"Mingxian, I can see that your consumption is quite high. Didn't you say that condensing a battle array doesn't waste much mana?" Xu Chuan asked as he looked at Xu Mingxian.
Xu Mingxian swallowed a High-Grade True Condensing Pill and offered a bitter smile. "Those last two moves were based on my own comprehension of the Dao of the Five Elements, realizing the application of the five elements' power.
You can think of it as a powerful magical art.
It requires me to maintain it with my own mana. It's not like the various attacks of the five elements battle array from earlier, where once the array is formed, the attacks flow endlessly and I only need to use my divine sense to control and guide them."
"So it was a killing move."
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly. His complexion had improved a bit by now.
Xu Chuan analyzed, "The defensive power of a two-pattern defensive magic artifact is absolutely no weaker than the physical body of a Tier 2 Peak Flood Dragon. However, it requires mana to sustain.
The more powerful it is, the more mana it drains.
With the endless attacks from your five elements battle array, it's enough to break through it. Then, by condensing an Illusory Array, few in the Foundation Establishment stage can resist the erosion of a Tier 2 low-grade Illusory Array.
Pausing for a moment, Xu Chuan raised his eyes to look at Xu Mingxian. "Go ahead. I won't stop you."
"There's no reason to hold you back anymore!"
"It's time the world saw the prodigies of our Xu family!"
"Thank you, Father," Xu Mingxian replied. "In the remaining year or so, I will take the battle array path a step further.
If Deyue and her husband's inquiries bear no fruit, then I will climb the Genius Ranking and seek out a Dual Water and Fire Cultivation method for Chongfei."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly and nodded.
Xu Mingxian took his leave, continuing to comprehend the Array Dao and the battle array path.
His comprehension of the battle array path stemmed from his insights and understanding of the Array Dao. Therefore, it was impossible for him to give up studying formations just because he had grasped battle arrays.
On the contrary, the higher his achievements in the Array Dao, the greater the possibility that he could truly forge this discipline into a complete system in the future.
Before long, Moyue also departed, carrying Xu Chongfei on his back.
Xu Chuan condensed Vitality Liquid, and after feeding the young ancient locust tree, the heavenly spirit fruit sapling, and the azure spirit fruit tree, he also went back to creating his technique.
Now that his Withered Glory True Intent had reached the introductory level of comprehension, all that remained was to unleash it in a manner best suited to himself.
This was the essence of a technique.
Of course, if he wanted success to come naturally when the water arrived and a channel formed, according to Murong Yun, his Withered Glory True Intent would need to reach at least the minor success stage.
The next day.
He took the opportunity of his One Divination Per Day to use the Minor Star Divination Art to deduce Xu Mingxian's future.
But what he saw was a chaotic path ahead. When he tried to see through it, a Heaven's Secrets Warning triggered, abruptly severing the connection.
If he hadn't relied on his One Divination Per Day, he feared he would have directly suffered a backlash, rather than just receiving a warning and being forcefully interrupted like this.
For the past six years, Xu Chuan had tempered the Minor Star Divination Art almost every day, finally bringing it to the introductory realm.
He had asked Murong Yun about this method, but she knew nothing of it, only mentioning that few within the entire Azure Dragon Sect practiced such arts.
Once someone cultivated it successfully, they could be guided to cultivate in the holy lands of the Upper Sects.
The Holy Sons of the Star Constellation Holy Land were almost all skilled in Heaven's Secrets Divination.
"It seems that with my current level of deduction and cultivation realm, I am far from capable of divining Mingxian's future," Xu Chuan sighed softly. "Even if it were a mere ordinary cultivator, carelessly prying into their destiny would likely invite a backlash.
Until this art reaches the major success stage, I'd better refrain from peeking into the futures of others."
However, just looking at Xu Mingxian's current achievements was enough to know that his future would likely involve the karma of the Array Dao.
'I'll ask Murong Yun again when Deyue returns. I'll see if there were any corresponding Array Dao factions in ancient times.'
With such an ancient fossil of a Senior Sister, how could he not make good use of her!
Xu Mingxian silently comprehended formations and researched battle arrays. He had no intention of wandering the world to challenge others like ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
However, Xu Deyue and Ye Fan had carved out quite a formidable reputation in the Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
Ye Fan was hailed by the younger generation of the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities as invincible below the Late Foundation Establishment stage, earning the nickname "Sky-Shrouding Hand."
