Outside the eastern city gates.
The fierce winds gradually subsided, and the dust slowly settled.
Only the residual, piercing sword qi and the lingering dragon might remained, silently narrating the soul-stirring, epoch-defining peak battle that had just transpired.
Countless spectators stood in absolute silence, gazing in shock at the figure standing proudly in the sky, and at the slowly plummeting body that symbolized the complete end of an era.
Every cultivator knew it.
From this moment forward, Heavenly Azure Prefecture had truly entered a brand-new chapter.
Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling looked at Xu Chuan, faint smiles unconsciously gracing their lips.
A profound sense of pride swelled within their hearts!
Several breaths later.
"He is dead?! The Ancestor of the Xi Family... Xi Daoyun has perished!"
"Heavens! True Lord Withered Glory actually slew a sword cultivator comparable to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm?!"
"Although it was a heavily injured Nascent Soul, it was still a Nascent Soul! Furthermore, the Ancestor of the Xi Family clearly used a secret method to restore his strength to his peak."
"Using the body of a Golden Core to defeat a Nascent Soul from a lower realm... Even if there are some caveats, this must be the first instance in the Northwest Region in a thousand years, right?"
"Starting today, Heavenly Azure Prefecture absolutely belongs to the Xu Family!"
"Although the entire Xi Family relocating already signaled the end of their era, seeing the Ancestor of the Xi Family fall is what finally made it feel real."
"Exactly. The glory of the Xi Family was entirely tied to their Ancestor. His death marks the true curtain call for the Xi Family! It is the true beginning of a new era for Heavenly Azure Prefecture!"
Amidst the boiling waves of voices, two streaks of light flew over from the distant mountains.
True Lord Green Wood used his mana to steadily catch Xi Daoyun's plummeting body.
Yu Qi turned to Xu Chuan with a slightly complex expression and said, "Family Head Xu, the two of us came today solely to witness the final moments of Daoist Friend Xi and to handle his posthumous affairs.
He previously promised his belongings to me. Family Head Xu would not forcefully seize them, right?"
His tone was calm as he pointed a finger, summoning the storage pouch at Xi Daoyun's waist and the top-grade flying sword that had fallen to the side into his hands.
Xu Chuan's face was slightly pale, and his aura was somewhat unsteady, yet his expression remained composed.
He smiled faintly and returned the greeting with cupped hands. "Senior Yu speaks too seriously. Since you already had an agreement, how could this junior dare to seize them? Please take them as you wish. My Xu Family has absolutely no objections."
Yu Qi gave a slight nod, his estimation of Xu Chuan rising another notch.
Next, Xu Chuan shifted his gaze to True Lord Green Wood, whose body was trembling slightly as he fought back his grief. Sighing softly, he said, "Daoist Friend Green Wood.
Within the Xi Family, you are the only one I had a fairly good relationship with.
If our two families did not stand on opposing sides, things would not have reached this point between us."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Before Senior Xi perished, he sent me a strand of divine sense transmission.
He stated that the grievances between our two families end here.
He could also be considered a senior who earned my respect, it is just a pity..."
"Since your Xi Family has decided to leave Heavenly Azure Prefecture, my Xu Family will no longer pursue the matter. I hope your Xi Family looks out for itself."
Hearing this, True Lord Green Wood's body trembled slightly again.
He took a deep look at Xu Chuan. That gaze was incredibly complex—containing hatred, relief, and even a trace of admiration.
"I will remember what Daoist Friend Withered Glory has said.
From now on, we will be worlds apart, and well water does not intrude into river water.
I still need to handle the Ancestor's posthumous affairs, so I will not stay any longer."
With that said, he did not look at anyone else. Storing Xi Daoyun's remains into a storage pouch, he transformed into a streak of azure light and headed off into the distance.
Yu Qi glanced at Xu Chuan and Moyue, his heart filled with countless emotions.
Today, he had personally witnessed the forceful rise of yet another monstrous prodigy in the cultivation world.
'This kid's disposition, strength, methods, and bearing are all top-tier.
