44: The Great Feng Imperial Family

The person who came was Liu Feifei, a well-known female Disciple within the Inner Sect!

She was not only beautiful and talented, but also approachable and very popular.

She and Chen Daochu had interacted during several Sect missions, and their relationship was quite good.

"Senior Brother Dao Chu, are you also two brothers?"

Liu Feifei blinked her big eyes, looking at Chen Daoxuan: "Coincidentally, there are three of us here too, so why don't we travel together? With more people, we can look out for each other in the Secret Realm."

The two female Cultivators behind her also smiled kindly!

They clearly agreed with the suggestion.

Facing the girl's enthusiastic invitation, Chen Daochu hesitated.

He had originally planned to act alone with his Elder brother so that the 'Vein-Seeking Talisman' could be utilized to its fullest extent.

But directly refusing would seem a bit heartless.

Just as Chen Daochu hesitated,

Unsure how to politely decline this kind offer!

A clear, arrogant voice came from behind Liu Feifei.

"Feifei, what are you chattering about with them?"

A tall woman with a cold and beautiful Face, dressed in a moon-white long dress, walked over.

As soon as she appeared, many Inner Sect Disciples around were drawn to her.

Their eyes held awe and admiration.

"Senior Sister Lin."

Liu Feifei stuck out her tongue, clearly quite afraid of this Senior Sister.

Chen Daoxuan's gaze slightly narrowed.

Lin Shiyue, a true influential figure among the Inner Sect Disciples!

Her Cultivation was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, only one step away from the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment Stage.

Rumor had it that her sword techniques were superb and her personality aloof!

She was one of the few Prodigies in the Sect generally believed to have the most hope of forming a Golden Core within a hundred years.

Two male Cultivators followed behind her!

Their Auras were all steady and profound, clearly experts at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

The strength of this team was definitely among the top ranks of all the Disciples entering the Secret Realm.

"Senior Sister Lin, let me introduce you. These are Senior Brother Chen Dao Xuan and Senior Brother Chen Dao Chu. Their father is the Head of the Ninghai Chen Family."

Liu Feifei, wanting to add some weight to the Chen brothers, quickly introduced them.

She pulled on Lin Shiyue's sleeve and whispered, "Senior Sister, our team happens to be short on people, so why don't we let Senior Brother Chen and them join? Two more people means two more strengths."

Lin Shiyue's gaze swept over Chen Daoxuan and Chen Daochu.

Her look was like she was appraising two pieces of goods, without any concealment.

When she sensed that Chen Daoxuan was only at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage,

And Chen Daochu's Cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage,

Her lips were full of disdain.

"Feifei, are you confused?"

"What is our goal this time? The dao rhyme golden lotus!"

"What kind of treasure is that? How can just anyone contend for it?"

She extended a slender finger and tapped Liu Feifei's forehead: "I've said it before, for this team-up, the minimum threshold is Late Foundation Establishment Stage."

"One Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, one just entered Foundation Establishment, why bring them? To be a burden?"

Liu Feifei's Face instantly turned pale.

She hadn't expected Senior Sister Lin to speak so harshly.

For a moment, she stood awkwardly, at a loss.

Chen Daochu's Face also darkened!

No matter how good-natured he was, he couldn't endure such public humiliation.

The Spiritual Qi within his body began to stir restlessly.

Lin Shiyue didn't even put their reactions in her eyes.

She looked at Liu Feifei coldly and warned, "I'm telling you, on this Secret Realm trip, you must stick close to me."

"If you dare to leave the team without permission, when we return to the Sect, see how I'll deal with you!"

Liu Feifei's eyes reddened, and she nodded aggrievedly.

Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense,

Chen Daoxuan stepped forward, bowing slightly to Lin Shiyue and Liu Feifei!

His Face still held that calm, unperturbed expression.

"Senior Sister Lin is right. My brother and I have shallow Cultivation and indeed shouldn't join in this excitement."

His tone was gentle and steady, without a hint of anger: "We are accustomed to acting alone, so we won't burden everyone. Junior Sister Liu, we appreciate your kind intentions."

His words not only gave Lin Shiyue a way out but also helped Liu Feifei.

Liu Feifei looked at Chen Daoxuan gratefully, a sigh of relief in her heart.

Lin Shiyue snorted coldly.

She seemed quite satisfied with Chen Daoxuan's understanding.

