Chapter 318: Dewen Returns Home, "True Fiend King True Scripture"

Moonlight, pale and cold as frost, bathed Clear River City.

A sharp golden radiance tore through the night sky, arriving in an instant and hovering above the city.

Xu Mingwei stood in the void. His dark robe remained entirely motionless in the night breeze, while his vast divine sense spread like an invisible tide, washing over the city's streets, alleys, and buildings in a mere instant.

"Found him," he murmured.

His gaze narrowed, focusing on an unremarkable inn in the eastern part of the city.

With a slight shift of his body, he swooped down like a golden roc diving for its prey.

"Bang!"

The window of the street-facing guest room flew open on its own.

Xu Mingwei stepped into the room. The candle was still burning, and a figure sat cross-legged on the bed.

"Boom!"

Monstrous baleful qi erupted from the figure like an exploding volcano!

The baleful qi was so thick it felt tangible, laced with swirling dark crimson light. Cold, tyrannical, and deathly still, it instantly filled the room. Even the candlelight on the table dimmed abruptly, turning an eerie green!

Xu Mingwei's pupils shrank slightly. The dark golden power of his core circulated naturally around him, blocking the approaching baleful qi about three feet away.

His heart jolted. 'What fierce baleful qi! It is as dense as mercury and carries the hidden resentment of bloody souls... Just what has Dewen experienced all these years?'

Xu Dewen jolted violently the moment he turned and saw the intruder's face.

His eyes, which had been brimming with icy vigilance, were instantly replaced by utter disbelief, panic, and a deep, hidden trace of familial longing.

Like a rapidly receding tide, the monstrous baleful qi vanished without a trace in a split second, not a single wisp leaking out.

Such exquisite control made Xu Mingwei sigh in admiration once more.

Xu Dewen stood rooted to the spot, seemingly turning into a clay statue or a wooden carving. Only his slightly trembling fingers betrayed the stormy waves crashing within his heart.

'Father... why is he here? How did he know I was in this place? Did something happen back home? Or...'

Countless chaotic thoughts surged in his mind, leaving him at a loss for words.

"What," Xu Mingwei said in a deep voice as he looked at his son's dazed expression, "it has been many years, but do you no longer recognize your father?"

"Fa... Father!"

Awakening as if from a dream, Xu Dewen immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply. "Unfilial son Dewen greets Father!"

His voice carried an imperceptible choke.

"Rise," Xu Mingwei instructed.

He took a step forward, raising a hand to support his son as his gaze swept over him.

Dewen looked much more mature and resolute than in his memories, now sharing the appearance of a middle-aged man just like him.

"You came back, yet you did not return home. Did you not know that your mother... worries about you the most?"

"Mother..."

Xu Dewen slowly raised his head, his eyes already rimmed with red.

"It is my fault... I have been unfilial, making Father and Mother worry..."

His voice was hoarse. Gone was any trace of the demonic cultivator whose baleful qi had pierced the heavens; he was simply a child who had wandered for far too long, anxious about returning home, and terrified of disappointing his closest family.

"Come back with me first," Xu Mingwei said, extending a hand.

"Yes, Father." Xu Dewen stood with his head bowed, respectful and obedient.

At this moment, the moniker "Daoist Wen," who rampaged through Great Jin and struck fear into the hearts of cultivators, and the mysterious demonic cultivator with monstrous baleful qi, were completely cast aside.

He was simply Xu Mingwei's son!

A wanderer returning to his hometown, his heart filled with apprehension and yearning.

Xu Mingwei asked no more questions. With a sweep of his sleeve, he enveloped Xu Dewen, and the two transformed into a gentle golden light that quietly left Clear River City, merging into the vast night as they headed toward Dongxi.

Dongxi.

In Xu Mingwei's bedroom.

Hearing the door open, Yang Ronghua pushed aside the soft gauze curtain separating the inner room.

Two people stood in the main hall.

Her gaze first landed on Xu Mingwei before involuntarily drifting to the other person.

It was a strangely familiar middle-aged man, his features carrying a faint, almost timid tension.

