The so-called Lan Yu lineage did not refer to the descendants of Immortal Venerable Lan Yu. Rather, it specifically denoted the vast, deeply-rooted network of power attached to Immortal Venerable Lan Yu.
For thousands of years, Immortal Venerable Lan Yu had controlled Yuandao Province, commanding countless cultivators under him. They occupied every key position within the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s Yuandao Province branch.
Although Immortal Venerable Lan Yu had now fallen, the Lan Yu lineage remained an untoppled behemoth. It still held absolute dominion, impervious to any external challenge.
However, while there were no external challengers, the Lan Yu lineage itself had begun to fall apart from within.
The root cause? Everyone wanted to be the one in charge.
When Immortal Venerable Lan Yu was alive, everyone naturally followed his lead. But now, the Immortal Venerable had fallen.
The various branches of the Lan Yu lineage refused to submit to one another. To seize the position of leader, they turned violently upon each other. Even one Spirit Transformation cultivator had perished as a result. As for the fallen Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, their numbers were beyond counting.
The other powers in Yuandao Province keenly watched this internal strife of the Lan Yu lineage.
It was now a ship without a captain, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds.
Thus, they began to harbor their own schemes. They formed secret alliances, leveraging the chaos to carve up the Lan Yu lineage's territories.
Particularly lucrative positions like Supervisor of the Strategy Array Hall and Procurement Officer of the Talisman Hall were forcibly wrested away in significant numbers.
Only after having such a large piece of their flesh bitten off did the Lan Yu lineage get their much-needed wake-up call.
The various branches finally deigned to sit down and talk properly. After much discussion, they decided that whoever obtained the Heavenly Capital Feather Transformation Technique would be recognized by all branches as their leader.
One had to understand that all the main players were at the Spirit Transformation realm to begin with. Also, it wasn't as simple as the strongest fighter automatically commanding respect from all others. Factors like connections and control of resources had to be considered.
But under increasing external pressure, the Lan Yu branches urgently needed to end their internal strife and select a leader. Thus, the final wish of Immortal Venerable Lan Yu became the one point everyone could agree on.
A true Dao Unity technique was inherently priceless and revered. Moreover, it had now become the symbolic leadership token of the Lan Yu lineage. One could imagine the ferocity of the ensuing struggle.
Seven years passed, and still, no final victor had emerged.
The last candidates were two peerless geniuses with seemingly equal strength. One was named Dugu Xi, the other Dugu Shi.
Both were Spirit Transformation cultivators, and they were a pair of twin brothers adopted by Immortal Venerable Lan Yu over five hundred years ago.
Blessed with extraordinary talent, both had reached the Spirit Transformation realm within those five centuries.
In this struggle between dragons and tigers, countless cultivators fought for the Heavenly Capital Feather Transformation Technique, yet these two brothers were the ones who lasted to the very end.
But a true Dao Unity technique could not simply be yielded, even between blood brothers.
Over the years, these two had fought over a dozen times, yet neither could secure a decisive victory.
Conflicts between Spirit Transformation powerhouses were rare enough, let alone clashes between top-tier powerhouses like the Dugu brothers. Thus, every one of their duels attracted countless spectators.
***
After listening to Feng Shu's introduction, Li Fan nodded slowly.
"When I arrived, I saw two groups fighting over Lan Yu's legacy treasure. What exactly is this Lan Yu's legacy treasure?"
Feng Shu explained, "Before his fall, besides establishing the rules for inheriting his technique, Immortal Venerable Lan Yu also gathered all his personal belongings and placed them into small blue boxes. He scattered these boxes across Yuandao Province for those fated to encounter them.
"These small blue boxes are what people call Lan Yu's legacy treasure. Although they were the Immortal Venerable's belongings, the items inside these boxes vary greatly, containing anything and everything. One might hold an artifact of immense power, another might contain a completely ordinary jade pendant.
"After all, these are just worldly possessions, hardly comparable in value to a true Dao Unity technique. Thus, they attracted far less attention than the Heavenly Capital Feather Transformation Technique. Yet they still spark considerable bloodshed." Feng Shu sighed.
As the two conversed, they arrived at the place where Dugu Xi and Dugu Shi were battling.
It was a circular structure constructed of white jade and suspended in the sky, called the Heavenly Capital Dueling Arena.
Legend said it was personally crafted by Immortal Venerable Lan Yu as a place for his subordinates to spar.
When combatants entered, the white jade would turn transparent, projecting the scenes within the arena across the sky. This allowed cultivators outside to clearly observe everything happening within the dueling arena.
The arena formed its own independent, incredibly sturdy space. Even Spirit Transformation cultivators could fight with complete abandon, unleashing their full power without restraint or fear of causing collateral damage.
After each duel concluded, the white jade would emit a pure white light that rapidly healed both participants' injuries.
Every function was designed specifically for martial contests.
Currently, countless cultivators had gathered around the Heavenly Capital Dueling Arena to watch. They pointed upward, chatting and discussing the fight among themselves.
The battle between the two Dugu brothers played across most of the sky's expanse.
"The one in white is Dugu Xi, the one in black is Dugu Shi." Feng Shu, knowing this was Li Fan's first time, helpfully identified them.
Li Fan gazed into the distance, but he could only see their figures flashing past. They resembled two blurred, intertwining threads of black and white.
Each collision formed a bizarre vortex that would slowly smooth out moments later.
But as the Dugu brothers continued exchanging blows, new vortices constantly appeared within the Heavenly Capital Dueling Arena, and the space now looked especially hazardous.
Compared to the simple, brutal combat scenes he'd witnessed between Spirit Transformation cultivators in the Congyun Sea, the Dugu brothers' battle appeared somewhat more abstract.
Yet gradually, Li Fan began discerning some patterns.
Dugu Xi used defense as offense, seamlessly blending both aspects, while Dugu Shi was intensely sharp and overwhelmingly aggressive.
Their strength was nearly equal, and they likely understood each other extremely well. No wonder they'd fought so many matches yet remained evenly matched.
***
High above, the fierce battle raged on.
The cultivators below watched with great interest.
But as Li Fan observed the duel, he noticed Feng Shu's expression suddenly turn peculiar.
Just as curiosity stirred, a conversation drifted slowly to his ears.
"Given that they’re born of the same mother, they should naturally love and cherish each other. Yet they’re battling over a mere technique. Though they're Spirit Transformation powerhouses, I look down on them!"
"Big Brother, you must be joking. That's a Dao Unity technique! How could we Foundation Establishment cultivators comprehend its true value?"
"So what if it’s a Dao Unity technique? Is it the only one in the world? Even we sworn brothers can yield to each other. Why can't blood brothers do the same?"
"Haha..."
"Little Brother, what's with that expression? Rest assured, if we ever discover a technique together, no matter how precious, I would certainly give it to you first, without fighting you for it!"
His words rang with such righteous conviction that they drew sidelong glances and stirred admiration from others in the crowd.
Li Fan vaguely found the voices familiar and turned to look in their direction.
When he saw their appearances, even someone as composed as Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle aloud.
As it turned out, these two were old acquaintances of Li Fan's. They were none other than Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi!
In this lifetime, he had met them nearly twenty years earlier.
Li Fan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Fate truly works in mysterious ways.