His physical strength was tyrannical. Having once been a Peak Grandmaster martial arts expert, he excelled at close-quarters combat and mastered the Spiritual Energy to True Qi Rapid Conversion Method.
Unfortunately, after stepping into the Foundation Establishment stage, this method gradually lost its utility.
No matter how explosive the conversion to True Qi was, it couldn't compare to the explosive power of Foundation Establishment mana.
Nevertheless, his childhood experiences and special encounters granted his physical body the strength to contend with ordinary second-tier demon beasts. This was his capital for fighting above his level.
In addition to this, under the Xu family's nurturing, his divine consciousness transformed into divine sense ahead of time. This made his divine sense far more powerful than cultivators of the same realm after he advanced to Foundation Establishment.
By cultivating the Nine Thoughts Art, he could now achieve Six Thoughts as One.
This allowed him to cast multiple magical arts simultaneously.
To outsiders, he was a genius of magical arts.
Yet among the core members of the Xu family, everyone could achieve this level.
Of course, with his Heavenly Spirit Root Aptitude, Ye Fan still possessed his own unique advantages over the other Xu clan members.
With all these foundations stacked together, no one had yet managed to force him to draw his true magic artifacts.
The gauntlets and battle armor that Xu Deling had refined for Ye Fan allowed him to perfectly unleash his physical strength.
Both of these pieces of equipment were two-pattern magic tools.
Even though Ye Fan was currently only at the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment stage, by relying on these two magic artifacts, he could battle someone at the Ninth-Level Foundation Establishment stage.
Furthermore, he carried backup top-tier offensive and defensive magic artifacts on his person.
Any family fortunate enough to have a Grandmaster Smith like Xu Deling would never let its core members lack for magic artifacts.
Recently, Ye Fan had effortlessly suppressed a Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment genius from a Golden Core Aristocratic Family.
It was from this battle that he had earned the title "Sky-Shrouding Hand."
That Foundation Establishment genius was no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator; he had a track record of fighting an Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator without falling to a disadvantage.
As for Xu Deyue, she was ranked fifteenth on the Genius Ranking, and on the Immortal Fairy Ranking List, she was second only to Yan Fengwu of the Yan clan and an immortal fairy from the Heavenly Azure Sect named Liu Yue.
Among the top twenty, only these three immortal fairies had made the list.
The rest were all male cultivators.
All three had their own monikers: "Azure Moon Immortal Fairy," "Blazing Moon Immortal Fairy," and "Cold Moon Immortal Fairy," respectively.
Countless male cultivators looked up to them in deep admiration.
Naturally, Xu Deyue had the fewest admirers.
It couldn't be helped; after all, she was already someone with a Dao companion.
Initially, many had mocked Ye Fan for clinging to a woman's coattails, but as his reputation as the "Sky-Shrouding Hand" spread, everyone gradually accepted it.
They eventually felt that Ye Fan was indeed worthy of Xu Deyue.
As the couple's fame grew, it dragged the Xu family further into the spotlight across the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, resulting in frequent visits from cultivators of the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities to Cloudstream Town.
The more these visitors inquired, the more they realized the Xu family was a force that could not be underestimated.
However, all they could find out were matters already widely known throughout Cloudstream Town.
Ever since the Xu family became the masters of Cloudstream, they had adopted a low profile. Rarely did core family members wander outside; it was mostly the Yan Clan and Wu clan bustling about, managing the Xu family's affairs.
Then there were the rogue cultivators recruited by Huang Tianba and the others, as well as the guest elders specializing in alchemy, artificing, formations, and talismans.
None of them resided within the Xu Residence.
The immortal arts guest elders all lived on the other side of the spirit vein, housed within the four great halls near the Cultivation Treasure Tower: the Pill Refining Hall, the Artifact Refining Hall, the Talisman Hall, and the Array Hall.
Under the assistance of the Xu family.
Huang Tianba and his brothers had seen massive leaps in their cultivation.
Huang Tianba had now reached the late stage of the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment, Huang Tianxiong had stepped into the Fifth-Layer Foundation Establishment, and even Huang Tianhu, with his Mixed Spirit Root Aptitude, had successfully established his foundation and currently reached the late stage of the First-Layer Foundation Establishment.
