0034 The Chronicle of Black Stone (Please add to your favorites!)

"Huai Xiao..." Jiang Yongshu squeezed the name through his teeth.

Jiang Huaixiao was the one he knew best; among the rest, except for two older ones he didn't recognize, the other four all looked familiar—they were all elite descendants of the Jiang family.

Each had fused with a Mingxin Seed, showing early signs of potential. With proper guidance, they would surely mature into pillars of the Jiang family.

But now, their heads were lined up neatly here, signifying all possibilities had been lost! Jiang Yongshu's temples throbbed, and he slammed the table heavily. "Who did this? My Jiang family will not forgive them!"

The elder seated at the head lifted his eyelids and said to another elder beside him, "Third brother, show him."

The Third Elder, engrossed in a letter, gave a gentle wave. The thin paper floated lightly into Jiang Yongshu's hand.

Jiang Yongshu, voice thick with anger, said, "A challenge letter? My Jiang family..."

Upon seeing the wax seal on the letter, his eyes nearly bulged out, and his tone shifted sharply. "Zhou—Zhou family?!"

It was only a small, green leaf, but throughout the Vermilion Sky Kingdom, everyone knew what that leaf represented.

The Green Leaf Zhou family.

The Zhou family was also one of the Twenty-Four Great Houses, but unlike the others, they didn't reside in the outer city of Vermilion Sky's capital, Que Ta. The Prince of Zhuyang had specially established a small town for them, adjacent to the inner city.

The town was named Green Leaf, and the Zhou family lived there.

As one of the Vermilion Sky noble houses, only they could employ such treasured puppet devices to deliver messages.

Jiang Yongshu cried out, "Were these youngsters blind? How dare they offend the Zhou family?!"

In a flash, Jiang Yongshu changed his tune, but no one in the room found his words inappropriate.

The elder at the head let out a deep sigh. "All along, I've thought the second son of the Tengqing branch was too reckless. As expected, he's brought disaster upon us!"

A derisive laugh sounded from the corner. The eldest elder frowned and looked over. "Seventh brother, what are you laughing at?"

In the corner sat an old man with kind features, resembling the smiling Buddha, sipping tea slowly. The snort had come from him.

He raised his white brows and chuckled. "I'm simply reminded of some things said in the past."

Then, changing his tone, he said solemnly, "...If only their eldest were so capable; mud cannot be shaped into a wall, and it's best the main branch take over their affairs."

The words left everyone awkward.

The patriarch at the head, Jiang Changye, darkened his face and scolded, "Seventh brother, these are family matters; there's no need to bring them up now!"

The Seventh Elder, Buddha-like, gazed into his tea and sighed quietly, saying no more.

Jiang Changye turned. "Yongshu, sit down. We must deliberate how to handle this matter."

The Third Elder stood, went to the table, and picked up the lid Jiang Yongshu had set aside.

Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically, his voice breaking. "This... this is dragon sandalwood!"

"What?" Shocked voices echoed through the hall, everyone rising and crowding around the table.

Upon confirming the black box's material, the room fell silent—even breaths ceased.

After a long while, Jiang Yongshu picked up the letter and murmured, "Trespassed on Zhou family's private estate, spoke disrespectfully... For such a minor offense, to go this far..."

...

...

In the vast, dim ancestral hall, Jiang Tengqing stood in a daze.

Before him lay a massive black stone, nearly ten meters high, inscribed with names from top to bottom.

This was the Black Stone Register—the Jiang family genealogy.

Gray names signified deaths; golden names denoted the living.

Jiang Tengqing's name shone dark gold, marking him as head of this generation.

Beneath his name, to the left and right, were his sons: Jiang Huaiming and Jiang Huaixiao.

Now, Jiang Huaixiao's name had turned gray—he was dead!

Alongside his, seven other names had faded, all peers of similar age. Jiang Tengqing remembered each; all had fused with two or three rings of Mingxin Seeds, with hopes of excelling in the examination.

Now, all their names had faded—dead, every one!

Rage surged within Jiang Tengqing. He slammed the altar table and thundered, "Who did this?!"

The next moment, his eyes widened further.

The newly grayed names on the Black Stone Register were slowly disappearing.

It was as if an invisible hand were gently erasing them from the stone. In no time, all seven names vanished—none remained.

The black stone used for the register was an exceedingly rare material—not naturally formed, but crafted by a formidable martial cultivator who fused a deep-sea plant with their bloodline and infused it with Ming power.

From its creation, it was intimately linked to the cultivator's bloodline.

Every child born of that bloodline had a thread of soul enter the black stone; their names appeared automatically, recording birth and death.

A family united by blood, embodied by the Black Stone Register.