Yang Ronghua froze completely.

She stared at that face, slowly overlapping and merging it with the one buried deep in her memories.

The endless days and nights of worry, the countless times she had woken up terrified from nightmares, all transformed into a surging torrent that struck her heart and soul.

Her lips trembled slightly, but no sound came out.

She only gazed without blinking, as if terrified that the moment she closed her eyes, this figure would dissipate just like it had in so many of her dreams.

"...Dewen?"

Yang Ronghua raised her hand, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

Xu Dewen's eyes instantly turned red, welling up with tears. Looking at that trembling hand, all his feigned calm and the cold hardness of a demonic cultivator crumbled.

"Mother!"

His knees gave out, and he knelt heavily before Yang Ronghua.

"Dewen, you have finally returned. Mother thought I would never see you again in this life."

"It is my fault, Mother!"

Xu Mingwei's lips curled into a faint smile. After a brief moment, he suggested, "Let us get up and talk."

Wiping the corners of her eyes happily, Yang Ronghua looked at Xu Mingwei. "Husband, how did you know Dewen had returned?"

"Father, I am curious as well. Even though you have stepped into the Golden Core stage, it is impossible for you to have foreseen the future," Xu Dewen added.

"Indeed, I did not know, but your grandfather did."

"Where is Grandfather? I heard he has been in seclusion for over thirty years. I miss him dearly too."

"We will talk about your grandfather later. For the next few days, stay home and accompany your mother."

"Understood, Father."

Afterward, Yang Ronghua began asking about Xu Dewen's experiences over the years.

Naturally, Xu Dewen only shared the good news and omitted the hardships, focusing on the lighter matters.

Listening to his somewhat exaggerated tales, Yang Ronghua was alternately surprised and amused, covering her mouth to laugh. Her clear, autumn-water eyes smiled the entire time.

But Xu Mingwei knew that merely surviving in a place like Great Jin must have come with unimaginable difficulties.

The Xu family had no influence there; Xu Dewen could only rely on himself.

While Xu Deling was also outside, she traveled alongside Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian, so Xu Mingwei had nothing to worry about.

Nowadays, the Xu family possessed the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven, allowing them to frequently meet via their divine sense.

The news of Xu Dewen's return was known only within the Xu family. He stayed in Xu Mingwei's courtyard, barely going out, so others came to visit him instead.

Of everyone in the Xu family, he had the most descendants.

Unfortunately, he had married mortal women, and all of his wives and concubines had long passed away.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Mingxuan returned from the Guangling Branch just to visit him.

"Well done, Dewen. Wandering alone, you actually cultivated to Foundation Establishment Perfection. You are even more outstanding than your eldest brother."

"Thank you for the praise, Third Uncle. Compared to my eldest brother, I am still slightly lacking, but I am certainly stronger than my third brother."

Hearing this, Xu Dejun smiled bitterly. "Second Brother, you strike me down the moment you return!"

"Hahaha!"

Everyone chuckled.

"I didn't realize until I came back, but I never expected to have so many descendants. Sadly, there aren't many whose names I can actually call out."

Xu Dewen recalled the scene from the day before, when his many descendants had all come to pay their respects.

There had been a massive crowd of them—so many that kneeling, they could not even fit in the entire room.

"In this aspect, your contributions are indeed massive," Xu Mingyuan commented.

"Second Uncle, please do not tease me. It was all the foolishness of youth."

The days of reunion passed quickly, and soon two or three days had gone by.

Everyone returned to their own busy schedules—whether cultivating, handling family affairs, or dealing with matters of the Immortal Martial Alliance.

A few days later.

Xu Mingwei expressed a desire to see Xu Dewen's strength, and Xu Dezhao volunteered to spar with him.

At the foot of Broken Fang Peak lay a tranquil little lake.

The water was like a mirror, reflecting the mountains and drifting clouds.

The area was secluded, with only the gentle breeze rippling the lake and the intermittent chirping of birds breaking the silence.

Xu Dewen and Xu Dezhao stood on the lake's surface, separated by dozens of meters.

