Chapter 287: The Fire-Swallowing Toad Demonic Core, Canglang Picks a Fight

The seats in the great hall were arranged according to closeness of relations and the strength of each faction.

Xu Chuan was seated just below True Lord Fierce Sun, directly opposite True Lord Green Wood.

This clearly demonstrated the high regard the Heavenly Plume Sect held for Xu Chuan.

Then again, it was hardly surprising, considering the one sitting in the Sect Master's seat was a member of the Xu family!

True Lord Green Wood had quietly tried to probe Xu Deling, only to find his divine sense completely blocked by an invisible force, making it impossible to ascertain her cultivation.

However, he could faintly guess that she had most likely broken through to the Golden Core stage.

'When and where did she form her core?'

'Why were there no Core Formation phenomena at all?!'

His heart was full of doubts.

As the number one prodigy, Xu Deling naturally warranted such speculation from True Lord Green Wood.

Of course, nothing was absolute. It wasn't unheard of for other prodigies to catch up from behind and form their cores first.

The restriction artifact Xu Deling wore to block divine sense had naturally been forged by Xu Mingxian. He had created it by comprehending the restriction on the purple sandalwood wooden casket Xu Chuan had obtained back in Profound Moon City.

He then applied that knowledge to a restriction artifact.

As long as she actively concealed her aura and realm, and Golden Core cultivators couldn't forcefully pry with their divine sense, it was naturally impossible to see through her cultivation.

"Sect Master Feng Ling, you seem to possess a magical artifact that isolates divine sense probing. It is remarkably profound. May I ask where you acquired it?"

Xu Deling offered a faint smile. "I stumbled upon it by chance at a small stall in Profound Moon City."

"I see. Sect Master Feng Ling truly has surging providence. I wonder, have you broken through to the Golden Core stage yet?"

Many Golden Core cultivators looked over, intensely interested in the topic.

"Everyone seems so concerned about our Sect Master's cultivation realm. Could it be you want to sell this information to a hostile faction of our Heavenly Foundry Sect?"

"How could that be?"

"We wouldn't dare."

True Lord Fierce Sun looked at True Lord Green Wood, who gave a placid smile. "This old man is simply curious. Take my sect's Xi Tianqing, for example. No matter how fast his comprehension is, it's impossible for him to achieve Divine Ability Core Formation within a few short years.

In fact, whether he can even take the final step or two remains to be seen.

After all, our Heavenly Azure Sect hasn't produced a prodigy capable of Divine Ability Core Formation in hundreds of years.

Daoist Friend Withered Glory is the first one in Heavenly Azure Prefecture in all these years!"

"Haha." Seeing the conversation directed at him, Xu Chuan cupped his fists and said, "Daoist Friend Green Wood praises me too highly. I believe Daoist Friend Xi of your noble sect still has a promising chance at Divine Ability Core Formation."

"Then I shall borrow Daoist Friend Withered Glory's auspicious words."

The topic was quickly glossed over.

Following the conclusion of the sect's founding ceremony, the gathering of Golden Core factions transitioned into a banquet. They ate, drank, and familiarized themselves with one another, signaling the Heavenly Plume Sect's official acceptance as a member of Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Several hours passed.

The banquet was nearing its end.

Taking advantage of True Lord Green Wood's presence, Xu Chuan seized the opportunity to bring up the condition promised by Elder Chiyang that day, requesting a Talisman Dao inheritance of Tier 3 or higher.

True Lord Green Wood stated plainly that the Heavenly Azure Sect's highest Talisman Dao inheritance was only Tier 3 Mid-Grade, and the most they could offer the Xu family was Tier 3 Low-Grade.

Xu Chuan naturally didn't mind.

This inheritance would be more than enough to keep Xu Mingyuan occupied with his comprehension for decades.

Before long, the various factions departed one after another. The great hall was soon left with only the Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Plume Sect and Xu Chuan.

"These banquets are the most dreadfully boring affairs. Do not ask this old man to attend another one in the future."

True Lord Yanzhen, known for his eccentric temper, waved his hand dismissively and left.

Meanwhile, Xu Chuan and Rong Tianyang discussed the future magical artifact business in Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Now that the Xu family had become a Golden Core aristocratic family, it was naturally inappropriate to keep their various businesses confined solely to Cloudstream Town.

Any single city among the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities was more than ten times the size of Cloudstream Town. The business opportunities hidden within them were naturally boundless.

