"I see that your auras are full and vibrant. It seems you are all approaching the Golden Core stage?"
Xu Chuan observed Xu Mingxian and the others, quickly noticing the clues.
"To answer Father, I have comprehended ninety percent of the True Intent of the Array Dao," Xu Mingxian replied. "Furthermore, based on your experience, Father, I have also integrated the True Intent into my Five Elements Battle Array.
When my True Intent reaches one hundred percent, my Five Elements Battle Array Divine Ability will be complete, allowing me to achieve Divine Ability Core Formation."
"Not bad," Xu Chuan nodded in satisfaction.
If one were to truly cultivate the True Intent of the Array Dao from the introductory level to Minor Success, who knew how much time it would take.
However, not everyone was Xu Chuan, capable of comprehending Divine Abilities at such a rapid pace.
"Grandfather, your granddaughter has also comprehended her introductory Divine Ability to ninety percent, even infinitely close to one hundred percent. According to Honored Master, I should have hope of breaking through in a month at most."
"Very good."
"It seems you have all been cultivating diligently these past three years."
Xu Chuan nodded. "Where is Chongfei? My divine sense swept through the Clan Territory, but I could not find him."
"A few days ago, Chen Yulian invited Chongfei to train in the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range. That girl Yulian is quite outstanding; she has reached the late stage of the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation at only twenty years old.
She will reach Peak Qi Condensation in half a year at most.
In terms of time, she is probably about the same as Chongfei."
Ye Fan guessed.
The Xu Family had Realm-Breaking Pills. Once Xu Chongfei reached the late stage of the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation, he could directly break through to Peak Qi Condensation.
However, even if both were at the peak stage, Xu Chongfei had used Spirit Condensation Pills to purify his mana and Origin Radiance Pills to expand his dantian's sea of qi. The capacity and vigor of his mana were thirty percent greater than other martial artists in the same realm.
Coupled with the special Cultivation Method Flame-Cold Nine Heavens, his foundation was twice as strong as his peers.
This was a level that past disciples of the Xu Family could never achieve.
However, these two types of pills were now also being supplied to Dongxi.
The core members of the Xu Family could all take these pills to strengthen their foundations and reserves.
As for why they were not given to everyone, it was naturally because the Materials for these two types of pills were extremely rare. The Xu Family had only managed to collect one or two sets over several years, and currently, only Xu Mingqing alone could refine them.
Meanwhile, the Cloudstream side had an abundance of pills, but there were too few Xu Clan members.
It truly verified the saying, "While some die of drought, others die of flood."
Xu Chuan pinched his fingers to divine the situation. He frowned slightly, but his brow quickly smoothed out, and he smiled faintly. "There is danger, but it is nothing serious. In fact, because of this matter, his star of romance has stirred."
"Danger?" Ye Fan and Xu Deyue looked at him simultaneously.
"It is nothing more than discovering an Opportunity, causing the others doing the mission with him to harbor ill intentions."
"Then that stirred star of romance, could it be..."
Xu Chuan smiled lightly. "Just let him train properly. Who knows, in another five or six years, our Xu Family might welcome another new member."
Not long after, Xu Mingxian and the others left.
The next day.
Xu Chuan began alchemy, first refining Demonic Spirit Pills.
Each batch successfully yielded nine pills, six of which were High Grade. The three little ones each received one High Grade pill, the Mid Grade ones were kept as snacks, and the remaining High Grade pills were stored away.
Following that, Xu Chuan proceeded to refine the Core Formation Pill.
Over two days later, he successfully refined them, producing an impressive seven High Grade pills.
That same afternoon, Xu Chongfei hurried back to the Xu Family with Chen Yulian in tow.
Almost the very next day, Foundation Establishment Perfection elders from the Golden Core Aristocratic Families of the Liu clan, Huang Family, and Zhuo family arrived at the Xu Family. Accompanying them was an Early-Stage Golden Core elder from the Xi Family.
"Tell Chen Yulian from the Chen Family to come out!"
The voice echoed into the Xu Residence.
Hearing this, Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian both experienced a change in expression. Chen Yulian said, "Their families really came looking for us."
The ones who died were all Qi Refining geniuses from several aristocratic families, especially that disciple from the Xi Family.
He was even the great-grandson of a Golden Core elder.
They had taken the mission together with Chen Yulian, yet only she returned alive. Naturally, she would be their primary suspect.
Prior to this, they had all gone to the Chen Family to interrogate them.
Coming to the Xu Family was only their second stop.
