Chapter 323: The Gathering Storm

"Grandfather."

"Honored Master."

"Family Head."

"Daoist Friend Withered Glory."

Xu Deyue, Xu Deling, Ye Fan, and Chen Changge offered their greetings one after another.

"Since everyone is here, let us head to the eastern city gate to welcome our guests from the Heavenly Azure Sect. The gates of our Cloudstream City cannot withstand their heavy knocking," Xu Chuan said.

Xu Deling and the others felt their hearts skip a beat.

Ye Fan asked, "Honored Master, will the people of the Heavenly Azure Sect truly come today?"

"They will, and they likely won't come in small numbers."

True Lord Fierce Sun smiled faintly and nodded. "We will follow Daoist Friend Withered Glory's arrangement."

This was exactly what they had intended.

Unless Cloudstream City was truly facing an imminent disaster, they did not want to get too deeply involved in the conflicts of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

With that said, over ten streaks of light flew toward the eastern district of the city.

The eastern city gate was situated close to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range, making it the inevitable route to enter Cloudstream City from the direction of the Heavenly Azure Sect.

Xu Chuan led the group there, hovering in midair about half a kilometer outside the eastern gate. They stood in silence, their robes fluttering slightly in the wind, as if they were merely waiting for ordinary guests.

Aside from the approaching crowd from the Heavenly Azure Sect, the Mo Family and Lei Family were also aware that turmoil was brewing in Cloudstream City. They rushed over, executing their movement divine abilities.

"That was True Lord Withered Glory, True Lord Fierce Sun, and the others just now. Over ten Golden Core cultivators have mobilized. Could something major be happening?"

"Should we go take a look?"

"I was thinking the exact same thing. Daoist friend, let us go together."

Many cultivators in Cloudstream City who noticed Xu Chuan's group were filled with curiosity and left the city to watch.

Suddenly.

Two streaks of light landed on a nearby mountain peak, revealing the figures of the Mo Clan Ancestor and Mo Wenshang.

Sensing something, Xu Chuan cast a glance in their direction but immediately looked away.

Shortly after.

A wild and tyrannical streak of lightning swept over to the mountain peak opposite them.

Serpentine arcs of electricity faintly danced around his body. It was none other than Lei Wuji of the Lei Family!

Fifteen minutes later.

At the edge of the horizon.

Ten streaks of light in various colors, all radiating piercing sharpness, pierced through the clouds. Carrying majestic pressure and a chilling aura of murder, they closed in on the eastern outskirts of Cloudstream City in an instant.

The streaks of light came to an abrupt halt, hovering roughly a thousand feet away from Xu Chuan and the others.

The spiritual light dissipated, revealing ten Golden Core elders of the Heavenly Azure Sect, led by Sect Master Xi Fengyue, First Elder True Lord Green Wood, and True Lord Bingqian.

The two sides confronted each other in midair, their invisible auras clashing violently.

True Lord Green Wood hovered in the center and swept his gaze over the members of the Mo Family and Lei Family on either side.

"True Lord Leiji, Senior Mo, why have you come here?"

"Daoist Friend Green Wood, please don't mind us. Our Mo Family is merely here to watch the spectacle. There's no need to pay us any attention."

"The same goes for my Lei Family," Lei Wuji laughed heartily.

"You had best keep your word!" True Lord Bingqian stated coldly.

Following that, Xu Chuan's faint chuckle echoed. "Daoist friends of the Heavenly Azure Sect, I have been waiting for you here for quite some time. Your arrival truly graces our humble Cloudstream City, making it shine."

Xi Fengyue swept his gaze across the opposing group, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Chen Changge. "Elder Chen, your injuries have indeed completely healed. Since you have recovered, why haven't you returned to the sect?"

Chen Changge replied, "I have already died once for the Heavenly Azure Sect, which can be considered fully repaying my debt of gratitude."

"Today, I publicly announce my departure from the Heavenly Azure Sect. From now on, I will serve as a guest elder of the Xu Family and the Deputy City Lord of Cloudstream City!"

His voice boomed like rolling thunder, rapidly spreading across a radius of a hundred miles.

Countless people immediately broke into widespread discussion.

"Chen Changge actually left the Heavenly Azure Sect? How could the Heavenly Azure Sect possibly let him off so easily!"

