202: Time flies, and waste is put to good use!

"Everyone, sit down. Stop staring at each other."

Chen Xu sat casually at the head seat and pointed to the rings on the table. "Although those three old fellows' characters aren't great, their net worth must be extremely substantial. Since we snatched these through our own ability, we must take a good inventory."

Chen Daoxuan stood to the side, holding a specially made ledger.

Those were the storage rings of Integration Stage Great Experts! In the past, even a single hair flowing out from these would have caused the small families of the Northern Region to fight to the death.

"Badao, close the door tightly."

Chen Xu gave a casual instruction, then reached out to pick up the ring wrapped in electrical arcs; it was the possession of that hot-tempered Elder Lei.

Because the original owner had already been sealed within the purgatory tower, the Divine Sense brand on the ring still remained.

But under the washing of Chen Xu's powerful Divine Thought, it was like a layer of window paper, breaking with a gentle poke.

*Crash—*

With a thought from Chen Xu, he didn't pour out all the items inside the ring, but just the mountain of Spirit Stones alone...

...almost filled the spacious council hall.

"My dear mother..."

Badao had just closed the door, and as he turned around, his eyes were dazzled by the scene before him.

Those weren't ordinary Spirit Stones; even High-Grade Spirit Stones were rare.

As far as the eye could see, it was all crystal clear, Spirit Qi-filled high-grade immortal jade.

At the very top, there were even several hundred pieces of Top-Grade Immortal Jade scattered about, emitting an extremely pure aura.

The entire hall was instantly filled with dense Spirit Qi.

Even without circulating any techniques, the spiritual power within their bodies was jumping for joy.

"There are roughly... twenty million high-grade immortal jades here."

Chen Xu swept his Divine Sense over and called out a number.

The brush in Chen Daoxuan's hand fell to the ground with a *clatter*.

Twenty million high-grade immortal jades?

This was equivalent to the total income of Tianxuan City over the past several years.

And that was assuming no expenses whatsoever.

"Scared by just this little bit of money?"

Chen Xu glanced at his son, feeling a bit disappointed. "This is just the least valuable hard currency. The truly valuable things are further back."

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, and dozens of jade boxes with sealing Talismans attached floated in mid-air.

Upon opening the first jade box, a violent aura of thunder instantly swept out.

Lying inside the box was a fist-sized purple fruit.

Its surface had naturally formed lightning patterns.

"Nine Heavens Thunder Roar Fruit!"

Although Lan Shuyao cultivated the Sword Dao, she was well-acquainted with such Heaven And Earth Treasures. "This grows in the depths of thunder pools, blooming once every three thousand years and fruiting once every three thousand years. Consuming it can temper a lightning-attribute Spiritual Root and even allow one to gain a trace of lightning Origin out of thin air!"

"Badao, this belongs to you."

Chen Xu tossed it casually, throwing the jade box to the dazed Badao. "Your great saber follows a fierce and violent path. If you can refine this lightning fruit, your Saber Qi will carry the sound of thunder, and its power will at least double."

Badao scrambled to catch the jade box, so excited he almost knelt to Chen Xu. "Thank you for the reward, Clan Chief!"

"Don't be in a hurry to thank me, I'm not finished yet."

Chen Xu continued opening boxes.

Ten-thousand-year Cold Iron Essence, Gengjin Mother sufficient to forge High Grade Spirit Treasures, high-level healing holy medicines that had long since vanished from the Northern Region... with every box opened, Chen Daoxuan's hand trembled.

After clearing out Elder Lei's ring, Chen Xu picked up the Wind Spirit Jade Ring.

Although Elder Feng's net worth wasn't as violent and direct as Elder Lei's...

...he excelled in having many strange and unusual items.

Aside from a similarly staggering amount of Spirit Stones, there were also a large number of Formation Plates and Talismans.

As well as several Top-Grade Spirit Treasures specifically used for escaping and concealing one's aura.

"This Wind Concealment Cloak is not bad."

Chen Xu held a cyan cloak as thin as a cicada's wing. "After putting it on, it can block Divine Sense probes from anyone below the Body Integration Stage. Shuyao, this item suits you; take it for self-defense."

Lan Shuyao took the cloak, a flash of joy appearing in her eyes.

As a Sword Cultivator, her offense was unparalleled, but defense had always been a weakness.

With this treasure, her survival capability would increase greatly.

Finally, only the Purple-Gold Signet Ring remained.