"Don't worry, I played a part in killing them too. Just push all the blame onto me."
"How could I do that?!"
"Why not? You indeed only killed the disciples from the Huang and Zhuo families; I was the one who killed the disciples from the Xi Family and Liu clan. Besides, they were the ones who attacked us first.
The tradition of my Xu Family is that anyone who dares to stretch their claws toward our people will have those claws severed."
"Your Chen Family cannot withstand the pressure from any single one of them, but my Xu Family can."
"But..."
"No 'buts'. Just consider it my repayment to you for blocking that poisoned dart for me," Xu Chongfei said with a bright smile. "Let's go, we should head out."
Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian arrived outside the residence's main gate. Xu Chongfei clasped his hands and asked, "Seniors, what important matters bring you to my Xu Family?"
The Foundation Establishment Perfection elder of the Huang Family said, "Young Master Xu, we have matters to ask Chen Yulian."
"Please speak, Senior," Chen Yulian replied.
"You partook in a mission alongside our Huang Family's Huang Chengyun, the Liu clan's Liu Ruyan, the Zhuo family's Zhuo Yugu, and the Xi Family's Xi Mulian. Why is it that they all died, yet you alone survived?
Did you kill them?"
Chen Yulian was originally a disciple of the Green Wood Sect. However, half a year after Mo Wentian reached Nascent Soul Formation, an order came down from the Heavenly Azure Sect. Thus, Chen Yulian was exceptionally admitted into the Heavenly Azure Sect as an Inner Sect Disciple.
Inner Sect Disciples of the Heavenly Azure Sect were generally at the Foundation Establishment Stage. But if one was a disciple of a Golden Core Aristocratic Family or possessed extraordinary Innate Aptitude, they could also become an Inner Sect Disciple.
"So it is regarding this matter," Xu Chongfei said. "I am aware of this as well, for I also participated in that mission."
"You were also present?" the Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator of the Liu clan frowned upon hearing this.
If it were only the Chen Family, they would be extremely easy to handle, but the Xu Family...
"That is correct. Senior Sister Chen invited me to join the mission. Having nothing else to do, I tagged along. Who could have expected that we would encounter a rare thousand-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom?
The others immediately harbored murderous intent and jointly targeted Senior Sister Chen and me.
In the end, they were counter-killed by the two of us. Senior Sister Chen also suffered heavy injuries in order to save me. Fortunately, I carried a few Jade Sprout Pills with me, which saved her life."
"You killed him?" the Xi Family's Golden Core elder suddenly asked in a chilling voice. His eyes overflowed with surging murderous intent as he shouted harshly, "Very well, then pay for my grandson's life with yours!"
Before his words even finished, True Qi violently surged from the old man's withered palm. His Golden Core Pressure crashed down like Mount Tai, causing the surrounding air to solidify into a tangible mass.
The light in his palm suddenly intensified, condensing into a pitch-black palm print roughly three meters wide. The howling of wind and thunder could faintly be heard from the palm lines as it threatened to blast Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian to death on the spot.
Even before the palm print landed, spiderweb-like cracks split the ground open, and the surrounding vegetation flattened. The overwhelmingly unstoppable might was enough to shatter one's courage.
Xu Chongfei's face turned deathly pale. Shielding Chen Yulian, he retreated continuously. He only felt that the palm print was like dark clouds covering his head, the shadow of death arriving in the blink of an eye.
On the line between life and death, he immediately shouted, "Dad! Mom! Save me—!"
"Someone is trying to kill your son!"
Before his cry could fade, two beams of light tore through the air!
A blazing fist aura, resembling the scorching sun melting gold, blasted out diagonally. Accompanying it was a cold, clear sword gleam, unparalleled in its sharpness as though the Milky Way was pouring down.
The fist energy was fiercely unyielding, and the sword gleam was sharply cold. Coming from the left and right respectively, the two abruptly slammed into that giant palm print.
"Boom—!"
Explosive blasts of energy erupted in mid-air, scattering brilliant light everywhere.
That sure-kill palm print instantly shattered inch by inch like glass crashing to the floor. It dispersed into scattered specks of light, vanishing into nothingness in an instant.
Only howling astral winds remained, sweeping up the dust and smoke from the ground.
"Senior Xi, attempting to kill my son right in front of my Xu Family's gate—are you trying to bully our Xu Family, thinking we have no one to defend us?"
Ye Fan and his wife stepped protectively in front of Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian.
"Dad, Mom," Xu Chongfei called out.