The Xu family would do their utmost to avoid clashing with the Heavenly Plume Sect's interests.

In terms of artifact refining, the Xu family's Artifact Refining Hall was supported by Perfected Person Fire Cloud and his five disciples, meaning they wouldn't fall too far behind the Heavenly Plume Sect.

Not to mention, they also had Xu Deling.

The Heavenly Plume Sect didn't require Xu Deling to specifically forge artifacts for them. Any magical artifacts she created while experimenting with new ideas in her daily life were sent to the Xu family for handling.

Among these were quite a few powerful and unique one-pattern and two-pattern magic tools.

Such as demon spirit artifacts!

Xu Deling had even forged several three-pattern magic tools to serve as the signature treasures of the Xu family's Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

With the Xu family and the Heavenly Plume Sect moving their magical artifacts into the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities, many competing artifact shops were forced to close their doors.

After all, they couldn't compete in either the quality or quantity of the artifacts. Only a small handful managed to barely hold on.

The Heavenly Plume Sect possessed a Golden Core Perfection True Lord, establishing them as a top-tier Golden Core faction in Heavenly Azure Prefecture. The Golden Core aristocratic families backing those struggling shops naturally didn't dare stir up trouble.

The Xu family already had close ties with the Heavenly Plume Sect, and Xu Chuan was the first True Lord in Heavenly Azure Prefecture in centuries to achieve Divine Ability Core Formation, giving him an illustrious reputation.

Back when the Xu family was merely a Foundation Establishment clan, those rival families might have tried to trip them up or resort to coercion.

Now, they absolutely didn't have the courage.

Making an enemy of the Xu family over a sliver of the artifact business simply wasn't worth the risk.

Two months later.

Two Golden Core cultivators from the Lei family arrived in Cloudstream Town to visit Xu Chuan.

One was an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard. He was at the Mid-Stage Golden Core and clearly quite old in years, definitely at least five hundred years of age.

The other had the appearance of a middle-aged man. He was at the Early-Stage Golden Core and appeared to be roughly in his early two hundreds.

"This old man is Lei Yongshan. Greetings, True Lord Withered Glory. This is my grandson, Lei Yunpeng."

The old man smiled as he cupped his fists.

Lei Yunpeng also bowed slightly in greeting.

"Greetings to you both, Daoist Friends. May I ask what important business brings you to my Xu family?"

Instead of answering verbally, Lei Yongshan retrieved two pale yellow wooden boxes from his storage pouch and handed them to Xu Chuan.

"Daoist Friend Lei, what is the meaning of this?"

"The wooden box on the left contains an ancient withering and thriving divine ability manual titled the Withered Glory Great Hand Seal, which my Lei family acquired by chance.

Since Clan Head Xu goes by the title Withered Glory, I presume the true intent you have comprehended is that of Withered Glory.

No one in my Lei family is capable of cultivating this divine ability, so we wish to gift it to you, Daoist Friend, to prevent such a bright pearl from gathering dust."

Xu Chuan was mildly surprised. This was the first time he had heard any news regarding a Withered Glory divine ability.

Special divine ability manuals like this were so rare that even Nascent Soul powers didn't necessarily possess them. They almost exclusively originated from ancient secret realms or ancient grotto-residences.

Xu Chuan's knuckles lightly rapped on the table, emitting a tap-tap-tap sound. He did not immediately agree to accept them.

Lei Yongshan continued, "The wooden box on the right contains the demonic core and a portion of essence blood from a peak Tier 3 demonic beast, the Fire-Swallowing Toad.

The Fire-Swallowing Toad possesses an ancient demonic beast bloodline and can devour myriad flames. It is an exceedingly rare creature.

Its demonic core contains the absolute essence of those flames, making it a supreme treasure for assisting in the cultivation of fire-attribute divine abilities. However, one must use its essence blood to purge the fire poison within the core.

The secret method for purging the poison is also included.

I ask Clan Head Xu to pass this wooden casket on to Fairy Feng Ling on our behalf."

"Daoist Friend Lei, delivering two such heavy gifts out of the blue is more than Deling and I can accept. It would be best if you just state your true purpose."

"I would like to ask Clan Head Xu for a favor. I hope Fairy Feng Ling can introduce us to True Lord Yanzhen. This old man wishes to request True Lord Yanzhen to forge a highly compatible high-grade magic treasure for my grandson.

