furthermore, he held a distinct feeling that the youth had likely not used his full strength just now!

The resulting atmospheric turbulence from the clash of sword and palm continued to rage, quickly sweeping away the dust cloud.

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned again, re-evaluating the elder’s strength upward. It wasn’t just a notch below Yue Guanyun; he was no longer considered inferior to him.

He paid the elder no further mind. If this were before he advanced to the Reversion Realm Spiritual Master, or if they were outside the Qian Tian Mountain Range, this person might pose some threat. But here, this individual was, at best, a minor annoyance. (To be continued)