Without another word, she turned and led her team to the other side of the square.

"Senior Brothers, I'm sorry..."

Liu Feifei apologized softly before leaving.

"It's fine."

Chen Daochu smiled faintly.

Liu Feifei bit her lip, then plucked up her courage and said, "Then... after the trial, I'll treat you to tea at Listening Wind Lake at the foot of the Sect mountain, as an apology!"

After saying that, she was afraid Lin Shiyue would get impatient, so she blushed and quickly ran off.

"Listening Wind Lake? I've heard of that place. Many Dao Companions in the Sect like to go there for dates."

Once the people were far away, Chen Daoxuan smiled faintly and said, "It seems Junior Sister Liu has quite a good impression of you."

Chen Daochu smiled awkwardly: "Big Brother is joking... I really haven't thought about such romantic matters. Instead of thinking about these things, it's better to think more about how to deal with trouble."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the bustling crowd.

It landed on a small group not far away.

Leading them was Yun Zhan, whose brows carried a hint of belligerence.

Song Ren was following closely behind him.

The two were looking this way, their malice unconcealed in their eyes.

"See that? Song Ren and the person behind him."

Chen Daoxuan's voice lowered: "That Yun Zhan, at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, his strength is not to be underestimated. This Secret Realm, they will most likely make a move against us."

Chen Daochu's expression became serious: "Big Brother, I understand."

Just then, a vast and profound pressure descended from the sky.

It enveloped the entire square.

The originally noisy square instantly fell silent, and all the Disciples felt a tremor in their hearts.

They all looked up at the sky.

On the high platform in the center of the square, an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a grey Daoist robe, had appeared at some unknown time.

He looked ordinary, but merely standing there,

It was as if he had merged with the entire world.

"Greetings, Elder Jiuge!"

Thousands of Disciples, including the Golden Core Elders suspended in mid-air, all bowed in unison.

Their voices merged into a torrent.

This was none other than the Grand Elder of the Qingyun Immortal Sect, the highest in seniority!

Gu Jiuge, rumored to be nearly a thousand years old!

His Cultivation was unfathomable.

Grand Elder Gu Jiuge's gaze slowly swept over the thousands of Disciples below, his voice resounding directly in everyone's minds: "For this Secret Realm trial, the rules remain the same."

"It will last for one month. Life and death within are left to fate."

"Everything you obtain in the Secret Realm can be exchanged for Sect contributions, and ultimately, based on value, the Sect will offer additional generous rewards."

He paused, his voice suddenly becoming authoritative: "However, the situation is special this time. I presume you have also heard that the dao rhyme golden lotus has appeared in Longevity Mountain within the Secret Realm."

"This is a Heaven And Earth Treasure, and only the virtuous shall possess it."

"But around treasures, there must be danger."

"To contend or not to contend, it is entirely up to your own will."

"I will only remind you: while Opportunity is good, life is more important. Do not let greed blind your minds!"

"We respectfully obey Elder's teachings!"

The Disciples responded in unison again, but in everyone's eyes, a fervent flame ignited.

dao rhyme golden lotus!

The Grand Elder personally confirmed the news!

Making the atmosphere of the entire square subtle.

The formerly harmonious fellow Disciples now looked at each other,

A hint of vigilance and wariness in their eyes.

"Time is up, open the gate!"

With the Grand Elder's command, he and a dozen Golden Core Elders in mid-air simultaneously formed hand seals.

They unleashed brilliant spiritual lights.

All of them struck the ancient stone gate, a hundred zhang high, in the center of the square.

Buzz—!

The stone gate vibrated violently!

The array patterns carved on it lit up one by one, emitting vast spatial fluctuations.

In the very center of the stone gate, space began to twist and collapse.

Eventually forming a bottomless, slowly rotating black vortex.

The Secret Realm, had opened!

"Charge!"

Someone shouted, and the nearest Disciples instantly transformed into streaks of light, controlling their Magical Artifacts, rushing into the black vortex one after another.

For a moment, sword light, treasure light, and escape light intertwined!

Thousands of Disciples, like migrating fish, swarmed in.

Chen Daoxuan and Chen Daochu mingled in the crowd, neither fast nor slow.

They flew towards the stone gate with the flow of people.

The moment they passed through the vortex, a strong sense of spatial tearing came, making them dizzy.

