"Tree King, why are you blocking our path?"
Moyue's eyes carried a hint of wariness as he spoke in a low voice, "Don't tell me you've gone back on your word?"
The treant clone stroked his beard and chuckled, "Even if I did, how could this mere clone of mine be a match for you, Flood Dragon King?"
"Moyue, stop fussing," Xu Chuan said, cupping his hands toward the treant clone. "Senior, do you have any instructions for us?"
Moyue turned his dragon head away, remaining silent.
'Just who is whose servant here?'
The treant clone did not care about their bickering and said, "I came here to pass on another piece of news to you in passing."
"The last time I went to the Holy Mountain, I learned from an old friend: thirty-six at the earliest, forty at the latest. I know you understand what this means. You may go now."
With those words, the treant clone turned into a cluster of green light and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Xu Chuan understood the meaning behind those numbers and secretly vowed in his heart, 'I must complete my Core Formation and return within thirty-six years!'
Although he had already formulated an underground refuge plan, he could not predict how the situation would unfold. He needed to return personally to hold the fort.
Xu Chuan swept his gaze over the others. "Once we leave this place, no one is allowed to speak of our origins. If asked, simply say we are Rogue Cultivators wandering the lands. Do you all understand?"
"Understood," Xu Mingxian and the others replied in unison.
Xu Chuan then looked at Moyue. "Do you still remember the route?"
Moyue scratched his head with his dragon claw and laughed awkwardly. "It's been thousands of years, how could I remember clearly? Anyway, flying south is definitely the right way."
Xu Chuan's mouth twitched slightly, thinking that this guide seemed rather unreliable.
"Forget it, let's just go with that for now," he sighed.
"What do you mean by that? Why do I feel like you are looking down on me?"
"You misheard. Just take us south, and casually scan the surroundings from time to time. We might run into human immortal cultivators out on experiential journeys."
"Oh."
Moyue acknowledged and carried them as he flew toward the south.
Ye Fan sent a telepathic message to Xu Deyue, "Why does Lord Moyue seem a bit... slow-witted?"
"We do not need to worry about the affairs of our elders."
"Alright."
---
One month later.
After a long flight, during which they suffered seven or eight attacks from flying Golden Core Demonic Beasts, Xu Chuan and the group finally arrived at the edge of the human territory, relying entirely on Moyue's formidable strength.
"Xu Chuan, there are human immortal cultivators in that forest over there. One at Late Foundation Establishment, two at Early Foundation Establishment, and three at Late-Stage Qi Condensation," Moyue reported.
Xu Chuan pondered for a moment before replying, "Since we have reached the borders of human territory, you should return to the Spirit Beast Pouch for now. Once we find a place to settle down, I will let you out. Otherwise, the appearance of a Tier 3 Demonic Beast in human lands will likely attract a siege from Golden Core Stage Cultivators."
"I'm quite exhausted after flying for so long anyway. Be careful out there, I am going to have a good sleep."
After saying that, his massive body abruptly shrank, turning into a streak of light that vanished into the Spirit Beast Pouch.
"Let's go. We will head over and gather some information first."
Xu Chuan chose to suppress his cultivation realm to Late Foundation Establishment. Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling masked theirs to the second and third layers of Foundation Establishment, while Xu Deyue maintained the first layer.
Ye Fan disguised himself as a cultivator at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation.
Meanwhile.
In the forest, the group of people Moyue had discovered was in the middle of besieging an early Tier 2 Demonic Beast.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators first inflicted heavy injuries on the creature, then stepped back to let the Late-Stage Qi Condensation disciples battle it.
Just as the fight neared its conclusion.
The Demonic Beast shockingly attempted to detonate its Demonic Core.
"Not good, dodge quickly!" the Late Foundation Establishment elder's expression drastically changed as he shouted sternly.
The three young Late-Stage Qi Condensation cultivators revealed looks of sheer terror. They quickly turned around to flee, but it was visibly too late.
At such a close range, the self-detonation of an early Tier 2 Demonic Beast would severely injure even that Late Foundation Establishment elder.
However, right at that critical moment.
The Demonic Beast seemed to suffer from some inexplicable disruption and let out a miserable wail.
Immediately after, a streak of azure light shot over from a distance, piercing straight through its skull in the blink of an eye.
The Demonic Beast crashed heavily to the ground.
The sudden turn of events left everyone completely stunned. A moment later, they all turned in unison toward the source of the attack.
Several hundred meters away, they saw a few figures walking over.