"Didn't you see that so many Heavenly Azure Sect elders have arrived? It must be because of this exact matter."

"Let's go, hurry to the eastern city gate to take a look!"

Many cultivators in the city chattered animatedly as they surged toward the city gates.

Gossip was human nature, and immortal cultivators were still human, after all.

As for the crowd that had noticed early and already gathered at the eastern city gate, their eyes were filled with amazement.

Someone praised, "As expected of True Lord Withered Glory, the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul realm! To think he actually dares to publicly provoke the Heavenly Azure Sect!"

Another shook their head with a sigh. "I'm afraid today's matter won't be easily resolved!"

Others were simply curious. "I wonder how Cloudstream City's current strength compares to the Heavenly Azure Sect?"

"Judging by their auras, the opposing side has a full five cultivators at the Late-Stage Golden Core or higher. Meanwhile, Cloudstream City only has True Lord Fierce Sun and True Lord Yanzhen."

"How can an immortal cultivator's strength be judged solely by their realm? Don't forget True Lord Withered Glory. Back during the War of the Two Prefectures, he fought against two Golden Core Perfection True Lords from the Greedy Wolf Prefecture all by himself.

"I think the outcome today is impossible to predict!"

Elder Zhao, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall clad in a black robe, sharply rebuked, "Chen Changge, what incredible gall you have! Today, we will absolutely capture you, cripple your cultivation, and drag you back to the Profound Ice Cave to suffer a hundred years of ice punishment!

"True Lord Withered Glory, if you know what's good for you, hand him over voluntarily. Otherwise—"

"Otherwise what?" Standing beside Xu Chuan, Ye Fan, dressed in a cyan shirt, took a step forward. With a cold and stern expression, he cut off Elder Zhao's words.

Although his cultivation was slightly inferior, his demeanor was composed and steady, refusing to yield a single inch.

"As far as I know, when Daoist Friend Chen was heavily injured and on the verge of death, your sect's True Lord Green Wood claimed he was beyond saving, essentially abandoning him.

"Now, my Honored Master has performed a medical miracle, expending a massive price to save his life. Daoist Friend Chen, deeply grateful for this kindness, has voluntarily decided to join us. This is entirely reasonable. What crime has he committed?

"Your sect couldn't save him, so are you forbidding others from doing so? Now that he's been saved and wishes to repay the favor, he's suddenly a traitor?

"Where in the world is there such logic!"

Ye Fan's words were sharp, striking directly at the heart of the matter.

"Insolence!" Elder Yang of the Heavenly Azure Sect furiously berated. "Ignorant brat, what do you know of sect rules? Chen Changge accepted our sect's position as a consecrator. His life, death, and whether he stays or leaves must all be decided by the sect!

"Joining another faction without permission is betraying the sect!

"This is common knowledge!

"True Lord Withered Glory, by taking in our sect's traitor without authorization, you are clearly showing contempt for the laws of the Heavenly Azure Sect and provoking our sect's prestige!

"If you don't give us a satisfactory explanation today, don't blame us for enforcing our sect rules, capturing the traitor, and demanding an answer from your Cloudstream City!"

"Hmph!"

Xu Deling also scoffed coldly. Her voice was clear and melodious as a wave of phoenix pressure erupted from her. "This True Lord would like to see just how you intend to demand an answer!

"Is it wrong for Daoist Friend Chen to want to live?!

"You couldn't save him yourselves, perfectly content to let him die, yet you dare to spout such nonsense here!

"Don't tell me that anyone who joins your Heavenly Azure Sect becomes your servant for life, their very existence dictated entirely by your whims?!"

"Cease your drivel!" Elder Zhao roared angrily. "When has my Heavenly Azure Sect ever had such a rule? Do not sully our sect's pure reputation!"

If they admitted to such a thing today, they feared no one would ever be willing to join the Heavenly Azure Sect again.

It might even trigger a mutiny among their current disciples.

"Shut your mouth!" True Lord Green Wood immediately scolded Elder Zhao. He then turned to Xu Deling and said, "It seems Fairy Feng Ling has already achieved great accomplishment in her divine abilities. You truly live up to your title as the number one prodigy of the previous generation.

"This old man congratulates you in advance."

The expressions of the rest of the Heavenly Azure Sect changed drastically.

