Wei Qingshan’s face couldn’t hide her disappointment upon hearing this. Eight high-grade spirit stones wouldn’t even support their cultivation for a year.
She lowered her head, thinking, her eyes suddenly brightened with surprise. “I’ve thought of something. I don’t have any spirit stones on me right now, but I have the spirit key to the family treasury.”
This spirit key was given to her in private by her brother, Wei Qingyun, after he was poisoned, asking her to keep it safe.
The moment Wei Qingshan took out the spirit key, a bolt of lightning struck her mind. She suddenly understood why her brother had entrusted such an important item to her.
At that time, he likely realized that his poisoning was no accident but a deliberate act of murder. He also foresaw the dangers Wei Qingshan would face, which was why he gave her the treasury key, hoping she could use it to save her life.
Wei Qingshan’s eyes turned red, and tears streamed down her face.
So, her brother had been protecting her in such an indirect way.
Wei Jiu was flustered and could only awkwardly stammer, “Miss, please don’t be sad. The Patriarch in heaven would certainly not wish to see you like this.”
Xu Yi frowned. This comfort seemed somewhat hollow.
She racked her brains for a long time but could only manage to squeeze out, “My condolences.”
Fortunately, Wei Qingshan knew there were more important matters to attend to. After a moment of grief, she wiped away her tears.
She placed the spirit key in front of the three of them, her brow furrowed. “Although we have the spirit key, the treasury is guarded by two integrated-body elders, and there are several other checkpoints. It’s not easy to get close.”
Wei Jiu nodded.
Having been in the Wei family for many years, he naturally knew the state of the treasury.
Xu Yi’s eyebrows rose. “What’s so difficult about that?”
“Senior has a way!” Wei Qingshan exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Yi smiled mysteriously and placed her hand on the array disk, injecting spiritual power.
The light screen rapidly expanded outward, soon exceeding the boundaries of the ancestral shrine.
Ten breaths later, panicked shouts could be heard from outside.
Xu Yi stood up, put away her meditation cushion, and said calmly, “Lead the way.”
Wei Qingshan and Wei Jiu, having vaguely guessed what was happening outside, stood up in disbelief, ready to lead the way as Xu Yi instructed.
After taking just two steps, Wei Qingshan suddenly stopped and turned back, taking Wei Qingyun’s spirit tablet from the shrine.
She wanted to bring her brother with her as she left the Wei family.
As Wei Qingshan and Wei Jiu walked out of the ancestral shrine, sunlight fell upon them, giving them a sudden feeling of rebirth.
They exchanged a silent glance, and a warm, ambiguous atmosphere flowed between them.
“Ahem.” Xu Yi, seeing their gazes almost turning into sparks, couldn’t help but let out a reminder, her skin crawling.
Wei Qingshan and Wei Jiu snapped back to reality, hastily averted their gazes, and an awkwardness filled the harmonious atmosphere.
Xu Yi nodded in satisfaction. This was where she belonged.
Wei Qingshan put aside her thoughts and led Xu Yi out of the ancestral shrine, then through the garden corridors. As they passed the Wei family’s training ground, they saw the Wei family members gathered together.
They were all cursing loudly, and the target of their abuse could only be Xu Yi.
Moments ago, they had been in different parts of the Wei family estate when they were suddenly pushed outward by a light screen that appeared out of nowhere. They were only stopped after being pushed to the edge of the training ground.
They had tried all sorts of methods to break through the light screen but failed.
“Look! It’s them!”
“Wei Qingshan! Traitor! You traitor!”
“Wei Qingshan, you betrayed the Wei family, may you die a terrible death!”
The Wei family members finally spotted the three within the light screen. They fiercely pounded on the screen and loudly insulted Wei Qingshan.
They also wanted to curse Xu Yi, but firstly, they didn’t know her name or origin, and secondly, they feared her methods. Thus, they could only vent their anger on Wei Qingshan.
Wei Qingshan watched as her formerly smiling clan members now wore entirely different faces. She felt it was both pathetic and laughable. To this day, they still believed this was all her fault.
“You heartless wretches, how dare you curse Miss? This is all your fault!”
Wei Jiu, usually not eloquent in front of Wei Qingshan, became surprisingly articulate when facing the Wei family members who had plotted against her, engaging in a verbal battle.
He, one person against dozens, didn’t concede an inch, leaving Xu Yi and Wei Qingshan stunned.
It wasn’t until the clan elders came out to intervene that the shouting died down, though he still looked unsatisfied.
“Young friend, what exactly do you want? Can you give us a clear answer!” the clan elder gritted out, his words laced with impatience.
If not for that array disk, he wouldn’t have to stoop to speaking so humbly to a junior.
Xu Yi smiled charmingly. “I’ve been thinking, and I feel it’s too presumptuous to overstay my welcome for too long. Therefore, I’ve decided to leave immediately after completing one task.”
“What task?” the clan elder asked, his guard up.
He dared not underestimate Xu Yi at all now.
“It’s that I was the one who captured the Shadowless Slug your Wei family had a high bounty for. I will collect the bounty myself and then leave.”
The clan elder had already guessed that Xu Yi was the one who caught the Shadowless Slug after her appearance.
When Wei Qingshan returned, she had mentioned that a senior had captured the Shadowless Slug and would soon come to collect the bounty. He hadn't taken it seriously then, but now he deeply regretted it.
The clan elder first speculated about Xu Yi’s identity, then realized something was amiss.
Xu Yi had just said she would collect the bounty herself.
The Wei family’s spirit stones and items were all carried on their persons. Even if Xu Yi drove them out, she couldn’t take their belongings unless…
The clan elder’s horrified gaze suddenly fell on Wei Qingshan. “The spirit key to the treasury is in your hands!”
“What! What spirit key!”
“Idiot, didn’t you hear the clan elder just now? It’s the spirit key to the treasury!”
“No! We can’t let them go to the treasury!”
The news that the spirit key was with Wei Qingshan sent the Wei family into an uproar.
The Wei family’s accumulation over many years was all in the treasury. If Wei Qingshan emptied it, the Wei family would be left as nothing but an outwardly strong, inwardly hollow shell.
Among them, Wei Lan reacted the most strongly.
He pressed against the light screen, repeatedly beating it, his eyes fixed on Wei Qingshan, his expression contorted. “Wei Qingshan! Everything in the Wei family treasury is mine! You’re not allowed to touch it! Don’t touch it!”
Wei Lan had labored diligently for decades, not only to seize power but also viewing the treasury as his treasure trove.
If Wei Qingshan were to truly seize the items in the treasury, his efforts would be in vain.
Wei Qian stood among the crowd, her expression impassive, but her heart was already ravaged by a consuming jealousy.
She thought she could finally make Wei Qingshan fall from grace, but she never imagined that Wei Qingshan would rise to the peak again with a mere turn.
It seemed she could never close the gap between herself and Wei Qingshan.
She was both envious and jealous, yet utterly powerless.
Wei Qingshan looked at the ugly expressions on the faces of the Wei family, a cold arc curving her lips. “Since you’ve pinned so many crimes on me, it would be a shame not to live up to your expectations.”
She bowed slightly, raised her arm, and pointed in a direction, saying respectfully, “Senior, this way please.”
Then, the three of them strode away.
The clan elder, Wei Lan, and the others’ eyes widened in fury.
The direction Wei Qingshan had pointed was precisely where the treasury was located.
It was over! This time, it was truly over!