110: Fourth Generation: Overlord (Part Six)

When the news reached the capital, the beleaguered King Xia was struggling to suppress rebellions on all sides, his military forces stretched thin.

Seeing that the Wang Family had "voluntarily" stepped forward to stabilize a region with notable results, King Xia, though suspicious, decided to go with the flow to secure the support of this powerful, thousand-year-old Noble Families and to set an example for others; he issued an imperial decree of commendation and officially appointed Wang Yuan as the "Pacifying Barbarians Colonel."

He was authorized to take charge of military affairs in Qingping County and suppress those who refused to submit!

When the imperial edict stamped with King Xia's jade seal and the official seal symbolizing his rank were delivered to Xu Yuan, he clearly felt the long-dormant Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art within his body begin to operate slowly on its own!

Wisps of pale golden, warm, and majestic power began to permeate from the Void Realm, merging into his limbs and bones.

That was not Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but something far more profound and grand—the Luck of the Dynasty!

Although this Luck was still very weak, stemming only from the recognition of a single county and a relatively modest official rank, for Xu Yuan, who had craved it for ten years, it was like sweet rain after a long drought!

"Boom!"

The Bottleneck of the fourth stage of Qi Refining, which had been as immovable as a stubborn rock, actually began to loosen under the scouring of this power of Luck!

If it were relying solely on a little bit of Luck, it naturally would not be enough for Xu Yuan to achieve a Breakthrough, but do not forget that over the previous ten years, Xu Yuan had used a vast amount of precious resources within the Wang Family; it was only because he lacked Luck that they failed to take effect and instead remained hidden within Xu Yuan's body as a Foundation.

Now, having received the nourishment of Luck, the long-dormant Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art and Purple Star Emperor Body finally began to exert their effects, triggering the Foundation that had accumulated within Xu Yuan.

The saying, "The golden scale is no creature of the pond; once it encounters wind and rain, it turns into a Dragon," is exactly this!

However, when news of Xu Yuan's "glory" and Breakthrough in Qingping County reached the ears of Wang Jue, it was like throwing oil on a fire, causing the resentment he had suppressed for ten years to erupt completely.

"Pacifying Barbarians Colonel? Hah! The Family spent countless resources and mobilized the Shadow Guard to build momentum for him, just for such a sesame-sized petty official?!"

In his own cultivation room, Wang Jue was so angry he was almost driven mad.

What he saw was the Family sparing no expense for that "trash," while he, the recognized Genius, seemed to have been cast into a forgotten corner.

Especially when he heard that to ensure Xu Yuan's safety and the smooth progress of his operations in Qingping County, the Family had even secretly reallocated a batch of precious Medicinal Pill and Talisman that should have been supplied to him for the use of the Shadow Guard!

"Why?! I am the eldest legitimate son of the Wang Family! I am the future head of the Family! What right does he, Wang Yuan, have?!"

Wang Jue could no longer restrain himself and rushed straight to his father, Wang Qingshan's, study.

"Father!" Wang Jue pushed open the door, his face somewhat twisted with anger. "I don't understand! Why is the Family putting so much effort into cultivating my second brother?"

"After ten years of hard Cultivate, he is only at the fourth stage of Qi Refining; his Aptitude is extremely mediocre!"

"And now, you are pouring a large amount of resources into that bottomless pit of Qingping County just to fight for a hollow reputation for him?"

"What benefit does this have for our Wang Family? And for me... where is the fairness in this?!"

Wang Qingshan looked at his emotionally agitated eldest son before him, his brows slightly furrowed, but he did not reprimand him.

He understood how Wang Jue felt; after all, if he did not know the inside story, he would likely think the same.

He waved away the attendants, set up a soundproofing barrier, and looked at Wang Jue, saying in a deep voice: "Jue'er, you are my most outstanding son, and the future of the Family should be shouldered by you. But some matters concern the thousand-year grand plan of our Wang Family and are extraordinary."

He paused, finally deciding to reveal part of the truth to pacify Wang Jue: "Yuan'er... he is not of mediocre Aptitude. He received the recognition of the Transmission Hall and obtained a supreme Cultivation Technique that our Wang Family has lost for a thousand years."

