Cloudstream Town.
This was the ideal location for the Xu Family's development in Xu Chuan's heart.
However, because it was the closest settlement to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range, rumors claimed that the town's three great families—the Yuan, Hua, and Fang clans—had ties with the sects within the mountains.
That was supposedly why they had stood strong here for two hundred years without falling.
It would not be a problem for Xu Chuan and his group to settle in Cloudstream Town, but completely occupying it would surely involve a few twists and turns.
Xu Chuan never expected to achieve everything in a single step.
After all, they only had a handful of people.
Before he reached the Golden Core Stage, Xu Chuan had no intention of openly revealing his trump card, Moyue.
But if he successfully achieved Core Formation one day, even if the Xu Family only had a dozen or so members, they could rightfully become the masters of Cloudstream Town.
Divine Ability Core Formation could only rely on oneself.
As for Connate Spirit Objects, they had only appeared in public auctions a mere dozen times in the entire history of Corner Constellation City.
Every single time, they attracted all the Golden Core Aristocratic Families from the Seven Cities of Heavenly Azure, and even several Golden Core sects from the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range.
Auxiliary pills like the Core Formation Pill were equally rare.
The most recent appearance of one was over twenty years ago at an auction in Heart Constellation City, another of the Seven Cities of Heavenly Azure.
Before heading to Cloudstream Town.
Xu Chuan brought Xu Mingxian and the others to pay a visit to the Wu Clan.
"Seventh Elder, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Xu Chuan has brought people to visit outside."
Over the past half-year, Xu Chuan had bumped into Wu Yuanqi once or twice, learning that he was the Seventh Elder of the Wu Clan.
At the late phase of the seventh-layer Foundation Establishment, he ranked seventh among the elders. This meant the Wu Clan had at least a dozen late Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators, not to mention any hidden experts unknown to the public.
Whether it was resources or the density of spiritual qi, the Southern Heaven Region was far beyond what Great Wei could compare to.
Therefore, Xu Chuan felt this level of strength was only natural.
"Go invite them into my courtyard."
"Yes, Seventh Elder."
A short while later.
Xu Chuan and his group arrived. Upon seeing Wu Yuanqi, Xu Chuan cupped his fists and greeted, "Daoist Friend Wu, I hope you have been well lately."
"Very well, naturally," Wu Yuanqi asked with a smile. "Please have a seat, everyone. Serve tea."
"There is no need for tea. I came today to bid my farewell," Xu Chuan replied.
Wu Yuanqi's pupils shrank slightly.
Xu Chuan continued, "I was very tempted by Daoist Friend Wu's invitation. However, due to personal reasons and after discussing it amongst ourselves, we have decided not to join.
We came this time to apologize. I hope Daoist Friend Wu will not take offense."
Wu Yuanqi let out a soft sigh and nodded. "I understand. If I were in Brother Xu's position, I would likely also want to rebuild my family and ensure our inheritance does not end.
Has Brother Xu decided where to settle down?"
"Cloudstream Town. We will depart in three days," Xu Chuan said with a faint smile.
"It is a good place, indeed suitable for a family's development. Brother Xu, we hit it off quite well. If you ever face any difficulties in the future, you can come to Corner Constellation City to seek my help."
Xu Chuan cupped his fists and chuckled. "Many thanks, Brother Wu."
"We won't impose on you any longer. Farewell."
"I will walk you out, Brother Xu."
Watching Xu Chuan and the others leave, Wu Yuanqi turned around, his expression darkening as he thought to himself, 'Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Then don't blame my Wu Clan for being ruthless.'
He casually formed a hand seal, and a speck of azure light lit up at his fingertips.
"The tracking mark is still there. To cultivate all the way to late Foundation Establishment and still be so naive and trusting—no wonder his Xu Family was wiped out."
Wu Yuanqi sneered contemptuously, then reasoned it out in his own head. "It seems he was merely an ascetic cultivator back in the Xu Family."
Afterward, he began to discuss with the various Wu Clan elders about intercepting them on the unavoidable path to Cloudstream Town.
Just to be safe, the Wu Clan decided to dispatch one Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, two at late Foundation Establishment, and five at early Foundation Establishment.
