There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 203 Entanglement of Cause and Effect
Not far from this dilapidated Taoist temple, across two streets, two men dressed in inconspicuous, close-fitting clothes sat facing each other on the second floor of a teahouse, near the window.

"When will this grueling job ever end?" The dark-skinned man slammed his rough earthenware teacup on the table, his brows furrowed with impatience. "They say this place is of utmost importance, but I've been here for three months, and apart from the slightest rustling of wind and grass, I've barely seen a single decent living creature! Staring at this rotten wood and broken tiles all day long, my cultivation is practically rusting away!"

The older man opposite him had a sharp, wiry face. Hearing this, he kept his gaze fixed on the window and said calmly, "Brother Wang, watch your words. The higher-ups have sent us here for a reason. Do you think we're the only two people watching us around here?"

"A deeper meaning?" The man surnamed Wang lowered his voice. "Zhang, you're knowledgeable. I heard you've been guarding this place for five years. Tell me the truth, what secrets does this dilapidated Taoist temple hold? Why make such a fuss, even the duty roster is so mysterious?"

Zhang the Boss withdrew his gaze and glanced at him: "Knowing too much won't do you any good."

The man surnamed Wang was speechless for a moment, and could only pick up his teacup in a huff, muttering under his breath, "It's just a Taoist temple, yet it's all so mysterious."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!
The Taoist temple across the street seemed to tremble slightly!
Years of accumulated dust dripped from the eaves, and the overgrown weeds in the yard moved swiftly without wind, all bending down in one direction!

"puff!"

The man surnamed Wang spat out his tea, his eyes wide with surprise: "Boss Zhang! Something seems to have really changed inside!"

The leader had already stood up abruptly, his breathing suddenly becoming rapid.

"There was actually movement?! How is that possible!"

But he was an experienced man after all. After the initial shock, he quickly recovered, grabbed the man surnamed Wang who was about to jump up, and calmly said, "Silence! Report it immediately!"

The man surnamed Wang also realized what was happening, and hurriedly pulled out a jade talisman from his pocket to send a message!
After finishing all that, he cautiously asked, "Chief Zhang, whose Taoist temple is this? Who is it dedicated to?"

The leader hesitated for a moment before saying, "A few years ago, I saw it in an old file. It said that this place was originally used to worship the Hidden Star True Lord, but the plaque was removed after the Immortal Emperor ascended to heaven!"

“Hidden Star True Monarch?” The man surnamed Wang was bewildered for a moment, then came to his senses. “The founder of the Hidden Star Sect?” He was even more puzzled. “Why would someone who has been dead for countless years be valued so highly?”

"Jin Chan Fang, No. 361, dry well..."

In the west of Yujing City, a bluestone path winds between high walls and deep courtyards. Chen Qing walks among them with unhurried steps, silently reciting the directions he obtained from the Remnant Scroll Pavilion. His divine sense sweeps over the lintels of each courtyard, yet he feels a sense of detachment from time and space, a kind of wistful feeling.

In the past, he had also traveled through the western part of the city, but now the place was filled with vermilion gates and high walls, and spiritual light was faintly visible. This place was no longer the chaotic mortal market of the early days of the Immortal Dynasty, but had become a noble place where nobles gathered and sects stood in great numbers.

"No wonder even the annex of Taiyi Temple was built in the west of the city. The changes here are so great."

He cleared his mind of all distractions, narrowed his eyes, and surveyed the surroundings.

In his previous life as Chen Xu, he and Lü Feng hid here. Back then, the western part of the city was full of life. However, due to the destruction of Yujing by the Battle of Tianyantai, the western part of the city was filled with spiritual energy after reconstruction. Now, many sects' villas and noble mansions are located here. Even the servants guarding the gates have sharp eyes and extraordinary demeanor, revealing their cultivation foundation. It is far from the scene of the past.

Following the directions and house numbers, the closer he got, the more opulent the mansions on both sides became, and Chen Qing gradually had a bad feeling.

"That target mansion will probably not be easy to enter; it may belong to someone extraordinary."

Finally, he stopped.

Before them stood a solemn mansion, its dark wooden gate tightly shut, the beast-head rings on the gate gleaming with an eerie light, and the stone lions on either side were no ordinary creatures, faintly emanating a fluctuation that suppressed spiritual energy.

Within the high walls, several more subtle yet powerful auras, like undercurrents in a deep pool, crisscrossed and patrolled.

"The Liu residence?"

Chen Qing looked up at the plaque, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. Then, he sensed that he was entangled with the Liu family by karma. Since it involved him, no one could hide the secret. After a little calculation, he knew the reason.

"After beheading Lin Ruhui in the North, an envoy from the Jade Capital named Liu Yu instigated the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Xuan Yin and Yue Hua sects to plot against me, but I ultimately suppressed and destroyed them. Later, members of the Liu family were also involved in the plot to assassinate the four Nascent Soul cultivators..."

Upon closer examination, he and the Liu family were already sworn enemies.