It was none other than Xu Chuan and his group.
"Daoist friends, I hope my hasty intervention just now did not ruin your plans?" Xu Chuan asked with a faint smile, cupping his hands.
The Late Foundation Establishment elder was the first to snap back to reality. He cupped his fists in return and replied, "You are too polite, Daoist friend. If it weren't for your timely assistance, I'm afraid all the disciples of my clan would have died tragically right here."
Then, he continued, "We are members of the Wu Clan from the nearby Corner Constellation City. You all look unfamiliar. May I ask where you hail from?"
"We are Rogue Cultivators, just passing through. My surname is Xu."
"Rogue Cultivators?" The Late Foundation Establishment elder revealed a look of suspicion. "It is quite rare for Rogue Cultivators to travel together in such numbers, isn't it? Furthermore, looking at your facial features, you all seem to share some resemblances."
'So perceptive? Has the title of Rogue Cultivator lost its usefulness in the Southern Heaven Region?'
Xu Chuan forced two awkward laughs and sighed. "Daoist friend, you are truly sharp. I won't hide it from you. These few are my son and granddaughters, and this young man is my disciple. Our family has fallen on hard times, and we have been wandering aimlessly until we arrived here."
"So that is the case." The Wu Clan elder seemed to empathize, letting out a soft sigh as well. "The life of a Rogue Cultivator is difficult, but minor aristocratic families face the exact same hardships. Rising hastily in mere decades, only to fade away just as swiftly like shooting stars across this land."
"Daoist friend Wu, you understand me perfectly."
"You flatter me, Daoist friend Xu. I was merely sharing a brief sentiment."
The two of them suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie, as if they regret not meeting sooner.
'When you travel abroad, you forge your own identity!'
With just a few words, Xu Chuan had seamlessly fabricated the identity of a fleeing elder and his descendants from a ruined family for their entire group.
Ye Fan secretly admired his Honored Master's incredible social skills.
"I can see that all the disciples of your noble clan are exceptional talents. Entering the Foundation Establishment Stage in the future shouldn't be difficult for them," Xu Chuan praised.
"You offer too much praise, Daoist friend Xu," the Wu Clan elder said with a smiling wave of his hand.
"Daoist friend Wu, we are looking for a place to settle down. How is this Corner Constellation City you mentioned? Could you introduce it to me?"
"Our training session has concluded, and we were just about to head back to Corner Constellation City. Daoist friend Xu, you and your group can come along with us, and we can talk on the way."
"That sounds perfect."
"This location is situated in the northwest corner of the entire Southern Heaven Region. It cannot be considered a bustling central hub. There are seven cities in the vicinity, known as the seven Heavenly Azure cities.
"Our Corner Constellation City holds the greatest strength among the seven. There are four major Golden Core Aristocratic Families residing there.
"As for the other cities, each has at least one or two Golden Core Aristocratic Families as well.
"As for my Wu Clan, we rank within the top fifty in Corner Constellation City, with two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators overseeing the family."
Pausing for a moment, the Wu Clan elder smiled and continued, "Since you all have arrived here, if you truly lack a place to stay, you could join our Wu Clan.
"With your Late Foundation Establishment strength, Daoist friend Xu, you could at least become a Guest Elder of our Wu Clan.
"As for the rest of you, becoming guards, or even guard captains, would be no problem at all. The monthly Spirit Stone stipend is not low, and occasionally, Pill resources are distributed as well.
"If you make contributions to our Wu Clan, you can use those contribution points to exchange for advanced Cultivation Methods, Secret Arts, Dharma Tools, and the like."
'He is an old fox as well! I wondered why he was being so incredibly polite; it turns out he was scheming for this all along!'
Xu Chuan listened while silently analyzing the situation. 'This top fifty rank is probably barely scraping the bottom of the list. Yet, even a Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Family ranked fiftieth has two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
'Their underlying strength far exceeds any of the three great first-rank families of Great Wei—Jiang, Lei, and Lin.
'It seems making a living in this Southern Heaven Region is indeed not going to be a walk in the park!'
However, the idea of him joining another family to slave away for them was absolutely impossible!
Of course, Xu Chuan was still relying on them to lead the way and help him familiarize himself with Corner Constellation City and its surroundings. Therefore, he did not immediately refuse, instead pretending to look mildly interested.
"Daoist friend Wu, you truly thirst for talent. If every descendant of the Wu Clan is as single-mindedly devoted to the family's interests as you are, how could your clan not prosper? Being in the top fifty is likely just the starting point for your Wu Clan," Xu Chuan praised smoothly.