High above in the sky, Xu Mingwei's gaze was as sharp as lightning, looking down at the two sparring below.

This was not merely a test of Xu Dewen's power; it was also an observation of his performance in combat.

"Second Brother, be careful," Xu Dezhao warned.

As he spoke, he pointed a finger. The Departing Fire Sword transformed into a streak of crimson flowing fire, tearing through the air and leaving a white trail across the lake's surface as it stabbed directly toward Xu Dewen's face.

Only when the sword light was right upon him did Xu Dewen swing his heavy saber upward to block, his movement seemingly slow but actually lightning fast.

"Clang!"

The clash of metal rang out as the crimson sword light was deflected. However, the scorching sword intent left Xu Dewen's arm slightly numb, and the surrounding temperature spiked drastically.

"A truly solid foundation."

A flash of approval passed through Xu Dezhao's eyes. Changing his sword art, the Departing Fire Sword's assault suddenly grew ferocious. Sword qi spread like a raging prairie fire and shot out like bursting fiery stars, enveloping a dozen meters around Xu Dewen.

The blazing hot sword qi evaporated the lake's surface into white mist, causing the water below to churn and hiss.

Xu Dewen moved with steady footwork, weaving through the gaps in the sword qi.

He wielded his black battle saber with simple, clean strikes. Chop, slash, flick, block—every swing was imbued with massive, heavy force. Solid baleful qi lingered on the blade, shattering or deflecting the incoming sword strikes.

A low sound of wind and thunder faintly emanated from the saber's edge.

The two brothers clashed repeatedly over the lake. Flashes of saber and sword light skimmed across the water, kicking up sprays and leaving scorch marks and deep gouges on the shore.

Dozens of exchanges later, Xu Dezhao found himself shocked by his opponent's baleful qi saber art.

The sheer ferocity of the baleful qi even threatened to affect his divine soul, forcing him to keep his guard up at all times.

"Second Brother, take this attack!"

Xu Dezhao retreated several paces. Floating the Departing Fire Sword above his head, his hands rapidly formed seals. Fire spirit energy surged wildly around him, quickly turning the grass beneath his feet into scorched earth.

"Crimson Phoenix of the Nine Heavens!"

A massive fire phoenix, nearly twenty meters wide, condensed in the air. Shrieking to the heavens, it dove straight toward Xu Dewen.

Sensing its might, Xu Dewen's eyes focused sharply, and he bellowed,

"Heavenly Fiend Body, condense!"

Thick, pure, and dark baleful qi exploded outward, yet it didn't dissipate. Instead, it instantly coated his entire body, transforming into a dark, nearly tangible suit of full-body armor.

The armor was ancient and heavy, with ferocious spikes on the joints, gleaming with an eerie light!

The Profound Tortoise Iron Shield also flared with light, forming the illusion of a giant shield that layered defensively in front of him.

"BOOM!!!"

Xu Dezhao's technique was a divine ability with immense power. Having comprehended its true intent to fifty percent proficiency, the fire phoenix's talons clashed against the giant shield illusion.

A moment later, a series of cracking sounds rang out.

The giant shield illusion shattered, and the Profound Tortoise Iron Shield was blown away.

Gathering terrifying baleful qi, Xu Dewen unleashed a shocking saber strike. It possessed the might of a divine ability, yet lacked the profound true intent of one.

His baleful qi saber aura was shattered as well, but fortunately, it exhausted a significant amount of the fire phoenix's power. Ultimately, the remnants of the attack were blocked by his dark baleful qi armor.

However, the baleful qi battle armor dimmed, covered in a network of fine cracks. With a soft crack, it dissolved back into baleful qi and dissipated in the air.

Xu Dewen was sent flying dozens of meters away. He rose to his feet with a pale face, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, his internal organs having suffered a shock.

"Second Brother, are you alright?" Xu Dezhao asked with concern.

"I am fine, Big Brother," Xu Dewen replied.

Observing everything from the sky, Xu Mingwei muttered softly, "Dewen's baleful qi cultivation method is truly extraordinary. It must no longer be the 'Three Baleful Arts' he practiced back then.

