Transform into ancestral tablets and create a supreme immortal clan.

With a flick of her wrist, Shen Muge instantly withdrew all the needle energy back into her body. The entire process was smooth and effortless.

Shen Xiao was silent for a moment: "Judging from your current state, your aura is restrained and obscure, and your energy is different from others. I'm afraid that ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it difficult to see through your depth."

This is both an advantage and a challenge for you.

There may be criticism within the clan, and outsiders are more likely to misunderstand you; you need to be mentally prepared.

A resolute glint flashed in Shen Muge's eyes: "Disciple understands. As long as it can revitalize the Shen family and protect our clansmen, these changes...disciple would gladly accept them."

Despite this, Shen Xiao caught a glimpse of deep-seated confusion and struggle in his eyes.

This is understandable; anyone would need time to adapt to such drastic physical and mental changes.

"You may step down now. Consolidate your cultivation and familiarize yourself with your new power," Shen Xiao instructed finally. "Come to the ancestral hall to see me in ten days. I have some tasks for you to handle."

Shen Muge bowed respectfully, then turned and left gracefully in her red dress.

Watching his receding figure, Shen Xiao's inspiration flickered slightly, and he fell into deep thought.

Shen Muge's change was more dramatic than expected.

The strangeness of the "Sunflower Manual: Mystery" even exceeded the expected results of the deduction.

Whether this is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: Shen Muge has embarked on an unprecedented path of cultivation.

There were no precedents to follow on this path; he had to find his way forward on his own.

Before we knew it, night had fallen.

Deep in the back mountain, moonlight shone down on Shen Muge.

Several Shen family cultivators watched quietly and discussed among themselves.

"That's Shen Muge? She was amazing even from afar during the day, but she's even more stunning under the moonlight..."

"It's beautiful, but it's also a little scary."

"I heard that he cultivates a special technique bestowed by his ancestors, which is why he has undergone such a transformation."

"I wonder if, in the future, we might also receive the teachings of our ancestors..."

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! Focusing on cultivation is the right thing to do!"

……

Shen Muge had already heard it.

He slowly opened his eyes, looked in the direction where the sound had disappeared, and a fleeting, unfathomable emotion flashed in his eyes.

It was neither anger nor sorrow, but a detached indifference.

He has already embarked on this path, and there is no turning back.

Whether the road ahead is thorny or filled with flowers, he will keep going.

For the sake of the Shen family, and for my own sake.

Ten days later, Shen Muge arrived at the ancestral hall as promised.

Also present at the ancestral hall was Shen Muyi, who had just returned from Qixing Mountain.

He handed a jade token identifying him as a disciple of Seven Star Mountain directly to Shen Muge.

"This is the identity jade token of an inner disciple of Tianquan Peak?" Shen Muge was once a disciple of Qixing Mountain and recognized the origin of the jade token at a glance.

Shen Xiao said, "I have investigated your grievances at Seven Star Mountain and found that they were committed by Gu Zongyi, the chief disciple of the Jade Balance Peak."

Perhaps the work of a Golden Core cultivator from Seven Star Mountain was also involved.

Behind this lies the fact that the Gu family secretly raised the "Shangshan Blood Corpse," or there may be other unknown reasons.

But since you were once a direct disciple of Yuheng Peak, the fact that Gu Zongyi could frame you so easily must have been the result of his secret manipulation.

He is your enemy, and now his cultivation has been destroyed, he has been expelled from his sect, and he has been sent back to Cangwu in Yazhou.

The only escorts were a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator and several Qi Refining cultivators.

I am giving you the opportunity to personally settle the matter of cause and effect.

"Descend the mountain immediately, ambush and kill the Gu family's escort team, and bring Gu Zongyi back to me alive!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Muge's originally calm expression was now filled with intense hatred and murderous intent.

No one can understand how desperate, helpless, and filled with hatred he was back then.

And how humiliating and painful it was.

It destroys one's cultivation, damages one's bones and meridians, inflicts a cold poison, and severs one's reproductive organs...

Each and every incident made him want to tear the mastermind behind it all apart, yet even that couldn't quell his hatred.

"Mu Ge then went to settle this score!"

"Wait a moment. Although this is to settle your own grudges, it is also to do things for me. Therefore, I will bestow upon you a top-grade spiritual artifact to protect you."

This treasure is called the "White Fox Spirit Needle," made from the spirit tail fur of the Flying Fox. The complete set contains a total of 3,659 needles.

With the ability of the Flipped Fox to conceal its magical power fluctuations, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it extremely difficult to detect their aura with their divine sense.

The stronger one's spiritual sense, the more spiritual needles one can control.

Once it enters the body, it travels along the blood vessels and meridians, directly piercing the heart and acupoints, moving throughout the enemy's body, making it impossible to defend against and incredibly powerful.

Before she finished speaking, countless milky-white needle-shaped spiritual lights, like a white river, surged into Shen Muge's hands.

"Mu Ge kowtows in gratitude to our ancestors for bestowing this treasure!"

"You have one more thing to do on your journey: leave this identity jade token from Tianquan Peak of Seven Star Mountain at the scene of the robbery and murder."

"Ancestor... what are you going to do..."

"Just do as instructed. The Seven Star Mountain Sect is not entirely peaceful."

Some things, once the seed of doubt is sown, can lead to a lot of trouble.

Shen Xiao was not going to explain any further.

Shen Muge was full of doubt. After all, he was only seventeen years old. How much scheming could he possibly have?

It's normal that he can't figure some things out right away.

Shen Xiao's actions were not truly intended to frame someone, but rather to sow the seeds of suspicion.

This is a thorn; it won't hurt you immediately, but it can gradually erode trust and challenge the worst aspects of human nature.

The Gu family has three Golden Core cultivators, which is like a behemoth to the Shen family now.

To deal with them, you must use their strength against them and avoid exposing yourself.

Even if Shen Muge were to ambush and kill him now, it would be because Shen Muge had only recently established his foundation and possessed combat power comparable to a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The outside world is unaware of this information.

Naturally, no one suspected the Shen family.

Secretive and reliable!

……

Yazhou, located in the southern part of the Chu Kingdom, is a place with endless mountains and valleys.

The ancient family's homeland is located in Cangwu, Yazhou.

This place is 6,300 li away from Qixing Mountain.

Gu Lingxiao, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Gu family, is a descendant of Gu Hanjiang.

They are also from the same lineage as Gu Zongyi.

This escort of Gu Zongyi back to the Cangwu clan territory was entrusted by Gu Hanjiang.

Accompanying him were six Qi Refining stage cultivators from the same lineage.

Given the Gu family's prestige in the cultivation world of Southern Chu, escorting someone whose cultivation has been completely destroyed would normally pose no danger.

Because there's no profit to be made!

The Gu family was at the height of its prestige, and no one would be foolish enough to dare to ambush and kill them.

But life is unpredictable, and he was ultimately too confident.

The Gu family and their group traveled through the rolling mountains. As night deepened, the chill of late autumn seeped into their bones.

Gu Zongyi huddled inside the flying boat. The once spirited disciple of Yuheng Peak was now withered and emaciated, with empty eyes.

His cultivation had been completely destroyed, his meridians were broken, and he even needed help to sit up.

"Uncle Lingxiao, how many more days until we reach Cangwu?" a young cultivator asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Gu Lingxiao didn't even turn his head: "If we travel at full speed, we can reach the border of the clan's territory by tomorrow dusk."

However, we need to rest at "Luoying Gorge" ahead tonight, as the terrain there is treacherous and traveling at night is too risky.

"We may be attacked by a monster!"