Three days later.
The hour of chen.
The eastern horizon brightened, the sky gradually tinged with the pale color of a fish's belly.
Suddenly.
The golden sun leapt forth, spilling crimson clouds that painted the heavens in vibrant red.
The distant mountains appeared like dark silhouettes as mist drifted and settled.
Xu Chuan led Xu Mingxian and the rest out of Corner Constellation City's grand array, flying toward the southeast.
Halfway through their journey.
They suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out from the plains below.
Xu Chuan looked over, then immediately descended with the others.
"Brother Wu, why are you here? Could it be that you waited here specifically to see me off?" Xu Chuan asked with a smile.
"Naturally," Wu Yuanqi's smile widened. "This journey is far, and there is no return. I naturally had to see Brother Xu off personally, so our brief friendship would not be in vain."
Upon saying that.
A person behind him suddenly formed a hand seal, and an array light barrier covering several miles rose from the ground.
In just a moment, it closed completely.
Xu Chuan's smile remained unchanged. "What is the meaning of this, Brother Wu?"
"Hmm?" Wu Yuanqi frowned slightly. "You don't seem surprised?"
Xu Chuan chuckled lightly. "Why would I be surprised? Did Brother Wu really think I wouldn't discover the tracking spell you placed on my disciple?"
"You did this on purpose?"
Wu Yuanqi's expression shifted, all traces of a smile vanishing from his face, replaced only by sheer malice.
"So what if it was on purpose? Today, you face inescapable death!"
The people beside Wu Yuanqi simultaneously unleashed their auras.
"A mere Tier 2 Low-Grade formation."
Xu Mingxian suddenly sneered. He patted his Storage Pouch, and six Formation Flags instantly shot out, falling into the six directional positions and fading into the surroundings.
Within the earthen-yellow light barrier, an azure light barrier rose up.
"A Tier 2 High-Grade formation!!"
The Wu Clan Grandmaster Formation Master who had set up the initial array turned deathly pale. "You're actually a top-tier Grandmaster Formation Master?!"
With the Six Harmonies Absolute Sealing Formation deployed, it was absolutely impossible for this handful of Wu Clan members to break through it.
Moreover, it sealed off all energy signatures; not a single sound from within the grand array could be heard outside.
"One Foundation Establishment Perfection, two at late Foundation Establishment, and five at early Foundation Establishment. To deal with the us from before, that would have been a safe bet."
"What do you mean by that?" Wu Yuanqi's face grew incredibly grave.
To think that these few Xu Family members had a top-tier Grandmaster Formation Master among them—who knew if they had other powerful trump cards?
"There's no need to hide anymore."
As soon as those words fell.
Majestic spiritual qi suddenly surged around Xu Chuan. His azure robes fluttered without wind, and his previously suppressed aura violently erupted.
The disguise of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator shattered layer by layer, and the pressure of Foundation Establishment Perfection spread out like a tidal wave. Even the surrounding trees bent under the weight, their leaves rustling as they plummeted to the ground.
Xu Mingxian, Xu Deling, and Xu Deyue also revealed late Foundation Establishment cultivation bases.
Xu Deling in particular was already not far from the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.
They were far beyond what Wu Yuanqi and that seventh-layer Foundation Establishment Wu Clan array master could compare to.
Then there was Ye Fan, whose momentum instantly broke through from Qi Refining to the late phase of the first-layer Foundation Establishment.
"When traveling abroad, one naturally has to suppress their cultivation realm. Don't you agree, Brother Wu?"
Wu Yuanqi's face turned ashen.
He had been careless!
He thought they were little rabbits!
He never expected they were old foxes!
The Wu Clan's Foundation Establishment Perfection elder barked, "We have the numbers advantage. The outcome is still unknown! I'll hold off Xu Chuan; the rest of you deal with the others."
"Yes, Second Elder."
The eyes of the remaining Wu Clan members were incomparably solemn, as if a massive battle was imminent.
Yet, Xu Chuan just offered a mild smile. "I never said I was going to fight you. Revealing our cultivation was merely to let you die understanding why.
Since your Wu Clan's greed got the better of you and provoked me, then I have no choice but to make your Wu Clan disappear from Corner Constellation City."