That was the ring of Ge Yunsong, the Grand Elder of the Ascending Immortal Gate.

When Chen Xu picked up this ring, his expression became slightly more serious.

As the leader of the experts this time, this old fellow definitely had good stuff.

Breaking in with his Divine Thought, the space inside the ring was actually larger than the previous two combined.

There wasn't much Immortal Jade inside; clearly, at Ge Yunsong's level, ordinary wealth no longer interested him.

Taking up the bulk of the space were rows of neat bookshelves...

...and Jade Slips emitting an ancient aura.

"Did he move half of the Ascending Immortal Gate's Scripture Pavilion here?"

Chen Xu casually picked up a Jade Slip and pressed it to his forehead.

"Purple Qi from the East Manual," "Mountain Shaking Seal," "Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve"... they were all secret techniques of the Ascending Immortal Gate. If any one of them were to leak into the Northern Region...

...it could cause a bloodbath.

"Dao Xuan."

Chen Xu swept all these Jade Slips out in one go. "Take these Cultivation Techniques and organize them into categories. Pick out those suitable for the clansmen to Cultivate and place them in the Family Scripture Pavilion."

"Set up exchange thresholds. Whether they are from the direct line or collateral branches, as long as they contribute to the Family, they may all Cultivate them."

Chen Daoxuan held this pile of priceless treasures, tears welling in his eyes. "Father, with these Cultivation Techniques, my Chen Family's foundation is established! Within fifty years, the Chen Family will surely see the emergence of a large number of Void Refining Cultivators!"

Resources can be snatched, but such systematic high-level Cultivation Techniques are the true foundation for a great Family's survival.

In the past, the Chen Family lacked this most, but now that shortcoming was completely filled.

"Don't be in a hurry to celebrate, it's not over yet."

Chen Xu's hand fumbled in a corner of the ring for a while, finally taking out a somewhat tattered animal skin map scroll...

...and a purple-gold token.

When the map scroll unfolded, a vast and ancient aura rushed towards them.

It was a star map.

It was densely marked with countless points of light.

And the most conspicuous was a route outlined in gold thread.

This route started from the edge of the Northern Region, passed through an area marked as a danger zone...

...and finally connected to a vast and boundless continent.

Spirit Realm Central State!

"This is... a star map to the Spirit Realm Central State?"

Ye Youluo leaned in, a flash of surprise in her purple eyes.

Chen Xu's finger gently traced that gold line, his eyes flashing with sharp light. "No wonder the Ascending Immortal Gate could reach so far; it turns out they mastered this safe route."

In the Northern Region, Central State had always been a legend.

Everyone knew it was a cultivation Holy Land with Spirit Qi density ten or a hundred times higher than here, but no one knew how to get there.

Now, this path was in Chen Xu's hands.

"Besides the star map, there's also this."

Chen Xu shook the purple-gold token in his hand, which was engraved with the words 'Ascending Immortal.' "This is the identity token of a Grand Elder of the Ascending Immortal Gate. With it, perhaps when we go to Central State in the future, we can send them a 'big gift.'"

The atmosphere in the hall reached a fever pitch.

Whether it was the mountain of resources, those top-tier Cultivation Techniques, or this map leading to a broader world, everyone present felt their hearts racing.

"Father, these resources are too vast. If they are all put into storage, our original treasury will probably need to be expanded threefold," Chen Daoxuan said, wiping away sweat.

"If it needs expanding, then expand it."

Chen Xu stood up, hands behind his back. "Not only must we expand the treasury, we must also expand the hearts of our people."

His gaze swept over everyone. "Resources are dead, but people are alive."

"These things are useless gathering dust in a warehouse; only by converting them into strength are they real. Pass down the order: tomorrow morning, gather all clansmen. I will reward everyone based on their merits in public!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with infinite longing for the future... The next morning, the rising sun gilded Tianxuan City with a golden edge.

On the Tianxuan City square, thousands of people from the Chen Family had gathered early on.

Not just Cultivators, but even those Mortal servants responsible for chores had arrived.

One by one they craned their necks, their expressions excited.

Last night, the news of the Chen Family Old Ancestor's Divine Might, suppressing three Integration Stage Great Experts, had already spread through every street and alley.

That black giant tower floating in the sky...

...had become the most awe-inspiring topic of conversation for everyone after dinner.

Now, around the high platform, three thousand expressionless Netherworld Iron Guards surrounded the area so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through.

