Inside the Ancient Battlefield.
The Clan Genealogy in Xu Chuan's sea of consciousness suddenly began to tremble.
'What is happening?'
Xu Chuan's heart skipped a beat as he hurriedly checked it.
He discovered that the light surrounding Xu Mingwei's name was flickering erratically, visibly dimming right before his eyes.
'Just what did Mingwei do? How could he trigger the Clan Genealogy to tremble?!'
Xu Chuan's train of thought shifted, and his expression drastically changed. "This is bad, something must have happened in Dongxi!" he muttered.
"Heavenly Secret Dao Derivation!"
Through his deductions, he figured out that the demon race had invaded Dongxi, and that Dongxi was showing signs of utter destruction.
'A false alarm with some casualties.'
As for Xu Mingwei, even without deducing it, Xu Chuan knew that he was definitely fighting for his life.
'With Scarlet Dragon Child and Mo Wentian there, unless the three great Demon Lords of the Hundred Thousand Mountains invaded together, Xu Mingwei wouldn't be pushed to this extent.
If Dongxi is destroyed, it seems our foundation there has already been laid to waste in the battle.
However, the Xu family's most important resources and inheritances have all been gathered inside the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven. At worst, some spirit fields, buildings, and the medicine garden at the Jade Cold Pool have been destroyed.
The rest doesn't matter much, but it would be quite a pity if the medicine garden at the Jade Cold Pool is ruined.'
Xu Chuan let out a soft sigh.
At least within Azure Dragon Prefecture, there weren't many Golden Core aristocratic families whose medicine gardens could surpass the one at the Jade Cold Pool.
'Fortunately, the Withered Glory Tree had already been moved into the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven. If it had been destroyed, I wouldn't even know where to find another one.'
Through his deductions and own analysis.
Xu Chuan had roughly guessed the situation occurring in Dongxi.
However, what he didn't expect was that Xu Mingwei could actually trigger the Clan Genealogy.
'Right, the prayer.'
In the very beginning, when Xu Mingwei and the others were recorded into the genealogy, they had to actively offer a drop of blood. To be bestowed an innate talent, they also needed to recite a prayer to trigger the Clan Genealogy.
Only then could Xu Chuan distribute the innate talents.
But later, after it upgraded, the descendants of the Xu family no longer needed to go through such a process.
This also led to a situation where none of them knew this prayer.
'To trigger the Clan Genealogy... just what did Mingwei do? Even burning his essence blood and lifespan wouldn't go this far.
Unless... it's Providence!'
Xu Chuan's expression drastically changed. "Is he trying to sever his own cultivation path?!"
He could even guess just how furious Xu Mingwei must be right now.
"Stone, oh Stone, just to injure them, is it really worth risking your life?!"
"Where does that leave the high hopes I've placed in you!"
If Xu Mingwei continued to grow, he would undoubtedly secure a place among the future Great Cultivators of the Xu family.
Even if he fell slightly short, Xu Chuan would try every possible method to help him become a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator!
If the Great Changes in Heaven and Earth occurred by then, breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage wouldn't be impossible either.
But now, just to injure Tier 4 Demon Lords, he had severed his own cultivation path and put his life on the line.
Even knowing why Xu Mingwei did this, Xu Chuan still felt it was unwise.
Let alone injuring them, even killing a Demon Lord wouldn't be worth it!
In Xu Chuan's heart, the lives of three Tier 4 Demon Lords couldn't even compare to Xu Mingwei's cultivation path!
'He's grown up after all. He has his own path and his own convictions now.'
Xu Chuan's heart was heavy.
But he didn't blame Xu Mingwei; instead, his anger was directed more towards the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
'Hundred Thousand Mountains... Good, very good. By severing the cultivation path of a future Great Cultivator of my Xu clan, the enmity between us is now truly irreconcilable!'
The matters concerning the Land of Imprisonment weren't something the Hundred Thousand Mountains alone could decide.
They had become herders simply because they happened to be the closest.
If there were immense benefits, Xu Chuan wouldn't have minded sparing a portion of the demonic beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
But now, they had destroyed the Dongxi Xu Clan.
This was equivalent to wiping out a century of the Xu clan's hard work and foundation.
