Legend of the Divine Archer

"Shao Ling! What did I tell you about speaking of the clan's secrets?"

The stern voice of Shao Han interrupted as he stepped into the side hall. His expression was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to his tone.

"My apologies, Nephew Yan," he said, regaining his composure. "It took longer than expected to deal with the other guests." He sighed. "Don't pay any mind to my daughter—she tends to be an alarmist."

Yan Jin remained unruffled. "I have no interest in prying into your family's affairs. That is not my reason for coming."

Shao Han studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then we can speak honestly." He took a seat, gesturing for them to continue.

Yan Jin leaned forward slightly. "I am Yan Jin, from Pine City in the Northern Region. If that name doesn't ring a bell, perhaps you have heard of the blood witch attack that devastated it. We lost many—entire families were wiped out. The three of us are orphans because of it."

Shao Han's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers tightened slightly around his teacup.

"Before he passed, Wei Xi's grandfather told me that his mother's family lived in the Eastern Region and that they might be willing to take him in. That is why we have traveled this far—to reunite Wei Xi with his maternal family."

Shao Han exhaled. "We have over five hundred members in the Shao family. I do not keep track of them all. So tell me, who was your mother?"

Wei Xi straightened his back. "My mother's name was Shao Lan."

A sudden cracking sound broke the stillness. All eyes turned to Shao Han, whose teacup had slipped from his grasp and shattered against the table.

"How… how is she?" His voice, usually composed, wavered.

Wei Xi's gaze darkened. "She was attacked while pregnant and forced to give birth under dire conditions. She passed away a few months later." His words were simple, but the weight behind them was heavy.

Shao Han looked down, his hands trembling slightly. "Shao Lan was my younger sister." He let out a long breath. "She was expelled from the family by my father… for a mistake. We never spoke again. I had no idea she had…" His voice trailed off, filled with quiet regret.

Yan Jin watched him carefully. "Then, I must ask—can Wei Xi return to the Shao family? Will he be accepted and protected?"

Shao Han hesitated. "That decision lies with the patriarch."

"Can we meet the patriarch?"

A troubled expression crossed Shao Han's face. "That will be… complicated. The patriarch is in a precarious situation."

Yan Jin's gaze sharpened. "Is that why you are searching for soul masters?"

Shao Han nodded grimly. "Yes. The patriarch has been afflicted by the Lost Soul Curse—a potent curse cast by the blood witches. It locks the soul away from the body, leaving the victim in an eternal sleep." His voice lowered. "This is our clan's greatest secret."

Yan Jin tapped a finger against the table. "And what does this have to do with the stone?"

"The stone is a treasure map," Shao Han explained. "It leads to our Shao ancestral domain. It is said to house many rare medicines—including the Null Leaf, which is believed to cancel out any curse."

Yan Jin frowned slightly. "One thing I don't understand—your Shao family is one of the Six Ancient Families. How did things decline to this state?"

Shao Han let out a bitter chuckle. "The greatest talents of my generation left and never produced heirs. The younger generation has fallen behind. We have been… unfilial." His shoulders slumped slightly. "We are also the only ancient family that was forcibly severed from its source during the old war. It fractured our foundation beyond repair." He sighed. "That is why the stone is so important."

Yan Jin thought for a moment before speaking. "Can I see the stone?"

Shao Han looked at him, then slowly nodded. "Follow me."

Without another word, he rose from his seat, leading Yan Jin out of the room.

As they walked toward the private area, the old man couldn't help but ask, "Why do you want to leave Wei Xi with us? You have sufficient strength and capital to raise him yourself."

Yan Jin's steps remained steady. "Because I am not confident." His voice was calm but firm. "Money and power aren't enough to raise a child. If he stays with me, he will live a life of running—and I don't want that for him."

Shao Han's brows furrowed slightly. "Who are you running from?"

"The world," Yan Jin said with quiet certainty. "Because I am Huang."

Shao Han abruptly stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he picked up his pace, leading the way even faster.

After several hundred meters, they arrived in a vast garden filled with peonies and wild roses. The air was thick with their fragrant scent, creating a serene and soothing atmosphere.

At the garden's center stood a massive stone, towering over three meters high. Its deep, pulsating blood-colored veins gave it an eerie, almost living presence.

Yan Jin stepped forward and reached out his hand—but before he could touch it, Shao Han's voice rang out sharply.

"If you touch it without preparation, you will lose your mind. The soul spell behind it is extremely potent."

Yan Jin didn't hesitate. "It's okay. I have a very powerful soul."

With that, he pressed his palm against the stone.

At that moment, the blood patterns writhed violently. A terrifying energy exploded from the stone—but an equally overwhelming force erupted from Yan Jin in response.

The entire garden trembled under the immense pressure as Yan Jin's body began to glow with a golden radiance, casting an otherworldly light in the darkened space.

The stone trembled, cracks forming along its surface until it suddenly began to disintegrate. The fragments swirled together, twisting and reforming—until, at last, they coalesced into a circular portal.

The space around the garden distorted like a raging vortex, twisting and pulling in all directions before finally stabilizing.

"Oh my…" Shao Han's voice trembled with excitement. "You did it."

Yan Jin let out a quiet breath, then extended his soul energy toward the portal. It was large enough for multiple people to pass through at once—but the true danger was what lay beyond.

He had barely finished that thought when a massive hand shot out from the portal, reaching toward him with terrifying speed.

Before Yan Jin could react, Shao Han moved. With a roar, his blood energy surged, and he yanked the intruder out of the portal with overwhelming force.

A deafening roar echoed through the garden as an enormous figure emerged—a corrupted beast, a Stone Troll.

Shao Han wasted no time. His aura flared, and above him, the majestic image of an azure dragon manifested. Without hesitation, he delivered a devastating punch, his raging energy smashing the beast into countless fragments.

The explosion of force and the lingering energy from the portal drew the attention of the entire Shao family. One by one, their strongest members arrived at the scene, their expressions filled with shock and wariness.

Meanwhile, Yan Jin stood at the back, arms crossed, quietly observing everything through his soul sense.