Chapter 240: Exterminating the Clan, the Xue Clan's Contribution

"I will slaughter a Golden Core today!"

Hearing this, the Zhao Clan Ancestor revealed a horrified expression, his ears ringing incessantly.

He looked at Xu Chuan in disbelief. "Could it be that I've grown too old and am experiencing auditory hallucinations from tinnitus?"

"Daoist Friend Xu, what did you say you were going to do again?"

Xu Chuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He replied, "You two, come along with me. I will slowly explain my plan to you on the way."

Deep within the Broken Fang Mountain Range.

At the location of the Seven Stars Demon-Sealing Formation.

"A million human sacrifices, ten human Golden Cores, and heavenly treasures to assist in breaking through to the fourth tier?!"

Hearing this, Xue Lingshang spoke in a cold voice, "Moyue, are you joking with me?"

Come bite me?"

Having heard so much of Xu Chuan's trash talk, Moyue had been influenced by it, and his ability to run his mouth was now quite extraordinary.

Xue Lingshang was so infuriated that his vision went dark. His cheeks rapidly shifted from pale white to ashen blue, and finally to a dark purplish-red, looking exactly like a piece of thoroughly marinated pig liver.

"You used a blood path secret method to engage in a desperate, last-ditch struggle to survive, forming a core by pure fluke. Yet you still want to be mentioned in the same breath as Xu Chuan? You can't even compare to his fingernail."

Moyue raised his dragon claw, took a glance, and felt something was off. He added, "Not my fingernail. Mine is too big and doesn't suit you. Just look at your own fingernail for comparison."

The actual damage was minimal, but the insult was absolutely massive!

"Go to hell!"

Xue Lingshang's furious roar shook the surrounding ancient trees, causing leaves and branches to rustle and fall, while the mud beneath the rotting foliage was kicked up and splattered in all directions.

His palms blurred as he formed hand seals. The blood mist surrounding him suddenly surged, transforming into a three-meter-wide river of blood winding through the forest. Countless twisted, vengeful souls bobbed up and down on the river's surface, their piercing shrieks causing the leaves on the trees to wither and drop.

Moyue's dragon eyes narrowed. His massive tail swept out, snapping an ancient tree as thick as a man's embrace. The moment the trunk crashed to the ground, he opened his giant maw, drawing the moisture in the forest to condense into a three-hundred-meter-tall curtain of water that blocked his front like a crystal wall.

The blood river crashed into the water curtain, releasing an endless sizzling sound.

Amidst the rising white steam, although the water curtain was corroded to form several gaps, it still managed to block the blood river's offensive.

Before Xue Lingshang could change his move, Moyue had already lunged forward, bringing with him a gust of bloody wind. His azure claws glinted with a cold light as they slashed straight toward the man's face. Wherever the sharp claws passed, white streaks were sliced into the air, and all the shrubs along the way were shredded into fine powder.

Xue Lingshang tapped his toes and leaped onto the branch of an ancient tree. The blood light in his palms abruptly intensified, and he thrust out three blood-bone spears.

The spears were formed from highly concentrated blood aura, embedded with fragmented white bones. Carrying a sharp, piercing whistle as they tore through the air, they shot straight toward Moyue's seven-inch spot.

Moyue spun his body and swung his tail, using his tough dragon scales to forcefully block the three spears, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Immediately after, his giant claws frantically slammed into the ancient tree where Xue Lingshang stood. The trunk, thick as a bowl, snapped upon impact, sending wood chips and rotting leaves dancing wildly through the sky.

Xue Lingshang used the snapping branch to launch himself outward. In his right hand, he condensed a bloody bone blade, its surface enveloped in purple-black demonic flames. He ruthlessly chopped down toward Moyue's left eye.

Moyue hurriedly snapped his dragon head aside. The bone blade scraped past his dragon horn and struck his neck, actually slicing off several bloody scales.

He instantly flew into a great rage. His sharp claws swept out horizontally like a steel whip, forcefully tearing through the robes on Xue Lingshang's shoulder and sending him flying.

In just the blink of an eye, blood mist surged around Xue Lingshang's wound, instantly stopping the bleeding and healing the injury.

And at this moment.

The Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Chains let out a loud clanging sound, sweeping over toward them.

"Get lost!"

A burst of spiritual power exploded from his dantian. The wave of spiritual energy directly shattered the Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Chains into pieces.

Unfortunately, as long as the grand array remained unbroken, the demon-suppressing chains were endless.

