Starting From The Blood Lineage Genealogy To Build An Eternal Immortal Clan Chapter 229: Xu Chuan's Scheme, Moyue Strikes

Cao Yulong flicked his sleeves with a cold snort, turning around to pilot his magic skiff away.

On the journey back, he mulled over the encounter, feeling that there was a hidden aning behind Xu Mingwei's words.

'So they are blaming my Cao Clan for the death of his disciple!'

'Hmph, that cheap wench deserved to die!'

'You want her corpse? Fine, I'll give it back to you!'

Upon returning to the Imperial City, Cao Yulong reported the matter to his father and the First Elder.

"If they want it, then return Ye Xuehua's corpse to them next ti," Cao Defong said, looking at Cao Yulong. "You haven't disposed of it yet, have you?"

"It has been kept in an ice coffin. I was planning to deal with it later," he replied.

"Good. Make another trip tomorrow. While you are at it, invite Xu Chuan over. This elder has heard that his main cultivation is also a Wood-Elent Cultivation thod," Cao Defong instructed.

"Understood, First Elder."

The next day.

Carrying Ye Xuehua's corpse, Cao Yulong headed toward Yuehu Commandery once more.

Outside Dongxi.

Cao Yulong transmitted his voice again. "It was my beloved wife Ye Xuehua's dying wish to return to her holand. This junior, Cao Yulong, has specially brought her back. Senior Zhou, please co out to et ."

Xu Chuan approached Zhou Qingfang and gave him a nod. "Elder Qingfang, let us go. It is ti to welco Fairy Xuehua back."

Zhou Qingfang bowed deeply. "Thank you, Grand Elder."

With him in the lead, nurous Zhou family disciples followed closely behind as they flew out of the grand array.

'As expected, they ca out.'

Cao Yulong sneered inwardly but cupped his fists respectfully at the approaching Zhou Qingfang. "Greetings, Senior Zhou."

He brushed a hand over his storage pouch, and an ice coffin flew out, landing heavily on the ground.

Zhou Qingfang stepped forward. Seeing Ye Xuehua lying peacefully inside the ice coffin, his eyes instantly grew misty.

"Daoist Friend Cao, how did my disciple die?" he asked in a trembling voice.

"She died during childbirth!" Cao Yulong replied, putting on a mask of deep sorrow. "Aside from wishing to return to the Zhou family after her passing, Xuehua had one other final request, and that was to save her child."

"What happened to the child?" Zhou Qingfang pressed.

"His condition is not good. The elders of my clan said that only a Foundation Establishnt immortal cultivator practicing wood arts might be able to help. I implore you, Senior, please make a trip to the Imperial City."

Hesitation flickered across Zhou Qingfang's face.

"Does Senior Zhou not wish to fulfill Xuehua's final wish? That child is the only flesh and blood she left behind in this world, and equally your grand-disciple. Can you truly bear to let him suffer?"

Cao Yulong's words were rich in voice and emotion, laced with an agonizing plea.

At that mont, Xu Chuan's voice abruptly cut in.

"Daoist Friend Cao must be joking. The imperial Cao Clan is so vast; how could it possibly lack Foundation Establishnt immortal cultivators who practice Wood-Elent Cultivation thods? You even have a Golden Core ancestor holding the fort. Why would you need the ager assistance of our minor Foundation Establishnt families?"

"The Xu Family Grand Elder?" Cao Yulong looked toward the Xu Family's grand array. "Since you have spoken, why not show yourself?"

A figure soared out and landed smoothly beside Zhou Qingfang.

"Daoist Friend Cao, do you perhaps think my words are untrue?"

Looking at the cultivator before him, who appeared even younger than himself, Cao Yulong did not dare harbor the slightest contempt.

His father's nurous sches had all been effortlessly dismantled by this man.

He had even forced the Cao Clan to suffer the consequences of their own actions.

"Although my clan's ancestor is a Golden Core stage immortal cultivator, he is not omnipotent. He mainly cultivates fire-elent arts and is powerless regarding my young child's condition.

However, he stated that only soone with extrely profound attainnt in wood-elent arts could offer a cure," Cao Yulong explained.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "That doesn't sound like an innate defect. If Daoist Friend Cao refuses to tell the truth, our Elder Zhou won't be able to help."

Hearing this, Cao Yulong's face instantly flushed a deep crimson, his eyes wide and burning with anger, looking as if he wanted to grind his teeth to dust.

After a series of fluctuating expressions, he managed to regain his composure.

He let out a soft sigh. "To be truthful, my child was struck by a wood-elent secret art. There is an extra wood-energy seed residing in his dantian.

This seed harbors a withering power that ceaselessly absorbs the magical power of the afflicted. It is incredibly bizarre.

