Artifact Chapter 71: The Spirit of Qingling

Chapter 71: The Spirit of Qingling

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai 

 

Everyone was startled and quickly turned toward the source of the voice. They saw an old man, dressed like a servant, standing behind Daoist Zi Yang, smiling as he looked at them.

“Who is this?” someone in the crowd asked in confusion.

Daoist Zi Yang chuckled and, with a cold gaze directed at Wang Yu, proudly said, “This is, of course, Elder He from the He family.”

“Impossible!” Wang Yu immediately shouted angrily. “The He family elder has long since—”

“Long since what?” The old man cheerfully interrupted, “Long since dead, perhaps? Wang, my friend?”

Wang Yu’s face turned red, but he couldn’t say another word. The fact that the He family elders had been imprisoned and killed by various family heads was known only by a few of them, and they had publicly claimed they were missing. Even though many in the cultivation world didn’t entirely believe this story, without a body to prove otherwise, no one dared to speak out. But if all eight of the He family’s elders had been killed, where had this man come from?

Wang Yu’s voice was cold. “The He family elders disappeared ten years ago without a trace. Now, suddenly one appears. Who knows if it’s true or not?”

The old man chuckled and looked at Wang Yu. “How could I dare to show myself before? There were those who wanted my life, so I had no choice but to hide. But today is different. The young master needs me, so I can no longer hide. All eight elder seals are with me. If you don’t believe me, when the inheritance ceremony starts, you’ll know the truth.”

Wang Yu’s face darkened. The eight elder seals had been divided among the various families. The Wang family held four, the Sang family two, and the Zhao family two, with the intention of using them to control the He family should they ever rise again. Now, this mysterious old man appeared, claiming to have all eight elder seals. Could it be that the seals they obtained were all fake? Or, perhaps, the He family elders had long known about the schemes of the other families, knowing they couldn’t resist. So, they entrusted all their elder seals to one person, faked their deaths, and disappeared. Now, this person had resurfaced to help the He family heir successfully inherit the position of family head.

Only now did Wang Yu understand: The He family elders were not to be underestimated. They had anticipated this situation and used a clever scheme to deceive the other families.

Lu Ming recognized the old man’s appearance and was somewhat surprised. “Elder Liu, it’s you.”

The old man walked up to Lu Ming, patted him on the shoulder, and a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes before he sighed in relief. “Qingci, I was forced to disguise myself as a servant and stay hidden in the He family. Fortunately, no evil people discovered me. Ten years ago, after your father passed away, you went to Kunlai Mountain to seek the Dao, and Qingqiu was too young. The He family elders were secretly harmed, and the He family fell. But now that both you and Qingqiu have grown up and mastered your skills, the He family can be saved. Come with me to the He family’s Sect Shrine, and I will pass on the elder seals to you. From now on, you will be the head of the He family, and the family’s revival will depend on you.”

Lu Ming gave him a deep look, feeling a touch of irony and helplessness in his heart. The people of the He family were like this: When you were down and out, they looked down on you, treated you like a dog, and bullied you as if it was their right. But when you stood at the top and could be of use to them, they treated you like a god, placing all the responsibility on your shoulders, expecting you to be the great tree while they sat under it, enjoying the shade.

When He Qingci was humiliated in the past, when had these people ever stepped up to help him? Now that he had earned the title of Artifact Master and could carve out a future for himself, they came to him saying, “The revival of the family depends on you.”

Why should he?

The more Lu Ming thought about it, the angrier he became. His body began to tremble slightly as a murderous aura began to surround him.

“Young Master He, your spirit energy is overly depleted. I think it would be better to rest for a while before the inheritance ceremony. What do you think?” A calm, indifferent voice suddenly interrupted.

Lu Ming’s murderous intent was broken, and he suddenly came to his senses. He quickly suppressed the violent emotions within him. He had seemingly been overtaken by his inner demons earlier, and if it hadn’t been for that voice pulling him out, he might have been in danger today.

Daoist Zi Yang thought for a moment before speaking. “That would be fine. Elder Liu, perhaps it would be better to postpone the inheritance ceremony for another day. What do you think?”

Elder Liu nodded. “Very well.”

The crowd dispersed.

Lu Ming, feeling somewhat dazed, walked back to his room. Not long after he sat down, the door was pushed open. Looking up, he saw Sang Wusheng.

Sang Wusheng walked over, placing a bowl of steaming porridge in front of Lu Ming. He softly said, “Brother, eat something. You must be tired after today.”

Lu Ming glanced at him and said flatly, “I’m not hungry.”

Sang Wusheng sighed helplessly, scooped a spoonful of hot porridge, and held it up to Lu Ming’s lips. “I know you don’t feel hunger anymore, but I still wanted to make it for you.”