"That final saber aura and the armor should both be divine abilities.

"However, Dewen has yet to comprehend the true intent of those divine abilities, which is why he could not unleash their full might."

Swallowing a Wound-Healing Pill, Xu Dewen sat cross-legged by the lake and began to regulate his breathing.

Xu Mingwei descended from the sky, landing near the two of them.

"Dewen, what cultivation method are you practicing now?"

"To answer Father, it is an ancient method I obtained from a certain grotto-residence. It is called the 'True Fiend King True Scripture', and it can be cultivated all the way to Golden Core Perfection."

"So that is the case. I noticed that the techniques you displayed just now were all divine abilities, but you have yet to comprehend their true intent. You can focus your cultivation in that direction moving forward."

Xu Dewen was not very familiar with divine abilities.

Xu Dezhao took the time to explain the concept to him. Realization finally dawned on Xu Dewen. "No wonder! I felt that I had already mastered these two secret arts, but their power was nowhere near as formidable as described in the manual."

"There is one more thing. The baleful qi condensed by this cultivation method is astonishing. How did you manage to keep your mind clear?"

Hearing this, Xu Dewen chuckled lightly. With a thought, a flawless, perfectly round bead the size of a longan fruit flew out from his dantian and hovered before him.

At first glance, the bead seemed unremarkable. It was entirely a simple, pale gold color, its texture resembling both jade and some kind of strange wood. Faint, misty treasure light seemed to circulate slowly within it.

Looking closer, the surface of the bead possessed six naturally formed, incredibly fine rings of profound patterns that seemed to contain endless dao rhyme.

The bead hovered silently without any overbearing spiritual pressure, yet naturally radiated an aura of tranquility and peaceful dao rhyme.

"This is..." Xu Mingwei's Golden Core divine sense was sharp; he instantly perceived the bead's extraordinary nature.

"This item is called the 'Six-God Bodhi Bead'. I acquired it from the same grotto-residence as the 'True Fiend King True Scripture'."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingwei understood.

"It seems you have had quite the fortuitous encounter. If my eyes do not deceive me, this should be a fragment of a magic treasure, and an extremely rare one capable of defending the divine soul at that.

"Only with this could you resist the baleful qi eroding your divine soul. It also has the effect of calming the mind and refreshing the spirit."

"Let us head back for today," Xu Mingwei said after a pause.

"Yes, Father."

Two days later.

Xu Mingwei called for Xu Dewen and asked, "What are your plans for the future? Will you remain with the family, or..."

Xu Dewen fell silent.

Truthfully, Dongxi was peaceful and filled him with a sense of attachment.

However, after thirty years, he had long grown accustomed to a life of licking blood from the edge of a blade. He even enjoyed the thrill of being hunted down, only to turn the tables and counter-kill his pursuers.

Just as Xu Chuan had said back then, once someone set foot on the demonic path, there was no turning back.

He had to proceed forward with a mind without distractions.

Otherwise, he would end up neither here nor there.

"Speak your mind, there is no harm. I will not blame you. As your grandfather once said, everyone should have their own path in life."

Hearing this, Xu Dewen nodded slightly. After hesitating for a long moment, he replied, "I will not stay with the family permanently. I have already grown used to the life of a demonic cultivator.

"Dongxi is a paradise, my hometown, and my homeland. It is a bond that ties my heart.

"But it is not the path I must walk."

Xu Dewen's gaze gradually became resolute.

Looking into his eyes, Xu Mingwei sighed softly. "I understand. Suppose... just suppose I asked you to establish a branch of the Xu family within the demonic path.

"Would you be willing?"

Xu Dewen furrowed his brows. "Does the family wish to expand its influence in Great Jin?"

After pondering for a moment, he cupped his hands and continued, "I am willing. Should the family need me, I am willing to go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"I understand. You may go for now. If you feel an eerie power pulling at your divine sense through the void tonight, do not resist it."

"Yes, Father," Xu Dewen replied, cupping his hands before leaving with a puzzled expression.

"When children grow up, they will eventually spread their wings and fly!" Xu Mingwei suddenly sighed with emotion. "I finally understand some of Father's thoughts."