If Xu Chuan hadn't started fresh early on and carved out a territory in Heavenly South...
If Xu Mingxian hadn't comprehended the teleportation formation...
...then the current Xu family would have likely been utterly annihilated, their foundation completely severed, with only a few of their Golden Core cultivators left alive.
Afterward, Xu Chuan deduced Xu Mingwei's situation again.
Upon concluding that he wouldn't die, he breathed a sigh of relief.
'Even if one grasps heavenly secrets, it is impossible to calculate everything in this world!'
In the Land of Imprisonment.
Dongxi.
The Golden Core within Xu Mingwei's body was currently like glazed glass thrown into raging flames, bursting from the inside with an ultimate, dazzling pale-gold light!
This light wasn't warm; rather, it carried a scorching heat capable of incinerating everything.
His mana, vast as the sea, ignited like a fuel depot, explosively boiling over!
A pale-golden flame burned across the surface of his body.
Xu Mingwei's aura began to climb steadily, his presence growing stronger and stronger.
Mid-Stage Golden Core, Late-Stage Golden Core, Golden Core Perfection!
"Whoosh—"
The heaven and earth spiritual qi within a twenty-kilometer radius frantically converged toward Xu Mingwei.
His aura pierced straight into the clouds.
The cloud layers in the sky were churned, forming a massive vortex with him at the center.
The sunlight was distorted and obscured; the world itself changed color in response.
This aura was incredibly astonishing and utterly abrupt.
Tens of thousands of kilometers away, the Nascent Soul cultivators from the Blackwater Region and Heavenly South stationed at the periphery of the Azure Sea Forest snapped open their eyes from their meditation, gazing over.
"This aura... could someone be undergoing Nascent Soul Formation?" a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator wondered aloud.
"It doesn't seem like it. Going from weak to strong in a single step looks more like the execution of a powerful secret method for a desperate, life-and-death battle."
"Interesting. To think there is such a Golden Core figure who actually didn't enter the Ancient Battlefield. I wonder which family this prodigy belongs to!"
The person's tone sounded like a question, but it carried more of a mocking undertone.
Mocking them for lacking even the courage to enter the Ancient Battlefield.
The surroundings remained dead silent.
No one replied.
The expedition to the Ancient Battlefield was nearing its end.
Everyone was waiting for the return of their disciples and clan members.
The harvest from this trip, while not absolute, would to some extent dictate the future rise and fall of several factions.
Dongxi.
The frenzy of spiritual qi calmed down after a brief moment.
The continuous climb of Xu Mingwei's aura finally came to a halt.
He stood suspended in the air.
His black robes fluttered noisily in the wind. His originally pitch-black hair had now turned as pale as frost and snow, whipping wildly in the gale.
However, since he had consumed a Youth-Retaining Pill in the past, his face didn't appear aged.
His eyes were as bright as the morning stars, yet as deep and profound as freezing pools.
"So... is this my innate talent?"
Xu Mingwei could clearly feel his innate talent—the strength, the speed, and that special pair of Hawk Eyes.
He lowered his head to look at his palms, clenching them empty a couple of times.
"My physical strength is nearly at the fourth-tier. My mana seems to be just a sliver away from matching a Nascent Soul cultivator, but it's practically on par.
My divine soul is unprecedentedly powerful, and my thoughts have never been this clear."
Xu Mingwei looked toward the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord, his pupils shrinking slightly.
With a flash of golden radiance in his pale-gold pupils, he instantly spotted several of the opponent's weak points.
They were likely places previously injured by either himself or Mo Wentian.
They just hadn't been clearly visible because they were concealed by feathers.
"Father once said that divine abilities can be combined, and upon reaching perfection, one can condense a Dharma Idol Phantom. The same should apply to innate talents!"
"Using mana as the body, 'strength' as the bones, 'Hawk Eyes' as the pupils, and 'speed' for empowerment!"
"Innate Talent Phantom, condense!"
In an instant.
The winds and clouds surged violently around Xu Mingwei once more.
A phantom over twenty meters tall rapidly took shape.
Its facial features were indistinct, but its posture was identical to Xu Mingwei's current stance.
Drawing the bow, nocking an arrow!
