Chapter 324: Sudden Thunder!

"Hiss!"

Mo Wenshang gasped, exclaiming in disbelief, "Isn't that old ghost's divine soul severely injured and difficult to heal? Shouldn't he still be in secluded cultivation!

Isn't he afraid of worsening his injuries?!"

Logically speaking, unless the sect was facing imminent destruction, he absolutely shouldn't have risked coming out of seclusion."

Mo Wentian's gaze was profound, staring intently toward the southeast as if he could pierce through the void. "Given the current situation, although Heavenly Azure Sect has lost face and fallen into a passive position, they are far from suffering fatal damage or being on the brink of annihilation.

Although True Lord Green Wood and True Lord Bingqian are being suppressed, they are more than capable of protecting themselves.

Sect Master Xi Fengyue and the others may be at a disadvantage, but they are in no immediate danger of losing their lives...

Why did he come here?"

His mind raced, and combining it with today's events, a vague yet astonishing guess gradually surfaced in his heart. "Unless... Cloudstream City, or rather Xu Chuan, has something he needs!"

"It is highly possible!" Mo Wentian nodded slowly, his tone growing heavier. "If that old ghost Xi truly manages to heal his divine soul injuries, things will become quite troublesome.

He doesn't have much lifespan left. In his final few decades, he might ruthlessly slaughter anyone who threatens the status of the Heavenly Azure Sect and the Xi Family without any scruples!"

Mo Wentian calculated inwardly. 'I absolutely cannot let him succeed. Perhaps I can even use this opportunity to make Xu Chuan cash in the final favor he owes.'

Right at that moment.

A sudden mutation occurred in the southeastern sky!

A golden escape light—not blindingly bright, yet seemingly capable of devouring all surrounding light—approached at a blistering speed.

In the blink of an eye, it arrived above the battlefield.

The escape light faded, revealing a withered old man in a plain gray robe, standing in the void with his hands clasped behind his back.

His hair was sparse and grayish-white, his face covered in deep wrinkles, and his eyes were as profound and bottomless as ancient pools.

The aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator rippled outward, thoroughly alarming everyone present.

"He's finally here."

Xu Chuan cast a sidelong glance amid his battle. Although the man looked much older than when he had seen him years ago, he could confirm that this was the Heavenly Azure Sect's Nascent Soul Grand Elder, Xi Daoyun.

"The aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator?!"

"Could that be the Nascent Soul Grand Elder of the Heavenly Azure Sect!"

"Rumor has it he was severely injured and remained in seclusion. To think he actually showed up today?!"

"Cloudstream City is in danger."

True Lord Green Wood and True Lord Bingqian showed no surprise, but Xi Fengyue and the others paled in shock.

"Grand Elder, why has he come?"

"Wonderful! The Grand Elder is here, Cloudstream City will surely fall!"

Xi Daoyun swept his gaze across the battlefield, sparing a glance at Mo Wentian. As for Lei Wuji, the old man didn't put him in his eyes at all.

"Daoist Friend Mo, are you here to enjoy the show?"

"Indeed. I trust Daoist Friend Xi doesn't mind?" Mo Wentian chuckled lightly.

Xi Daoyun was at the peak of the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm, and his peak strength was no lesser than a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator. He also possessed a top-tier magic treasure. In contrast, Mo Wentian had only recently entered the Nascent Soul stage and merely wielded a high-grade magic treasure.

The number of divine abilities he had mastered couldn't compare to Xi Daoyun's either.

Therefore, even though the old man was heavily injured, Mo Wentian didn't dare casually provoke him.

After all, the price of doing so might be one he couldn't afford to bear.

Xi Daoyun ignored him and coldly snorted, "My Heavenly Azure Sect has truly fallen. To think we deployed so many elders, yet couldn't even take down a single city!"

True Lord Green Wood and the rest of the Heavenly Azure Sect elders hastily forced their opponents back and flew over to Xi Daoyun. Cupping their fists, they said, "It is our fault. Please quell your anger, Grand Elder."

Ye Fan, Xu Deling, and the others also gathered around Xu Chuan, staring at the Heavenly Azure Sect forces with high alert.

True Lord Fierce Sun and his companions did the same.

Seeing this, Xi Daoyun abruptly unleashed his spiritual pressure. "What? Is the Heavenly Foundry Sect also going to meddle in the affairs of our Heavenly Azure Prefecture? If you insist on intervening, don't blame this old man for not giving face to Yan Longzi and the other Daoist friend."

