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Xu Linger felt as if she were in a dream, an extremely surreal yet exhilaratingly satisfying dream.

It wasn't until Chen Xu's gaze fell upon her that she suddenly snapped awake, her whole body trembling.

Without any hesitation.

"Thud!"

Xu Linger fell to her knees, her forehead hitting the deck with a dull thud.

"Senior's great kindness, Linger... Linger could never repay it even with ten thousand deaths!"

Her voice trembled: "You really did it... You really destroyed the Lin Family and avenged the blood feud of my entire Xu Family!"

Chen Xu looked at the young girl kneeling on the ground and took a sip of tea with a calm expression.

"It was just a transaction."

Chen Xu said indifferently: "You helped me, so I helped you kill."

"Now that the Lin Family is gone, you are free. When the time is right, I will let you go and leave you with enough Spirit Stones to live a life of wealth."

"No!"

Hearing this, Xu Linger suddenly looked up: "Linger won't leave!"

"Senior said before that as long as the Lin Family was destroyed, Linger's life would belong to Senior! Whether as a slave or a servant, to work like an ox or a horse, Linger will have no complaints!"

After speaking, she kowtowed heavily again and remained kneeling.

She knew very well that in this Cultivation World where the strong prey on the weak,

A weak woman like her, lonely and helpless, even with more Spirit Stones, it would only be a case of 'carrying a jade but becoming a target'.

Sooner or later, she would become someone else's plaything or a meal on their plate.

Only by following the powerful man before her was her only way to survive.

It was also her only Opportunity!

Chen Xu looked at her stubborn appearance, his brow twitching slightly.

"As a slave or servant?"

He put down his teacup, his gaze becoming profound: "I don't lack slaves, and I certainly don't lack people to pour tea and water."

As he spoke, an invisible force of Divine Sense emerged from between his brows.

It enveloped Xu Linger without reservation.

When they first met in Zhenyuan City, due to the emergency and the girl being covered in filth,

Chen Xu hadn't investigated carefully.

Scanning her closely now, he discovered that Xu Linger seemed to possess a special Physique.

In this Cultivation World, special Physiques were one in ten thousand.

Every possessor of a special Physique, as long as they didn't die prematurely, would at least start at the Void Refining Stage in the future.

They might even have a chance to glimpse the Great Dao of Body Integration.

More importantly, this girl actually had talent in the path of Formations.

What did Chen Xu lack most right now?

He didn't lack enforcers, and he didn't lack resources now.

What he lacked were technical talents like Formation Masters and Alchemists!

Although he had the System's support and was proficient in everything,

He couldn't do everything himself, could he?

In the future, the maintenance of the Family's mountain-protecting Formation, the daily tuning of teleportation arrays, and even the defensive lines that might be established,

All required a professional Great Master of Formations to oversee.

He had picked up a treasure.

Chen Xu was secretly delighted, but his face remained impassive.

He withdrew his Divine Sense and looked at Xu Linger, who was still kneeling on the ground, his tone becoming slightly softer.

"Get up."

Xu Linger's body stiffened, and she looked up somewhat blankly.

She didn't know what this fickle Senior meant.

"My Chen Family doesn't need slaves."

Chen Xu said indifferently: "I disdain such low-level methods of control. But my Chen Family lacks promising talent, clansmen who can stand on their own, and loyal retainers."

Xu Linger's eyes gradually lit up, and her breathing became rapid.

"Since you carry the Xu Family Bloodline and have experienced such a great upheaval at this age, your Heart-Nature has been tempered."

Chen Xu pointed a finger, and a streak of azure light instantly entered the space between Xu Linger's brows.

It was a branch Cultivation Technique from the Eternal Azure Cloud Art regarding Star Body Refining,

As well as some basic insights into Formations.

"This is a technique that will benefit you for a lifetime. I won't take you as a slave; from today on, you will be a Named Disciple of my Chen Family."

Chen Xu's voice echoed in Xu Linger's mind: "If you perform well, you may not necessarily be unable to become a core Elder of my Chen Family in the future. But if you dare to have double-hearted thoughts..."

"Linger wouldn't dare!"

Feeling that incredibly profound technique in her mind, Xu Linger trembled with excitement.

Tears burst from her eyes.