"But why is the secret entrance to the Taiyi Dao Palace located in the Liu family mansion?"

The records of the Floating Capital Secret Realm that he saw in later generations clearly described the entrance incantation and location, but they did not detail the owner of the mansion next to the entrance. Logically speaking, such an important place should have been firmly in the hands of the Taiyi Dao Palace, or guarded by trusted confidants.

"Could it be that the Liu family is one of the insiders, and specially bought the mansion to guard it?" Chen Qing thought to himself, but did not act rashly. Instead, he spent a day following the methods taught by Liu Shuang'er, using various disguises and concealments to wander around the Liu mansion, probing from all angles to find out the aura within.

After some investigation, he confirmed that the layout of the mansion was similar to the outline of later records, but the internal structure was quite different. However, the location of the crucial dry well was confirmed.

"But there are far too many powerful cultivators in this mansion!"

Chen Qing frowned slightly. Through his senses, he noticed no fewer than five obscure and powerful auras within the courtyard walls, all of which should be at the Nascent Soul level!
"The Liu family's foundation is so deep? Or is there another reason? However, if I were just going to infiltrate, I wouldn't need to worry too much. What I'm lacking now is someone connected to the Liu family, hmm?"

As he was pondering, he suddenly sensed something unusual behind him; someone was secretly following him!

Chen Qing remained calm and composed, shifting his footsteps as he glided into a nearby secluded alleyway like a fish.

Just as he turned into the alley, a voice behind him asked, "You brat, you've changed your identity several times, lingering suspiciously outside the Liu residence all day long. What are you up to?! Others' spells can't detect you, but my Bloodlight True Eye is a divine power rooted in flesh and blood, and you can't hide it from me!" Chen Qing looked over and saw a man blocking the alley entrance. He was burly and his blood and qi were as vigorous as a furnace. Upon closer inspection, he was actually a Golden Core cultivator! This man's eyes shone brightly, and his muscles were bulging, faintly glowing with an ancient bronze luster. He must have followed a fierce path of tempering his body and unleashing his blood and qi.

Seeing that Chen Qing did not answer, the man sneered, "There are important matters in the manor now, how can we allow petty people to spy on us? Do you know what status and position my Liu family has? Do you think you lowly cultivators can covet it? If you know what's good for you, bind yourself and come back to the manor with me to await your punishment, lest I take action and break your bones!" His tone was arrogant, and he did not take Chen Qing seriously at all.

"A major event?" Chen Qing grasped the key point. "I've just arrived and I've already encountered a major event involving the Liu family?"

"Still not talking?" The man seemed impatient with more words, and roared, his blood and qi suddenly erupted, forming a dark red flame on his body! Then he took a step forward, the blue bricks on the ground shattered, and his right fist slammed straight down, the wind of the fist was fierce, carrying a fierce and murderous aura of fighting to the death on the battlefield, and it hit Chen Qing's face directly!
Before the fist even arrived, the powerful energy that could make an ordinary Golden Core cultivator's soul tremble was already rushing towards him, causing Chen Qing's robes to flutter wildly!
Then, the fist shadows piled up one after another, like a thousand troops charging into battle. The fierce fist intent materialized and almost tore the alley apart!

With a single punch, he was about to destroy Chen Qing's foundation and capture him directly!

"Decisive and ruthless! Such domineering blood-qi martial arts! Could this person have cultivated to the Golden Core level using body-refining martial arts? He's the type to decide life and death in a single exchange!" Chen Qing swayed slightly, dodging the punch!

"You were able to dodge and retreat even when enveloped by my Great Witch Fist Intent! You are also at the Golden Core level! Then I can't capture you safely, so I can only kill you first!" Upon seeing this, a cold glint flashed in the man's eyes, and his fist wind changed, gaining a sense of vastness, and its power actually increased three or four times!
"I was just taking a stroll outside the mansion, and you're already trying to kill me?" Upon hearing this, Chen Qing pointed his finger, and a point of bloody light burst forth from his fingertip. At first, it was inconspicuous, but it grew with the wind and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a blood river phantom that swallowed up the fierce and incomparable fist intent and murderous aura!
Then, the blood-red light flowed backward, heading straight for the person's body!
"What?! What is this?!" The man's pupils shrank drastically, and he felt his own blood and qi being rapidly dissolved and polluted by that strange blood light! He tried to retreat, but it was too late!
The phantom of the Blood River was already before him, but it was only a scroll!
"Hey!"

The man's body withered and shriveled instantly, and he fell to the ground, barely breathing.

The river of blood surged back and entered Chen Qing's body. He glanced at the man on the ground and said, "It was an accident that we met, but in a life-or-death battle, there is no room for soft-heartedness. It would be a real pity for someone like you to die silently. You might as well leave your name, so that I will at least remember you in the future."

The man spat out a mouthful of blood, his lips twitching as he said, "I am... Liu Shenglong, the Great Shaman of the Shamanic Ancestor Altar! You... you remember this! When you fall into the underworld, I will come looking for you again!" With that, he closed his eyes.