The elders of my clan who specialize in Wood-Elent Cultivation thods have examined it, but they are entirely helpless."

"The Seed of Withered Wood!" Zhou Qingfang blurted out instantly.

"Since Senior Zhou knows of it, do you know how to break it?!"

"Only the caster can break it, or an immortal cultivator who has comprehended the Dao of Withered Wood Reversal." Zhou Qingfang shook his head. "I have never practiced this art; it requires an exceptionally high innate aptitude."

"Furthermore, executing this technique exacts a significant toll on the user. It is considered a forbidden move among wood-elent arts."

He cupped his fists. "Forgive , but I am powerless to help."

Xu Chuan sneered in his heart upon hearing this.

Without a doubt, this technique had to be Ye Xuehua's doing, solely to prevent the Cao Clan from getting what they wanted.

'However, the Dao of Withered Wood Reversal?'

'It's a pity the child isn't part of my Xu Family, otherwise I could have lent a hand.'

'It's just unfortunate for that child.'

'Given that Cao Yulong is willing to repeatedly lower himself to ask for help, the child most likely possesses a Heavenly Spiritual Root.'

'But even if he survives, his future days in the Cao Clan will not be easy.'

"Is there truly no other way?" Cao Yulong pleaded.

"The thod has already been stated. As for whether you can find soone who has comprehended the Dao of Withered Wood Reversal, that will depend on the Cao Clan's providence. Compared to your extensive network, my Zhou family is not worth ntioning," Zhou Qingfang replied coldly.

Cao Yulong shifted his gaze to Xu Chuan. "Is Daoist Friend Xu willing to go?!"

Xu Chuan broke into a grin. "Daoist Friend Cao is well aware of the situation between our two families. Unless the entire imperial Cao Clan swears an oath to never harm a single hair on my head, I will not set foot in your estate."

"Xu Chuan, do not reach for a yard after taking an inch!" Cao Yulong roared.

"Daoist Friend Cao, take care, I won't see you out!" Xu Chuan dismissed him.

Hearing this, Cao Yulong's beard and hair bristled with rage, his eyes burning like torches. The veins on his forehead bulged, coiled like horned dragons, and his complexion darkened to the color of red copper.

With a furious flick of his sleeve, he stord off into the distance.

After he left, Xu Chuan turned to Zhou Qingfang. "Go and handle Fairy Xuehua's funeral arrangents."

"Xuehua cherished her family the most. She would surely want to be buried with her parents, who rest in the mausoleum built by our Zhou family," Zhou Qingfang murmured sorrowfully.

"Mhm. Go ahead."

"Thank you, Grand Elder."

In the air not far away.

Xu Mingqing stared quietly at Ye Xuehua's ice coffin, his expression incredibly complex. In the end, he did not step forward, simply watching silently as Zhou Qingfang and the others carried the ice coffin away.

Two days later.

After concluding Ye Xuehua's affairs, Zhou Qingfang brought the Zhou family disciples back to the Xu Family.

Through his actions, Xu Chuan had thoroughly won the hearts of the Zhou family.

Imperial City.

The Cao Clan.

Everyone who could be invited had been brought over, but all of them remained utterly helpless.

Cao Defong looked up and sighed deeply. "Does my Cao Clan truly lack such providence?"

Standing nearby, Cao Yulong was eagerly fanning the wind and lighting the fire. "That Zhou family is truly detestable. I had already lowered my voice and stifled my breath to act humble, yet they only responded with cold mockery and burning satire. The Xu Family was exactly the sa.

That Xu Chuan even declared that unless our entire Cao Clan swears an oath never to harm a single hair on his head, it would be absolutely impossible for him to take a single step into our estate."

"Did Xu Chuan truly say that?" Cao Defong's face turned icy cold.

"Yulong would not dare deceive you."

"Good! Very good!"

Cao Defong laughed out of pure fury. "Not long ago, a hidden informant within the Taiyuan Li family sent news claiming that the Xu Family is secretly trading with them.

The sa goes for the Wang Family.

This Xu Family must be heavily crippled imdiately. Otherwise, we really will be raising a fierce tiger in our own backyard."

Pausing for a mont, he continued, "The Xu Family has a Tier 2 High-Grade Great Formation; they cannot be shaken easily. But the Zhou Clan Estate doesn't have such a formidable clan protection grand array!"

"The Zhou family is now a vassal of the Xu Family. If they encounter danger, the Xu Family will definitely rush to their aid. If they don't, it will undoubtedly chill the hearts of all the other vassal families under their wing.

Over ti, this will inevitably breed resentnt and sever their bonds!

Shengming, go and gather five or six elders at or above Mid Foundation Establishnt. Conceal your auras and faces. Three days from now, launch an assault on the Zhou family.