This was no mere Named Disciple status; this was clearly the grace of rebirth!

"Disciple Xu Linger pays respects to Revered Master!"

Xu Linger respectfully performed the formal apprenticeship rite; this time, there was no more fear in her eyes.

Only fanatical worship and unwavering loyalty.

"Alright, go to the side and clean yourself up. Meditate on this technique yourself first; if there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me again."

Chen Xu waved his hand, signaling her to withdraw.

After handling this minor interlude, the shuttle's speed increased again, turning into a streak of light.

It disappeared into the vast night... Three days later.

The thunderbolt void-piercing shuttle had already flown out of the region where Zhenyuan City was located.

It entered the depths of the most chaotic Beiming Wilderness.

Mountains rolled, ancient trees reached for the sky, and poisonous miasma filled the air.

Chen Xu stood at the bow, looking down at the vast land below.

His heart was eager to return home.

Although he had only been out for a few months in total,

The events he had experienced were full of twists and turns.

Now with a bumper harvest, he couldn't wait to fly back to Tianxuan City and take out all those treasures,

Arming the Family to the teeth.

"Hmm?"

Just as the shuttle swept over a massive primeval forest, Chen Xu's brow furrowed slightly.

His Divine Sense keenly detected something was wrong.

The movement in the forest below was too great.

"Xiao Hei, look down there."

Chen Xu kicked Xiao Hei, who was gnawing on a leg bone of a rank five Yao Beast.

Xiao Hei lazily looked up, glanced down, and then his nose twitched.

A hint of confusion flashed in the dog's eyes that were previously indifferent.

"Woof?"

In the jungle below, countless Yao Beasts were sprinting.

This wasn't ordinary hunting or chasing.

Nor was it scattering in panic from being startled.

It seemed to be an organized, purposeful migration!

Packs of wolves, tigers that usually lived alone, and even several massive rhinoceroses... these Yao Beasts that would normally fight on sight were now acting as if they had agreed upon it.

Abandoning their territorial instincts and suppressing their predatory nature.

They converged into a black torrent, following the mountain range,

Moving in unison toward the same direction.

That direction... was south.

"Is this... a beast tide?"

Chen Xu felt a chill in his heart.

beast tides weren't rare in the barbaric wilds; they would break out every few decades.

But they were usually caused by high-rank Yao Beasts driving them,

Or panic triggered by some natural disaster.

But this time was different.

There was no panic in the eyes of these Yao Beasts; instead, there was a strange fanaticism and... a controlled dullness?

More importantly, according to this scale and direction of movement, if they didn't change their route,

Tianxuan City happened to be on the edge of the range affected by this beast tide!

"Interesting."

Chen Xu's eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing within them.

He spread his Divine Sense to the limit,

Trying to find the source behind this beast tide.

But after scanning for a thousand miles, besides a chaotic and violent Demonic Qi,

He didn't find any particularly powerful existence driving them from behind.

"It's like... they heard some kind of summon?"

Chen Xu muttered to himself.

Although he had doubts, he didn't intend to stop and investigate.

Although the scale of this beast tide was not small, most were low-rank Yao Beasts; rank three and four were rare.

For the current Tianxuan City, which had a complete city-protecting Formation, it posed no substantial threat.

At most, they were coming to deliver meat and monster cores.

"It's always right to be a bit more cautious."

Chen Xu secretly noted this anomaly, then activated his hand signs, and the speed of the thunderbolt void-piercing shuttle surged again.

Leaving the rolling dust of the beasts far behind... another half day passed.

A familiar silhouette finally appeared at the end of the horizon.

Tianxuan City.

Compared to when Chen Xu left, Tianxuan City seemed to have undergone some changes.

Looking down from high above, the entire city was like a giant beast crouching on the plain.

Although the city-protecting Formation's light curtain was in a semi-open state, it still emitted a faint azure glow, enveloping the entire city and making it look impregnable.

The streets in the city crisscrossed, and many new faces had been added.

Even from this far away, Chen Xu could feel a sense of vibrant vitality.

In the spiritual fields outside the city, golden spiritual grain swayed with the wind, and the Family's Cultivators were leading Mortal farmers in the fields.

On the newly opened martial arts field in the distance, the sounds of shouting and killing shook the sky.

That was the younger generation of Disciples practicing.

