C19 Suspicion.

"Quick, express your gratitude to the Chief!" The elder was visibly overwhelmed with excitement, hastily tugging at Hanyu Xiaoxin, preparing to kneel. To the elder, embarrassment was the last thing on his mind. Status aside, he was well aware that despite the patriarch's youthful appearance, he was in fact much older than himself.

"No need for such formalities," Hanyu Qingtian said, sweeping his sleeve in a grand gesture that made it impossible for the two to kneel. "Just keep the family's teachings in your heart—that's enough. And should you find success one day, remember your roots. Also, the Scripture Pavilion opens in three months. You should visit it then; it might be a good opportunity for you."

Hanyu Xiaoxin's cheeks were flushed with excitement as he nodded vigorously. The elder was beside himself with joy; not only had they gained entry to the Qi Pavilion, but they had also secured the privilege to enter the Scripture Pavilion—a place far more wondrous than the Qi Pavilion and one of the family's most sacred sites.

"Chief, Cai Qing requests an audience," someone announced.

"Send him in."

The middle-aged man who had co-hosted the Qi Pavilion's opening with Liu Yuan entered, his face clouded with concern. After a quick glance at Liu Yuan and the grandfather-grandson pair, he bowed respectfully to the patriarch and said, "Chief, I have an urgent matter to report."

"Go ahead." Hanyu Qingtian was aware that his family members would not interrupt him without good reason.

"After the Qi Pavilion trial concluded, I inspected the array's energy source and discovered a shortfall in the energy. Upon examining the Energy Origin Stone at the heart of the array, I found that its energy... was completely depleted!"

"That's impossible!" exclaimed Liu Yuan, who was nearby. He and Cai Qing had been responsible for placing the Energy Origin Stone, which had enough power to activate the Qi Pavilion more than five times over.

"Oh?" Hanyu Qingtian was intrigued.

"Did you notice anything unusual during or after the Qi Pavilion's operation?"

"Nothing at all," they both replied after carefully considering the events.

"Energy doesn't just vanish. There must be an explanation we're unaware of," Hanyu Qingtian mused. "Did Hanyu Xiongba and Hanyu Xiaoxin manage to cultivate their inner breath directly this time?"

"Yes, they were the only ones."

"What about Hanyu Duofeng and Hanyu Shengxi?"

"We wouldn't presume to speculate, but judging from what we observed, they likely made significant gains."

"Hmm, perhaps someone underwent a change? Wait, change! What's the status of Hanyu Xiaotian? Where is he now?" Hanyu Qingtian inquired suddenly.

Liu Yuan and Cai Qing exchanged a glance. They hadn't paid much attention to the family's so-called 'good-for-nothing,' but now that the Chief was asking, they did their best to remember. "Hanyu Xiaotian... After he emerged, he seemed lost in thought, not at all like someone who had grasped the gaseous sensation. We've observed him; he definitely lacks inner breath. As for his whereabouts, he appears to be in the Library now."

"What? He went to the Library for what reason?" Although Hanyu Qingtian was somewhat let down by Hanyu Xiaotian's lack of gaseous sensation, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about why Hanyu Xiaotian had dashed off to the Library after stepping into the Qi Pavilion.

"Alright, take Hanyu Xiaoxin and the others down for now. Set them up to stay here for a while. Once the Scripture Pavilion is open, they can return."

Finally, Hanyu Qingtian turned his attention to Hanyu Xiaoxin, who appeared much more composed. "Kid, give it your all. I'm well aware of your grandfather's lineage's plight, but I won't interfere. I'm waiting for you to restore the splendor of your own line and then guide them back to the main branch. Are you confident you can achieve that?"

"Yes!" Hanyu Xiaoxin, seemingly inspired by Hanyu Qingtian's words, responded with fervor.

"Good. If there comes a day when you can stand before me on your own merit, I'll consider bestowing upon you one of the family's supermartial texts, the 'Ice Age Holy Scripture.'" With that, Hanyu Qingtian gave a nod to Liu Yuan, who, along with Cai Qing, escorted the young ones out.

"Hmm, the vanished energy, the Library... Could this have something to do with you, Hanyu Xiaotian?" Hanyu Qingtian mused, lost in thought.