Huang Tianba's wife, Jiang Youniang, was at the mid-stage of the Second-Layer Foundation Establishment.
Four years ago, she had given birth to a pair of fraternal twins for Huang Tianba, and the year before last, she had delivered another son.
Because Cloudstream Town was stable, they finally decided to settle down and develop their own family.
Huang Tianxiong and Huang Tianhu had both successively married in the past two years and had offspring of their own.
The Huang family had become devoted followers of the Xu family, looking to their lead blindly. Their estate was also situated near the Cultivation Treasure Tower.
Nowadays, this area served as the trading hub for Cloudstream Town, boasting the title of Cloud Brook Market.
The Xu family's Immortal Arts Grand Hall, Cultivation Treasure Tower, Battle Stage, and Life and Death Stage were all located nearby.
Every day, a large number of rogue cultivators set up stalls to trade in the Rogue Cultivator Grand Hall. The first floor was reserved for Qi Refining stage cultivators, while the second floor was for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Adding to the bustling prosperity was the presence of the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion, drawing numerous people from neighboring towns to conduct business.
Even rogue cultivators from the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities came out of admiration for its reputation.
As Cloudstream Town grew increasingly grand and prosperous, the Xu family became ever more low-key.
This was also why, when Ye Fan and the others first ventured out to challenge people, no one recognized them.
It was likely that if Xu Chuan, Xu Mingxian, and Xu Deling walked the outside world, the situation would be exactly the same.
In the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, the name "Master Ling" was widely known, yet those who had actually seen Xu Deling were incredibly rare.
This was because she was either in Fire Cloud Valley cultivating the divine ability Fire Emperor's True Pupil, forging artifacts, comprehending second-tier artifact patterns, or occasionally returning to the Xu Residence for a short stay.
"This Xu family is truly something. I thought they just had the luck to receive the Heavenly Azure Sect's protection, but looking at them now, they really can't be underestimated.
I've been to Cloudstream Town a few times in the past, and it has completely transformed."
"Brother Kuangtu, do you really plan on going to the Xu family to challenge the Cold Moon Immortal Fairy?"
"You're the hidden genius our Yan family has kept concealed. Although you aren't on the Genius Ranking, your strength far surpasses mine, the public genius of the Yan family. Wouldn't it be far more astonishing to simply reveal yourself during our Heavenly Azure Prefecture's selection?"
"Don't worry, Yan Han. It's just a private challenge. Word won't get out. I just want to see exactly what kind of person this Xu family fairy who defeated you is."
"She's very strong. Even though I've now acquired a two-pattern offensive magic artifact and climbed to twenty-second on the Genius Ranking, I feel the gap between us is still quite large."
"Interesting." The rugged, bearded middle-aged man standing before Yan Han laughed heartily, shifting his gaze toward the Xu family estate. "Then I absolutely must test her skills."
"If I can't even crack the top ten in the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, the chances of securing an official selection slot are slim to none. It would come down to pure luck."
Hearing this, Yan Han sighed. "Since you've made up your mind, Brother Kuangtu, we should pay them a proper visit in the name of the Yan Clan. The Xu family is no ordinary Foundation Establishment Clan.
Their foundation is deeper than the top five Foundation Establishment Clans in our Heart Constellation City.
Not only do they enjoy a century of protection from the Heavenly Azure Sect, but according to my previous inquiries, the Xu family is on good terms with five Golden Core Perfected Beings.
There's the Grandmaster Smith, Perfected Person Fire Cloud, the Green Wood Sect's Law Enforcement Elder, Perfected Person Changge, the current Green Wood Sect Master, Perfected Person Juechen, as well as the two Perfected Beings from the Cang Family of the Heavenly Azure Sect.
They all attended the Xu family's estate-opening banquet six years ago.
This is a widely known fact."
Hearing the titles of these Golden Core Perfected Beings, Yan Kuangtu's expression turned solemn. "I understand. I won't cause any trouble."
Xu Deyue and Ye Fan had traveled across all seven cities without finding any leads on a Dual Water and Fire Cultivation method.
They then returned to the Xu family, preparing to enter secluded cultivation to participate in the Prodigy Grand Assembly a year later.
As for the three sects and the Heavenly Azure Sect, Xu Chuan had already asked Chen Changge, Perfected Person Fire Cloud, and Cang Yuyang to inquire on his behalf.