This scene filled Chen Xu's heart with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and pride.

This was his base,

And the foundation for his life in this world.

"I'm home."

Chen Xu chuckled, and the thunderbolt void-piercing shuttle slowly decelerated, deactivated its stealth mode, and turned into a massive silver lightning bolt.

Descending toward the City Lord's Mansion.

"That's... the Family Head's Flying Boat!"

"The Family Head is back!"

"Look! It really is the Family Head!"

As soon as the Flying Boat appeared, a commotion immediately broke out in the city.

Countless people stopped what they were doing and looked up.

Their gazes were fervent as they watched the massive object descending from the sky.

In the hearts of the Chen Family, Chen Xu was their heaven, an omnipotent god!

The Flying Boat landed steadily on the wide square of the City Lord's Mansion.

The hatch opened.

Chen Xu, with his hands behind his back, walked down followed by Xiao Hei and a restrained Xu Linger.

As soon as his feet touched the ground,

A series of hurried footsteps came from the direction of the main hall.

"Father!"

A middle-aged man wearing a scholar's robe with a steady temperament walked over quickly.

It was the current head of the Chen Family, Chen Xu's eldest son, Chen Daoxuan.

"Father! You're finally back!"

However, just as Chen Daoxuan spoke,

A vast and sharp aura soared into the sky from a certain direction in the city.

"Boom—!!!"

A loud bang, like a thunderclap on level ground, shook the entire Tianxuan City slightly.

The originally clear sky changed instantly.

Huge patches of dark clouds seemed to be drawn by something,

Frantically converging above the towering Heaven-Reaching Tower.

In those thick clouds, it wasn't lightning flickering,

But streaks of visible Saber Qi cutting back and forth.

Those Saber Qi appeared dark gold, each one a hundred zhang long, carrying a domineering and terrifying will, shredding the sea of clouds in the sky.

Chen Daoxuan's words were forced back down his throat.

He looked up toward the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

"Is this... Saber Intent?!"

Chen Xu also stopped in his tracks, his gaze piercing through layers of buildings.

It landed upon that towering pagoda that reached into the clouds.

Sensing that familiar fluctuation of spiritual energy,

a faint smile appeared on Chen Xu's face.

"Well done, Ba Dao. You truly did not disappoint me."

Before he left, Sect Master Ba Dao was at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation.

To allow this top-tier fighter of the Chen Family to advance further, Chen Xu had specially bestowed a large amount of resources upon him.

The flow of time within the Heaven-Reaching Tower was different from the outside world.

Although only a few short months had passed outside, several years had likely gone by inside the tower.

Accumulating strength over time, the Breakthrough came naturally.

"Hum—"

The cry of a saber resounded through the heavens and earth.

A burly figure was seen rushing out from the tower,

suspending himself in the Void Realm.

Saber Qi swirled around him; his originally disheveled long hair now moved without wind, and as his eyes opened and closed, brilliant light shot forth.

Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase!

Ba Dao took a deep breath and let out a long howl toward the sky.

That sense of exhilaration made him unable to resist wanting to find someone to fight for three hundred rounds.

But he soon sensed a familiar aura below.

It was the aura of the Family Head!

Ba Dao's body jolted, and he immediately restrained his violent Saber Intent, his figure flickering.

In the blink of an eye, he landed on the plaza of the City Lord's Mansion.

"Your subordinate Ba Dao pays respects to the Family Head!"

This usually untamable saber artist was now kneeling on one knee, his expression extremely respectful.

"Congratulations, Ba Dao, on taking another step forward from the top of the pole."

Chen Xu nodded slightly and reached out to make a lifting gesture. "Rise."

Ba Dao stood up, his face unable to hide his excitement: "If not for the Opportunity bestowed by the Family Head and the miraculous nature of this Heaven-Reaching Tower, I'm afraid it would have taken me an unknown number of years of bitter cultivation to break through this bottleneck."

Chen Xu's gaze swept over everyone present.

Now, the Chen Family had finally established a firm foothold in the Beiming Wilderness.

The top-tier combat power had him, a Void Refining Stage powerhouse, presiding over it.

The mid-tier combat power included Ba Dao, who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase,

Murong Zhuyun,

as well as Chen Daoxuan at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation and several other Guest Elders.

