The voice drifted out faintly as a figure silently appeared beside Zong Shou.

A hand lightly patted Zong Shou’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

Zong Shou remained silent. Though his heart was a mix of rage and hatred, overwhelming it all was a sense of helplessness.

This Jueyan Sacred Venerable was ultimately beyond his capability to handle.

What he couldn't fathom was why Lu Hanyan would willingly leave with Jueyan.

Then, the person beside him spoke with a tone of regret, "You needn't feel this way. Your mother owed your grandfather a great deal when she gave birth to you. Though she has escaped confinement, she has her own ties and responsibilities; there are debts to repay. The Burning Sky Saint Emperor was a heroic figure of sentiment and righteousness; he never deserved to be betrayed by everyone and cast down from his Imperial Seat. Your mother's choice—I am not only pleased but also happy to see it happen—"

Zong Shou frowned. He was still unclear about the intricate history of grudges and the experiences of his parents back then.

But since Zong Weiran said his mother had such reasons for doing what she did, then his mother must have had her own deep-seated difficulties.

He never expected that the Burning Sky Saint Emperor, Lu Beiwu, would be held in such high regard by Zong Weiran.

With a soft sigh, Zong Shou turned his head to look back at the person beside him.

After several years apart, his father’s appearance had indeed become more handsome. His face now possessed sharper lines, and while his frame remained lean, it was more akin to Bear Mountain.

However, his eyes carried a depth of vicissitude. Although the current circumstances were far from ideal.

Though Zong Weiran tried hard to conceal it, it was impossible to hide from his newly awakened Blood Eye Divine Ability.

Bowing deeply in a respectful salute, Zong Shou’s words were rough, "Father, you have suffered! It is this child who has arrived late—"

Only then did he realize that Zong Weiran had been hidden nearby. With Lin Xuanshuang covering the outside, they had no fear of that Azure Sky Venerable.

With the World-Burning Blood Eye, his combat prowess within the Nine Deaths Prison could rival that of a peak Divine Realm master.

Combined with Zong Weiran, they would be sufficient to challenge Lu Tianqing.

Yet, at this moment, a secret sense of relief surfaced. The timely intervention of the Blazing Origin Sacred Venerable.

Even if the father and son had a slim chance of victory, if they won, Zong Weiran’s injuries would inevitably be far more severe.

A surge of guilt welled up inside him. If his father hadn't bestowed the Cosmic Book upon him, enabling his breakthrough, how could things have come to this?

Stepping into Sainthood in one move, holding the Cosmic Book—at that time, he would have had the power to escape even before a Transcendent Realm master.

"You still saw through it? The Lu family's peak Divine Ability is indeed extraordinary!"

Zong Weiran chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Hiding in this Death Prison for two years is nothing compared to your mother’s ordeal. But this time, thanks to you, I was able to escape safely! Unconsciously, Shoushou, you have grown up! Beating Lu Tianqing into the Six Paths of Reincarnation just now was truly magnificent. I have long hated that man! But incurring karmic ties with Buddhism, was that truly appropriate?"

Zong Shou felt a blush of embarrassment, finding the tone of Zong Weiran’s words somewhat strange and unsettling. However, hearing the concern beneath those few sentences warmed his heart slightly, and he explained, "It's fine! A debt too large to worry about, too many lice to itch over—it's a small matter."

He hated this Lu Tianqing to the bone, especially concerning the matter of the Scarlet Apex Bird.

To send this man into the Beast Path to suffer eternal torment—this minor price was insignificant.

Besides, without realizing it, he already owed the Buddhist Sect a great deal.

At most, if the Buddhist Sect established another prison in the future to create a true paradise world, he would contribute a little if he had the ability.

A little! Not too much.

Zong Weiran let out a short laugh, gazing deeply at the person before him. Having such a son, what more could he ask for?

Immediately, his thoughts turned to Lu Hanyan, who had left with Jueyan, and a wave of melancholy washed over him.

After more than twenty years, the two had met once, yet hadn't exchanged a single word.

At the Burning Sky Sacred Court, entangled in treacherous currents, she needed to defend herself against countless visible and hidden attacks.

His eyes flickered slightly, and Zong Weiran’s gaze grew firm again. "Shoushou! If possible, perhaps you should journey to the Burning Sky Sacred Court. Go help your mother and your great-grandfather—"

Zong Shou paused, looking up at him. He saw only deep sorrow in Zong Weiran's face. "Although I am her husband, in the eyes of the Lu family, I remain an outsider. To interfere rashly will not only be unhelpful but will make her situation even more perilous. At this time, the only one who can help your mother is you!"

Zong Shou fell silent upon hearing this, deep in thought.

Go to the Burning Sky Sacred Court, become the Lu family's First Heir Apparent? Wouldn't that be playing right into Jueyan's hands?

Yet, he feared he truly had no other choice.

As he pondered this, Zong Weiran suddenly turned his head, looking towards the direction where the Nine Deaths Prison had shattered, his sword-like brows knitting together.

"Who are you? Why do you linger here, following us?"

It was only then that Zong Shou sensed an anomaly in the energy flow from that direction, and a warning flared in his heart.

The next instant, a figure stepped out from that void.

It was a middle-aged man. Although clad only in coarse linen prisoner's garb, with a low-grade sword strapped at his waist, as he strode forward, he possessed an elegant bearing; his demeanor and aura captivated the observer.

Zong Shou had specialized in the Sword Dao in his past life and rigorously cultivated it in this one as well.