I will personally lie in wait outside the Xu Family. If Xu Chuan shows himself, I will activate a talisman treasure and kill him in a single strike!"

Cao Shengming chuckled coldly. "As long as Xu Chuan dies, the threat of the Xu Family will be reduced by at least sixty or seventy percent. As for the remaining juniors at First-Layer Foundation Establishnt, we can torture them to death slowly.

We can even tempt other aristocratic families to make a move against them.

The Xu Family possesses an abundance of pill resources. I'm sure many families will be heavily tempted!"

At this mont, Cao Yulong smiled flatteringly. "With the First Elder personally taking action, success is guaranteed. But what about Zhenyi?"

"If that Seed of Withered Wood isn't removed, he won't be able to practice immortal cultivation for his entire life!"

"What can I do?" Cao Defong sighed. "Even the Ancestor is helpless!"

"Once he reaches a certain age, let him practice cultivation anyway. It doesn't matter if he succeeds or not; at least his Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude is still there.

When he turns sixteen, we will have him marry and bear children.

The offspring he produces will at least possess a True Spiritual Root, and there is a twenty or thirty percent chance of birting an Earth Spiritual Root."

"Yulong understands."

It was painfully obvious that Cao Zhenyi had already been abandoned by the Cao Clan.

His only remaining fate was to beco a breeding stallion for the family.

Yuehu Commandery, Dongxi.

The Xu Family.

Jade Cold Pool.

"Xu Chuan, are you truly certain the Cao Clan will co to attack?" Moyue asked in surprise.

"They won't do it openly, but they will definitely try to launch a sneak attack under the cover of night," Xu Chuan said, smiling as he looked at Moyue.

"But why would you intentionally provoke them?"

"If we don't let the Cao Clan make a massive move, how will we ring the alarm bells for the Foundation Establishnt families across all the commanderies?"

"What are you trying to do?"

"You will know soon enough. It won't be long before you get a chance to strike."

"Are you serious?!" Moyue imdiately slithered through the mid-air in excitent, his dark golden dragon eyes flashing with an icy glint. "It's about ti!"

"If you hadn't stopped , this seat would have slapped those Cao Clan brats to death long ago!"

Xu Chuan shook his head and laughed.

"Just wait for my arrangents. There should be news within ten days at the latest."

Xu Chuan had deliberately mocked them earlier, saying those harsh words specifically to enrage the Cao Clan.

He anticipated that after losing a Heavenly Spiritual Root disciple, the Cao Clan would undoubtedly be harboring an imnse amount of suppressed fury. By prodding them like this, it was sothing no ordinary person could endure.

He just wasn't sure exactly how the Cao Clan would choose to strike.

Mobilizing over a dozen Foundation Establishnt cultivators was unlikely, but sending six or seven, including one or two Late Foundation Establishnt experts, was entirely plausible.

The Xu Family's Tier 2 High-Grade Great Formation was as impregnable as tal and boiling water.

The Cao Clan knew this as well.

Therefore, there was a high probability the Cao Clan would make a sound in the east and strike in the west.

To prepare for the conflict he had single-handedly orchestrated, Xu Chuan consulted his Daily Divination every single day.

Finally, several days later.

Early dawn.

[Today's Divination: Great On of Peril. Tonight during the Hour of Xu (7 PM - 9 PM), the Cao Clan's First Elder will take advantage of your departure for reinforcent to launch a sneak attack using a talisman treasure. You will be severely injured and pushed to the brink of death.

Moyue will strike in a fury, killing him. The mbers of the Xu Family will lock down and defend the grand array, refusing to step outside.

The Zhou Clan Estate will be breached, suffering catastrophic losses.]

"Just as I expected!" Xu Chuan rubbed his chin, muttering, "However, I didn't anticipate that the Cao Clan's First Elder would personally lie in wait outside my Xu Family's clan grounds.

With the Cao Clan's foundation, they surely possess magical artifacts or secret arts capable of completely masking their aura from detection.

Otherwise, his sneak attack wouldn't have succeeded.

A Foundation Establishnt Perfection immortal cultivator, and using a talisman treasure on top of that!

The fact that I didn't die ans the Top-Grade True Yang Treasure Orb likely blocked a portion of its might."

Pausing for a mont, Xu Chuan shook his head with a wry smile. "Moyue is still too impulsive. If he kills the Cao Clan's First Elder, it will truly alert their Golden Core ancestor."

"If two major Golden Core combatants actually end up clashing within our Xu Family grounds, decades of our clan's accumulation will genuinely be ruined in a single day."

Xu Chuan stood up and imdiately summoned Xu Mingwei.

"Mingwei, make a trip to Guangling. Tell Xiaoyao and Mingxuan to return."