"Insolent!" The Wu Clan's Foundation Establishment Perfection elder roared. "Who do you think you are..."
The next moment.
His eyes widened as an expression of sheer horror and terror overtook his face.
A flash of blue light streaked by.
A flood dragon over sixty meters long abruptly appeared in midair, its azure scales shimmering with shattered light beneath the sun.
A Tier 3 pressure enveloped the surroundings.
The space within the grand array felt as though countless translucent threads were plunging vertically from the sky.
Wu Yuanqi and the others felt their bodies sink heavily, boundless despair welling up from the bottom of their hearts.
"Brother Xu, let's talk this over. My Wu Clan is willing to compensate..."
Roar!
An earth-shattering dragon roar echoed as hundreds upon thousands of ice spikes exuding extreme frigid qi plummeted from the sky.
Lacking Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifacts, the five early Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators were perforated like sieves in just half a breath.
The remaining three, including Wu Yuanqi, barely managed to resist.
But it was obvious that the light barriers formed by their Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifacts were dimming at a visible rate.
A few breaths later.
Bam!
The flood dragon's tail swept down viciously.
The three defensive light barriers exploded instantly, leaving the trio heavily injured on the ground.
Xu Chuan raised his hand to deliver the finishing blow. Three spikes condensed from azure light instantly pierced through their skulls.
"A few specks of trash actually dared to clamor," Moyue spat lightly, his eyes filled with disdain.
Xu Chuan shook his head and laughed, "Alright, go back and wait in the Spirit Beast Pouch. There's more work for you tonight."
Moyue glanced at Xu Chuan and promptly returned to the Spirit Beast Pouch.
Xu Chuan casually dispelled the tracking spell on Ye Fan.
Xu Mingxian, Xu Deyue, and Xu Deling proactively took out Soul-Gathering Bottles and Blood Net Bottles to collect their souls and essence blood.
Ye Fan stared blankly.
How were their techniques so skilled, transitioning so flawlessly?
'Should I go over and help?'
Just as he was at his most hesitant, Xu Chuan tossed a Soul-Gathering Bottle and a Blood Net Bottle magical artifact to him, smiling. "In the future, when you slay Demonic Beasts and immortal cultivators, remember to collect them as well.
These are also artificing materials used to refine Demonic Dao magical artifacts."
"Demonic Dao magical artifacts... Honored Master, are you not afraid of being discovered and ostracized by the world?"
Xu Chuan chuckled lightly. "Our Xu Family walks the straight and narrow, never killing innocents. What is wrong with using the souls and essence blood of our enemies to refine magical artifacts?
If our Xu Family lacked these Demonic Dao magical artifact trump cards, we wouldn't have been able to easily force the Cao Clan to bow their heads and take you away.
Furthermore, have you ever heard of our Xu Family using these Demonic Dao magical artifacts to cause chaos?"
Ye Fan fell silent.
"Since they are trump cards, they are naturally used at crucial moments. When facing life and death, who cares if a trump card belongs to the Demonic Dao or the Righteous Path?
Ye Fan, your master will teach you a lesson today.
A kind heart makes one righteous; a wicked heart makes one demonic.
The distinction between righteousness and demonic lies solely in one's heart, judged only by their actions.
If you wander the world in the future, there is no need to view people through tinted lenses. Even if you befriend someone from the Demonic Dao, your master will not blame you.
However, if you commit atrocities and act recklessly, your master will personally apprehend and punish you.
We of the Xu Family are only close to those who are friendly to us, and we never show mercy to our enemies!"
"Thank you for your teachings, Honored Master. This disciple will engrave them in his heart!" Ye Fan's expression grew solemn as he respectfully cupped his hands.
"Father, what about the Wu Clan?"
Having finished everything, Xu Mingxian spoke up and asked.
"You don't need to worry about it. I will make a trip tonight. Break that Tier 2 Low-Grade formation, and we will head to Cloudstream Town to settle down.
Your father already purchased a residence there half a month ago."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Chuan froze the corpses of the Wu Clan members and stored them away.
The formation set up by the Wu Clan was a Tier 2 Low-Grade trapping array. Xu Mingxian easily broke it and collected the Formation Flags.