True Lord Fierce Sun wore a stern expression but remained completely unmoving.

"Very well!" Xi Daoyun sharply shouted.

Right at this moment, Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Senior Xi, may I ask why you have graced my Cloudstream City with your presence? Could it be that you are also here to capture a so-called traitor?"

Xi Daoyun locked his gaze onto Xu Chuan and asked indifferently, "What method did you use to heal Chen Changge?"

"What does that have to do with you, Senior?"

Xu Chuan naturally understood why the old man had come. In fact, this was entirely his plan to lure the snake out of its hole.

Taking in Chen Changge and slapping the Heavenly Azure Sect's face would undoubtedly infuriate them.

However, that alone wouldn't be enough to draw Xi Daoyun out of seclusion.

But Xu Chuan guessed that True Lord Green Wood would deduce that the method he used to heal Chen Changge was definitely not a divine ability, but could only be an incredibly precious pill capable of healing divine soul injuries.

Just to be safe, there was a forty to fifty percent chance that Green Wood would go and request Xi Daoyun's presence.

With this bait, Xi Daoyun was guaranteed to come out.

He had laid this trap for multiple reasons: first, to recruit Chen Changge; second, to intimidate the Heavenly Azure Sect; and third, to awe the various Golden Core aristocratic families of Heavenly Azure City.

Though they were not vassals of the Heavenly Azure Sect, they had been subservient to them for a long time. They wouldn't easily rebel and might even swarm forward at a single command from the sect.

Although Heavenly Azure City lacked any overwhelmingly powerful Golden Core aristocratic families, the combined might of numerous clans still formed a formidable force.

Xu Chuan didn't necessarily seek to win them over, but he wanted to use this battle to strike fear into their hearts, ensuring they wouldn't blindly obey the Heavenly Azure Sect.

Or rather, he wanted to shatter the image of the Heavenly Azure Sect's invincibility in their minds.

Within the sect, there were at most a dozen Golden Core Stage cultivators completely loyal to the Heavenly Azure Sect. The rest all harbored their own ulterior motives.

This included Golden Core elders from the Cang clan, the Liu clan, and others.

If the Xu family truly went to war with the Heavenly Azure Sect, those people wouldn't necessarily give it their all.

Fourth, he wanted to attract a few Golden Core aristocratic families to settle in Cloudstream City.

The stronger this type of foundation grew, the more powerful Cloudstream City as a whole would become.

Fifth, it was to draw out Xi Daoyun and engage him in battle.

Ever since his mana was no longer a weakness and his divine sense reached the Golden Core Perfection stage, he no longer placed ordinary Golden Core Stage cultivators in his eyes.

This applied even to Golden Core Perfection experts like True Lord Green Wood and True Lord Bingqian.

If they managed to cultivate their divine abilities to perfection, Xu Chuan might think a little more highly of them.

Naturally, Xu Chuan wouldn't dare pluck the tiger's whiskers if Xi Daoyun were at his peak.

Nor would he provoke the Heavenly Azure Sect so openly.

But the current Xi Daoyun, with a severely injured divine soul and less than half his original strength, could serve as the perfect stepping stone for Xu Chuan.

If he succeeded, more than one Golden Core aristocratic family would definitely migrate to Cloudstream City.

Countless rogue cultivators would also swarm over, vastly expanding the city's power.

As for angering the Heavenly Azure Sect?

Sorry, but if even their Nascent Soul Grand Elder couldn't handle Xu Chuan, anyone else who dared come would likely be slaughtered with ease.

Fighting Xi Daoyun would also serve to intimidate Mo Wentian, ensuring he would no longer casually plot against the Xu family!

It might even make him abandon the thought of fighting for the title of the Lord of Sky Cang Prefecture.

After all, other than their Nascent Soul Ancestor, the Mo family's foundation was utterly insufficient to support their ambitions. They would need at least another hundred years of accumulation.

Previously, seeing Xi Daoyun severely injured and the Heavenly Azure Sect on the decline, Mo Wentian—as the only uninjured Nascent Soul Stage cultivator in Heavenly Azure Prefecture—had birthed such aspirations.

With the merit of this battle, and Moyue's subsequent tribulation transcendence, Cloudstream City's status in the Heavenly Azure Prefecture would be more or less cemented.

