Chapter 286: He’s Not My Grandpa, He’s Yours!
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The mirror, painted in water-ink hues, began to ripple as a dry, skeletal hand extended from within.
Moments later, half a figure emerged, followed by the rest, revealing a complete form.
“It’s the Grand Elder!”
“Not only does the aura match, but even the flying sword in his hand is an exact replica.”
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe Yu Zhao’s illusion technique could reach such a terrifying level of realism!”
The gathered cultivators exchanged astonished glances, their voices filled with awe. As Nascent Soul cultivators and elders of the Seven Stars Sect, they prided themselves on their extensive knowledge and experience.
Though illusion techniques weren’t a mainstream path in cultivation, they were far from unheard of. Yet none had ever witnessed anyone wield illusions as masterfully as Yu Zhao. Her creations were so lifelike it was impossible to distinguish them from reality.
Had they not already known who the real Grand Elder was, the sight of two identical elders standing before them would have left them utterly bewildered.
The Grand Elder himself was the most shocked of all. It was already unsettling that Yu Zhao could replicate his attacks, but to conjure a duplicate of him so realistic it could fool even himself? This was a power he hadn’t anticipated.
A terrifying thought struck him. What if Yu Zhao killed him in private, destroyed his body, and then used this illusion to infiltrate the sect unnoticed? The possibility sent chills down his spine.
Was that her plan all along?
These thoughts, while complex, passed in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, a dazzling streak of light, brimming with killing intent, tore through space and shot straight at Yu Zhao’s face.
She remained motionless, allowing her illusion to rise in her stead. It brandished its flying sword, charging headlong at the oncoming attack.
Everyone was stunned by the illusion’s self-sacrificial action. Then, to their astonishment, it mirrored the Grand Elder’s technique, conjuring a giant sword beam of its own.
As the sword beam formed, the illusion’s body began to fade, turning semi-transparent. But no one paid it any further attention—their eyes were glued to the two sword beams about to collide mid-air.
Boom!
A blinding white light exploded, momentarily severing everyone’s senses. Eyesight dimmed, ears rang, and minds buzzed with an endless hum.
The aftermath of the explosion swept across the area like a storm, sending towering waves rippling through the previously calm pool of water.
Yu Zhao, anticipating the fallout, had already equipped her Heart-Protecting Mirror and shattered several protective talismans. The damage to her was minimal.
Her illusion, however, was obliterated into nothingness.
The Grand Elder was far less fortunate. Though he had his own defensive artifact, it was inferior to Yu Zhao’s treasure crafted by the master of the Aspiration Pavilion. Nor had he prepared talismans. The wild energy tore through his defenses, wreaking havoc on his body.
His meridians shattered, his bones cracked audibly, and with a cry of pain, he spewed blood, his body flung through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
“Grand Elder!”
Tian Shu and the others cried out, rushing to his side. Seeing him sprawled like a broken doll, their eyes turned red with fury.
One impulsive elder pointed at Yu Zhao and shouted angrily, “The Grand Elder had no grudge against you! Striking him down like this is unworthy of a righteous cultivator!”
Yu Zhao’s expression remained cold. “I merely mirrored his attack.”
Her illusions possessed a degree of autonomy, replicating any action directed at them exactly as it occurred.
If the Grand Elder hadn’t harbored murderous intent, he wouldn’t have faced such a devastating backlash. His downfall was his own doing.
The elder was left speechless.
Although the Grand Elder’s cultivation was a minor stage above Yu Zhao’s, they had assumed, at worst, an evenly matched outcome. None had expected such a crushing defeat.
Tian Shu fed the Grand Elder a pill and checked his pulse with divine sense. His face fell.
The good news? The Grand Elder would survive.
The bad news? His meridians and dantian were gravely damaged. Even with the best resources, he’d never progress further in cultivation.
For someone his age, breakthroughs were improbable without a miraculous encounter. But the certainty of no advancement was a crushing blow nonetheless.
In this battle, the Grand Elder had lost everything—his dignity, his strength, and his future.
The sound of hurried footsteps broke the tense silence.
It was the Grand Elder’s granddaughter, Pu Xing Yu.
Seeing her approach, the Grand Elder gasped violently, choking on his blood.
Pu Xing Yu glanced at him briefly, then walked past him decisively. She stopped in front of Yu Zhao, concern in her bright eyes. “Senior Yu Zhao, are you alright? I’m so sorry for causing you trouble.”
The Grand Elder’s eyes widened in disbelief. His body convulsed before he collapsed into Tian Shu’s arms, unconscious from the sheer outrage.
“Grand Elder has fainted!”
“Quick, get him back to safety!”
“He’s bleeding again!”
The scene descended into chaos as Tian Shu and the others scrambled to tend to him.
Pu Xing Yu, undeterred, continued to inspect Yu Zhao for injuries. “I’m fine,” Yu Zhao reassured her with a smile. “You’ve done nothing wrong. There’s no need to apologize.”
That Pu Xing Yu had severed ties with her grandfather within a day showed both resilience and clarity. Her earlier hesitation had merely been due to her close involvement in the situation.
Yu Zhao believed Pu Xing Yu was the perfect candidate to resolve the issue of the Spirit Vein.
But this wasn’t the right place to discuss such matters. Yu Zhao informed Tian Shu before leading Pu Xing Yu away.
Elder Luo, however, blocked Pu Xing Yu’s path. With a face full of grief, he scolded her, “Pu Xing Yu, your grandfather has been gravely injured. Shouldn’t you stay to care for him? Have you no conscience? He’s been so good to you. How can you abandon him?”
Though Luo’s words targeted Pu Xing Yu, his tone clearly extended the blame to Yu Zhao as well.
Yu Zhao ignored him, but Pu Xing Yu refused to stay silent.
“Elder Luo,” she began calmly, “when you say my grandfather treated me well, do you mean how he gave away things that should have been mine? Or how he forced me to withdraw from competitions or forbade me from winning when I did participate?”
“…Regardless, he’s still your grandfather! You should take care of him!”
“That’s where you’re mistaken.” Pu Xing Yu’s small face grew stern. “He’s not my grandfather. He’s your grandfather! He’s everyone’s grandfather except mine! If anyone should care for him, it’s you, his beneficiaries—not me!”
Her resolute words left Elder Luo fuming yet speechless as he watched her leave with Yu Zhao.
Thank you for the translation.