Although the phantom held no physical bow or arrow, it exuded a fierce intent—to draw the bow but not shoot the arrow, bearing an imposing aura capable of piercing through all things!
"A Dharma Idol Phantom?!"
"No, that's not right!"
Scarlet Dragon Child immediately rebutted, internally shocked: 'Just what exactly did this kid comprehend?!'
Mo Wentian felt the exact same way.
"Nine Nether Sparrow! Do you dare to fight?!"
Xu Mingwei's white hair whipped wildly, his voice ringing out like the clanging sound of metal.
Gone was every trace of his previous anxiety and despair, replaced only by cold killing intent and an indomitable war intent.
He slowly raised the Treasure Flood Dragon Bow in his hands.
The dragon motifs along the bow's body seemed to come alive, letting out an excited hum.
The Innate Talent Phantom behind him mirrored his movements synchronously.
Opposite him.
For the first time, a solemn expression appeared in the eyes of the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord.
The opponent's aura actually made him feel threatened!
He shrank his massive form down to around thirty meters to make dodging easier.
"Cheap parlor tricks! Die!"
The Nine Nether Sparrow screeched sharply, opening his giant beak and flapping his wings.
He activated his innate divine ability once more.
The Nine Nether Black Wind transformed into the shape of a Nine Nether Sparrow, rushing toward Xu Mingwei like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"Five Elements Rotation, Demon Extermination and Evil Dispelling—Five Elements Demon-Slaying Arrow!"
Xu Mingwei drew his bow like a full moon, frantically pouring pale-golden mana from his fingertips.
The five-element attribute Nine Origin Heavenly Star Arrow was nocked on the string.
Brilliant lights of five colors—gold, green, blue, red, and yellow—bloomed and flowed into one another, birthing a profoundly mysterious state.
The arrow shot forth like a dragon, not flying in a straight line.
Instead, it carved a profound trajectory through the air.
Ultimately, the five arrow streams merged into a massive three-meter-long arrow radiating five-colored light.
Furthermore, it fused with the five-colored arrow fired by the Innate Talent Phantom!
Thrum-thrum-thrum~
The might of the five-colored arrow instantly multiplied several times over.
Xu Mingwei's original attack already possessed the power of an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator wielding a high-grade magic treasure.
Elevated once more, it actually radiated a terrifying destructive force no less than a full-power strike from a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Scarlet Dragon Child, the Zhuyan Demon Lord, the Suanni Demon Lord, and Mo Wentian were all deeply astonished.
The Nine Nether Sparrow manifested from the Nine Nether Black Wind collided with the five-colored arrow.
A terrifying shockwave of air swept outward in all directions.
However, this arrow was still slightly inferior to the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord's innate divine ability.
Of course, the residual energy of the attack failed to harm Xu Mingwei, who easily dodged it.
His speed truly embodied Swift Wind Chasing Lightning, dodging and weaving like arcs of electricity.
"Take another arrow! Seven Stars Suppressing Demons!"
This move mirrored the Big Dipper constellation. By overlapping with the attack of the Innate Talent Phantom again, its power surged explosively.
The Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord unleashed his innate divine ability once more.
This time, the two attacks were evenly matched.
"Nine Stars in a Row, Cloud Piercing and Sky Traversing!"
This was another archery divine ability created by Xu Mingwei himself.
His movements were as smooth as flowing water, as if he had practiced them thousands of times.
The bowstring snapped repeatedly. Nine Nine Origin Heavenly Star Arrows chained together like nine connected stars, flying at speeds that surpassed the limits of divine sense perception.
They pierced straight through the Nine Nether Sparrow's attack and punched right through his left wing.
"This feeling!"
Xu Mingwei's mind stirred; it was as if he had grasped onto something profound.
He had experienced this feeling before while practicing archery, but right now, it was tens or even a hundred times clearer.
Having used multiple major moves in succession, Xu Mingwei's face turned slightly pale.
"Damn it!"
The Nine Nether Sparrow glanced at the gaping wound on his left wing. The flowing blood instantly sent him into a violent rage.
He let out an ear-piercing shriek.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of black wind blades instantly formed, shooting down toward Xu Mingwei like a torrential rain.
Golden radiance flared in Xu Mingwei's pupils.