"You brat, I'll deal with you later."
"A life for a life! It is the natural law of the world!" the Xi Family's Golden Core old man declared.
As for the three elders from the Liu, Huang, and Zhuo families, they stood off to the side in a row.
They had no choice; they couldn't afford to offend either side.
"My Xu Family only knows that those who kill will always be killed. I heard everything my son just said. The disciples of your families harbored murderous intent over a Spirit Medicine.
Unable to match my son, they were killed in retaliation. Did they not bring it upon themselves?
Senior Xi, if it were you, would you be willing to just stand there and let someone kill you?"
"Stop spouting nonsense at me! Do you think the two of you can stop this elder?"
"Senior Xi, I am currently trying to reason with you. If you refuse to listen, once my Honored Master comes out, I'm afraid things won't end well for you."
The Xi Family's Golden Core elder frowned. "If True Lord Withered Glory were here, he would have come out long ago. Everyone says he hasn't shown his face in a long time and is still trapped in Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
He might have even perished already."
"Insulting my Honored Master, you truly deserve death!" Hearing the other party actually dare to curse Xu Chuan, Ye Fan's eyes surged with chilling glints as he roared back in extreme fury.
Before his words settled, he had already struck out first.
The Qi and Blood all over his body erupted vigorously, faintly carrying the roar of dragons and elephants. It was precisely the manifestation of a peak stage second-tier physical body.
With a single swing of his fist, true yang energy burst forth like a blazing sun. The scorching fist aura burned the air until it distorted—it was his True Yang Divine Ability at eighty percent of the introductory level!
Seeing this, the three elders from the Liu, Huang, and Zhuo families were so frightened that they continuously backed away.
The raw power of this punch alone was enough to severely injure them on the spot.
Almost simultaneously, Xu Deyue moved in tandem with her sword.
The Vast Cold Sword Art lashed out in response. The sword gleam was as cold and clear as descending moonlight, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet.
That chilling sword aura had almost touched the threshold of a one hundred percent introductory Divine Ability. It was only a hair's breadth away from truly reaching the introductory level, allowing her to achieve Divine Ability Core Formation.
"Two Foundation Establishment juniors actually dare to pluck the whiskers of a Golden Core tiger!"
The elder surnamed Xi laughed out of extreme anger. As his palms flipped, three pitch-black demonic flames flared up, transforming into a three-headed fire crow that lunged toward the couple. "Let me show you the true power of a Golden Core Divine Ability!"
Wherever the fire crow passed, the vegetation instantly withered and blackened. Waves of scorching heat blasted forward.
Ye Fan neither dodged nor retreated. Wrapping his Brahma Sacred Fist in dazzling true yang energy, he crashed into the fire crow with a resounding boom, scattering it.
The true yang energy was scorching and domineering, miraculously blocking the demonic flames.
At the same time, Xu Deyue drew her longsword. The Vast Cold sword gleam spilled out like a silver river, its cold light piercing straight toward the old man's heart. Its bone-chilling force left a thin layer of frost condensing on the ground wherever it passed.
The Xi Family elder did not expect their combined assault to be so ferocious. He hurriedly formed a hand seal to conjure a stone shield, but it was smashed to pieces by the sword gleam. His shoulder was inadvertently grazed by the residual force of the true yang energy, instantly charring his clothes.
Both shocked and infuriated, his hands rapidly formed seals to release several more Magical Arts, but they were all shattered by Ye Fan's fist aura and Xu Deyue's sword gleam.
Even though the Xi Family elder was a Golden Core stage expert, he could not withstand such exquisite coordination. He gradually found himself hard-pressed, his breathing becoming chaotic.
Whether it was Ye Fan or Xu Deyue, their attacks already rivaled those of a Golden Core stage combatant. At the very least, unless a Golden Core Cultivator used a Magic Treasure, it would be extremely difficult to take them down in a short time.
"What an exceptional Prodigy couple!"
A ruthless look crossed the Xi Family elder's face. He suddenly reached into his robes and pulled out an ancient bronze mirror, its surface swirling with a dark, eerie light.
Sacrificing the ancient mirror, he formed a hand seal to activate it. The mirror's surface abruptly swelled to roughly three meters in size, exuding a heavy Pressure comparable to a mountain.
A hazy gray pillar of light shot out from the mirror. Ye Fan swung his fist to meet it head-on, exploding with the full force of his True Yang Divine Ability. However, he was forced back continuously by the light pillar, the webbing between his thumb and index finger splitting open.