As for the lower-tier Golden Core and Nascent Soul Cultivators, relying on the cultivation of the Heaven-Reaching Tower,

they were springing up like bamboo shoots after a rain.

"Dao Xuan."

Chen Xu turned to look at his eldest son.

"Father."

Chen Daoxuan quickly responded.

"No need to rush to report those trivial matters."

Chen Xu waved his hand; he naturally saw Chen Daoxuan's anxiety. "The sky isn't falling. Go, gather the Family members and assemble in the Discussion Hall."

"I brought back quite a few good things from my trip to 'stock up' this time, and I'm about to distribute them."

Chen Daoxuan was stunned, then overjoyed: "Yes!"

A moment later.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

The deep and melodious sound of a bell echoed throughout the city.

Fifteen minutes later, inside the City Lord's Mansion's Discussion Hall.

Every seat was filled.

Chen Daoxuan, Murong Zhuyun, Ba Dao, Zhao De who was in charge of Artifact Refining, and several Enshrined Experts in charge of Medicinal Pills.

And the outstanding Disciples of the Chen Family's younger generation were all gathered together.

Everyone's gaze was fervently fixed on the Family Head sitting in the main seat.

Xu Linger stood silently by Chen Xu's side, looking somewhat constrained at this hall full of powerful experts.

The aura emanating from every person here was no weaker than those Lin Family Guards who had chased her before; some were even stronger.

Yet these people were all as submissive as sheep before that man.

"Everyone is here."

Chen Xu picked up his teacup, took a sip, then set it down and looked around.

"I know you have been under a lot of pressure lately; with the beast tide approaching, people's hearts are unsettled."

Chen Xu's voice was steady: "But after today, I want this Tianxuan City to become the sturdiest fortress in this barbaric wilderness."

Having said that, he slowly stood up and waved his wide sleeve.

"Watch closely."

"Whoosh—"

Accompanied by a sound like a pouring waterfall,

countless streaks of light flew out from his cuff.

The originally spacious and empty center of the hall was instantly filled with all sorts of bizarre and wonderful treasures.

It wasn't just one or two items, but piles and mountains of them!

On the left was a mountain of Spirit Stones, their dense Spiritual Qi instantly turning into a visible white mist within the hall.

In the middle were various Magic Treasures and weapons; sabers, spears, swords, and halberds gleamed with a cold light.

Several Spirit Treasures among them, which radiated an ancient aura,

even suspended themselves in mid-air, automatically inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Qi.

On the right were countless jade boxes and silk pouches.

Inside were rare Materials enough to make any Alchemist or Artifact Refiner go mad.

In an instant, everyone in the hall gaped.

Their eyes were almost bulging out.

Even the usually steady Chen Daoxuan couldn't help but rub his eyes at this moment,

doubting if he was having a hallucination.

"This... this..."

As the Hall Revered Master of the Artifact Refining Hall, Zhao De was the most sensitive to Materials.

He gave a strange cry and pounced forward, disregarding his image.

With trembling hands, he held up a piece of metal that emitted a deep blue, eerie light.

"fifth-grade peak-tier material, Deep Sea Mysterious Water Gold?! Just one piece is worth a fortune! There are actually three pieces here?!"

He then picked up a red Ore next to it.

"Fire Cloud Essence Gold! This is an excellent primary material for refining fire-attribute Magic Treasures!"

"Heavens! Is this ten-thousand-year Lightning-Struck Wood?!"

Zhao De was almost going insane, clutching those Materials like an old lecher who had seen a peerless beauty.

Ba Dao's gaze was also drawn to the pile of weapons; at a glance, he took a fancy to a long saber that was pitch-black all over

and emitted a heavy Evil Qi.

The runes carved on the saber's body actually faintly resonated with his Saber Intent.

"Good saber! This is definitely a fifth-grade High Grade ancient treasure!"

Ba Dao stroked the saber's body, unable to put it down.

Chen Daoxuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart, and looked at Chen Xu: "Father... did you... rob the treasury of some Holy Land?"

This wasn't "stocking up"; this was clearly emptying out the foundation of a top-tier Great Family!

Chen Xu smiled indifferently, sat back in his chair, and said nonchalantly: "On the way to find Materials, I wiped out the Lin Family in passing."