In a short while, they extended out from the void once more.

By now, Xu Chuan had hurried back. Seeing the two engaged in a fierce battle, he immediately declared, "Moyue, we must kill him today. Otherwise, our Xu Clan will definitely face the disaster of complete annihilation."

"I'm coming to assist you!"

Xu Chuan charged into the formation. Through a mental connection, he communicated with Moyue, explaining his plan.

With a flick of his sleeve robe, the Heavenly Wood Shield orbited around his body. Holding the pill furnace in his right hand, a ten-meter-large Departing Fire Phoenix flew out in the blink of an eye, lunging straight for Xue Lingshang's head.

"A leaping clown!"

Xue Lingshang formed a hand seal with a single hand, instantly condensing a twenty-meter-long bloody giant python. It was several times more solid than the one used by the Xue Clan's First Elder, and its power was even more astonishing.

In just over a dozen exchanges, it bit the Departing Fire Phoenix to pieces.

The blood python pounced toward Xu Chuan, but it was blocked by the Heavenly Wood Shield.

The next moment.

The Heavenly Wood Shield erupted with a burst of green light. Countless sharp spikes shot out, turning the blood python into a sieve at point-blank range.

Following that, Xu Chuan secretly manipulated the Hundred Grass Needles, launching a sneak attack while his opponent was harassed by the Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Chains and Moyue's assaults.

"Still trying to launch a sneak attack?"

Xue Lingshang's divine sense was constantly monitoring his surroundings.

A blood-red radiance erupted from his body, sending all the Hundred Grass Needles flying away before they returned to Xu Chuan's hands. The Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Chains were also shattered once more, only to condense again.

At this moment, Moyue's dragon might carried a sharp, piercing whistle through the air as he swatted at Xue Lingshang's face.

Xue Lingshang waved his sleeve robe. A blood-red shield appeared, condensing a blood-red light barrier to defend against the blow.

Crack!

The light barrier of the top-grade magical artifact was cracked open by the single strike. Then, as he rapidly retreated, it dissolved into specks of light and dissipated.

The spiritual light of the blood-red shield instantly dimmed.

The Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Chains struck once again, darting through the forest like spirit snakes. Seven streaks of azure light flowed like silk, the runes on the chains blazing brightly. Every time they swept past, they brought with them a bone-chilling radiance, forcing the blood aura around him to continuously churn and roil.

This sort of relentless, lingering entanglement had long since made him extremely annoyed.

However, he simply had no spare time to break open this grand array.

Gritting his teeth fiercely, Xue Lingshang reached out and slapped the black corpse bag at his waist. With a swift swoosh, seven black wooden coffins flew out.

The bodies of the coffins were covered in dark red blood veins, seemingly painted with dried, clotted blood. When they landed, they smashed heavily into the muddy, rotting leaves, causing the surrounding vines to tremble. Every single coffin exuded a suffocating aura of death.

"Bang, bang, bang—"

A series of dull, loud booms exploded as the seven coffin lids were suddenly blasted away. Amidst the flying splinters of wood, seven tall figures abruptly stood up.

They were actually seven blood corpses!

Their skin was a bruised black like ink. Where their rotting flesh bunched together, stark white jagged bones were exposed. Tattered bloody cloth was wrapped around their waists, and every corpse was enshrouded in a blood aura so thick it seemed almost tangible.

The leading blood corpse gripped a rust-mottled bone blade, with half of a severed finger still embedded in its surface.

The two towards the back possessed foot-long, dark blue claws, with blackened blood grime clotted within the gaps of their nails.

"Go!"

Xue Lingshang shouted coldly, the blood light at his fingertips exploding outward.

The seven blood corpses instantly roared and lunged toward the seven star chains individually. The leading blood corpse swept its bone blade horizontally, bringing a sharp, whistling gust of wind as it hacked down on the foremost chain.

A crisp clang echoed out!

As the bone blade collided with the chain, sparks flew. The runes on the chain suddenly shone as brightly as stars, actually forcing the blood corpse to stagger half a step backward while trails of white smoke rose from its surface.

One of the chains swept across the shoulder of a clawed blood corpse, forcefully shredding away half of its rotting flesh and revealing the ghastly white shoulder blade underneath.

But the blood corpse felt absolutely no pain. Instead, using the momentum of the chain's strike, it bit down directly onto the chain's body. The blood aura between its teeth frantically corroded the metal.