If there had been any, the couple wouldn't have needed to try their luck in the seven cities.
"Deyue, your father is also preparing to participate in the Prodigy Grand Assembly. In a year, you will accompany him."
"Father is participating too?"
Xu Deyue was slightly startled. Ever since she was born, her father had been the family's Grandmaster Formation Master, spending almost all year in secluded cultivation to comprehend and deduce formations.
Although his cultivation realm progressed quickly, he was far more acclaimed for his talent in formations.
"Even though Father is at Foundation Establishment Perfection, setting up formations requires considerable time. I'm afraid it won't be suitable for an arena battle, right?
I heard there's a Secret Realm trial after the arena battles; perhaps that will be where Father can shine."
Seeing her so earnestly plotting on her father's behalf, Xu Chuan shook his head and laughed. "Deyue, you underestimate your father far too much.
And it's not just your father. None of your uncles or aunts are simple characters either."
"No matter how formidable they are, could they be more formidable than my inheritor?"
A moon-white flying sword rushed out from Xu Deyue's dantian, and a cold voice echoed in the surroundings.
"Senior Sister Murong," Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "That's hard to say!"
"Did you ever hear of any array masters in ancient times who excelled at combat, Senior Sister? I mean, of course, without relying on array disks, formation flags, and the like."
"Without relying on array disks or formation flags?"
The voice emanating from the Supreme Yin flying sword abruptly halted, seemingly deep in thought.
After a short while, it spoke again. "I have indeed heard of such a thing. However, it wasn't here in our Southern Heaven Region, but in the Supreme Brilliance Region.
There was once an Array Dao holy land there. Some of the holy land geniuses who excelled in the Array Dao could set up formation spaces relying solely on themselves, without using array disks or formation flags. It was truly formidable.
This was the true inheritance method of that Array Dao holy land."
"An Array Dao holy land inheritance? Such a discipline actually existed?!" Xu Chuan asked. "But where is the Supreme Brilliance Region?"
"To the southwest of the Southern Heaven Region lies the Desert of Death, stretching for over half a million kilometers. By crossing it, one can enter the Supreme Brilliance Region. In ancient times, this region was unmatched in the four arts of pills, artifacts, formations, and talismans.
The 'Alchemy Scripture' you carry originated in the Supreme Brilliance Region, and rumor has it that the Alchemy Ancestor hailed from there as well."
"Besides the Southern Heaven Region, the Blackwater Region, and the Supreme Brilliance Region, what other regions are there?"
"The Blackwater Region?" Murong Yun paused in surprise before saying, "Is there such a region? Never mind, all this is still too early for you.
In ancient times, one was barely considered an expert upon reaching the Soul Formation Stage, capable of roaming around to seek opportunities for breakthrough.
Only by reaching the Soul Formation Stage did one possess the qualifications to cross the boundary barriers and travel to other regions.
As for how things are now, I have no idea. Things must have changed significantly, considering that, according to you, the strongest cultivators in the entire Heavenly South are only at the Soul Formation Stage."
'Soul Formation Stage is only just considered an expert...'
Xu Chuan's mouth twitched slightly. 'So you're saying we're all just absolute nobodies.'
'No!'
'Foundation Establishment stage cultivators probably don't even qualify as nobodies.'
"By the way, why are you asking about this?" Murong Yun asked curiously.
"Because Mingxian might have stepped onto the true inheritance path of that holy land in the Supreme Brilliance Region you just mentioned. Of course, he can't achieve Forming a Formation with a Single Thought just yet, but he already possesses the prototype of what you described.
Currently, the power of the battle arrays he sets up is only at the Tier 2 low-grade. However, because his comprehension of the Array Dao is so profound, coordinating the five elements battle array with an Illusory Array allows him to combine defense, killing strikes, trapping, and illusions into various formation effects.
Even Moyue, when suppressing his strength to Tier 2, was forced to break the restrictions."
"Seriously?!"
"Why would I lie to you, Senior Sister?"
"Then he truly is a monster, just like you—creating a divine ability at the Foundation Establishment stage.
No!
He might be even more monstrous!"
Hearing this, Xu Deyue smiled beautifully. She was genuinely happy for her father.