Even if the Heavenly Azure Sect put up a stubborn resistance, they would only be holding on temporarily.

"Hand over that pill, and this old man will decide to let today's matters end here."

"So the dignified Nascent Soul Grand Elder of the Heavenly Azure Sect came here today just to rob a junior's belongings." Xu Chuan shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"Junior, are you trying to enrage this old man?"

"If everyone acted like you, Senior, forcefully taking whatever they desired, then what would be the point of any family or faction developing themselves? Just to wait for others to plunder them?

They might as well just go rob the fruits of others' labor!"

Xi Daoyun's withered face tightened, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. "Junior, you are courting death!"

Before his voice even fell, he brazenly attacked!

When a Nascent Soul cultivator struck in anger, the very winds and clouds changed color!

He didn't even need to utilize complex divine abilities; with merely a thought, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth echoed his will.

A giant golden palm materialized out of thin air. Its palm lines were as clear as mountain ravines, and it carried a terrifying might that seemed capable of shattering the void and plucking the sun and moon. It crashed down right toward Xu Chuan!

Even before the giant palm arrived, its overwhelming pressure caused the vital qi and blood of countless low-level cultivators watching the battle to churn, forcing many almost to their knees.

"Bring it on!"

A brilliant light burst from Xu Chuan's eyes. Instead of fear, he let out a long howl, unleashing the suppressed, majestic mana around his body without any reservation!

In an instant, a boundless surge of mana, as turbulent as a mighty river, erupted wildly from the Golden Core in his dantian, sweeping around his body!

The sheer vigor and purity of his mana had astonishingly reached the Golden Core Perfection stage!

Although he was only at the Early-Stage Golden Core, relying on the ancient wondrous medicine, the Withered Glory Pill, he had elevated his foundation to a level comparable to Golden Core Perfection.

It was also thanks to his Divine Ability Core Formation. Had he been an ordinary Early-Stage Golden Core cultivator, he would at most be comparable to the Late-Stage Golden Core.

The depth of Xu Chuan's foundation was something few in the entire Northwest Region could match.

Perhaps there were a few who could rival him at present, but once his cultivation broke through to the Late-Stage Golden Core, or even Perfection, he would unquestionably be hailed as the number one Golden Core Stage cultivator in the Northwest Region.

"Azure Dragon Sword Formation, rise!"

Xu Chuan's hands moved rapidly. The Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella, which had been accumulating power, abruptly unfurled to its maximum. Twenty-eight flying sword magic treasures coalesced into the complete version of the Azure Dragon Sword Formation!

Within the sword formation, dragon roars shook the heavens. Sword light crisscrossed and interlinked, forming the claw of an Azure Dragon that fiercely blasted toward the giant golden palm!

"He was actually still holding back!"

True Lord Green Wood stared at Xu Chuan, his eyes brimming with disbelief!

True Lord Bingqian, Xi Fengyue, and the rest of the Heavenly Azure Sect elders were exactly the same.

"Boom—!!!"

Amidst the earth-shattering explosion, the Azure Dragon claw collided violently with the golden palm!

The expected scene of the sword formation being swatted into pieces didn't occur!

Instead, the giant golden palm was continuously sliced and worn down by the countless incomparably sharp streaks of sword light, its glow rapidly dimming.

The stalemate lasted merely a breath before the giant golden palm violently shattered, dissolving into a sky full of dissipating golden motes of light!

As for the Azure Dragon Sword Formation, though it trembled violently, it remained largely intact. It continued to hover above Xu Chuan's head, issuing astonishing dragon roars at Xi Daoyun.

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Xi Daoyun's figure was actually forced over a dozen meters back through the air by the recoil, his withered face revealing astonishment for the first time.

Although he couldn't unleash his full strength at this moment, he still possessed forty to fifty percent of his power.

He hadn't held back in the slightest with that giant golden palm.

Yet now, it had been met head-on and utterly crushed by a junior!

"Just as Green Wood said, I must severely wound or even kill him!"

Xi Daoyun's gaze turned thoroughly sinister, his killing intent fully exposed.

He no longer acted arrogantly. Forming his right hand into a sword gesture, he made a faint pulling motion toward his dantian.

"Clang—!"

A clear, piercing sword chime that seemed capable of puncturing the heavens abruptly rang out.