Following that, True Lord Green Wood continued, "However, Fairy Feng Ling's earlier words were mistaken. Those who join the Heavenly Azure Sect are naturally not bound to us for life.

"If one's heart is no longer with the sect, keeping them would only invite disaster.

"Yet, Elder Zhao was not wrong either. Sects and aristocratic families all have their laws. Joining another faction without permission is equivalent to treason!

"Daoist Friend Leiji, Senior Mo, what do you think?

"If such a person appeared in your two families, what would you do?"

Lei Wuji laughed heartily. "That naturally wouldn't be permitted!"

"My Mo Family would not tolerate it either," Mo Wentian stated evenly.

"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, what would your Xu Family do if you encountered this matter?"

True Lord Green Wood's eyes fixed intensely on Xu Chuan.

His line of argument used retreat as an advance, forcing the Xu Family to admit fault through the mouths of others. It was vastly more clever than anything the rest of the Heavenly Azure Sect could come up with.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Daoist Friend Chen hadn't officially withdrawn before this. But now that you, First Elder Green Wood, and Sect Master Xi have arrived, didn't he just formally request to leave the Heavenly Azure Sect right in front of you?

"I wonder if the two of you agree?"

The expressions of the Heavenly Azure Sect members slightly contorted. Ye Fan and the others, however, wore grins as they chimed in, "Exactly. Elder Chen was merely residing in Cloudstream City temporarily to recover from his injuries.

"Today, he is officially submitting his application to leave the sect. As reasonable elders, surely you wouldn't reject it, right?"

Xi Fengyue gritted his teeth and spat, "You're twisting the truth!"

"How did Chen Changge look anything like someone wanting to submit an application to leave?!"

"Sect Master Xi, you are being a bit unreasonable. Daoist Friend Chen is a Golden Core cultivator, after all. Do you expect him to kneel before you and beg to leave?

"Are the other Golden Core elders in your Heavenly Azure Sect also this lowly and wretched in status?

"If that's the case, they might as well leave and join my Xu Family.

"My Xu Family is extremely eager for Golden Core cultivators."

"My Mo Family is as well."

"So is my Lei Family."

The members of the two families gleefully acted as instigators.

"You..." Xi Fengyue trembled all over, pointing a furious finger at Xu Chuan.

True Lord Green Wood sighed softly. "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, why push things to this point? My Heavenly Azure Sect once sheltered your Xu Family. That counts as a favor, does it not?"

"Where was that shelter during the War of the Two Prefectures?" Xu Chuan said evenly. "That war made me realize that only one's own strength is reliable.

"If we truly waited for others to protect us, my Xu Family would have been annihilated long ago.

"Furthermore, during the War of the Two Prefectures, I killed over a dozen Golden Core cultivators from the Greedy Wolf Prefecture. Such a contribution should be more than enough to offset any trivial favor.

"What do you think, Daoist Friend Green Wood?"

"Daoist Friend Withered Glory, are you truly dead set on crossing swords with my Heavenly Azure Sect?"

"It is the Heavenly Azure Sect that insists on making things difficult for Cloudstream City! Last time, the Chen Family simply migrated their clan to Cloudstream City, and True Lord Bingqian came all the way here to interrogate us!

"And now, because Daoist Friend Chen wishes to leave the Heavenly Azure Sect to join my Xu Family, you have brought a whole host of elders with you.

"Two Golden Core Perfection True Lords, three Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators, and five Early and Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivators.

"Daoist Friend Green Wood, let me ask you: isn't this lineup enough to eradicate a top-tier Golden Core Aristocratic Family?

"Are you here to destroy my Cloudstream City?"

Xu Chuan's voice grew progressively heavier, and the spiritual pressure radiating from his body became increasingly oppressive.

"If you retreat now, our two factions can continue to coexist peacefully as before. If not, Cloudstream City will fight you to the bitter end!"

"Can we truly return to how things were?" True Lord Green Wood let out a mocking laugh, his eyes gradually turning icy. "Speaking of which, I have fought alongside you many times, Daoist Friend Withered Glory, but we have never exchanged blows.

"Why don't I experience Daoist Friend Withered Glory's divine abilities for myself today!"

True Lord Green Wood flew toward Xu Chuan. The magical power around him began to surge violently. The surrounding spiritual qi of heaven and earth faintly converged toward him, and the phantoms of myriad plants and trees actually began to drift behind him.