Xue Lingshang stood in the distance, coldly watching the blood corpses tangle with the chains, a savage sneer curling the corners of his mouth.

All seven blood corpses were refined by him using the bodies of Late Foundation Establishment cultivators as materials, applying the secret methods of the Demonic Dao. Each one could fight evenly with a cultivator at Foundation Establishment perfection.

He suddenly formed hand seals with both hands and coldly called out to Xu Chuan, "You aren't the only one who knows formations!"

"Seven Corpses Blood Aura Array, rise!"

The seven blood corpses abruptly formed into an array, their auras linking together. Seven massive pillars of blood aura shot into the sky, as if trying to burst entirely through the Seven Stars Demon-Sealing Formation.

"Gather the light of the stars. Big Dipper's Seven Stars, suppress!"

The sky gradually darkened, and the stars faintly appeared.

Xu Chuan borrowed the starlight to enhance the power of his grand array, stubbornly suppressing the Seven Corpses Blood Aura Array.

But by doing so, he could no longer attack Xue Lingshang.

"Without the Seven Stars Demon-Sealing Formation, do you think I can't deal with a Golden Core Stage cultivator like you, who hasn't even refined a magic treasure yet?"

"You've also just stepped into Tier 3. We're in the exact same boat," Xue Lingshang sneered coldly. "You demon beasts are strong in bloodline, strength, and defense.

Whereas we cultivators excel in creation and strategy."

"Moyue, do you feel something wrong with your body?"

"Did you think the surrounding blood mist was merely for decoration?

I have long considered how to deal with you Tier 3 demon beasts. After all, if I want to leave this cage, you are the hurdles I must cross!

The toxins hidden within the blood mist were specially prepared for demon beasts. Even a mid-stage Tier 3 demon beast would gradually succumb to fatigue and weakness.

I must say, the flood dragon bloodline is indeed powerful.

To be able to hold out for this long, it is more than enough to rival an ordinary mid-stage Tier 3 demon beast.

But it should be taking effect right about now."

Moyue blinked twice, muttering inwardly, 'But your grandpa here has a peak Tier 3 bloodline!'

'You want a reaction? I'll give you a hammer to the face, more like!'

Xu Chuan reached out through their mental link. 'Moyue, it is time to display your exquisite acting skills.'

Moyue rolled his eyes, then pretended to fly into a great rage. "So you were the one playing tricks!"

"Naturally. From the moment you appeared, I introduced a specific demon-beast-targeting toxin into the blood mist. Even if I couldn't escape right away, I still had to leave myself a backup plan."

"You sinister, cunning human!"

"Watch me tear you to shreds!"

Moyue unleashed an explosive roar. His massive body closed the distance like a flash of lightning. His dragon claws, covered in a blue glow, viciously slashed at Xue Lingshang.

Xue Lingshang raised his hand, condensing a giant blood-red palm to meet the attack.

Had this been earlier, the giant blood-red palm would undoubtedly have been torn apart. But at this moment, the blue glow was visibly corroded by the bloody radiance. The palm imprint deflected the dragon claw and slammed fiercely into Moyue's body, knocking him flying backward.

"It really did take effect."

Xue Lingshang felt slightly more at ease in his heart, and then visible joy appeared on his face. He declared, "If I can smelt your flood dragon essence blood, the might of my Blood Demonic Dao cultivation method will advance another level.

I will easily be able to conjure a blood-colored flood dragon, possessing the essence and partial combat strength of a true flood dragon."

"My power!"

"No!"

"Go to hell!"

Moyue closed in once again, but was knocked flying by Xue Lingshang a second time, even coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"You really don't learn your lesson. But I will have plenty of time to deal with you, you beast, later. For now, let's finish you off first, Xu Chuan.

Without your control, the grand array will collapse on its own!"

"Moyue!"

Moyue charged once more, only to be effortlessly batted away again.

"You are far too dangerous. Until you are dead, my heart cannot be at ease!"

"Kill me? Do you no longer want to know the secrets of my Xu Clan?" Xu Chuan's figure continuously retreated backward.

"For smart people like you and me, to prevent crucial secrets from leaking, we would definitely place restrictions in the divine sense of anyone who knows them, causing them to self-destruct upon probing.

Therefore, I have given up on that.

As long as I slaughter your entire Xu Clan and dig three feet into the ground, I will eventually find your clan's secrets, as well as the treasury holding your Xu Clan's foundations."