A streak of pure, ultimate platinum sword light shot out from his dantian, hovering before him.

As the sword light pulsed, an indestructible, all-severing sharpness permeated the surrounding air.

This was precisely Xi Daoyun's natal magic treasure, the flying sword Geng Metal. Having been nurtured for over a thousand years, it had already reached the absolute limit of a high-grade magic treasure, lacking only a sliver to become a top-tier magic treasure!

"Geng Metal Void Breaker, slash!"

Xi Daoyun cast a sword art, and the Geng Metal flying sword erupted with brilliant white light, instantly splitting into nine incomparably solid platinum sword auras.

Like nine white rainbows tearing through the world, they carried a deafening screech as they closed in on Xu Chuan from all directions!

Wherever the sword auras passed, faint black rifts were carved into the fabric of space.

Xu Chuan's expression was grim to the extreme.

He felt that this attack alone was enough to rip apart the defense of the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella, so he absolutely couldn't sit still and wait for death.

"Azure Dragon's Tail, turn!"

He fully pushed the Azure Dragon Sword Formation, engaging in a fierce clash with those nine platinum sword auras.

The clashing of metal rang out as densely as falling rain. Every collision erupted with blinding sparks and annihilating spiritual light.

Yet, it couldn't block the assault completely!

"Heavy Profound Seal, suppress!" Xu Chuan simultaneously sacrificed the Heavy Profound Seal, transforming it into a pitch-black hill that crashed toward three of the sword auras with earth-shattering momentum, relieving the pressure on the Azure Dragon Sword Formation.

But even so, he was only barely holding on.

However, Xi Daoyun was already heavily injured, and it was impossible for his execution of the sword art to be completely flawless.

After waiting for a moment.

Just as the radiance of the Azure Dragon Sword Formation rapidly dimmed and the Heavy Profound Seal wailed incessantly, Xu Chuan heard Xi Daoyun let out a muffled groan.

"Now is the time!"

"Life and Death Seal, initial invocation!"

Xu Chuan's hands abruptly formed an unfathomably profound hand seal. His left palm was ashen gray and completely dead, while his right palm was verdant and brimming with life. Bringing both palms together, he pressed them through the air toward Xi Daoyun!

An invisible and intangible, yet intensely strange fluctuation containing the Power of Life and Death ignored the spatial distance, instantly invading Xi Daoyun's body!

Xi Daoyun's face paled slightly!

He was already nearing the end of his lifespan, and compounded with his heavy injuries, the balance of his life and death energy was incredibly fragile.

Of course, an ordinary person couldn't possibly possess such a profound method.

But Xu Chuan could. Using his life and death divine ability to agitate the balance within the old man's body, he caused a sudden stagnation in the circulation of Xi Daoyun's mana.

If the old man couldn't suppress it, the balance of life and death would completely shatter, causing his previous injuries to erupt once more!

He would likely suffer another catastrophic wound!

"Dammit, what kind of trick is this?!"

Xi Daoyun was both shocked and enraged. While suppressing his internal injuries, he ramped up his assault, attempting to finish Xu Chuan off immediately.

"God-Slaying Spike, pierce!"

Xu Chuan finally unleashed the divine sense secret method he had been holding back this entire time.

Within his spiritual sea, thirty-two silver needles of divine sense, thin as cow hair, instantly coalesced into a silver spike. With the momentum of a sudden thunderbolt, it viciously stabbed into Xi Daoyun's spiritual sea.

"Urgh—!"

Caught entirely off guard, Xi Daoyun let out a heart-wrenching groan of agony!

His unhealed divine soul, struck by a spiritual sense attack timed to absolute perfection, had its defenses ruthlessly torn open!

The excruciating pain made his vision go black, and his consciousness blurred for a split second.

He instantly lost control of the Geng Metal flying sword. The nine platinum sword auras drastically weakened, their brilliance fluctuating wildly, and two of them were even on the verge of collapsing entirely.

"Azure Dragon Extending Claw!"

Xu Chuan bellowed fiercely, channeling everything he had into the Azure Dragon Sword Formation!

A giant Azure Dragon claw, bearing the power to tear the firmament asunder, ruthlessly swatted the nearly out-of-control platinum sword auras.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

As the claw and swords clashed, every single booming impact resulted in a platinum sword aura being shattered to pieces!

