Yao Qian's fragile appearance was one that gave everyone the urge to protect her. On her way back, she greeted everyone she encountered. However, they all kept a distance from her as if she was carrying a disease. It saddened her, and her anxiousness grew.

In the past, everyone would face her with a smile and constantly flatter and fawn over her. The moment her grandfather was placed under house arrest, she lost her previous status, becoming someone nobody dared to approach. Everyone feared that she would implicate them in whatever mess she was in.

She eventually arrived at the Yao Hall. The place appeared bleak and desolate, the usual crowd nowhere to be seen. She couldn't help but sigh. "The world is filled with hypocrisy. When all is good, everyone is here to share the joy. When things become bad, everyone becomes indifferent."

After entering the main hall, she headed toward the rear court. There, her grandfather was seated with a cup of tea.

"Grandpa," Yao Qian called out.

"Um. You went to Shaoyun Peak again?" asked Elder Yao with a genial look on his face.

Elder Yao was under imprisonment, but it was actually house arrest. His cultivation had been sealed, so he was unable to use any of his strength. He also couldn't take a single step away from the rear court, or he would be immediately punished.

"Yes. Sorry for making you worried, Grandpa," said Yao Qian.

"Sigh. I am indeed worried about you. The young master has returned, and I'm happy to hear that. However, I'm worried that the young master will think that we have betrayed him. Di Batian definitely won't believe us either. I don't mind dying, but I don't want to implicate you," said Elder Yao with a long sigh.

"Grandpa, the young master is not that kind of person. He will definitely believe that you have your own reason for doing what you did," said Yao Qian. "Grandpa, you said that I only have 18 years to live, right? I have lived seven years longer, so I'm happy enough with that. Even if I have to die now, it's worth it. I am only sad that I can't continue exercising my filial piety to you, Grandpa."

"Silly girl, you have a long life ahead of you. After the young master retakes the sect, I will take you away and search for the legendary saint medicine to prolong your lifespan," said Elder Yao as he patted Yao Qian's hand dottingly.

Xiang Shaoyun was watching them, and he felt something stabbing at his heart. He nearly called out to them then and there. Back when Di Batian had risen in rebellion, he had not seen Elder Yao anywhere. He had thought that Elder Yao had betrayed him as well, but it seemed he was still loyal to the Ziling Sect.

Xiang Shaoyun took a deep breath and thought, Grandpa Yao, Little Qian, both of you will be fine. Trust me!

He then left. He wasted no time and went straight to the main hall on the main peak—the core location of the sect. Instead of rushing in, he stopped somewhere at the peak and utilized the profundity of earth. He spread his senses through the formation in his surroundings as he searched for the formation eye. He was going to do something here to prevent the formation from hindering his invasion.

After regaining his memories from two lifetimes ago and gaining the book of formations, he had gained a much deeper understanding of formations with the help of his Light of Wisdom. He could easily figure out any formation so long as it wasn't a saint-grade formation.

There was a formation grandmaster in the Di Sect, but the grandmaster's formation mastery had yet to reach the saint grade. They had only imbued the formation with the power of a Saint, making it as powerful as it was.

Hovering above the main peak, Xiang Shaoyun sensed the formation around him clearly. Soon, he found the formation eye. Inwardly, he thought, This is the main formation, a formation capable of both offense and defense. The moment I touch it, things will get dangerous. Looks like I can't carelessly touch this formation. I'll have to look for some of the other formations before deciding what to do.

After searching the main peak, Xiang Shaoyun roamed around as he looked through all the supporting formations throughout the sect. He did something to them and sealed the energy of their formation eyes so they would fail when the sect members tried activating them. That much was enough sabotage for now.

As for the main formation on the main peak, it had been tampered with by a Saint, so he had no way of touching it for now. Even so, he already had a plan in his mind as to what to do with it.

Once Xiang Shaoyun completed all his preparations, he prepared to leave but then thought of something. He changed his mind and headed toward an important location within the sect—the place where his father used to cultivate in seclusion. Di Batian was probably the person occupying the location now.

The place was quiet and secluded, and several crude buildings stood amid a formation that gathered a thick concentration of spiritual energy in the area. Here, one could also get a good coverage of the stars, allowing one to gather a rich amount of astral energy that would be beneficial to one's cultivation.

When Xiang Shaoyun approached, he discovered that a decent number of powerful cultivators were hidden in the surroundings and guarding the area. The moment there was any movement, they would show themselves.

In his state of invisibility, Xiang Shaoyun strutted right in undetected. Only those with divine dao eyes or unique eyes would be able to detect him when he was in this state. He strolled around but did not find Di Batian. Instead, he saw someone else cultivating in seclusion inside the building. Two powerful Soul Foundation Realm experts were standing guard outside the building, preventing anyone from approaching.

Through the senses of his Nether Soul Domain, Xiang Shaoyun found that the person in the room was Di Batian's third son, Di Luoyang. Di Luoyang was someone who had once set his sights on Tuoba Wan'er. Thus, Xiang Shaoyun disliked him greatly.

After thinking about it for a bit, Xiang Shaoyun sneered and thought, I wonder how Di Batian would feel if he lost two sons in a single day.

He acted immediately on his plan and unleashed the ancient curse symbols upon Di Luoyang. Di Luoyang might be a Soul Foundation Realm cultivator, but he was much weaker than Xiang Shaoyun's soul clone. The moment he noticed something going on with his soul foundation, he reacted. Unlike Di Chenggong, he wasn't completely helpless.

"What the hell is this? Get lost!" Di Luoyang roared. His soul had taken a solid form, and he had his soul foundation defending his soul. He sent out his soul power, trying to destroy the ancient symbols.

His soul power was not weak, but his soul power was actually completely ineffective against the symbols, which caused him to pale from fright. He mustered all his strength as he tried to resist the symbols, and his soul also started dodging them.

However, the number of symbols grew endlessly. He couldn't destroy them, and the symbols soon fully occupied his entire headspace. His soul had nowhere to run and was soon taken over by the symbols. He wailed like a pig being slaughtered.

His cry gave the people guarding him a big fright. The two rushed into the room and asked, "Third young master, what's going on?"

At the same time, Di Chenggong, who was still atop Shaoyun Peak, started wailing in pain. And then, the brothers died at the same time.