It was as if the speed of all incoming attacks had slowed to a crawl.
Under the storm of raining wind blades, he moved like he was taking a leisurely stroll, effortlessly dodging every single attack.
At this moment, Xu Mingwei's physical strength was not weak.
But he was an archer; he always maintained a certain distance from the Nine Nether Sparrow.
Even when the demon lord flapped his wings to close the distance, Xu Mingwei would rapidly evade.
It should have been the Nine Nether Sparrow relying on his speed to bully others. Yet right now, in terms of close-quarters dodging and maneuvering, Xu Mingwei was not the slightest bit inferior to him.
Of course, in a straight-line flight, he definitely couldn't match an avian demonic beast like the Nine Nether Sparrow.
The Suanni Demon Lord, having observed the battle for a moment, also found the current Xu Mingwei incredibly troublesome.
Although he was certain this state couldn't be maintained for long, it was best to eliminate the threat quickly to avoid unexpected variables.
A vicious glint flashed in the Suanni Demon Lord's eyes. He abruptly opened his mouth, blasting a thick beam of pale-gold thunder—as wide as a barrel—straight toward Xu Mingwei's back!
"Little Friend Xu, look out!"
Mo Wentian had been closely monitoring the battlefield the entire time.
Upon noticing the Suanni Demon Lord's intentions, he flashed into position, bringing his Black Tortoise Shield behind Xu Mingwei.
He blocked the incoming strike with the Black Tortoise Shield.
"BOOM-CRACK!"
The pale-gold thunder brutally slammed into the Black Tortoise Shield!
The already heavily damaged shield let out an overwhelmed wail. The cracks on its surface instantly expanded and spread, and its spiritual light thoroughly dimmed.
While it hadn't completely shattered, it was no different from a half-ruined magic treasure.
Mo Wentian inadvertently caught some of the scattered electrical arcs.
He immediately coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his aura plummeting in an instant.
After all, this was the Suanni Demon Lord's innate divine ability. Its might was absolutely no weaker than the Nine Nether Black Wind.
"Fellow Daoist Mo!"
Scarlet Dragon Child's expression changed slightly. He instantly formed hand seals, causing the Scarlet Dragon Treasure Orb to burst with brilliant light.
It transformed into a crimson light that enveloped Mo Wentian and brought him safely to the ground.
The Suanni Demon Lord glared viciously at Mo Wentian.
But since Mo Wentian was currently protected by the Scarlet Dragon Treasure Orb, there was nothing he could do.
Xu Mingwei glanced at the Suanni Demon Lord and spoke coldly, "So this is the limit of your petty tricks."
"Fighting one against two? What does it matter!"
He let out a long howl and executed his movement technique.
He left behind streaks of black afterimages in the air, his speed astonishingly fast.
His bowstring vibrated ceaselessly as arrows shot forth, simultaneously assaulting both demons.
The Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord no longer refused the Suanni Demon Lord's aid, and the two joined forces to attack.
The three continually dodged and clashed mid-air. Before long, their battle shifted over the Qingjiang County Seat, and shortly after, to a barren wilderness.
He stopped using major ultimate moves, relying instead on standard attacks to search for that mysterious and abstruse state during the battle.
His current attacks posed a significant threat to them.
Coupled with a speed that was not inferior to theirs.
Therefore, even working together, they couldn't take down Xu Mingwei in the short term.
'The Dao of the Arrow... what is the Dao of the Arrow?'
Amidst the fierce battle, Xu Mingwei's mind entered a bizarre, ethereal state of absolute clarity.
All his past understandings of archery surged within his sea of consciousness.
From the moment he started practicing archery, a hundred years had passed!
All sorts of enlightenments, whimsical ideas, and inspirations constantly emerged, colliding and merging.
'Among all martial arts in the world, only true speed cannot be broken.'
'The Dao of the Arrow is especially so.'
'Speed is its lifeblood. As long as it is fast enough—fast enough that the enemy's divine sense cannot catch it, fast enough that space itself seems to overlap...'
He shot arrow after arrow.
'No, it's still not fast enough!'
'It needs to be faster!'
'Faster!'
'Faster!'
In an instant.
A profoundly mysterious and abstruse intent welled up.