The main body of the Geng Metal flying sword let out a mournful keen, its glow dimming as it was knocked flying back to Xi Daoyun.

"Pfft—!"

Xi Daoyun looked as though he'd been struck by a boulder, spewing a mouthful of dark red blood laced with faint golden qi in midair.

His aura withered at a visible rate, and all the color drained from his face, leaving his already haggard complexion looking downright ashen.

The entire battlefield descended into deathly silence!

Only the howling of astral winds could be heard!

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the figure of the Nascent Soul cultivator spitting blood as he stumbled back in the sky, and then at the white-robed young man who stood firm, his chest heaving but his eyes burning with intense brilliance.

Their minds went completely blank.

A Nascent Soul Ancestor had actually suffered a massive loss at the hands of a Golden Core Stage cultivator?

Mo Wentian sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks.

Even though the sword art Xi Daoyun had unleashed with his natal magic treasure earlier hadn't been at peak power, Mo Wentian, an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, would still have needed to go all out to block it.

True Lord Green Wood, True Lord Bingqian, and the other Heavenly Azure Sect elders were utterly pale, feeling as though they had been plunged into an icy abyss.

"Junior... good, very good!" Xi Daoyun's voice was hoarse, each word dripping with chilling malice.

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Xi. I also think I'm doing quite well," Xu Chuan responded with a calm smile.

Having initially comprehended the Intent of Life and Death, he could agitate Xi Daoyun's injuries. Add to that the divine sense secret method capable of hurting the old man's currently fragile divine soul, and these two factors alone were enough to make Xi Daoyun extremely wary.

As for the Azure Dragon Sword Formation, it was also exceptionally strong, genuinely possessing an offensive might on par with an early Nascent Soul cultivator.

Of course, compared to someone like Xi Daoyun, who had long since reached the peak of the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm and tempered his foundation to extreme purity, it still fell short.

Even Demon Lord Tianluo from back then, who could hold his own against a newly ascended Mo Wentian, had been heavily injured in just a few exchanges against Xi Daoyun, forced to flee for his life.

'Although he's not quite at the level of that Demon Lord Tianluo, this brat isn't too far behind. More importantly, he's only at the Early-Stage Golden Core.'

'Could it be that my Heavenly Azure Sect's providence has truly run out, and the time for a changing of the guard in Heavenly Azure Prefecture has arrived?!'

Suddenly.

The crowd of cultivators near the eastern city gate seemed to explode, boiling over with excitement.

"Did... did I see that right? A Nascent Soul cultivator... just spat blood?"

"More than just spitting blood! Didn't you see the dim light of his flying sword? He clearly suffered a massive backlash!"

"Striking down a Nascent Soul cultivator with the body of a Golden Core! Even if the Heavenly Azure Sect's Grand Elder is dealing with old injuries, this is a miracle!"

"Number one person beneath Nascent Soul? In ten or twenty years, he might just become the undisputed number one in Heavenly Azure Prefecture!"

Countless observing cultivators, whether rogue cultivators, members of minor clans, or others, were all flushed red, unable to contain their intense excitement.

Many young cultivators stared at Xu Chuan, waves of reverence and sheer fanaticism swelling within their hearts.

On a distant mountain peak.

"Brother..." Mo Wenshang's throat felt a bit dry, and his voice transmission carried a faint, imperceptible tremble. "He actually injured Xi Daoyun?!

Even injured, a Nascent Soul is still a Nascent Soul..."

Mo Wentian remained silent for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air. He looked at Xu Chuan with an incredibly complex gaze and muttered, "I'm afraid Xu Chuan can no longer be kept in check!

Perhaps he wasn't waiting for True Lord Green Wood and the others today at all. He was waiting for Xi Daoyun, their Nascent Soul Grand Elder!"

At the same time, he couldn't help but ask himself: if he were to attack Xu Chuan with everything he had, free of any reservations right now, could he kill him?

The answer was that there was only a forty percent chance of killing him, a forty percent chance he would escape, and a twenty percent chance it would end in a draw. "Brother, after this battle, the name of True Lord Withered Glory will once again echo throughout the Heavenly Azure Prefecture. Cloudstream City's prestige will reach its absolute peak. What about our Mo family..."

A vicious glint flashed across Mo Wenshang's eyes. "Brother, why don't you launch a sneak attack on him now!"