This was exactly his famous Myriad Wood Divine Ability. Although it hadn't reached the Perfected Realm, its ability to draw upon the wood-attribute spiritual qi of heaven and earth to manipulate growth and decay was enough to make any cultivator of the same realm wary.

Xu Chuan raised a hand, and Ye Fan and the others swiftly retreated.

They saw countless vines snaking forward like flood dragons from the opposite side, each vine pulsing with thick vitality.

Upon seeing this, Lei Wuji's eyes narrowed. The last time he fought True Lord Green Wood, he had been defeated by this exact concept of endless, flourishing life.

"The withering and flourishing of vegetation rests solely on my whim."

"Wither!"

A dead and silent Dao rhythm swept out from Xu Chuan's body. The previously verdant and vibrant spiritual qi vines lost their luster at a speed visible to the naked eye.

They turned dull and shriveled, then shattered inch by inch, turning into flying ash.

They couldn't even manage to get close to Xu Chuan!

The expressions of the Heavenly Azure Sect elders instantly drastically changed.

Mo Wentian's eyes focused slightly as he calmly remarked, "The ancient Withered Glory Divine Ability truly lives up to its reputation. It is countless times more profound than ordinary wood-attribute divine abilities.

"Daoist Friend Green Wood, your Myriad Wood Divine Ability is completely countered by the Withered Glory intent!"

True Lord Green Wood furrowed his brows deeply. Forming a sword seal with his fingers, he tapped the empty air.

In an instant, phantom wooden swords condensed out of thin air, transforming into a jade-green rain of blades. Accompanied by the sharp screech of tearing air, they surged toward Xu Chuan like an inverted river!

Wherever the rain of swords passed, the very air seemed to be dyed a brilliant azure-green.

However, when these swords entered within a hundred feet of Xu Chuan, their vibrant hue gradually yellowed and lost its vitality. Only the strands of sword qi holding them together prevented them from entirely dissipating.

The remaining withered sword qi continued to barrage Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan flicked his sleeve robe, and a burst of cyan light erupted, shattering all the incoming sword qi into pieces!

"I see. The Withered Glory intent is indeed a perfect counter to wood-attribute divine abilities. However, if it isn't a purely wood-attribute divine ability—such as one mixed with sword qi—it is difficult for it to be completely effective."

Mo Wentian stroked his beard and offered a light chuckle and a critique. "But even so, your entire repertoire of divine abilities is rooted in the wood attribute. Without this foundation, the power of your divine abilities plummets.

"This puts you at a severe disadvantage."

Naturally, True Lord Green Wood was perfectly aware of this point himself.

Having reached this stage, he naturally wouldn't hold back anymore. With a flip of his palm, his natal magic treasure, the Myriad Wood Ruler, appeared in his hand.

It was about four feet long, completely emerald green like ten-thousand-year warm jade, and covered in countless profound wood-attribute spiritual runic patterns.

As green light flowed along the ruler, he pointed it forward. Countless emerald ruler projections materialized out of thin air, forming a torrent that swept toward Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan patted his storage pouch, and a streak of black light shot out. It instantly expanded to over thirty feet in size, blocking his front.

This was none other than the high-grade magic treasure, the Heavy Profound Seal!

Under Xu Chuan's activation, it unleashed a heavy, oppressive might comparable to towering mountain ranges.

The torrent of ruler projections smashed into it as if hitting a thick mountain wall, barely managing to make it tremble.

"Suppress!"

Xu Chuan formed a hand seal, erupting with its sealing and suppressing power.

All the ruler projections seemed to sink into a quagmire, their power sharply plunging.

Then, he drove the Heavy Profound Seal to slam forward viciously. It directly smashed the entire torrent of ruler projections to pieces, turning them into verdant specks of light that dissipated into the air.

"Something's wrong. How can you push a high-grade magic treasure to such an extent!" True Lord Green Wood didn't continue attacking. Instead, he furrowed his brows and demanded.

It wasn't just him; True Lord Bingqian, Xi Fengyue, and the rest were all horrified.

One had to know that True Lord Withered Glory's most famous and powerful magic treasure was the Azure Dragon Sword Formation deployed by the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella. Yet now, he easily defeated True Lord Green Wood using only the Heavy Profound Seal.