Lu Ming didn’t respond. Sang Wusheng continued to speak to himself, “Brother, your complexion isn’t good today. Have you been too busy lately and not rested properly? I added some spiritual plants to the porridge that will help calm your mind. Try it and see if you like it. If you do, I’ll make it for you again.”

Lu Ming closed his eyes and said, “Don’t treat me like this…”

Lu Ming’s heart clenched as he listened to Elder Liu’s weak words. The weight of what the elder had said felt like a burden pressing against his chest. The past, the betrayals, and the hidden truths that had remained shrouded for so long now came to the surface, painting a picture of a family caught in a struggle for survival.

Elder Liu continued, his voice barely above a whisper, “I… I should have protected you… I should have warned you… but I was too afraid… too weak. I didn’t want to see you suffer, Qingci. Forgive me.”

The words struck deep, leaving Lu Ming with a swirl of emotions. He had always wondered about the decisions his father, the so-called ‘patriarch,’ had made, and now, it seemed the secrets of the past were beginning to unravel. But forgiveness, Lu Ming thought, was not something that could be given easily. The bitterness of betrayal and neglect was not something to just brush aside.

The elderly figure before him, now visibly withering, was not the imposing presence he had once been. Elder Liu had spent years in hiding, enduring pain and loss, while his body had withered away, all for the sake of his survival—and now, he was dying.

Lu Ming took a deep breath, his mind struggling to process everything. The legacy of the family, the expectations placed on him, and the complicated web of power and control that had defined his life were all crashing down at once.

“Rest now,” Lu Ming finally said, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow. “There’s nothing more you need to do. You’ve fulfilled your role. It’s over.”

Elder Liu smiled faintly, his lips trembling with the effort. “Thank you, Qingci. You are the future of the family… don’t let the past consume you. The choices you make will determine everything.”

With a final sigh, Elder Liu’s form seemed to fade even further, his eyes closing, and his body losing all remaining vitality. The strong figure of the past was no more.

Lu Ming remained kneeling, the weight of the moment settling in. Around him, the other elders and witnesses stood in silence, the gravity of the situation apparent. This was the end of one chapter, but for Lu Ming, it was only the beginning of a new, uncertain journey.

He rose slowly, feeling the warmth of the long-anticipated power within him but also a heavy responsibility that came with it. He had inherited the legacy of the family, yes, but at what cost? And could he truly lead the family to its revival, when so much had been lost?

Turning to the others, Lu Ming’s gaze was unwavering. “The legacy of the family is mine now, and with it comes the responsibility to rebuild what has been broken. But the past will not dictate my future. It’s time for change.”

Lu Ming stood at the edge of the cracked ground, his eyes fixed on the massive stone door that had emerged from beneath the surface. The air around him seemed to hum with the power of the blue spiritual energy, which had now formed a vortex, drawing the attention of everyone present. His heart beat with a quiet intensity as the weight of his decision pressed down on him. He had agreed to open the family’s secret treasure vault, but he understood the immense responsibility that came with it.

The stone door, ancient and imposing, stood as a testament to the history of the family—of the sacrifices made, the secrets buried, and the legacy that Lu Ming was now bound to uphold. The other elders, along with the representatives of the three other major families, had gathered in tense silence, watching Lu Ming as he prepared to unlock what had been hidden for so long.

“This is it,” Lu Ming said softly, turning to the gathered crowd. “The treasure vault will test us. Only those who are worthy will gain from what lies within. If any attempt to abuse the power of this vault is made, it will be sealed forever. I am not doing this for myself, but for the future of the family. We cannot afford to fail.”

The elders nodded, though their faces were a mix of hope and caution. They knew what was at stake, and many had doubts about the consequences of opening such an ancient vault.

With a deep breath, Lu Ming stepped forward, placing his palm against the stone. The blue spiritual energy swirled in response, and the massive door slowly began to creak open, revealing the darkness within. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble slightly as if the very earth was aware of the vault’s awakening.

“Remember,” Lu Ming called over his shoulder, “Only five from each family may enter. The rest must wait outside.”

The representatives from the other families exchanged uneasy glances. They had all heard the stories of the vault—its vast riches, ancient artifacts, and powerful weapons that could turn the tide of any battle. But none could deny that the risks involved were great. The vault was not simply a repository of wealth; it was a test of strength, will, and worth.

As the stone door opened fully, revealing a vast chamber beyond, a chill ran through the air. The darkness within was almost tangible, but Lu Ming could sense something more—an energy that pulsed with raw power, ancient and untamed. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, his body braced for whatever would come next.

“Let the trial begin,” Lu Ming muttered under his breath.

As the others began to step forward, Lu Ming remained still for a moment longer, his thoughts turning inward. The decisions he had made up until now had been shaped by necessity, by the will of those around him, but this—this was something different. He was no longer simply playing the role of the reluctant heir. He was the one who held the future of the family in his hands.

And with that thought, he stepped into the darkness, leading the way into the depths of the vault.

 

 

 

 

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