Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

Su Qingxue raised her delicate hand, and a wave of cold air surged out.

The poisonous mist instantly condensed into ice crystals upon encountering the cold air and fell, freezing the nine bone nails in mid-air.

With a flick of her jade-like finger, the ice crystals shattered, transforming into countless ice spikes that curled back towards the two elders!

"Mysterious Yin Transformation?! You can already control the power of origin?!" The two elders were shocked and retreated repeatedly.

They didn't expect that Su Qingxue not only cleared away the Yin Sha Yin, but also mastered some of the methods of using the Xuan Yin Origin in such a short time.

"Form the Three Powers Yin Sha Formation!"

Master Youquan gritted his teeth and shouted.

The three quickly moved closer together, forming a triangle. Black energy surged from their bodies, intertwining with each other, and actually condensed in the air into a phantom image of a three-headed, six-armed demon!

This monstrous phantom was about three zhang tall, with six arms each wielding a sword, fork, or halberd, and three heads that spewed poisonous fire, eerie wind, and putrid water, making it incredibly imposing.

"This is a secret combined attack technique of the Netherworld Sect!" Su Zhenbang's expression changed. "Young friend Lin, be careful!"

Lin Chen smiled.

He looked at Su Qingxue: "Are you scared?"

Su Qingxue shook her head, her icy blue eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "Perfect timing to try the 'Ice Phoenix Slash' recorded in the 'Mysterious Yin Chronicle'."

"Then let's go together."

The two of them took action at the same time.

Lin Chen formed a hand seal, and the Nine Yang True Qi condensed into a golden sun in front of him; Su Qingxue, on the other hand, pointed her fingers together like a sword, and the Profound Yin Qi transformed into an ice-blue longsword, with phoenix patterns faintly appearing on the blade.

"Nine Suns Illuminate the World!"

"Ice Phoenix Soars to the Heavens!"

The golden sun and the ice sword flew out at the same time, converging in the air and miraculously merging into one, transforming into a pillar of light interwoven with gold and blue, which directly slashed at the evil ghost's phantom!

"A combined attack of Yin and Yang?! That's impossible!" Master Youquan exclaimed in shock.

boom--!!!

The moment the beam of light collided with the phantom of the evil spirit, the blinding light temporarily blinded everyone.

Immediately following was a deafening explosion, and the shockwave swept across the entire manor like a tsunami.

When the light faded, the scene inside made everyone gasp in shock.

The three elders of the underworld collapsed to the ground, bleeding from their seven orifices, their breath weak and feeble.

The illusory image of that evil spirit had long since vanished.

Lin Chen and Su Qingxue stood side by side, their faces pale, yet their aura was overwhelming.

"Retreat...retreat!" Master Youquan struggled to his feet and shouted hoarsely.

The remaining Netherworld Sect disciples carried the three elders and fled in panic.

The Su family guards wanted to give chase, but Lin Chen stopped them: "Don't pursue a desperate enemy. Although they were defeated tonight, the Netherworld Sect will never let this go."

He looked at the dark night sky in the distance, his brow furrowed slightly: "The real trouble is probably just beginning."

Su Qingxue walked to his side and asked softly, "Are you injured?"

"A little backlash, nothing to worry about." Lin Chen shook his head, but suddenly his figure swayed.

Su Qingxue quickly supported him, and when she touched him, she felt that his body temperature was frighteningly high.

"Your Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body..." Her expression changed.

"With the removal of the Yin energy, the Yin energy within your body has temporarily stabilized, but I have lost my balance, and my Yang energy is surging back." Lin Chen smiled wryly. "You need to go into seclusion as soon as possible to suppress it."

Su Zhenbang then approached and bowed deeply: "Young friend Lin, if it weren't for you and Qingxue tonight, the Su family would have been wiped out. The Su family will never forget this kindness."

"You flatter me, sir." Lin Chen forced himself to stand up straight. "But after this defeat, the Netherworld Sect will surely return with overwhelming force next time. The Su family needs to make plans as soon as possible."

"I have made up my mind." Su Qingxue suddenly spoke, her voice clear and firm. "Three days from now, I will succeed as the head of the Su family."

Everyone was astonished.

