Meanwhile, in another circle, discussions about Qin Ruqing were no less frequent.

Unlike the ordinary citizens who enjoyed the excitement and the notion of swift justice, the prominent families had far more complicated feelings about Qin Ruqing’s feat of killing a Transcending Stage ancestor.

For those who knew the height of the heavens, they understood the difficulty of climbing and surpassing those heights.

What they had long believed to be impossible was now presented to them as undeniable fact, shattering their deeply ingrained prejudices.

When the siblings from Shangzhou returned to their family, eager to talk about Qin Ruqing, they were surprised to find that the family had already heard the news.

The commotion within the clan was intense, and to their astonishment, even their Ancestor had emerged from seclusion, personally requesting a jade slip of Qin Ruqing’s battle.

He wanted to witness the fight with his own eyes.

After watching, the Ancestor remained silent for a long time, eventually looking off into the sky with a deeply complex sigh.

“So, this is a true prodigy…”

The term “prodigy” was commonly used to describe a genius or to compliment someone.

But within the context of the Ancestor’s sigh, it carried a weight and emotion that the siblings couldn’t fully grasp.

All they knew was that the Ancestor returned the jade slip to them and instructed the family to no longer restrict them from spending their monthly allowances on purchasing Qin Ruqing’s jade slips.

“Young people are ambitious yet pragmatic. It’s perfectly normal to chase after someone like her. Let them be,” the Ancestor said.

---

In the Southern Ridge, the Qin family finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After extreme worry and fear, their most genuine emotions were confusion and uncertainty.

Did the Fang family really dare to attack the Qin family’s ancestor? Did they truly have the audacity?

Did the Fifth Miss return just in time to save the ancestor?

Did the Fifth Miss kill a Transcending Stage master?

Everything felt surreal, like a dream.

It wasn’t until news spread throughout the Southern Region, and the Qin family was bombarded with “condolences” from other prominent families, that the reality began to sink in.

Some came to inquire about the situation; Some visited in person; Others sent gifts and spirit medicines out of nowhere, claiming they were for the ancestor’s recovery…

The Grand Elder saw that things were spiraling out of control.

With emotions running high, and both the ancestor and Qin Ruqing’s conditions still unclear—despite Qin Ruqing herself admitting to the clan that she had indeed killed the Fang family’s ancestor—the Grand Elder understood that killing him didn’t mean the end of trouble.

More complications were sure to follow.

Even if the Qin family couldn’t help right now, they certainly couldn’t drag Qin Ruqing down.

Reacting swiftly, the Grand Elder issued orders:

“Close the gates. No visitors until the ancestor and Sixth Elder return!”

“Ban all internal communication with the outside world, especially regarding the Sixth Elder!”

“Anyone found colluding with the outside will have their Qin surname stripped and be expelled from the family!”

After a brief period of turmoil, the Qin family quickly regained its stability.

However, the prominent families of the Southern Region were left disappointed by the Qin family’s tightly shut gates.

They knew full well that, despite the Qin family’s current low profile, they were on the brink of something monumental.

The best of her glory was yet to come.

---

In the Eastern Region, the high-ranking members of the Ming family, a prestigious clan, were also studying the jade slip showing Qin Ruqing’s battle against the Fang family’s ancestor.

“There’s absolutely no sign of any fakery. The Song family wouldn’t risk their entire clan on a fake story like this.”

“No matter how many times I watch it, it’s still unbelievable.”

“She just came out of the Void Realm not long ago—how could she become this powerful so quickly? The inheritance she received must be extraordinary, possibly surpassing the two major immortal-grade inheritances…”

Listening to the elders’ discussions, each of them frowning and struggling to understand, Ming Ying rolled her eyes.

“Is it so hard to admit she’s just that powerful? Why keep pushing the credit onto external factors? Even if an inheritance helped, there were plenty of others during the selection process who didn’t get picked for such an inheritance. She was chosen because she’s incredible, isn’t that enough proof?”