"As long as Xu Chuan is alive, it's completely impossible for our Mo family to become the Lord of Sky Cang Prefecture!"

Mo Wentian looked at the expectant gaze in his younger brother's eyes. He sighed lightly and finally said, "It's impossible."

"Why? If you strike while he's engaged with Xi Daoyun, you could definitely kill him directly, or at the very least severely wound him!"

"Because I cannot actively initiate an attack against him."

Mo Wenshang was filled with confusion.

"This is the deal I made with him. He helped me form my Nascent Soul, and in return, I am unable to strike at the people of the Xu family first. Moreover, I owe the Xu family three favors.

Xu Chuan has never provoked our Mo family, depriving me of any opportunity to act against him.

And even now, I still owe him one final favor!

I originally intended to force him into using it today, but to think he could fend off that old ghost Xi all on his own."

Hearing this, Mo Wenshang was profoundly shaken.

He never imagined that his Mo family and Xu Chuan possessed such a deep entanglement.

'Perhaps our Mo family should take this chance to seek reconciliation. If we continue standing in opposition, I fear we will become true enemies,'

Mo Wentian pondered secretly.

The Mo family was fundamentally different from the Heavenly Azure Sect. The sect was still the current Lord of Sky Cang Prefecture, and anyone who wished to usurp them would naturally become their enemy.

But if the Mo family abandoned their ambition of hegemony, there was a high chance they could attend only to themselves and stay out of the crossfire.

On the other side, Lei Wuji's eyes glowed with delight.

'Today's battle might just be the turning point for the situation in Heavenly Azure Prefecture. The Heavenly Azure Sect can no longer suppress Cloudstream City; the city's momentum has already begun to take shape.'

'They only need to continuously accumulate power, and they will undoubtedly bring about a change in regimes in the future!'

'Who knows, hundreds of years from now, our Heavenly Azure Prefecture might even produce a Colossus comparable to the Profound Moon Sect!'

Lei Wuji immediately made a decision in his heart. Once this battle concluded, he would approach the Xu family to discuss forming an alliance.

"Junior... this old man refuses to believe it!"

Xi Daoyun's eyes were bloodshot as he let out a low roar. Completely ignoring the worsening injuries and chaotic qi inside his body, he forcefully struck once again.

An overwhelming storm of Geng Metal, composed of countless fine, golden blades of light, coalesced and tore toward Xu Chuan in a deadly spiral!

Xu Chuan used the Azure Dragon's Horn and the Heavy Profound Seal to resist the onslaught.

Then, he activated the Life and Death Seal once more.

If Xi Daoyun had been at his peak, a divine ability containing a mere sliver of the Intent of Life and Death naturally wouldn't have been able to affect a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. It would only be effective against those at the Golden Core stage.

But as the ripples of life and death permeated his body, the old man couldn't resist it at all. His injuries flared up wildly again, drawing a stifled grunt from his lips.

This was immediately followed by another divine sense secret method, splitting his head with unbearable pain and creating a flaw in his sword art. Xu Chuan capitalized on this gap, completely shattering the Geng Metal storm!

Two times in a row.

Xi Daoyun's injuries had reached an absolute critical point. If he attacked again, they would undeniably erupt uncontrollably.

Reason ultimately suppressed the unwillingness in his heart.

He threw one last look at Xu Chuan before setting up a golden escape light without another word, fleeing rapidly in the direction of the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range.

"Ancestor!"

"Grand Elder!"

Xi Fengyue and the others shouted one after another, a trace of sorrow surfacing in their eyes.

When had their Heavenly Azure Sect ever been this humiliated!

But if even their Grand Elder couldn't handle the situation and was beaten until he had to flee, what else could they possibly do?!

True Lord Green Wood shot Xu Chuan a highly complicated look. Sighing heavily in his heart, he ordered, "Let's go!"

Immediately after, he and True Lord Bingqian transformed into green and blue streaks of light, flying off into the distance.

Xi Fengyue and the rest closely trailed behind them.

"Honored Master is mighty!" Ye Fan cupped his fists, chuckling heartily.

"Grandfather is mighty!" Xu Deling and Xu Deyue's lips curled into faint smiles, their peerless grace on full display.

"Family Head is mighty!" Perfected Person Fire Cloud, Chen Changge, and Perfected Person Green Cliff cupped their fists with smiles.

"True Lord Withered Glory is mighty!"