"Grandfather, I understand now. Over the remaining year or so, I will do my best to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection and strive to climb the Genius Ranking alongside Father."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly.
With a depressed mood, Murong Yun retreated back into Xu Deyue's dantian.
She prided herself on being a top-tier genius of the ancient Azure Dragon Sect, yet here she was, tens of thousands of years later, encountering two even more monstrous geniuses.
Divine Ability Core Formation wasn't rare in ancient times.
But creating a divine ability at the Foundation Establishment stage? You'd be hard-pressed to find a single one in several millennia.
And independently comprehending a battle array prototype during the Foundation Establishment stage? That was an event scarcely seen once in ten thousand years.
Just as Xu Deyue was about to leave, Ye Fan arrived and reported, "Honored Master, the Yan Clan from Heart Constellation City has come to visit. They are waiting outside the estate gates right now."
"The Yan Clan?"
Ye Fan explained, "Honored Master, a little over a month ago, Deyue and I challenged the Yan Clan and defeated the brothers Yan Qing and Yan Han.
Yan Qing's strength was average, but Yan Han had some skill.
I heard his rank on the Genius Ranking recently climbed to twenty-second.
However, he is still inferior to Deyue.
Honored Master, Deyue is ranked fifteenth on the Genius Ranking, hailed by the cultivators of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture as the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy'."
"Cold Moon? Quite fitting," Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "The Yan family is a Golden Core Aristocratic Family, after all. Although we don't have much of a relationship, since they've come to visit, we ought to entertain them properly."
"Let's go. Let's meet the geniuses of the Yan family."
Xu Chuan led Ye Fan and Xu Deyue to the main reception hall of the Xu Residence.
Yan Kuangtu and Yan Han had been escorted there by Yan Muyi.
Seeing the two, Xu Chuan cupped his fists and greeted, "I am the Xu Clan Head, Xu Chuan. May I ask what business brings you two Daoist friends from the Yan Clan to our Xu family?"
"I am Yan Han," Yan Han introduced. "This is my older cousin, Yan Kuangtu."
"A few days ago, I was defeated by your esteemed family's Fairy Xu. When my cousin heard about it after exiting his secluded cultivation, he wanted to come and witness Fairy Xu's strength for himself. I wonder if the Clan Head would allow this?"
Taking a seat, Xu Chuan took a light sip of tea and said evenly, "That depends on Deyue's own wishes."
"I accept," Xu Deyue declared, glancing at Yan Kuangtu.
"I have one more request. I hope the results of this spar will not be leaked to the public. My cousin is a hidden genius of our Yan family."
Xu Chuan nodded. "Then let's go. There is an arena within the estate. You can spar there."
"Thank you," Yan Han cupped his fists in gratitude.
The Battle Stage.
Xu Deyue and Yan Kuangtu lightly leaped onto the stage.
With a flick of his sleeve robe, Xu Chuan activated the arena's defensive formation.
Instantly, pale yellow spiritual light enveloped the entire Battle Stage like a giant inverted bowl.
Xu Deyue stood on the left in her plain white robes, faint cold qi materializing around her, condensed and unyielding. Yan Kuangtu stood on the right in black robes, waves of heat boiling around him, with crimson lightning occasionally streaking across.
The moment their auras clashed, a fine frosty mist formed in the center of the stage, only to be immediately scorched away by the waves of heat.
"Fairy Xu, please!"
Yan Kuangtu's voice boomed like a great bell. As his words fell, his right palm surged, and three crimson fireballs hurtled toward Xu Deyue's face like falling meteors.
The air distorted wherever the fireballs passed, proving that these flames were beyond ordinary fire.
Xu Deyue remained calm and unhurried. Tracing a light arc with her left index finger, the cold qi drastically surged. Three icy spikes tore through the air to collide with the fireballs.
A muffled boom resounded.
Amidst the spreading water vapor, the ice spikes melted away, and the fireballs dispersed into sparks. The clash had ended in a perfect draw.
A hint of surprise flashed through Yan Kuangtu's eyes. 'It seems this woman's water-attribute cultivation method is no ordinary technique. The intensity of her cold qi is enough to rival my Crimson Sun Blaze.'
His figure immediately blurred as the crimson light around him intensified. Over ten fire snakes darted from his palms, weaving into a net that bore down with overwhelming pressure.