"Father, what has happened?"

"Just do as I say."

"Understood, Father."

Xu Mingwei's speed was incredibly fast. For other Foundation Establishnt cultivators, the trip would take well over four hours.

Yet, going all out, he arrived in Guangling in less than two hours.

He then brought Ren Xiaoyao and Xu Mingxuan back.

Night fell.

The stars and moon were devoid of light.

Shortly before the Hour of Xu.

Zhou Qingfang suddenly sensed that the Divine Sense Jade Tablet he had left in the Zhou family had been destroyed, and his expression changed drastically.

He imdiately sent a voice transmission to Xu Chuan.

"Grand Elder, my Zhou family is under siege by enemies. The family has sent a distress signal to . Please, Grand Elder, allow to take n back to reinforce them."

"Go wait at the Immortal Arts Hall Plaza. I will summon the others to join you," Xu Chuan said calmly. "A Tier 2 Mid-Grade array won't be breached that easily."

"Yes, Grand Elder."

Zhou Qingfang imdiately flew toward the Immortal Arts Hall Plaza.

Monts later.

Streaks of light flew over one after another.

Aside from the Foundation Establishnt stage elders, there were also dozens of Late-Stage Qi Condensation disciples, consisting of mbers from both the Zhou family and the Xu Family.

The Foundation Establishnt cultivators included Ren Xiaoyao, Xu Deling, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Mingshu, Xu Mingxian, Xu Deyue, and Zhou Zongyun.

Xu Chuan swept his gaze over them and stated, "The Zhou family is under siege. As the master family, it is only right that our Xu Family goes to relieve their distress."

"Mingwei, you and Elder Qingfang will lead them to the Zhou family. As you pass by those Qi Condensation Clans on the way, pass down my word.

Tell them demonic cultivators are attacking, and order them all to answer my Xu Family's call by mobilizing at least five Late-Stage Qi Condensation cultivators each."

"I understand, Father."

"Good." Xu Chuan nodded. "Depart now. I will follow shortly."

"Everyone, follow !"

Xu Mingwei shouted lightly, but his voice bood like thunder.

The large group surged out of the Xu Family's clan protection grand array in a mighty wave.

As long as Xu Chuan didn't appear, Cao Defong would not make his move.

The deaths of a few Qi Condensation disciples and one or two Foundation Establishnt cultivators would not be considered a truly crippling blow to the current Xu Family.

Only by killing the true helmsman of the Xu Family, Xu Chuan.

Could they inflict a devastating blow.

Just like a first-rank family, unless their Foundation Establishnt Perfection Ancestor perished.

Otherwise, losing an Early Foundation Establishnt or even Mid Foundation Establishnt cultivator would only result in temporary weakness; they would recover their vitality in at most ten or twenty years.

'No Xu Chuan? Is he not planning to go reinforce them?' Cao Defong thought inwardly, gripping the Jade Seal Talisman Treasure in his hand.

'But if a Mid Foundation Establishnt cultivator like him doesn't go, isn't he worried that multiple Foundation Establishnt mbers of his clan will perish?'

'Or does he simply have that much confidence in those Foundation Establishnt juniors?'

In the blink of an eye.

Xu Mingwei and the others had already flown far into the distance.

Cao Defong continued to wait in ambush.

The ti it takes to drink a cup of tea later.

Another figure flew out from the grand array.

He was dressed in green robes, looking handso and refined as he shot into the distance.

'He finally ca out.'

Without a word, Cao Defong exploded upward from the forest below, his dark robes whipping in the autumn wind as he simultaneously activated the imnse power of the talisman treasure.

In an instant.

Nine crimson flood dragons materialized abruptly, each draped in towering flas roughly ten feet high, burning with blinding intensity against the night sky.

The surrounding air instantly beca blisteringly hot, and the forest suddenly erupted into a raging inferno.

The flood dragons roared in unison, lunging viciously toward the green-robed figure of Xu Chuan.

Yet Xu Chuan seed to have anticipated this entirely. With a flip of his left hand, he produced a Three-Legged Bronze Furnace covered in phoenix patterns, which imdiately swelled to half the height of a man.

The furnace lid flew open, and a thirty-to-forty-foot-tall Phoenix Separation fla bird burst forth, manifesting as a shield before him.

Simultaneously, his right hand summoned a pigeon egg-sized orb. True Yang Qi erupted with a thunderous boom, weaving into a pale golden light screen.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, the nine fire dragons shattered the fire phoenix into pieces before slamming brutally into the light screen conjured by the True Yang Treasure Orb.

Crimson flas and golden light collided violently, scattering blazing sparks in every direction and further intensifying the wild inferno below.

