159: Returning home laden with spoils, the Zhao family of Zhenyuan!

Before leaving, Chen Xu once again set up several hidden and defensive Formations, completely sealing off the entrance to the grotto-heaven to ensure everything was foolproof. Only then did he lead the group back along the original path, leaving this paradise.

The return journey was much smoother than the journey there.

With Xiao Hei acting as a treasure-seeking radar, they were always able to avoid the territories of powerful Yao Beasts in advance.

The journey was stressful but without mishap.

Several days later.

When the familiar silhouette of Tianxuan City appeared on the horizon once again, Murong Zhuyun and Daoist Yuqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling as if they were coming home.

However, as they approached Tianxuan City, the expressions on the three's faces simultaneously froze.

Because outside the tall and majestic city gates of Tianxuan City, over a dozen figures were actually kneeling in a neat row.

These people were dressed in rags, emaciated, and their auras were weak, as if they had experienced a long journey. Each of them bore injuries of varying severity, and among them were several Elders.

Yet they knelt perfectly straight, their faces filled with a look of determination.

"Who are these people?"

Daoist Yuqing frowned, his face full of confusion.

The Beiming Wilderness was a restricted zone of life. Aside from their Chen Family, why would other Human Race Cultivators appear here?

And looking at them, it seemed they had been kneeling for a very long time.

Just as the three were wondering, the Chen Family disciples responsible for sentry duty on the city walls also discovered their return.

"It's the Family Head! The Family Head is back!"

A shout of pleasant surprise instantly broke the peace of Tianxuan City!

The next moment, the city gates swung wide open.

"Welcome the Family Head back to the city!"

Chen Daoxuan, Sect Master Ba Dao, and others led a group of Chen Family core members, quickly coming out from the city to greet them!

"Father!"

Seeing Chen Xu return safe and sound, Chen Daoxuan's hanging heart finally settled.

"Family Head!" Sect Master Ba Dao and the others bowed excitedly in greeting.

Chen Xu nodded to the crowd, but his gaze fell upon the dozen or so kneeling figures outside the city gate, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Dao Xuan, who are these people? Why are they kneeling here?"

Hearing the Family Head's inquiry, a complex and strange expression immediately appeared on Chen Daoxuan's face.

He glanced at those people and lowered his voice to report to Chen Xu, "Father, these people... they came looking for us on their own."

As Chen Daoxuan was speaking, an Elder kneeling at the very front stood up tremblingly.

His hair and beard were all white, and his face was haggard, but his cloudy eyes glinted with sharp light.

He clearly recognized Chen Xu. Feeling the respect shown to him by the Chen Family members behind him, he understood that this young man was the City Lord of this new city.

The Elder struggled to kneel again, but Chen Xu raised his hand slightly, and a gentle stream of Spiritual Qi supported the Elder.

"No need for such formalities, Elder. Who are you all, and why have you come here?"

Chen Xu asked directly.

The Elder gave Chen Xu a grateful look and said in a hoarse, respectful voice, "Reporting to the City Lord, this old man is Zhao De, of the Zhao Family from Zhenyuan City."

"We were pursued by enemies and had nowhere to go. In desperation, we fled into the wilds and stumbled upon this place. We implore the City Lord to take us in!"

Zhenyuan City?

Chen Xu's eyes flickered as a map of the Spirit Realm appeared in his mind.

Zhenyuan City was the gateway to the Beiming Wilderness, a giant city with a large population and extreme prosperity.

The City Lord of Zhenyuan was a powerhouse at the Middle Stage of Void Refining with extraordinary strength.

In such a city, what kind of enemy could force a Family into the wilds?

"The Zhao Family?"

Chen Xu asked again, "Why were you being pursued?"

A look of grief and indignation appeared on the Elder's face as he cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to the City Lord, my Zhao Family has made a living through Artifact Refining for generations. We are the preeminent Artifact Refining Family in Zhenyuan City and even within the surrounding ten thousand miles!"

"A few months ago, the Lin Family of Zhenyuan City approached my Zhao Family and commissioned our clan to refine a peerless Magic Treasure."

"Unexpectedly, during the refining process, the Magic Treasure failed to take shape, and several rare Materials were destroyed instead. Using this as an excuse, the Lin Family actually wanted to exterminate my entire Zhao Family!"

"Exterminating an entire Family just because an Artifact Refining failed?"

Hearing this, Chen Xu sneered in his heart.

This great Family acted far too overbearingly.