Xu Deyue sharply twisted her sword gleam, condensing the cold light into a shield. But beneath the crushing weight of the light pillar, her blade bowed, and the frost mist dissipated.
The battle prowess of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator with a Magic Treasure compared to one without could differ by several times.
"Die!"
The Xi Family elder once again channeled the mirror's light, aiming to slay the two of them.
"Insolent!"
Suddenly, a cold shout detonated from the horizon like a rolling thunderclap tearing across the vault of heaven, making everyone's eardrums ring violently.
Before the sound faded, a sky-obscuring azure palm print tore through the void, its overwhelming might shaking the very space itself.
With a loud bang, the palm print furiously collided with the mirror's light. That seemingly indestructible pillar of light shattered inch by inch like glass.
As the shockwaves swept outwards, the Mountain-Suppressing Mirror was sent flying backward.
The Xi Family elder also violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Terrified out of his wits, before he could even recover his senses, an archaic seal crashed towards him with the force of ten thousand thunderbolts.
This seal was precisely the Low-Grade Magic Treasure, the Heaven-Overturning Seal, carrying the crushing momentum of Mount Tai.
In his haste, the elder gathered his mana to defend himself, but it was brutally smashed apart by the Heaven-Overturning Seal, which then slammed right into his chest.
Several crisp cracking sounds echoed out.
The sound of his ribs snapping was clearly audible. Like a kite with a snapped string, he flew backward and smashed heavily onto the ground, uncontrollably spurting mouthfuls of blood.
Before he could struggle to his feet, dozens of slender spiritual lights darted out like silver snakes, accurately sinking into his limbs and bones.
The Xi Family elder only felt the Golden Core within his dantian abruptly stall. His mana receded like the tide, being forcibly sealed away. In an instant, his entire cultivation base became unusable.
The Heaven-Overturning Seal hovered several meters above his head, radiating a heavy, mountain-like Pressure. An invisible force gripped his shoulders like iron pincers, forcing him to fall to his knees with a heavy thud.
"I am a Golden Core elder of the Xi Family! I am also an elder of the Heavenly Azure Sect! True Lord Withered Glory, you cannot treat me like this!"
Cold sweat cascaded down the Xi Family elder's forehead, his face painted with humiliation and terror.
He never expected Xu Chuan to actually be at home!
"If you want to kill my Xu Family's Prodigy, you must pay the price. For the sake of the Heavenly Azure Sect and True Lord Green Wood, this True Lord will spare your life.
Daoist Friends of the Liu, Huang, and Zhuo families, I will have to trouble you to notify True Lord Green Wood.
If he does not come, then let this man kneel in front of my Xu Residence's gate indefinitely!"
"Yes, True Lord Withered Glory!"
The three felt as though they had been granted a grand amnesty and hurriedly rushed to relay the message.
A short while later.
True Lord Green Wood was cultivating in his quiet room when he sensed a fluctuation from his communication Token.
'Xu Chuan has returned? A Golden Core expert from the Xi Family tried to kill Ye Fan and his wife, and was sealed, suppressed, and forced to kneel in front of the Xu Residence's gate by Xu Chuan?'
"He really has nothing better to do!" True Lord Green Wood cursed under his breath.
He immediately left his Grotto-Residence and hurried toward Cloudstream Town.
It took more than half a day for him to arrive at the gates of the Xu Family.
He glanced at the Golden Core elder of the Xi Family kneeling in front of the gate, but did not immediately step forward to help. Instead, he said, "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, I, Xi, have arrived. Why not come out and meet me?"
As his voice fell, a flash of azure light streaked by, and Xu Chuan appeared before them.
Ye Fan, Xu Chongfei, and the others appeared right after him.
"Daoist Friend Green Wood, it has been a long time."
"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, when did you return?"
"I returned shortly after you all did, but I have been in secluded cultivation and did not wish to be disturbed. Thus, I used wandering the outside world as an excuse."
"So that is the case," True Lord Green Wood said. "I wonder how this elder of my Heavenly Azure Sect offended you, to be punished by you in such a manner?"
Xu Chuan smiled and explained the entire sequence of events before adding, "My disciple and granddaughter have both achieved notable Military Merit in their recent clashes with Greedy Wolf Prefecture. Yet, after only a few years, their contributions have been forgotten.
They were even nearly slaughtered right at their own doorstep.
Daoist Friend Green Wood, if you were in my position, could you tolerate this?"
"He indeed deserves punishment, but he has been kneeling for over half a day. I believe he has realized his mistake and will not dare offend again. Why not spare him this once?"