Xu Chuan let out a muffled groan as the True Yang Treasure Orb's light screen imdiately emitted a sharp 'crack-crack-crack' sound of fracturing.

'Truly worthy of a talisman treasure!' Xu Chuan praised inwardly.

Just as the dragon flas were about to shatter the light screen completely.

Xu Chuan unleashed a furious roar, his voice shaking the heavens like thunder. "Demonic Dao villain! How dare you co to cause chaos in my Xu Family!"

"Flood dragon, co forth!"

The mont the words left his mouth.

Xu Chuan's Spirit Beast Pouch lit up, and a blue blur instantly shot out, rapidly expanding into a massive flood dragon over a hundred feet long.

Moyue unleashed his terrifying dragon might with a vicious tail swipe. Like a crackling long whip of blue lightning, the blow instantly pulverized the nine fla dragons summoned by the talisman treasure.

"A Tier 2 peak flood dragon!"

Cao Defong spun around to flee, but Moyue had already closed the distance. Opening his maw to spew a blast of extre freezing breath, the flood dragon's tail violently whipped out once again.

He had no choice but to hastily summon a Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact to brace for the impact.

"Boom!"

Cao Defong, along with his shield artifact, was brutally sent flying.

He suffered a devastating blow, violently coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Seeing Moyue attacking once more, he imdiately pulled out a grayish-cyan talisman from his storage pouch without hesitation. The mont a drop of blood from his fingertip touched it, the talisman erupted with a blinding white light.

The white light enveloped Cao Defong's figure and shot into the sky, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"What kind of talisman was that?" Xu Chuan asked in astonishnt, stowing away the Li Feng Furnace and the True Yang Treasure Orb.

"It should be an Escape Talisman. He instantly warped out of my Divine Sense's range, so it was at least a Hundred Mile Talisman!"

"That is truly an excellent life-saving treasure."

Xu Chuan remarked coolly, "As expected of a Golden Core Aristocratic Family; they certainly possess quite a few treasures."

"Judging by his direction, he should be heading to the Zhou family. Let's go!"

"Fly on your own! Don't even think about stepping on this seat!"

Moyue instantly flashed back into the Spirit Beast Pouch.

"Suit yourself," Xu Chuan chuckled, shaking his head. He brought out his Fine-Grade Magic Skiff, transforming into a streak of cyan light as he sped away.

On the way to the Zhou family.

Cao Defong swallowed a High-Grade Hundred Herbs Pill, recovering his injuries while flying at top speed.

'The Xu Family is actually rearing a Tier 2 peak flood dragon?'

'So this was his trump card?!'

'To deal with that flood dragon, it would probably take two or three Foundation Establishnt Perfection cultivators ganging up on it. As for killing it...'

Unless they managed to trap it, preventing it from escaping would be incredibly difficult.

After all, a flood dragon's flight speed was far faster than a Foundation Establishnt Perfection immortal cultivator.

'With that flood dragon present, the Xu Family already possesses the foundation of a first-rank family. There's nothing to be done unless our Cao Clan completely abandons its reputation and launches an all-out siege against them.'

'With the Demon Tribulation approaching, the Ancestor wouldn't agree to such massive mobilization anyway.'

If the Cao Clan genuinely did that, none of the Foundation Establishnt families in Great Wei would remain indifferent.

'Forget it. Once the Demon Tribulation arrives, the Xu Family will definitely be turned to ash! Even if they manage to scrape through, my Cao Clan won't let them off!'

Shortly before the Hour of Xu.

Outside the Zhou Clan Estate.

A grayish-cyan light screen, resembling an overturned gigantic glazed bowl, was steeped in the night fog, gleaming with a cold light like shards of ice.

A crescent moon hid behind the clouds, leaking only a few dim rays of light.

Suddenly, seven streaks of escaping light arrived, trailing long, blood-red tails behind them.

Leading the group were Cao Shengming and Cao Yulong, accompanied by five other Cao Clan elders.

"This is the place. Elders, make your move!" Cao Shengming ordered.

Their robes were fluttering noisily in the wind, but all of their faces were heavily concealed.

A tall, lanky cultivator on the eastern side ford hand seals first. Three serpentine streams of crimson fire shot from his fingertips, curling and expanding into a ten-foot-long fire dragon that smashed into the light screen with a blistering wave of heat.

The scarlet fire was exceptionally blinding in the dark night. Any night fog that touched it was instantly vaporized into white steam.

With a loud hum, the light screen trembled violently as pale gold runes surfaced across it.

The fire dragon exploded with a thunderous blast, sending sparks raining down like falling stars. A scorch mark was left where it struck, but flowing light quickly smoothed it over, and the bright blemish vanished in a flash.

On the western side, a short, stout cultivator had already thrown his Bronze Giant Hamr into the air. The profound patterns on the hamr lit up with an earthy yellow spiritual glow, like a solitary lamp in the dark night.

