186: Fifteen years

Zhou Liyue and Zhou Licheng conversed softly while keeping an eye on Zhou Leshu's condition.

After some time.

The two withdrew their Divine Sense; from Zhou Leshu's expression, there was indeed a sense of loss.

But this sense of loss slowly dissipated after she came out of seclusion.

By the time the two were no longer paying attention, Zhou Leshu had completely regained her usual composure.

After a long conversation with Zhou Licheng, Zhou Liyue rose and left, returning to the Feiyue Peak Summit to cultivate in seclusion with her eyes closed.

Time flowed slowly.

One year later.

In Xuanming Realm, Qingyang City.

In the tall Li Clan mansion, Zhou Xiuyuan and Yun Qingsi sat in a large hall.

Yun Qingsi had already Broken Through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, but at this moment, her face showed some worry.

"Big Brother Zhou, has Senior Brother failed in his Breakthrough?"

Yun Qingsi occasionally glanced towards the secret chamber inside.

Several months after Zhou Xiuyuan's Breakthrough to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

Shen Xuanzhao felt that his magic power was already at Perfection.

He then informed the two and went into seclusion in the Li Clan mansion to attempt a Breakthrough.

By today, nearly a year had passed, but there was still no movement from the secret chamber.

Only then did Yun Qingsi become a little worried.

"Brother Shen's talent is astonishing; the three Foundation Establishment trials won't stop him."

Zhou Xiuyuan was much calmer, picking up the teacup in his hand and taking a sip.

Shen Xuanzhao's talent was comparable to Zhou Xiuyuan's. Since Zhou Xiuyuan had confidence in himself, he naturally believed Shen Xuanzhao could also succeed.

As his voice fell.

From a secret chamber deep within the mansion.

A strong Spiritual Qi fluctuation emanated from within.

Yun Qingsi's face lit up with joy, and she stood up.

"Hahaha, Brother Zhou, Junior Sister, I've made you wait."

Laughter came from far away and grew closer.

A young figure with a smiling face appeared in the great hall.

It was Shen Xuanzhao, who had successfully completed his Foundation Establishment Breakthrough in seclusion.

"Congratulations, Brother Shen."

Zhou Xiuyuan's expression became serious, and he congratulated Shen Xuanzhao.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother."

Yun Qingsi also bowed with Zhou Xiuyuan.

"It's nothing, nothing worth mentioning."

Shen Xuanzhao smiled and waved his hand, seemingly not taking his own Foundation Establishment to heart.

"Elder Shen."

Just as the three were about to converse, an old Cultivator, appearing to be seventy or eighty years old, appeared outside the great hall.

He called out to Shen Xuanzhao.

"Senior Li."

Shen Xuanzhao and the other two's hearts stirred, and they bowed respectfully to the newcomer.

This person was precisely the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator of the Li Family who was stationed in Qingyang City.

The Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Li Family gestured to the three.

Shen Xuanzhao nodded.

"Brother Zhou, Junior Sister, I'll be right back."

Then, he walked out of the great hall and temporarily left with this Li Family Cultivator.

Before long, Shen Xuanzhao returned.

The Li Family Cultivator stationed in Qingyang City had only come out to meet him because he felt someone had Broken Through to Foundation Establishment.

After the two exchanged a few words and elevated Shen Xuanzhao's treatment and status to that befitting a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he once again went into seclusion.

Shen Xuanzhao returned to the hall.

He recounted the situations he encountered during his Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, providing them as reference for the two.

Zhou Xiuyuan and Yun Qingsi's expressions were serious, and they did not become arrogant due to their own talent.

A few days later, the news that the Li Family had gained a Foundation Establishment Stage Guest Elder spread, and the strength of the Qingyang Li Clan increased again.

One and a half years later.

Zhou Xiuyuan went into seclusion.

At the same time, Zhou Leshu completely eliminated the effects of her previous failed Breakthrough.

She went into seclusion again, attempting her Foundation Establishment Breakthrough for the second time.

Zhou Liyue, Zhou Licheng, and several other Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhou Family awaited with anticipation.

Almost simultaneously, half a year later.

In Qingyuan Town's Jade Moon Peak and the tall mansion in Qingyang City.

A powerful Aura rose from each location.

Zhou Leshu of the Zhou Family Broken Through to Foundation Establishment Early Stage at fifty-three years old.

Zhou Xiuyuan of the Zhou Family entered Foundation Establishment Early Stage at thirty-six years old.

The Zhou Family gained two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

However, only Mo Xuan knew about this additional person.

He did not say much about Zhou Xiuyuan's situation.

Now that both had successively Broken Through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, one provided him with nine Clan Fortune Points.

Approximately two years later, the Qingyang Li Clan gained another Foundation Establishment Stage Guest Elder.

Other forces sighed, lamenting the good fortune of the Qingyang Li Clan.

However, ever since Zhou Xiuyuan also achieved Foundation Establishment.

The Li Clan seemed to have undergone some changes regarding the three.

Both openly and subtly, the Li Clan Patriarch, various Elders, and the Foundation Establishment Stage Great Cultivators of the Li Family all expressed their desire to marry excellent Clan daughters to the two men.

And Yun Qingsi also received many suitors from the Li Clan disciples, including the brocade-robed young man she had met in the Li Clan.