Before his voice could fade.

Xue Lingshang's figure shot forward like a bolt of blood-red lightning. In the blink of an eye, he arrived right in front of Xu Chuan, reaching out his hand to tear out his heart.

Right at this moment, a smile curled at the corners of Xu Chuan's mouth.

Unknown when it had appeared, a small branch rested in his hand, and he gently waved it toward the incoming enemy.

Upon that completely ordinary-looking branch, an emerald-green light flowed.

Yet in the very next instant, it erupted with a terrifying, heaven-shaking aura. Xue Lingshang instantly felt the fatal danger of impending death.

He didn't even have the time to dodge. He could only erupt with every ounce of his mana in an all-out effort to defend himself.

The emerald-green glow coalesced into the hazy phantom of an elderly man, who extended a single finger toward Xue Lingshang.

This finger acted like an incomparably sharp longsword, piercing straight through his mana shield, his dharma robe's barrier, and every other defensive measure he had, blasting a bloody hole right through his chest.

Xue Lingshang's eyes widened, his face filled with utter disbelief.

But in the next moment, a dark shadow abruptly materialized behind him. A sharp claw pierced directly through his dantian and ripped out a Golden Core.

"Wh-why... Since you had this kind of trump card, were you just... toying with me?"

An aura of extreme cold swept in from the side, thoroughly freezing the boiling blood throughout his entire body.

"If it weren't under these specific circumstances, I wouldn't have been confident that you had no way to withstand it.

As for toying with you?

I was merely afraid that if pushed into a corner, you would self-destruct.

However, the power of this single strike gifted to me by senior truly exceeded my expectations as well. I estimate that even if you were at your peak and took this move head-on, you would still be heavily injured and near death.

A Golden Core cultivator without a magic treasure is still a bit too weak."

Weak?!

Xue Lingshang was so infuriated he wanted to spit blood, but with the blood inside his body completely frozen, all he could spit out were shattered ice fragments.

He still hadn't completely died yet, solely relying on the robust vitality of a Golden Core Stage cultivator to hang on to his last breath.

Moyue shrank down to roughly three meters in size, flying over to land in front of Xu Chuan. He grinned, "Xu Chuan, how was my acting just now? I completely fooled this kid, didn't I?"

"There has been some improvement. But the Dao of acting is vast and profound; you still need to work hard and refine your skills."

"Y-you..."

"Heh, you what? Your grandpa here didn't feel the slightest thing from your insignificant poison. If it wasn't for Xu Chuan's instructions, I would have smacked you away with a single claw long ago."

"That's impossible!"

In order to escape this cage and deal with Tier 3 demon beasts, Xue Lingshang had painstakingly researched this for many years before finally creating it. How could it be completely ineffective?

"So it turns out... I was always just... a joke..."

Xue Lingshang's eyes gradually dimmed, losing all their luster.

"He died from sheer anger just like that? And here I felt I hadn't even exerted myself yet," Moyue muttered. He glanced at the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard not far away. "Hand over the Golden Core in your paws. That is our spoil of war."

"Yes, Boss Dragon."

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard had been mercilessly beaten last time, and lingering fear still gripped its heart. It did not dare to disobey.

"Xu Chuan, this Golden Core belongs to me, no objections?" Moyue asked.

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard found this situation absolutely inconceivable.

A Tier 3 flood dragon and a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator. In this pairing, Xu Chuan was actually the clear leader.

Wasn't this completely reversing the natural order of things?

Back in the Zhao Clan, if the Foundation Establishment cultivators wanted him to do something, they had to beg him.

He only helped if he was in a good mood; if he was in a bad mood, he couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge them.

"Your contributions this time were not small, so naturally, it is yours. Unfreeze Xue Lingshang's corpse; I have a use for this body."

"Easy."

Moyue sucked away the extreme cold aura, then swallowed the Golden Core in a single gulp. After finishing it, he licked his lips and proclaimed, "Delicious!"

Following that, he connected with Xu Chuan mentally.

'I feel that once I finish refining this Golden Core, I will be able to recover to the mid-stage of Tier 3.'

"There's no rush. Let's strike while the iron is hot. We'll take a trip to Great Jin along the way and wipe out the Xue Clan."

"That works too. Once everything is over, I'll take my time refining it."

Xu Chuan patted his storage pouch, and a Soul Banner flew out, exuding a chilling and terrifying aura.