Su Zhenbang nodded with satisfaction: "Good, it's time."

Su Qingxue looked at Lin Chen, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "During this time, I would appreciate it if Mr. Lin would stay at the Su family. On one hand, I need your assistance in stabilizing the Xuan Yin Origin, and on the other hand..."

She paused for a moment: "It's time to put an end to this engagement."

The night wind carried a faint smell of blood.

Looking at the woman before him, who was as aloof as snow yet as resolute as steel, Lin Chen suddenly smiled: "Okay."

……

Three days later, at the Su Family Ancestral Hall.

Red silk has been replaced by plain white, and white lanterns sway gently in the morning breeze.

Last night's autumn rain washed away the bloodshed, leaving the bluestone ground with a damp, cold sheen.

Inside the ancestral hall, the thirty-seven surviving direct descendants of the Su family stood solemnly, all dressed in black robes.

Su Zhenbang stood before the ancestral tablets, holding a bronze family head seal in his hand. The seal knob was carved with a dragon and a tiger, and its mottled green rust revealed the majesty of the years.

"The ancestors of the Su family are above."

The old man's voice was booming, echoing in the empty ancestral hall.

"My unworthy descendant Zhenbang has been in charge of the Su family for forty-two years. Now, with external threats and internal troubles still unresolved, I wish to relinquish the position of family head and pass it on to my eldest granddaughter Qingxue."

He turned around and looked at Su Qingxue, who was standing below the steps.

She wasn't wearing plain clothes today, but rather a long, wide-sleeved robe embroidered with silver thread in black. Her long hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, revealing her smooth forehead and her icy blue eyes.

She had no makeup on, yet her skin was as clear and translucent as jade due to the initial formation of her Xuan Yin body, and her whole body naturally exuded a cool and refreshing aura.

"Qingxue, step forward."

Su Qingxue slowly walked up the three stone steps, each step steady and deliberate.

His robe trailed on the ground, yet remained untouched by dust.

Inside the ancestral hall, some men's eyes darted around—they were several uncles from collateral branches, who had reservations about a woman succeeding as head of the family.

But the scene of Su Qingxue and Lin Chen joining forces to defeat the three elders of the Netherworld in last night's bloody battle was still fresh in their minds, and no one dared to voice their doubts at this moment.

Su Zhenbang solemnly placed the family head's seal in her palm: "From this day forward, you are the 107th head of the Su family. The rise and fall of the family business, the life and death of the clan members, all rest on your shoulders. Can you bear this responsibility?"

Su Qingxue held the seal with both hands, and the moment her fingertips touched the cool bronze, the Xuan Yin Qi within her body resonated faintly with the ancient seal.

She raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over every face in the ancestral hall, her clear, cold voice ringing out:

"Qingxue swears: In this life, I will protect the Su family bloodline so that it will never be extinguished and the family business will never decline. Anyone who offends the Su family, no matter how far away, will be punished; anyone who betrays the Su family, no matter how close, will be killed."

The last eight characters are like icicles falling to the ground.

Several of her uncles from collateral branches felt a chill run down their spines and dared not look her in the eye.

"Greetings, Master of the House!"

Su Tie took the lead by kneeling on one knee, followed by more than thirty guards.

Next came the steward and servants, and finally even the uncles bowed in hesitation.

The ceremony is complete.

A complex look of relief and exhaustion flashed in Su Zhenbang's eyes. He took a half step back and stood to the side and behind the head of the family's seat—that would be his position from now on.

"Reporting to the patriarch." Su Tie stood up and presented a scroll of intelligence:

"The remnants of the Netherworld Sect retreated to an abandoned chemical plant in the west of the city, numbering about twenty people. In addition... the other five major families in Jiangnan all made unusual moves last night."

Su Qingxue unfolded the intelligence and quickly browsed through it.

Lin Chen sat on a grand chair in the corner of the ancestral hall, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.

For the past three days, he has been harmonizing Yin and Yang with Su Qingxue to suppress the backlash of the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body, but last night he forcibly activated the Nine Yang True Fire, and now the Yang energy in his body is like a wild horse running rampant.

He could sense that there were at most half a month left before the next major attack.