"Senior Xue, you came at the right time." Ou Yangming smiled. "I have something to tell you."

Xue Yan let out a long sigh and asked, "Brother Tianrui, are you going to tell me that you're about to leave Huixun city and go on with your adventure?"

Ou Yangming was not surprised by this. When he brought Wu Xuning and Xue Xuanle to the Beyond Heaven Pavilion and said those words in front of them, he knew the first thing they would do after returning would be to report this matter to their elders.

Once Xue Yan learned of this news, he would definitely have something to say.

Whether it was to stabilize his relationship with Ou Yangming or to build a good connection with his influential sect that likely existed, Xue Yan would not do nothing.

In addition, with the current declination of the Xue family, there was only one thing that Ou Yangming might value.

If Xue Yan pretended not to know, Ou Yangming would not force him. In any case, he had benefited enough from his trip to Huixun City. Nonetheless, since the patriarch had come, he would not pretend to be aloof.

Ou Yangming nodded and replied to Xue Yan solemnly, "Since I want to travel around the world, I can't stay in a certain place for a long time."

Xue Yan stuttered. He felt that the reason was powerful as he could not find any excuse to refute it.

This was because he had already determined Ou Yangming's identity and regarded him as a core disciple of an influential sect. Such a person traveling outside surely had an open mind, hence it was already an anomaly for him to stay in Huixun City for such a long time.

Xue Yan wanted very badly to keep Ou Yangming forever and ask him to follow him back to Donglin City.

Even so, he knew if he were to do that, it would be a blessing in disguise.

'His sect had painstakingly brought him up as a core disciple. If I were to lure him to live in a small place with us, based on the conduct of those supreme sects, they won't let it be.'

By then, the ones who would come to deal with the Xue family would not be top-grade Spiritualists but likely formidable Venerable Ones.

Xue Yan pursed his lips as he was struggling on the inside.

Ou Yangming did not urge him. He silently looked at him from the side. Nevertheless, it gave the patriarch enormous pressure.

Under Ou Yangming's overbearing gaze, Xue Yan finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He suddenly lifted his head and took out an interspatial bag. "Brother Tianrui, the Xue and Teng families have always been in Donglin City. We had some disputes from time to time, but everything has been peaceful." He paused for a moment before he continued, "Do you know why they suddenly attacked and wanted to destroy us?"

Ou Yangming shook his head without any hesitation. "I came from somewhere far away, so I don't know what happened between your clans."

Even though he was well aware of the reason, he refused to admit it no matter what.

Xue Yan chuckled, "It's actually very simple—our clan obtained a treasure, which made them greedy." He sighed and continued, "An unexpected disaster—it was really an unexpected disaster!" A trace of sadness flashed on his face, which was clear that he was thinking of the family members who had died because of this.

Ou Yangming cleared his throat and expressed, "Senior… My condolences."

Seeing that Ou Yangming did not have any emotion on his face, Xue Yan grinned and asked, "Brother Tianrui, did you already know about the treasure?"

Ou Yangming was startled. He did not reveal the slightest flaw, but Xue Yan was truly an amazing figure. Even the slightest clue could not hide from him.

At this moment, even Ou Yangming himself was not sure if he should tell the truth or not.

Despite that, his short delay allowed Xue Yan to know the truth.

The Xue family's elder shook his head and sighed deeply. "Brother Tianrui, I understand."

He reached out and took out a mirror from his interspatial bag.

The mirror was not big as it was only the size of a palm. There were ancient wooden carvings around the mirror, and an unknown monster was also carved on it. Everyone knew it was a dead object but when people looked at it, they could not help but feel a chill run down their spines.

It seemed like the monster would come to life at any time and launch the fiercest attack at them.

Ou Yangming sucked in a breath of cold air. He had only taken a glance at the mirror, but he could already vaguely feel that it was not ordinary.

He looked deeply at Xue Yan and finally understood why the Teng family, which had 2 top-grade Spiritualists, would attack the Xue Yan family so recklessly.

Logically speaking, since both of their clans were in the same city and had top-grade Spiritualists, even if there was a difference in strength between them, they were not too far apart. If both sides fell out, the Xue family might not have much of a chance of winning; if the Teng family wanted to attack the Xue family, they would have to pay a huge price. In fact, it might cause a huge blow to the Teng family, and they would be taken advantage of by others.

Having said that, the Teng family still did it without any hesitation.

Now, the moment Ou Yangming saw the mirror, he immediately understood how determined the Teng family was to get their hands on the treasure.

The treasure was innocent but possessing it was a sin...