Of course, the Elder's words couldn't be fully trusted either.

The Elder sighed, "My Zhao Family has refined artifacts for generations with exquisite skill and rare failures. This time the refining failed, and I suspect... there was something fishy about the Materials the Lin Family provided, or perhaps they secretly tampered with them!"

"The Lin Family?"

Hearing this, Chen Xu's eyebrows shot up, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

The Lin Family!

This surname reminded him of the Tianyu Holy Land manager he had personally killed at Mine Site No. 72—Lin Feng!

Could there be a connection between them?

"Does the Lin Family you speak of have clansmen cultivating in the Tianyu Holy Land?"

Thinking of this, Chen Xu asked in a cold voice.

Hearing this, the Elder's body trembled violently, and a look of terror appeared on his face.

He looked up at Chen Xu, then at Tianxuan City behind him, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He did not hide it and quickly nodded, "Reporting to the City Lord, that is correct! Although my Zhenyuan City is not under the direct jurisdiction of the Tianyu Holy Land, the Lin Family sends their outstanding disciples to the Tianyu Holy Land every year to form marriage alliances with the Holy Land's Core Disciples!"

"This has given the Lin Family immense power and allowed them to act overbearingly in Zhenyuan City, making them the head of the many local families!"

Hearing this, Chen Xu instantly smiled.

What a coincidence!

Lin Feng of the Tianyu Holy Land!

The Lin Family of Zhenyuan City!

It seemed this Lin Family had a deep relationship with the Tianyu Holy Land, and might even be a subordinate force supported by them.

This saved him a lot of trouble; he wouldn't have to search far and wide for the Tianyu Holy Land's connections.

Seeing the expression on Chen Xu's face, the Elder felt even more uneasy, not knowing if this news was good or bad.

But he knew well that at this moment, the fate of the Zhao Family was held in the hands of this young City Lord before him.

"City Lord!"

The Elder prostrated himself on the ground again, using all his strength to plead hoarsely, "I implore the City Lord to take in my Zhao Family! Everyone in my Zhao Family is willing to serve you with total devotion!"

"My Zhao Family's Artifact Refining techniques are second to none! We can certainly be of use to the City Lord!"

They had been in the Beiming Wilderness for a long time.

If it weren't for being pursued by enemies, who would enter this godforsaken place?

But even so, of their hundred-plus members, only a dozen or so remained now.

The Spiritual Qi in the Beiming Wilderness was chaotic, and Yao Beasts ran rampant.

They really couldn't hold on much longer.

Who could have imagined that in the middle of these wilds, there would actually be a Human Race city.

This was practically a lifesaver!

To the side, Chen Xu did not respond immediately. His gaze was deep as he began to calculate in his heart.

Although the entire Chen Family's strength was rapidly improving with the Ten Thousand Paths Heaven-reaching Tower and the Reincarnation Hall, their shortcomings were also obvious.

They had people proficient in Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Formations, but they lacked talent in the path of Artifact Refining.

Sect Master Ba Dao's broken blade, Chen Daoxuan's sword, and the damaged Magic Treasures everyone carried.

All of them were in urgent need of repair or re-refining.

And this Zhao Family happened to be a "top-tier Artifact Refining Family."

This was undoubtedly like being handed a pillow just as one is dozing off.

As for these dozen or so people, Chen Xu knew their status with a sweep of his Divine Sense.

Aside from the Elder whose cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase, the rest were in the Nascent Soul Stage, with even some juniors in the Golden Core Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage, and a few were severely injured and on the verge of death.

There were only eighteen or nineteen of them, with varying levels of strength. In a place as dangerous as the Beiming Wilderness, they could perish at any moment.

Such a group couldn't cause any trouble, let alone pose any threat to Tianxuan City.

On the contrary, they were a vulnerable group; once taken in, they would surely be deeply grateful and unfailingly loyal.

Build high walls, store grain widely, and be slow to claim kingship!

Chen Xu silently recited his strategy.

Taking these people in could both solve the Chen Family's shortcomings in Artifact Refining and further expand the Chen Family's Foundation. This was the perfect manifestation of "storing grain widely."

Thinking of this, Chen Xu made a decision.

His gaze swept over the kneeling Zhao Family members, his tone calm and majestic.

"Rise."

Hearing this, the Zhao Family members were stunned for a moment, then their faces showed wild joy as they struggled to get up.

They knew that this single sentence from Chen Xu meant that their Zhao Family had hope of survival!