He roared, "Fall!"

The massive hamr plumted like a teor, smashing directly into the previously scorched spot.

The light screen caved inward by half a foot, the pale golden runes flashing erratically.

A blue-robed cultivator raised his hand and hurled seven Silver Shuttles. The shuttles instantly expanded to the thickness of an arm, their tails spewing pale blue spiritual light. They buzzed fiercely around the screen like a swarm of bees, carving bright, thin arcs through the dark night.

Whenever the spiritual light of the screen weakened even slightly, the silver shuttles viciously stabbed down, leaving behind tiny white marks.

Although they failed to break the defense, they caused the light screen's fluctuations to turn increasingly chaotic. The spiritual light grew uneven, turning patchy as if it were being gnawed away by the night fog.

"Enemies are attacking!"

"Enemies are attacking!"

Realizing the grand array was under attack, the patrol guards imdiately scattered, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The captain of the patrol guards swiftly pulled out a Communication Talisman and sent a ssage to the Family Head.

In just a few monts.

The Zhou Clan Estate fell into total chaos.

One immortal cultivator after another landed behind the array on their flying swords. There were Zhou family disciples, elders, and the Family Head, Zhou Zongran.

Zhou Zongran shouted sternly, "Who are you people?! Why are you attacking the Zhou family's grand array under the cover of night?!"

The group completely ignored him, instead carefully observing the grand array's reaction.

The tall, lanky cultivator sent a voice transmission to Cao Shengming. "Elder Shengming, this Zhou family grand array doesn't seem like the Tier 2 Low-Grade formation you claid it was, does it?

Under the simultaneous attack of a Late Foundation Establishnt cultivator like and two other Mid Foundation Establishnt elders, it should have produced at least a few tiny cracks by now."

Cao Shengming was equally bewildered. "I was just thinking the sa thing."

"If I am not mistaken, the grade of this formation must be at the Tier 2 Mid-Grade level. Even if we all go all out, it will probably hold for over ten to twelve hours."

"Ten to twelve hours? It will be broad daylight by then!" the tall cultivator sneered.

"Elder Delie, don't be impatient. We obviously won't continue the assault until morning. We will follow the First Elder's plan for now: sustain the attack and force them to call for reinforcents.

When the Xu Family arrives, we'll kill a few of them if we can. If we can't, or if they don't show up at all, we'll withdraw in four hours at most."

"Then we'll do just that!" Cao Delie agreed.

The group maintained their relentless assault, making it look as though they had truly co to exterminate the Zhou family.

"Family Head, hurry and seek reinforcents from the Ancestor and the Xu Family! With just one glance, it's clear they are all at the Foundation Establishnt stage! I feel like not a single one of them is weaker than the Ancestor, maybe even stronger!"

One of the Zhou family elders looked at Zhou Zongran and urged him anxiously.

"I know."

Zhou Zongran let out a faint sigh as he pulled out a jade token and decisively crushed it.

He looked up at the constantly fluctuating light screen of the grand array, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Thankfully, the Xu Family helped us upgrade our formation earlier.

Against such a savage assault, our Zhou family's previous grand array would have held on for an hour at most.

That wouldn't have been nearly enough ti for reinforcents to arrive."

"Exactly!" Many elders and disciples echoed, lingering fear gripping their hearts.

"The Ancestor truly had incredible foresight!"

"Yeah. I finally understand why the Ancestor was so dead set on our Zhou family attaching itself to the Xu Family. It seems he predicted wicked thugs would attack us."

"But our two families were allies, there was no need to beco vassals, right?" a Zhou family disciple muttered.

Zhou Zongran turned his head and shot him a glare. "What does being allies matter? The Xu Family owes our Zhou family nothing. By coming over to help, they would have fulfilled their duties as an ally.

They absolutely wouldn't be subjected to any criticism.

Furthermore, nobody knew when our Zhou family would be attacked. Could we really expect the Xu Family to station themselves here forever?

As for the grand array, if our Zhou family had the capability to hire a Grandmaster Formation Master to upgrade it, we would have done so ages ago.

It's just a pity that our Zhou family's network is too shallow. Even the Ancestor was helpless in that regard."

"If our Zhou family could produce an array master capable of setting up a Tier 2 High-Grade Great Formation, why would the Ancestor have us beco vassals to the Xu Family?"

Hearing this, many of the elders and disciples lowered their heads in sha.

Ti slowly slipped away.

The continuous, deafening booms echoing from outside the grand array left the mbers of the Zhou family trembling with terror as they stared fixedly at the light screen.

They were terrified that with a single slip, cracks would begin to show.

Once they did, it would mark the beginning of the grand array's destruction.