Shen Xuanzhao and Zhou Xiuyuan successively succeeded in their Foundation Establishment, and their ages were not great, which naturally meant that the three possessed astonishing talent.

The Li Family then wanted to completely draw the three into the Family.

However, the three had other origins.

They had no sense of belonging to this world or the Li Family.

Therefore, they could only politely decline.

The three successively refused the proposals from the Li Family members.

The brocade-robed young man, however, seemed to have other ideas.

Three years later.

Within the Li Clan, in an Immortal Cave.

The brocade-robed young man stood bowing.

"The three of them, Shen Xuanzhao, have no background?"

An old man with silver hair, sitting cross-legged, put down the Jade Slip in his hand and murmured aloud.

"Great-Grandfather, the origins of these three are a mystery, as if they appeared out of thin air."

"This grandson once met these three in the Tianduan Mountain Range."

"Later, despite the Clan's extensive inquiries, we were unable to obtain any information about their Legacy from them."

"This grandson then speculated that these three were probably just Loose Cultivators who accidentally obtained a Legacy, so he had people take their portraits to investigate, and found that no major forces had their names, only that their figures had appeared in the Barren State."

"And the place where they first appeared was a place called Chenyuan Forbidden Land in the Barren State. Although there are Foundation Establishment Stage Great Demons inside, there are no powerful forces present."

"Therefore, this grandson concluded that these three were merely lucky youngsters who accidentally obtained a Legacy."

"Since they do not accept the Clan's overtures, why don't we forcibly take them down, seize their Legacy, and perhaps even have unexpected gains?"

The brocade-robed young man was the core person among those chasing the injured green ox that the three had encountered in the Tianduan Mountain Range at that time.

He was a direct descendant of the Qingyang Li Clan.

When the three left that day, they were observed by this person for a few glances. When he saw the three again, Zhou Xiuyuan and the others had just become Guest Elders of the Li Family.

But he did not bring up this matter, only befriended the three as if meeting for the first time.

All three possessed extraordinary talent; if they had come from a major force, it would have been impossible not to find any information.

"In addition, these three seem to be quite unfamiliar with many things. Although they hide it well, this grandson can still discern some clues during his interactions with them."

The brocade-robed young man added.

This also ruled out the possibility that the Master behind the three was a reclusive expert.

"I will act personally."

The silver-haired old man said in a deep voice.

As Guest Elders of the Li Family, Zhou Xiuyuan and the other two naturally had many occasions to act.

From their actions, it was clear that the Cultivation Technique they practiced was extraordinary, perhaps even more powerful than the Li Family's Legacy.

They had only pretended not to notice, fearing the Legacy force behind the three.

Now that it was confirmed, he could not be blamed.

"With Great-Grandfather's intervention, it will surely be a cinch."

The brocade-robed young man's heart rejoiced, and he flattered.

This old man was a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator, possessing immense strength.

"Buzz~"

Zhou Xiuyuan, who was stationed at the Li Family's mine, was startled.

At his waist, the great snow mountain sword hummed and vibrated, and a sense of crisis emanated from it.

"Leave!"

Two words slowly emerged in Zhou Xiuyuan's mind.

The great snow mountain sword had been fed multiple second-grade cold jades by Zhou Xiuyuan and the other two, and had recovered somewhat.

However, it had remained silent until today, when it suddenly gave a warning.

Zhou Xiuyuan's heart stirred, his figure vanished, and he immediately found Shen Xuanzhao and Yun Qingsi.

There was immense trust between the three; upon hearing Zhou Xiuyuan's voice transmission, without a word, the three found a random excuse, left their station, and fled towards the Tianduan Mountain Range.

Soon after the three left.

Several figures appeared.

They were several Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Family.

The leader was precisely the silver-haired Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator.

"Gone?"

Several members of the Li Family exchanged glances.

"Chase!"

The silver-haired old man spoke in a deep voice.

Fortunately, the three were all extraordinary, and with the timely warning from the great snow mountain sword, several months later.

In a patch of dense woods in the Barren State.

The three temporarily breathed a sigh of relief, having temporarily shaken off the Li Family's pursuit.

However, it might be a while before they could leave the Barren State... Six years later.

Qingyuan Town, Jade Moon Peak.

An extremely powerful Aura rose.

On this day, Zhou Leren of the Zhou Family officially advanced to Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Another three years passed.

Zhou Mingyi turned twenty-two, her cultivation was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, and there were already over one hundred and eighty disciples of the ming generation in the Zhou Family.

"Ding~"

In Qingyuan Lake, Mo Xuan awoke, swallowed the floating precious bead into his belly, and with a thought, opened his panel.

[Name: Mo Xuan;

Race: Black Water Profound Serpent;

Bloodline: Spirit Beast;

Lifespan: 148 / 1200 years (+);

Talents: Water Control, Wind Manipulation;

Innate Divine Ability: Summon Wind and Call Rain;

Companion Magic Treasure: wind and rain pearl;

Divine Abilities: Water Form: Myriad Transformations, Wind Form - Traceless, Size As Desired Transformation Divine Ability, Breath Concealment Divine Ability, Three Transformations of the Demon Body, Riding Clouds and Driving Mist, Dividing Spirit and Transforming Thought (+);

Realm: Late Golden Core Stage (+);

clan protecting system Bound: Zhou Family, Patriarch — Zhou Licheng.

Clan Fortune Points: 240]