A few days later.

Xu Dewen indeed felt the pull of that eerie power, which sent shivers down his spine.

However, he ultimately chose to trust Xu Mingwei.

"Dewen, welcome to the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven."

Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Dewen's divine sense quickly located Xu Chuan. Next to him stood the divine sense phantom of Xu Mingwei.

"Father, Grandfather, where is this place?"

"The Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven. A sacred land that belongs exclusively to our family."

Xu Dewen was deeply shocked. 'Just how many secrets does our family possess that I am entirely unaware of?'

Xu Mingwei elaborated, "Currently, aside from your uncles and aunts, only Deling and Jingwu have entered this place. Among the younger generation, you are the third."

"Second Sister?!"

"We tell outsiders that she has been in secluded cultivation, but the truth is, she traveled with your grandfather, fifth uncle, Deyue, and the others to the broader Heavenly South Cultivation World."

Xu Dewen wore a bewildered expression.

Left with no choice, Xu Mingwei gave him a brief rundown of everything that had happened.

"So, Jingwu is Eldest Brother's direct eldest grandson, and also the renowned Jiang Wu of the Immortal Martial Alliance—the man who pioneered a new path for the martial dao and redefined it?!"

Immediately after, his tone shifted to one of playful disbelief. "Good heavens, just how much did I miss all these years while I was away from home?"

"Many matters remain hidden from the vast majority of our clan. For instance, Jingwu's true identity is still known to only a few core clan members," Xu Mingwei explained.

"The ancestor of the martial dao... that is indeed a matter of grave importance," Xu Dewen acknowledged.

"Later on, he will find an opportunity to fake his death and return to the Xu family, shifting from public view to the shadows," Xu Chuan added.

"Grandfather is wise." Xu Dewen quickly brought up his real question. "Grandfather, you called me in today because of something important, right? Is it about establishing a branch of the Xu family in the demonic path, as Father mentioned earlier?"

"It could be, or it could not. That depends on you," Xu Chuan replied.

"Do you know why so many members of our family possess extraordinary talents, allowing us to expand to this scale in a mere seven generations?"

"Yet another family secret I was completely oblivious to?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly and explained the matter of granting talents to Xu Dewen.

"Such a thing is actually possible? Could it be that our Xu family is a fated clan favored by the Heavenly Dao?!"

"Do not worry about that for now," Xu Chuan said with an amused smile. "Currently, I have two demonic path talents in my hands, and you are the only suitable candidate.

"Cultivating others from scratch and making them walk the demonic path would simply not be worth the effort.

"Moreover, your father mentioned that you have already grown accustomed to the life of a demonic cultivator. You also possess an extraordinary treasure like the 'Six-God Bodhi Bead', allowing you to remain temporarily immune to the erosion of baleful qi.

"After much consideration, I have finally chosen you.

"By accepting these talents, you will become one of the true core pillars of the Xu family. Naturally, you will also have to bear the corresponding burdens.

"Dewen, are you willing?"

Xu Dewen did not hesitate for even a second. "Grandfather, I am willing!"

"Finally, I can also embark on the life of a peerless genius like Third Sister. To be honest, I used to envy her so much."

Xu Chuan shook his head and chuckled. "After all these years, you are still as deeply unserious as ever."

"Hehe, I only dare to act like this in front of you, Grandfather. Father is a bit too strict."

"Since that is settled, I will explain my plan to you."

Half an incense stick later.

"So the heaven and earth are truly this vast, and our current location is nothing more than a cage, a place for blood sacrifices?" Xu Dewen sighed endlessly. "The Heavenly South Cultivation World, the Black Water region, the invasion of true demons, a war stretching from ancient times to the present..."

Pausing for a moment, he firmly declared, "I am willing to seize a share of providence in the demonic path for our Xu family!"

"Whether or not you establish a branch of the Xu family is entirely up to you. However, you must not use your real name. I heard you have the title of 'Daoist Wen' in Great Jin. You may continue to use it.

"If you do decide to build a family, you may also use 'Wen' as your surname."