Wherever the net of fire passed, the black bricks on the ground were scorched pale.
Xu Deyue formed hand seals with her slender hands, pushing her mana to the limit. A one-and-a-half-meter Ice Shield quickly condensed before her, its surface coated in a dense layer of frost.
The fire snakes crashed into the Ice Shield with a sizzling hiss, but they were completely unable to break through the ice.
At the same time, while maintaining her defense, Xu Deyue condensed a three-meter-long ice phoenix.
With a long, piercing cry, it thrust its sharp talons toward Yan Kuangtu's head.
"Fairy Xu, such incredible divine sense control! To be able to defend against my attacks while simultaneously splitting your focus to control such a powerful ice phoenix.
However, I am not so easily dealt with."
Before his voice faded, Yan Kuangtu formed a one-handed seal, molding his fire snakes into two Flaming Flood Dragons over twenty feet long. One continued to batter the Ice Shield, while the other swept its tail viciously toward the ice phoenix.
Ordinary fire would have long been suppressed and frozen by the ice phoenix's freezing energy, but the Crimson Sun Blaze condensed by Yan Kuangtu was a type of supreme yang flame, leaving the two sides evenly matched.
Xu Deyue remained silent, condensing another one-and-a-half-meter-long freezing ice jade rabbit.
Yan Kuangtu's brows furrowed slightly. However, since Xu Deyue had not used a magic artifact, wouldn't it mean admitting inferiority if he drew his? Therefore, he simply condensed another ten-foot fire snake.
Xu Deyue could now split her focus into seven thoughts. However, the Ice Shield and the ice phoenix each required two thoughts to control. Even after condensing the ice rabbit, she still had energy to spare.
But she felt there was no need to expose too many of her trump cards.
A short while later.
The magical arts of both Xu Deyue and Yan Kuangtu dissipated one after another.
"Fairy Xu, since it's hard to determine a victor with spells, let's see true skill with our magic artifacts!"
Yan Kuangtu bellowed as he brushed his hand over his storage pouch, summoning a crimson flying sword.
Two patterns flowed along the blade—one blazing with fire, the other wreathed in lightning. It was precisely his two-pattern magic tool, the Crimson Thunder Flying Sword.
The flying sword emerged from its sheath with a clap of thunder, transforming into a streak of red lightning that slashed straight at Xu Deyue.
Xu Deyue's eyes focused. With a light flick of her jade-like finger, a silver-white disk flew from her sleeve. Moonlight swirled around it; it was her frequently used top-grade magical artifact, the Lunar Moon Chakra.
The chakra spun rapidly, exuding cold qi everywhere as it flew to meet the Crimson Thunder Flying Sword.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing rang across the entire arena.
Carrying the momentum of thunder and fire, the Crimson Thunder Flying Sword smashed into the Lunar Moon Chakra. Thunder and fire sprayed in an explosive burst, actually forcing the chakra to slightly recoil.
Riding this momentum, Yan Kuangtu channeled more power. The thunder and fire on his flying sword grew even more ferocious, gradually pushing back the cold qi surrounding the chakra.
Beads of sweat formed on Xu Deyue's forehead; she was struggling to resist the dual force of thunder and fire.
The Lunar Moon Chakra's spinning speed gradually slowed, clearly falling to a disadvantage.
A moment later, the cold qi around the Lunar Moon Chakra scattered entirely. The chakra was knocked flying, crashing against the formation light screen.
"Fairy Xu, although this chakra artifact is quite good and suits your cultivation method, it is merely a standard top-grade magical artifact. There is a massive gap between it and the two-pattern magic tool in my hand.
I've heard that 'Master Ling' is part of your clan, so surely you don't lack an appropriate two-pattern magic tool.
You had better bring it out and fight me with it, otherwise, my victory will be unearned!"
An arrogant and wild laughter rang out.
"Daoist Friend Yan Han, your cousin truly lives up to his name as a Kuangtu," Xu Chuan smiled faintly.
Yan Han cupped his fists and laughed awkwardly. "I've made a fool of myself before the Clan Head."
"Once my cousin starts fighting, he acts exactly like this. He holds this attitude even toward our clan elders."
"As expected of the Yan family's hidden genius. With his strength, he is more than capable of entering the top ten of the Genius Ranking. Acquiring an official selection slot won't be difficult.
I extend my congratulations to your Yan family."