Countless observing immortal cultivators chimed in, offering their congratulations in unison.

"Thank you, everyone. Today's matters are concluded. From this moment forth, Chen Changge officially serves as a guest elder of my Xu family and the Deputy City Lord of Cloudstream City. Please do not forget this, and refrain from bringing up his past as a Heavenly Azure Sect elder."

"We shall keep it in mind!"

At that moment, Lei Wuji suddenly sent a voice transmission, "Daoist Friend Withered Glory, may I visit your residence for a while?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly and replied via transmission, "Daoist Friend Lei's arrival adds glory to our humble home."

"Let's go. It is time we returned."

"Grandfather, I'll be heading back to the Heavenly Plume Sect with Senior Brother Fierce Sun and the others."

"Alright."

Xu Deling, Perfected Person Fierce Sun, and the others left together.

The rest followed Xu Chuan and flew toward the Inner City.

Mo Wentian frowned slightly upon seeing Lei Wuji tag along.

"Brother, what is Lei Wuji doing?"

"The Xu family's momentum has taken root. I imagine the Lei family has completely abandoned their ambitions for hegemony and intends to lend the Xu family a helping hand."

"Although the Lei family's foundation isn't as robust as the other three major families, it is still nothing to scoff at. If they throw their weight behind the Xu family, then our Mo family..."

"You need not worry about this any longer. Just focus on developing Jade Bamboo City and the Mo family in peace."

"Understood, Brother."

With Mo Wentian, an Early-Stage Nascent Soul Ancestor, holding the fort, the Mo family would always have a sense of security. Even if they wished to mimic the Lei family's actions, there was no need to rush.

As the political climate shifted, perhaps a new turning point would emerge?!

Perfected Person Fire Cloud and Perfected Person Green Cliff returned to the Artifact Refining Hall and the Array Hall, respectively.

Chen Changge headed back to the City Lord's Mansion to manage his affairs.

Ye Fan and his wife returned to the Xu Residence to cultivate in peace.

Meanwhile, Xu Chuan hosted Lei Wuji in the main hall of the Xu Residence.

"Please have a seat, Daoist Friend Lei. Serve the tea."

Soon after Xu Chuan spoke, a Qi Refining maidservant walked in carrying Spirit Tea. She placed a cup on the tea table next to both Xu Chuan and Lei Wuji, before bowing and withdrawing.

Lei Wuji took a light sip and offered a faint smile of praise, "The spiritual qi is rich, and the tea's aroma is abundant. The initial bitterness gives way to sweetness, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Good tea!"

"Daoist Friend Lei praises it too highly." Xu Chuan also took a shallow sip before continuing, "If you have something to discuss, Daoist Friend Lei, please speak freely."

"Hahaha." Lei Wuji let out a hearty laugh. "Then I will be straightforward."

"Daoist Friend Withered Glory defeated the Heavenly Azure Sect's Grand Elder today, dragging their reputation through the mud. From now on, the two sides will undoubtedly fight until one perishes.

I plan to lead the Lei family and assist Cloudstream City in standing against the Heavenly Azure Sect.

What are your thoughts on this, Daoist Friend Withered Glory?"

"Has the Lei family given up?"

"We had no choice but to give up." Lei Wuji smiled bitterly. "Unlike the Mo family, my Lei family hasn't produced a Nascent Soul Ancestor. Nor do we boast a constant stream of prodigies or someone like you, Daoist Friend Withered Glory, holding the fort like the Xu family.

We also lack the profound heritage of the Heavenly Azure Sect."

Xu Chuan's smile didn't waver. "Then why not choose the Mo family? They did manage to produce an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, after all!"

"The Mo family..." A cold sneer curled the corners of Lei Wuji's mouth. "If not for their sheer luck, their foundation would be even worse than my Lei family's.

Other than Mo Wentian, they can't even produce a single True Lord who has reached great accomplishment in a divine ability."

"Nothing like your Xu family, Daoist Friend Withered Glory." His face was instantly wreathed in smiles again. "Your disciple just completed his Core Formation, yet he can already battle Late-Stage Golden Core experts.

Fairy Feng Ling should probably be called True Lord Feng Ling by now. I reckon even I wouldn't necessarily gain the upper hand against her."

This was true; their mana and divine abilities were relatively comparable.