"A supreme Cultivation Technique?" Wang Jue was stunned.

"Indeed." Wang Qingshan's gaze was deep. "This technique is called the 'Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art,' and it cannot be cultivated by anyone without great Luck and a great destiny. Its power is infinite, and it is even more related to the Luck of the Dynasty. Yuan'er obtaining its recognition means he is the person destined by Heaven, and in the future... he may perhaps achieve deeds comparable to our Wang Family's ancestors!"

"Everything the Family is doing now is paving the way for him, and it is also an investment in the ten-thousand-year Foundation of our Wang Family!"

Wang Qingshan had assumed that by revealing this secret concerning the fate of the Family, his eldest son would be able to understand and support it.

However, he had underestimated the pride and ambition of a peerless Genius.

After listening, Wang Jue was first shocked, and then a deeper sense of unwillingness surged from the bottom of his heart.

"Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art"? Ancestral deeds? What utter bullshit!

"Just because he obtained a Cultivation Technique, I have to step aside? I have to live under his shadow?"

"What right! I am a Genius too!"

"In my life, I, Wang Jue, will never be inferior to anyone!"

"Rather than gambling on that illusory ancestral glory, why can't I—Wang Jue—lead the Wang Family to a more glorious future?"

"How can I not surpass our ancestors?!"

Monstrous jealousy and ambition intertwined in his heart, but on the surface, Wang Jue did not reveal the slightest bit.

Instead, Wang Jue quickly restrained all his emotions, simply lowering his head slightly to hide the murderous intent that was almost overflowing from his eyes, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "So... that is how it is. This child... understands."

Wang Jue understood that as long as Wang Yuan was alive, and as long as that "Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art" still existed, the Family's core resources and support would always tilt toward Wang Yuan.

He, Wang Jue, would always only be the backup who "could stabilize the Family," not the only one who "could plot for the world!"

Seeing his eldest son understand, Wang Qingshan was slightly comforted and patted his shoulder: "Jue'er, your talent is unmatched, and the Family needs you just the same. Once Yuan'er stabilizes his Foundation, the two of you brothers will work together; why worry that our Wang Family won't prosper?"

Wang Jue bowed respectfully: "Father's instruction is correct; this child will certainly strive to Cultivate and will not fail the Family's expectations."

However, the moment he exited the study and turned to leave, the respect on his face instantly turned into icy coldness.

"Wang Yuan... you must die!"

A clear and cold thought took root and sprouted in his heart.

"If I do not kill you, my path of Dao will be difficult to traverse! If I do not kill you, how can I reach the Peak?!"

Qingping County, deep within the Colonel's residence, in the quiet room.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged, the aura around him no longer as stagnant as dead water like the past ten years, but rather like a river thawing in early spring; although it still appeared slow, it flowed slowly with an undeniable vitality and potential.

That wisp of pale golden Luck, descending from the Void Realm and originating from his "Pacifying Barbarians Colonel" rank and the recognition of the county, was like the purest sweet dew, continuously merging into his limbs and bones.

The "Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art" operated on its own with unprecedented efficiency, guiding this wisp of Luck to cleanse his Meridians and nourish the long-dormant "Purple Star Emperor Body."

A more important change occurred in his Dantian and Qi Sea.

Over the past ten years, the vast medicinal power and spiritual energy that had accumulated relying on massive resources but were difficult to refine due to a lack of Luck were now, under the induction of the power of Luck, finally truly activated and refined.

They were like dry firewood being ignited, turning into a pure torrent of spiritual power, pushing Xu Yuan's cultivation to climb at an unprecedented speed.

The Bottleneck of the fourth stage of Qi Refining, under the dual impact of Luck and Foundation, was easily pierced like thin paper.

But this was far from over.

Mid Stage of the fourth stage of Qi Refining, Late Stage... Peak!

In just three days of quiet meditation, Xu Yuan's cultivation advanced like a bamboo being split, forcefully breaking through the barrier of the fifth stage of Qi Refining, and the momentum did not stop, continuing to rise steadily!

This speed, if known to the outside world, would be enough to drop jaws to the ground, forming a tragic contrast with the "snail's pace" of the past ten years.