But this feeling only lasted for a brief moment. The next moment, their vision suddenly cleared.

A Spiritual Qi ten times more abundant than the outside world rushed towards them.

It carried the fresh scent of plants and an ancient Aura.

As far as the eye could see, there was an endless primeval forest, with towering ancient trees blocking out the sun.

In the distance, mountains undulated, and from time to time, the roar of huge beasts echoed, shaking one's heart.

"So... such rich Spiritual Qi!"

"Oh my god, I feel like cultivating here for one day is equivalent to cultivating for ten days in an Immortal Cave!"

"Look, there's a three-hundred-year-old Purple Blood Ginseng over there!"

The Disciples who had just entered the Secret Realm were almost all shocked by the sight before them and the rich Spiritual Qi.

Many even sat down cross-legged directly, beginning to greedily breathe in the Qi!

Others had shining eyes, searching everywhere, afraid of missing any Spiritual Plant.

The entire area near the entrance was in chaos.

"Big Brother, we..."

Chen Daochu was also somewhat tempted; the Spiritual Qi here was too alluring.

"Don't waste time."

Chen Daoxuan's voice resounded: "The area near the entrance has been scoured countless times by Disciples throughout the generations. Even if there are treasures, they are all worthless items."

Without any hesitation, he immediately took out the beast skin map from his Storage Pouch, quickly identified the direction, and pointed to a mountain range covered in black mist in the northwest, saying in a deep voice: "Our target is there, the Black Mist Swamp. Let's go!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already soared on his sword, transforming into a streak of green sword light, skimming the treetops, and speeding towards the predetermined target.

Seeing this, Chen Daochu immediately put aside his thoughts and followed closely.

The figures of the two brothers soon disappeared into the vast primeval forest... Inside the Chen Family Mansion, in the study.

Chen Xu was alone, handling the Family's daily affairs, but the brush in his hand remained still for a long time.

His thoughts had long drifted elsewhere.

Dao Xuan and Dao Chu had entered the Sect Secret Realm some time ago; he wondered how they were doing.

Tong Yuan and the other children, who had their Cultivation Technique abolished and were now re-cultivating, had also reached the most critical period, and no mistakes could be afforded.

The Family's Medicine Garden, Beast Pens, Artifact Refining Pavilion, and Talisman Room... everything was developing in an orderly manner; the framework was already built, and the flesh was slowly being filled in.

But Chen Xu knew clearly that these were all external.

The true core of a Family's Legacy was its people and its Cultivation Technique.

His own Foundation was created by the System and could not be replicated.

Although Sun Xiaoyue and the others had completed Earth Path Foundation Establishment using the Qi of the earth veins, their Foundation was far superior to ordinary people!

However, the Cultivation Technique they Cultivated was still only a Profound-grade Cultivation Technique circulated within the Qingyun Immortal Sect.

With a Profound-grade Cultivation Technique, Foundation Establishment was already the limit!

To attempt Core Formation with it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

The Chen Family severely lacked High Grade Cultivation Techniques that could support the Family in going further.

This was the biggest Bottleneck restricting the Family's development!

It was also a dark cloud that lingered in his heart.

Just then, the study door was gently knocked.

"Head of the Chen Family."

It was Chu Xuan's voice, steady and reserved.

"Come in."

Chu Xuan pushed the door open, his expression somewhat unusual: "Head of the Chen Family, someone is requesting an audience outside."

"I'm not seeing anyone."

Chen Xu didn't even lift his head. Recently, too many forces in Ninghai Town wanted to curry favor with the Chen Family, and he was too lazy to deal with any of them.

"The other party said they are from the Great Feng Imperial Family."

Chu Xuan added in a low voice.

Chen Xu's pen tip paused, leaving an ink dot on the paper.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze slightly condensed.

Imperial Family?

The Great Feng Dynasty's territory was vast, and the Imperial Family resided in the capital city, separated from a remote place like Ninghai Town by more than ten thousand li.

How could their people suddenly find him here?

"How many people came? What kind of entourage?"

Chen Xu asked in a deep voice.

"Only one carriage and two attendants. They have all restrained their Aura, so their Cultivation cannot be discerned."

"The carriage is very ordinary, but the horses pulling it are two second-tier peak Wind Chasing Horses."

Chu Xuan answered truthfully.