These Puppets, emitting a cold luster, remained perfectly still.

Yet that murderous aura made the entire field silent.

Chen Xu, dressed in green robes, slowly walked onto the high platform.

Without any redundant words, he simply gave a light wave of his sleeve.

*Rumble—*

Countless Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, and weapons fell from the sky like a waterfall, piling up on both sides of the platform.

That dense Spirit Qi transformed into a white mist visible to the naked eye.

Instantly, it enveloped the entire martial arts field.

*Hiss—*

A synchronized sound of gasping for air rang out.

Many young clansmen had never seen so many High-Grade Spirit Stones in their lives.

That light was almost enough to blind them.

"These are courtesy of the friendly sponsorship from those three Elders of the Ascending Immortal Gate and Tianyu Holy Land."

Chen Xu's voice carried a hint of teasing as it spread through the field. "They traveled thousands of miles to deliver gifts; we cannot let their good intentions go to waste."

A burst of laughter erupted below, and the original tension and awe instantly transformed into relaxation and fanaticism.

"From today onwards, the Family will implement a new contribution system."

Chen Xu's voice turned serious. "Any Disciple of my Chen Family, regardless of their cultivation level, can obtain contribution points by completing Family missions. These contribution points can be exchanged for everything you see before you!"

"High Grade Spiritual Artifacts, exchangeable! Top-Grade Medicinal Pills, exchangeable! Even Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals used by Integration Stage Great Experts can be exchanged!"

Chen Xu pointed to the rows of newly established Jade Slip racks beside him. "In here, we have the Ascending Immortal Gate's Sect-guarding ultimate technique 'Mountain Shaking Seal,' the Tianyu Holy Land's movement technique 'Flowing Cloud Steps,' and over a hundred high-level methods brought from Central State."

"I don't care if you are from the direct line or a collateral branch, nor do I care what your Aptitude was before. As long as you are willing to fight and practice, the things here are yours!"

These words were like a spark falling into a pot of oil, instantly igniting the emotions of the entire crowd.

In this Cultivation World where Family hierarchies were strict, collateral and outer Disciples often found it very difficult to access core Cultivation Techniques.

But Chen Xu's move undoubtedly shattered this barrier.

It gave everyone a chance to leap through the dragon gate.

"Long live the Clan Chief!"

"I swear to serve the Chen Family to the death!"

Countless young Disciples had bloodshot eyes, waving their fists and roaring.

They saw hope, the path to becoming stronger as long as they worked hard.

Chen Daoxuan stood below the platform, watching this scene.

In his heart, he admired his father's methods immensely.

Simply distributing wealth can only buy people's hearts for a moment, but establishing such a fair promotion mechanism is the foundation for the Family's long-term prosperity.

With this system, the Chen Family will become a high-speed war machine.

Every part will unleash its maximum potential.

"Additionally..."

Chen Xu waited for the cheering to subside before dropping another bombshell: "I have found a star map leading to the Central State among the spoils of war."

The entire scene fell silent instantly.

The Central State, that legendary cultivation Holy Land.

"Right now, we are not strong enough."

Chen Xu spoke bluntly: "If we go to the Central State now, we'll just be slaughtered like fat sheep. But we have a path, resources, and Cultivation Techniques. As long as we have time, the Chen Family's flag will one day be planted on the soil of the Central State!"

"I give you ten years."

Chen Xu held up a finger, "Within ten years, I want the Chen Family to produce ten more Void Refining experts and a hundred Soul Transformation Cultivators! When that time comes, our entire clan will march into the Central State!"

"March into the Central State! March into the Central State!"

Badao led the roar, his voice shattering the clouds in the sky.

At this moment, the spirit of the Chen Family members changed.

They were no longer satisfied with staying in a corner, no longer satisfied with being kings in this barren Northern Region.

A seed of ambition took root and sprouted in everyone's heart.

The victory celebration lasted an entire day.

Chen Xu did not stay on the stage the whole time. After handing over the specific distribution matters to Chen Daoxuan and Lan Shuyao, he returned to the quiet room in the back mountain.

At this time, that ancient star map hung on the wall of the quiet room.

Chen Xu stood with his hands behind his back... his gaze fixed on the vast territory representing the Central State.

"Central State..."

He whispered to himself.

By killing the Elders of the Ascending Immortal Gate this time, a deep grudge had been completely formed.

That so-called "Mahayana Stage Decree," although it seemed like a joke now.

