Led by Xu Chuan, dozens of Golden Core streaks of light tore through the sky like a meteor shower, arriving aggressively at the periphery of the Xi Family's clan territory.
The spiritual qi within the Xi Family clan territory was extremely dense, and at this moment, their clan protection grand array was fully activated.
A pale azure light screen shrouded the area in all directions. Runes flowed across its surface, exuding a heavy aura of defense that completely isolated the inside from the outside.
The group halted their flight and stood suspended in mid-air.
They faced the pavilions and palaces of the Xi Family from afar, separated only by the light screen.
A murderous aura permeated the area, making the very air feel stagnant.
Xu Chuan calmly swept his gaze over the shimmering clan protection grand array before speaking indifferently, "Moyue."
Standing beside him, Moyue gave a slight nod.
A trace of crimson-gold light flashed in his eyes.
"Roar!!!"
An earth-shattering dragon roar that could pierce metal and shatter stone, containing supreme majesty, suddenly exploded outward!
Moyue's figure rapidly magnified before everyone's eyes. His black robes shattered, revealing a colossal body covered in deep blue scales that faintly gleamed with a dark golden luster!
With ferocious horns on his head and four claws on his belly, he transformed into a terrifying flood dragon nearly a thousand feet long!
His massive body coiled in mid-air, casting a vast shadow below, while his dark golden vertical pupils coldly looked down upon the Xi Family clan territory.
That dragon roar was not merely a sound wave; it contained the incredibly pure pressure of a true dragon bloodline. It swept out like a tangible tide, instantly shaking an area over a radius of hundreds of miles!
The mountains echoed, and all living things submitted in fear. Even the heavy light screen of the Xi Family's clan protection grand array rippled violently under the impact, its spiritual light flickering erratically!
Inside the Xi Family clan territory.
Shocked by the sudden, terrifying dragon roar, the area instantly erupted into chaos.
"What happened? Where did that dragon roar come from?!"
"Are enemies attacking?!"
"Look at the sky! What a massive flood dragon!"
Countless low-level disciples and servants were paralyzed with terror, and those with weaker cultivation directly collapsed to the ground.
Panicked figures hurriedly flew out of their rooms and grotto-residences. Looking up at the flood dragon's body that blotted out the sun, their faces turned pale as fear permeated the crowd.
Soon after, several tyrannical auras shot into the sky from deep within the clan territory, quickly arriving high in the air at the edge of the grand array.
The two leading figures were Xi Daoyun, whose face was as dark as stagnant water, and Yu Qi, the Grand Elder of the Spirit Taming Sect, who wore a purple-gold dharma robe and carried an elegant bearing.
Behind them followed the Golden Core elders of the Xi Family.
Seeing the thousand-foot flood dragon coiled outside the array and dozens of Golden Core cultivators descending upon them, every one of them looked as if they were facing a mortal enemy, their expressions tense.
Almost at the exact moment Moyue's shapeshifting dragon roar shook the surroundings, Xi Fengyue and True Lord Green Wood, who were rushing back to the clan territory from the Heavenly Azure Sect at full speed, clearly heard it as well.
Both men abruptly halted in mid-air, their expressions instantly turning incredibly ugly.
"It is the Xu Family's shapeshifting flood dragon!" Xi Fengyue said, his voice completely dry. "They are over at the clan territory!"
"Speed up!" A fierce light flashed in Xi Muran's eyes.
Holding nothing back, the two burned their mana to push their flying speed to the absolute limit. They transformed into two streaks of light, charging desperately toward the clan territory.
A moment later, the two finally arrived.
From afar, they saw the suffocating scene above their home.
Dozens of Golden Core cultivators formed an array in the sky, their auras linking together like dark clouds pressing down.
Familiar faces such as Xu Chuan, Mo Wentian, and Lei Wuji were visibly present. Above them coiled a thousand-foot flood dragon, radiating overwhelming demonic might.
Meanwhile, their own ancestor, Xi Daoyun, and Senior Yu Qi from the central region were leading their group in a standoff against the enemy.
Xu Chuan's divine sense was incredibly sharp. He immediately noticed the hurried return of Xi Fengyue and True Lord Green Wood.
