Later that night, in the Su Mansion.
Su Yuan quietly reviewed the reports sent to him by the various elders, working diligently without any distractions.
Because of Su Yang recovering his talent and even reaching the Third Stage of Body Tempering Realm once again, his status had returned to what it once was in the Su Mansion, and his position as Mansion Lord had become more secure.
However, he was still worried about his son's "three year agreement" with Yun Qingxue from the River Cloud Sect.
When she came to break off the engagement some time ago, although he didn't know her exact cultivation level, he guessed that she must be at least at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering Realm, perhaps even the Fifth Stage.
In another 3 years, she will undoubtedly step into the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Realm or higher, how will Su Yang compete with her then?
Even if his talent had recovered, he was still only at the Third Stage of Body Tempering Realm, crossing 3 minor realms in 3 years was a very difficult task without sufficient resources!
Just as he was troubled with this matter and sighing, a wind suddenly blew in from outside, carrying an inexplicable chill.
Su Yuan's eyes narrowed as he suddenly stood up, surveying his surroundings with a critical gaze.
A cold chill involuntarily ran down his spine as the intensity of the wind increased, the space in front of him twisting with Yin Qi and a strange, penetrating coldness as a faintly illusory figure, barely discernible, took form.
Su Yuan's breathing became rapid, eyes widened in horror as he took a step back, "Ghost! You evil fiend, what do you need from me?"
There was no mistaking it, the illusory figure was undoubtedly a spiritual entity!
Ordinary ghosts and evil spirits, even Body Tempering Realm cultivators could unconsciously sense them and even deal with them due to their surging Qi and Blood, which was both a delicacy and bane of such entities.
However, Su Yuan knew that the one before him wasn't as simple as that!
It was undoubtedly a strong spiritual entity who had at least reached the Innate Realm just from its ability to make him instinctively shiver!
"You must be the current Lord of the Su Mansion, Su Yuan... tsk tsk tsk, already over fifty years of age, and only at the Ninth Stage of Meridian Cleansing Realm, you are far inferior to your grandfather. It seems that the Su Mansion's decline was indeed the predestined fate divined by this old man 200 years ago."
A soft, almost imperceptible sigh echoed across the grand hall, but Su Yuan heard every word clearly, causing his pupils to contract in shock.
"My... grandfather? Could it be... junior was disrespectful, I hope senior doesn't take it to heart!"
As if realizing something, Su Yuan hurriedly bowed, his back drenched in sweat.
"I'm not a senior anymore, as a spirit, I have only just entered the Innate Realm, far from comparable to my original cultivation."
Hearing the spirit's words, Su Yuan's heart stirred.
He had just heard it saying that it could divine the predestined decline of the Su Mansion, such methods of divination were not things just anyone could master or even attempt!
Could this old senior be a Foundation Establishment Realm Grand Cultivator when he was alive?
And who allowed him to become a Ghost Path Cultivator? Such a wondrous method mentioned only in ancient texts, I never expected to see it one day!
Su Yuan knew that his grandfather was a powerful Innate Realm cultivator more than 200 years ago, and he was also a trusted subordinate of the fourth prince at the time, but he never expected him to know a Foundation Establishment Realm expert!
Was the Su Mansion's foundation really so deep?
He couldn't help but fall into self doubt for a moment before regaining himself.
"Senior, for you to visit this junior, is there anything I can do for you? My Su Mansion will do its utmost to complete the task!"
The illusory figure, having half materialized, shook his withered head, "I'm not here to ask you for something. I'm here to give you an opportunity."
"If you dare to leak our conversation, I will annihilate the entire Su Mansion and cut off your bloodline."
After a brief pause, the old man's expression turned serious as he warned in a chilling tone, causing Su Yuan's hair to stand on end.
"Rest assured, senior, I swear on my Dao cultivation that I will not speak of our conversation to anyone else!"
He nervously spoke, face solemn and sincere.
There was silence in the hall for a moment before a calm, firm voice began to echo, "The Great Jing looks like it's in a golden age, with prodigies emerging everywhere, but only those in power know that the golden age is nothing but a hollow shell of its past glory. The current Emperor is an incompetent ruler, possessing Inferior-Grade Spiritual Roots, destined to never impact the Foundation Establishment Realm. He has already been on the throne for several decades and will soon abdicate despite having no competent heirs. I'm afraid the thousand year history of our Great Jing and the efforts of the ancestors will end in the next generation.
At such a time, the Great Jing is like a fat piece of meat in the eyes of those transcendent forces beyond the dynasty, all searching for an opportunity, and it needs a true stabilizing force to guard the ancient legacy and lead the common people into a wider world."
The "senior" spoke without reservations, causing Su Yuan's breath to hitch with every word.
Goodness, are we discussing treason?
Won't the Su Mansion be instantly suppressed by various powers if this gets out?
Su Yuan felt a chill down his spine, trying to keep his emotions in check as much as possible.
"... Su Yuan, do you know why I'm telling you all this? It's because the Su Mansion once followed His Highness in my era, and His Highness does not wish for such a capable subordinate to slowly deteriorate over time, thus giving the Su Mansion a chance to rise once again."
Then, with a mysterious tone, the spirit said, "The merits of aiding the dragon in ascending the throne are insurmountable, and His Highness will not fail this time. Two hundred years of dormancy, all for this moment, this era. Once His Highness achieves the Golden Core Dao, he will become the stabilizing factor of the Great Jing."
By this point, Su Yuan would be a fool if he didn't realize who this "senior" worked for!
"At that time, what Wu Fengyun, what the Noble Families and Aristocratic Clans, every problem will no longer be a problem."
The illusory figure slowly began to dissipate, leaving behind a few words alongside the trembling Su Yuan, "Choose wisely, this decision can change the irreversible fate of the Su Mansion. The power backing His Highness is transcendent."