Xue Yan stared at the mirror and spoke as if he was talking to himself, "This is a treasure that I obtained after making a narrow escape from the Big Ruins. It... It's called the Self-examination Mirror." He looked up and added, "I originally thought that with this treasure, though it might not help me become a Venerable One, it could increase the Xue family's overall strength to a higher level."

Ou Yangming nodded slowly. If the Self-examination Mirror was really as the Teng family had said, where it could help one restrain one's inner demon, it would have an unimaginable effect during one's cultivation.

If that was the case, it would not be an extravagant hope for the Teng family's overall strength to be enhanced. As long as everything was planned properly, they might gain a second or even a third top-grade Spiritualists within a short few years. Needless to say, no matter how powerful a top-grade Spiritualist was, one was still a Spiritualist and could not be mentioned on equal terms with a Venerable One.

Xue Yan directly handed the mirror over to Ou Yangming. The young fellow was dumbfounded, but he subconsciously took it in his hand.

He hesitated for a moment and channeled a hint of his spiritual power into the mirror.

Next, a peculiar light was released from the Self-examination Mirror. Its entire surface was instantly filled with a light that made one's heart tremble.

Ou Yangming's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the mirror. At this moment, a figure appeared in the mirror. That figure was him and no matter how he moved the mirror, the figure inside would reflect his actions accurately.

However, Ou Yangming's face could not help but turn slightly pale after a short while.

That was because he saw that while the figure inside the mirror was continuously doing the same movements as him, he gradually slowed down.

It was as if time was moving differently for them. Moreover, the figure's movements carried an unexplainable charm. When Ou Yangming focused to observe closely, he had a terrifying feeling that his soul was about to be sucked in.

His body trembled slightly, and he hurriedly withdrew his mind and consciousness from the mirror.

Ou Yangming did not understand the mirror's purpose but even if he were to think with his toes, he knew it was unordinary.

Xue Yan chuckled and noted, "When I obtained it from the Big Ruins, I picked up a set of instructions. It seemed to say that this Self-examination mirror can restrain one's inner demon. During cultivation, it'll allow one to achieve twice the result with half the effort. That said, after carrying this item for a period of time, I found that it seems to have another special function."

Ou Yangming was moved, and he asked, "What is it?"

"I'm not sure," Xue Yan answered at once, "I felt that it's odd and powerful, so I didn't dare to study it carefully." He looked at the mirror in Ou Yangming's hand with regret. "It's my responsibility that the Xue family has fallen to such a state. Ah, I must leave behind a useful body so that our clan can rise again. Only then will I not let down the trust and... The sacrifice of the many disciples."

Ou Yangming nodded in agreement. "That is the right thing to do."

This mirror was filled with endless oddities. If one wanted to study its profoundness, one would need to invest more in it and be prepared for possible unknown danger.

Xue Yan was the only hope of the Xue family, so he naturally did not dare to do such a reckless thing.

The patriarch suddenly looked up and said seriously, "Brother Tianrui, I want to give this to you."

"Oh, what?" Ou Yangming was struck dumb and puzzled.

He was very interested in the Self-examination Mirror, but he would not take it from the elder no matter what.

This was his bottom line—an ethical bottom line that he could not touch.

Who knew, Xue Yan sighed and expressed, "Brother Tianrui, the Xue family has already suffered a disaster because of this item. Heh, I dare say that once its secret is uncovered, even Venerable Ones will be moved." He looked deeply at Ou Yangming and asked, "Do you think that it'll be a blessing or a curse for us to keep it?"

Ou Yangming face changed slightly as he asked, "Senior, you think... That I'm qualified to keep it?"

Xue Yan laughed out loud. "You're young, but your cultivation is so high that it is unfathomable. Heh, an Intermediate... No, an Advanced Spiritualist could actually kill top-grade ferocious beasts repeatedly. It can't be a coincidence, right? I believe that you have a mighty being by your side to protect the item."

Ou Yangming twitched his mouth. He understood what the elder meant.

What Xue Yan meant was that a sect had definitely sent out a master to protect Ou Yangming. Nonetheless, in reality, the young fellow was indeed accompanied by a figure that was more powerful than most Venerable Ones, but it was the furious King Kong.

However, King Kong was not a gift from a sect or a bodyguard that was specially assigned to protect him.

Xue Yan said solemnly, "Brother Tianrui, I can only get rid of the bad luck brought by this item if I hand it over to you now." He took a step back and took one last glance at the Self-examination Mirror. It was clear from the look in his eyes that he found it hard to part with the item.

Following that, the elder looked away and noted clearly, "Brother Tianrui, I'll send someone to spread the word that the Self-examination Mirror has been given to you. Please forgive me for the offense."

Subsequently, he kowtowed to Ou Yangming before he turned around firmly and left without looking back.