Chapter 156

“No. That’s why it’s called a symbiotic witch spirit! I remember reading in an ancient text that a Golden Witch, even after betraying the entire Witch Clan and becoming a traitor, was never abandoned by her symbiotic spirit, Chi Li Tian.”

“She would have died for her without hesitation.”

“In the end, they were captured by a Witch Ancestor, and that Golden Witch and her Chi Li Tian died together.”

“By the way, that Witch Ancestor fused the Golden Witch and Chi Li Tian into one, burying them beneath the earth—now known as the Chi Ling Mountain Range.”

“Ah puh!!”

Xu Yunrui was left speechless after hearing this.

“Father, if I remember correctly, the great spirit mountain beneath our sect is called the Chi Ling Mountain Range, right?”

“Yes. In this world, once teeming with Witch Clans, every renowned spirit mountain and abyss was formed from the remains of Great Witches or higher.” Xu Yi said.

“Father, can’t the land of this world naturally give birth to great spirit mountains and abysses?” Xu Yunrui asked, puzzled.

“It can, but ever since the ancient Witch Clans discovered that embedding the bones of their ancestors into great spirit mountains and abysses not only accelerated their growth but also unexpectedly produced rare resources, they began deliberately fusing the remains of their deceased elders into them.”

“It’s just a grave—wherever you bury it, it’s the same.”

Xu Yunrui exclaimed in surprise: “That’s quite an unusual funeral custom.”

“Stop dodging the issue—you’re just stubbornly refusing to admit that Xue Chiluo doesn’t prefer you. Hahaha! I never thought you’d be this childish.”

Xu Yunrui’s expression froze.

Xu Yi burst into loud laughter.

“Fine, leave it with you. Build a good relationship with it—when you go on missions later, you might even borrow it.”

“I can probably borrow it when I’m on missions in the city. But if we leave the city, I doubt it’ll be willing.”

Xu Yi nodded in agreement.

“It’s still young and lacks self-preservation strength. Once it grows as powerful as the several Xue Chiluo Ancestors in our sect, it’ll naturally dare to accompany you outside the city.”

“So will I have to wait a very long time?” Xu Yunrui’s face fell.

Xu Yi laughed again.

At that moment, someone ran in.

“My lord, Mount Woniu just exploded—half its main peak was obliterated. Zhang Zhi, the Southern City Director, has been confirmed dead. Along with him, over a dozen directors and deputy directors of the Southern City Police Inspectorate’s Intelligence Division, plus several senior officers and clerks, also perished.”

“Are you trying to say the entire Southern City Police Inspectorate was wiped out in one blow?” Xu Yi sneered.

The man stammered.

Xu Yi gave him a look of utter disbelief, then immediately used a distant-communication talisman to contact Bao Junyi.

Xu Yi opened with: “Who’s dead?”

Soon, Bao Junyi replied: “Many died, but no commoners or low-level cultivators—everyone fighting there was Foundation Establishment or higher. The Southern City Director Zhang Zhi is gone. The entire high command of the Southern City Police Inspectorate was wiped out.”

“The Mountain Master dispatched by Mount Woniu has defected.”

“He and his subordinates have joined the insects.”

Xu Yi read Bao Junyi’s message without reacting. After all, while Mount Woniu’s collapse was unexpected, it was not unreasonable.

“Report to the Neijian Office. Have them trace anyone connected to the Mount Woniu Mountain Master.”

“As for the rest of Mount Woniu’s sect members, you handle the investigation yourself, Bao Junyi.”

“Understood.” Bao Junyi replied promptly.

“By dawn tomorrow, I want Mount Woniu restored to normal.”

“Understood.” Bao Junyi replied again.

……

The two thousand cultivators left by the Su family outside the No. 1 Nest waited until the middle of the night before receiving new orders.

They were instructed to enter the No. 1 Nest at dawn for final cleanup; after completion, the Police Inspectorate would enter to deploy a subsidence array, sinking it permanently deep into the earth.

The adult cultivators who received this news were thrilled.

Everyone began sorting through their belongings, piling up items from their storage pouches and rings, squeezing them together to avoid running out of space tomorrow.

Su Jian and Su Hanlin were also organizing their gear, but Su Jin lay wrapped in her small blanket, fast asleep on a bamboo bed she’d taken from Su Jian’s storage ring.

At this hour, most children were already asleep.

Some slept curled in their parents’ arms; others, like Su Jin, had beds and blankets of their own, snoring peacefully.

The next morning, the Su family’s cultivators resumed their bustle.

Because children were present, many parents began preparing breakfast.

Su Jian boiled porridge.

He also prepared pickled vegetables and meat paste.

The three of them ate a simple breakfast.

Soon, the Chen hour arrived, and the morning sun bathed everyone’s faces in bright, gentle light.

The sunlight gilded each face with a soft golden fuzz.

New orders arrived: the Police Inspectorate personnel inside were beginning to withdraw; once they left, the Su family could enter.

Yesterday, thousands of Inspectorate members had squeezed into the Nest, but many had since been reassigned.

So Su Jian and the others guessed there were still eight to nine hundred, maybe a thousand or twelve hundred left inside.

But over fifteen hundred emerged.

So none of them had guessed right.

“Big brother, you’re actually willing to take me down into the Nest?” Su Jin had assumed her brother would go on his mission and leave her outside with the other children.

Who knew he was willing to bring her down.

“This kind of harvest mission carries no danger—I’m taking you down to experience it.” Su Jian said.

“That’s great! Let’s go together!” Su Jin said, then instinctively waved her hand toward the ground—a flash of green light vanished into her sleeve.

Su Jian instantly understood what it was!!

Su Jin had indeed left Xue Chiluo outside.

He quickly sent a mental message: “Your mother said you have a symbiotic little witch spirit—why didn’t you bring Xue Chiluo inside?”

Su Jin realized: her mother had told her brother about her little witch spirit. Of course—she’d be living with her brother and sister-in-law for years; even if she hadn’t told them, they’d have found out eventually.

Besides, her little witch spirit had once been tiny; her mother hadn’t paid it much attention.

But her mother didn’t know it had grown.

“Xue Chiluo says it wants to stay outside—it wants to protect me,” Su Jin replied mentally.

Su Jian: “...”

Immediately after, he sent another mental message: “Then keep it under control—don’t let it show itself in front of others.”

“Yes, big brother,” Su Jin nodded.

Soon, it was Su Jian’s turn—he picked up Su Jin, and together with Su Hanlin, they stepped into the great passage connecting the Nest to the outside world.