The elders sighed, “Ming Ying, it’s not that simple…”

“What do you mean, ‘it’s not that simple’? You just can’t accept something so beyond understanding! But prodigy like her have always defied logic. Just accept it instead of overthinking to prove it’s impossible—it’s pointless!”

The elders twitched at her words, but Ming Ying was entirely unbothered.

She believed she had two qualities that made her far better than these old-timers.

First, Beauty.

Even if Qin Ruqing had stolen the spotlight, Ming Ying knew she was still beautiful.

And in her view, she and Qin Ruqing had completely different styles of beauty.

The cultivation world was big enough for them both.

Second, she was realistic and knew her strengths.

Ming Ying considered herself a genius, and she was fully confident in that.

But she also knew there were levels among geniuses, and she was content with her place—not at the very top, but far above most others.

So when she first heard that Qin Ruqing had defeated a Transcending Stage ancestor, she was shocked and watched the recording several times, trying to figure out how it was done.

But when she realized she simply couldn’t understand Qin Ruqing’s moves, Ming Ying just let it go.

If she couldn’t understand, so be it.

It was a bizarre occurrence, but was it the first strange thing that happened around Qin Ruqing?

Not at all.

Ming Ying quickly moved on.

The Ming family elders couldn’t handle her bluntness, but this time, the Ming Clan Leader surprisingly sided with Ming Ying.

“She’s right. You’re getting old.”

“It’s just a shame that our relationship with the Qin family is only average. Unlike the Song family, we can’t naturally latch onto this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“The Song family, ugh, they’re all about scheming and networking. There isn’t a single proper person among them. We can’t compete with that.” The elders scoffed at the mention of the Song family, their old rivals on Buzhou Island.

“Isn’t Ming Ying close with her? She could try to strengthen our connections so that the Ming family can benefit.”

Ming Ying shrugged. “I’m a friend of hers, sure, but I’m not her only ‘friend.’ Counting on me would be unrealistic—better to count on Aunt Minghua.”

Someone asked in confusion, “What does Aunt Minghua have to do with this?”

Ming Ying blinked. “Aunt Minghua is Tang Zifeng’s master. If we can’t connect directly with Qin Ruqing, we can take an indirect approach. I think Tang Zifeng has a bright future—maybe someday…”

The Ming family members took a moment to process, realizing what “someday” could mean.

They couldn’t help but fantasize for a moment.

If this worked out, the Ming family could eventually forge ties with the Qin family.

But after some daydreaming, they quickly shook their heads, sighing, “That’s all in the future. For now, we can only sit back and watch the excitement!”

….

Penglai Lu Clan.

Upon learning the news, the Lu Clan’s patriarch immediately began a thorough cleansing of the clan, swiftly identifying the priest who had initially tipped off the Fang family.

The patriarch looked down at the kneeling priest with an expression of cold indifference:

“She may not have time to deal with you now, but when this matter is settled, you will go and seek her forgiveness.”

The priest’s face was ashen, but there was still a trace of unwillingness in his voice. “I… I only passed along a message; I didn’t actually do anything against her!”

The Lu patriarch gazed at him as if he were already dead. “You may not have acted directly against her, but you almost caused the death of her family’s ancestor!”

“But didn’t Qin Wenxuan also survive…?”

“Do you expect gratitude for that?” The patriarch’s voice suddenly rose in anger. “Who could have predicted that Qin Ruqing would be capable of defeating a Transcending Stage ancestor? The Fang family didn’t foresee it, and neither did you!” The patriarch, now certain that this man was as good as dead, continued with a tone of finality.

From her previous interactions, the patriarch knew that Qin Ruqing was not someone who would confuse right with wrong.

Her earlier request for this man’s life was merely a warning.

Now that Qin Wenxuan had been saved, as long as this man showed the proper remorse and accepted his punishment, Qin Ruqing might not actually kill him.

But this fool was too ignorant of the situation, unable to see the reality even now.