"You are joking, Daoist friend Xu," the Wu Clan elder waved his hand modestly. "The higher the family ranking, the deeper the foundation. My Wu Clan has only been rising in Corner Constellation City for a little over two hundred years. How could we possibly rival the other ancient families?
"Regarding the proposal I mentioned earlier, what are your thoughts, Daoist friend Xu?"
Xu Chuan replied, "I plan to find an inn in Corner Constellation City to settle down first. I want to spend some time getting to know the city and its surrounding areas before making any solid plans.
"If I do decide to join a family, I will definitely consider the Wu Clan as my top priority."
"Haha, I was too hasty. It is indeed prudent to familiarize yourself first. After all, this is a major life decision that will determine your future path."
More than an hour later.
Their group finally exited the forest.
The Wu Clan elder raised his hand and pointed. "About 150 kilometers to the east lies Corner Constellation City. 200 kilometers to the southeast is Heart Constellation City, and over 175 kilometers to the southwest is Wei Constellation City."
Xu Chuan's heart stirred. "Could it be that these Seven Heavenly Azure Towns were named after the Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon?"
"That is correct." The Wu Clan elder explained, "Rumor has it that in ancient times, these Seven Heavenly Azure Towns were known as the Seven Towns of the Azure Dragon, and they belonged to the Azure Dragon Sect.
"This Azure Dragon Sect possessed an incredibly formidable background; it was a branch sect of the Four Symbols Constellation Holy Land.
"Brother Xu, you must have heard of the Four Symbols Constellation Holy Land. They were one of the ancient hegemons of our Southern Heaven Region, guarded by almighty figures at the Great Vehicle stage.
"Even this branch sect had Body Integration cultivators within its ranks.
"What a pity that a massive cataclysm occurred ten thousand years ago. Things are no longer the same, and countless sects vanished into the long river of history.
"Today, the hegemonic powers only have cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage overseeing them.
"A Nascent Soul sect can also be considered a top-tier faction now!
"As for the Azure Dragon Sect, it was eventually seized by other powers and renamed the Heavenly Azure Sect, turning the seven Azure Dragon cities into the seven Heavenly Azure cities.
"However, the actual names of the cities remained unchanged."
Xu Chuan also let out a sigh of lamentation. "Who wouldn't yearn for the golden age of ancient cultivation? I heard that back then, even those with Pseudo Spiritual Roots had hope of becoming Golden Core or even Nascent Soul cultivators.
"Nowadays, managing to break through to Foundation Establishment requires obtaining incredible Opportunities."
"You can say that again!"
The Foundation Establishment cultivators utilized Flying in the Air techniques, while those at the Qi Condensation Stage soared on flying swords.
Xu Chuan, his group, and the members of the Wu Clan headed straight toward the east.
Along the way.
The three Qi Condensation Stage Cultivators from the Wu Clan seemed interested in Xu Mingxian and the others, smiling as they casually inquired about their names.
However, the underlying arrogance in their eyes was unmistakable.
After all, these were just refugees from a destroyed family forced to wander aimlessly. Deep in their bones, the Wu Clan members carried a sense of disdain for them.
Xu Mingxian, Xu Deyue, and Xu Deling all maintained cold expressions. They simply stated their names and completely ignored any further attempts at conversation.
Ye Fan, on the other hand, who was outwardly disguised at the Qi Condensation Stage, chatted with them for a long time, stealthily fishing for information.
"Brother Ye, you look incredibly young. May I boldly ask your age?"
"This unworthy one just turned twenty-four. I merely look a bit youthful. Brother Zhiping, you didn't think I was only fifteen or sixteen, did you?"
Wu Zhiping burst into laughter. "How could I possibly think that? Reaching the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation at fifteen is impossible even for a genius from a Golden Core Aristocratic Family."
"By the way, Brother Zhiping, why do you refer to a Golden Core family as an 'Aristocratic Family'? Weren't they simply called families before?"
"Brother Ye, you don't even know this?"
"My Honored Master took me in as his disciple on his journey here, after he had already left the Xu Family."
"Ah, I see." The only female cultivator among the three, Wu Zhiqing, nodded. "The title of 'Aristocratic Family' is exclusively bestowed upon those that have existed for more than five hundred years.
"Of course, if a family manages to produce a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, they naturally gain the qualifications to be recognized as an Aristocratic Family as well.
"The competition between Foundation Establishment families is incredibly fierce. Some are replaced after barely a century, while others are jointly carved up by rival Foundation Establishment families after two or three hundred years.
