Spirit-Condor Valley lay in a remote corner of the Demon Realm, surrounded by dense forests. When Evan Yang and his companions arrived, Walter Wu and Lynn Lee were visibly moved, as if returning home after many years away.
Walter Wu and Lynn Lee instantly recognized the voice and rushed over. There, they saw a vase, and the voice was coming from inside it.
"They used to roam everywhere around here, but not anymore. Ever since someone came for the Ling clan and slaughtered many of them, this place has become even more deserted. Most Ling clan members have left, and now I don't even know if the clan still exists," Walter Wu sighed, tears streaming down Lynn Lee's face.
"Despicable!" Walter Wu and Lynn Lee cursed. Evan Yang and Selena Water couldn't help but feel disgust for the man as well.
Walter Wu nodded, then led Evan Yang and the group deeper into the forest. After a long trek, they reached a lake covered with weeds. Looking closely, there were no signs of people anywhere. Only when Walter Wu mentioned a certain cave did Evan finally notice it was there.
"We're here. Let's go inside," Walter Wu said excitedly, leading the way with Lynn Lee, while Evan Yang and Selena Water followed behind.
At first, the cave tunnel seemed ordinary, but as they walked farther, they saw the walls had been decorated—though now ruined and covered in dust. Clearly, the destruction had happened long ago. Seeing these traces, Walter Wu and Lynn Lee felt their hearts wrench, as if their clan had been wiped out.
"My name is Evan Yang, and she's Selena Water," Evan replied.
"Evan Yang? Selena Water? Thank you both for escorting them all the way home. Though my clan has been destroyed, we still have some foundation. If you need anything, let me know—I'll give you whatever I can," Patriarch Ling said.
Patriarch Ling, that's too kind. We didn't bring them back for any reward," Evan Yang replied.
"We have to check one place. If Patriarch Ling isn't there, it means he's already sacrificed himself," Walter Wu said. He and Patriarch Ling had made an agreement: if the patriarch wasn't at that spot, it meant he had died.
Lynn Lee quickly chimed in, "You worked so hard to bring us back. Even though our clan is gone, this is our way of showing gratitude. Please, pick something."
"Follow me," Walter Wu replied, leading Lynn Lee, Evan Yang, and the others further along. They walked deeper and deeper until they reached a remote tunnel and stopped before a wall. Walter Wu pressed a certain spot, and the wall slid open.
As Evan Yang walked, he noticed everything along the way had been destroyed—except the decorations inside this cave, which remained intact. At least this meant the place hadn't been ransacked. Lynn Lee noticed too, but she was worried her father hadn't come here, so she called out as soon as they entered, "Father, are you here?"
Sure enough, Evan Yang walked over and examined the stone. Lynn Lee said, "It's just an ordinary stone, nothing special. You should pick something better."
Walter Wu also called out, "Patriarch Ling? Are you here?"
Right after Walter Wu shouted, the wall closed behind them. The sudden change made Evan Yang and the others look around curiously.
"Sister Selena, you're so smart—picked a good one. Brother Evan, yours isn't great. Why not pick another?" Lynn Lee said.
Walter Wu and Lynn Lee instantly recognized the voice and rushed over. There, they saw a vase, and the voice was coming from inside it.
"Father, it's just a regular stone. Brother Evan came all this way—shouldn't he get something better?" Lynn Lee asked suspiciously.
"Father, how did you end up like this?" Lynn Lee cried out in shock when she saw the figure.
"Father, isn't it just a stone?" Lynn Lee asked curiously.
"Patriarch Ling, it's all my fault. I failed to complete your mission," Walter Wu said, thinking of the thousand years that had passed, the Ling clan's disappearance, and Patriarch Ling now reduced to a soul bound here.
The Ling Patriarch spoke lightly, but it was clear the stone was no ordinary item. Evan Yang turned it over, and lines of writing appeared before his eyes. When he read the contents, he exclaimed in surprise, "Spirit-Condor Art."
"That's right, it's the Spirit-Condor Art! This is what that man wanted to steal. Since it's fated for you, I'll give it to you," the Ling Patriarch said with a smile.
"Patriarch Ling, you're too polite," Evan Yang replied.
"Patriarch Ling, it's all my fault that the Ling clan ended up like this," Walter Wu said sadly.
"Walter Wu, it's not your fault. As long as you kept my daughter safe, I'm content. In fact, after you went to Demon Mountain, I regretted it. Many times I wanted to rush there myself to check on your safety," Patriarch Ling said.
"Patriarch Ling, if I'd found that person, none of this would have happened," Walter Wu said, ashamed.