His sensory perception was the most acute, and he clearly perceived the condensed, unyielding sword intent between the man's brows.

"I am Ye Xuan, formerly known as 'Dao Xiaoyao.' Seventy years ago, I was unfortunately caught off guard and imprisoned in the Nether Prison. To say it simply, Your Highness should have seen me just a short while ago."

Ye Xuan stopped just beyond a breath's distance, then stared intently at Zong Shou.

"Since Your Highness intends to travel to the Burning Sky Sacred Court, you must certainly require assistance. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to accept me as a subordinate? The Young Master of the Burning Sky Sacred Court, the First Heir Apparent—one’s retinue cannot be too shabby."

As these words fell, both Zong Shou and Zong Weiran displayed looks of stunned surprise.

Then Ye Xuan spoke with self-mockery, "Though the Nether Prison has collapsed, the void here is sealed by the divine thoughts of two Transcendent Realm masters. If it were only one Jueyan Sacred Venerable, Ye Xuan might still dare to take a risk. But with Yanyuan added, I would be utterly helpless. Having been trapped in the Death Prison for seventy years, I truly do not wish to remain another moment. I can only seek aid from the Young Master! It is not self-praise, but before my imprisonment, beneath the Saint Realm, there was no one Ye Xuan could not defeat with a single sword stroke! Even the Azure Sky Venerable would be a worthy opponent for me! I will certainly be of benefit to the Young Master—"

The first few sentences of his speech dispelled the doubts of the Zong father and son; the latter part spoke of his cultivation and skill, and a terrifying surge of sword intent burst forth to confirm his claims.

Not only Zong Weiran, who showed a slight look of shock, but Zong Shou also slightly raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

This person—he had seen him! Just as he first entered the eighth layer of the Nether Prison... Almost simultaneously, thousands of worlds away, the Burning Sky Sacred Court that Zong Shou and his father had been discussing was shrouded in deathly silence.

Especially before the Ancestral Temple, where countless Lu clan disciples had gathered, all were struck silent, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard.

On one hand, they awaited the final settling of the blood energy fluctuations of the Burning Sky Sacred Stele. On the other, they were intensely absorbing the power of the lineage backlash.

Everyone wore expressions of solemnity mixed with surprise.

And the further removed the disciples were from the main lineage, the more joy showed on their faces.

Under normal circumstances, those with more distant kinship, like them, could hardly gain as much benefit as the direct lineage members of the clan.

However, once the Burning Sky Bloodline reached a certain level of richness, improvement became exceptionally difficult.

Conversely, it was the collateral lines, whose original bloodline power was thin, who could significantly raise their status.

Therefore, before this Ancestral Temple, regardless of age or status, no one dared to distract themselves at this moment.

Lu Yunguo, as the Second Heir Apparent, naturally did not need to mingle with the low-ranking disciples of the Lu clan.

He stood instead atop a pavilion not far from the Sacred Stele, looking down with cold eyes.

"Heh heh! This Burning Sky Fire has actually advanced a full rank; truly rare, truly rare! I hear this only occurred seven thousand years ago when the Blazing Origin Sacred Venerable overcame his Transcendent Realm tribulation. Someone in our Lu family has truly mastered the Lu family's World-Burning Blood Eye—"

Behind Lu Yunguo, Lu Daoyan also opened his eyes.

The power of the lineage backlash was nearing its end.

He felt that the remaining portion could be managed with only a slight division of divine thought.

Lu Daoyan ceased his seated meditation and rose to stand beside Lu Yunguo.

But just as he reached the balustrade, he felt another pulse of blood and qi within his body.

Slightly startled, Lu Daoyan instinctively glanced toward Lu Yunguo. Uncertainty and suspicion flickered in his heart—

Could it be? It hasn't ended yet?

No! Even after several Transcendent Realm masters of the Lu family overcame their tribulations, this never happened!

The pulse subsided, and then settled again.

Then there was only one possibility: that person who had mastered the Lu family's peak Divine Ability still had untapped potential!

Or perhaps, someone extremely close in kinship to that person was also showing signs of advancement, thus reversing the trend for the entire clan!

A shadow of gloom crossed Lu Daoyan’s eyes. Regardless of which scenario was true, it would introduce immense variables into the Burning Sky Sacred Court at this moment!

He saw that Lu Yunguo’s expression remained unchanged, completely unaware.

Lu Daoyan raised an eyebrow, knowing there were only two possibilities now.

One was that Lu Yunguo had already detected it but was feigning composure. The other was that the lineage undergoing this bloodline mutation was too distant.

He let out a light laugh, his expression returning to one of indifference.

"Looking at the situation, the Sacred Stele is likely about to reveal its final result. I fear the ranking of the Heirs Apparent will see major shifts. I wonder where Cousin will place? But that position as Second Heir Apparent will likely not be kept—"

His words still carried a hint of mockery, a sense of schadenfreude.

The positions of Heir Apparent in the Lu family had always been governed by the Five Principles: first, bloodline; second, merit; third, talent and prospects; fourth, strength and cultivation; and fifth, kinship.

Lu Yunguo held the position of Second Heir Apparent due to several factors: his own strength and cultivation were indeed good; second, the support of the several Sovereigns of Xuanhua behind him; and third, the merits he had accumulated over the past few decades were outstanding within the Lu family.

However, after today, countless people in the Lu clan would have their bloodline elevated.

In contrast, this man had ceased his meditative cultivation early on, clearly gaining little.

Naturally, he still surpassed those in the collateral lines, but among all the Heirs Apparent, he would certainly be at the bottom.