Afterward, the group soared into the sky, suppressed their cultivation realms, and swiftly flew toward Cloudstream Town.
The reason they continued to hide their true realms was to avoid drawing the wariness of Cloudstream Town's three great families: Yuan, Hua, and Fang.
These three families had dominated Cloudstream Town for over a century. Although they competed amongst themselves, they had long since formed a certain equilibrium.
If a new threat appeared, it would easily incite the three families to target them collectively.
Upon arriving at Cloudstream Town.
Xu Chuan and the others entered a grand residence.
The vermilion doors were inlaid with bronze beast-head knockers. Upon entering, two golden osmanthus trees, thick enough to require a person's arms to wrap around, stood on either side of the front courtyard. Their branches slanted over the top of the walls, and flecks of pale yellow were dotted among the fine jade-green leaves.
The ground of the front courtyard was entirely paved with bluestone.
Walking inward along the carved corridor on the west side of the front yard led to the central courtyard. The corridor railings were carved with intertwined lotus patterns. Although the vermilion paint was slightly mottled, it only added a sense of timeless charm.
Stepping on the wooden floorboards produced a faint creaking sound that echoed the distant splash of water.
In the center of the middle courtyard was a small pond about three meters square. Round green lotus leaves floated on the surface, and several red koi swam by with flicks of their tails, shattering the reflections of clouds on the water.
A Taihu stone rockery stood by the pond, its caves and ravines exquisitely carved, with a few clusters of orchids growing in the crevices.
Atop the rockery lay a small beast carved from white marble holding a thin water pipe in its mouth. Clear spring water babbled down along the rock crevices, making a crisp, melodious sound as it fell into the pond.
The branches of the weeping willow beside the rockery drooped down to the water's surface. When the wind blew, the green, silk-like ribbons brushed past the lotus leaves, bringing up tiny water droplets.
Bypassing the rockery brought them to the backyard.
Three silver osmanthus trees interspersed with two golden ones provided a dense canopy that shaded nearly half the courtyard. A bluestone table and stools sat beneath the trees, the surfaces of the stools worn smooth.
At the end of the eastern corridor in the backyard stood a waterfront pavilion built adjacent to the water.
The pavilion featured a wooden structure. Wind chimes hung beneath the flying eaves of the black tiled roof. Half-open carved window lattices revealed rosewood tables and chairs inside, with a celadon tea set resting on the table.
The small pond beside the pavilion was broader than the one in the central courtyard, with a few water caltrop leaves drifting on the surface. The willow trees along the bank appeared even more slender and tender, their branches hanging down like curtains. Occasionally, small birds landed on the branches, chirping a few times before flapping their wings and flying away.
"Quite elegant and serene. Father's taste is as impeccable as always."
Xu Mingxian smiled faintly after Xu Chuan led the group on a tour around the estate.
"Flatterer," Xu Chuan scolded playfully. "Go pick a room for yourselves."
"Mingxian, make yourself useful and set up formation restrictions in every room."
"Deling, come with me later to purchase some servants."
Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling nodded one after another.
"Deyue, Ye Fan, you two stay home and help out."
About fifteen minutes later.
Everyone had selected their rooms.
Xu Chuan and Xu Deling departed.
Xu Mingxian thought for a moment and laid down a Tier 2 Mid-Grade defensive formation so as not to attract too much attention. Inside it, he added a Tier 2 High-Grade Four Symbols Heavenly Dipper Array, integrating offense and defense.
"Grandfather, I didn't expect slavery to be prevalent here," Xu Deling sighed.
"It's rare where we're from, but it still exists; they were just all mortals.
The Southern Heaven Region, on the other hand, possesses countless inheritances. There is no shortage of top-tier experts like those at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages. Naturally, they have absolute restrictions to firmly control immortal cultivators.
Therefore, it's not surprising to see immortal cultivator slaves."
Slave merchant guilds were generally established in various cities; they were rarely found in small towns.
As for why one existed in Cloudstream Town, perhaps the individuals backing the merchant guild had their own considerations.
"You two Daoist Friends, are you here to purchase slaves? Do you want mortal slaves or immortal cultivator slaves?" a tall, thin middle-aged Steward of the slave guild asked. "My surname is Chen."