Xu Chuan pondered for a few breaths. Glancing at the Xi Family's Golden Core elder, he flicked his sleeve and said, "Fine. Out of respect for Daoist Friend Green Wood, this True Lord will not pursue this matter further!"
"Thank you," True Lord Green Wood clasped his hands.
Xu Chuan then retracted his Magic Treasure and unsealed the Restrictions on the elder's dantian.
"Next is the matter regarding the murdered disciples of my sect. The only survivors are Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian, so I will need to take them back to the sect for investigation.
After all, this matter involves four Golden Core Aristocratic Families, as well as my Xi Family."
"Does Daoist Friend Green Wood not believe my grandson's words?" Xu Chuan raised an eyebrow.
"That is not it, but as the two of them are an engaged couple, what they say might not be the complete truth."
"There is no need for such trouble. If Daoist Friend Green Wood wishes to see, I can extract the relevant memories from my grandson. However, if the truth proves that the other families truly moved to kill my grandson, then I, Xu, will not let this end so easily.
The Huang Family, the Liu clan, the Zhuo family, and even your Xi Family will all have to pay the price!"
Pausing for a moment, Xu Chuan added, "After all, Chongfei is the sole descendant of my Xu Family line. If anything were to happen to him, I would go mad. Just a few dead Qi Refining disciples would not be nearly enough to settle it!"
His gaze was incredibly sharp as he swept it over the three elders from the Liu, Huang, and Zhuo families. "Daoist Friends, do you still wish to probe further?"
Hearing this, the three trembled all over. They all shook their heads and said, "We trust Young Master Xu's character; he wouldn't stoop to lying. Furthermore, it's perfectly normal to encounter danger while out on a mission."
"Daoist Friend Green Wood, what about you? Do you still wish to see?"
True Lord Green Wood frowned slightly. He didn't believe the Xu Family had the gall to charge into the Xi Family Land or go crazy in the Heavenly Azure Sect.
However, making an enemy out of Xu Chuan over a single Xi Family disciple simply wasn't worth it.
Moreover, he roughly knew in his heart that in all likelihood, the Xi Family disciple had struck first.
"Since Daoist Friend Withered Glory guarantees it, this True Lord naturally believes him. The threat of Greedy Wolf Prefecture is imminent. Engaging in internal strife right now is hardly a wise move. It would be better to minimize major issues and let minor ones slide.
Daoist Friend Withered Glory, what do you think?"
"Excellent, then we shall do as Daoist Friend Green Wood says."
True Lord Green Wood nodded. "The sect still has matters to handle, so it is inconvenient for this True Lord to stay long. I shall take my leave first."
"Please do, you two Daoist Friends."
True Lord Green Wood and the Xi Family's Golden Core elder instantly turned into beams of rainbow light and soared into the distance.
In the main hall.
Xu Chuan questioned Xu Chongfei and Chen Yulian.
In front of outsiders, Xu Chongfei had spoken up and shouldered all the blame, but in front of Xu Chuan and the others, he honestly recounted the entire incident.
He also handed over that thousand-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom.
It turned out that this matter was not just born out of greed for wealth, but also lust.
However, what the members of the Xi Family and the others hadn't expected was that Chen Yulian had also invited Xu Chongfei along.
If he hadn't been there, Chen Yulian would have likely been violated and then left to die in the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range.
"Your grandson has caused trouble for the Xu Family. Please punish me, Great-Grandfather."
"My Xu Family never actively provokes others, but if someone dares to provoke us, killing them is perfectly fine, not to mention they were merely at the Qi Refining stage.
If that Golden Core elder of the Xi Family hadn't come over so openly today, your great-grandfather has plenty of ways to make him die without a sound."
"Thank you, Great-Grandfather."
"Alright, take Yulian and go rest properly. We'll send her back to the Heavenly Azure Sect in a few days."
"Great-Grandfather, is it possible for Senior Sister Chen not to go back? I'm afraid the Xi Family, Liu clan, and Huang Family will target her."
"You've already taken the blame for the killings. Do you still intend to detain a disciple of another sect within our Xu Family?
The Heavenly Azure Sect has its own sect rules. She will be fine."
"But..."
"Unless you have a legitimate reason, this arrangement is inappropriate."
Xu Chongfei pondered for a few breaths. As if making up his mind, he raised his head and looked at Xu Chuan. "Great-Grandfather, Senior Sister Chen and I already have an engagement. I wish to become Dao companions with her."