"In Corner Constellation City, only the top five Foundation Establishment families can truly be considered Aristocratic Families.
"Rumor has it that they all maintain profound connections with the Golden Core Aristocratic Families."
"Just how deep is the foundation of these top five Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Families? Could they possibly have dozens of Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators?"
Wu Zhiping chuckled lightly. "Brother Ye is quite the joker. Even a Golden Core Aristocratic Family might not possess dozens of Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
"As far as I know, the top five families consistently maintain a roster of a dozen or so Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators all year round."
"But your Wu Clan ranks in the top fifty and already has two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Looking at it that way..."
"A family's ranking is evaluated based on its overall foundation. It does not solely consider the number of top-tier experts; it also factors in the total count of other Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation Stage Cultivators, the family's businesses, immense wealth, and so on."
"I have learned much."
Hearing this, Ye Fan respectfully cupped his hands toward Wu Zhiping.
"Daoist friend Wu, please forgive this embarrassment. Over the years, I have been entirely consumed by my cultivation and the search for a place to settle down, so I haven't had the time to properly instruct him," Xu Chuan interjected.
In truth, Xu Chuan had secretly transmitted telepathic messages to Ye Fan, instructing him to fish for this exact information.
If Xu Chuan had asked these questions himself, it would have undoubtedly aroused suspicion.
But when an 'ignorant' disciple casually asked a seemingly foolish question, it would simply be brushed off with a laugh.
"Although young friend Ye is inexperienced, his aptitude is not bad. Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future shouldn't be much of a problem for him."
"Actually, that is another matter I wished to ask you about, Daoist friend Wu. Are there any specific venues in Corner Constellation City that sell Foundation Establishment Pills?"
"There are, but they are almost entirely sold through auctions." The Wu Clan elder frowned slightly. "After all, the Foundation Establishment Pill is a strategic-level medicinal Pill.
"With so many cultivators in Corner Constellation City, there is no shortage of individuals with Pseudo Spiritual Root or Miscellaneous Spiritual Root aptitudes who nonetheless hold high status."
"That is roughly what I expected. Never mind, we'll just have to leave it to my disciple's fate."
"Do not be so pessimistic, Daoist friend Xu. As long as you join our Wu Clan, with his talent, our family would definitely provide full support to aid his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
Xu Chuan did not reply directly, merely brushing it off with a faint smile.
Less than an hour later.
They finally arrived in the skies just outside Corner Constellation City.
The moment they laid eyes upon it, they felt a massive shock shake their minds.
The colossal city stretched endlessly across the heavens and the earth, vastly more majestic and imposing than the Great Wei Imperial City.
It looked as though it had been born from the primal wilderness of antiquity. The pitch-black city walls, forged from an unknown material, gleamed with the chilling luster of profound iron mixed with meteorites.
Its towering battlements rolled on like a slumbering horned dragon coiled in the wild. A single glance could not perceive its beginning or its end. It felt as if the grand citadel had seamlessly merged with the world itself, radiating an oppressive aura that seemingly forced the clouds down by several feet.
The Spiritual Qi enveloping the city was as thick as translucent purple silk. Merely scanning the perimeter with his Spiritual Sense Probing, Xu Chuan detected dozens of Spiritual Energy Nodes within a radius of over five kilometers.
Back in Yuehu Commandery, any single one of those nodes would have been sufficient to establish a Qi Condensation Family around it.
Yet here, they were left entirely unattended.
Gazing deeper into the city, there were areas where the Spiritual Qi was so incredibly dense it was almost visible to the naked eye, though it appeared firmly sealed away by Formations.
The Wu Clan elder cupped his fists and spoke, "Daoist friend Xu, we have matters to attend to, so we will head straight back to the family estate. Since this is your first time here, you will need to head to the city gates to acquire temporary residence Tokens.
"After all, any lodgings within the city will require you to present those Tokens."
"Thank you for the information." Xu Chuan cupped his fists in return.
With that, the Wu Clan elder led Wu Zhiping and the others and flew directly into the city.
"Second Grandpa, do you think those people will actually join our Wu Clan?" Wu Zhiping asked curiously.
"What do you think?"
"It is hard to say. Now that they know making a living in Corner Constellation City won't be easy, they could simply abandon the city and seek a livelihood in the surrounding small towns. On the other hand, they might just stubbornly cling to the olive branch we extended to them."