As for the compensation for True Lord Yanzhen's services, this old man has prepared it separately.

If True Lord Yanzhen refuses, then we shall drop the matter."

"Just for an introduction, Daoist Friend Lei is so generous. Truly worthy of being one of the two top-tier Golden Core aristocratic families in Heavenly Azure Prefecture. Since that is the case, I will accept."

These two gifts were highly beneficial to both Xu Chuan and Xu Deling.

If the Lei family successfully negotiated the deal for a high-grade magic treasure, they wouldn't lose out. But if they failed, the loss of these gifts would be quite substantial.

"Thank you, Daoist Friend Xu. This is my jade tablet. Once you have news, simply inject your mana to activate it. I will sense it and come immediately."

Xu Chuan nodded.

"Then we won't disturb you any longer. Farewell."

The two quickly departed.

The next day, Xu Chuan deduced Lei Yunpeng's situation and discovered that he possessed a rare lightning-attribute spirit body.

Lightning-attribute natal magic treasures were notoriously difficult to forge, and other elemental treasures wouldn't suit him properly. It seemed Lei Yunpeng had been without a suitable natal magic treasure all this time.

Now that the Heavenly Plume Sect had been established, Lei Yongshan planned to ask True Lord Yanzhen to forge one for him.

However, ordinary Golden Core cultivators couldn't even secure a meeting with True Lord Yanzhen. They might, at most, get to see True Lord Fierce Sun, Xu Deling, or Rong Tianyang.

Left with no other options, Lei Yongshan had sought out Xu Chuan, offering heavy gifts to secure an introduction.

"Hmm, the Lei family seems to have threads of karma entangled with my Xu family. How peculiar."

But his once-a-day divination limit had already been used.

Furthermore, this matter seemed quite complicated. Feeling that relying solely on the Minor Star Divination Art might pose problems, he waited until the second day to perform another deduction.

"So that's how it is!"

"The Great Wei's Lei family lineage is actually a branch of the White Cloud Mountain Lei family!"

"Looking at it this way, it must have been during that event over a millennium ago. A disciple of the Lei family fell into the Land of Imprisonment and survived. Realizing there was no hope of escaping, they established a branch family there."

"Many of the family inheritances in the Land of Imprisonment likely have inescapable ties to various regions in the Heavenly South or factions in the Blackwater Region."

"Perhaps Lei Yunpeng's desire to forge this natal magic treasure is also in preparation for the great war twenty years from now."

"Ah well, I'll help them out."

Soon after, Xu Chuan called for Xu Deling and explained the Lei family's situation.

"Ask Senior Brother Yanzhen to help forge a high-grade magic treasure?"

"Since Grandfather wishes for my help, your granddaughter will naturally agree. However, Senior Brother Yanzhen has a bizarre temper. Whether he accepts or not is hard to say."

Pausing for a moment, Xu Deling added, "I am a bit curious, Grandfather. Why would you help the Lei family, with whom we have no prior ties? Is it solely because of the Withered Glory divine ability manual and the demonic core with essence blood?"

"Those two items are certainly precious enough, but there is naturally another reason. The White Cloud Mountain Lei family is the main branch of the Great Wei's Lei family."

"What?!" Xu Deling's heart jumped in shock.

"Then doesn't that mean the Land of Imprisonment is..."

"That place is overly complicated. It involves the clashes between the Heavenly South and the Blackwater Region, as well as the monster race factions. There's no telling how many schemes are hidden behind the scenes.

I originally planned that once we endured this great tribulation, we would usher in a new era for our Xu family there.

But looking at it now, after the tribulation, we should extricate ourselves as soon as possible.

We will shift our focus to the Heavenly South.

With the Heavenly Azure Sect weakening and the Greedy Wolf Sect coveting their territory, our Xu family is bound to find an opportunity. We might be able to rise with the trend, replace them, and take control of an entire prefecture."

Hearing this, Xu Deling fell silent. "Then what about the others..."

"We'll see how things develop. Perhaps every ten or few dozen years, we can select those with outstanding aptitude, smuggle them out for cultivation, and nurture them. In the future, they could also become a driving force to help our Xu family overturn that place."

Xu Deling nodded. Perhaps this was the safest and most reliable method.

"Then Grandfather, I will accept this item."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly and nodded.