Perhaps in a few hundred years, the Northwest Region of Heavenly South will gain another titan like the Ancestor of Profound Moon, one capable of intimidating an entire region and even influencing the grand layout of Heavenly South.
I just wonder what kind of situation will unfold between his Xu Family and the Profound Moon Sect when that time comes!'
"Family Head Xu, until we meet again."
Yu Qi cupped his hands in farewell before transforming into a streak of purple-gold light, chasing after True Lord Green Wood.
Xu Chuan watched them leave, only slowly retracting his gaze once the two streaks of light disappeared over the horizon.
Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling flew over.
Xu Chuan looked at them, then gave orders to open the city gates. The eastern gates were to resume normal operations.
"Let us go. We are returning to the residence."
Xu Chuan was concise and comprehensive.
The four of them transformed into streaks of light and flew into Cloudstream City, disappearing amidst countless gazes that remained filled with awe and shock.
Xu Residence.
Xu Chuan's courtyard.
He sat cross-legged, took out a jade bottle, and poured out a pill the size of a longan.
This pill was entirely emerald green, adorned with nine cloud patterns, and emitted a remarkable fragrance.
This was the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill. It was a premium healing pill for the Golden Core stage, and since this particular pill had reached the high grade, its effects were even more potent.
Xu Chuan swallowed one, and his injuries were mostly healed.
After quietly recuperating for another half hour, he would be fully recovered.
As for Moyue, Xu Chuan tossed him a Bone Generation Pill.
At the level of a fourth-tier great demon, there were very few pills left that could significantly affect his injuries. For ordinary wounds, he could quickly recover relying purely on his own natural healing.
However, the wounds inflicted by a Nascent Soul sword cultivator contained razor-sharp sword qi. If he relied solely on self-recovery, it would likely take months, if not longer.
Moyue swallowed the pill in one gulp, chewing on it twice like it was a jelly bean.
Unfortunately, he was just chewing on nothing.
The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, turning into a surge of pure medicinal efficacy that coursed through his limbs and bones.
The hideous scars on his body slowly closed and healed at a visible rate.
Within the Xu Residence, things were as peaceful as usual.
But the four major city districts had completely erupted.
The news of Xu Chuan defeating a Nascent Soul from a lower realm and slaying Xi Daoyun acted like the most violent hurricane. Centered around Cloudstream City, it swept toward all the surrounding towns and villages.
Countless teahouses, taverns, marketplaces, and families of all sizes were discussing this battle.
For those factions who had been observing from the sidelines, hesitating whether to head to the Heavenly Azure Sect for the meeting in a few days, hearing this news was tantamount to a thunderbolt from the highest heavens!
"We are going! We absolutely must go!"
"Even if I am heavily injured and have to be carried, I will still be there!"
The Lei Family, Mo Family, and Cang Family all rejoiced over their early alliance with the Xu Family.
This was especially true for Mo Wentian. He was also at the Nascent Soul stage, but his strength was vastly inferior to Xi Daoyun's.
However, he could also guess that Xi Daoyun had been seeking death, attempting to heavily cripple the Xu Family in the process. Unfortunately, he had failed, becoming the stepping stone for the Xu Family to firmly secure their position as the lord of Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
"Even Xi Daoyun could not break through Cloudstream City's city protection grand array. The Xu Family's foundation is as steady as Mount Tai!"
Mo Wentian muttered to himself, extinguishing the very last shred of thought he had of competing with the Xu Family.
Meanwhile.
To the east of the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range, tens of thousands of miles away in a secluded location.
It was surrounded by mountains, far from the hustle and bustle of the mortal world.
A crystal-clear mountain stream wound its way through jagged rocks, emitting a pleasant babbling sound before flowing into a deep, jade-green pool below, where a misty vapor lingered.
On the hillside by the pool, ancient trees reached toward the sky, vines hung low, and the green canopy formed a dense cover.
In the forest clearings, wildflowers bloomed vibrantly, dotted with unknown spirit grass that exuded a faint, elegant fragrance.