"Hmm?" Chen Qing suddenly felt that as soon as this person's life ended, the surging blood and energy and the aura of the golden core in his body rapidly declined. He raised his hand to grab it, but found that the golden core in this person's body had already dissipated and turned into flesh and blood!
“This is a method of cultivation unlike any other Golden Core cultivation! It’s the path of the Witch Ancestor Altar? The Witch Ancestor Altar is one of the Five Sects and Six Religions, but I’ve never had any contact with it before,” he said, slightly moved. “The Liu family actually has such a deep connection with the Witch Ancestor Altar…”

As he thought about it, he took a portion of the other party's flesh and bones and immediately activated the "Hundred Forms and Thousand Illusions" technique.

A moment later, the person who emerged from the alley was Liu Shenglong, who even perfectly imitated the arrogant and fierce look on his face.

"I wonder if Liu Shenglong informed anyone before chasing after him, but judging from his personality, he probably wouldn't say much." Chen Qing straightened his robes and was about to walk towards the Liu residence, but he stopped abruptly after taking a step, took out the talisman that connected him with Lu Zhao, and transferred his divine sense into it.

A short while later, the talisman warmed slightly, and Lu Zhao's voice came from it: "Junior Brother Jiming? The sudden contact, could it be that you've encountered trouble?"

Chen Qing asked Lu Zhao directly if he knew anything about the Liu family of Yujing.

"The Liu family? That makes sense. The Liu family harbors considerable hostility towards you, so it's understandable that you want to know more. Their ancestor was one of the 108 stars under the command of the Primordial Immortal Emperor. I've heard their family tree can be traced back to before the Immortal Dynasty, but they are very secretive about that period of history, and outsiders know very little about it..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's memories of his past life surged back. He recalled that, according to the setting, his great-grandfather, "Chen Xu," was also one of the 108 stars.

At this moment, the talisman light flowed, and Lu Zhao's voice continued, gradually becoming solemn: "The Liu family has survived three dynasties. At the end of the Tai Chu era, when the princes were vying for the throne, they clearly bet on the sixth prince. However, after the Tai Yuan Immortal Emperor ascended the throne, the Liu family was even more favored. Now, they are even more prosperous, with disciples all over the Taiyi Dao Palace, the Tianji Alliance, the Wuzu Altar, the Xijian Pool, the Zhenglu Sect, etc. There are even rumors that when the Yinxing Sect was founded, an ancestor of the Liu family disguised himself and joined the sect of the founder, but the truth of this matter is hard to verify."

"Is that so? Then the Liu family is indeed cunning and resourceful, a veritable speculative clan."

Chen Qing's brows furrowed suddenly. He had now roughly deduced that when the Hidden Star Sect was rebuilt, "Chen Xu" had already entered the Void Abyss Mountain. The so-called "true disciples" who followed were mostly sent by various forces. They were ostensibly there to learn skills, but in reality, they were just a link, a kind of investment and support from the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor and various sects for the Hidden Star Sect.

Unexpectedly, the Liu family also got involved.

He immediately pressed further, "Has the Liu family been gathering manpower recently? It seems there are a large number of experts gathered in the mansion."

"Hmm?" Lu Zhao's voice revealed obvious surprise. "How did you know? That's right, not only the Liu family, but also many noble families, sects and academies in Yujing have been making unusual moves recently, secretly gathering their forces. And the reason, I'm sure you've already guessed."

Chen Qing paused for a moment before saying, "Is it because someone beat you to it at the 'fake gate' of Taiyi Dao Palace?"

"Most likely!" Lu Zhao's tone even carried a hint of admiration. "Although there is no conclusive evidence, all the movements point to this matter. I must say, the extraordinary person behind the scenes is truly remarkable! With a casual move, he has stirred up the winds and clouds of the world, making these behemoths restless."

Chen Qing: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, his feelings were hard to describe, but he had already figured out what he wanted to ask. After exchanging a few more words with Lu Zhao, he cut off the communication.

The talisman's radiance dimmed, but Chen Qing's gaze sharpened.

"A storm is brewing. We must sneak in as soon as possible while everyone's attention is still focused elsewhere! Get things done!" He made up his mind, concealed his aura, and headed towards the Liu residence. Using Liu Shenglong's face as a cover, he swaggered into the mansion and then proceeded straight to the West Mansion.

"As expected of a wealthy family..."

Chen Qing withdrew his divine sense, neither probing nor paying attention to the probing of others, and simply moved forward. As for the exposure of the secret entrance, he didn't care at all. After all, as long as he achieved his goal, he could just leave without a care in the world.

Many people greeted him upon seeing him along the way, while a few looked puzzled.

Chen Qing took a slight detour, using his divine sense to monitor his surroundings. Finding a quiet spot with few people, he slipped into a secluded courtyard and saw a well.

However, the well has not yet dried up.

"right here."

(End of this chapter)