As he formed hand seals, the Soul Banner suddenly surged with black light. Chains flew out from it, piercing straight into Xue Lingshang's body.

A moment later, they dragged out a continuously struggling divine soul, subsequently pulling it back into the Soul Banner.

'If I refine this Golden Core divine soul into the primary soul of this banner, its power should skyrocket to the level of a magic treasure.'

Xu Chuan thought to himself.

As for Xue Lingshang's body, he also planned to refine it into a blood corpse puppet or something similar. If he could obtain a blood corpse puppet with strength rivaling a typical Golden Core cultivator...

Then the Xu Clan would gain yet another trump card.

He glanced at the seven blood corpses in the distance. With the master who had refined them dead, they stood completely motionless.

After a moment of thought, Xu Chuan moved them back into their dark wood coffins, then stored them away in his storage ring.

Xue Lingshang's storage pouch had also fallen into his hands, and the corpse was similarly stowed away.

Next, he formed hand seals with both hands, deactivating the grand array.

Seven streaks of flowing light flew over from all directions, sinking into his storage ring.

At this moment.

The Zhao Clan Ancestor approached, cupping his fists with a smile. "Daoist Friend Xu, slaughtering a Golden Core today with a Foundation Establishment cultivation base—you are truly unparalleled!

I, Zhao, am in complete admiration!"

"Daoist Friend Zhao, you are too polite. Next, I plan to take a trip to the Great Jin Xue Clan to cut the weeds and dig up the roots. I wonder if Daoist Friend Zhao knows their location?"

"I have a rough idea. Allow me to lead the way."

Xu Chuan cupped his fists. "Many thanks, Daoist Friend Zhao."

The Zhao Clan Ancestor rode on the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard, while Xu Chuan stood atop the flood dragon. Under the cover of the night, the two headed straight for Great Jin.

——————————

The following morning.

Great Jin, in the sky above the Xue Clan's grounds.

"Daoist Friend Xu, this is the Xue Clan's territory."

Xu Chuan stood in the void, his robes billowing like clouds as he gazed down at the faintly discernible crimson light barrier lingering over the mortal realm below.

A moment later, he raised an eyebrow and calmly stated, "A Tier 2 High-Grade Great Formation."

"With Lord Black Leopard and the Xu Clan's Lord Flood Dragon here, it can be easily broken. There is no need for Daoist Friend Xu to worry."

Xu Chuan glanced at him and replied, "The Zhao Clan does not need to intervene in this matter. After all, this is a grudge between my Xu Clan and the Xue Clan."

"That's fine too," the Zhao Clan Ancestor agreed.

Xu Chuan brushed a hand over his storage ring. Seven formation flags flew out as he formed hand seals, setting up the Seven Stars Demon-Sealing Formation.

Once the formation was successfully established, he instructed Moyue, "You ate their Ancestor's Golden Core, so you might as well send their entire clan down to join him."

"What about you?"

"I am responsible for restraining their divine souls and harvesting their blood."

Before he finished speaking, Xu Chuan held the black Soul Banner in his left hand, while a bizarre, crimson blood orb hovered over the palm of his right hand. "Within the Demonic Dao ancient classics that Xue Lingshang cultivated, there is a refining method for a Profound Yin Blood Corpse.

It requires the corpse of a Golden Core Stage cultivator, thousand-year-old Profound Yin Grass, and a massive amount of blood for the refinement ritual. Blood from the same clan is the absolute best, as it can further stimulate its fierce nature."

"Alright then."

Moyue's body once again expanded to over a hundred meters. Blue light erupted from his dragon claws as he pressed down toward the faint red light barrier below.

In the blink of an eye.

The crimson light barrier of the Tier 2 High-Grade Great Formation shattered like glass, exploding open to reveal a massive three-meter-wide hole.

The formation runes crumbled inch by inch, and the spiritual light scattered like falling stars.

The entire grand array instantly collapsed, sending dust and smoke billowing into the air.

"A flood dragon!"

A Xue Clan disciple's eyes went wide. Staring at the massive flood dragon descending from the sky and shattering their clan protection grand array, he was so terrified he could barely speak.

Suddenly.

The ferocious aura of a peak Tier 3 demon beast pressed down like dark clouds enveloping a city, instantly shrouding the Xue Clan's grounds.

The joints of clan members below the Foundation Establishment stage cracked and popped. Their knees turned to mush, and all of them were forced to grovel on the ground.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators turned pale with fright, their hearts filled with sheer terror.