Using second-tier peak Spirit Beasts as horses seemed low-key, but in reality, it was another way of showcasing their strength.

"Have them wait in the Council Hall."

Chen Xu put down his pen and stood up.

Regardless of the other party's intention, the Imperial Family's Face could not be ignored... In the Council Hall, a middle-aged man in brocade robes, looking about forty years old, was sitting and sipping tea.

His Face was refined, his temperament gentle, and a smile played on his lips.

He showed no trace of Imperial Family majesty, looking more like a wealthy old man.

The two attendants behind him stood like spears, their Aura solid.

As Chen Xu walked into the Council Hall, his gaze swept over the middle-aged man, and he made a judgment in his heart.

This person seemed ordinary, but his internal Qi and blood were profound, and his magical power was hidden and unreleased!

He was definitely a master of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, perhaps even not far from Great Perfection.

"I am Chen Xu. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. May I ask what brings Your Excellency from the Imperial City so far away?"

Chen Xu did not engage in pleasantries and went straight to the point.

The middle-aged man put down his teacup, stood up, cupped his hands to Chen Xu, and smiled, "Head of the Chen Family is straightforward. I am Li Jing, a humble Imperial Family Enshrined. My presumptuous visit today is for two matters."

"I'm listening."

"The first matter is that I wish to discuss a collaboration with the Head of the Chen Family."

Li Jing's smile remained unchanged, but his tone became a little more serious.

"Collaboration?"

Chen Xu remained calm, "My Chen Family, rooted in Ninghai, is just a small Family. I wonder what about us could catch the Imperial Family's Dharma Eye?"

"Head of the Chen Family is too modest."

Li Jing waved his hand, "The Ninghai Chen Family has risen in just a few years, and the Head of the Family, with his Foundation Establishment Cultivation, fought against a Golden Core Great Demon without defeat. Such strength and such Foundation cannot be considered a small Family."

Chen Xu's eyes slightly darkened.

His battle with the Star-Galloping Wolf King, although significant in scale.

But it was deep within the Flowing Cloud Mountain Range.

Aside from Wu Wan and a few others, outsiders would find it difficult to know the details.

The Imperial Family's intelligence capabilities were indeed extraordinary.

"Fellow Daoist overpraises me. I merely relied on the power of a Magic Treasure and narrowly escaped death."

Chen Xu said lightly, neither admitting nor denying it.

Li Jing smiled and did not dwell on this issue.

He changed the subject, "To be honest, my Great Feng Imperial Family has recently had some disputes with the neighboring Black Water Nation over the ownership of a newly discovered Immortal Cave, and war has already broken out."

"What does a national war have to do with me? My Chen Family is weak and does not wish to be involved in such conflicts."

Chen Xu directly stated his position.

"Head of the Chen Family misunderstands."

Li Jing quickly explained, "We are not asking the Chen Family to send people to war, but rather to ask the Head of the Chen Family to do us a favor."

He paused, looking intently at Chen Xu, "We would like to ask the Head of the Chen Family to draw a batch of special Talismans for our Imperial Family."

As these words were spoken, the air in the Council Hall seemed to solidify.

Chen Xu's brows also furrowed slightly.

The fact that he knew the Talisman Dao was not a secret in Ninghai Town.

But outsiders only knew that he could draw second-tier Talismans.

But the tone of this Imperial Family Enshrined.

Clearly, he was not asking for ordinary first or second-tier Talismans.

"Fellow Daoist Li is joking. I, Chen, have only a slight dabbling in the Talisman Dao. Drawing some first-tier Talismans is still possible, but for higher-tier ones, I am willing but unable."

Chen Xu's tone remained calm.

"Why is the Head of the Chen Family so modest?"

Li Jing's smile became somewhat meaningful, "Others may not know, but we are very clear that the Head of the Family's Talisman Dao attainment has long since entered the inner hall, and perhaps he is only one step away from becoming a third-tier Talisman Great Master, isn't he?"

Chen Xu's internal alarm bells rang loudly.

The secret that he could draw High Grade second-tier, or even third-tier Talismans!

Apart from his Family, absolutely no outsiders knew.

How did the Imperial Family know after all?

Seeing the fleeting look of surprise on Chen Xu's Face, Li Jing knew that the time was right.

He picked up his teacup, gently blew on it, and as if casually mentioning it, slowly uttered a name.