Xu Deling made a trip back to the Heavenly Plume Sect, visited True Lord Yanzhen, and relayed the Lei family's request.

"The White Cloud Mountain Lei family? A top-tier Golden Core aristocratic family?" True Lord Yanzhen paused for a moment before saying, "Bring out the items they gave you. Let me have a look."

Xu Deling took out the pale yellow wooden box.

True Lord Yanzhen swept his divine sense over it. "A peak Tier 3 demonic core, and from the rare Fire-Swallowing Toad no less. This item is indeed of great benefit to you, Junior Sister Feng Ling.

Very well. For your sake, Senior Brother will meet with the Lei family.

However, Junior Sister, do not do this again.

Since our Heavenly Plume Sect has settled here, it's inevitable that we will forge magic treasures for the Golden Core cultivators of Heavenly Azure Prefecture. But how I go about it is my own decision.

If they get the impression that True Lord Yanzhen is easy to talk to, I fear they'll be bothering me every other day."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Xu Deling chuckled, cupping her fists.

True Lord Yanzhen said, "Since you're here, don't be in a rush to leave. Let the Lei family wait out in the cold for a bit. Besides, as Sect Master, you ought to spend more time in the sect, The cultivation environment here is certainly better than at your Xu family.

While you're at it, we can exchange pointers on the Dao of Artifacts."

"Understood, Senior Brother."

True Lord Yanzhen held Xu Deling in high regard, and not just because she was the beloved disciple of the Heavenly Foundry Sect's two Grand Elders. It was her artifact forging talent that truly made him look at her with new eyes.

In fact, she often provided him with insights that helped elevate his own attainments in the Dao of Artifacts.

Given the pace of Xu Deling's progress, he estimated she might catch up to his level within a few decades, granting her the ability to forge top-tier magic treasures.

Half a month later.

Xu Deling returned to the Xu family.

Following that, Xu Chuan used the jade tablet artifact to notify Lei Yongshan.

With Xu Deling having been gone for half a month, Xu Chuan naturally guessed True Lord Yanzhen's intentions to some extent.

As a top-tier Grandmaster Smith, the man naturally possessed his own pride. Regardless of his strength, background, or artifact forging level, he was well within his rights to make the Lei family wait.

Lei Yongshan and Lei Yunpeng arrived at the Xu family once more, then followed Xu Deling to the Heavenly Plume Sect for their visit.

Xu Deling was also curious, eager to see how the Lei family intended to move True Lord Yanzhen.

As it turned out, the Lei family presented a top-grade Tier 4 spiritual material teeming with spirituality.

To forge a Spirit Treasure, such rare spiritual materials were an absolute necessity.

If the forging was successful and the spirituality transformed into spiritual restrictions, a Spirit Treasure would be born, possessing immense might.

A top-tier magic treasure, on the other hand, required a cultivator to nourish it over countless years before it might give birth to spirituality and evolve into a Spirit Treasure.

But even a Grand Cultivator would likely need to nurture it for hundreds of years just to have a ten or twenty percent chance of success.

This compensation from the Lei family truly made True Lord Yanzhen see them in a better light. For a Golden Core aristocratic family to offer such a material was genuinely rare.

The Heavenly Foundry Sect was naturally always collecting spiritual materials to meet Grand Elder Zhen Yangzi's needs for forging Spirit Treasures.

However, Spirit Treasures couldn't be refined on the first try; they required continuous experimentation and practice.

Thus, the more materials of this caliber they had, the better.

Upon the successful creation of a Spirit Treasure, phenomena of heaven and earth would occur.

The stronger the Spirit Treasure, the more terrifying the phenomena.

In the end, True Lord Yanzhen agreed to the request.

This matter was thus concluded.

Comprehending the Withered Glory Great Hand Seal obtained from the Lei family provided Xu Chuan with no small amount of inspiration.

In particular, its final move, the Life and Death Great Hand Seal, transformed the concept of withering and thriving into a cycle of life and death. This gave Xu Chuan a general direction for reaching Divine Ability Perfection.

Through his Fate Frame innate talent, Wither and Flourish, Life and Death, Xu Chuan had already grasped the concepts of withering and flourishing. However, life and death were far more profound, containing the true intent of mortality and vitality, requiring him to slowly experience and understand them over time.

Time flew by like a weaver's shuttle, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half passed.

Within the Wu Clan, two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators emerged.