A cold glint flashed through Moyue's eyes, and he raised his head to the sky, letting out a heaven-shaking dragon roar.

The spiritual qi in the sky rioted in response, condensing into a thousand massive icicles. They hung suspended in the air like meteors, accumulating power and ready to strike.

Abruptly.

Like a sudden torrential downpour!

A thousand icicles burst with icy radiance, whistling down from the firmament and crashing into the Xue Clan's grounds.

The paths paved with blue bricks were instantly gouged with densely packed craters. Splattering ice fragments mixed with flying rubble shot toward the prostrate clan members, causing agonizing screams to ring out one after another.

Those below the Foundation Establishment stage were already reduced to a trembling mess. How could they possibly withstand such a heavy blow?

The icicles pierced through their chests and tore open their abdomens. Amidst the mangled flesh and blood, bones and shattered ice mixed into a horrifying mess. In an instant, the Xue Clan's grounds were transformed into a hellish slaughterhouse.

"Defend against the enemy!"

The Xue Clan's First Elder charged out, leading several Foundation Establishment elders in an attempt to attack Moyue.

However, Moyue's dragon eyes flashed fiercely, and his dragon roar echoed once again. The spiritual qi in the sky rioted even more violently as his massive body charged straight toward those Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Their dharma tool attacks could not inflict the slightest harm on Moyue. Meanwhile, a mere glancing bump from him was enough to inflict severe injuries at best, with two of them dying on the spot.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Wherever Moyue passed, all the buildings collapsed, and countless ordinary Xue Clan members had their skulls crushed by massive stones and wooden beams.

Under the sweep of his divine sense, no one could hide from Moyue's detection.

Watching the scene unfold at the Xue Clan from up in the clouds, the Zhao Clan Ancestor shook his head and sighed faintly. "They truly brought this disaster upon themselves; they cannot live after committing such sins."

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard commented, "Little Cultivator, it's a good thing your clan is on good terms with the Xu Clan. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't care about you all. Boss Moyue is far beyond what I can match."

"We never stood against them in the past, and we certainly will never do so in the future."

About fifteen minutes later, the agonizing screams gradually faded, and the icicles melted away.

The Xue Clan's grounds were completely devastated. Blood mingled with ice water pooled between the broken walls and ruined foundations. Mangled flesh and broken bones were embedded in the floating chunks of ice. The once-prosperous courtyards were reduced to nothing more than charred pillars and scattered dharma tool fragments.

Moyue hovered above the center of the ruins, roaring towards the heavens.

Xu Chuan, on the other hand, began activating the black Soul Banner. One chain after another extended outward, binding and capturing the divine souls of the Xue Clan members.

Following that, he activated the Blood-Devouring Orb. It floated high above the ruins of the Xue Clan, its bizarre blood-red glow illuminating all directions.

In just a moment.

Countless streams of blood aura rose from the ground, surging toward the Blood-Devouring Orb.

Moyue shrank his body down to about three meters and scoured everywhere for cultivators' storage pouches, subsequently searching for the treasury where the Xue Clan stored their resources.

He didn't even spare the mundane gold and silver.

Thirty minutes later.

Xu Chuan stowed away the Soul Banner and the Blood-Devouring Orb, joining the ranks of those plundering treasures.

They continued until nothing else could be found.

The stone cave serving as the Xue Clan's forbidden ground was blasted open. Inside, Xu Chuan discovered a blood pool, with countless different auras mingling within the blood.

"Could this be the Myriad Spirits Blood Pool?"

"According to the records in the 'Blood Demon Scripture', gathering the blood of myriad living beings allows one to refine the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pill, which increases a Blood Demonic Dao cultivator's chance of breaking through to the Golden Core stage.

It just so happens that I can use this blood pool to nourish Xue Lingshang's corpse. I expect it will accelerate the speed of the refinement ritual."

Xu Chuan sealed the blood pool and collected it. After searching through the cave, he found some skeletons of Foundation Establishment demon beasts, along with some top-grade magical artifact materials and two pieces of Tier 3 materials.

Afterward, he brought out his pill furnace. Flipping the lid open, he unleashed a sea of fire to incinerate the Xue Clan's grounds.

He completely burned away all the remaining corpses and skeletons until nothing was left.

Then, he cast a spell to accelerate plant growth.

Amidst the endless ashes, vegetation grew wildly, burying everything beneath. Only a few scattered broken walls and ruined foundations remained as proof that this place had once been the territory of an aristocratic family.

