The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 201 Ye Fan Finds His Family Heirloom: The Wind and Fire Wheel

Inside a guest room at the Willow Spring Inn in the Heavenly Capital City of the Wuzhong Kingdom on the Illusionary Continent.

"I am an old acquaintance of Mu Qingluan, and I recently received her distress signal. Qingluan Valley suffered a devastating massacre, a matter involving numerous sects and forces. I fought my way from the Golden Border Kingdom in the south of Qingzhou to the Wuzhong Kingdom in the north, collecting a large number of recording stones from the escaped members of various sects and families. Ultimately, with the help of a secret technique, I successfully reconstructed the details of the Qingluan Valley massacre. During the investigation, I discovered that a person codenamed 'Shadow' was also searching for Mu Qingluan. He left a message at the Tang family in Wanghe City: if Mu Qingluan finds him, tell her that Shadow has already marched towards Wuji Island." Ye Fan withdrew his divine sense, ending the illusion, and explained the purpose of his trip to everyone.

"However, Wuji Island is located on the Illusionary Star Continent, so why did 'Shadow' choose to leave a message at the Tang family?" Nan Tian asked in confusion.

"According to Elder Wan's previous statement, the Wuji Sect and the Tang Family are clearly in an irreconcilable hostile situation. It's unlikely the Tang Family would conceal this information, hence 'Shadow' chose to leave a message within the Tang Family… As for Tang Xiao, as a spy planted in the Tang Family by the Wuji Sect, he used information about 'Shadow' as bait before his death to meet with Chu Ji and hand over his Wuji Sect identity jade token. Tang Xiao also revealed that his final instructions were to kill 'Shadow' as much as possible. Furthermore, he hoped Chu Ji could contact the Tang Family and inform them that the Wuji Sect was plotting against them," Qi Yuan calmly analyzed.

"Does Young Friend Qi mean that Shadow killed Tang Xiao?" Elder Wanshun looked at Qi Yuan.

"I don't know." Qi Yuan shook his head, his eyes revealing deep thought.

"Haha, I would never show favoritism to my own disciples just because I am an elder of the Xuantian Sect. Furthermore, the Xuantian Sect and the Wuji Sect have a long-standing feud, and some time ago, due to the instigation of the demon race, the two sides completely broke off relations, although they eventually joined forces to repel the demon race. However, the enmity between the Xuantian Sect and the Wuji Sect is already deeply rooted. The instigation of the demon race is certainly one factor, but the fact that many disciples from both sects lost their lives in the fighting is also undeniable," Elder Wanshun explained.

"Elder Wan, were you certain that Tang Xiao wasn't killed by someone from the Wuji Sect? What's your reasoning? You suspect it was the work of the Star Palace, what evidence do you have?" Qi Yuan pressed.

"The Wuji Sect uses Soul Offering Tokens to restrain its spies to prevent them from betraying them, making them wish they were dead. There's no need for them to kill them outright. The Tang family of Lanzhou in the Illusionary Star Continent is backed by the Star Palace. I'm only saying that the Star Palace had a motive to intervene, not that the Star Palace was definitely responsible for killing Tang Xiao," Elder Wan Shun replied.

“But Tang Xiao has already submitted to the Tang Clan…” Qi Yuan’s voice gradually faded.

“The Tang Clan is not the Tang Family. Besides, who knows if Tang Xiao has truly submitted to the Tang Clan?” Elder Wan Shun replied.

Shen Lixi opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't speak.

"Young man, please speak your mind," Elder Wanshun said gently, turning his gaze to Shen Lixi.

"It's nothing. Things are too complicated, and my brain isn't up to the task, so I won't get involved," Shen Lixi replied softly.

"Elder, you mentioned before that Shadow said in his distress letter that he discovered a huge conspiracy that not only affects the balance of the Floating Life Continent but also the Profound Heaven Continent. Did he specify what the conspiracy is? Could you tell us?" Su An looked at Elder Wan Shun and asked eagerly.