Ye Fan and Xu Deyue exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into knowing, affectionate smiles.
"You've decided?" Xu Chuan smiled faintly, as if he had expected this all along.
"Yes."
"Alright, then I will send a message to Brother Chen, asking him to personally come and take Yulian back to the Chen Family. In half a month, the two of you shall become Dao companions."
"Thank you, Great-Grandfather," Xu Chongfei said joyfully, clasping his hands.
Looking a little bashful, Chen Yulian gave a slight bow. "Thank you, True Lord Withered Glory."
"Still calling me True Lord Withered Glory?"
"Thank you... Great-Grandfather."
Upon receiving the message, Chen Changge was quite astonished but equally overjoyed at the unexpected gain. He immediately hurried back to handle the matter.
Several days later, the major Golden Core families all received Invitation Cards.
However, since it was merely two Qi Refining juniors becoming Dao companions, it naturally didn't attract much attention. Therefore, they only sent Foundation Establishment elders to attend the ceremony and offer congratulations.
True Lord Green Wood was specially invited by Xu Chuan to attend as a witness.
Although he guessed Xu Chuan's intentions, he still came.
In these troubled times, the Heavenly Azure Sect naturally focused on roping in the Xu Family.
After all, Xu Chuan had achieved Core Formation over a decade ago. His strength was estimated to be completely on par with True Lord Green Wood's. While he might become a threat to the Heavenly Azure Sect in the future, at this moment in the war against Greedy Wolf Prefecture, he was an indispensable asset.
From then on, Chen Yulian resided in the Xu Family.
A single Realm-Breaking Pill allowed her to break through to Peak Qi Condensation within two days.
It even helped her purify her mana and expand her dantian's sea of qi.
'Is this how the Xu Family nurtures its core disciples in the Qi Refining stage? Even in the Heavenly Azure Sect, there probably aren't many who get to enjoy this level of treatment, right?'
Chen Yulian was inwardly astonished.
Though the two had become Dao companions, Xu Chuan mandated that they could only consummate their marriage after reaching Foundation Establishment.
After this, the Xu Family enjoyed another period of stability.
But only half a month later.
In the skies above Cloudstream Town, the celestial phenomenon abruptly changed.
At first, it was merely the clouds above the Xu Residence faintly swirling, gradually forming a vortex.
In merely an incense stick's time, the cloud vortex had expanded to over a hundred meters in diameter. As it slowly rotated, a cold, clear radiance could faintly be seen seeping from its center.
Soon after, the Spiritual Qi from all directions surged and converged as if under a royal decree, shockingly forming a visible spiritual tide vortex above the Xu Family.
The very center of the vortex was exactly where Xu Deyue was in secluded cultivation.
All the vegetation in the courtyard was coated in a layer of crystal-clear frost. The air was bitingly cold, freezing breaths into ice.
Suddenly, a clear, ringing sword cry echoed from the quiet room, piercing straight up to the firmament.
A sword gleam as bright and pure as the moon broke through the roof and hovered in the center of the cloud vortex. It erupted with brilliant light, seemingly vying for radiance with the blazing sun!
At this moment, the cloud vortex in the sky was abruptly dyed in a clear glow. As it churned and rolled, it actually transformed into a sky full of icy crystal snowflakes, cascading down in flurries.
"A Spiritual Qi vortex, a Core Formation Phenomenon?!"
"Who is about to undergo Core Formation?!"
One Cultivator after another took to the sky to observe the source of the Spiritual Qi vortex.
"The Xu Family, it really is the Xu Family!"
"Vast Cold flying snow, a bright moon in the sky. Could the person undergoing Core Formation this time be the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy', Xu Deyue?!"
"Who else could it be? With such a special phenomenon, it is undoubtedly a Divine Ability Core Formation!"
"The innate talent of the Xu Family members is simply too terrifying!"
"Indeed. Going too far is as bad as falling short. I wonder if the Heavenly Azure Sect will be unable to sit still once they learn of this!"
The news quickly spread.
The Three Sects, the seven cities, and soon the Lei Family of White Cloud Mountain, the Mo Family of the Jade Bamboo Sea, and the Heavenly Azure Sect—all received word and learned of the matter.
Xu Deyue utilized a Secret Method to directly accumulate her mana to the peak of the first layer of the Golden Core stage, completely bypassing the period of weakness.
In addition, by breaking through to the Golden Core stage, she could finally truly wield the Magic Treasure, Supreme Yin.