However, Xu Deling possessed more than one high-grade magic treasure, something Lei Wuji could never hope to match.

Moreover, she had mastered a divine sense secret method. It was just that she cultivated a divine sense forging hammer, which was exceptionally difficult. She had only just crossed the threshold and could barely condense it into a physical form.

But if she managed to reach the minor success stage, that divine sense hammer would become truly terrifying.

She would likely be able to knock out peers of the same realm with a single hammer strike. Even when fighting above her realm, she could severely injure her opponents.

"Fairy 'Cold Moon' is also extraordinary, with strength approaching that of a True Lord-level powerhouse." Lei Wuji heaped praise upon every single one of them. "And let's not forget you've recruited three guest elders.

A Grandmaster Smith, a Grandmaster of Array Formations, and a formerly renowned prodigy."

Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "Daoist Friend Lei, if you keep flattering us like this, I'm afraid I'll melt away from the praise."

"In short, I wish to represent the Lei family and forge an alliance with the Xu family. Does Daoist Friend Withered Glory agree?"

Xu Chuan mused for a moment before saying, "This must be your personal idea, Daoist Friend Lei. Of course, if the Lei family wishes to assist us, the Xu family will naturally welcome it.

However, I have three conditions. You should hear them out before making any decisions."

"Please speak, Daoist Friend Withered Glory."

"First, return and hold a clan meeting. You must secure the approval of the remaining elders and the vast majority of the core disciples of the Lei family.

Second, for the next ten years, the Lei family will answer to the Xu family's deployments. In return, the Xu family will request the Heavenly Plume Sect to forge a high-grade magic treasure for you, Daoist Friend Lei.

You must prepare the materials yourselves.

Third, you must reside in Cloudstream City for the next ten years to make it easier for our Xu family to call upon you."

Hearing this, Lei Wuji fell silent.

A short while later, he said, "I understand. I will return to my clan to discuss the matter. Once we have a definitive answer, I will return to Cloudstream City."

Xu Chuan gave a slight nod and had someone escort Lei Wuji out.

Outside.

Because of the battle between Cloudstream City and the Heavenly Azure Sect at the eastern city gate, the outside world was already in an utter uproar.

As for Xu Chuan fiercely battling the Heavenly Azure Sect's Nascent Soul Grand Elder, the rumors had become increasingly exaggerated and miraculous.

Some claimed Xu Chuan had beaten Xi Daoyun until he spat blood in just two or three moves. Others even boldly stated that Xu Chuan had single-handedly suppressed a Nascent Soul expert!

This news rapidly spread throughout the entirety of Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

It sent shockwaves across the entire prefecture.

The hearts of many aristocratic families began to waver.

Heavenly Azure City.

The Yan Family.

"To think such a monumental event occurred in Cloudstream City. True Lord Withered Glory is truly a once-in-a-generation genius. It's only been so long, yet his strength has elevated so drastically once again.

We can wait no longer. Cloudstream City is destined to become the center of Heavenly Azure Prefecture in the future. We must make a decision as soon as possible."

That very same day, the Yan Clan Ancestor convened a clan meeting.

Inside the Yan family's discussion hall.

At the very front, seated upright on a wide throne carved from a single piece of Serene Heart Black Jade, was the Yan clan ancestor, Yan Nantian.

Though his beard and hair were stark white and his face lean, his back was straight as a pine. An inner brilliance gleamed whenever he opened or closed his eyes. At this moment, his gaze slowly swept across the core members of the family seated on either side below him.

Everyone present was at or above the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment realm.

There were quite a few elders aged around a hundred and fifty or sixty who boasted Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation.

Younger but extraordinarily talented prodigies like Yan Han and Yan Qing were also in attendance.

Although Yan Kuangtu was also a junior among this gathering, as the undisputed number one expert of the Yan family beneath the Golden Core Ancestor, his status was even higher than the Family Head and the First Elder.

He sat in the premier seat to Yan Nantian's left.

His current strength was comparable to a prodigy who had comprehended seventy percent of an introductory divine ability.

If he spent another few decades contemplating, he could likely reach eighty or ninety percent, gaining a sliver of hope to undergo Divine Ability Core Formation.

Renowned as the Yan family's future successor, everyone hoped he would successfully form his Golden Core and take over the mantle of the Yan Clan Ancestor.

After all, the Yan Clan Ancestor had less than a century of lifespan remaining.