Chapter 170: Patriarch of the Wood Spirit Clan

The Wood Spirit Clan.

Qin Sheng followed Qin Zongming to the territory of the Wood Spirit Clan. She had not expected that this estate would be the pinnacle of luxury in the capital; treasures of incalculable value were scattered everywhere as if they were mere trifles.

The Wood Spirit Clan was, naturally, deeply connected to its name. In essence, the Wood Spirit Clan possessed healing spirit power. Unlike supernatural abilities, which were acquired later in life and were far more limited in their utility, spirit power generally condensed into a spirit core within the spirit master from birth. Although it was healing spirit power, it was not limited to healing alone; it could be used for alchemy, illusion, and even combat. Conversely, a healing supernatural ability could only heal and never attack, much like Qin Sheng’s own combat-focused ability, which could neither heal nor transform.

Qin Zongming led Qin Sheng directly to his study. Once she entered, a barrier of spirit power instantly encased the room. To her surprise, Qin Sheng could clearly perceive the fluctuations of that power. She felt a jolt of astonishment, but when she turned to her grandfather, he did not seem surprised that she could sense it.

"What is going on, Grandfather?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Qin Zongming sighed, knowing the time had come to reveal everything. "Asheng, do you remember the phrase 'birth through death'?"

Qin Sheng’s eyes widened. This was the phrase she had seen in her grandfather’s notebook right after she was reborn. Could it be that he had known about her rebirth all along? A thousand questions swirled in her mind.

"Asheng, I knew everything that happened to you. But I had no way to save my own granddaughter; that was a trial you had to complete yourself..."

Qin Sheng felt a sense of vertigo. She realized that her rebirth had not been an accident, but that she had been truly saved by her grandfather.

"To bring you back, I defied the laws of heaven, and I have paid the price," Qin Zongming thought to himself. He would never let her know that he had nearly lost his life to reverse those laws, nor that he was suffering the consequences—he could already feel his own spirit power rapidly fading. The duty of the Wood Spirit Clan would finally pass to its new successor.

"Asheng, you have always belonged to this Otherworldly Continent. You are the only successor to the Wood Spirit Clan. The fate of our clan rests on your shoulders. I am old, and this burden must now be yours." He reached into his desk and produced an object resembling a seal, pressing it into her hand. "This is the Seal of the Wood Spirit Clan Patriarch. It belongs to its master."

As he placed the seal in her palm, it dissolved into a beam of light that surged into her body. She felt a vast, dense reservoir of spirit power filling every corner of her being. There was no rejection; her body hungrily absorbed the energy, as if it had belonged to her all along. Only when the power was fully integrated did she open her eyes.

"It has returned to its rightful owner," Qin Zongming said with a gratified smile.

Qin Sheng was still filled with questions. Why was she born in this Otherworldly Continent, yet ended up in another world? Why did her grandfather say the power had returned to its owner? Seeing her confusion, he smiled helplessly; his granddaughter’s tendency to get to the bottom of things had never changed.

"Ask whatever you wish."

Once given the green light, Qin Sheng poured out all her questions. Qin Zongming pulled her toward a chair. "The Wood Spirit Clan only appoints a patriarch once a century. You were destined for this role from birth. However, when the Otherworldly Continent fell into chaos and the Tingfeng Pavilion usurped authority, we five major spirit clans feared for our heirs. We sent you all to that other world to hide until you were grown and ready to take your places. We did not anticipate that the Tingfeng Pavilion would catch wind of it and unleash the apocalypse there. Ironically, they did not know you were all the rare heirs of the five clans, and that apocalypse only accelerated your growth."

The realization dawned on her: the apocalypse in that world was not a natural disaster, but a weapon used by the Tingfeng Pavilion to dispose of them.

"Grandfather, you said 'us'—who else besides me?"

"I think you have already guessed," Qin Zongming replied with a faint smile. "They are your friends from that world. By now, they have likely been taken to be reunited with their respective clans."

Her friends from the apocalypse? That meant Chu Xingyu, Jiang Miaomiao, and Lin Xing! They were also heirs sent away by the five families! But there were only four of them. Before she could voice her confusion, he added, "There is one more: Lu Qingyan, of the Metal Spirit Clan."

Lu Qingyan? Lu Shenshen’s nephew? He was one of them, which meant Lu Shenshen was also of the Metal Spirit Clan. Qin Sheng wondered how Song Qing’an, the young master of the Tingfeng Pavilion, could be involved with someone from the Metal Spirit Clan. She had no time to ponder this now; learning her true identity was mind-blowing enough.

"The five families have their reasons for bringing you back. The Tingfeng Pavilion is wicked, and only by joining forces can you hope to save this continent."

Qin Sheng frowned as she listened to her grandfather detail the atrocities committed by the Pavilion. They were truly heinous, stripping others of their abilities to grow stronger. The five families had been unable to stop them, forced to watch their home suffer.

"Grandfather, what must I do?"

If helping Song Qing’an had initially been a personal matter, she now carried the weight of the entire continent, the five families, and the victims of the Pavilion. She needed to grow stronger, and fast.

"Do not rush. Your spirit power has only just returned; you need time to adapt. Rest for now, and we will decide our next steps together." Qin Zongming was stern, warning her repeatedly not to act rashly. She knew he was right; without sufficient strength, she would only be throwing her life away.

"Grandfather, do you know where Xiao Nuo is?" She gripped his hand, hoping for news of her younger brother.

Qin Zongming’s expression faltered. He sighed, "Xiao Nuo is a good child, but he was abducted by the Pavilion before I could send him to the other world. I have had no news of him since."

Hearing that her brother was imprisoned by the Pavilion made her hands tremble with rage. "I will make them pay," she whispered, her eyes flashing with a faint red hue. She didn't have the strength to fight them yet, but she had a trump card: her space. She began to scheme, thinking that if she brought Song Qing’an along, he could serve as a shield for many things.

"Asheng, rest well. I have matters to attend to."

After Qin Zongming left, she was led to her room by some children of the clan. "Big Sister Patriarch, this is the room the Grand Elder prepared for you. Please rest well."

The spirit clans held no rigid hierarchy, but families who struggled financially would send their children to work, and Qin Zongming had taken them into his estate to care for them.

"Patriarch, I am A-Yan. I am here to look after you. Just let me know if you need anything," said a simple, kind-faced woman in her thirties who entered with tea. She bowed respectfully, but Qin Sheng quickly helped her up.

"Sister A-Yan, please, no need for formalities. Thank you for your help."

A-Yan looked at the smiling patriarch and nodded shyly. "It is our duty, Patriarch."

As Qin Sheng played with the children, she smiled at A-Yan. "You don't need to call me Patriarch here. How about you call me A-Yan, and you call me Asheng?"

"I couldn't possibly, Patriarch. I absolutely cannot."

A-Yan refused to use her given name, and eventually, Qin Sheng had to concede. "Patriarch, please rest. I am taking the children out now."

Qin Sheng nodded, adding, "If any of my friends come to see me, please wake me up."