Supreme Yin had once been ranked as a Spirit Treasure. Even though its grade had now fallen to a High-Grade Magic Treasure, its power was still comparable to a Top-Tier Magic Treasure.
The Jade Bamboo Sea.
The Ink Jade Bamboo Forest.
"Senior Mo, I wonder how your considerations are going?" True Lord Heavenly Wolf asked.
Over the past three years, he had lobbied many Golden Core Aristocratic Families in Heavenly Azure Prefecture. Most of them merely engaged in polite prevarication, with very few truly defecting to the Greedy Wolf Sect.
However, his primary lobbying target was still the newly ascended Nascent Soul Noble Family, the Mo Family.
"As long as you agree to lend my Greedy Wolf Sect a hand, once the Heavenly Azure Sect is destroyed, the Mo Family will become the number one Aristocratic Family beneath my Greedy Wolf Sect.
The entire Heavenly Azure Prefecture could even be handed over to the Mo Family to manage."
"After the last battle, Senior Mo should be aware of the disparity in strength between both sides. Once my sect's Elder Tianluo achieves Nascent Soul Formation, even Xi Daoyun will be no match for him.
Coupled with our Sect Master, if the Heavenly Azure Sect loses in the clash of Nascent Soul experts, do you think the rest will even matter?"
Mo Wentian revealed a solemn expression.
Suddenly, his communication Token fluctuated. He probed it with his divine sense, and his pupils slightly contracted.
A moment later, he looked at True Lord Heavenly Wolf and asked, "Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf, has your Greedy Wolf Sect managed to rope in the Xu Family? How will you treat the Xu Family in the future?"
"Naturally, our primary focus is to recruit them," True Lord Heavenly Wolf replied casually. "With such words, could it be that Senior Mo is worried my Greedy Wolf Sect will value the Xu Family more?
The Mo Family has you holding the fort. So what if the Xu Family has a few Prodigies?
Wouldn't they still have to act according to your Mo Family's wishes!"
Mo Wentian stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "If the Greedy Wolf Sect truly wishes to recruit my Mo Family, do something for me."
"What is it?"
"Xu Deyue of the Xu Family has achieved Divine Ability Core Formation. Kill her, and this old man will believe in the Greedy Wolf Sect's sincerity."
"Could that message just now have been about this?"
Mo Wentian gave a slight nod.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Having just stepped into the Golden Core stage, Xu Deyue naturally wouldn't last a single round against him. However, if he killed her, the Xu Family would absolutely never surrender to the Greedy Wolf Sect.
'However, this perfectly suits my intentions.'
"It's a Deal."
"This old man's word is his bond. But if you fail, then Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf need not step through the Mo Family's doors ever again."
"Very well!"
If this succeeded, once the war between the two prefectures ignited, the Xu Family would either be wiped out or forced to flee Heavenly Azure Prefecture. Even if it failed, it would merely be the Greedy Wolf Sect's True Lord Heavenly Wolf assassinating a Prodigy of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture; it would have nothing to do with his Mo Family.
Half a month later.
Xu Deyue hosted her Golden Core Grand Ceremony.
Though unconfirmed, the majority of people believed that Xu Deyue had successfully achieved Divine Ability Core Formation.
Over a decade had passed since the Prodigy Grand Assembly. Many of the Prodigies on the Prodigy Roll had achieved Divine Ability Core Formation, while the rest remained trapped at bottlenecks, unable to advance a single inch.
"Heart Constellation City, Perfected Yan presents the thousand-year Spirit Medicine, Heavenly Yin Flower, and the top-tier third-grade spiritual material, Snow Soul Ice Crystal, to congratulate the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' on her successful Core Formation!"
"Horn Constellation City, Perfected Ximen presents three Youth-Retaining Pills, three thousand-year Spirit Medicines, and five third-grade spiritual materials, to congratulate the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' on her successful Core Formation!"
"The Green Wood Sect presents five third-grade spiritual materials and one Jade Crystal Fruit, to congratulate the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' on her successful Core Formation!"
Nearly every Golden Core faction sent representatives. However, not all were represented by a Golden Core Perfected Being; some merely sent Foundation Establishment Cultivators to deliver gifts.
In addition, several Golden Core Rogue Cultivators were also in attendance.
"The Mo Family, Perfected Mo Wenshang has arrived!"
"The Heavenly Azure Sect, True Lord Green Wood has arrived!"
Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Daoist Friend Wenshang and Daoist Friend Green Wood coming here is truly Making a Humble Home Shine for my Xu Family. Please, the two of you, quickly take your seats."
