The First Venerable of All Paths

"Are you leaving?"

Although Fang Xuan had already guessed that Li Xintong had hinted that she wanted to stay and talk, he didn't expect that Li Xintong was going to leave.

Fang Xuan was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry? Is it because of that Gu Can?"

"Yes and no."

Li Xintong remained calm and spoke gently: "It's just that I've been away for too long, and my family has sent messages multiple times, so I have no choice but to go back."

Fang Xuan sensed the hidden meaning in Li Xintong's words, but he didn't point it out.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Xuan finally said, "That thing inside you..."

"She is my older sister."

As if knowing what Fang Xuan was about to say, Li Xintong smiled calmly.

"elder sister?"

Fang Xuan was taken aback, quite surprised.

"good."

Li Xintong nodded and explained softly, "It's just that we are very different from ordinary sisters."

One body, two souls—they are indeed different.

Fang Xuan thought to himself.

My older sister is twelve years older than me.

At this moment, Li Xintong took the initiative to speak.

Her voice was low, yet filled with boundless admiration.

"When I was very young, she was already the most dazzling genius in the clan. Everyone said that she was born to be a Soul Master and would achieve great things in the Soul Master path in the future."

Li Xintong said in a low voice, "I grew up listening to her stories. Although my sister is aloof and we don't see each other often, and we don't even talk much, she's always been good to me."

She glanced at Fang Xuan and smiled shyly: "I'm not afraid to tell you, but I was born out of wedlock and was not well-liked by my clan. I was often hungry and would have starved to death if it weren't for my sister's help."

"My sister also guided me into martial arts training."

Li Xintong said, "She is both an older sister and a teacher, so she is different to me."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan fell silent once again.

He and his younger sister were no different.

He could understand the feelings between Li Xintong and her sister.

"If that's the case, then why did she...?"

Li Xintong tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a bitter tone, "My sister promised me that she would come back to see me as long as I successfully open my meridians."

"When I was twelve, I successfully opened my meridians, and my sister did indeed come, but..."

Li Xintong's eyes were slightly red, and her voice trembled with a hint of crying.

"But at that time, she was severely injured and barely alive."

Li Xintong held the hairpin in her hand, tears streaming down her face.

"I was terrified and asked her how to save her, but... my sister refused."

Li Xintong wiped away her tears and said, "In the end, my sister used a secret technique to try and pass on all her soul techniques to me."

"Possession? No, that's not right!"

Fang Xuan said, "It was you. You voluntarily maintained your sister's soul?"

Li Xintong nodded.

Fang Xuan was deeply shocked.

He initially thought that Li Xintong's older sister was using the guise of spreading the word to actually possess Li Xintong's body.

Unexpectedly, it was Li Xintong who took the initiative to allow her sister's soul to remain.

"I never imagined that you sisters had such a deep bond."

Fang Xuan sighed deeply.

"If it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't exist."

Li Xintong said, "Over the years, whenever I encounter danger, my sister will appear to protect me. However, she doesn't usually show herself, saying that it would harm my health."

Fang Xuan nodded.

He agreed with this point.

Each time Li Xintong's sister appears, it's only when Li Xintong is either weak or in a special situation; she certainly doesn't show up on her own initiative.

It seems that Li Xintong's sister really didn't have any other ill intentions towards her.

"If that's the case, then your sister's injuries back then were very serious."

Ordinary injuries would not cause a genius in the Soul Path to voluntarily give up his physical body.

"Very heavy."

Li Xintong said, "If it weren't for my sister having some means of self-preservation, I wouldn't even be able to see her now."

Fang Xuan asked, "May I ask what level of cultivation your sister had back then?"

"The realm of divine will."

Li Xintong said with a proud look, "A fifth-grade Soul Master."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan also gasped.

A powerful cultivator in his twenties at the Divine Realm.

He is also a fifth-grade Soul Master.

Li Xintong's older sister is more than just a genius; she's practically a prodigy.

No wonder, every time he faced Li Xintong's will, it was as if he were facing an unshakeable entity.

A person who cultivates both spiritual power and martial arts.

If he doesn't perish halfway through, his future achievements will be limitless.

It's just that fate is jealous of talent.

"Besides handling some personal matters, I went back this time to find a way to help my sister rebuild her physical body."

Li Xintong said, "I can sense that my sister won't be able to hold on for much longer."

Fang Xuan's eyes flashed, but he didn't say anything more. He simply said, "In that case, I wish Miss Xintong a safe journey and all her wishes come true."

"Thanks."

Li Xintong smiled and said, "The matter with Gu Can was originally caused by me, and I'm sorry for the trouble."

Just as Fang Xuan was about to speak, Li Xintong said, "But don't worry, I will resolve this matter after I return this time, and he will not cause you any more trouble."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Xintong."

Fang Xuan did not refuse the girl's kind offer.

Although he knew that, given Gu Can's temperament, he would definitely not let the matter rest.

This matter is likely to be fraught with twists and turns.

"Oh, right."

Li Xintong suddenly took out a jade talisman and handed it to Fang Xuan: "This is my identity jade token. If you ever come to Mingyue County in the future, you can use this talisman to find me, and I will definitely come to see you."

"Okay, then I'll accept it."

Fang Xuan accepted the jade talisman and smiled brightly.

Although he wouldn't use this jade talisman.

Perhaps, this parting will be the last time we see each other.

"Well... I'm leaving."

Li Xintong glanced at Fang Xuan, then lightly leaped onto the back of the soul beast, the Blood Mosquito.