Xu Dewen considered this before replying, "Understood, Grandfather."

"The great tribulation will descend shortly. You may remain with the clan or return to Great Jin. If you do not plan to stay, make sure you bind the clan's Soul Banner and blood corpse as their master before you depart."

"Grandfather, wouldn't that expose my relationship with the Xu family?"

"I am not telling you to use them right now!" Xu Chuan said, exasperated. "During the great tribulation, it will be incredibly difficult to predict whether you might encounter Tier 3 demonic beasts or Golden Core demonic cultivators.

"If you are out there alone, the Xu family will not be able to protect you. You will have to rely entirely on your own providence."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

"Mm, go on now. The talents have already been bestowed upon you. However, Dewen, even if you plan to leave, wait until you have familiarized yourself with these two new talents first.

"With them, you might be able to comprehend the true intent of divine abilities much faster."

Following that, Xu Mingwei and Xu Dewen both exited the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven.

Xu Dewen inspected himself with his divine sense but felt absolutely no sensation of added talents. 'Why do I get the feeling that Grandfather was tricking me?'

Seven or eight days later.

Xu Dewen finally noticed the changes in his body and divine soul.

'Is this what it feels like for Father and the others to be cheating?'

Actually, no. Xu Mingwei and the others had never experienced this sensation. After all, their talents had been bestowed upon them during childhood, long before they possessed divine sense or the ability to inspect their own bodies.

The changes had occurred subtly, so they had simply accepted them as natural born talent.

It was only much later that they vaguely realized it was Xu Chuan's handiwork.

In just two months, Xu Dewen felt his physique become incredibly terrifying, unknowingly reaching a level comparable to the second tier.

Furthermore, he felt a profound harmony with baleful qi, as if they were perfectly blended together.

He successfully comprehended the True Meaning of Heavenly Fiend.

He had formally grasped the basics of the two major divine abilities, the 'Heavenly Fiend King Slash' and the 'Heavenly Fiend Battle Armor', allowing him to unleash the true might of a divine ability.

Afterward.

He spent over half a month refining the Soul Banner and binding the Profound Yin Blood Corpse.

Not long after, he departed from Dongxi once again.

In Cloudstream City, nothing of importance had happened recently.

Thus, Xu Chuan had been peacefully cultivating and refining the Origin Magnetism Shield.

Before long.

Xu Deling successfully forged the magic treasures requested by Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian, bringing them over to Xu Chuan.

At night, during the hour of chen, Xu Chuan pulled Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian into the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven.

"Father, you only called for Fifth Brother and me this time. Is it regarding the magic treasures?"

As Xu Mingwei's voice faded, Xu Deling's divine sense phantom materialized.

"That is correct, Father," Xu Deling smiled faintly. "Allow me to introduce them."

"This is the Treasure Flood Dragon Bow and the Nine Origin Heavenly Star Arrows. The Treasure Flood Dragon Bow is a four-pattern magic treasure. The bowstring is made from the tendon of a Tier 3 demonic beast with a Flood Dragon bloodline, while the entire bow body is forged from a mixture of thousand-year 'Sinking Star Ironwood' and 'Greater White Purified Gold'.

"As for the Nine Origin Heavenly Star Arrows, the arrowhead of each arrow is based on Abyssal Cold Iron, mixed with a trace of Heavenly Star Stone Powder.

"Moreover, each arrow possesses a different attribute: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, ice, wind, poison, and demon—all nine elements.

"When combined with Father's Dao of the Arrow, they should be able to unleash the might of a high-grade magic treasure!"

"The other item is a small bronze bell, still named the 'Origin-Stabilizing Bell'. It primarily focuses on defense but can also unleash sonic attacks. It is an excellent mid-grade defensive magic treasure."

"Father, what do you think?"

"I am extremely satisfied," Xu Mingwei smiled softly.

"Deling, what kind of magic treasure did you prepare for your Fifth Uncle? If it is too ordinary, I won't accept it," Xu Mingxian teased.

Xu Deling pointed at a dark azure bead and said, "This is the Profound Azure Treasure Orb. It is a highly specialized defensive magic treasure that I experimented with.