"I'm actually glad you didn't find him," Patriarch Ling suddenly said, his tone turning sharp.
The Ling Patriarch looked at Evan Yang. "The Spirit-Condor Art can be cultivated by some, but not by others. Only one in ten thousand succeeds. In our family's history, only three people mastered it, and all became extremely powerful. I hope you can carry it forward and not let it go to waste."
"What?" Wu Tong exclaimed in shock.
The patriarch then explained everything. It turned out his so-called friend from Demon Mountain was the true cause of their clan's destruction. The friend wanted a secret technique passed down in the Ling Family—a technique tied to the Spirit Vulture. Whoever mastered it could control the Spirit Vulture, commanding a powerful army. Once he learned of this secret, the friend repeatedly tried to obtain it, eventually sending people to wipe out the Ling Family. Only after the massacre did he appear, trying to force the patriarch to reveal the secret. Even now, the patriarch couldn't forget the horror of that moment.
"Despicable!" Wu Tong and Ling Ye cursed. Evan and Shui Jing couldn't help but feel disgust for the man as well.
"What's done is done. At least they couldn't steal our secret, and that man was badly injured. He probably still doesn't dare return to Demon Mountain," the patriarch said, his only comfort being that he had severely wounded the culprit.
"I haven't seen him return to Demon Mountain, so he must be injured, just as you said," Wu Tong replied.
"Anyway, I must thank you two. May I ask your names?" the patriarch said.
"My name is Mu Han, and she's Shui Jing," Evan replied.
"Mu Han? Shui Jing? Thank you both for escorting them all the way home. Though my clan has been destroyed, we still have some foundation. If you need anything, let me know—I'll give you whatever I can," the patriarch said.
"Ling Patriarch, that's too kind. We didn't bring them back for any reward," Evan replied.
"This..." The Ling Patriarch hadn't expected Evan and Shui Jing to refuse.
Ling Ye quickly chimed in, "You worked so hard to bring us back. Even though our clan is gone, this is our way of showing gratitude. Please, pick something."
All around the chamber were various artifacts for Evan and Shui Jing to choose from. To Evan, most of these were nothing special, so he planned to refuse. But then he noticed a strange stone among the treasures—plain and ordinary, just like a regular rock.
Seeing Evan staring at the stone, the Ling Patriarch was startled, but quickly calmed down, thinking, 'Perhaps it's fate.'
Sure enough, Evan walked over and examined the stone. Ling Ye said, "It's just an ordinary stone, nothing special. You should pick something better."
"I think it's quite good. If the Ling Patriarch insists on giving, then I'll accept this one," Evan said.
Shui Jing glanced around and picked up an item. "This flute is beautiful. I'll choose this one," she said.
"Sister Shui, you're so smart—picked a good one. Brother Mu, yours isn't great. Why not pick another?" Ling Ye said.
As Evan pondered what the stone was, the Ling Patriarch smiled. "Ye'er, let him take that one," he said.
"Father, it's just a regular stone. Brother Mu came all this way—shouldn't he get something better?" Ling Ye asked suspiciously.
"Do you really think that's just an ordinary object?" the Ling Patriarch said with a smile.
"Father, isn't it just a stone?" Ling Ye asked curiously.
"Wrong. This is what our family has guarded for generations. Now that the clan is gone, there's no need to protect it anymore. Better to give it to someone destined for it. Since Brother Mu needs it, let him have it," the Ling Patriarch said.
The Ling Patriarch spoke lightly, but it was clear the stone was no ordinary item. Evan turned it over, and lines of writing appeared before his eyes. When he read the contents, he exclaimed in surprise, "Spirit Vulture Technique."
"That's right, it's the Spirit Vulture Technique! This is what that man wanted to steal. Since it's fated for you, I'll give it to you," the Ling Patriarch said with a smile.
Evan hadn't expected the item he picked was the cause of the Ling Family's tragedy. He felt troubled. "Patriarch, I truly didn't know this was your most precious treasure," he said.
"Don't feel guilty. Take it. Our family is already gone. Now, I only wish for my daughter's well-being; everything else doesn't matter to me," the Ling Patriarch said.
"Father," Ling Ye said sadly.
"Ye'er, don't be upset. Give your father some time. He'll recover," the Ling Patriarch said.
Evan held the stone, unsure what to do next.
The Ling Patriarch looked at Evan. "The Spirit Vulture Technique can be cultivated by some, but not by others. Only one in ten thousand succeeds. In our family's history, only three people mastered it, and all became extremely powerful. I hope you can carry it forward and not let it go to waste."