Although the Dao of Withering and Flourishing countered the opponent's divine abilities, the gap in their magical power should have been massive. An Early-Stage Golden Core cultivator absolutely couldn't unleash such power from a high-grade magic treasure.

Mo Wentian swept his divine sense over him, and a look of disbelief immediately filled his eyes. "Golden Core Perfection?"

"No, your realm is undoubtedly Early-Stage Golden Core!"

His eyes shimmered. "The realm of Early-Stage Golden Core, yet possessing the heritage and foundation of Golden Core Perfection. It seems Daoist Friend Withered Glory has obtained quite the opportunity and good fortune over these past few years!"

Everyone present was endlessly shocked upon hearing this.

"I heard that during True Lord Withered Glory's last battle with the Family Heads of the Nie and Chao families of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture, he fell into a disadvantage due to his lack of magical power. Now, he's patched up his final weakness.

"No wonder he can so easily hold the upper hand against True Lord Green Wood."

"The title of the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul realm is now entirely well-deserved!"

True Lord Green Wood's face turned ashen.

Xu Chuan had now fully matured. Even a Golden Core Perfection cultivator who had cultivated their divine abilities to perfection and possessed a high-grade magic treasure would likely only fight Xu Chuan to a draw.

However, what he didn't know was that Xu Chuan's divine abilities had also long since reached the Perfected Realm.

Furthermore, because his divine sense cultivation had vastly improved, he could already unleash the complete might of the Azure Dragon Sword Formation.

According to Zhen Yangzi, who initially refined this magic treasure, very few people in the Golden Core Stage should be capable of pushing its power to its absolute limits.

Just unleashing seventy or eighty percent of its power was enough to sweep through the Golden Core Stage with virtually no rivals.

"Senior Brother, I will help you!" A cold shout rang out. True Lord Bingqian, who had long since been unable to hold back, took a step forward, his icy aura erupting.

His face was as cold and stern as ten-thousand-year profound ice, and his ice-blue hair whipped through the air.

The moment he moved, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and countless tiny ice crystals condensed in the air.

True Lord Green Wood looked at him and nodded, not rejecting the assistance.

Xu Chuan was no longer an opponent he could handle alone.

A blue light flashed in True Lord Bingqian's hand as his natal high-grade magic treasure, the Profound Ice Soul-Slaying Sword, appeared, adding several degrees to the extreme coldness.

Xu Chuan flipped his right hand, and the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella materialized. Opening the umbrella, a dark cyan light screen cascaded downward.

With this defensive light screen in place, even the combined full-force attacks of both men could be blocked for over fifteen minutes.

And naturally, Xu Chuan wasn't just going to sit back and defend.

"Slash!"

True Lord Bingqian swung the Profound Ice Soul-Slaying Sword, sending a fifty-foot-long ice-blue sword gleam crashing toward Xu Chuan.

True Lord Green Wood also reactivated the Myriad Wood Ruler, launching an attack from the other side.

Xu Chuan controlled the Heavy Profound Seal to block the ice-blue sword gleam, while simultaneously lightly waving his fingers. The flying swords concealed within the ribs of the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella all shot out.

The overlapping shadows of the flying swords formed an endless torrent of sword qi, crashing head-on into the torrent of ruler projections.

However, the torrent of sword qi contained twenty-eight magic treasure flying swords, granting it power far exceeding the opposition. Even without forming a sword formation, it wasn't something an ordinary high-grade magic treasure could withstand.

The three were locked in a fierce battle. Their explosive attacks caused the surrounding space to shudder endlessly, and the energy shockwaves from their countless collisions rippled outward like waves.

"Attack!" Seeing this, Xi Fengyue immediately gave the order.

"Understood!"

The seven Golden Core elders, led by Elder Zhao of the Punishment Hall, responded in unison.

Wielding their respective magic treasures, they transformed into streaks of light and pounced fiercely toward Ye Fan, Xu Deling, and Xu Deyue with murderous intent!

Ye Fan's eyes focused, and his battle intent suddenly erupted!

His skin glowed with a faint golden light, his muscles bulging like coiled dragons. The majestic aura of a prehistoric giant beast surged from his body.

He took a step forward, the air detonating underfoot, and charged directly at the Heavenly Azure Sect's Sect Master, Xi Fengyue.