The Wu Clan elder turned his head and gave a faint smile. "Right now, our Wu Clan is in a period of vigorous expansion. We must recruit talented individuals, and naturally, the more Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators we absorb, the better.
"But if they refuse, it isn't impossible for us to quietly make a group of complete newcomers disappear without a trace in Corner Constellation City.
"Since they are refugees fleeing a disaster, they likely managed to bring out a considerable portion of their family's resources and wealth.
"We can definitely use that to bolster our Wu Clan."
Wu Zhiqian spoke up, "Then, Second Grandpa, why didn't we just eliminate them back in the forest?"
"Sister Qian, their strength is roughly on par with ours, and that Xu Chuan's skills seem quite extraordinary. Without absolute certainty, it is unwise to hastily initiate a life-and-death struggle."
Wu Zhiping chuckled. "Therefore, Second Grandpa primarily focused on recruiting them, answering whatever they asked, and projecting a completely friendly demeanor."
"Excellent analysis. Zhiping, you are becoming increasingly outstanding. In the future, you can represent our lineage and vie for the position of Family Head."
"I will still require Second Grandpa's continuous nurturing and guidance." The corners of Wu Zhiping's lips curled upward. Looking incredibly handsome, his brow radiated an undeniable air of absolute confidence.
"Naturally. As long as you possess sufficient strength when the next contest for the Family Head position begins, your Second Grandpa will personally rally support for you among the Elders."
"Also, let this training excursion serve as a stark reminder for all of you. You must be utterly ruthless toward your enemies. If you hadn't been treating that Demonic Beast like a plaything, it would never have found the opening to self-detonate."
"Understood, Second Grandpa."
Wu Zhiping and the other two lowered their heads respectfully.
Xu Chuan's group of five arrived at the city gates to line up.
Fortunately, the queue was relatively short, consisting of only twenty or thirty people. Soon enough, it was their turn.
Stationed at the city gates were six guards at the Early Foundation Establishment stage, entirely clad in black armor. Overseeing them was a middle-aged man donning the uniform of a Steward, possessing a cultivation at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage.
The middle-aged man cast a brief glance at Xu Chuan and asked indifferently, "Just yourself, or a group?"
"The five of us are together."
Although the middle-aged man was merely at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, his eyes held absolutely no reverence when looking at Xu Chuan. In fact, he carried a profound sense of pride.
This was because he belonged to the City Lord's Mansion.
Even the Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the various Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Families had to give a Steward of the City Lord's Mansion a certain degree of face.
The middle-aged Steward scanned the four people behind Xu Chuan, then continued, "There are three types of temporary residence Tokens: monthly, quarterly, and annual."
'Monthly pass, quarterly pass, and annual pass?'
Xu Chuan silently grumbled in his heart, 'Is this some kind of premium video subscription?!'
"A monthly Token grants temporary residence for exactly one month, and the quarterly and annual Tokens follow the same logic."
"However, the discount rates differ. The monthly Token costs one Spirit Stone per person, the quarterly Token costs two Spirit Stones per person, and the annual Token costs seven Spirit Stones per person.
"Which one do you want?"
"Five annual Tokens." As Xu Chuan spoke, he retrieved thirty-five Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch, allowing them to float suspended in mid-air.
The middle-aged Steward glanced at the stones, casually swept them into his own Storage Pouch, then took out five azure Tokens and handed them to Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan had noticed that the people who entered earlier possessed gray or white Tokens.
This color coding seemed remarkably similar to the glowing lights produced during a Spirit Root aptitude test.
"By the way, these Tokens are single-use items. Once you refine them, regardless of whether your Divine consciousness is forcibly erased by someone else or you dispel it yourself, they will instantly lose their functionality.
"You will be entirely unable to enter Corner Constellation City.
"If you need a replacement, requesting one while your Token is still within its validity period will incur a processing fee of one Spirit Stone."
"Understood," Xu Chuan said, cupping his fists. He then distributed the Tokens to Xu Mingxian and the other three.
Imprinting their Divine Sense onto the Tokens established a connection in an instant. They required virtually no time to refine, unlike typical Dharma Tools.
They walked through the city gates, passing directly through the semi-transparent light curtain of the grand array.
Xu Mingxian's pupils shrank slightly as he sent a telepathic message. "Father, this is a Mid Grade Tier 3 grand array."
"Mid Grade?"
"The larger the scope of a Formation, the more Spiritual Qi it consumes. To sustain a High Grade Tier 3 grand array of this magnitude, it would require the uninterrupted support of a complete Tier 3 Spirit Vein.