Blood-red mosquitoes flapped their wings and hovered in mid-air.

"Fang Xuan!"

Li Xintong turned around and looked at Fang Xuan below, hesitating to speak.

Finally, it all came down to two words.

"Thanks."

The buzzing of mosquitoes filled the air as the beauty departed.

Watching the figure disappear into the night sky, Fang Xuan sighed softly.

"Take care of yourself."

Immediately, his gaze shifted to Mingyang County, and his eyes suddenly turned cold.

"The Wen family is destroyed; the Ming family, it's your turn!"

......

The destruction of the Wen family swept through the entire Mingyang County overnight.

Although the Wen family was only at the bottom of the three major families in Mingyang County.

Even though they were often ridiculed for being affiliated with the Ming family, no one dared to openly criticize them or show them any disrespect.

However, in just two or three months, the Wen family's empire collapsed and was reduced to ashes.

Shocking, terrifying, unbelievable.

Exclamations of surprise could be heard from time to time in the teahouses and taverns.

"Speaking of which, the Wen family is really unlucky. First, the patriarch died at the hands of an unknown junior, and then the family was wiped out by the He family. It's really... sigh."

"They deserved it! The Wen family imprisoned the He family's daughter without permission, which angered the He family. They brought this upon themselves!"

"I've heard that someone else destroyed the Wen family, it seems to be Fang Xuan."

"What? Fang Xuan? Didn't he run away? When did he come back? Isn't he afraid the Ming family will cause him trouble?"

"Whether it's true or not, it's none of our business, so let's just keep quiet about it."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately shut up.

Unbeknownst to them, at the tea table next door, a figure wearing a straw hat placed the spirit stone on the table and got up to leave.

The long, narrow object on its back was extremely conspicuous.

"Hmm, that thing on his back looks familiar."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, it does seem like I've seen it somewhere before."

"He is Fang Xuan, and that is his sword case weapon!"

These words shocked the entire audience.

Fang Xuan, the culprit who led to the downfall of the Wen family and the deaths of the two young masters of the Ming family.

He is also the most deserving genius in the entire Southwest region today.

This person's origins are unknown, but his strength is unfathomable, and his methods are endless.

Fang Xuan paid no attention to the comments behind him.

In any case, his identity has already been exposed.

Moreover, this can be considered a formal alliance with the He family, and with Gu Can already gone, he doesn't need to worry about the Ming family's methods.

They headed straight for the He family's house.

As soon as they arrived at the gate, they were spotted by the He family's gatekeeper.

"Young Master Fang, you're back!"

Two guards rushed forward, excitedly saying, "Please come in quickly, the patriarch and young master are waiting."

It's clear that their enthusiasm for Fang Xuan is genuine.

Fang Xuan rescued his young mistress all by himself, which indirectly led to the destruction of the Wen family. This matter has spread throughout the entire Mingyang County.

Rumors?

No, that's true!

Now, Fang Xuan's prestige in the He family is almost on par with that of the young master, He Yun.

Therefore, since Yuanbo returned last night, he has instructed them to be respectful and not to be negligent in the slightest when they see Fang Xuan.

"Young Master Fang Xuan, let me lead you inside."

A doorman said obsequiously, "Slow down, don't fall."

Fang Xuan said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Alright, go ahead and do your work, don't worry about me."

"Yes, we'll do whatever Young Master Fang Xuan says."

The gatekeeper bowed and scraped, gave another respectful salute, and then stepped back with his head held high.

It seems that by personally receiving Fang Xuan, they were considered superior to the other members of the He family.

"Fang Xuan, you've finally arrived."

Before the person even entered the hall, their hearty laughter could be heard from afar.

Fang Xuan looked up and saw He Zhongtian leading He Yun and a group of He family's direct descendants, striding towards him.

He Yun and He Yaoyao were also there.

Clearly, He Zhongtian knew about Fang Xuan's appearance at the He family's residence the moment he arrived, which is why he brought a group of people to personally greet him.

"Senior, you flatter me."

Fang Xuan quickly stepped forward and repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting.

"What's this?"

He Zhongtian grabbed Fang Xuan's wrist and walked straight into the inner hall, saying, "You are now my benefactor, and even more so, the benefactor of the He family, so don't stand on ceremony with me."

The rest of the He family members also nodded and laughed.

"Quick, sit down!"

He pressed Fang Xuan down into the chair next to the main seat and turned to say, "Yao Yao, what are you standing there for? Go pour Fang Xuan some tea."

"I... Oh, okay."

He Yaoyao was about to retort, but seeing everyone gathered around Fang Xuan, chatting and laughing, she obediently poured a cup of tea herself and presented it to Fang Xuan with both hands.

"Brother Fang... Brother Fang, have some tea."

Fang Xuan took the teacup and said with a helpless smile, "Alright, everyone, please sit down. If you keep this up, I'm leaving."

He felt very uncomfortable with the He family's enthusiasm.

"Haha, it was we who didn't think it through."

He Zhongtian laughed a few times and said, "Alright, we've seen the people, everyone go do what you need to do, don't stay here."

Only after He Zhongtian spoke did the He family members leave.

Only He Zhongtian and his family of three remained.

"Fang Xuan, I won't say much more about my thanks."

He Zhongtian's smile faded, and he cut to the chase: "When do we make our move and take down the Ming family?"

Fang Xuan didn't rush to speak, but instead picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Then he said, word by word, "There's no time like the present; let's do it tonight!"