"Sect Master Xi, your opponent is me!"

Ye Fan's voice was deep and resonant. As he clenched his right fist, his muscles and bones cracked like popping beans. His entire arm was instantly cloaked in dark-gold Sanskrit runes, accompanied by the faint sound of Buddhist chanting.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xi Fengyue's eyes, but he was fearless. He scoffed, "Arrogant junior!"

The cyan magic sword in his hand burst with sharp sword aura, transforming into a thirty-foot-long streak that tore through the air, aimed squarely at Ye Fan's head!

"Brahma Sacred Fist, Three Moves in One!"

Ye Fan neither dodged nor retreated. With a low roar, he threw out his right fist. There was no dazzling flash of light—only pure, ultimate physical strength and endlessly surging war intent!

A dark-gold fist imprint flew from his hand, expanding against the wind. Like a golden mountain, it smashed brutally against the cyan sword aura!

Boom—!

Amidst a deafening explosion, the cyan sword aura shattered inch by inch!

Xi Fengyue's figure was actually forced back several steps!

Shock filled his eyes. 'This power... how is this possible?!'

Ye Fan's battle intent surged like a God of War. His figure closed in like lightning, his fists raining down like a violent storm, each punch carrying immense, crushing force.

It forced Xi Fengyue, a cultivator who had just entered the Late-Stage Golden Core realm, to parry continuously.

Ye Fan's physical body was incredibly tyrannical. Even when he occasionally blocked the sword edge with his bare arm, it actually produced the sound of clashing metal, sending sparks flying everywhere.

"A third-tier physical body!"

It was already well known that Ye Fan engaged in the dual cultivation of dharma and body, but nobody expected that he had silently broken through once again, elevating his physical body to the third tier.

Even his mid-grade magic treasure could only slice faint bloody gashes against Ye Fan's magical power barrier and incredibly tough body, utterly failing to inflict massive damage in a short period.

Everyone knew that Ye Fan had stepped into the Golden Core Stage less than a year ago.

Yet right now, he was battling evenly with the Late-Stage Golden Core Xi Fengyue. Even Mo Wentian, the Early-Stage Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Mo Clan, felt his pupils contract, his expression turning solemn.

Mo Wenshang, Lei Wuji, and the crowd of onlookers found it even harder to believe.

Rong Tianyang murmured, "Ye Fan is truly not inferior to his master in the slightest. To think he can fight a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator just after forming his core!"

"Truly incredible!" True Lord Yanzhen stroked his beard and sighed deeply. "The dual cultivation of dharma and body is indeed tyrannical!"

On the other side, Xu Deling released a clear whistle. The flames behind her shot into the sky as a twenty-foot-tall phantom of a fire phoenix unfurled its wings, its blistering heat sweeping in all directions!

Red-gold light swirled in her eyes, transforming into two balls of burning flame.

Wherever her gaze landed, the air itself distorted.

Her opponent was Elder Yang of the Heavenly Azure Sect, a Ninth Layer Golden Core cultivator—the strongest expert directly beneath True Lord Green Wood and True Lord Bingqian.

Although Xu Deling had just entered the Mid-Stage Golden Core realm, she was completely devoid of fear.

Raising her jade hand, a tail-feather-shaped magic treasure as red as blood, wreathed in pure flames, shot forward. It transformed into a lifelike fire phoenix that let out a long cry as it pounced at Elder Yang!

This item was forged from a feather of the ancient true spirit Fire Phoenix, which they had obtained in the grotto-heaven during the Prodigy Grand Assembly.

At the same time, light flashed around her, and the phantom of a suit of armor made of pure heavenly flames, inscribed with swirling runic patterns, appeared around her body!

Although it wasn't fully corporeal, it still provided significant protection.

Elder Yang's expression grew solemn. He summoned an ancient bronze shield, a mid-grade magic treasure, to guard his front. He simultaneously activated a jade-green horsetail whisk, which was also a mid-grade magic treasure.

The myriad threads of the whisk transformed into an emerald river, attempting to ensnare the fire phoenix and Xu Deling.

However, the true fire of the fire phoenix was incredibly overbearing. The moment the emerald threads got close, they were incinerated to nothingness.

As the gaze of her Fire Emperor's True Pupil swept over him, Elder Yang felt a searing pain stab his divine soul, causing his spell-casting to instantly stagger for a split second.