"Clan Head Xu is too polite. In every Prodigy Grand Assembly, dark horses who aren't on any prefecture's list emerge to defeat the ranked geniuses and make a name for themselves.
Whether he can truly make it in or not is impossible to say until the final results are out."
'This child is quite level-headed. He will definitely be a pillar of the Yan family in the future.'
Xu Deyue raised her slender hand, and the Lunar Moon Chakra swiftly turned into a silver streak and retracted into her sleeve. Following a gentle turn of her wrist, a moon-white flying sword materialized out of thin air.
The blade was as translucent as an ice crystal, wreathed in dense, unyielding cold qi.
"Daoist Friend Yan, I have one sword strike. Please bestow your guidance. If you can block it, I will admit defeat!"
Xu Deyue's voice was cold and clear, laced with undeniable resolve.
As her words fell, her fingertips formed a seal, mobilizing her mana completely. The surrounding cold qi intertwined with moonlight, transforming into a sky full of tiny, shattered ice stars that orbited her body.
"Moon Radiance!"
Her crisp shout rang out as the moon-white flying sword abruptly shot into the sky. The blade swelled to over ten feet in length, transforming into a pristine lunar arc that slashed down violently at Yan Kuangtu.
Wherever it passed, the air condensed into frost, filling the space with an icy mist.
"Haha, perfect!"
Seeing this, Yan Kuangtu let out another great laugh.
His hands rapidly formed seals, and the thunder and fire around the Crimson Thunder Flying Sword erupted, manifesting into a crimson wall of fire as he bellowed, "Thunderfire Prairie Blaze!"
Countless tiny arcs of lightning snaked across the surface of the fire wall.
The moment the Moon Radiance Sword descended, an extreme cold power explosively erupted. The lightning arcs on the fire wall instantly froze over, and the wall of fire itself began turning into ice at a visible rate.
Following that, the faint glow of thunder and fire on the blade flared brightly, and the ice layer exploded with a deafening boom.
The Crimson Thunder Flying Sword was sent flying backward by the shockwave. Yan Kuangtu's chest caved as if struck by a heavy blow, and he forcefully spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He staggered backward several steps, his face painted with pure disbelief.
"Young Master Yan, thank you for letting me win."
Xu Deyue stood in the center of the arena, holding the Moon Radiance Sword. Though her plain white clothes were lightly dusted with dirt, her posture remained perfectly straight. Only her complexion had grown three shades paler, clearly indicating an immense consumption of mana.
As the master of the Supreme Yin flying sword, Xu Deyue could naturally wield it. But even without unleashing its true might, a single strike still consumed twenty to thirty percent of her mana.
This was the price she had to pay!
And this was already the result of the artifact spirit Murong Yun sharing the burden and alleviating the pressure on her.
After all, the Supreme Yin had once been a low-grade Spirit Treasure. Even though its grade had fallen, it still possessed the might of a High-Grade Magic Treasure. How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly wield it with ease?
Yan Kuangtu climbed to his feet and extracted a wound-healing pill from his storage pouch, swallowing it. Cupping his fists, he said, "Fairy Xu, your strength is this profound, yet you are merely ranked fifteenth on the Genius Ranking.
It's obvious that when you fought others, you held back your full power.
Otherwise, you wouldn't be the slightest bit inferior to the Azure Moon Immortal Fairy, who ranks third on the list."
With a sweep of his sleeve robe, Xu Chuan dispelled the arena's array and turned to the approaching Yan Kuangtu. "Daoist Friend Yan is injured. Would you like to rest and recuperate in my Xu Residence for a while?"
"There's no need. I've already swallowed a pill and am relatively unharmed. I have disturbed you greatly this time, and I will pay another visit to apologize formally in the future.
Farewell!"
With that, the two men departed from the Xu Residence.
"Brother Kuangtu, are you alright?" Yan Han asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Don't tell me you thought I'd collapse in despair just because I lost to a woman?" Yan Kuangtu laughed. "No, I'm simply thrilled!
For a mere Foundation Establishment Clan to produce such a genius... the Prodigy Grand Assembly is becoming more and more interesting!
For me, enjoying the process of combat is what holds true meaning!"
"Besides, the grand finale of the Prodigy Grand Assembly is the Secret Realm trial. In a normal spar with Fairy Xu, I lost, but in a life-or-death struggle, I have the confidence to defeat her."
