He glanced at the two of them, then took a letter out of the drawer. The letter was made from the hide of a fifth-grade beast, quietly displaying its owner's strength. He spread the letter out on the table. The contents appeared before the two of them. When they read it, their expressions tightened, confusion flashing across their faces.
"What does Song Qingyun mean by this?"
"Yeah, from what he says, could the human realm be facing a huge change?"
"What kind of change?"
The two Patriarchs were baffled.
Song Qingyun's words were vague. He did not say exactly what was coming, only that the human realm might face a great upheaval. If they didn't hurry to strengthen themselves, then...
"Hmph, Song Qingyun is just scaring us!"
The Sui family Patriarch snorted coldly. A trace of displeasure flickered across her refined face. "It's been hundreds of thousands of years. What change has there been besides his Song family? Besides, if there really was a great change coming, would he bother warning us?"
The Sui Patriarch didn't believe it. When they divided up resources before, everyone had torn each other apart. There was no way Song Qingyun would be so generous. He was probably setting a trap, waiting for them to fall into it.
The Mu family Patriarch nodded in agreement.
"Sui Patriarch speaks sense. I don't think Song Qingyun is that kind-hearted. If there was a chance, wouldn't he pull us down instead of warning us? He doesn't seem to have such a broad mind."
He glanced with disdain. Though the Song family had risen in status, he despised these upstarts from the bottom of his heart.
But the two did not get the same response from Ning Patriarch. He still frowned deeply, his eyes full of worry.
Suddenly, he sighed.
"Have you thought about it? If Song Qingyun didn't want what's best for us, why would he tell everyone to strengthen themselves? Wouldn't he want us to slack off while they soared ahead? Besides, he didn't just send me this letter. Several families have received it."
What Song Qingyun did directly contradicted their suspicions. Ning Patriarch was truly worried something serious was about to happen.
The two Patriarchs fell silent, exchanged glances, and sat down. "Ning Patriarch means the Song family really knows something?"
If so, this was serious.
"Yes."
Ning Patriarch nodded. "I asked Song Qingyun, but he wouldn't reveal more. Judging by his attitude, it must be grave.
That's why I called you here. I want us to cooperate. Our three families have a close bond, and that bond is genuine after all these years. So if anything happens, I hope we stand united and face it together. What do you think?"
He had thought it through. The Song family was too mysterious. The only way was to unite against the unknown.
"Of course."
"Rest assured, Ning Patriarch. Whatever happens, we are family."
The two quickly agreed. The three reached consensus.
They began organizing their disciples to train harder.
At the same time, other families receiving the news debated. In the end, everyone thought it better to trust the warning just in case. Encouraging disciples to train was never a bad thing.
Thus a strange scene unfolded in the human realm.
Most families urged their disciples to cultivate with urgency. A vague sense of crisis lingered, leaving many cultivators uneasy but clueless.
Meanwhile, the He family, allied with the Feng family, was excluded from these families and had received no news from the Song family.
He family Patriarch sat silently in his study, his aura fluctuating.
He Xiao strode in and asked suspiciously, "Brother, what's wrong? You've been looking troubled lately."
He sat opposite him.
He Patriarch sighed, his worry deepening. "It's the Feng family. It's been so long, but no news from them. I feel unsettled.
Recently, the Song family has been acting strange, saying the human realm faces a huge change. Do you think they know about the Feng family's situation?"
He had kept the Feng family's secret until they lost contact, only then telling He Xiao.
"Song family again?"
At the mention of the Song family, He Xiao's eyes flashed with killing intent. That bitch Song Wanníng had cost him the Sect Master position, yet she lived comfortably now. Just thinking about it made him angry.
"The Song family is certainly up to something weird, but the Feng family is so secretive. They shouldn't know, right?"
He rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing.
"But Song Wanníng is so scheming and unpredictable. Maybe they really do know!"
"Brother, contact the Feng family again. We're still counting on them to take down the Song family!"
He Xiao's expression changed. With their power, they could never match the Song family. Only with the Feng family's help was there a chance.
He Patriarch sighed again. "I'll try. If the Feng family has truly abandoned us or something has happened, we must prepare. The Song family climbing over us is a wound I cannot let go."
He could not accept former equals rising so high and enemies flaunting their power.
"Fine. If the Feng family really leaves us, we'll find another way. One thing's certain—the Song family must be destroyed!"
A fierce killing intent burned in He Xiao's eyes. He never planned to target the entire Song family, only Song Wanníng for crossing him. She had to pay.
The human realm was buzzing with news. Far away in the beast realm, Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan remained oblivious.
Even if they knew, they wouldn't care.
Gu Qingyuan was heavily injured, lying in a cave all day nursing his wounds.
Ye Chuxue was at his side, carefully refining pills.
She focused completely, not daring to lose concentration.
After a few days, she successfully completed a batch of pills.
Looking at the rounded, top-grade pills, pride rose in Ye Chuxue's heart.
Whenever she refined pills, they were at least top-grade.
Her only setback was late cultivation. Otherwise, even Song Wanníng would have to step aside.
Carefully holding a pill, Ye Chuxue went to Gu Qingyuan and helped him sit up.
"Master, here, take this pill. You'll feel better."
She looked at him with pity. If not for her, Master Gu Qingyuan would still be a respected Yuányīng Zhēnjūn, not trapped in this state.
Her heart churned with guilt and sorrow as she fed the pill to Gu Qingyuan.
The pill slid down his throat. Warmth spread through his limbs. His injuries visibly healed.
Gu Qingyuan smiled, about to speak when suddenly he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Master!!!"