Witnessing this, a tremor of fear shot through the Zhao Clan Ancestor's heart.

"He has completely erased every single trace of the Xue Clan!"

Xu Chuan formed hand seals and retrieved his formation flags. Ascending high into the sky with Moyue, he calmly said, "Daoist Friend Zhao, apologies for the wait. Let's head back."

"Alright."

The two departed immediately.

On the way back, Xu Chuan borrowed the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard from the Zhao Clan, and in passing, returned the remaining Divine Sense Jade Tablet they had given him.

Naturally, the Zhao Clan Ancestor had no objections and returned to Great Liang all alone.

Meanwhile, the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard followed Xu Chuan and Moyue back to the Xu Clan.

Great Liang, the Zhao Clan.

Upon seeing their ancestor return, the Zhao Family Head and the group of elders immediately stepped forward to ask, "Ancestor, how did it go?"

The Zhao Clan Ancestor let out a long, heavy sigh.

"What's wrong? Were we unable to help? Is the Xu Clan gone?" a Foundation Establishment elder asked.

The Zhao Clan Ancestor's eyes widened in anger. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Even if our Zhao Clan ceases to exist, the Xu Clan will be perfectly fine!"

"I am simply lamenting. As of right now, I am establishing a new clan rule: no matter what becomes of our Zhao Clan in the future, we must absolutely never make an enemy of the Xu Clan. Furthermore, if they ever require our aid, we must assist them with all our might."

The Zhao Family Head and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

"Ancestor, this is..."

"The Xue Clan... is gone."

The Zhao Clan Ancestor looked up at the sky. Recalling Xu Chuan's methods, a lingering fear still gripped his heart to this very moment.

Great Wei, Yuehu Commandery.

Dongxi.

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard and Moyue stayed together at the Jade Cold Pool.

Xu Chuan, meanwhile, went into secluded cultivation to perform refinement rituals on the loot he obtained this time.

Knowing that all dangers had passed, Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan both breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though a thousand-pound boulder had finally been lifted from their hearts.

The members of the Xu Clan quickly returned to their usual daily lives.

Those who needed to return to the Guangling Branch did so. Those studying formations went back to their research. Those meant to cultivate focused on cultivating, and those handling tasks went back to completing them.

Three months passed by in a flash.

The newly advanced Golden Core Aristocratic Family, the Xue Clan, had been leveled to the ground. This triggered widespread discussions among the numerous aristocratic families and factions across Great Wei, Great Liang, and Great Jin.

However, the only ones who truly knew the person responsible behind the scenes were a few select individuals from the Cao Clan, the Sima Clan, and the Zhao Clan.

Because of this, Cao Defong had gone to seek out the Cao Clan Ancestor, Cao Jiyi.

Upon hearing this news, Cao Jiyi furrowed his brow deeply. Only after a long silence did he say, "Do not provoke the Xu Clan again. Furthermore, prepare for the Xu Clan to come here seeking accountability."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

On the Sima Clan's side, they naturally guessed that Xue Lingshang had definitely died.

To be capable of killing a Golden Core cultivator meant possessing the ability to threaten the Sima Clan.

Therefore, the Sima Clan Ancestor similarly ordered the Sima Clan to be on high alert.

Yet, over the past three months, the Xu Clan hadn't made the slightest move.

This was mainly because Xu Chuan was extremely busy.

He had re-refined the Soul Banner, the Blood-Devouring Orb, and the seven blood corpses, and then moved on to refining the Profound Yin Blood Corpse.

As for the Profound Yin Grass it required, there just so happened to be two stalks in the medicine garden near the Jade Cold Pool, and both were over three or four thousand years old.

If Xu Chuan refined the Profound Yin Blood Corpse alone, given his cultivation base, it would take several years to succeed.

Therefore, he had Moyue and the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard assist him, utilizing their Tier 3 spirit power as well as the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard's Tier 3 spiritual flame for the refinement.

The Myriad Spirits Blood Pool, several-thousand-year-old Profound Yin Grass, the spirit power of Tier 3 demon beasts that rivaled the Golden Core stage, and Tier 3 flames.

The refinement process also faced zero interruptions.

This could truly be described as possessing the perfect timing, optimal location, and harmonious support.

After three months, the Profound Yin Blood Corpse was successfully completed.