His eyes were narrow and long, resembling those of a fox.
"Daoist Friend Chen, what are the prices for mortal slaves, and how about the immortal cultivator slaves?" Xu Chuan asked.
"For mortal slaves, strong young men are one low-grade Spirit Stone each, while young girls in their prime are two Spirit Stones each.
If they possess a special skill, such as understanding herbs and medicine, knowing how to cultivate spirit plants, or being able to forge tools, they are universally three Spirit Stones each.
For immortal cultivator slaves, the prices vary according to their realm.
A 1st Layer of Qi Condensation male is five Spirit Stones each, and a 1st Layer of Qi Condensation female is ten Spirit Stones each.
For the 2nd Layer of Qi Condensation, men and women are seven and fourteen Spirit Stones respectively. For the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation, it is ten and twenty Spirit Stones."
"There's no need to introduce the rest. I will only be buying those at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation." Xu Chuan raised a hand to stop him from continuing.
"By the way, regarding the slave restrictions, are there any hidden safety risks?"
The middle-aged Steward replied with a smile, "You can rest assured on that point. The slave restrictions planted by our guild are all the Azure Flower Restriction. It was created by True Lord Azure Flower and is the most rigorous.
Those implanted with it cannot commit suicide, and the azure flower mark will even appear on all their future descendants.
All you need to do, Daoist Friend, is drip your blood onto the azure flower brand, and they will become your slaves. For the rest of their lives, they cannot harm your bloodline descendants, nor will they disobey your orders.
If they do disobey, it will subject them to a fate worse than death!
To this day, there hasn't been a single person who has lasted more than half an hour under the backlash of the Azure Flower Restriction without begging for mercy."
Xu Chuan gave a slight nod. "Then what if one day I wish to lift the Azure Flower Restriction from someone?"
"Our guild has naturally considered the existence of such kind-hearted individuals. Therefore, if a customer requires it, we can provide the corresponding method to dissolve the restriction.
However, it requires an additional fee of one hundred Spirit Stones, and it can only release those implanted with the Azure Flower Restriction using your blood as the medium."
Xu Chuan pondered for a moment before asking again, "Then do you have the cultivation method for the Azure Flower Restriction? Is it for sale?"
"Daoist Friend, the incantation for the Azure Flower Restriction is a well-guarded secret of our guild. It is never sold to outsiders."
'It seems this True Lord Azure Flower must be one of the figures backing this slave guild.'
'Makes sense. If the very tool they rely on for their livelihood were casually handed out, wouldn't they just be creating competitors for themselves!'
"I was merely asking out of curiosity," Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "I want forty mortal slaves. Give me twenty strong young men around their twenties, and twenty young women around seventeen or eighteen.
I also want twenty 1st Layer of Qi Condensation immortal cultivator slaves, similarly split evenly between young men and women.
Additionally, I'll take a copy of the dissolution method for the Azure Flower Restriction."
"That will be three hundred and ten Spirit Stones in total," the middle-aged Steward said with a smile.
"Lead me to make my selections first. Once I have chosen, I will pay the Spirit Stones. There's no issue with that, is there?"
"As it should be."
The mortal slaves in the guild were genuinely ordinary mortals with no aptitude for cultivation. There was no chance for Xu Chuan to fish in troubled waters and snatch a hidden gem.
Xu Chuan quickly selected forty mortal slaves.
"By the way, what were their previous identities?" Xu Chuan asked curiously. "Buying them won't bring me any trouble, will it?"
"Although there is a risk, it's less than one in ten thousand. Moreover, to avoid complications, our guild conducts all slave trading far away from their original locations.
Therefore, Daoist Friend, you need not worry. Just treat them as if they are nameless.
As for their identities, from the moment you select them, they are nothing more than slaves belonging solely to you!"
Next came selecting the immortal cultivator slaves.
"Daoist Friend Chen, how are the Spirit Root aptitudes of these immortal cultivator slaves? Does the price differ based on that?"
"No, it all depends on your luck. You might just pick a few with decent potential."