Xu Mingwei led the Xu Family troops, marching forth in a massive, imposing procession.

In just over an hour, they arrived near the Moon Lake Commandery City.

Then, his voice exploded outward like rolling thunder.

"Listen closely, all Qi Condensation Clans of Yuehu Commandery! Tonight, demonic cultivators are attacking the Zhou family! Every family is to obey the Xu Family's decree: mobilize at least five Late-Stage Qi Condensation immortal cultivators!

Follow us to rescue the Zhou family!

If anyone refuses to go, bear the consequences yourselves!"

His voice echoed repeatedly through the night sky.

Within re monts.

Several streaks of light approached from the vicinity. Standing on their flying swords, they cupped their fists toward Xu Mingwei and the group. "My Huang Family is willing to follow the Xu Family in eliminating demons!"

With that said, they took their place on the left flank.

"My Lu Family is willing to follow the Xu Family in eliminating demons!"

"My Lan family is willing to follow the Xu Family in eliminating demons!"

All along the way, aristocratic families answered the call, joining the expanding ranks.

In the blink of an eye, their numbers had swelled to over a hundred.

Every single person present was an immortal cultivator at or above Late-Stage Qi Condensation.

Across the entirety of Yuehu Commandery.

At a single command from the Xu Family, not a single aristocratic family dared disobey!

Not far from Xu Mingwei and his massive group, Cao Defong had also heard Xu Mingwei's decree, watching as the Qi Condensation Clans of Yuehu Commandery rallied under the Xu Family's banner one by one.

His face twisted in alarm.

'What a Xu Family! Their thods truly cannot be underestimated. They've already forged the entire Yuehu Commandery into a seamless iron fortress.

I fear even my Cao Clan's orders wouldn't be as effective as the Xu Family's here.'

He had heard rumors about what had been happening in Yuehu Commandery.

Years ago, the Xu Family opened trading firms in every county, breaking the aristocratic families' monopoly over upward mobility.

Not only did they benefit the commoners at the very bottom, giving them access to the Martial Dao and even immortal cultivation, but they also utilized their resources to trade openly with Martial Dao Clans.

At the sa ti, they conducted business with the other Qi Condensation Clans.

Over these past dozen years or so.

By gaining access to cultivation resources, the foundations of the Martial Dao Clans and Qi Condensation Clans across Yuehu Commandery had vastly improved.

Martial artists were now scattered throughout almost every corner. They were no longer restricted to just the counties and the Commandery City; even random villages and towns had at least a dozen to several dozen martial artists.

'What a torrential, unstoppable montum!'

'If the Xu Family hadn't been born at the wrong ti—if they had risen two hundred years earlier—their foundation would likely rival the combined might of all three first-rank families.'

'Under the Demon Tribulation, human slaughter stirs, and heaven and earth overturn!'

'We absolutely cannot allow the Xu Family to survive the Demon Tribulation!'

Cao Defong knew Xu Chuan must be following closely behind, and he did not dare entangle himself with Xu Mingwei's massive procession.

If he got bogged down and Xu Chuan arrived, it was very likely he would leave his life behind right here.

Even he couldn't block many moves from that flood dragon; Cao Shengming and the others wouldn't even last a single exchange.

To minimize their losses, his only choice was to retreat imdiately.

Not long after.

Xu Mingwei's massive army of over a hundred and fifty cultivators arrived near the Zhou family in an overwhelming display of force.

Cao Shengming was genuinely startled by the sheer montum.

"How does the Xu Family have so many elites?!"

Cao Shengming and his group couldn't believe their eyes.

Right at that mont.

Cao Defong's voice rang in their ears. "Flee quickly!"

"The Xu Family has already established an absolute dominance in Yuehu Commandery! With a single command, all the Qi Condensation Clans here will follow them into battle!

Furthermore, Xu Chuan has a Tier 2 peak flood dragon! Even I am not his match!"

After sending the voice transmission to warn them.

Cao Defong rapidly fled the scene.

Cao Shengming, Cao Yulong, and the rest didn't waste another word, expending all their energy to escape far away.

"Don't run, you villains!"

Xu Mingwei and the crowd chased them all the way to the border, relentless until they drove the attackers entirely out of Yuehu Commandery's territory.

Seeing they had lost all trace of the enemy, Xu Mingwei raised his hand to stop the pursuit. "There's no need to chase them further. Everyone, follow back."

He cupped his fists respectfully. "For what happened today, my Xu Family thanks all of you."

"Senior Mingwei is too polite! Demonic cultivators attacked Yuehu Commandery; it is the responsibility of everyone in Yuehu Commandery to fight back!"

"We are willing to obey the Xu Family's dispatch at any ti!"

"So are we!"