Struck by a flash of inspiration, Xu Mingwei executed the Nine Stars in a Row once more, wrapping this newfound intent around the nine arrows.
Seeing Xu Mingwei taking aim at him, the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord immediately tried to dodge.
But he only heard the twang of the bowstring.
The next second.
A rain of blood spilled over the earth.
The Suanni Demon Lord's face was filled with horror, entirely forgetting to attack for a brief moment.
"SKREEE!!!"
The Nine Nether Sparrow abruptly let out a shrill, agonizing wail of extreme pain.
His left wing had been cleanly torn off by Xu Mingwei's strike and was now plummeting toward the ground.
Losing a wing in agonizing pain, the Nine Nether Sparrow's massive body lost its balance in mid-air, swaying violently. His demonic aura instantly fell into chaos and plummeted!
Xu Mingwei exhaled a long breath.
He prepared to attack the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord once more.
Seeing this, the Suanni Demon Lord instantly swiped his claws, forming a web of lightning that crashed down over Xu Mingwei.
Xu Mingwei had no choice but to shift his position and evade.
Following that, he watched as the Suanni Demon Lord transformed into a streak of lightning, grabbing the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord and fleeing far into the distance.
Xu Mingwei's body swayed slightly. He collected his spoils of war and closely gave chase.
"Zhuyan, Nine Nether is heavily injured! Let's go!"
The Zhuyan Demon Lord, who was currently fighting Scarlet Dragon Child, saw the Nine Nether Sparrow's miserable state, and his expression drastically changed.
"How is that possible? Below the level of a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator, how could anyone severely injure Nine Nether to this extent?!"
"I don't know what that human did either. I only know that his arrow was so fast it couldn't be dodged. It had just been fired, but it seemed to disappear entirely, and then Nine Nether's left wing was ripped off."
"Although he can't maintain that state for long, if he manages to shoot another arrow by chance—and this time it hits a head instead of a wing—we will truly perish here."
Zhuyan glanced at the sweating Scarlet Dragon Child, then at the severely injured and pale Mo Wentian. He immediately beat his chest and let out a furious roar.
"Dammit! Even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't stop us, yet we are being forced to retreat by a mere Golden Core!"
"That man burned a massive amount of lifespan. He doesn't have long to live, and his cultivation path is completely severed. Forcing the fall of such a monstrous human genius means our trip wasn't completely in vain!
After all, if he were allowed to grow and truly step into the Nascent Soul realm, and if he thoroughly mastered that move, he might even be able to rival Great Cultivators!"
Swish!
Another arrow came whistling over.
The Suanni Demon Lord, still harboring lingering trauma, immediately dodged.
Zhuyan no longer hesitated, and together with the Suanni Demon Lord, they carried the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord away.
Just a few breaths later.
Xu Mingwei's figure arrived at the scene.
He watched their retreating figures, not intending to pursue them.
Although he failed to kill them, leaving behind a wing of the Tier 4 shapeshifting Demon Lord Nine Nether Sparrow meant he had something to present to Xu Chuan.
"Though... Father will probably scold me mercilessly," he murmured aloud.
He had already prepared himself to be severely reprimanded by Xu Chuan.
Merely a moment later.
The aura radiating from Xu Mingwei began to plummet rapidly.
An aura of decline even began to coil around his body.
Mo Wentian gazed at the figure in the sky, as if he were seeing Xu Chuan himself.
'As long as the Xu family exists, my Mo family will never have a chance to rise to the top. However, it's not entirely impossible for us to ride their coattails to greater heights!'
As for Scarlet Dragon Child, he sighed in lament. "Another monstrous genius of a prodigy. It's just a pity he'll fall so early."
That aura of decline could not be hidden from the senses of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
In this battle, Xu Mingwei had clearly burned much more than five hundred years of his lifespan.
With the appearance of the aura of decline, his remaining lifespan wouldn't exceed twenty to thirty years.
But Xu Mingwei had no regrets.
His gaze swept over the devastated landscape of Dongxi, revealing deep sorrow.
"The Thousand-Year Great Tribulation... indeed, no power can avoid it!"
"In the eyes of others, our Dongxi Xu Clan probably suffered a complete clan extermination just like the rest of those factions."