"Are there really any with decent potential? Being only at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation in their late teens or twenties, they must all have Pseudo Spirit Roots, right?"
"Not quite. Some of them were sold to our guild when they were seven or eight years old. We naturally wouldn't spend resources allowing them to cultivate, which is why they might have been stuck at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation this whole time."
"I see." Xu Chuan pondered for a moment before lamenting, "I just can't wrap my head around it. If it was an enemy wiping out a clan, wouldn't complete eradication of the threat be better?
Why go out of their way to sell them to a slave guild? Are they truly not afraid of future retaliation?"
The middle-aged Steward chuckled, "I have already explained the power of the Azure Flower Restriction. Once implanted, their children and grandchildren will all be slaves to others, down through the generations until their bloodline is completely severed.
Isn't that far more satisfying than simply beheading them with a single stroke?
As for them managing to retaliate after becoming slaves... such a thing has never been heard of in the entire Southern Heaven Region."
Xu Chuan nodded. While changing the subject, he secretly had Moyue probe the aptitudes of the immortal cultivator slaves.
He was buying slaves to help develop the Xu Family, so he naturally prioritized those with better potential.
Since the guild staff refused to disclose their Spirit Root aptitudes, his only option was to use Moyue to cheat.
Nearly all of those with Miscellaneous Spirit Roots and True Spirit Roots were picked out by Xu Chuan.
Afterward, Xu Chuan handed over the Spirit Stones, received the dissolution method for the Azure Flower Restriction from the middle-aged Steward, and right in front of him, flicked his finger. A drop of his blood split into dozens of fine threads, sinking into the azure flower marks on the slaves' faces.
A bloody light flashed, and the restriction took effect.
Xu Chuan formed a faint connection with every single one of them. With a single thought, he could control their life and death, and he could even command the azure flower mark to move to other parts of their bodies.
Only then did the middle-aged Steward order someone to remove their shackles and fetters. He smiled at Xu Chuan and said, "Daoist Friend Xu, you may take them away now.
If this batch perishes, you are welcome to come back next time."
'You couldn't wish for something better?!'
Xu Chuan shook his head and burst into laughter. Flinging his sleeve robe, he declared, "Let's go."
Returning to the Xu Residence.
Xu Mingxian was still busy.
"Deyue, Ye Fan, arrange living quarters for them. Separate men and women, and mortals from immortal cultivators. Put several people in one room.
It doesn't matter if it's crowded. The room floors are mostly wood, so having them all sleep on the floor is fine."
"Now, everyone come forward and collect your toiletries, straw mats, and bedding."
The slaves, their eyes dull and lifeless, silently complied.
Xu Deyue led the women, and Ye Fan led the men, arranging their respective accommodations.
Afterward, they were all summoned back to the front courtyard.
Xu Chuan swept his gaze over them. Each and every one of them had empty eyes, as if bereft of all hope in life, acting like walking corpses.
"Do you know why you have fallen to this current state?"
Xu Chuan's voice was shockingly loud, echoing right beside each of their ears, carrying a unique power that struck directly at their souls.
Hearing this, the crowd looked up.
"You answer," Xu Chuan pointed randomly at a mortal man.
"Master... this lowly one... does not know."
"You then," Xu Chuan pointed to another person, a male cultivator.
"Because of our enemies!"
"You speak."
"Because we are weak!"
The corners of Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly. "Exactly. It is because your previous families were weak, and you yourselves are weak. The undeniable truth of this world is that the weak are meat for the strong to eat, and the winner takes all.
To lose means death, or perhaps becoming a slave."
"However, you have encountered our Xu Family. While our Xu Family is no bastion of pure benevolence, we also do not practice slavery."
As he spoke, a flash of light appeared in his hand, revealing a jade slip.
"Look, what is this?"
"This jade slip records the dissolution method for the Azure Flower Restriction binding you. As long as I wish it, I can release you at any time."
Hearing this, a faint glimmer gradually returned to the crowd's eyes.
"However, you were ultimately bought with my Spirit Stones. I also said that our Xu Family is not a bastion of pure benevolence. We wouldn't spend money buying you just to help you break your restrictions.
What I want are people useful to our Xu Family.
