100: Prelude

One year later, Zhou Kaiding emerged from seclusion.

This period of seclusion brought him considerable gains; not only did he internalize the insights of others, but he also achieved a new Breakthrough in his understanding of the Puhua Yuanlun Scripture. His cultivation improved slightly, though he was still some distance away from the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Kaiding rose, left the secret chamber, and returned home. Seeing Lin Muwan, who now had some gray hairs, he felt a heaviness in his heart.

Lin Muwan was now sixty-six years old. Although she had taken a Beauty Preserving Pill and was nourished by spiritual power, the marks of time were still evident on her.

For the first time, Zhou Kaiding felt a touch of regret about his own Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage. His Lifespan had greatly increased, but Lin Muwan, due to her poor Aptitude, could only remain at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, preventing her Lifespan from increasing.

However, Lin Muwan did not mind this at all; she was already content in her heart to have been able to accompany him for so long.

Everything in the Zhou Family operated as usual: mining, market income, spiritual rice, and spiritual fruits kept the Zhou Family treasury gradually filling up.

Zhou Kaiding sought out Zhou Licheng, and after learning about the Zhou Family's current situation, he stopped asking questions.

From then on, aside from his daily Cultivation, he spent his time accompanying Lin Muwan.

Sometimes, he would bring fine wine and delicacies to the Feiyue Peak Summit to drink heartily with Brother Mo Xuan.

Other times, he would brew a pot of spiritual tea with Yang Huaiyuan, savoring its flavor.

Or he would instruct the young men of the Zhou Family's Le generation, enjoying the simple pleasures of family life.

It was truly a joyous existence.

If he could maintain this lifestyle indefinitely, it would likely be Zhou Kaiding's greatest wish.

Three years later.

Mo Xuan woke up from his deep slumber.

"Ding ~"

Mo Xuan opened the System panel.

[Name: Mo Xuan; Species: Black Water Profound Serpent; Bloodline: Exotic Beast; Lifespan: 85 / 500 years (+); Talent: Water Control; Divine Ability: Water Form: Myriad Transformations, Technique of Wishful Transformation, Technique of Breath Concealment, Demon Body Second Transformation (+); Realm: Late Foundation Establishment Stage; clan-guarding system Binding: Zhou Family, Patriarch - Zhou Licheng; Clan Fortune Points: 47]

"Hmm ~"

"The Clan Fortune Points have actually reached forty-seven points..."

Mo Xuan looked at the System panel before him and pondered silently.

Over the past few years, the Zhou Family's Le generation now had eleven members, nine of whom were six years old or older. After testing their spiritual roots, five of them possessed the Aptitude to Cultivate.

However, apart from Zhou Leren, all the others had middle or lower-grade Aptitude.

Currently, four people had already embarked on the path of cultivation, and Zhou Leren, at the age of eighteen, had already achieved a Breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, catching up to Zhou Licheng, Zhou Lihai, and others.

Zhou Licheng and his wife and Zhou Lihai and his wife had also advanced further, both achieving a Breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.

Zhou Liyue had already achieved a Breakthrough to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining. In a few more years, once her accumulation was sufficient, she could begin to assault the Foundation Establishment Stage, becoming the Zhou Family's third Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

Mo Xuan immersed his mind into the Clan Fortune Points column, gaining a slight realization.

He felt slightly excited, realizing that if the Clan Fortune Points increased by just one more point, reaching forty-eight, he would be able to break the limitations of his Bloodline once again.

Furthermore, as long as his own accumulation was sufficient, he could instantly break into the Golden Core Stage and become a Golden Core Stage Demon King.

At that time, in Huichuan Prefecture, besides that Xuanqing Sect Immortal Master True Person He Run, he would no longer need to fear anyone else.

As long as he avoided provoking True Person He Run, he could rest easy.

After a long while, Mo Xuan let out a long breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart.