Only those with a Black Stone Register could claim the title of family. Moreover, the register possessed wondrous powers—when entering its domain, descendants could gain protection from ancestors, boosting their strength.

Thanks to the Black Stone Register, family descendants were born with inherent superiority. All true members took pride in seeing their names inscribed.

Thus, the ancestral hall housing the register was the family's most sacred, vital place.

Now, with Jiang Huaixiao and others erased from the register, it meant not only their deaths but their eternal expulsion from the family.

This was the deepest humiliation for the deceased Jiang Huaixiao and his parents!

Who had done this?

Who possessed the power to alter the Black Stone Register?!

Madam Jiang arrived in haste upon hearing the news, just in time to see Jiang Huaixiao's name disappear. She cried out in shock and fainted, her eyes rolling back.

In an inconspicuous corner at the base of the Black Stone Register, one name stood out—Jiang Feng!

...

...

Que Ta Jiang Family.

The black wooden door creaked open, and the Seventh Elder stepped out, turning to remark, "This door hinge needs oil."

A steward hurried forward. "We neglected it, sir. We'll tend to it at once!"

Another middle-aged man followed the Seventh Elder, meaningfully adding, "It's been rusted for so long, perhaps no one even knows where the oil is kept?"

The steward replied repeatedly, "We know, we know—it'll be ready soon!"

The Seventh Elder waved them off and left the small courtyard, arriving at the rear garden. Seeing the placid lake, he exhaled deeply, as if purging the frustration in his heart.

He forced a smile. "To be so humiliated, yet to blame the branch patriarch and demand he apologize—it's a disgrace to our Jiang family!"

He continued angrily, "Once, our Jiang family was renowned in the Demon Suppression Army! Our reputation was earned with fists and feet! But now..."

He sighed long and deeply, his back seeming to stoop further.

The middle-aged man behind him said, "Seventh Uncle, there's nothing to be done. Since those two passed, our Jiang family hasn't produced a single talent above the Ming level. Without strong figures, the family can't stand tall; morale wanes... It's only natural."

The Seventh Elder frowned, as if recalling something. "Wait, didn't those two leave behind a..."

Before he could finish, a servant rushed over, presenting a letter with both hands. "Seventh Grandfather, a letter for you."

The Seventh Elder took it, uttered a light "Hmm," and quickly opened it. His brows knitted further as he read. "It's from Lu Ming's eldest daughter!"

"Ah Chen? Yes, she's fused a seven-ring Mingxin Seed. If she excels in the great examination, she'll be Jiang family's future hope! Is this her letter? What does she say?"

The letter was brief, settling matters in a few sentences.

Jiang Chen wrote that, after her uncle's arrangements, she had found a master and would be departing to study, not returning to the family for some time.

Before leaving, she asked the main branch for a favor.

Fifteen years ago, the main branch had entrusted a child to the Lu Ming Jiang family. That child had since grown up in South Jiang and was about to come of age.

The main branch must have had its reasons for doing so; Jiang Chen hoped the main branch would continue to look after him, especially during the coming-of-age ceremony and future examination. With the main branch's support, this child would surely fare better.

The middle-aged man read the letter alongside the Seventh Elder, squinting. "The child mentioned—is it those two's..."

The Seventh Elder snorted. "Of course, he's their child! When he was brought back, we tested his bloodline and found it mixed, unable to fuse with Mingxin Seeds. So, they sent him to the branch!"

He said angrily, "Eldest Miss still worries about him before leaving; it's clear the branch hasn't cared enough. Hmph! His parents contributed so much to the Jiang family, yet we can't properly raise their child—what a disgrace! An enormous shame!"

The middle-aged man asked, puzzled, "I remember the bloodline test too. But what does Ah Chen mean—coming-of-age ceremony? Examination?"

The Seventh Elder sighed. "Perhaps Eldest Miss misunderstood something. Regardless, we should care for the child."

He waved his hand. "And since the Zhou family matter is ongoing, you should go over and handle it."

The middle-aged man nodded. "Understood. I know what to do."

...

...

Jiang Feng had no idea that the events at the Hot Springs Villa would have further consequences.

In the nameless little valley, three new houses had been built. After dinner, Zhong Fan led Jiang Feng into one.

Candles were lit one by one, flooding the house with light. Jiang Feng's eyes widened in amazement.

Rows upon rows of shelves lined the wooden house, each filled neatly with books—more numerous than even the young lady's study!

Zhong Fan said, "The ground exam includes three days of study, but last-minute knowledge can't compare to what you've truly mastered. Before the great examination, read as much as you can."

Jiang Feng remained silent for a long time, then turned back, and solemnly said, "Thank you!"