They were none other than Wu Zhusan and Wu Zhuqi.

With breakthrough conditions rivaling a Tier 3 spirit vein, passable innate aptitude, and the assistance of Xu Chuan's Jade Marrow Pills, their breakthroughs were a matter of course.

From now on, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators born into the Xu family would only continue to grow.

In the Yan Clan, several more martial artists reached Peak Grandmaster.

Heart Constellation City.

Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

The Xu family's Immortal-Ascension Pavilion was undeniably the most popular shop in Heart Constellation City.

Its signature treasure was the three-pattern magic tool, the Heavenly King Spear. Countless individuals had come just to catch a glimpse of it.

The Yan Family, Tang Family, and Luo Family had all attempted to purchase this magic tool, but unfortunately, the Xu family was not selling it for the time being.

With such a magic tool, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator who hadn't comprehended any divine ability true intent could easily fight their way into the Prodigy Tournament and even secure a ranking.

With Xu Deling's return, the addition of Perfected Person Fire Cloud and his disciples to the Artifact Refining Hall, and the Xu family's elevation to a Golden Core aristocratic family, the inventory of top-grade magic artifacts, as well as one-pattern and two-pattern magic tools at the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion, steadily increased.

In terms of pills, many rare medicinal pills such as Jade Marrow Pills and Divine Sense Pills began to appear in substantial quantities, unlike the past where one might only surface after a long wait.

Because of the expansion in scale, the industries in Cloudstream Town alone could no longer fully support their operations.

Thus, the Xu family opened up new trade routes, establishing stable partnerships with multiple spirit grass and material shops.

For now, they had only set up shop in Heart Constellation City, but their expansion in the future was inevitable.

As for why they didn't expand into the closer Corner Constellation City, it was because the Heavenly Plume Sect had chosen to establish themselves there.

The Xu family saw no need to clash with them.

On this day.

Two Qi Condensation cultivators clad in gray robes arrived.

"I heard you sell pills here that enhance the divine sense of Qi Condensation stage cultivators?" a burly young man asked.

"Daoist Friend must be referring to the Divine Sense Pill. This is exclusive to our Immortal-Ascension Pavilion. They are one hundred and fifty spirit stones each, and each person is limited to purchasing three.

After all, only the first three pills consumed will actually elevate one's divine sense."

"Give us one to try. If the effects are good, my brother and I will buy a few more."

"Not a problem. Someone, bring over a Divine Sense Pill."

The burly young man handed over the spirit stones, then passed the Divine Sense Pill to the gaunt, sinister-looking young man beside him.

The two exchanged a glance.

The sinister young man swallowed the pill.

Moments later, the young man's face suddenly turned deathly pale. He clutched his stomach and collapsed to his knees, white spots beginning to surface on his skin.

"It's poisoned?!"

"Your Immortal-Ascension Pavilion actually dared to feed my brother a poisoned pill!"

The burly young man glanced at the sinister young man, puzzled inwardly. 'He's acting quite convincingly.'

He then slapped his storage pouch, a battle saber materializing in his hand as he prepared to attack.

Huang Tianba abruptly appeared. With a flick of his sleeve robe, a domineering wave of mana swept the burly young man completely off his feet, sending both him and the sinister young man tumbling out of the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

In mere moments, the sinister young man's skin festered and rotted away, and his life force was completely extinguished.

The burly young man violently coughed up a mouthful of blood. Seeing the sinister young man's gruesome state, his pupils contracted sharply. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a sudden, agonizing stabbing pain ripped through his spiritual sea.

He instantly fell silent and crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

"They're both dead?!" the surrounding onlookers exclaimed in shock.

Huang Tianba frowned deeply. Although the gap in strength between him and the burly young man was vast, he had only used ten or twenty percent of his power. He hadn't even utilized any magical arts or magic tools; he had simply struck out with a gust of wind generated by his mana.

It shouldn't have been anywhere near enough to kill a burly young man at Peak Qi Condensation.

As for the sinister young man, his gruesome death was even more perplexing. He had clearly ingested a highly toxic poison pill.

'Someone is trying to cause trouble for our Immortal-Ascension Pavilion?!' Huang Tianba immediately retrieved a token, formed hand seals, and activated the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion's strongest defensive grand array.