As long as you meet my conditions, I can erase the Azure Flower Restriction from your bodies and permit you to become Vassals of our Xu Family."
A female cultivator raised her eyes, a bright light flashing within them as she asked, "What are the conditions?"
"First, abandon your past and start anew. If anyone brings hidden dangers to our Xu Family because of their own past grievances and hatreds—death!
Second, you have ten days to get to know each other and marry. By the third generation, the Azure Flower Restriction can be lifted for your lineage. If anyone's descendants produce five Immortal Seedlings ahead of schedule, the Azure Flower Restriction can also be broken."
Hearing this, the group of slaves all glanced at the people around them.
Marrying in ten days... this was far too sudden.
But this was the order of the restriction master, and it concerned the Azure Flower Restriction binding them; not a single person would disagree.
"There is one more point. I need your loyalty to the Xu Family, not because of the Azure Flower Restriction on you, but through genuine submission.
This can take time, but if anyone harbors thoughts of betrayal, their only path is death."
"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, our Xu Family will bestow Martial Dao methods and immortal cultivation arts. In addition to completing your daily tasks, you may practice cultivation.
The stronger your strength, the greater your use to our Xu Family.
Those who make contributions can also acquire cultivation resources."
"In our Xu Family, no one will view you as slaves."
Xu Chuan formed a hand seal with one hand.
Suddenly.
The azure flower marks on all the slaves' faces began to wriggle like living creatures, completely migrating to their backs.
"Your azure flower mark..."
"Yours too..."
The slaves looked at each other and cried out in astonishment at the sight.
"I controlled the azure flower marks to shift to your backs so that, at the very least, outsiders will not immediately mark you as slaves.
However, to truly break the Azure Flower Restriction, you still need to fulfill my conditions."
Seeing this, the slaves promptly fell to their knees, bowing deeply as they chanted, "We shall strictly obey the master's orders."
"From now on, you may simply call me Family Head, and refer to the others as Elders."
Xu Mingxian was the First Elder, Xu Deling was the Second Elder, Xu Deyue was the Third Elder, and Ye Fan was the Fourth Elder.
"Greetings, First Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder."
The slaves once again bowed in respect.
A single brainwashing speech gave these slaves an initial sense of loyalty toward the Xu Family—one that wasn't built entirely upon the Azure Flower Restriction.
As for the future, whether they would truly submit with all their hearts.
That would depend on whether the Xu Family could genuinely win them over.
In Xu Chuan's eyes, relying on the intimidation of the Azure Flower Restriction to collect a group of walking corpses was naturally inferior to having them sincerely work for the Xu Family.
If he truly just wanted tools, it would have been far more useful to buy some late-stage Qi Condensation immortal cultivator slaves instead.
"Since you are abandoning your past, you will start by using the surnames I bestow upon you. Mortals will take the surname Yan. Men will use Mu and Lin for their generation names, followed by a number. Starting from you: Mu One through Mu Ten, and Lin One through Lin Ten.
Women will use Mei and Hua for their generation names, similarly named Mei One through Mei Ten, and Hua One through Hua Ten."
"Immortal cultivators will take the surname Wu. Men will use Zhu as their generation name, and women will use Lan, all followed by numbers."
"Thank you, Family Head, for bestowing our names."
Xu Chuan waved his hand. "Remember your names, remember your identities. From this moment on, embrace your brand new lives."
"Yes, Family Head."
Following that, Xu Chuan arranged a series of tasks for them.
Patrolling and guarding the main gate were organized into two shifts. In addition, there was courtyard sweeping, kitchen chores, wiping tables and chairs, and the like.
The workload was not heavy; at the very least, they would have time to practice cultivation every day.
In the blink of an eye.
The sky darkened as the golden sun set in the west.
Xu Chuan headed toward Corner Constellation City.
With the deaths of Wu Yuanqi and the others, the rest of the Wu Clan naturally found out. They immediately activated their clan protection grand array, imposing martial law upon the entire clan, making everyone jittery and easily frightened by rumors.
In the family's main hall.
The Wu Clan's Family Head and a group of elders were all gathered.
"What did the scouts sent outside the city report?" the Wu Clan's First Elder, who was also their remaining Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, looked at the Family Head and asked.
