"Back then, the seal was unstable, and some of the Blood Rune Race's monsters broke through it. Although we repaired the seal in time, a few still slipped through the cracks."
Jiang Li snorted coldly and said, "The reason those three sects were able to rise is because those escapees were secretly helping them. Don't be fooled by the apparent conflicts on the surface, they're just for show. Their disciples don't know the truth. But the higher-ups all know each other."
"So you're saying the three sects are puppets of the Blood Rune Race," Xu Zimo said. "I had suspected that before."
"Exactly. The strongest among the three sects is only at the God Meridian Realm, while our Jiang Clan has an ancestor who reached the Arcane Immortal Realm. How could we fear them?" Jiang Li sighed as he spoke.
"Back when the seal went into chaos, our ancestor had to personally descend to suppress it. At that time, the leaders of the three sects gathered together and tried to attack our Jiang Clan."
"Then how did you all escape?" Xu Zimo asked.
"Our Jiang Clan had been prepared for a long time. We built a city beneath this Sword-Casting Mountain. We used a spatial formation to escape and made them all miss their target."
As the two spoke, they had already entered the city.
There were still quite a few people in the Jiang Clan. Several hundred lived in this underground city.
There were both direct descendants and collateral members. According to Jiang Li, the people here rarely go outside.
Some might not even go out once in a decade.
To the Jiang Clan, Xu Zimo's arrival as an outsider made everyone very curious.
After all, it was the first time in many years that an outsider had come here.
"Patriarch, who is this?" asked an elder of the Jiang Clan.
"My friend," Jiang Li said simply.
Although the news about the Jiang Clan's descendants had been widely spread recently, for those living in this underground city, the information flow wasn’t that fast.
"Jiang Yun left a legacy for you all back then, why did no one go looking for it?"
Xu Zimo asked in confusion.
Given the Jiang Clan's current situation, their ancestor’s legacy might be their only chance to rise again.
Yet no one ever went to seek it.
"That’s my fault too," Jiang Li shook his head and sighed. "Back then, the ancestor left a map for us, saying that only someone with extraordinary talent could obtain his legacy after going through trials. Over the years, many from our Jiang Clan have tried, but none passed the tests he left behind. I’ve failed to lead this family properly."
"No wonder," Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.
"That guy probably didn’t want to see his legacy tarnished, he wanted a true successor. What a pity!"
"Young Master Xu, you said before that you obtained the ancestor's legacy. Could you tell me the story behind it?"
Jiang Li asked, probing.
"Not much to tell. I accidentally entered the place where his legacy was hidden and met his avatar," Xu Zimo replied. "Later, we made a deal. I agreed to bring the legacy back."
"Thank you, Young Master Xu," Jiang Li said sincerely.
"Then, what must our Jiang Clan do for you to hand over the legacy?"
"Just take me to your ancestral shrine," Xu Zimo said.
Hearing this, Jiang Li didn’t object.
He led Xu Zimo to the rear of the city. With many disciples guarding the area, the back of the city was clearly more heavily secured.
The two came to a temple. Jiang Li slowly opened the door and entered.
This temple had clearly existed for a very long time.
But it was spotless inside, clearly cleaned often.
In front stood three statues. Xu Zimo didn’t recognize the ones on the left and right, but the center statue was clearly the Sword Immortal Jiang Yun.
The statue was vivid and lifelike, showing Jiang Yun in a white robe with golden trim, the robe fluttering behind him.
His expression was stern, holding a purple longsword in his hand.
The statue was captured mid-motion, as if drawing the sword.
At that moment, Xu Zimo slowly took out the sword seal.
Sword intent from Wugeng spread out from it, and the sword seal began to hum.
It then turned into a sword light and rushed into Jiang Yun’s statue.
Immediately, the statue began to shake. A powerful sword intent burst from it.
The sky-shaking sword intent surged upward, its mighty presence flooding the underground city.
"Ancestor..." Jiang Li said emotionally, trembling as he knelt on a prayer mat.
Not only Jiang Yun, even the people in the entire underground city felt this sword intent.
Their swords began to hum uncontrollably.
Many looked instinctively toward the direction of the ancestral shrine.
Inside the shrine, three figures suddenly stepped into the air and arrived.
All three were elderly men in identical blue sword robes.
They were the three most respected elders of the Jiang Clan.
"Patriarch, this is...?" the Grand Elder asked in disbelief.
"The ancestor’s legacy has returned," Jiang Li replied excitedly.
Inside the shrine, with the sword seal entering the statue, it now seemed almost alive.
The statue's eyes looked sharply at the people below, sword intent flowing all around it.
"My descendants," Jiang Yun said with emotion.
"Ancestor," everyone knelt down in unison.
"We’ve failed to carry on the glory you brought us. Our Jiang Clan has fallen into such a pitiful state," Jiang Li said sorrowfully.
"Alas, part of the blame lies with me too," Jiang Yun said, shaking his head. "Back when I tasked the family with guarding the seal, I knew this day would eventually come."
"Ancestor, how are things in the Outer Heavens? Can you not return?" the second elder asked from the side.
Jiang Yun shook his head slightly and said, "You all go out first. I have something to say to this Young Master Xu. As for our Jiang Clan’s affairs, let me think of a solution."
Hearing this, the Jiang Clan members all looked deeply at Xu Zimo.
They then bowed again and respectfully left.
Once only Xu Zimo and Jiang Yun remained in the shrine, Jiang Yun spoke first.
"Thank you for bringing my legacy back."
"We both got what we needed," Xu Zimo shook his head slightly. "Now can you tell me the news about the Void Spirit Monkey?"
"In the Void Valley, one of the Ten Forbidden Grounds, such Legendary Era creatures still live." Jiang Yun nodded and said, "I once went there to retrieve some Void Wood and fought those beasts, so I can confirm it."
"I will go," Xu Zimo nodded slightly. "There’s one more thing I’d like to ask for your help with, if I may?" Jiang Yun hesitated for a moment and asked again.
"You want me to help the Jiang Clan?" Xu Zimo smiled.
"Yes. If you’re willing, when you reach the Outer Heavens in the future, I will repay this favor," Jiang Yun said solemnly.