Normally, they only kept a Tier 2 High-Grade defense active, but this sudden incident filled him with a vague sense of unease, prompting him to activate the Tier 3 Low-Grade defensive grand array.

Just as the onlookers were still processing the bizarre turn of events.

Suddenly.

A terrifying Golden Core pressure crashed down like a massive flood peak, instantly enveloping the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion and the street out front.

Thanks to the timely activation of the grand array, the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion's interior remained unaffected, shielding the cultivators inside from the oppressive might.

However, the cultivators out on the street weren't so lucky.

Those with weaker cultivation simply lost feeling in their legs. With a series of thuds, dozens of people dropped to their knees on the spot, their foreheads pressed against the bluestone ground. They didn't even have the strength to lift their heads.

The spirit power within their bodies descended into total chaos, spinning wildly like kites with snapped strings, while their teeth chattered uncontrollably.

The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators gritted their teeth and held on, their legs slightly bent and faces pale as beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously dripped from their foreheads.

"Brother Huang, what is this..."

Huang Tianba's expression was as grim as stagnant water. "Hurry and send a message to the Clan Head! A Golden Core stage cultivator has come to the Heart Constellation City's Immortal-Ascension Pavilion to stir up trouble."

"Understood. I will send the message immediately."

A middle-aged man at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation pulled out a communication token to send the message.

This communication artifact had been forged by Xu Deling using techniques she learned from the Heavenly Foundry Sect. It was capable of transmitting messages across distances of up to ten thousand miles.

However, just as the message was sent out.

A terrifying boom echoed above the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

It was a gray palm print over ten feet in size. At the center of the palm print, a sinister, hazy phantom of a beast manifested, exuding an aura of brutal, violent pressure.

Struck by the attack, the light screen of the grand array rippled like the surface of a disturbed pond.

"To think it's actually a Tier 3 grand array."

The man in the dark gold robes, hovering high in the sky, revealed a look of surprise.

The terrifying Golden Core pressure and spreading aura naturally alarmed the Golden Core Ancestors of Heart Constellation City's three great Golden Core aristocratic families—Tang, Yan, and Luo.

The Tang Family and Yan Family each possessed only one Golden Core cultivator, while the Luo Family was the strongest with two, temporarily serving as the City Lords of Heart Constellation City.

The four Golden Core cultivators rushed out of their estates, transforming into streaks of rainbow light as they hurried over.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The man in the dark gold robes launched three consecutive attacks, each strike causing the light screen of the grand array to fluctuate violently, clearly demonstrating the terrifying extent of his power.

A moment later.

The Golden Core cultivators of the three families arrived.

Upon seeing the man in the dark gold robes, the old man from the Luo family experienced a sudden shift in expression. He immediately cupped his fists and laughed, "So it is True Lord Canglang of the Greedy Wolf Sect gracing our Heart Constellation City with his presence."

Glancing down at the swath of cultivators kneeling on the street beneath his Golden Core pressure, he continued, "What has angered the True Lord so much that you would resort to such drastic measures?"

True Lord Canglang cast a disdainful look at the four Golden Core cultivators led by the Luo family elder—two at the Mid-Stage and two at the Early-Stage—and scoffed angrily, "What has angered me?"

"Naturally, it's because the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion in your city poisoned one of my disciples and then directly murdered another."

'The Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.' The Luo family elder's heart skipped a beat. 'Has True Lord Canglang come to stir up trouble over what happened more than two years ago?'

"What, are you going to raise a hand against this True Lord?" True Lord Canglang's voice deepened menacingly.

"We wouldn't dare. However, fighting within the city limits is strictly forbidden. Would the True Lord be willing to give this old man some face and retract your pressure?"

"Your face?" True Lord Canglang let out a cold laugh. "What face do you have in front of this True Lord?"

"True Lord, do not push things too far! At the end of the day, this is not your Greedy Wolf Prefecture!"

A flash of mockery crossed True Lord Canglang's eyes. Grayish-black mana surged in his palm once more, gathering into a vortex of energy far denser than when he had attacked the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

In an instant, a grayish-black palm print nearly half again as large as the previous one took shape!

With a sudden flick of his wrist, he sent the grayish-black palm print hurtling straight toward the Luo family elder.

The Luo family elder's expression slightly shifted. He hadn't expected True Lord Canglang to be so overbearing, striking without a moment's hesitation.

"Fellow Daoists, assist me!"