On the sun-facing side of the slope, there lay a patch of land clearly flattened by human hands, though it now bore the marks of long abandonment.
The remaining stone foundation strips were half-hidden beneath thick moss and withered leaves.
Several sections of collapsed dirt walls were crawling with vines. Scattered bits of broken tiles and pottery lay amidst the weeds, faintly indicating that a human settlement had once existed here.
Yet time had long since wiped away almost all its traces, leaving only the faint desolation and loneliness belonging to a mortal village.
This place was the birthplace deep within Xi Daoyun's memories.
A nameless mountain village long lost to the river of time.
He had once walked out of here, embarked on the path of immortal cultivation, weathered countless hardships, and even betrayed a former friend, ultimately ascending to the Nascent Soul realm and commanding the wind and clouds of a prefecture for over a millennium.
He had established the prosperous and powerful Xi Family.
Now, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
His dying wish was merely for his spirit to return to its homeland and rest eternally here.
True Lord Green Wood quietly arrived at this wilderness that no one cared for anymore. Flipping his hand, a wisp of pill fire rose from his palm.
It then slowly enveloped Xi Daoyun's remains.
Amidst the dancing flames, the body that had once shaken the world gradually turned into ashes and the purest specks of spiritual power.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept past, blowing his ashes to every corner of this land.
He slowly merged with these mountains, these waters, and this vegetation.
Yu Qi watched this scene quietly, a trace of deeply complex emotion flashing through his eyes. He whispered, "To think that Daoist Friend Xi was born in such a remote and obscure place.
From a backwoods youth to a Nascent Soul Ancestor who roamed unchecked for a lifetime, holding the absolute authority of a prefecture.
His life was full of ups and downs, truly worthy of being called a legend.
It is just a pity that even legends... must eventually face their final curtain."
Having finished everything, True Lord Green Wood bowed deeply to the land once more, as if bidding his final farewell to the Ancestor and to this homeland.
He straightened up. The sorrow in his eyes had been internalized, replaced by a heavy, resolute determination.
He turned to Yu Qi, formally cupping his hands. "Senior, the Ancestor's posthumous affairs are settled. For the remainder of the journey, I will have to trouble Senior for protection."
Stroking his beard, Yu Qi nodded slightly. "Naturally. I will certainly fulfill what I promised Daoist Friend Xi. Let us go. The Xi Family's convoy still requires our supervision."
The two lingered no more, transforming into streaks of light and departing.
Upon their return, the migrating convoy of the Xi Family continued forward.
The massive fleet of magic skiffs soon left the borders of Heavenly Azure Prefecture and slowly sailed into Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
A clan migration of this scale, especially with the unhidden Nascent Soul pressure permeating from the magic skiffs, naturally drew high alert and intense scrutiny from the various demonic Dao factions in Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
Along the way, quite a few demonic cultivators spied from afar, their divine senses sweeping over the fleet.
But sensing the unfathomable Nascent Soul aura, coupled with the considerable number of battle-ready Golden Core cultivators in the convoy, no one dared to step forward to obstruct or provoke them.
The news grew wings, swiftly flying to every corner of Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
Greedy Wolf Sect, Sect Master's Great Hall.
Qi Tianxiong sat high upon the main seat. Listening to his subordinate's urgent report, his brows furrowed slightly. "The Xi Family's convoy? Turning out in full force, carrying massive amounts of supplies and personnel, and marching grandly into our Greedy Wolf Prefecture?"
"Sect Master, could the Xi Family be arriving with ill intentions?"
Qi Tianxiong raised a hand and said, "No. Heavenly Azure Prefecture is currently plagued by chaos. Surrounded by a pack of wolves, the Xi Family should be too busy fending for themselves."
"Then what are they doing..." True Lord Heavenly Wolf inquired out of curiosity.
"They should be passing through the prefecture. From this commotion, it looks more like a clan migration!"
He tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. "Interesting. The Xi Family was actually forced to leave?
Some drastic change that we are unaware of must have occurred in Heavenly Azure Prefecture recently.