Xu Mingqing and the others wouldn't reappear in Dongxi again.
Once everything was concluded, they would simply be teleported directly to Cloudstream City in Azure Dragon Prefecture to settle down.
Scarlet Dragon Child put away his magic treasure and flew over to Xu Mingwei. Mo Wentian also wobbled over.
Looking at Xu Mingwei's head of white hair, both couldn't help but sigh inwardly with pity.
"Little Friend Xu, do not be overly grieved. At the very least, the vast majority of your Dongxi Xu Clan's Golden Core cultivators are inside the Ancient Battlefield. They are the true surviving foundation of your Xu family.
As long as they return safely.
In less than a few decades, your Xu family will flourish with people once more, branching out like a leafy tree!"
Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. 'The Golden Core cultivators of my Xu family haven't acted as breeding studs for many years!'
'Relying on them... we'd probably be waiting hundreds of years.'
Mo Wentian also consoled him, "Fellow Daoist Scarlet Dragon Child is exactly right. The fate of your Dongxi Xu lineage is not your fault.
Even when the First Elder returns, he will not blame you."
Hearing this, Xu Mingwei cupped his fists toward the two. "Seniors, thank you both so much for lending a hand this time. This junior expresses his deepest gratitude!
They shouldn't come back again. The two of you should get some proper rest."
Scarlet Dragon Child and Mo Wentian exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. They found a large boulder nearby, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate and recuperate.
Xu Mingwei simultaneously swallowed a high-grade Jade Void Pill and a high-grade Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill.
Four hours later, he stopped cultivating.
Instead, he walked through Dongxi, eventually arriving at its only remaining intact area—the Jade Cold Pool.
The restrictions here had been mostly destroyed.
He looked at the medicine garden that Xu Chuan had painstakingly cultivated from scratch over the years, the entire garden full of spirit grass, and the scattered bamboo huts.
These bamboo huts had been built from nothing, gradually increasing in number.
They were witnesses to the Xu family's rise!
A moment later.
He remembered something and immediately sent a message to Xu Mingqing, "The Demon Lords have retreated. All is well. Stay where you are for a period of time.
Wait until Father returns before making any arrangements."
Pausing briefly, he added, "Make sure everything is organized properly. Do not let any chaos arise."
Shortly after.
Xu Mingqing replied, "Yes, Big Brother."
On the other side.
After sending the message, Xu Mingqing looked at Bai Jing, Yang Ronghua, Xu Dezhao, Xu Chonghui, and the others beside him. "Big Brother is fine. Everyone, rest assured.
It won't be long before Father returns.
They will arrange everything for us.
As for now, Chonghui, you are the Family Head. You must soothe and manage all sides so no disorder erupts.
But if anyone dares to harbor traitorous intentions, there's no need to spare them."
"Yes, Sixth Granduncle."
Bai Jing sighed with emotion, "I wonder what Dongxi looks like right now."
"Mother, don't worry. At worst, some buildings were destroyed. As long as our Xu family members are unharmed, that's what matters."
Hearing this, Bai Jing nodded slightly and departed, supported by Yang Ronghua.
------------
In the Ancient Battlefield.
An inexplicable spatial fluctuation mysteriously surged around everyone, enveloping them entirely.
No one resisted.
Instead, they all revealed relieved smiles.
"We can finally leave."
Almost at the exact same moment.
Everyone was randomly teleported out of the Ancient Battlefield.
The space Mei Yun occupied was special, but his 'Old Ancestor' possessed vast and powerful divine abilities. Since they could bring him here, they could naturally send him out.
A bout of dizzying spatial disorientation followed.
When Xu Chuan reappeared, he was near the Great Wei Imperial Palace.
He swept the area with his divine sense.
Only a sparse few people had survived, though for what reasons, he didn't know.
"A millennium of civilization wiped out in a single morning. Truly, what a formidable Great Tribulation!"
Xu Chuan didn't dwell on the sight. His expression was calm as he immediately executed an evasion divine ability, transforming into a streak of azure light shooting straight toward Dongxi.
At the same time.
The other members of the Xu family, having determined their locations, also hurried toward Dongxi.
Whenever they encountered others, they did their best to avoid them.
Their expedition could now be considered completely over.