"Since your Zhao Family is skilled in Artifact Refining, you shall serve my Chen Family."

Chen Xu spoke slowly, his voice carrying across the area before the city gates, "From now on, you are Chen Family members of Tianxuan City, and my Chen Family will protect you."

"Thank you, City Lord! Thank you, City Lord!"

The Elder was so moved that old tears streamed down his face. He knelt again and kowtowed several times, and the Zhao Family members behind him followed suit, weeping with gratitude.

"Dao Xuan."

Chen Xu looked toward Chen Daoxuan.

"Father, I am here!"

Chen Daoxuan immediately stepped forward.

"Arrange housing for the Zhao Family, provide them with cultivation resources, and focus on assessing their Artifact Refining skills. Select the elites, and you will personally supervise them. In the future, they will be responsible for the refining and repair of Magic Treasures in Tianxuan City," Chen Xu instructed.

"Yes! Father!"

Chen Daoxuan's spirits were lifted. He knew well the importance of Artifact Refining talent to the Family; this was a key step in filling the Family's shortcomings.

Chen Xu then looked at Murong Zhuyun, "Murong, take the injured of the Zhao Family for treatment. Once they are stable, all Zhao Family members may enter the Ten Thousand Paths Heaven-reaching Tower to Cultivate and improve their cultivation."

"Yes, Family Head!"

Murong Zhuyun bowed and accepted the order.

To the side, Daoist Yuqing watched this scene, once again feeling heartfelt admiration for Chen Xu's foresight.

The Family Head not only saved people but also valued talent.

This Zhao Family was likely to become completely devoted to the Chen Family.

"Xiao Hei."

Chen Xu called out again.

"Awooo!"

Xiao Hei excitedly jumped to Chen Xu's feet and rubbed against his pant leg.

"You have made a great contribution on this trip. Go back to the City Lord's Manor and rest. I will give you a share of the spoils later."

Chen Xu smiled and patted Xiao Hei's head.

Hearing the word "spoils," Xiao Hei's eyes instantly lit up. Wagging his tail, he turned into a black shadow and dashed toward the City Lord's Manor.

Chen Xu withdrew his gaze and said to everyone, "Once everyone has rested, tomorrow I will gather all core members in the Discussion Hall to discuss our next plan!"

"Yes!"

The Chen Family members responded in unison, their voices powerful and echoing through the wilds.

This time, they had not only brought back an amazing Treasure Trove but also Artifact Refining talent to make up for the Family's shortcomings.

The Family's development in the Spirit Realm could be said to have taken another step forward.

Under Chen Xu's arrangement, the dozen or so ragged Zhao Family members, with the excitement and trepidation of survivors, followed Chen Daoxuan and slowly walked into this majestic city standing in the middle of the wilds.

The moment they stepped through the city gates, everyone came to a sudden halt.

A blast of Spiritual Qi, countless times purer than that of the outside world, rushed toward them, gently brushing over their cracked skin and seeping into their nearly withered Meridians.

The sheer concentration of Spiritual Qi at the city entrance alone gave them the illusion of a long drought finally meeting sweet rain.

"This... the Spiritual Qi here..."

A young man from the Zhao Family couldn't help but cry out in alarm; he breathed greedily, his eyes filled with shock.

Was this really in the Beiming Wilderness?

Wasn't it said that the Spiritual Qi in the wilds was chaotic and violent, making it completely unsuitable for Cultivators to survive?

Yet, the Spiritual Qi in the city before them was so rich.

It almost rivaled the core cultivation rooms of their Zhao Family estate in Zhenyuan City!

The Elder, Zhao De, was even more shaken to his core.

His gaze quickly swept across the city, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Broad, clean streets were paved with massive cyan-black stones. Although there weren't many buildings on either side, each one was laid out in an orderly fashion, with a grand and steady architectural style.

In the city's central square, an ancient hall, pitch-black and radiating an aura of chaotic life and death, stood facing a white jade pagoda ninety-nine stories high that flowed with endless Daoist charm.

With just a distant glance, Zhao De felt his Primordial Spirit tremble!

Those two buildings were definitely extraordinary treasures!

What made his scalp tingle even more... was the invisible city-protecting Formation enveloping the entire city.

As a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase and a master of Artifact Refining,

his perception of Formations far exceeded that of ordinary people.

He could clearly feel nine strands of terrifyingly powerful Imperial Dragon Qi wandering and coiled within that great Formation!

The Formation was connected to the earth's veins, forming its own cycle, endless and self-sustaining!