But who knows when that behemoth will truly wake up?

Taking hits passively was never Chen Xu's style.

"It seems I need to make good use of these ten years to fatten up these kids at home a bit more."

Chen Xu turned around and looked at the purgatory tower slowly rotating in his hand.

Inside the tower, three Body Integration Stage laborers were tirelessly releasing their Origin power, tempering the tower's body.

"Since I have human batteries, perhaps I can try to open the second floor of the purgatory tower."

A hint of anticipation flashed in Chen Xu's eyes.

According to the Demon Emperor's memories, the second floor of the purgatory tower is named "Cave Heaven of Ages."

The flow of time inside is completely different from the outside world.

One day outside is one month in the Grotto-Heaven.

If this place can be opened, the Chen Family's so-called "ten-year period" will actually provide three hundred years of Cultivate time!

This is Chen Xu's true trump card for challenging the Central State.

"Ascending Immortal Gate, we'll see."

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Chen Xu's mouth. He casually cast a hand Seal, and the purgatory tower buzzed and trembled again.

It began to devour the massive Spiritual Qi gathering around it.

The wind in Tianxuan City grew stronger.

But this time, the wind was blowing toward that distant and mysterious Central State... purgatory tower, Second Floor.

The air here was as viscous as solidified mercury, with a gray mist permeating the surroundings; there were no sun, moon, or stars, nor could the flow of wind be felt.

Only the giant graduated stone pillar in the center emitted a faint light at an extremely slow yet heart-palpitating frequency.

This is the "Cave Heaven of Ages."

One day outside, one month here.

This Heaven-Defying time flow did not come out of nowhere; it was built upon massive energy consumption.

At this moment, at the base of the stone pillar, three translucent Divine Souls were tightly bound by thick chains.

Their faces were distorted, and the vast Soul Power that originally belonged to Integration Stage Great Experts was being continuously drained, flowing through the chains into the grand Formation beneath their feet.

"Chen Xu! You will die a horrible death! I am the Grand Elder of the Ascending Immortal Gate, yet you actually use me as firewood!"

Ge Yunsong's Divine Soul let out a shrill roar.

Due to the pain, his soul body flickered, as if it would dissipate at any moment.

"Stop shouting and save your strength."

Chen Xu sat cross-legged on a futon not far away, with a half-person-tall Purple-Gold Pill Furnace floating in front of him.

He didn't even lift an eyelid as he casually cast a hand Seal, causing the Earth Fire beneath the Pill Furnace to surge upward.

Tongues of fire licked the bottom of the furnace, making a crisp crackling sound.

"As Body Integration Stage experts, your Soul Power is profound. If it isn't vented somewhere, it would instead burst this space."

As Chen Xu spoke, he threw dozens of ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicines emitting astonishing Spiritual Qi into the Pill Furnace like trash: "I'm helping you lose weight and making use of waste as well. You should be thanking me."

Beside him, Elder Lei, who was rolling his eyes from being strangled by the chains, watched Chen Xu's technique, which was like stir-frying a large pot of food.

Even while undergoing torture, he couldn't help but curse: "What a waste of heavenly treasures! That's Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma! That's Red Sun Ginseng! Who performs Alchemy like you? You don't even do purification; are you trying to blow up the furnace?!"

As high-level Cultivators, they all had some knowledge of Alchemy.

In their understanding, refining high-level Medicinal Pills required bathing, changing clothes, burning incense, praying, and cautiously controlling every bit of heat; even a slight mistake would lead to failure.

Stuffing dozens of medicinal ingredients with conflicting attributes in all at once like Chen Xu did was simply a profanation of the Dao of Alchemy.

"That's because you are too useless."

Chen Xu sneered, his fingers flicking rapidly, moving so fast that only afterimages could be seen.

Primordial Violet Qi flowed from his fingertips into the Pill Furnace. The medicinal liquid, which was originally extremely violent and could explode at any moment, became instantly docile upon encountering the Primordial Violet Qi, like a mouse seeing a cat.

Impurities were forcibly stripped away, and the essence was perfectly fused.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

"Open!"

Chen Xu gave a low shout, and the furnace lid soared into the sky.

There was no rolling black smoke as imagined; instead, twelve streaks of light burst from the furnace mouth. A rich pill fragrance instantly filled the entire space, so much so that even Ge Yunsong and the other two in their Divine Soul states...

...felt their spirits lifted upon smelling it.

