525: One family, two ancestors

The Grand Immortal Assembly arrived as scheduled.

Within the Eighty-First Fortress City, Dao rhyme was like a sea, with intertwining rays of light.

Jade platforms floated in the Void Realm, and the Dao Ancestors sat upon them, some chatting and laughing, others closing their eyes to meditate, their Qi machines interacting, causing the Heavenly Dao's Laws to resonate.

Xu Qing, in a blue robe, sat quietly among the seats.

Although this assembly did not bring him an Epiphany in the Dao, the path of cultivation was long, and some Karma needed to be established early.

The Xu Family was in its developmental stage, and these individuals were backed by major Human Race powers from various regions, or were from races friendly with the Human Race. For the Xu Family, they were excellent partners to befriend.

"Dao Friend Xu, I heard you discussed the Dao with Senior Zixu for three days recently?" Dao Ancestor Danxia held a jade pot, smiling as he poured him a cup of immortal brew, "That old Senior has extremely high standards; to receive a word of praise from him is no simple feat."

Xu Qing raised his cup and took a light sip, smiling, "It was merely a stroke of luck that I shared a few shallow insights; Senior overpraises me."

"You're too modest," Dao Ancestor Xuanming shook his head from the side, "What kind of person is Senior Zixu? If he found it shallow, he probably wouldn't even bother to lift an eyelid."

All the Dao Ancestors laughed at these words.

Amidst the clinking of cups, Xu Qing chatted with the Dao Ancestors about everything, from Secret Realms deep within the Chaos Sea to strange anecdotes from myriad worlds, and even their personal insights on their respective cultivation paths.

Although there were no profound Dao debates, through their conversations, they implicitly formed a good Karma with each other.

"Dao Friend Xu, if you ever pass by my Xuanming Divine City in the future, you must visit my humble abode for a chat." Dao Ancestor Xuanming took out a dark blue Jade Slip and handed it over, "This item can guide your direction and also serves as a token."

Xu Qing solemnly accepted it, "I will certainly pay you a visit."

Similar scenes played out repeatedly.

Dao Ancestor Yuxiao invited him to explore a Secret Realm of music together a century later; Dao Ancestor Fentian, on the other hand, made an agreement with him that once his sword Dao made another Breakthrough, they would spar again.

Even Zixu, the Three-Step Dao Ancestor, left a message before parting, "If you encounter any difficulties, young friend, you may seek me at the Seventy-Fourth Fortress City."

Seven days passed in a flash.

On the last day, a towering jade platform rose in the center of the Fortress City, and the Dao Ancestors successively took out their treasured collections for bartering.

"One piece of this world's Dao Origin, in exchange for a Supreme Treasure capable of suppressing an Ancient Heavenly Origin Beast."

"A bottle of Nine-Revolving Dao Yellow Pills, seeking a spatial Chaos Supreme Treasure."

The calls rose and fell.

Xu Qing strolled among them, eventually exchanging three wisps of Grand Primeval Origin Qi for a Grand Void Dao Fruit; and an ancient Formation diagram for seven Chaos Star Sand from Dao Ancestor Xinghe.

These were all rare treasures, greatly beneficial to the Disciples of his clan.

As the sun set, the immortals gradually departed.

Xu Qing stood on the city wall, watching streaks of light cut through the long sky, disappearing into the depths of Chaos.

Dao Ancestor Xuanwei appeared beside him at some point, and softly asked, "How was your harvest this time?"

"Extremely fruitful," Xu Qing said sincerely, "Thank you, City Lord, for the introduction."

Xuanwei shook his head and smiled, "Karma has its own destiny. That you can gain the favor of the Fellow Daoists is your own good fortune."

After a pause, he continued, "What are your plans next?"

Xu Qing looked towards the endless Chaos, his gaze distant: "After many years of secluded cultivation, it's time to go out and explore. However, I will leave a Dao Body behind; if the city faces trouble, just call for me!"

"Alright! It's good for young people to go out and explore more!" Dao Ancestor Xuanwei smiled.

That night, Xu Qing had a small gathering with Lei Xiao and several other Deputy City Lords.

After three rounds of drinks, Lei Xiao, with a slurred tongue, said, "Brother Xu, don't be like the City Lord, always appearing and disappearing like a Dragon. Remember to come out and visit often!"

Xu Qing smiled and agreed.

At dawn the next day, he left a Dao Body to guard the Fortress City, while his true self quietly departed, without alarming anyone.

In the Chaos Sea, a green figure gradually moved further away. Xu Qing walked on the waves, his robes fluttering.

His mind was clear; this journey was not for seeking treasures, nor for visiting friends, but solely to find his own true — Great Dao.

From now on, he would walk the Great Dao alone, only to Breakthrough the past methods.

Chaos surged, and the Void Realm trembled.