Let alone himself, Zhao De had no doubt that even if the City Lord of Zhenyuan City—a Middle Stage Void Refining expert—were to arrive in person, he would likely only be able to sigh in despair when facing such a terrifying killing Formation!

It was too exaggerated!

This was simply too exaggerated!

Zhao De's gaze fell upon the repaired marks on the city walls.

He could tell that the original site of this city was an abandoned ancient city ruin from countless tens of thousands of years ago.

To be able to repair a ruin into such an impregnable stronghold in such a short period of time,

how much manpower and material resources would that require?

More importantly, to gain a foothold in the Yao Beast-infested Beiming Wilderness, having a fortified city alone was not enough.

What about the endless Vicious Beasts outside the city?

Could it be that they had all been slaughtered?

At the thought of this possibility, Zhao De felt a wave of dryness in his mouth and throat.

This group of seemingly few Cultivators before him...

their strength had likely already exceeded the limits of his imagination!

"Mr. Zhao, this way please."

Chen Dao Xuan's calm voice awakened the deeply shaken Zhao De.

He quickly composed himself, not daring to look around randomly anymore.

He followed respectfully behind Chen Dao Xuan.

Soon, the Zhao Family members were brought to a newly renovated courtyard.

"This will be your residence from now on. The rooms are all prepared; you may stay here in peace," Chen Dao Xuan said, pointing to the courtyard.

"Thank you! Thank you, My Lord!"

Zhao De was moved to tears of gratitude.

Afterward, Chen Dao Xuan took out a Storage Ring and handed it over.

"There are some Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones inside. Use them first to recover from your injuries and stabilize your cultivation. Rest in peace and do not worry about anything else."

Zhao De's hand trembled as he took the Storage Ring. When his Divine Sense probed inside, his entire body instantly froze!

In the Storage Ring, healing pills were piled up like a mountain, each bottle shining with spiritual light and of extraordinary grade.

What made him even more breathless was the mountain of Spirit Stones piled together!

Those were not Low-Grade Spirit Stones, nor were they Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

They were a full hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, which were considered hard currency even in Zhenyuan City!

Zhao De's breathing instantly became incredibly rapid... He gripped the Storage Ring tightly, feeling as if it weighed a thousand tons.

Since their escape, the Zhao Family's resources had long been exhausted; every one of them was depleted of Spiritual Qi and at the end of their rope.

These hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones were no different from life-saving Immortal Pills to them!

"This... this is too precious! This old man..."

Zhao De was so excited he became incoherent.

"No need to say more; this is my father's command."

Chen Dao Xuan interrupted him. "Rest well. The Family will not mistreat anyone who has rendered service."

After saying this, Chen Dao Xuan turned and left.

Watching his departing back, Zhao De and the members of the Zhao Family behind him could no longer hold back; their eyes turned red one by one.

They thought they had merely found a refuge, never expecting the other party to be so generous.

"Quick! Everyone inside! Wash up! Heal! Cultivate!"

Zhao De growled hoarsely at his bewildered clansmen.

Everyone snapped out of their daze and rushed into the courtyard. When they saw the hot water and clean clothes already prepared in the rooms, several young Zhao Family members even wept with joy.

Zhao De distributed the pills and gave out the Top-Grade Spirit Stones. The entire courtyard was immediately enveloped in dense Spiritual Qi.

Everyone impatiently sat cross-legged and began to frantically absorb this hard-won Spiritual Qi.

Watching this scene, Zhao De's heart was filled with a mix of emotions, and hope was rekindled for the future.

Just as he was about to find a room to sit down and recover his depleted Origin Qi,

Chen Dao Xuan's figure reappeared at the courtyard gate.

"Mr. Zhao."

Zhao De's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly went to meet him, saying respectfully, "What are your orders, My Lord?"

"My father requests your presence; he wishes to have a private talk with you."

Chen Dao Xuan said.

"The City Lord?"

Zhao De's heart jumped. He didn't dare to be the least bit negligent and immediately straightened his robes.

"This old man will go at once!"

...City Lord's Manor, Discussion Hall.

Chen Xu sat in the main seat, leisurely sipping a cup of spiritual tea.

Beside him, Bu Yifan was holding the recently born Chen Wanjin, gently coaxing him.

The little fellow didn't cry or make a fuss.

A pair of large, black-gem-like eyes looked around curiously.

When Zhao De walked into the hall with an apprehensive heart, this warm picture was what he saw.