Xu Deling's movement was nimble, and she closed the distance under the fire phoenix's cover. The feather magic treasure shifted seamlessly, occasionally acting as a sword and occasionally as a whip. Her onslaught was so fierce it forced Elder Yang to spend most of his time defending.

"As expected of the number one prodigy of the previous generation. She has actually reached the Mid-Stage Golden Core realm, surpassing even her grandfather's cultivation speed!"

Mo Wentian plainly remarked, "Using divine ability core formation and reaching Mid-Stage Golden Core makes both the quality and volume of her magical power comparable to a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator. And given her outstanding talent, she goes even beyond that."

"Big brother, Xu Deling's divine abilities have reached great accomplishment, haven't they?"

"Indeed, and they are eye technique divine abilities at that!"

Mo Wentian sighed softly. "Just her alone is enough that no Golden Core cultivator in my Mo Family could handle her!"

"There is also Fairy Cold Moon, who isn't the slightest bit inferior."

Mo Wentian shifted his gaze to Xu Deyue.

She was facing Elder Zhao of the Punishment Hall—an expert at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Stage!

Her expression was cold and aloof. With a wave of her pale hand, a streak of light as radiant as moonlight and as frigid as an icy spring shot out from her sleeve. It was precisely her natal magic treasure—Supreme Yin!

Although this treasure's rank had fallen, its core essence remained. With the assistance of its artifact spirit, Murong Yun, Xu Deyue could fully unleash its might despite only being at the Early-Stage Golden Core realm.

A hazy phantom of a bright moon appeared behind Xu Deyue, shedding a cold glow that enveloped a radius of over a hundred feet.

Elder Zhao summoned two mid-grade magic treasures: a blood-red chain and a black discipline ruler.

However, the moment he entered the moonlit area, his speed plummeted and his spiritual light dimmed, as if he was being frozen and eroded by the moonlight!

Xu Deyue lightly tapped her jade finger, and the Supreme Yin flying sword turned into a streak of freezing light, aiming straight for his dantian!

Horrified, Elder Zhao rapidly retreated, using the black ruler to block the sword while simultaneously manipulating the blood-red chain. The chain morphed into a blood python, snaking viciously toward Xu Deyue from a tricky angle.

Xu Deyue tapped her storage pouch, and a pale blue treasure mirror flew out, floating around her.

When the blood python struck, it simply crashed into a pale blue light screen, resulting in a violent boom.

Following that, Xu Deyue flicked her wrist, fiercely slashing her sword at the blood python.

The python was instantly cleaved apart, reverting to its original chain form with its blood-red spiritual light looking somewhat diminished.

It wasn't surprising that Xu Deyue possessed a high-grade magic treasure, but her ability to unleash its full power was something even Xu Chuan hadn't been able to achieve before.

Mo Wentian, Lei Wuji, True Lord Fierce Sun, and the others were all incredibly perplexed.

Even Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators couldn't always draw out the full power of a high-grade magic treasure. Otherwise, if an Early-Stage Golden Core cultivator got their hands on a spirit treasure, wouldn't they be able to easily butcher Nascent Soul cultivators?!

Seeing the situation, two of the five remaining Heavenly Azure Sect elders split off to join the attacks against Xu Deling and Xu Deyue.

The other three rushed toward Perfected Person Fire Cloud, Perfected Person Green Cliff, and Chen Changge.

Even without True Lord Fierce Sun and his group making a move, Cloudstream City's seven cultivators managed to hold off the Heavenly Azure Sect's ten elders—a lineup that included nearly all of their Late-Stage Golden Core and above experts.

In the entire Heavenly Azure Sect, only Bai Yan and one other Late-Stage Golden Core elder remained to guard the sect.

At the eastern city gate.

Whether on the ground, hovering in midair, or standing atop the city walls, the cultivators of various factions watching the battle were gossiping endlessly, their exclamations of awe ringing out non-stop.

"Incredible! Truly incredible!"

A white-haired old cultivator clapped his hands in amazement, his eyes filled with shock. "I initially thought that with two Golden Core Perfection True Lords leading eight elders from the Heavenly Azure Sect, they would definitely crush Cloudstream City with the force of a thunderbolt and drag Chen Changge back.

"Who could have imagined things would turn out like this!"