"I estimate that if this grand array's defenses were fully activated, it would be strong enough to withstand the ferocious assault of a Golden Core Perfection cultivator."
"Let's not worry about that right now. The areas within the city possessing the most concentrated Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Veins are undoubtedly controlled by the Golden Core Aristocratic Families. They have nothing to do with us.
"Even the locations suitable for standard cultivation are definitely monopolized by the Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Families.
"Our primary objective is to rent a Grotto-Residence and settle down. After that, we need to gather intelligence on the prices of various resources in the Southern Heaven Region, the power dynamics of Corner Constellation City, and the situation in the surrounding cities and small towns.
"We also need to look into some of the more prominent factions within the Southern Heaven Region."
"Yes, Father."
In the blink of an eye, seven or eight days passed.
Xu Chuan and the rest headed out every single day to secretly gather intelligence.
They gradually formed a general understanding of the Southern Heaven Region.
In short, it was boundlessly vast.
The entire Southern Heaven Region boasted an immense territory spanning millions of kilometers, thickly dotted with countless factions of varying sizes.
There were families, aristocratic lineages, mighty sects, and even entire kingdoms completely dependent on specific sects.
There were also an abundance of Opportunities.
There were large and small Secret Realms—including Connate Secret Realms as well as realms forged by ancient almighty experts—along with numerous Grotto-Residence Inheritances.
Consequently, it wasn't uncommon for obscure individuals to experience a sudden, meteoric rise to prominence.
The Secret Realms created by almighty figures virtually all contained Inheritances, while the Connate Secret Realms were equally coveted by countless factions.
This was because every time a Connate Secret Realm manifested, it guaranteed the birth of certain Connate Spirit Objects that could actively aid a cultivator in Core Formation.
Naturally, this led to incomparably fierce and brutal competition.
However, that wasn't to say Connate Spirit Objects only appeared in Connate Secret Realms. Given the vast land and abundant resources of the Southern Heaven Region, they were occasionally discovered in the outside world as well.
Connate Secret Realms were incredibly peculiar. Some could strictly only accommodate Qi Condensation Stage Cultivators, while others permitted the entry of Golden Core cultivators.
Conversely, the Secret Realms established by ancient experts were far more stable. A significant number of them easily allowed Nascent Soul cultivators to enter.
Perhaps due to the sheer immensity of the region making travel highly inconvenient, the intelligence obtainable in Corner Constellation City regarding the major factions of the wider Southern Heaven Region was largely sparse and lacking in detail.
They only managed to find out that there were five absolute top-tier sects: the Profound Moon Sect, the Clear Void Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect, the Thunder Sound Temple, and the Feather Transformation Sect.
The Profound Moon Sect was the youngest. The Clear Void Sect was renowned for its spellcraft. The disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect were mostly Sword Cultivators. The Thunder Sound Temple carried a Buddhist inheritance. The Feather Transformation Sect had the fewest members, but every single one of them was an unparalleled genius.
Standing above those five top-tier forces was the rumored absolute hegemon of the Southern Heaven Region.
However, recorded information regarding this entity was exceedingly scarce. It was only known that this hegemonic power was a single aristocratic family, but precisely where they resided within the Southern Heaven Region remained a mystery known to very few.
Right here in the Northwest Region, there resided one of those top-tier forces: the Profound Moon Sect.
The seven Heavenly Azure cities were entirely independent. The most formidable power in their immediate vicinity was the Heavenly Azure Sect, located within the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range five hundred kilometers away, heavily guarded by a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.
The Heavenly Azure Mountain Range contained a considerable number of Spirit Vein territories. Aside from the Heavenly Azure Sect, there were three other sectarian powers entirely subordinate to them.
Beyond the major cities, there were also numerous small towns scattered across the surrounding areas.
Xu Chuan had deliberately traveled outside the city to inspect them. Though they were called small towns, their scale was not the slightest bit smaller than Moon Lake Commandery City.
Heavenly Crow Peak.
Located in the northwestern district of Corner Constellation City.
This peak contained a Tier 1 Spirit Vein. The mountain face had been hollowed out to create individual Grotto-Residences, specifically intended to be rented out to visiting cultivators in Corner Constellation City.
The Grotto-Residences were divided into Grade A, B, C, and D based on quality.
The Grade A Grotto-Residences were allocated the most abundant flow of Spiritual Qi, but they naturally commanded the highest rental prices.
They were strictly rented out for a minimum of one year, costing fifty Spirit Stones upfront.