He had expected to see a majestic and overbearing hero, but he hadn't expected this mysterious City Lord to be so young and so... approachable.

"I, Zhao De, pay my respects to the City Lord and the Madam!"

Zhao De didn't dare to be negligent; he immediately stepped forward and gave a deep bow.

"Elder Zhao, no need for such formality. Please, sit."

Chen Xu raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit in a chair to the side.

"Thank you, City Lord."

Zhao De sat down cautiously, only daring to occupy half the seat, keeping his posture extremely low.

"I heard Elder Zhao say earlier that your Zhao Family is a lineage of artifact refiners from Zhenyuan City?"

Chen Xu put down his teacup and asked casually.

"In response to the City Lord, that is correct."

At the mention of Artifact Refining, a hint of confidence clearly appeared on Zhao De's face. "My Zhao Family has a Legacy of over eight thousand years. In Zhenyuan City and even within a hundred thousand miles, regarding the art of Artifact Refining, we wouldn't dare claim to be number one, but no one would dare say they could surely best my Zhao Family."

"Oh?"

Chen Xu became interested. "Then Zhenyuan City must be a very prosperous place? Tell me about it."

Zhao De knew the City Lord was testing him and also gathering intelligence on the outside world.

He didn't dare to hide anything and immediately recounted everything he knew in great detail.

"Zhenyuan City is the largest gateway city for entering and leaving the Beiming Wilderness. It has a permanent population of over ten million, with Cultivators making up more than seventy percent. The forces within the city are complex, with over a hundred large and small Family chambers of commerce."

"Among them, the strongest are the City Lord's Manor, the Lin Family, and the Tianbao Pavilion."

"The City Lord's Manor goes without saying; the City Lord is a Middle Stage Void Refining expert who suppresses the entire city."

"As for the Lin Family, they are the enemies pursuing my Zhao Family. Their Family has deep ties with the Tianyu Holy Land. Every generation of their clan has prodigies sent to the Holy Land for cultivation, and they even have marriage alliances with the Holy Land's core. Thus, they have always acted with extreme arrogance in the city, and no one dares to provoke them."

"Regarding the Tianbao Pavilion, it is one of the largest chambers of commerce in the Northern Desolate Heaven Domain. Its branches are spread across all major cities, its background is mysterious, and its strength is unfathomable. Even the City Lord's Manor and the Lin Family do not dare to easily offend them."

"The city's largest auctions are held year-round by the Tianbao Pavilion, featuring all kinds of rare treasures, Cultivation Techniques, and divine abilities."

Chen Xu listened quietly, his fingers tapping the armrest rhythmically.

Zhenyuan City, Tianbao Pavilion, the Lin Family... this information sketched a preliminary picture of a Spirit Realm city for him.

After all, if the Family wanted to develop in the future and obtain Materials for a Cross-realm Formation,

a trip to Zhenyuan City was necessary.

And the Lin Family was a thorn he had to remove!

"Speaking of which..."

Chen Xu shifted the topic and asked as if casually, "In the past few months, has there been any major movement from the Tianyu Holy Land's side?"

Zhao De was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

He recalled carefully, his brow furrowed.

After a while, he said somewhat uncertainly, "Major movement... I seem to have heard of one."

"A few days before my Zhao Family's trouble, there were indeed some rumors in the city saying that something major happened at one of Tianyu Holy Land's mine sites in the Beiming Wilderness. It seemed to have been wiped out with heavy casualties, even alarming an Elder of the Holy Land."

"However..."

A trace of bitterness appeared on Zhao De's face. "At that time, my Zhao Family was facing a great disaster and could barely look after ourselves. No one had the mind to pay attention to these rumors, so this old man is not very clear on the specific details."

After he finished speaking, he cautiously observed Chen Xu's expression.

However, Chen Xu's face remained as calm as still water, showing no emotional changes whatsoever.

This made Zhao De feel even more uncertain.

But just then... an earth-shattering thought exploded in Zhao De's mind without any warning!

Wait!

A mine site in the Beiming Wilderness!

Something major happened!

And then... this majestic city that appeared out of thin air in the middle of the wilds!

This young City Lord with unfathomable strength... who was so concerned about the affairs of the Tianyu Holy Land!

And... when they entered the city just now, although the Chen Family clansmen on the walls had powerful auras, there seemed to be a faint, lingering trace of the erosion from mine site Evil Qi!

A coincidence?

No!

How could there be so many coincidences in this world!