Because it lacked a Golden Core, Xu Chuan used the Blood-Devouring Orb as its core, granting it an exceptionally unique ability to rapidly recover from injuries.

However, even with the several-thousand-year-old Profound Yin Grass and the essence blood of the Xue Clan members serving as materials to enhance the corpse's strength and ferocity, it only allowed its strength to barely rival the Golden Core stage.

If it possessed a complete Golden Core, the explosive power of the Profound Yin Blood Corpse would have been enough to rival a third-layer Golden Core stage cultivator.

The Golden Core had already been completely refined by Moyue. The assistance it provided him was far greater than the effects of a Tier 3 demon beast inner core.

It allowed him to recover to the mid-stage of Tier 3.

If Moyue hadn't merely been recovering his former strength but actively attempting to level up, this Golden Core would have at most allowed him to reach a level equivalent to the second-layer of the Golden Core stage.

"Forget it. This Profound Yin Blood Corpse possesses a certain degree of growth potential, and this is enough for now. Neither the Cao Clan Ancestor nor the Sima Clan Ancestor would be able to kill it easily."

Besides that, because the seven blood corpses previously lacked thousand-year-old Profound Yin Grass, their refinement had been incomplete. Xu Chuan perfected them, turning them into low-end versions of the Profound Yin Blood Corpse.

Xu Mingxian, following his instructions, worked on deducing a grand array perfectly suited for the Profound Yin Blood Corpse.

The previous Seven Corpses Blood Aura Array was completely incapable of unleashing the true power of these eight blood corpses.

In Xu Chuan's expectations, if Xu Mingxian could achieve this, the Xu Clan's possession of this Profound Yin Blood Corpse array would be enough to stand against any peak early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Even if they possessed a magic treasure, they would have nothing to fear.

Such was the might of formations!

With the Soul Banner re-refined, Xue Lingshang and the group of Xue Clan members' divine souls had been converted into the banner's ghostly creatures, granting it the power to harm a Golden Core cultivator.

Furthermore, because the Xue Clan members were bound by bloodline, the ghostly creatures refined from their divine souls could seamlessly merge into Xue Lingshang's primary soul. This granted him the full, terrifying strength of a Golden Core-level ghostly creature.

It had to be said, the Xue Clan were truly wonderful people.

Their entire clan had graciously contributed two great Golden Core combat forces to the Xu Clan.

"Xu Chuan, didn't you say you were going to the Cao Clan and the Sima Clan? When are we leaving?"

Moyue poked his head out of the cold pool.

The semi-circular ears of the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard resting nearby twitched slightly.

"It wouldn't do to have the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard stay at our Xu Clan for an extended period. Any longer, and I'm afraid the Zhao Clan might start getting ideas."

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment before replying, "In seven days, we will visit the Cao Clan first, then head to the Sima Clan!"

"However, this trip isn't to launch an attack. It's to negotiate!"

"Negotiate what?" Moyue asked, puzzled. "Now that you've successfully refined the Profound Yin Blood Corpse, and the Soul Banner has a Golden Core-level ghostly creature, combined with myself and the Black Leopard... even wiping out the Cao Clan and Sima Clan entirely would be manageable, right?"

"Perhaps it is feasible," Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "However, that is not our Xu Clan's goal."

"Having swallowed the entire Xue Clan, the resources we obtained are enough for our Xu Clan to digest for over a decade. Furthermore, our clan's foundations are constantly improving.

The current situation is already more than enough.

Besides, don't forget the tribulation that will arrive several decades from now.

If the Cao Clan and the Sima Clan were gone, do you want all the Golden Core Stage cultivators that emerge during the Demon Tribulation to solely target the Xu Clan's doorstep?

If the Xue Clan hadn't sought their own demise, I originally had no intention of touching them either.

Having an extra Golden Core aristocratic family during the Demon Tribulation means they can share a portion of the enemy's attention.

Only then will our Xu Clan be safer.

For this tribulation, our Xu Clan's objective is to preserve the majority of our strength and safely weather the storm.

The next era... that is the era that will truly belong to our Xu Clan!"

"Fine, whatever you say makes sense." Moyue curled his lips. "I'll just listen to your arrangements."

'The next era?' Hearing this, the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard thought inwardly, 'Should I tell the Zhao Clan to just submit themselves under the Xu Clan's banner in the future when I get back?'

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Xu Chuan, bringing along Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and the rest of his six direct children, as well as Xu Dewen, set out for the Imperial City.