"First Elder, traces of battle were indeed discovered on the path to Cloudstream Town. However, we cannot confirm whether it was the doing of those from the Xu Family, or if they encountered someone else."
"Never mind. Since things have come to this, keep the clan protection grand array active for the next few days to prevent any sudden mishaps." The Wu Clan's First Elder let out a long sigh.
"And the matter of the Xu Family?"
"We will send someone to Cloudstream Town in a few days to investigate and see if the Xu Family really relocated there, or if it was just a smokescreen. Then we'll figure out a way to deal with them."
The moon hung high in the sky.
Its pure radiance bathed Corner Constellation City. The streets and alleys were completely silent, with only the chirping of insects to be heard.
Suddenly, a streak of azure light flew in from the distance, descending above the Wu Clan estate.
It was exactly Xu Chuan!
He simply patted the Storage Pouch at his waist, and six Formation Flags flew out, taking up positions in the six directions.
In a flash, an azure light barrier covered the Wu Clan estate like a gigantic cage.
By the time the Wu Clan's patrols noticed something was amiss, the Six Harmonies Absolute Sealing Formation was already successfully deployed, isolating and sealing off any energy signatures from leaking out.
Even if an explosion went off, next door wouldn't hear the slightest sound.
"Who's there!"
Along with a series of sharp shouts, several streaks of light instantly surged out from various locations.
But before they could get a clear look, they saw a massive flood dragon, over sixty meters long, hovering right above the Wu Clan's protection grand array.
Its golden eyes reflected the cold moon as its gigantic claws pressed against the earthen-yellow protective light barrier.
The grand array's light barrier immediately emitted a series of cracking noises.
Although this was also a Tier 2 High-Grade formation, Moyue's strength had completely recovered to the peak of the middle Tier 3 stage. This Tier 2 High-Grade formation could only endure a single strike from him.
It shattered into countless yellow motes of light and dissipated into midair.
"A Tier 3 flood dragon?!"
The Wu Clan's First Elder, along with the Family Head and a group of elders, stared in absolute horror at the massive flood dragon in the sky, beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously forming on their foreheads.
A bone-chilling cold gripped their hearts.
Looking closer.
They noticed that right between the flood dragon's horns stood a white-haired man in black robes, wearing a mask, with his hands clasped behind his back. His white hair fluttered under the moonlight, making him look like a banished immortal.
His aura was nearly entirely suppressed, preventing anyone from probing his cultivation realm.
"S-Senior, why have you suddenly come to our Wu Clan? Have we offended you in some way?"
"Kill!"
A cold, single syllable popped out.
Moyue roared and instantly attacked them like a flash of lightning. A Dragon Claw slammed down, severely injuring one person and swatting them into the ground.
Then his tail swept out, as swift as the wind. Five or six people whose strength was merely at mid Foundation Establishment and who lacked Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifacts were instantly crushed to death by the impact.
Immediately following that, countless ice spikes condensed in the air, shooting down to the ground like a torrential downpour.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless buildings collapsed, and countless lives were lost beneath the barrage of ice spikes.
Wherever they landed, the area rapidly froze over. Early and mid-stage Qi Condensation immortal cultivators who were too slow to escape were instantly frozen into solid blocks of ice.
The Wu Clan's First Elder and those lucky enough to survive immediately scattered in all directions.
Some attempted to flee but were blocked by the Six Harmonies Absolute Sealing Formation. Even a full-powered attack from a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator could only cause faint ripples on its surface.
Moyue flew around, massacring and destroying everything.
Xu Chuan, on the other hand, cleaned up the battlefield, collecting all the Storage Pouches, not even letting off those belonging to Qi Condensation cultivators.
He then soul-searched a few individuals, wanting to find out where the Wu Clan's treasure vault was hidden.
Unfortunately, they all had restrictions placed upon their minds. The forceful soul-searches caused each of them to die on the spot.
"Moyue, use your Spiritual Sense Probing and see where the Wu Clan's treasure vault is."
"No problem."
While continuing his slaughter, Moyue released his peak Tier 3 divine sense to probe the area. In just a short moment, he discovered the Wu Clan's two treasure vaults.