Heavenly Wolf, immediately dispatch elite hidden operatives to infiltrate Heavenly Azure Prefecture. At all costs, find out exactly what has happened there recently!
I wonder what trick that old ghost Xi Daoyun is playing this time!"
Toward this old rival, Qi Tianxiong always maintained a certain level of vigilance.
Ancient Nether City, the Sima Family, and other apex factions of Greedy Wolf Prefecture also received news of the Xi Family crossing the border in large numbers.
Their reactions were largely identical to the Greedy Wolf Sect's. They deployed spies one after another, intending to uncover the upheaval in Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
However, just as those spies entered the territory of Heavenly Azure Prefecture...
In Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
Before the previous storm had settled, a new wave arose.
Merely four days after the shockwave of Xi Daoyun's death rocked the entire prefecture, another major event that tugged at the nerves of every faction was already spreading like wildfire.
The Xu Family was summoning all Golden Core factions in Heavenly Azure Prefecture to gather at the Heavenly Azure Sect's mountain gate to jointly discuss the future of the prefecture!
On this day.
In front of the Heavenly Azure Sect's Council Hall.
All the elders of the Heavenly Azure Sect, including True Lord Bingqian who had been in seclusion, were invited out.
They stood in the square before the grand hall, awaiting the arrival of the major powers of Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
They were also aware that their former Grand Elder, Xi Daoyun, had perished, slain by Xu Chuan.
They all clearly understood that the future of the Heavenly Azure Sect rested entirely in Xu Chuan's hands.
A short while later.
Streaks of flowing light tore across the sky, landing in the square.
In less than half an incense stick's time, dozens of Golden Core cultivators with majestic auras had already gathered!
Arranged by their respective factions and the closeness of their relationships, they either spoke in hushed tones in groups of three or five, or stood alone quietly resting with their eyes closed. But without exception, everyone's gaze frequently swept across the void.
It was as if they were waiting for someone's arrival.
"Daoist Friend Yan, you reside in Cloudstream City. I wonder if you know when True Lord Withered Glory and his group will arrive?"
Many Golden Core ancestors from other families looked over.
"Daoist Friend Dongfang jests. How would I know? But I imagine it will be soon," the Ancestor of the Yan Family smiled faintly while stroking his beard. "After all, just about everyone has arrived."
A moment later.
A few more tyrannical auras arrived in succession.
First was an elder of the Lei Family.
Following that, the Mo Family's ancestor, Mo Wentian, and Mo Wenshang descended on streaks of light.
Almost immediately after, two azure streaks of light arrived side by side. It was none other than the Cang Family's Patriarch, Cang Fengyan, and Elder Cang Fengheng.
At this point, any faction within Heavenly Azure Prefecture guarded by a Golden Core cultivator, regardless of its size, had completely assembled.
In the square, the auras of dozens of Golden Core cultivators intertwined.
Although they deliberately restrained themselves, the combined presence still formed a formless, overwhelming pressure, causing the surrounding Heavenly Azure Sect disciples to inwardly tremble with fear.
Many of them felt intensely anxious, unsure of how the Xu Family would divvy up Heavenly Azure Prefecture and whether it would impact their own interests.
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea later.
"Roar——!!!"
A dragon's roar that shook the very clouds rang out without warning from above the highest heavens!
The sound rolled like thunder, carrying supreme true dragon pressure and majestic demonic power. It instantly enveloped the entire square, causing the ground to faintly tremble and the tiles of the hall to rattle down!
Everyone abruptly raised their heads!
Up in the incredibly high azure firmament, a massive shadow was rapidly expanding, tearing through the clouds and delivering a suffocating sense of oppression!
It was exactly the Xu Family's guardian great demon—Moyue!
Atop his broad head, several figures stood proudly, their robes fluttering in the wind as they overlooked the ground below.
The one leading them was naturally Xu Chuan.
Xu Mingxian and Xu Deling stood on either side of him.
Tens of meters to either side of the flood dragon, three other figures rode the wind in accompaniment: Chen Changge, Lei Wuji, and Tang Yuanli.