Calling out, the Luo family elder didn't dare hesitate. He marshaled his mana, swiftly forming hand seals to unleash a magical art in defense.

The other three quickly followed suit.

Boom!

The grayish-black palm print was shattered by the four magical arts of varying colors.

"Being able to withstand that move means you aren't completely incompetent. In that case, let me show you this True Lord's divine ability."

The four of them simultaneously suffered a drastic change in expression.

They were already at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation realm. Now that True Lord Canglang was preparing to use his perfected divine ability, panic flared in their hearts. They hurriedly summoned their natal magic treasures, fully prepared for a bitter struggle.

Right at that hair-raising moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

"I wondered who was attacking my Immortal-Ascension Pavilion. I thought some Daoist Friend had grown jealous of my Xu family's business and decided to cause a little havoc. So it was actually True Lord Canglang."

A bizarre ripple spread across the area. The cultivators kneeling on the street instantly felt the pressure lift, and they all scrambled to their feet.

The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators also let out long sighs of relief.

They then cupped their fists and bowed toward Xu Chuan. "Thank you, True Lord Withered Glory."

"You arrived quite quickly, Daoist Friend Xu."

"Clan Head." Huang Tianba stepped out of the Immortal-Ascension Pavilion and bowed to Xu Chuan. "Senior True Lord Canglang is convinced that our Immortal-Ascension Pavilion poisoned one of his disciples to death and murdered another."

"Daoist Friend Canglang, are those two Qi Condensation stage cultivators lying on the ground your beloved disciples?"

"What if they are?"

"If they are your beloved disciples, why leave them lying there for everyone to gawk at?" Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Moreover, I had no idea Daoist Friend Canglang's standards for taking disciples were so low.

It feels like you could grab a random person off the street to be your disciple. Why not just pick two at random to serve as compensation?"

"You!" Daoist Friend Canglang glared viciously at Xu Chuan. "Since when does this True Lord's standard for recruiting disciples allow for your remarks?"

"The man down there killed my disciple. Today, he shall pay with his life!"

Before his voice had even faded, True Lord Canglang violently clenched his right hand. Grayish-black spirit power surged frantically from his palm, instantly condensing into a massive wolf claw over ten feet wide.

The claw's sharp tips glinted dangerously as black energy swirled around them. Wherever the razor-sharp talons passed, the air itself seemed to tear apart as the strike plunged straight toward Huang Tianba's face.

"Daoist Friend Canglang, why the rush?"

Xu Chuan seemed to have expected this. Without moving his body, he merely flicked his sleeve robe. An ink-black grand seal shot out from within his sleeve—the magic treasure, Heaven-Overturning Seal.

The moment it appeared, it brought with it a heavy, suffocating pressure, crashing violently into the grayish-black wolf claw.

"Bang!"

As the Heaven-Overturning Seal clashed with the wolf claw, a deafening explosion resounded in all directions.

The grayish-black wolf claw was instantly obliterated, scattering black energy in every direction. Huang Tianba was sent flying back several dozen feet by the shockwave.

The ink-black grand seal trembled slightly before dropping back into Xu Chuan's sleeve.

"You dare to stop me? Do you think my disciples died for nothing?"

"A life for a life is the natural law of heaven and earth. But what if I can prove that both deaths had nothing to do with my Immortal-Ascension Pavilion?"

Xu Chuan offered a faint smile. With a light tap of his finger, a pill flew out from the sinister young man's robes. "Daoist Friend Canglang claims this disciple of yours was poisoned to death by a pill from our Immortal-Ascension Pavilion.

But why is our Immortal-Ascension Pavilion's Divine Sense Pill still right here?

He only bought one, didn't he?"

"Yes, Clan Head," Huang Tianba affirmed with cupped fists as he got back to his feet.

"As for the other one," Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "I just examined his body. He does have some minor injuries, but his actual cause of death was the complete annihilation of his divine soul."

"Clan Head, I only marshaled my mana to sweep him outside earlier. Everyone present can attest to that. Furthermore, although my divine sense is stronger than his, I do not know any spiritual sense attack techniques. At most, I could have lightly injured his divine soul."

"Nothing but a one-sided claim!"

Xu Chuan continued, "Regardless, since Daoist Friend was nearby, why did you sit back and watch your own disciples die?"

"Could it be that you merely wanted to use their deaths as a pretext to attack my Immortal-Ascension Pavilion?"