"Currently, if you use it, it will only function as an ordinary mid-grade defensive magic treasure. However, it can accumulate the essence of the sun and moon. When not in use, you can place it somewhere and let it absorb the essence of the sun and moon on its own.

"The more essence of the sun and moon it absorbs, the more powerful it becomes. During critical moments in battle, it can unleash the defensive light screen of a high-grade defensive magic treasure, sustaining it until the stored essence is fully depleted."

Xu Mingxian revealed a look of astonishment. "Such a magic treasure actually exists?! Deling, your artifact dao attainment has improved once again."

Xu Chuan also felt a wave of surprise.

Even if someone had the idea for such a magic treasure, successfully forging it would be extremely difficult. Moreover, the required materials were highly unique and absolutely had to possess the property of absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

"Additionally, this flying sword is named 'Taibai'. It is a mid-grade metal-element flying sword magic treasure, a perfect match for your 'Greater White Sword Art', Fifth Uncle."

"The sword is excellent. Unfortunately, my sword art only has the Foundation Establishment chapter. It is somewhat of a waste."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Just use it for now. We can take our time collecting the sword art. With our Xu family's current power, acquiring a Golden Core level metal-element sword art will not be too difficult."

Xu Mingxian nodded.

"It is a pity that the grotto-heaven doesn't possess the function of teleporting items yet; otherwise, I could hand them to you right now," Xu Chuan noted.

"Father, how could a grotto-heaven possibly possess such an ability?" Xu Mingxian remarked. "At best, it can be refined into a cave heaven treasure and carried around with you."

"Who can say for sure?" Xu Chuan offered a mysterious smile. "I will keep these magic treasures with me for now. I will give them to you when you come over or when I return to Dongxi."

"We will follow your arrangements, Father," Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian said in unison.

This was the advantage of balanced development.

Although the Xu family was merely a Golden Core aristocratic family, with grandmasters like Xu Deling in artificing and Xu Mingxian in array formations, they were completely self-sufficient and had no need to beg for help from outsiders.

Others would have to pay an exorbitant price and even owe favors just to commission a custom mid-grade magic treasure or a third-tier mid-grade or above formation.

In contrast, any member of the Xu family could have a custom mid-grade magic treasure tailored for them the moment they formed their core.

In the future, they could even receive high-grade or top-tier magic treasures!

As for pills, they had Xu Chuan, a grandmaster who could forge a deep foundation for the younger generation that was in no way inferior to the core disciples of Nascent Soul sects.

When paired with the 'Five Elements Creation Scripture' and corresponding divine sense secret methods, they easily surpassed the vast majority of Nascent Soul sect core disciples.

They were a Golden Core aristocratic family with the heritage of a Nascent Soul power, allowing them to remain hidden and buy enough time for themselves to develop.

Soon after, Xu Chuan's 'Minor Star Divination Art' finally reached perfection.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Azure Sect had maintained a low profile over the past few years. By merging the three sects and unifying the seven cities, they were slowly recovering from the heavy losses inflicted by the Greedy Wolf Sect.

Heavenly Azure Sect, Feng Juechen's grotto-residence.

One day.

An astonishing fluctuation of mana suddenly surged from within the grotto-residence, causing the surrounding stone walls to tremble.

Feng Juechen opened his eyes, a tangible sharp glint shooting from them.

"Late-stage of the third layer of the Golden Core realm. I have finally broken through. As expected, the spiritual qi and pill resources of the Heavenly Azure Sect are far beyond what the three sects could provide.

"However, if they hadn't needed to rope in the three sects and stabilize morale, the Heavenly Azure Sect would never have been this generous.

"There will not be another opportunity like this in the future."

After the merger of the three sects, Feng Juechen was no longer a sect master but merely an ordinary Golden Core elder of the Heavenly Azure Sect. Fortunately, he was still very young, so he was highly valued by the sect.

"Due to the various changes this past year, it is time for the descendants of my Feng bloodline within the Hua Clan to acknowledge their ancestry and return to their true family."