Such a fool, even if he managed to survive in this world, would only waste precious spiritual energy.

The patriarch, no longer willing to waste another word, turned to the others and coldly instructed, “Seal his spiritual powers and ensure he is closely watched. If he tries to commit suicide, those guarding him will share his fate.”

One of the priests, confused, asked, “Patriarch, didn’t Qin Ruqing say she wanted his life? Since he’s so stubborn, shouldn’t we just kill him and show our stance to Qin Ruqing?”

The Patriarch, whose face was etched with ceremonial markings, shook her head heavily:

“You don’t understand.”

“For some people, if you kill someone on their behalf, they see it as an act of goodwill.”

“But for someone like Qin Ruqing, if she says she wants someone’s life, you’d better keep that person alive until she comes to claim it herself!”

---

Penglai Feng Clan.

Feng Qinxue stood with her hands behind her back, watching as Feng Mingyue held a recording stone.

“Finished watching?” she asked.

Feng Mingyue nodded coldly.

“What do you think?”

“I can’t compare to her,” Feng Mingyue replied bluntly. “I might be able to exchange a few blows with that Transcending Stage ancestor, and I have ways to break his initial spells. I could even try to escape. But as for killing him—” Feng Mingyue slowly shook her head, “—there’s no way.”

Feng Qinxue fell silent after hearing this.

Mingyue’s talent was among the top three in the history of the Feng family, and if even she said it was impossible.

then…

“Moreover, it seems that her Absolute Domain has broken through to the second stage,” Feng Mingyue added, her voice calm.

“The Second Stage!” Feng Qinxue’s eyes narrowed as she uttered two words, “Breaking Edge!”

“Yes, a realm mastered only by the Supreme Elder and the Ancestor of our clan.”

After Feng Mingyue finished speaking, she waited quietly for a response.

Receiving none, she wasn’t in a hurry.

Instead, she watched the recording again before asking, “Is the Feng family planning to intervene?”

Feng Qinxue looked at her, “Do you think the Feng family should?”

“The Feng family could have helped before Qin Ruqing went to that ancient secret realm,” Feng Mingyue said, her words carrying a hint of suggestion.

“Mingyue, you think the Feng family acted too late. Now that the matter is settled, any action would merely be icing on the cake, not providing help in a time of need. Is that right?”

Feng Mingyue didn’t respond, merely continuing to clean her sword in silence.

However, her attitude made everything clear.

Feng Qinxue sighed, “I know your mind is pure, but Mingyue, even Celestial have their own stances and concerns. Had we intervened at that time, the outcome might not have been what it is now. At the very least, public opinion wouldn’t be so overwhelmingly in favor of Qin Ruqing.”

“She has already achieved a decisive victory in every respect. So, whether we intervened or not, what difference does it make?”

Feng Mingyue remained silent this time.

She thought to herself, indeed, it doesn’t make much difference.

So, to Qin Ruqing, the Feng family might also be unimportant and indifferent.

And the Feng family likely viewed Qin Ruqing the same way.

At least, for now.

Each stood on opposite sides of the scale, cautiously observing, never getting too close.

Feng Qinxue quickly dispelled her momentary self-doubt and spoke calmly:

“Back then, when the old feud between the Qin and Fang families came to light at the Hundred Families Conference, I suppressed it and did not take action because the time wasn’t right.”

“Now, as the old case resurfaces, and the Yanzhou war may hold hidden truths, the Feng family, as the leading celestial clan of the Eastern Domain, should step forward and hold a hearing to review the old case. That is the most reasonable and just course of action!”

Feng Mingyue said nothing.

She was a dedicated sword cultivator and didn’t concern herself with such matters.

Instead, she raised her sword, slowly turning it toward the sun.

The blade reflected a sharp, piercing light.

Mimicking the sword strike from Qin Ruqing’s battle against the Fang family’s ancestor as seen in the jade slip, Feng Mingyue also swung her sword.

The sun stood high in the sky, watching everything calmly, unmoved, without joy or sorrow.