In passing... wiped out the Lin Family?

Everyone looked at each other, their hearts churning with stormy waves.

"This is only a portion of the Lin Family's treasury."

Chen Xu pointed at the mountain of resources: "Dao Xuan, you will be in charge of the coordination. Distribute the Medicinal Pills to the Disciples with excellent Aptitude to help them break through!"

"Bestow the Magic Treasures upon the Elders and Protectors of each hall to enhance our combat power."

"As for the Spirit Stones and Materials, put them all into the treasury as the foundation for the Family's development."

"Yes!"

Chen Daoxuan replied in a loud and clear voice.

With this batch of resources, the Chen Family's strength would undergo a blowout-style explosion in a short period of time!

"Zhao De."

Chen Xu called out his name.

Zhao De, who was still clutching the Deep Sea Mysterious Water Gold, hurriedly scrambled up: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Take these refining Materials. I want you to reinforce all the Formation bases of the city's protective Formation within one month."

"In addition, forge a set of fourth-grade or higher inner armor for every member of the Family."

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Zhao De patted his chest in guarantee; with these top-grade Materials, if he couldn't refine good things,

he might as well just bash his head against the refining furnace and be done with it.

Chen Xu nodded, and then his expression became serious.

"Next, I have a major announcement to make."

He flipped his palm, and within it,

two strange crystals, one black and one blue, slowly emerged.

The tai xu realm stone.

The void star crystal.

Even if the crowd did not recognize these two divine objects, from the spreading spatial fluctuations,

they could also sense their extraordinary nature.

"Father, this is..."

Chen Daoxuan asked.

"This is the core for constructing a cross-realm teleportation formation."

"Our Chen Family is tucked away in a corner of the Beiming Wilderness; while it is temporarily safe, it also limits our development. If we want to truly rise, we must open up a connection with the Lower Realm."

"In the coming time, I plan to start the refining!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

A cross-realm teleportation formation!

Once built, Tianxuan City would no longer be an isolated city but would be able to continuously draw nourishment from the outside world.

Even in times of crisis, it could become the Family's final path of retreat.

"I will personally preside over this matter."

Chen Xu stood up: "The location of the teleportation Formation will be set in the center of the plaza, directly facing the Heaven-Reaching Tower. That is where the dragon veins of Tianxuan City converge, and the spatial nodes are the most stable."

"Xu Linger."

The young girl who had been standing to the side hurried forward: "Disciple is here."

"You possess a special Physique and have a keen perception of spatial and stellar forces. During this Formation-laying, stay by my side and assist me; how much you can learn will depend on your own luck."

Xu Linger's small face turned red with excitement: "Disciple obeys!"

A few days later, at the central plaza of Tianxuan City.

A massive Formation base had already begun to take shape.

Chen Xu sat cross-legged in the Void Realm, beneath him a giant array with a diameter of a hundred zhang.

At this moment, he was not meditating but performing the most critical and difficult step—smelting the formation eye.

Before him, the fist-sized tai xu realm stone was quietly suspended.

"Rise!"

Chen Xu shouted softly, his hands forming hand seals.

"Whoosh—"

A cluster of purple-gold flame sprouted out of thin air from his palm, instantly enveloping that gray, unremarkable stone.

Grandmist True Fire!

However, under this terrifyingly high temperature that could instantly melt a peak-tier Spirit Treasure,

the tai xu realm stone only showed a slight red glow on its surface, with no sign of melting at all.

"As expected of a divine object born within a void storm; it truly is hard enough."

Chen Xu frowned slightly.

This tai xu realm stone contained extremely stable Spatial Laws within it; to smelt it into the Formation, one must first break its original structure and then reshape it.

This not only tested one's cultivation but also one's extremely fine control over the heat.

With the slightest carelessness, the spatial force would spiral out of control, and the entire Tianxuan City could be blown into the sky.

"Open for me!"

Brilliant light burst from Chen Xu's eyes as the spiritual energy in his body surged into that cluster of flame like a river bursting its banks.

The purple-gold flame instantly flared up by three feet, its color becoming even deeper.

It even faintly revealed a trace of heart-palpitating black.

The surrounding space began to visibly distort under the scorching of this high temperature,

as if it were a piece of glass being softened by heat.