Zhou Qingfang arrived at the Zhou Clan Estate, gave a few instructions, left behind another Divine Sense Jade Tablet, and then followed Xu Mingwei's group back to Dongxi.

On their way back, they ran into Xu Chuan.

Xu Mingwei and the others cupped their hands in greeting. "Father."

The rest of the crowd also called out, "Grand Elder."

"Is everything safe and sound?" he asked.

"Thanks to Father's great fortune, everything is fine. They didn't even dare to fight us head-on; they turned and ran imdiately."

Xu Chuan nodded. He then sent a voice transmission to Ren Xiaoyao and Xu Mingxuan, ordering them to return to Guangling Commandery and do everything in their power to spread the news: Seven or eight demonic cultivators, all Mid Foundation Establishnt and above, had launched a night raid on the Zhou family in Yuehu Commandery. They needed to make sure the entire Guangling region heard about it.

Then, the rumors were to be spread to all the other commanderies.

Xu Mingxuan instantly understood Xu Chuan's intentions and replied, "This child knows what to do."

Afterward, the two of them took their leave and departed.

The sa plan was set into motion in Yuehu Commandery.

The next day.

News of the demonic cultivator attack spread to every county, creating a massive uproar.

By the end of the day, it had reached Longjiang Commandery and Yunshan Commandery.

In just a few days, the rumors swept across all twenty-two commanderies of Great Wei, and even circulated widely within the Imperial City.

Yuehu Commandery even officially reported the matter to the Imperial City in the na of the imperial court officials.

"Did you hear? A few days ago, Yuehu Commandery was attacked by demonic cultivators. A full seven or eight of them! I heard they were all at least Mid Foundation Establishnt!"

"No way! I heard there were over a dozen, and even a Foundation Establishnt Perfection demonic cultivator among them! Their demonic flas blotted out the sky!"

"Impossible!" soone argued back. "If there really was a Foundation Establishnt Perfection demonic cultivator, several aristocratic families in Yuehu Commandery would have definitely been slaughtered!"

"That's only because the Xu Family was there! I heard the Xu Family Head once had the imnse luck to save a dying Tier 2 peak flood dragon. After healing, that flood dragon stayed with the Xu Family as their guardian spirit beast!"

"Tier 2 peak! Then it really might be able to defeat a Foundation Establishnt Perfection demonic cultivator. Brother, perhaps your version of the story is the right one."

"Wait, you guys keep saying demonic cultivators, but how co I heard it was the imperial Cao Clan? As for that Foundation Establishnt Perfection demonic cultivator, it was supposedly the current First Elder of the Cao Clan!"

"No way. They're the imperial clan, after all. Would they really be so shaless? Besides, I haven't heard of any grudge between the imperial Cao Clan and the Xu Family."

Hearing this, the crowd looked at one another in utter dismay.

Various versions of the story spread like wildfire, with countless differing opinions.

Ordinary families couldn't make heads or tails of the truth, but the high-ranking aristocratic families across the commanderies instantly knew it was the Cao Clan's doing the mont they heard the news.

They all lanted the sheer shalessness of the Cao Clan, while simultaneously terrifying themselves with the thought of facing the sa predicant as the Xu Family.

Seven or eight immortal cultivators at Mid Foundation Establishnt and above, including Late Foundation Establishnt and Foundation Establishnt Perfection experts!

Such a force rivaled the peak combat foundation of a first-rank family.

It was more than enough to lay siege to—and completely destroy—any third-rank family in any commandery.

Beyond that, the aristocratic families were deeply shocked by the Xu Family's hidden foundation. To think they actually possessed a Tier 2 peak flood dragon!

So envied Xu Chuan's incredible luck in saving a Tier 2 peak flood dragon. If it had been them, they probably would have just killed it on sight.

But they also understood that this wasn't purely about Xu Chuan's luck; it was also a testant to his capabilities.

If it had been anyone else, even with the best intentions, saving a dying Tier 2 peak flood dragon would be nearly impossible.

Over the next half a month.

Every commandery submitted reports to the Imperial City, loudly declaring that demonic cultivators had attacked.

This massive uproar gave the Cao Clan an endless, splitting headache.

Faced with this growing farce, the Cao Clan convened a clan council and deliberated for a long ti.

In the end, they decided to temporarily suspend all actions against the Xu Family.

Everything would wait until the arrival of the Demon Tribulation.

When that ti ca, everyone would be too busy fending for themselves, and the Cao Clan would finally be able to purge all dissidents without any scruples.

Another half a month passed.

The Xu Family dispatched formal invitations to all Martial Dao Clans and immortal cultivation families ranked sixth-tier and above in both Yuehu Commandery and Guangling Commandery, summoning them to gather in Guangling.