Soon, the various factions would enter to rally their surviving members and bring them back.
Engaging in battles at this juncture was definitely unwise.
In Great Jin.
"Could it be that I'm destined to be a demonic cultivator?"
Xu Dewen sighed softly upon finding himself in Great Jin after coming out.
He then gazed distantly in the direction of Dongxi, muttering in his heart, 'Grandfather, your grandson will not disappoint your expectations. I will seize the right to speak for our Xu family in the Blackwater Region!'
The look of melancholy quickly faded, replaced by an eager anticipation for his future ventures.
About seven or eight minutes later.
Xu Chuan arrived back in Dongxi.
Along the way, he had bumped into Ye Fan.
He had been quite lucky, being teleported out near the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters.
"Honored Master."
Ye Fan cupped his fists.
Xu Chuan nodded, and the two of them returned to Dongxi together.
"They're back."
Scarlet Dragon Child suddenly opened his eyes, and Mo Wentian did the same.
Xu Mingwei, who was nearby, looked toward the distant horizon upon hearing this.
Sure enough.
In just a few breaths of time.
Two streaks of light—one azure and one crimson—could be seen rapidly approaching from afar.
Ye Fan was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at the ruined Dongxi in the distance. It was in absolute shambles, no different from anywhere else outside.
"Honored Master, this..."
Xu Chuan sent a voice transmission, "The Thousand-Year Great Tribulation is ultimately inescapable. Say no more."
"Yes, Honored Master."
Upon landing, Xu Chuan immediately cupped his fists toward Scarlet Dragon Child and Mo Wentian. "Many thanks to Senior Scarlet Dragon Child and the Grand Elder for your assistance."
"You aren't surprised?" Scarlet Dragon Child asked in confusion.
"This one had my suspicions, but ultimately, I was still one move behind."
Scarlet Dragon Child understood what he meant and consoled him, "You've already done well enough. It can only be said that human calculations are inferior to heaven's will.
Three great Demon Lords descended. If not for this Little Friend Xu turning the tide at the last moment, the battle would probably still be raging on right now."
"This one actually wishes that were the case."
Scarlet Dragon Child blanked slightly, not understanding his meaning.
Xu Chuan walked past Scarlet Dragon Child, heading toward Xu Mingwei.
Seeing Xu Mingwei in such a state, along with that faint aura of decline, Ye Fan's heart sank drastically, his eyes stinging.
He couldn't even fathom what Xu Mingwei had paid to protect Dongxi.
"Father."
Seeing Xu Chuan walking over silently, Xu Mingwei felt somewhat uneasy. He then cupped his fists and lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Xu Chuan walked to his side, patted his shoulder, and sighed. "You did not disappoint my expectations. You protected our Xu family."
Xu Mingwei suddenly looked up, meeting Xu Chuan's gaze directly.
"But I would have much preferred if you were more selfish and took better care of yourself."
"Your son understands, but there are some things I simply must do."
Xu Chuan sighed softly. "Now that I am here, leave everything to me. It is just lifespan; since it's lost, we'll just find a way to replenish it."
"Yes, Father."
Afterward, Xu Chuan mentioned encountering Heavenly Foundry Sect disciples in the Ancient Battlefield to Scarlet Dragon Child.
"To think you ran into that brat Bailian. Since it was Lieyang and Bailian's own decision, then you cannot be blamed.
Whether they live or die depends entirely on their own choices.
As for what was promised to you, our Heavenly Foundry Sect will honor it.
What kind of magic treasure do you want? Tell me now, and I will inform my senior brother upon returning."
"No need. When Deling returns to the Heavenly Foundry Sect in the future, she will bring the materials and specify the magic treasure to be forged."
"That works too." Scarlet Dragon Child then asked, "How is my precious disciple doing?"
"Naturally, she is well. She has grown quite a bit from this journey."
A short while later.
Xu Chuan then spoke to Mo Wentian. "Grand Elder, the transaction between us previously ends here."
Mo Wentian nodded.
"However, please tell me the losses you incurred this time, and our Xu family will compensate you."
"It was within my duties. It is a pity that my strength was ultimately lacking, and I couldn't protect the bloodline descendants of the First Elder's lineage."
"That matter has nothing to do with you."