Xu Chuan and his group were currently staying in Grade A Number 12 Grotto-Residence.
Considering they were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, they naturally opted for a Grotto-Residence brimming with ample Spiritual Qi.
Within this Grotto-Residence, there were only three dedicated quiet rooms for cultivation. Consequently, Xu Chuan and the others hollowed out two additional spaces. Naturally, the cultivation effects within these makeshift rooms couldn't compare to the original three.
Having already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, Xu Chuan no longer harbored such a desperate thirst for Spiritual Qi.
Ye Fan had also just barely stepped into the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Therefore, they yielded the three superior quiet rooms to Xu Mingxian, Xu Deling, and Xu Deyue.
Among the three of them, one was at the Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment and the other two were at the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment. It was precisely the crucial phase where they desperately required massive amounts of Spiritual Qi to supplement their cultivation.
"Ye Fan, since you currently do not have a Cultivation Method for the Foundation Establishment Stage, I shall impart the 'Shaohao True Yang Art' to you. Although I cannot say how it compares to the Cao Imperial Clan's techniques, it is highly compatible with your physique," Xu Chuan instructed.
Ye Fan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Honored Master."
"Also, take these three bottles of High Grade True Essence Pills for now. You don't need to be overly frugal with them. When you run out, simply come to me and ask for more. This applies to your senior brother and martial nieces as well."
"This disciple understands."
Right at that moment, an unusual commotion arose from Xu Chuan's Spirit Beast Pouch. A streak of dazzling light darted out—it was Moyue, his massive body shrunk down to roughly three feet in length.
"That sleep was incredibly refreshing."
Moyue sized up his surroundings. "Have you finally found a place to settle down?"
"This is just a temporarily rented Grotto-Residence. We will only formally choose a place to settle down after we have developed a thorough understanding of the Southern Heaven Region and the surrounding areas.
"Remember, there are four major Golden Core Aristocratic Families right here in Corner Constellation City. Absolutely do not run around haphazardly."
"Do you really think I'm an idiot?" Moyue rolled his eyes. Suddenly, his gaze shifted, and he looked at Ye Fan in bewilderment. "There's something wrong with your disciple?"
"What is wrong?"
"He has been marked with an incredibly stealthy tracking seal. A Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it exceedingly difficult to detect unless they conducted a meticulous, targeted search."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan's expression changed slightly. He instantly released his Divine Sense and thoroughly inspected Ye Fan's body. Sure enough, precisely on his left shoulder blade, he discovered a faint azure seal.
"Honored Master, is there really a seal? Why didn't I detect it at all?" Ye Fan asked, alarmed.
Xu Chuan pondered for a brief moment before stating calmly, "If my guess is correct, this is definitely the work of the Wu Clan."
"For a family to develop into the top fifty of Corner Constellation City in a mere two hundred years, the number of other families they have violently annexed is likely not small."
"The Wu Clan?" Ye Fan blanked for a second. "Weren't they doing everything in their power to convince us to join them? Why would they do this?"
Xu Chuan looked at him and smiled faintly. "You cannot just look at the surface of things. Their invitation was undoubtedly genuine. After all, our group boasts four Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.
"Even for a Golden Core Aristocratic Family, adding a single Foundation Establishment cultivator is a significant boost to their overall foundation.
"Let alone a Foundation Establishment family.
"But what if we refused? Don't forget the identity label we painted for ourselves—we are desperately fleeing survivors from a ruined family. Regardless of whether we supposedly originated from a Foundation Establishment or a Golden Core Aristocratic Family.
"They are absolutely convinced that we fled with a massive stockpile of resources, solely intended for the future reconstruction of our clan."
"I see. The human heart in this world is truly sinister," Ye Fan sighed helplessly.
"In the future, watch more and learn more."
"Yes, Honored Master."
"Just how strong is this Wu Clan? Do you need me to personally teach them a lesson?" Moyue offered.
"There is no rush. Let us stay here peacefully for a while first." Xu Chuan's eyes flickered with a chilling light. "If they truly harbor malicious intentions and actively seek their own deaths, I wouldn't mind completely erasing them from Corner Constellation City."
Immediately after, a warm smile returned to his face. "Ye Fan, return to your room and focus on your cultivation for now."
Ye Fan cupped his hands and excused himself.
At the Wu Clan.
"Seventh Elder, the group of people you ordered us to monitor basically spends one or two hours idly wandering around the city every day, then they head straight back to their Grotto-Residence at Heavenly Crow Peak."
A middle-aged guard dressed in a yellow robe reported respectfully with cupped hands.