He couldn't rush it, he couldn't rush it... Although the Zhou Family now had several more Cultivators, and the speed of his own breathing, absorbing, and Cultivation had increased considerably, he still hadn't reached the limit of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Therefore, what he needed to do now was wait patiently and accumulate his cultivation.

Sensing Mo Xuan's slightly fluctuating aura, Zhou Kaiding woke from his meditation and exited the secret chamber.

"Brother Mo?"

Zhou Kaiding called out softly.

Mo Xuan stretched out his body, which gradually shrank. His snake tail coiled into a heap, and he stood opposite Zhou Kaiding, nodding at him.

"Brother Mo, did something just happen?"

Seeing that Mo Xuan's aura had stabilized again, Zhou Kaiding couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing."

Mo Xuan's voice was low, and he shook his head, knowing that he hadn't properly controlled his aura when he was excited moments ago.

Hearing this, Zhou Kaiding relaxed his expression, sat cross-legged, took out spiritual wine and delicacies from his Storage Pouch, and made a gesture of invitation toward Mo Xuan.

Mo Xuan was in high spirits today and readily agreed, sitting opposite Zhou Kaiding.

"Brother Mo, the rogue Cultivators of the Blood Sea Sect have been increasingly active lately, and I wonder what they are planning..."

As the man and the serpent drank together, Zhou Kaiding sighed slightly to Mo Xuan.

In recent years, even Qingyuan Town occasionally saw rogue Cultivators appearing. Some were killed by the various families in the Town, and others managed to escape swiftly.

Among them, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage rogue Cultivator came to Qingyuan Town, believing that there was no one who could deal with him there. He acted without restraint, killing anyone he saw.

Although the news of Mo Xuan slaying Liu Wenyan had long been released by the Zhou Family, this person likely thought Mo Xuan was merely a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and therefore didn't take him seriously, which is why he was so reckless.

He figured that as long as he killed people, refined their blood, and left before the Xuanqing Sect Immortal Master received the news and arrived, he would be safe and sound.

However, this person had not anticipated that Mo Xuan had already advanced to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

A momentary lapse resulted in his blood being spilled right there.

He left behind many resources, which were subsequently deposited into the Zhou Family treasury.

Hearing this, Mo Xuan also felt a little depressed. Although his strength was sufficient, these rogue Cultivators popping up constantly were quite bothersome.

Due to this situation, Feiyue City had expanded several times over, and the number of Mortals flocking in from various places had steadily increased over the years.

Most came as refugees, but a few knew that Feiyue City was protected by the Zhou Clan of Immortals and purposely moved here to safeguard their lives and property.

Zhou Kaiding merely sighed a few times. He and Mo Xuan had discussed this matter many times before, but they had never been able to reach a conclusion.

There was a Restriction in the rogue Cultivator's Sea of Consciousness, meaning nothing could be extracted even through interrogation.

This was why it was such a headache.

If it weren't for this, the Xuanqing Sect would have likely already uncovered the details of the Blood Sea Sect remnants and captured them in one fell swoop.

With Mo Xuan holding the fort, Qingyuan Town remained relatively stable, and no major human tragedies had occurred.

As the man and the serpent drank together.

In Muli Town, Huichuan Prefecture, inside the Shenhua Sect.

Many figures emerged from the Shenhua Hall, scattering and heading outside the Shenhua Sect.

Among them, two figures walked side-by-side, one of whom wore a worried expression.

"Brother Yang, isn't this mission just sending us to our deaths?"

The other person paused his steps, his face desolate, and he spoke bitterly:

"Even if it means death, we still have to do it. Having Cultivated this technique, do we still have a choice?"

How could he not know that this trip was no different from courting death? It was just that... "If we obey the order, there is still a slim chance of survival. If we disobey, it will be a fate worse than death."

After speaking, the man added another sentence, his eyes revealing terror, as if he had recalled something extremely frightening.

He was filled with deep regret. If he had known this would be the outcome back then, he definitely would not have slaughtered his entire family just to Cultivate this magical technique...