Outside the Nine Hells Death Prison, within the Spark Dust Array. Lu Jueyan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression decidedly strange.

There was a hint of annoyance, a touch of surprise, and a measure of cynical amusement. But more than anything, it was sheer unexpectedness.

Lu Tianqing stood respectfully beside him, silent. This Jueyan Saint Venerable was entirely visible in his eyes.

Yet, for a figure such as this, moods rarely betrayed their true thoughts. To attempt to gauge what he was thinking based on these fleeting expressions would be a grave error.

After a long silence, Lu Jueyan suddenly burst into laughter. "Tianqing, what is your assessment of this child?" Lu Tianqing pondered for a moment, carefully weighing his words before offering them.

"Unyielding backbone, with a spirit that refuses to bow. This child's temperament will surely be indomitable.

Ordinary means will find it difficult to shake his resolve—" "Unbending? That assessment is indeed fair enough!" Lu Jueyan nodded slightly, but a strange glint flickered in his eyes.

He knew the junior beside him meant more than what he said. A resolute mind, in other words.

For the Fenkong Lu family, perhaps it would be difficult to eradicate the hatred within this boy's heart, and even forcibly bringing him into the fold might not erase the fundamental rift. The risks involved needed consideration.

Neither confirming nor denying, Lu Jueyan pretended not to grasp the implication hidden within the words, smiling faintly. "But what I asked was not about his temperament, but about the boy's actual capabilities.

Under such immense pressure, he didn't collapse; instead, he used it to temper his own Sword Dao Martial Intent, elevating his swordsmanship by another level. This child truly is—" Though he appeared barely in his twenties, his self-reference as "this old man" carried no incongruity whatsoever.

It seemed he could find no adequate term for evaluation. Lu Jueyan paused in thought before speaking again.

"A peerless swordsman! I actually glimpse the potential for the Great Dao in him.

Given time, reaching the Supreme Realm will likely be effortless. Such a junior is no mere waste!

I recall the report stating that when the second son was born, specialists were dispatched immediately. He possesses the Dual Vein physique, a remnant soul body?" Lu Tianqing's eyes shone.

He then offered a slight bow: "Precisely! In Tianqing's view, among the Lu family peers, there is absolutely no one who can match him!" This Zong Shou was not just not trash, but a prodigious talent of the highest order.

In his memory, within this entire domain, few figures from the last millennium could even be mentioned in the same breath. Prodigies of unparalleled genius appeared perhaps once or twice every thousand years.

However, this Zong Shou carried the Fenkong bloodline of the Lu family, making his significance exponentially greater to them. "Truly worthy of being a descendant of the Saint Emperor.

If that person knew, they would surely be ecstatic! The Yan Yuan lineage has an inheritor." This statement seemed like praise, but Lu Jueyan listened and shook his head slightly, cutting straight to the point: "Are you attempting to remind me that if this child returns, the Yan Yuan lineage will inevitably dominate?

Young fool, do not mistake cleverness for wisdom—" Lu Tianqing’s expression instantly shifted, his lips paling. He vaguely felt a scorching flame power piercing toward his Primordial Spirit.

Yet, gritting his teeth, he offered no plea, responding only with silence. Lu Jueyan merely spared him a faint glance before dismissing the matter.

"From observing this child's situation, he has clearly awakened the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, almost merging the two lineages. Oh yes!

The one who single-handedly infiltrated the Death Prison days ago—was that Hanyan's father? A mere twenty years old, a Divine Realm cultivator, and apparently also a Nine-Tailed Profound Fox!

Hanyan truly has discerning taste. So, this time she made no mistake; rather, she deserves credit?" Lu Tianqing frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

"But this is an anomaly! Our Lu family's Fenkong bloodline is already barely sustained.

In recent years, no Supreme Realm Saint Venerable has emerged to purify the bloodline. If everyone acted as recklessly as she did, our Lu family might collapse within three thousand years." Whether it was the Divine Beast bloodline or their Lu family's Fenkong blood, the power diluted with each passing generation.

Unless one achieved a certain cultivation level, purification was impossible, or someone had to advance to the purest form of the Fenkong blood—only then could the ancestral blood power benefit the entire clan. However, seven thousand years ago, the Fenkong bloodline had reached its zenith.

Even the newly advanced Saint Realm cultivators of the Lu family could no longer reverse the trend. In recent years, they could only maintain the status quo, and even that was trending downward.

Therefore, every individual listed on the Lu family's direct lineage roster was valued beyond measure by the clan. And someone like Lu Hanyan, in particular, carried immense hope.

This was also the reason Lu Hanyan was ultimately convicted. "Furthermore, the sentence passed on Hanyan that day was the collective decision of several Saint Venerables!

If we overturn the verdict now, where is the dignity of our Lu family's Tribunal and those Saint Venerables?" "The logic is sound enough!" Lu Jueyan remained unmoved, instead turning to ask, "Whose interests are you speaking for with these words? Which Monarch Hall Master in our Lu family has garnered your such vigorous support, and for what reason?" His tone was placid, yet exceptionally sharp.

A figure like him had no need for petty schemes or mental exertion; directness was his way. In this world, few things could escape his notice.

And no one dared to conceal anything from him! "It is the Monarch of Xuanhua!" Lu Tianqing’s face was ashen, but he did not prevaricate: "Saint Venerable, ten years ago, Tianqing's eldest grandson was betrothed to the daughter of the Monarch of Xuanhua, and their wedding is scheduled for today.

Twenty years ago, the Monarch of Xuanhua was a Hall Master in our Lu family's Tribunal." Seeing that Lu Jueyan showed no displeasure, but rather withdrew the oppressive aura entirely, Lu Tianqing instantly breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "Though Tianqing harbors personal considerations, the words spoken also contain public concern. I dare not harbor any disrespect toward the Saint Venerable; I beg the Saint Venerable to see clearly!" "And indeed, you dare not!" Lu Jueyan lightly flicked his sleeve, completely unconcerned.

His focus seemed fixed on the Death Prison, which had already passed the Abyss Gate and reached the eighth level. The corner of his lips curled slightly.

"A stubborn child, truly interesting! Then, in your opinion, how should this child be dealt with appropriately?" Lu Tianqing’s eyelids lifted slightly at the question, then his expression settled back into calm.

"This person is ultimately a descendant of the Yan Yuan Saint Venerable. For the stability of our Lu family, he cannot die by our hands, nor can he be allowed to roam free.

Simply leave him on this eighth level, pay him no mind, and pay him no attention—" His voice was flat, yet carried an ice-chilling coldness that pierced to the bone. The eighth level, the Prison of Nether Death, was a hundred times more dangerous than the Spirit Sea Death Prison, and it drained the vital essence of life.

Even if that boy could endure it, in two hundred years, he would be nothing more than a pile of dry bones. "Pay him no mind?

Very well, I shall follow your suggestion—" Lu Jueyan chuckled darkly, as if agreeing with Lu Tianqing’s words. Yet, his gaze held a deeper meaning: "However, you must know that there is one scenario where even I, Jueyan, will be utterly powerless.

In that event, Lu Tianqing, you will bear the consequences." Lu Tianqing was startled, failing to grasp the meaning, then quickly shook his head. He couldn't quite figure out why the Jueyan Saint Venerable had uttered those words.

But since the Jueyan Saint Venerable had acquiesced to his request, his in-law's situation should no longer pose any threat.