Beside him, a middle-aged cultivator dressed as a scholar kept his eyes glued to the core battlefield. His gaze tracked the figure in white robes who was fighting two-on-one while still looking perfectly composed and at ease.

"True Lord Withered Glory... as expected of the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul realm in Heavenly Azure Prefecture! Even the combined efforts of True Lord Green Wood and True Lord Bingqian can't do anything to him.

"Instead, they're being faintly suppressed!

"With this kind of combat power, couldn't he be compared to the rumored Demon Lord Tianluo from the War of the Two Prefectures?"

"Look at the others in the Xu Family!" Someone else excitedly pointed to the other skirmishes. "That Ye Fan's fist techniques are incredibly fierce and unyielding. He's actually fighting Sect Master Xi, a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator, head-on!

"Then there's Fairy Feng Ling. Her Fire Phoenix bloodline is terrifyingly overbearing, overpowering Elder Yang at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Stage and another Early-Stage Golden Core elder all on her own!

"Fairy Cold Moon isn't inferior in the slightest, fighting two against one as well.

"The Xu Family's heritage... it's truly unfathomably deep!"

"The Heavenly Azure Sect has really thrown their face away this time," a hushed voice said, unable to hide the schadenfreude.

"They mobilized such a massive force only to kick a steel plate. I think today, forget about capturing a traitor and intimidating Cloudstream City, it's highly debatable whether the Heavenly Azure Sect will even be able to retreat in one piece!"

"Indeed!" Another agreed. "The three elders of the Heavenly Plume Sect appear to be spectating, but if Cloudstream City truly falls into danger, they definitely won't stand by with folded arms."

"That's obvious! Who doesn't know that Fairy Feng Ling is the Sect Master of the Heavenly Plume Sect!"

"Sigh, I just wonder what the situation in the Heavenly Azure Prefecture will look like after today's battle," a white-haired old man lamented emotionally. "If another great war breaks out, I reckon many fellow Daoists will perish."

In the distance, on the mountain peak.

The Mo Clan Ancestor, Mo Wentian, and Mo Wenshang stood side-by-side. Their previous relaxed and playful expressions had vanished, replaced by a deep solemnity.

"Wenshang, what do you think?" Mo Wentian sent a voice transmission.

Mo Wenshang remained silent for a moment before slowly exhaling. "Completely unexpected. If the Heavenly Azure Sect hadn't stirred things up today, I'm afraid no one would have known that Cloudstream City's strength has already reached such a level."

He looked at Mo Wentian. "Big brother, if Ye Fan and Xu Deling both reach the Late-Stage Golden Core realm and team up with Xu Chuan, could you stop them?"

"It would be incredibly tricky unless I could get my hands on a top-tier magic treasure!"

On the other peak, Lei Wuji's eyes flickered constantly, his rugged face constantly shifting expressions.

'The Xu Family has grown far too fast. In just two or three decades, they are showing signs of surpassing my Lei Family's thousand years of accumulation. But exposing Cloudstream City's true strength today just for Chen Changge is a massive blunder.

'Given True Lord Withered Glory's resourcefulness, he logically shouldn't have done something like this.

'Could it be that he wants to accelerate the shift in power within the Heavenly Azure Prefecture?!

'Does he want to intimidate my Lei Family, the Mo Family, and the rest of the factions to attract huge crowds to join him?!'

A moment later.

A thought arose in Lei Wuji's mind. 'If my Lei Family assists the Xu Family in taking control of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, could we secure several hundred years of peace and eventually produce a Nascent Soul cultivator of our own?!'

Among the four major powers, the Lei Family was the least likely to control the Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

They lacked a Nascent Soul cultivator like the Mo Family, they didn't have as many prodigies as the Xu Family, and their heritage was vastly inferior to the Heavenly Azure Sect's.

'Perhaps, this is the most suitable path for the Lei Family!'

Right at this moment.

The Mo Clan Ancestor, Mo Wentian, who had been intently watching the battle, suddenly furrowed his brows. His expression shifted slightly as he snapped his head around, his gaze piercing like lightning toward the southeastern horizon.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Mo Wenshang instantly noticed his older brother's abnormality and asked in a low voice.

"I didn't expect that he would actually be willing to leave seclusion and come here!"

"Who?"

"That old ghost Xi!"