Reincarnation of the Celestial Bastard

Chapter 62: Secrets in the Shadows

The night air was thick with tension as Li Tian walked through the Li family estate, the glow of the moon casting long shadows across the courtyard. The recent battle with Shen Wu still weighed on his mind. His body ached, but his thoughts raced. Shen Wu had escaped, and the system's new task loomed over him: Pursue Shen Wu's Shadow.

But even as he pondered his next move, there was another pressing matter—the secrets lurking within his own family. He could feel it, the tension brewing beneath the surface. His sisters, stepmothers, and even his father seemed to be hiding something. The more he uncovered about his family's affairs, the more tangled the web became.

As he approached the secluded garden in the estate, a familiar presence caught his attention. Li Xue, his youngest sister, stood by the koi pond, her slender form silhouetted by the moonlight. Her delicate features were thoughtful, her expression unreadable as she stared into the water.

Li Tian stepped closer, his footsteps barely making a sound. "Couldn't sleep?"

Li Xue turned her head slightly, a small smile forming on her lips. "Neither could you, apparently."

He stopped beside her, his gaze following hers to the rippling water below. The soft sound of the koi swimming was the only noise that filled the night air.

"You've been quiet lately," Li Tian remarked, studying her face. "Something on your mind?"

Li Xue hesitated, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the pond. "It's just... everything feels like it's changing so fast. You, me, the family. And not all of it is good."

Li Tian's brow furrowed. He knew she was right. The family dynamics had shifted ever since he started making his mark and growing stronger. His rise in power didn't go unnoticed, and it was bound to create friction. But there was something else in Li Xue's tone, something deeper.

"What are you really trying to say?" he asked, his voice soft but firm.

Li Xue bit her lip, turning fully to face him now. Her eyes searched his, a mix of uncertainty and resolve dancing in her gaze. "There's something going on with Father and the elders. I overheard them talking last night about a hidden technique... something forbidden."

Li Tian's heart skipped a beat. A forbidden technique? His mind immediately flashed back to the Chaos Breaker Fist—the forbidden technique the system had recently awarded him. Could there be a connection? He hadn't even had time to fully grasp the consequences of using such power, and now this revelation from Li Xue?

"Did you hear anything specific?" he asked, his tone now urgent.

Li Xue shook her head. "Not much. Just enough to know that they're keeping secrets from us—dangerous secrets. I think it's related to something called the 'Ancient Seal,' but I couldn't make out much more than that."

Li Tian's mind raced. The Ancient Seal? He had never heard of it before, but the fact that it was being discussed in secret by his father and the elders suggested it was something of immense importance. Possibly something related to the family's history or even cultivation techniques that could shift the balance of power.

"Don't worry, Li Xue," he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'll look into it."

She looked up at him, her expression softening. "I trust you, brother. Just... be careful."

Li Tian gave her a reassuring nod before turning away. As he walked through the quiet corridors of the estate, he knew his next step was clear. He had to uncover the truth about the Ancient Seal and what his family was hiding. The system's tasks and rewards would have to wait.

Later that night, Li Tian found himself in the library, surrounded by ancient scrolls and dusty tomes. If there was any clue about the Ancient Seal, this would be the place to find it. He searched through stacks of texts, some of them detailing old techniques, others chronicling the history of powerful cultivators.

Hours passed, but finally, something caught his eye—a worn-out scroll hidden behind a stack of books. Its faded cover bore the mark of the Li family, but it looked far older than anything else in the library.

Carefully, Li Tian unrolled the scroll. The title at the top read: The Legacy of the Ancient Seal.

His eyes widened as he began to read.

The next morning, Li Tian woke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. The scroll lay on the desk beside him, its cryptic contents still fresh in his mind. According to the text, the Ancient Seal was more than just a technique. It was a powerful relic, one that had been sealed away generations ago by the founders of the Li family. The scroll hinted at unimaginable power, but also terrible danger.

It was clear now that his father and the elders were involved in something far bigger than he had realized. Whatever their plans were, it involved the Ancient Seal, and likely Shen Wu as well. The dark energy Shen Wu had wielded during their battle had felt ancient, corrupt—perhaps tied to this relic.

[New Task: Investigate the Ancient Seal.]

[Reward: Hidden Martial Art - Celestial Void Step.]

The system's notification confirmed his suspicions. There was no turning back now. If he was to get to the bottom of this mystery, he would need to confront his father and the elders directly.

As Li Tian prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation, a knock came at the door. It was a servant, informing him that his presence was requested by his father in the council room.

It seemed the confrontation would happen sooner than expected.