With a wave of his sleeve, twelve round and full Medicinal Pills, with faint Pill Patterns flowing on their surfaces, fell into a jade bottle.

"Supreme Grade... they are all Supreme Grade Spirit Pills?!"

Elder Feng's eyes widened, staring at the jade bottle as if he had seen a ghost.

This level of "Barrier-Breaking Pill" is a priceless treasure even in the Central State.

It is enough to increase the chance of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator breaking through to Void Refining by thirty percent.

Chen Xu actually produced twelve in one furnace, as if he were steaming buns?

"Only twelve, the efficiency is still too low."

Chen Xu frowned with some dissatisfaction, then poured out hundreds of pounds of medicinal ingredients from his storage ring: "It's not easy to open this Cave Heaven of Ages; I must hurry."

The following days were simply a double torture of body and spirit for Ge Yunsong and the others.

They watched helplessly as Chen Xu turned into a tireless Alchemy machine.

From the most basic foundation establishment pills and Essence-Nurturing Pills to high-level Purple Mansion Pills and Nirvana Pills.

And even the Dragon-Tiger Golden Body Pill, which is of great benefit to the Physical Body.

Chen Xu's Alchemy was not measured in "pills" at all, but in "piles."

Furnace after furnace, never exploding, never failing.

In just three days in the outside world, three months had passed within this Cave Heaven of Ages.

The jade bottles beside Chen Xu had piled up into a small mountain; at a rough estimate, there were at least ten thousand high-level Medicinal Pills.

If this batch of Medicinal Pills were to circulate, it would be enough to buy half of the Northern Region.

"That's enough."

Chen Xu let out a long breath of turbid air and put away the Pill Furnace.

He glanced at the three who had been drained of most of their Soul Power and were now as listless as flickering candles in the wind.

"Good performance. I'll allow you to rest for a few days."

After saying that, Chen Xu's figure flickered and he disappeared from the spot.

Tianxuan City, the back mountain of the City Lord's Estate.

When Chen Xu reappeared in the sunlight, the feeling of being in another world lasted only for a moment.

He stretched his somewhat stiff neck, and the fatigue in his eyes was instantly replaced by a sharp light.

The resources are secured; next is the power to protect them.

"Dao Xuan, have all clan members retreat into the Inner City and activate Level Two Alert. Without my order, no one is allowed to approach the city walls."

Chen Xu's Divine Thought instantly covered the entire City Lord's Estate.

Although Chen Daoxuan, who was handling Family affairs, didn't understand why, he executed the order extremely quickly.

In less than half an hour, the vast Outer City Wall area was deserted.

Chen Xu floated at the highest point of Tianxuan City, overlooking this city that had accompanied the Chen Family for decades.

The original City Protection Grand Formation was sturdy, but it could only block attacks from the Body Integration Stage.

In the current situation, it was no different from being made of paper.

"Since we're doing this, let's go big."

Chen Xu closed his eyes, frantically flipping through the Formation knowledge he had obtained from the Demon Emperor and Ge Yunsong.

One was a sovereign who ruled the Demon Realm for ten thousand years, and the other was a Grand Elder of a top-tier Sect in the Central State.

The attainments in the Dao of Formations in their minds represented the Peaks of the Demonic Path and the Immortal Path in the world today.

Even if an ordinary person spent their entire life, they might not be able to comprehend even a fraction of it.

But Chen Xu had the Primordial Chaos Dao Body; all laws were interconnected for him.

In his Sea of Consciousness, countless complex Formation patterns began to be dismantled, reorganized, and fused.

The Immortal Path's "Starry Sky of the Myriad Heavens" focuses on endless life, while the Demonic Path's "Nine Nether Yellow Springs" focuses on slaughter and destruction.

Under the mediation of the Primordial Violet Qi, these two diametrically opposed powers miraculously did not repel each other, but instead formed a strange balance.

"Rise!"

Chen Xu suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed fiercely at the Void Realm.

Rumble—

The ground of the entire Tianxuan City was trembling.

Millions of Spirit Stones buried underground burned simultaneously, turning into a surging torrent of Spiritual Qi that soared into the sky.

Immediately after, Chen Xu waved his sleeve, and three thousand Netherworld Iron Guards, which had been silent and motionless, crashed down like a black meteor shower into various corners of Tianxuan City.

They were not placed randomly but were strictly arranged according to the positions of the Heavenly Constellations and Earthly Fiends.