As they spoke, the two left Cloudstream Town and flew off toward Heart Constellation City.
Meanwhile.
Ye Fan looked at Xu Deyue and asked, "Are you alright? To think Yan Kuangtu could force you to use the Supreme Yin... his strength is truly nothing to scoff at."
Xu Deyue shook her head and smiled faintly. "It's just that the mana drain was a bit heavy."
"However, judging by Yan Kuangtu alone, the geniuses of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture are far more complex than just a simple ranking list.
Throughout the entire Northwest Region, and even across all of Heavenly South, who knows how many hidden geniuses there truly are."
"The Prodigy Grand Assembly is, after all, a grand event for the entirety of Heavenly South. Naturally, it's a place of Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons," Xu Chuan said. "Alright, let's go check on Chongfei. He's been torturing Moyue into a headache these past few days.
From what I can tell about your magical artifacts, you still need to prepare a two-pattern ice-attribute magic tool. In a few days, make a trip to Fire Cloud Valley and ask Deling to forge one for you.
You can keep the Supreme Yin as your final trump card."
"Yes, Grandfather," Xu Deyue said, while Ye Fan echoed, "Yes, Honored Master."
A few days later, Xu Deyue and Ye Fan traveled to Fire Cloud Valley and discussed this matter with Xu Deling.
Xu Deling agreed without hesitation.
Five or six days passed.
A two-pattern magic tool flying sword named the Heavenly Water Sword was successfully forged. Its blade was engraved with two artifact patterns: 'Water' and 'Cold'.
The reason for forging this specific artifact was that Murong Yun intended to pass down the Heavenly Water Sword Art to Xu Deyue.
During her previous battle with Yan Kuangtu, she had relied almost entirely on her cultivation method and the artifact itself to fight, while Yan Kuangtu had also learned a powerful thunderfire sword art.
That was why she had fallen slightly short without drawing upon the Supreme Yin.
Of course, part of it was also because the Lunar Moon Chakra couldn't quite compare to her opponent's Crimson Thunder Flying Sword, compounded by the slight gap in their intrinsic mana reserves.
"Deyue, once you've learned the first three stances of the Heavenly Water Sword Art, at least within the Foundation Establishment stage, very few will be able to completely best you in terms of technique."
"Thank you, Honored Master!"
After obtaining the Heavenly Water Sword, Xu Deyue immediately entered secluded cultivation.
She raised her cultivation realm, practiced her sword art, and occasionally emerged to reunite with her family.
Ye Fan did much the same.
Half a month later.
Fire Cloud Valley.
"Deling, are you certain you want to forge a pill furnace for your very first magic treasure? This is much harder to craft than ordinary flying sword magic treasures and the like.
I know you wish to gift this magic treasure to your grandfather, but there's really no need to go to such lengths."
"Honored Master, my mind is made up. You don't need to try to persuade me otherwise. I believe I will definitely succeed."
"Alright then. Cultivate in peace. During this period, I will not let anyone disturb you. You have enough materials for five attempts. If that isn't enough, I will gather more for you."
"Thank you, Honored Master."
As Perfected Person Fire Cloud watched the doors to the forging room close and the restrictions activate, a flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes.
If she succeeded this time, Deling would become a third-tier artifact refiner, also known as a high-level artifact refiner, or a Grandmaster Smith.
Achieving such a mastery in artifact refining while only at the Foundation Establishment stage... Fire Cloud had never witnessed such a feat even within the Heavenly Foundry Sect.
"Deling, don't let me down," Perfected Person Fire Cloud murmured. "I'm waiting for you to help me hold my head high and breathe easy again."
He planned that once Xu Deling successfully forged a magic treasure, he would take her to the Heavenly Foundry Sect to challenge them once more and fulfill the vow he made all those years ago.
Forging a magic treasure was no easy task even for Golden Core stage cultivators. It wasn't something that could be completed in just a few days.
As for those in the Foundation Establishment stage, over ninety-nine percent couldn't even catch a glimpse of the threshold to refine a magic treasure.
Naturally, the process would be far more arduous for her.
Succeeding in a month or two would be considered fast.
If she failed time and time again, it would be perfectly normal for Xu Deling to spend half a year in this session of secluded cultivation.