A sharp sword light suddenly tore through the gray mist, revealing the figures battling within.

It was a young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, dressed in a white tight-fitting suit, his long sword in hand as if an extension of his arm. Each sword strike carried a sharpness capable of slaying a Half-Ancestor.

The young man was none other than Xu Yuan.

His opponent was a One-Step Dao Ancestor-level Chaos Ancient Beast, shaped like a giant lizard but with six wings, its scales shimmering with a metallic cold light, and space itself twisted when it roared.

"Roar—"

The Ancient Beast raged, its six wings flapping, stirring up a Chaos storm.

Its sharp claws swiped down, tearing several cracks in space as if it were thin paper.

Xu Yuan's figure moved like a Dragon, weaving through the Ancient Beast's furious attacks. His sword light traced profound trajectories, carving brilliant star marks in the Chaos.

"Almost there."

Suddenly, Xu Yuan whispered, and the long sword in his hand abruptly stilled.

At this instant, time seemed to freeze.

The next moment.

"Clang!"

The sword's clear chime rang out, and a point of starlight bloomed from the sword tip.

The light was initially only the size of a grain of rice, but in an instant, it expanded, transforming into a galaxy spanning the Chaos!

"Pfft!"

The starlight pierced through the Ancient Beast's brow, and its massive body suddenly stiffened.

Its six wings froze, and on its ferocious head, a point of starlight slowly spread.

"Boom!"

The Ancient Beast's body disintegrated inch by inch, turning into a sky full of Chaos energy, which was absorbed by Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan sheathed his sword, his movements fluid and graceful.

In the distance, several lurking Chaos Ancient Beasts, seeing this, roared lowly and retreated into the depths of Chaos.

"A thousand years have passed in a blink..."

Xu Yuan looked at the still turbulent Chaos Sea around him, muttering softly.

With his talent, he could have broken through to the One-Step Dao Ancestor realm a thousand years ago, but he chose to continue accumulating, polishing his Foundation to the extreme.

A thousand years might be but a fleeting moment for ordinary Cultivators, but for him, it was enough to extract every bit of his potential to its limit.

"It's time."

Xu Yuan looked up, his eyes seemingly holding the rotation of galaxies.

"Buzz—"

The Void Realm suddenly split open, and as Chaos Qi currents surged, Xu Yuan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, his right hand already resting on his sword hilt.

However, upon seeing the approaching figure clearly, he suddenly relaxed, his eyes bursting with pleasant surprise: "Big Brother!"

Xu Qing stepped through the Void Realm, his blue robe fluttering, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Breakthrough with peace of mind; I will protect your Dao."

He swept his gaze across this Chaos, "My Xu Family should now have two Ancestors."

"Good!"

Xu Yuan nodded heavily, his Battle Intent even stronger in his eyes.

The two brothers exchanged smiles, a thousand words unspoken.

Half a day later, a barren continent quietly floated in the Chaos Sea.

This continent had long since lost all vitality, and even the Great Dao was incomplete, yet it was perfectly suitable as a place for Undergoing Tribulation, free from external interference and without affecting the innocent.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged in the center of the continent, and a terrifying Aura began to surge around him.

His accumulated Foundation of a thousand years was now completely released. The energy within him boiled like a vast ocean, forming an energy vortex above his head that connected heaven and earth.

The Chaos Sea trembled, and countless chains of the Great Dao emerged from the Void Realm.

Xu Qing stood with his hands behind his back in the Void Realm, Dao patterns flowing in his eyes.

With a flick of his sleeve, nine Formation Flags whistled out, landing respectively in nine directions of the continent.

"Rise!"

With a soft shout, vast Formation patterns instantly covered the entire continent.

The Formation took the shape of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, with Chaos Qi swirling on the outer layer, and starlight twinkling on the inner layer, further enhanced by a wisp of Primordial Dao rhyme flowing within.

This Formation, named the Nine Extremes Primordial Formation, when fully activated, was enough to withstand the attacks of a Three-Step Dao Ancestor!

Time flew by, three years later!

"Boom!"

A brand new Dao Ancestor pressure swept in all directions, causing the entire Chaos Sea to tremble.

Xu Yuan stepped out, Dao lotuses blooming beneath his feet, and a sword-shaped Dao pattern appearing on his brow.

One-Step Dao Ancestor, achieved!

"Congratulations," Xu Qing withdrew the Grand Formation and came before his younger brother.

Xu Yuan grinned, "Brother, I did it!"

Xu Qing's eyes were filled with relief, "Let's go, it's time to go home and see."

The two brothers smiled at each other, their figures simultaneously disappearing into the Chaos.

Not long after they left, several powerful Divine Thoughts swept across this area.

An ancient voice echoed in the Chaos: "The Human Race... another extraordinary figure is about to emerge."