A half-smile appeared on his face as his gaze fell upon the ashen True Lord Green Wood. He called out loudly, "Daoist Friend Green Wood, so you two were not in the clan territory?
Rushing over so frantically from the direction of the sect... could it be that you were chased here?"
These words carried obvious mockery, stabbing right at True Lord Green Wood's sore spot.
True Lord Green Wood's expression darkened further. He snorted coldly but did not engage in a verbal battle with Xu Chuan.
With a flash, he passed through his clan protection grand array, flying to the sides of Xi Daoyun and Yu Qi, and quickly informed them of what had happened in the Heavenly Azure Sect via divine sense transmission.
Hearing this, cold light exploded from Xi Daoyun's eyes.
A sliver of his Nascent Soul pressure leaked out uncontrollably, causing several nearby Golden Core cultivators of the Xi Family to feel their breath catch in their throats.
His icy gaze bypassed the crowd and locked firmly onto Xu Chuan. His voice was like ten-thousand-year-old glacial ice. "Xu Chuan! Just what do you intend to do?!"
At the same time, Yu Qi did not pay much attention to Xu Chuan. Instead, his gaze was fixed intently on the thousand-foot flood dragon in the sky, carrying undisguised marvel and fervor.
'Its true dragon bloodline is actually so dense that it can unleash true dragon pressure. No wonder it has the potential for shapeshifting,'
Yu Qi praised inwardly. 'It is also no wonder Daoist Friend Xi is so wary. Although it has just entered the Shapeshifting stage, its strength is formidable. I fear even an ordinary mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would have a hard time dealing with it.'
'However, the Xu Family is backed by the Ancestor of Profound Moon. This matter is truly troublesome.'
Upon seeing Moyue, Yu Qi felt the urge to tame and subdue him, but he was cautious of the relationship between the Xu Family and the Ancestor of Profound Moon, so he did not dare to act rashly.
Only a moment later.
The group of elders from the Heavenly Azure Sect also arrived.
It could be said that at this moment, nearly seventy or eighty percent of the Golden Core cultivators in Heavenly Azure Prefecture were gathered here.
Aside from the War of the Two Prefectures and the last appearance of the Connate Secret Realm, a Golden Core gathering of this scale was an incredibly rare sight.
Seeing this scene, they were all startled.
Could it be that today was the battle for the hegemony of Heavenly Azure Prefecture?
"It seems everyone has arrived." Xu Chuan smiled lightly at Xi Daoyun. "Senior Xi, it is not a matter of what I want to do, but rather, what does your Xi Family intend to do?"
"So what if you found out? Could it be that you would rather fight to the bitter end with my Xi Family than allow us to leave?
Doing so benefits neither of our families," Xi Daoyun retorted.
"Not at all." Xu Chuan gave a faint smile. "Today, I came specifically to see everyone in the Xi Family off. It is just that when you leave, you must leave one thing behind."
"What thing?" Xi Daoyun frowned.
"Your Xi Family's resources!"
"Xu Chuan, do not push things too far! These resources belong entirely to my Xi Family!"
"Is that so? Then you might as well ask the various Daoist friends of the Heavenly Azure Sect if they agree."
Elder Chihuo stepped forward and demanded, "First Elder, I, Chihuo, will just ask one question: did you transfer the sect's resources?"
True Lord Green Wood remained silent.
"It seems it is true."
Golden Core Elder Liu said, "First Elder, the Heavenly Azure Sect is not the sole property of your Xi Family. True Lord Withered Glory is right. You can go, but the resources must stay!"
In an instant, more than half of the Heavenly Azure Sect elders aligned themselves with Xu Chuan.
The rest were also filled with disappointment.
"Senior Xi, look, it is not that I am preventing your Xi Family from leaving," Xu Chuan said, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.
Yu Qi's eyes narrowed. 'This boy's methods of manipulating hearts are truly formidable,' he thought to himself.
'However, how did he know the Xi Family was planning to relocate?'
'Could there be a spy for the Xu Family within the Xi Family?'
'Such a team that leaks information from all sides is definitely not easy to lead.'
At this time, Xu Chuan looked toward Yu Qi and smiled slightly. "May I ask how to address this senior? If I am not mistaken, you must be here to escort Senior Xi."