"Don't rush, young friend Ye has not yet revealed the true purpose of this trip. Could it be that you've only come to inform us that Shadow might be heading to Wuji Island? Or perhaps you've simply come to show us the massacre of the Qingluan Valley?" Elder Wanshun spoke slowly.

"I once gifted Mu Qingluan a family heirloom called the Wind and Fire Wheels. Now that Mu Qingluan's fate is unknown, I have come to visit you all, firstly to search for Mu Qingluan, and secondly to inquire about the whereabouts of the family heirloom. I speculate that Mu Qingluan has most likely already gone to the Xuan Tian Continent. I heard that the Xuan Tian Sect's branch on the Huan Chen Continent—the Wan Shun Sect—is planning to relocate entirely to the Xuan Tian Continent, and I intend to take this opportunity to go with them. As for the conspiracy mentioned in the Shadow Letter, if it is inconvenient to speak openly, I will avoid it," Ye Fan replied frankly.

"It's alright, this matter will soon no longer be a secret. However, I don't know anything about your identity yet. I heard that ten thousand years ago there was a cultivator of the Time and Space Dao who was also proficient in the Divine Sense Illusion. I wonder if you have any teacher or connection with him?" Elder Wanshun waved his hand.

“We’ve never met before. I’m not from this star system. Our star system is called Ziwei,” Ye Fan replied.

"The Purple Star Region? Is it possible to ascend normally there?" Elder Wanshun inquired.

“Yes, but I am currently just a remnant soul and it is difficult for me to return. Unless I can find my family heirloom—the Wind and Fire Wheel, which has a special effect: refining the soul with fire and bringing the dead back to life.” After Ye Fan finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Luo Yifei.

"Wind and Fire Wheels? Do I need to use them in conjunction with the Lotus of Precious Lotus to reshape my physical body?" Luo Yifei's expression was slightly unnatural.

"No need. This Wind and Fire Wheel is merely a coincidence that it shares the same name with the legendary object on Earth; they are not the same thing." After explaining, Ye Fan turned his gaze back to Elder Wan Shun.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, we wish to take you back to the Xuan Tian Continent on this trip. I wonder if there will be an opportunity in the future for you to take us on a trip to the Ziwei Star Region?" Elder Wanshun asked with a smile.

"If I can return to the Ziwei Star Region, it wouldn't be a problem to bring a few more friends along," Ye Fan replied.

Elder Wanshun nodded and continued, "The conspiracy mentioned by Shadow is related to the secret realms and folded spaces of the Floating Life Continent. Some sects and forces are trying to open these secret realms and connect these spaces with normal space. I believe that this news will soon spread all over the world."

“Senior Ye, I once obtained a magical artifact by chance. Coincidentally, it is also called the Wind and Fire Wheel. I wonder if it is your family heirloom?” Luo Yifei then took out a silver iron ring.

"As expected, it is a divine artifact. Such a divine artifact can automatically block divine sense detection. Even experts in the Dharma Aspect Realm would find it difficult to detect. Ordinary people would never imagine that you, a mere Body Refinement Realm cultivator, could possess such a magical artifact. Even if they saw it, they would only mistake it for an ordinary magical artifact." Elder Wan Shun couldn't help but sigh.

Ye Fan accepted the Wind and Fire Wheels from Luo Yifei and activated the magical artifact using a secret technique. The Wind and Fire Wheels actually emitted light: "Indeed, this is the Ye family's heirloom treasure. The Wind and Fire Wheels can automatically block divine sense detection; apart from members of the Ye family, almost no one can recognize its true form. Young friend Luo, how did you obtain it?"

Luo Yifei scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "To be honest, Senior Ye, this was a gift from the shop when I bought the magic artifact. I suppose the shopkeeper didn't realize its extraordinary nature. Now it's being returned to its rightful owner."

Ye Fan smiled and nodded, handing the Wind and Fire Wheels back to Luo Yifei: "Since the Wind and Fire Wheels are now connected to you, I will give them to you after I have used them on this trip. You can keep them for now, and I will use them after I find Mu Qingluan and understand the whole story."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yifei's face lit up with joy, and he quickly and respectfully accepted the Wind and Fire Wheels: "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Ye. I will remember it forever."