While the banquet was in full swing, a Golden Core Rogue Cultivator suddenly stood up, raising his cup, and spoke in a clear, resonant voice:
"I have long heard that the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' possesses unmatched Innate Aptitude. This humble one has been at the Golden Core stage for over a hundred years, yet my cultivation base has stagnated. Besides admiration, my heart also itches for a spar.
I wonder if the Fairy would be willing to exchange a few pointers and broaden our horizons?"
Xu Deyue's jade-like face was freezing cold, like the reflection on an icy pool. She responded with but a single word:
"Permitted."
Her voice rang out like shattering jade, completely devoid of mortal emotion.
The two of them immediately flew up, stopping in mid-air.
Seeing this, the guests at the banquet all raised their heads to watch.
However, the moment they crossed blows, this Rogue Cultivator abruptly erupted with a terrifying aura. A long halberd appeared in his hand, stabbing toward Xu Deyue like lightning.
Seeing this Weapon, True Lord Green Wood cried out in alarm, "The Heavenly Wolf Halberd! You are True Lord Heavenly Wolf?!"
A cold light flashed in Xu Deyue's eyes. Despite the sudden ambush, she did not panic. A coldly gleaming longsword materialized in her hand out of thin air.
The blade radiated the dark, cold light of Supreme Yin. Under the propulsion of her Golden Core mana, the power it unleashed was actually thirty percent more terrifying than the Heavenly Wolf Halberd in True Lord Heavenly Wolf's hands.
The pupils of Mo Wenshang and True Lord Green Wood slightly contracted, but both held their ground without making a move.
Xu Deyue swung the Supreme Yin Flying Sword, unleashing the Vast Cold Sword Art. Although it was only an introductory-level Divine Ability, when paired with Supreme Yin, it burst forth with a threatening power that approached True Lord Heavenly Wolf's.
"Boom—!"
The long halberd and Flying Sword violently clashed, the resulting explosion of light turning the area as bright as day.
Ultimately, Xu Deyue's strength was still slightly lacking. If her Divine Ability had reached major success at this time, she might have truly been able to withstand this strike.
As it was, the sword gleam shattered. The terrifying power of the long halberd caused her Qi and Blood to churn wildly. Her shoulder was grazed by the halberd's deadly aura, and crimson blood instantly stained her white clothes.
Riding the momentum, she flew back over a dozen meters. A trickle of scarlet blood leaked from the corner of her lips, a clear sign of internal injuries. Nevertheless, she had managed to take this thunderous strike.
Among the Golden Core experts present, there were likely very few who could guarantee they would survive a full-powered strike from True Lord Heavenly Wolf with such a light price.
"Heavenly Wolf, you are courting death!"
Xu Chuan attacked in a fit of absolute rage, his eyes so wide the corners might tear.
He shot into the sky, turning into a streak of azure light, and appeared in front of Xu Deyue in an instant. With a flip of his hand, the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella materialized.
The precious umbrella popped open.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Twenty-four Flying Swords flew out from the slowly rotating umbrella ribs, dancing across the sky. Under the control of Xu Chuan's hand seals, they rapidly coalesced into the Sword of the Azure Dragon!
"This power is a few degrees stronger than the last time I saw it!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf once again swung the Heavenly Wolf Halberd. A blood-red halberd gleam, as if aiming to tear the firmament apart, cleaved down toward the Sword of the Azure Dragon.
However, the halberd gleam was forcibly blocked by the azure dragon's horns.
Roar~
With an earth-shattering dragon's roar, the blood-red halberd gleam was instantly shattered to pieces. The shockwaves forced both combatants back over twenty meters.
Whether it was the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella or the Supreme Yin Flying Sword, neither were Magic Treasures that the one in True Lord Heavenly Wolf's hands could compare to.
"What kind of absurd luck does this Xu Family have?! One after another, they all possess High-Grade Magic Treasures, and none of them are ordinary goods!"
Just as he furrowed his brows, True Lord Green Wood, grasping the Myriad Wood Ruler, also charged in his direction.
Heavenly Wolf prided himself on being a cut above both True Lord Green Wood and Xu Chuan, but if the two joined forces, his only option would be to flee for his life.
"Your Xu Family is truly Rich and Overbearing, making others envious. This True Lord will not keep you company any longer!"
With a loud laugh, Heavenly Wolf immediately activated an evasion Divine Ability, transforming into a streak of blood-red light that vanished into the distance in an instant.