Hearing Xu Chuan's words, Mo Wentian also noticed him. Sweeping his divine sense over the man, he exclaimed, "Nascent Soul stage!"
The crowd went into an uproar.
Yu Qi looked at Xu Chuan. "I am Yu Qi, from the central region of Heavenly South, Spirit Taming Sect!"
As soon as his words fell, all the Golden Core cultivators present shuddered.
Even Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian's pupils contracted slightly.
"The Spirit Taming Sect... that is the strongest beast taming sect in the Heavenly South! It is also a top-tier Nascent Soul sect, second only to the five great powers like the Azure Cloud Sect, Pure Void Temple, and Feather Transformation Sect."
A Golden Core cultivator who had once traveled to the central region of Heavenly South cried out in shock!
"So it is Senior Yu. This junior pays his respects," Xu Chuan said, cupping his fists.
"Daoist Friend Xu, Heavenly Azure Prefecture is already in your Xu Family's pocket. It would be best for everyone to avoid further conflict. Why not just let the Xi Family leave?"
"For senior's sake, this junior can allow the Xi Family to leave, provided they leave behind seventy percent of their resources. However, the spirit veins here cannot be taken away."
"Daoist Friend Xu, you are going a bit too far," Yu Qi said, frowning.
"Senior Yu, you are ultimately just an escort. It is best not to interfere too deeply... Wait, could it be that your Spirit Taming Sect wants to step foot into our Northwest region?"
Xu Chuan chuckled. "If that is the case, Mingxian, the next time you return to your sect, please help your father inform Senior Zhang and tell him to be careful."
"Yes, Father. Your son will do so," Xu Mingxian replied, cupping his hands.
Yu Qi's pupils abruptly shrank, and his expression shifted slightly. Forcing a smile, he said, "Daoist Friend Xu, do not joke around. My Spirit Taming Sect has no such intentions.
My trip here is entirely due to the past friendship between Daoist Friend Xi and myself.
After all, I once owed Daoist Friend Xi a favor that I have to repay."
"I see."
Xu Chuan nodded slightly.
Unknowingly, Yu Qi, a mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse, had been faintly placed at a disadvantage.
He could not possibly drag the Spirit Taming Sect into this muddy water just for his friendship with Xi Daoyun.
Xi Daoyun also understood this.
"Senior Xi, I wonder what your decision is?"
After pondering for a long while.
Xi Daoyun scanned the lineup in the sky. Even if he were at his peak and fought alongside Yu Qi, at best, only the two of them would be able to escape.
The Nascent Soul stage was indeed powerful.
But if over a dozen Golden Core cultivators combined their attacks, it was not impossible to injure them.
After all, the defensive light screen of a high-grade defensive magic treasure had its limits.
And among them, Xu Chuan was in a league of his own, capable of sweeping aside anyone in the Xi Family.
Xu Deling—he had heard True Lord Green Wood mention her. Her strength was already comparable to a Golden Core Perfection cultivator who had achieved great accomplishment in their divine abilities.
If she unleashed a bloodline secret art, she could temporarily hold off two people of that level.
If they fought.
Today would be the day the entire Xi Family was wiped out.
He closed his eyes, his inward fury toward Xu Chuan surging to an infinite peak. When he opened his eyes again, he simply stated plainly, "I accept your terms."
"Senior Xi is righteous."
"But I also have a condition. You must not harm anyone from my Xi Family present here."
Xu Chuan replied, "As long as they do not attack this junior, this junior will naturally not bicker with them. Of course, this only applies while they are within Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
If we encounter each other in the future, it is hard to say."
"Muran, Fengyue, the two of you go and fetch seventy percent of our resources."
"Yes, Ancestor."
They felt incomparably aggrieved in their hearts.
They finally experienced how others felt when facing the Xi Family.
Whenever many minor families, rogue cultivators, or even some Golden Core aristocratic families had conflicts with the Xi Family's powers and properties, they too felt exactly like this.
When standing under someone else's eaves, one had no choice but to bow their head.
And after bowing their head, they still had to accompany it with a smiling face.
Xu Chuan coming here today could have resulted in battle, or it could have not.
As the faction controlling Heavenly Azure Prefecture, it was natural to have majesty, but being too tyrannical and unreasonable would only invite resentment.