Xu Mingwei chimed in, "Father, Senior Mo's high-grade defensive magic treasure was nearly destroyed. If it can be repaired, we should have Deling fix it for him.
If it can't be repaired, we can think of another form of compensation."
"What do you think, Grand Elder?"
"Then I shall trouble you."
Xu Chuan received the magic treasure.
Suddenly, the cry of a phoenix was heard echoing from afar.
"That Ling girl is back," Scarlet Dragon Child said, a smile appearing on his face.
A moment later.
Xu Deling stepped out from a crimson rainbow, her expression as cold as ice and frost.
She couldn't believe it. In just three short months...
Dongxi had been destroyed entirely!
"How could this happen?!"
Staring at the devastated landscape of Dongxi, Xu Deling momentarily forgot to even greet her master and grandfather.
"Have you completely forgotten your manners?" Xu Mingwei suddenly said in a deep, stern voice.
"I apologize, Father," Xu Deling said, cupping her fists.
"Little Friend Xu, wait a moment. Ling'er, what did you just call him? He's your father?"
Xu Chuan smiled. "There's no need to mind these trivialities."
Afterward.
Xu Deling formally greeted everyone.
Within the next two hours.
The members of the Xu family returned one after another.
The last to arrive was Mei Yun.
Scarlet Dragon Child observed them, incredibly astounded inwardly. 'To think that not a single one is missing?!'
'Is this a group of Early-Stage Golden Core cultivators, or a group of Golden Core Perfection cultivators?'
'Still, I never expected the Ling girl to be Xu Mingwei's daughter. Does that mean she originates from the Land of Imprisonment? Wait... Xu Chuan, and the entire Cloudstream Xu Family, all came from here?
Then where did the rumor that the Xu family consists of the surviving remnants of a Nascent Soul aristocratic family come from?'
After thinking about it for a bit, Scarlet Dragon Child didn't dwell on the matter.
The Xu family had already carved out a prominent faction for themselves in Heavenly South.
Originating from the Land of Imprisonment wasn't really a big deal.
Even if certain factions wanted to pursue the matter, given the Xu family's current connections, even a top-tier Nascent Soul faction would have to carefully weigh whether making a move against them was worth it.
Before long.
The sound of a horn echoed out, leisurely drifting all the way to Dongxi.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
Scarlet Dragon Child spoke, "Let's go, Fellow Daoist Xu. It's time to gather. If you wish to depart, you can leave with the others now."
Xu Chuan asked, "This horn?"
"It is produced by a top-tier magic treasure belonging to the Feather Transformation Sect. When this horn sounds, everyone gathers, signifying the end of the expedition.
However, the various factions also allow people to linger around for ten days or half a month.
For example, to recruit one or two decent disciples and things of that sort.
Of course, if one lacks strength, the journey back won't be easy, and accidents are prone to happen."
Xu Chuan understood what he was referring to.
First, the territories of demonic beasts they would pass through. Second, those who held a keen interest in the harvests of others from this expedition.
Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and the others, including Mo Wentian and Yang Qi, all headed out alongside Scarlet Dragon Child.
"I wonder how Elder Bingqian and Fellow Daoist Lei are doing now?"
On the way, Yang Qi suddenly mused with a sigh.
"If we see them at the gathering point, that's fine. If we don't, there is a high probability they perished in the Ancient Battlefield," Xu Chuan said indifferently.
"First Elder, is it truly that dangerous inside? Those two are both experts at the Golden Core Perfection stage with great accomplishment in divine abilities!
Even among all the Golden Core cultivators in our Azure Dragon Prefecture, they could rank in the top five."
"Let me put it this way: the ones who can survive in the Ancient Battlefield generally fall into three categories. The first is those with good luck. The second is those who are extremely cautious. The third is those with tyrannical strength.
Of course, many might fit into two, or even all three categories.
As for what this one means by tyrannical strength, I am referring to those possessing the combat power of a Nascent Soul cultivator."
Scarlet Dragon Child glanced at Xu Chuan and nodded slightly. "Fellow Daoist Xu's mind is indeed clear as a mirror. It's not just true for the Ancient Battlefield; any cultivator who rises to fame and manages to stay alive...
...mostly falls into one of these three categories."