"Yue Guanshan."

Boom!

This name, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Chen Xu's mind.

Yue Guanshan!

The False Core Cultivator he had killed by scheme!

He had done this matter extremely secretly!

Afterward, he had even cleared all traces, not even leaving half a bone.

How could they know?

A monstrous wave surged in Chen Xu's heart.

But his Face still maintained that calm, unruffled appearance.

He merely took a small sip from the teacup he held.

"I don't understand what Fellow Daoist is saying."

"Hehe, Head of the Chen Family, there's no need to be nervous."

Li Jing put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and said, "Yue Guanshan, although he was a chess piece secretly supported by our Imperial Family, his character was improper, and his actions were erratic, which had long displeased many people."

"Our people placed a Thousand Cause Curse on him."

"This curse has no lethality; it's just a mark."

"If he dies, the curse power will attach to the person who killed him and last for a hundred years. We only need to follow the lingering Aura of the curse power to find the killer."

Li Jing's gaze swept over Chen Xu, indicating something.

"Head of the Chen Family, the remnant of that curse power is now on you."

Chen Xu's heart sank slightly.

He understood why the other party was so certain.

This was not speculation but ironclad evidence.

This was no longer a test, but a showdown.

The magical power within him began to circulate slowly.

Ready to deal with the worst-case scenario at any moment.

This Li Jing, and the two attendants behind him, would likely not leave this door today.

The atmosphere in the Council Hall instantly dropped to freezing point.

Just as the tension was rising, Li Jing suddenly smiled, his Aura completely restrained, and he waved his hand, saying, "Head of the Chen Family, I'll say it again, we are not here for revenge."

"That useless Yue Guanshan, if he's dead, then he's dead."

"To be honest, his death at the Head of the Family's hands actually made us sigh with relief. It saved us the trouble of doing it ourselves and getting a reputation for mistreating subordinates."

"On the contrary, we should thank the Head of the Family for removing a problem for us and for allowing us to discover an unpolished jade like you."

"What we truly value is you, Head of the Family."

Li Jing's tone became sincere, "A talent who is decisive in action, powerful in strength, and also proficient in High Grade Talisman Dao is far more valuable than a troublemaker like Yue Guanshan."

"Therefore, the Imperial Family wants to change the person they cooperate with."

The killing intent in Chen Xu's eyes slowly receded, but his vigilance did not decrease in the slightest.

He was silent for a moment, digesting the immense amount of information.

The Imperial Family's methods were more ruthless and pragmatic than he had imagined.

If a chess piece was useless, they didn't care, and even welcomed it.

Then they immediately looked for a more valuable new chess piece.

"Tell me, what Talismans do you want?"

Chen Xu asked. Since the other party had made things clear, pretending to be ignorant was meaningless.

Seeing Chen Xu relent, a genuine smile appeared on Li Jing's Face, "We want a type of third-tier Low Grade auxiliary Talisman, called 'Spirit Invocation Talisman'."

"Spirit Invocation Talisman?"

Chen Xu quickly searched his mind.

He soon remembered.

This was an extremely special Talisman, with no offensive or defensive capabilities of its own.

Its only function, once activated, was to form a purification field within a certain range.

It dispelled and resisted various evil, foul, and Devilish Qi.

"It seems the Immortal Cave you are contending for is not simple."

Chen Xu said lightly.

"The Head of the Family is indeed intelligent."

Li Jing admitted frankly, "There seems to be some residual ancient Devilish Qi in that Secret Realm, which greatly corrodes the magical power of our Cultivators."

"And our opponent, the Black Water Nation, Cultivates the Cultivation Technique of sinister and treacherous Dao, thriving in such an environment, causing us heavy losses."

"If there are enough Spirit Invocation Talismans, the tide of battle can be turned."

"I have only seen this Talisman in ancient texts and do not know how to draw it."

Chen Xu spoke truthfully.

"We naturally know that."

Li Jing smiled, "As long as the Head of the Family agrees to cooperate, the complete Legacy Jade Slip of the Spirit Invocation Talisman, as well as all the Materials required for drawing it, will be provided by our Imperial Family."

Chen Xu's heart began to stir.

A Legacy delivered to his doorstep, Materials delivered to his doorstep—this was also an excellent Opportunity for his own advancement in the Talisman Dao.