An incense stick's time later.
True Lord Green Wood handed a high-grade storage pouch to Xi Daoyun.
Xi Daoyun scanned it with his divine sense before tossing it to Xu Chuan, stating chillingly, "Are you satisfied now?"
Xu Chuan also probed it with his divine sense.
Inside was a dazzling array of low, mid, and high-grade resources and various materials. There were even spirit veins.
"Senior Xi is straightforward. Then please have the Xi Family depart today."
Xu Chuan sent them off with a smile, but everyone present felt a chill in their hearts upon seeing it.
"Muran, arrange for everyone to prepare for departure!"
"Yes, Ancestor."
Reaching this state of affairs, their options were either to fight to the death and have the entire clan annihilated, Or leave in a hurry, live frugally from now on, and slowly accumulate their family's resources and heritage once more.
However, without a Nascent Soul powerhouse holding the fort, they feared that even if given another thousand years, they wouldn't be able to amass a third of what they just handed over to Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan sat cross-legged atop Moyue's head, watching quietly. Standing behind him were Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling.
The rest of the group flanked the flood dragon on both sides, all silently watching the Xi Family frantically hustle.
Inwardly, they secretly warned themselves to absolutely never cross the Xu Family, lest they end up in the exact same predicament in the future.
That was correct. This was also one of Xu Chuan's goals in summoning them here—
To establish an impression in their minds that the Xu Family was invincible.
Even the Xi Family, which had run rampant across Heavenly Azure Prefecture for a thousand years, was reduced to this state. Let alone them!
Several hours later.
The sun set in the west, and the remaining sunlight was as red as blood.
The crowd sighed with emotion as they watched over a dozen magic skiffs head off toward the western horizon.
The sun had set.
An entire era in Heavenly Azure Prefecture had also completely come to an end.
Xu Mingxian watched quietly and transmitted his voice, "Father, they are gone. Do you think Xi Daoyun will still come back to kill you?"
"He will," Xu Chuan replied simply.
"Then should we..."
"No need. After today, no one will dare provoke the Xu Family's status in Heavenly Azure Prefecture for at least a century. The rest is simply a matter between our Xu Family and Xi Daoyun."
A brief moment passed.
The fleet of the Xi Family's magic skiffs also vanished into the fading sunlight.
The massive Xi Family clan territory was now completely abandoned.
Xu Chuan chuckled lightly. "Fellow Daoists, since you accompanied me here today, it is only right that I express my gratitude. Once my Xu Family extracts the spirit veins here, I will present you with your remuneration."
"Senior Mo, Elder Lei, I will have to trouble you to make a move."
The two nodded and immediately arranged for people to extract the spirit veins from the area.
Two hours later.
More than a dozen spirit veins were completely extracted.
During this process, countless buildings collapsed, massive fissures cracked open the earth, and mountain peaks crumbled.
"Daoist Friend Xu, there is a total of one Tier 4 low-grade water-element spirit vein, three Tier 3 high-grade spirit veins, one Tier 3 mid-grade, two Tier 3 low-grade, and ten Tier 2 spirit veins here."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Xu Chuan collected the spirit veins, then took out some Tier 3 spirit medicines and materials, gifting them to the cultivators present.
As for the Mo Family and Lei Family, they each received a Tier 2 high-grade spirit vein.
Seeing this, the elders of the Heavenly Azure Sect looked on with envy. Elder Chihuo asked, "True Lord Withered Glory, does our Heavenly Azure Sect get a share?"
"Fellow Daoists, it was not I who invited you here." Xu Chuan smiled. "However, you all should have clearly understood what happened today. How do you think your Heavenly Azure Sect should handle itself going forward?"
They looked at each other in dismay.
"Let us end things here for today. In seven days, my Xu Family will invite all Golden Core powers within Heavenly Azure Prefecture to gather at the Heavenly Azure Sect to discuss the prefecture's future.
Please remember to help me spread the word, fellow Daoists.
If they choose not to come..."
Xu Chuan let out a soft chuckle and tapped his foot against the scales beneath him. "Let's go, Moyue."
Moyue swept a glance over them and let out a dragon roar before departing with the three members of the Xu Family.
The others also dispersed one after another.