Over a dozen days later.

Cloudstream City.

The Hua Clan underwent a massive upheaval. Hua Qingxue led dozens of core disciples out of the clan, reverting their surname back to Feng and relocating to the Feng family in Heavenly Azure City.

Feng Juechen came personally to receive them, ensuring that the remaining members of the Hua Clan didn't dare to act out of line.

However, it was obvious that with their departure, more than half the sky had collapsed on the Hua Clan.

After all, Hua Qingxue had taken seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators with her, leaving behind only three or four at the early Foundation Establishment stage and one at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Backed by the Golden Core stage Feng Juechen, the Hua Clan didn't dare utter a single word of complaint regarding Hua Qingxue's actions.

During this time, the Hua Clan fell into complete chaos.

Not long after, an elder at the Foundation Establishment stage fled Cloudstream City with a massive amount of spirit stones and resources, their whereabouts unknown.

The Hua Clan disintegrated in an instant.

Like a snowball rolling out of control, the clan was torn apart. The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators all looted the wealth and scattered to find their own paths of survival.

The majority of the clan's servants also dispersed, leaving behind only a few scattered Qi Refining clan members. Their former glory was permanently gone.

It was estimated that in a short while, they wouldn't even be able to hold onto the Hua Mansion.

When Ye Fan heard of this, he sighed emotionally and relayed the news to Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan merely scoffed. "If even the authority figures are not fully loyal to their own clan, how could such a family possibly endure?"

"Honored Master is absolutely right."

Over the past year, quite a few things had also happened within the Xu family.

Xu Chongfei's foundation was incredibly deep. Without consuming a single pill, he easily broke through to Foundation Establishment.

Afterward, he formally consummated his marriage with Chen Yulian.

Ye Fan personally imparted the 'Yin-Yang Harmony and Grand Joy Secret Art' to them. During their first Yin-Yang union, both of their powers skyrocketed.

Chen Yulian broke through from the first-layer Foundation Establishment directly to the early-stage second-layer Foundation Establishment.

As for Xu Chongfei, due to his high aptitude and possessing the Flame-Cold Spirit Body, he managed to condense his soul and instantly reach the peak of the second layer of Foundation Establishment.

Subsequently, after using the secret art to union several more times, he successfully broke through to the third-layer Foundation Establishment.

With each use, the efficacy of the secret art gradually diminished. However, when combined with their daily cultivation, it still allowed them to far surpass others.

For a family clan, such a secret art was an absolute perfect match.

Not long after, the two, acting like an immortal couple deeply in love, left Cloudstream City to travel across Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Naturally, they used special dharma tools to disguise their appearances so they wouldn't be easily recognized.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to guarantee that other factions wouldn't plot against them, or that wherever they went wouldn't simply be filled with sycophants trying to curry favor.

Given the Xu family's current status in Heavenly Azure Prefecture, and with Xu Chongfei being their only junior descendant right now, countless people would try to use them as a stepping stone to build ties with the family.

Meanwhile, Ye Fan was spurred on by Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingwei consecutively forming their Golden Cores.

His True Yang Divine Ability was already sufficient for divine ability core formation, but he was stubbornly set on using his Battle Intent Divine Ability instead. Then, he heard that Xu Mingxian had set up a seven-day arena in Profound Moon City, reigning supreme over all Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Hearing this, he intended to follow suit.

Unfortunately, the average standard of the Sky Cang Foundation Building Stage was lower than that of other prefectures.

The greatest genius of the past, Xi Tianqing of the Xi Family, had also been secretly killed by Xu Chuan. It was estimated that there were only twenty or thirty cultivators from the younger generation who had comprehended even a sliver of a divine ability.

There were some decently strong individuals among the older generation of Foundation Establishment disciples.

But after surviving the War of the Two Prefectures and several other upheavals, Ye Fan's strength was known to all.

Even if he set up an arena, no one would dare step up to participate. And even if they did, they would not be able to put any pressure on him.

Ultimately, Ye Fan chose to head into the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range to engage in demonic beast combat. He sought to temper himself through battle until his battle intent reached perfection.