"Nonsense! By the time this True Lord arrived, it was already too late!"

"Daoist Friend's divine sense covers a radius of dozens of miles. Even if your body couldn't arrive in time, a single wave of your pressure would have stopped anyone from daring to strike. Yet, the moment you appeared, you directly attacked my Immortal-Ascension Pavilion without a second word.

Had my Immortal-Ascension Pavilion not set up a Tier 3 defensive grand array, the entire building would have likely been destroyed, countless lives lost, and our casualties immense."

"Daoist Friend Canglang, you owe me an explanation!"

"Why would this True Lord need to explain anything to you!"

Interrogated by Xu Chuan, True Lord Canglang found himself momentarily tongue-tied. He felt the fury in his chest boiling like churning magma.

He hadn't expected the Xu family's measly pavilion to be protected by a Tier 3 defensive grand array, completely upending all his plans.

It had even forced him into this awkward position where he had nothing to say in his defense.

In his blinding rage, his hands moved with blistering speed as he formed hand seals. The gray mist around him abruptly surged to overwhelming heights, coalescing into a sky full of wolf phantoms.

Each wolf phantom stood several feet tall, their vicious fangs bared and eyes glowing a bloody crimson as they unleashed deafening howls.

"Divine Ability: Thousand Wolves Frenzied Bite!"

Following his thunderous roar, thousands of wolf phantoms lunged forward simultaneously. Like a torrential flood, they surged toward Xu Chuan, their claws and fangs tearing through the air, bearing a savage, ferocious aura intent on devouring everything in their path.

The surrounding space darkened as it was consumed by the sinister, malicious aura.

"True Lord Withered Glory, be careful!" the Luo family elder and the others warned.

Just moments ago, they had believed they would have to face this perfected divine ability of True Lord Canglang's, yet in the blink of an eye, the target had shifted to the Clan Head of the Xu family!

Seeing this, Xu Chuan's expression sharpened. His hands rapidly formed seals as he muttered, "Divine Ability: Flourishing Glory Seal!"

This was the perfected Withered Glory true intent that Xu Chuan had recently succeeded in comprehending. Using this true intent, he had created the second move of the Withered Glory Seal—the Wheel-Turning Seal.

Drawing from the concepts of plants withering and thriving and the turning wheel of life and death, it was divided into the Flourishing Glory Seal and the Withered Silence Seal.

The Flourishing Glory Seal was an endless cycle of life, bearing majestic, boundless momentum. Like the crashing waves of the ocean, each seal was stronger than the last. This seal pushed vitality to the absolute limit, bursting with several times its normal power.

As for the Withered Silence Seal, it dissolved all things and magical arts. If a physical body was struck by this seal, the flesh would gradually wither away like rotting wood.

Furthermore, the victim's divine soul would also be affected, progressively growing weaker. It was a truly bizarre and unpredictable divine ability technique.

The azure hand seals clashed with the tide of wolf phantoms. The deafening explosions shook the very heavens and earth as a sea of gray mist intertwined with radiant azure light.

Unending waves of wolf phantoms charged forward one after another, continuously wearing down the Flourishing Glory Seal.

Utilizing an explosive surge of his own vitality, Xu Chuan struck out with two more Flourishing Glory Seals in quick succession.

As long as his vitality could endure the strain, he could unleash them endlessly, with each seal growing exponentially stronger than the one before it.

However, by the time he unleashed the third seal, the thousands of wolf phantoms materialized by True Lord Canglang's divine ability were entirely obliterated.

This scene utterly astounded everyone present.

Who didn't know that Xu Chuan had just formed his Golden Core a few years ago? In contrast, True Lord Canglang was a Late-Stage Golden Core powerhouse from the Greedy Wolf Sect who had been famous for over a century.

"True Lord Withered Glory actually blocked the perfected divine ability of a Late-Stage Golden Core True Lord using only his own strength?!"

The Ancestor of the Yan Family muttered to himself, "Brother Luo, my old eyes aren't deceiving me, are they?"

"Brother Yan, it would be normal for your old eyes to fail you alone, but we couldn't all possibly be hallucinating at the same time!" the Ancestor of the Tang Family joked.

"Those who achieve Divine Ability Core Formation can be called True Lords. That is a title given by others in recognition of their potential."

"But from this moment onward, True Lord Withered Glory truly lives up to his name!"