The Seventh Elder he addressed was none other than the Wu Clan elder Xu Chuan had encountered in the forest that day. His true name was Wu Yuanqi.
"Exactly what places did they visit?"
"Spirit Grass shops, Artificing workshops, Pill pavilions, rare treasure towers, Talisman Crafting stores, and the like. They visited all of them but never purchased a single item. It seems they were merely browsing.
"As for what they were specifically doing inside, we didn't dare to get too close, so we remain unaware."
Wu Yuanqi stroked his beard and muttered softly to himself, "Could they be genuinely planning to settle down in Corner Constellation City?"
"This elder understands. You may step down. Keep tailing them for another half month, then call off the surveillance."
"Yes, Seventh Elder."
The yellow-robed middle-aged guard bowed and quickly departed.
In the blink of an eye, over half a year flew by.
After Xu Chuan and the rest had thoroughly investigated and grasped the local prices of all sorts of goods, they rarely ventured outside. They spent nearly all their time in secluded cultivation within their Grotto-Residence.
The one who progressed the fastest was, naturally, Ye Fan.
With his Heavenly Spirit Root Aptitude, a perfectly compatible Cultivation Method, the dense Spiritual Qi of a Tier 1 Spirit Vein, and his continuous consumption of High Grade True Essence Pills, his realm had already surged to the late phase of the First-Layer Foundation Establishment.
In merely two or three more months, he would effortlessly step into the Second-Layer Foundation Establishment.
Reaching the Mid Foundation Establishment stage within three years would present absolutely no pressure for him.
'This absolute freak of a genius!'
Even Xu Chuan felt a twinge of secret envy.
After heavily evaluating the power dynamics of Corner Constellation City and gaining a profound understanding of the surrounding regions, Xu Chuan finally selected the permanent location where the Southern Heaven Xu Family would put down its roots.
It was Cloudstream Town, located over 350 kilometers to the southeast of Corner Constellation City.
Tens of kilometers to its east lay the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range, a vast expanse teeming with rich resources and numerous Demonic Beasts.
Many cultivators who came to train in the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range would typically spend a half-day or full day resting in Cloudstream Town to stock up on Pills, Talismans, and other necessities.
Fifteen kilometers to the north was Cloud Lake, a body of water abundantly stocked with Spirit Fish.
The surrounding areas were completely blanketed by sprawling Spirit Fields.
Forty kilometers to the south was Fire Cloud Valley, where earth fire burned ceaselessly, making it an absolutely superb location for Artificing.
Through his inquiries, Xu Chuan discovered that this territory was currently occupied by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator known as Old Monster Fire Cloud.
Even the name 'Fire Cloud Valley' was coined because of his presence.
Aside from being a Golden Core cultivator, this Old Monster Fire Cloud was also a Grandmaster Smith fully capable of refining Magic Treasures.
Magic Treasures at the Golden Core stage were broadly divided into two categories. The first category consisted of Natal Magic Treasures refined by the cultivators themselves. Since they shared an intrinsic mental connection, if the Magic Treasure was ever destroyed, the cultivator's own mind and soul would suffer severe trauma.
These types of Magic Treasures were generally highly compatible with the user's primary Cultivation Method.
The second category comprised ordinary Magic Treasures refined by Artificers. These varied wildly in form and function, strictly dictated by the individual Artificer's personal preferences. The vast majority of them were meticulously crafted or ingeniously designed.
It typically took a dedicated Artificer only a few months to a few years to refine a single Magic Treasure.
However, for other Golden Core Stage Cultivators who were entirely unversed in or poorly skilled at Artificing, it would usually take several years, over a decade, or potentially even several decades to accomplish the same task.
A Natal Magic Treasure could be safely stored within the Dantian. The longer it was continuously nurtured by the cultivator's energy, the greater its power grew. Ordinary Magic Treasures lacked this capability.
Of course, if an ordinary Magic Treasure was rigorously refined using the specific refinement method for Natal Magic Treasures, it could technically become one as well.
However, this forced process inflicted no small amount of bodily toll on the cultivator.
Given Xu Deling's immense attainments in the Dao of Artifacts, if she obtained the necessary Inheritance and possessed the right conditions, she genuinely had the hope of forging a true Magic Treasure while still in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Cloudstream Town was the closest settlement to Fire Cloud Valley.
Xu Chuan's decision to choose this place was heavily influenced by its uniquely advantageous geographical location, but it was also a conscious consideration specifically made for Xu Deling.