Relying on the power of Mount Shushan’s formation, Li Xuanxiao formed hand seals with both hands, chanting an incantation under his breath.
As he cast the technique, beams of light rose from within the formation, intertwining into a vibrant, dazzling orb of light.
Within the orb, hazy images and lines of text gradually emerged.
"Hongyun, what are you doing!?"
Zhenren Hongyun’s father, Sun Chengshan, suddenly appeared outside the door.
Zhenren Hongyun said, “Father, I’ve found my sister’s whereabouts.”
Upon hearing this, Zhenren Hongyun’s sister, Sun Miaozhen, went pale and lowered her head in silence.
Sun Chengshan shouted in anger, “You unfilial son, that’s your sister—who else are you trying to find!?
And you brought back some flashy but mysterious Golden Core cultivator—what are you trying to do!!”
Sun Miaozhen also looked up, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Brother, I know you don’t want to acknowledge me as your sister. In your heart, it’s that young miss who’s your real sister, and I’m just some lowly maid.
But brother, blood ties don’t lie.
I am your real sister. Even if you want to find that young miss, at least find a more capable Heavenly Secrets Master. What good is a Golden Core cultivator for this?”
Hearing that, Xiao Ran, who was performing the ritual inside the house, felt a bit awkward.
But at this point, he could only put his faith in Soul Elder.
“That’s right, Hongyun, don’t upset your father anymore.”
Off to the side, the stepmother’s expression was somewhat unnatural.
“You’ve been searching for your sister for so many years. Our family has used up so many connections and resources, and now you just bring back a little Golden Core stage cultivator? Don’t you think that’s a bit absurd?”
Even Zhenren Hongyun was rendered speechless.
He cast a doubtful glance at Xiao Ran.
Now that he thought about it—was he really just grasping at straws in desperation?
Second Uncle also spoke up, “Hongyun, stop with this nonsense!! Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough over the years?”
Zhenren Hongyun still said nothing. “I... I just want to find my sister, that’s all.”
Father Sun Chengshan scolded, “Do you really think I don’t know what’s in your heart?”
Hearing that, Zhenren Hongyun suddenly looked up, staring at his father in shock.
Father Sun Chengshan took a deep breath. “Stop making a fool of yourself. That’s enough.”
At the side, the stepmother tugged at Sun Chengshan’s sleeve and whispered, “Chengshan.....”
Silver Sword Peak, beneath the straw hut.
Li Xuanxiao furrowed his brows tightly.
“What the h*ll...? It’s actually her!!”
Then, Li Xuanxiao shared the answer with Xiao Ran.
After learning the truth, Xiao Ran couldn’t help but gasp.
He took a moment to process the result before slowly turning around.
“Well? Did you find my sister?” Zhenren Hongyun asked with anticipation.
The previously skeptical crowd also stared at Xiao Ran nervously.
Xiao Ran took a deep breath. “Zhenren Hongyun, have you... mentally prepared yourself?”
Zhenren Hongyun was stunned. “Don’t tell me... don’t tell me my sister is already dead!?”
Xiao Ran stayed silent and shook his head.
“Your sister isn’t dead. In fact, she’s both far away and right in front of you!”
Far away, yet right in front of me.
Zhenren Hongyun muttered the phrase softly.
He was no fool, and immediately understood the implication.
“You’re saying... my sister is here, in my home?”
Xiao Ran nodded. “And she’s among the people present.”
Zhenren Hongyun: (ΩДΩ)！！！
“No! The sister I’m looking for isn’t her.”
Zhenren Hongyun pointed at Sun Miaozhen and explained:
“The one I’m looking for is that previous sister—the one who had no blood relation to me, and who had already left our home.”
Zhenren Hongyun believed Xiao Ran had misunderstood his meaning.
Xiao Ran shook his head, waving his hand and pointing. “Your sister—is her!”
Zhenren Hongyun followed the direction of Xiao Ran’s finger.
He was pointing at his... stepmother!?
The stepmother’s expression changed.
Zhenren Hongyun’s face was full of disbelief.
“Xiao Ran, are you... are you insane!?”
How could he possibly believe something like that?
His stepmother was once his sister? That’s beyond absurd.
Just then, the stepmother suddenly squatted down, clutching her head and crying bitterly.
His father, Sun Chengshan, was even more shocked, pointing at Xiao Ran and exclaiming in disbelief:
“Impossible! Who... who are you? How do you even know this?”
Xiao Ran said softly, “Cannot say, cannot say.”
The stepmother continued to crouch on the ground, crying bitterly.
Everyone present, except for Sun Chengshan, stared at the stepmother with shock and disbelief.
The stepmother wailed uncontrollably.
Zhenren Hongyun stumbled back, shouting in a breakdown.
“Impossible! Impossible! Impossible....”
My missing sister... became my father’s wife, my stepmother!?
Zhenren Hongyun felt like his entire worldview was falling apart.
He stared at his father, Sun Chengshan, in horror and shouted in despair:
“What the hll is going on!! Tell me, what the hll is going on? Why did you marry my sister—your daughter!? What is going on!?”
Sun Chengshan looked as though all the strength and spirit had been drained from his body. His once upright back now hunched over, as if burdened by a mountain of shame.
“Sigh, so you finally found out.”
“Why? Why did this happen?”
Zhenren Hongyun roared in rage.
Everyone around them felt a deep, soul-shaking jolt.
Zhenren Hongyun grabbed his father by the collar and demanded, “What’s the truth? Is she really my sister!?”
Sun Chengshan shut his eyes.
Second Uncle, Sun Chengmai, also said, “Big Brother, what’s going on?”
Even Sun Miaozhen looked at the stepmother in shock. “Miss? You... you, what is going on!?”
“It’s all because of you!!”
Just then, the weeping stepmother suddenly raised her head and glared at Zhenren Hongyun.
Zhenren Hongyun looked confused. “What!? Me?”
“Father did all of this for you and me. Actually... actually, I am his biological daughter. The whole story about a fake daughter—that was a lie father and I made up.”
The entire room was stunned once more.
Zhenren Hongyun: “Why? Why would you do this?”
“Because... because...” The stepmother couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Enough!! Are you trying to drive me to death!?”
Sun Chengshan suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream.
“Are you all trying to kill me right here!?”
But the stepmother still spoke. “Because father already knew. He knew, brother—you had feelings for me. He knew that you... that you had fallen in love with me!”