Jade Spring Mountain, its summit is shrouded in a light spiritual mist throughout the year. Scattered across the mountain are dozens of blue-gray buildings—this is the clan land of the Tang Clan.
In the center of the clan land is the assembly hall, where the scent of sandalwood lingers, yet it cannot dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the air.
Tang Wuya, dressed in a deep blue brocade robe with the Pill Furnace Clan Emblem of the Tang Clan embroidered on its hem, is the current Clan Leader of the Tang Clan, with Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. He is also a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemist, but at this moment, his brows are tightly knit, his expression is extremely unsightly.
To his left sits a middle-aged cultivator clad in a gray daoist robe, who is none other than Tang Clan's Grand Elder, Tang Wuji, with Foundation Establishment Early-stage cultivation, and also a Tier Two Alchemist, presently showing a worried face, the teacup in his hand long cold but untouched.
"Clan Leader, the Zhou Clan comes with ill intent!"
Tang Wuji first breaks the silence, his voice carrying a hint of anxiety:
"That Zhou Wenlong sent word that Jade Spring Mountain was originally the ancestral land of the Zhou Clan, and demands us to vacate within a month, or else they'll 'cleanse their household'—this is clearly a deliberate provocation!"
Tang Wuya gently shakes his head, his tone full of helplessness:
"How could I not know? But who could have expected the Zhou Clan to catch such a lucky break, producing a Zhou Wenhua with an innate transmutation talent, even forming ties with Master Fake Pill of Peach Blossom Immortal City."
He pauses, pressing his fingertips on the table, leaving a shallow imprint: "The Zhou Clan has a Fake Pill Cultivator backing them. If we don't handle this well, it could mean complete disaster!"
Tang Wuji heaves a heavy sigh upon hearing this.
The Tang Clan has focused on stable management for generations. Nowadays, the clan boasts not only two Foundation Establishment cultivators but also both are Tier Two Alchemists, accumulating numerous connections through alchemy.
Within the clan, there are three or four juniors hoping to achieve Foundation Establishment, having respectively joined the Qinghua Sect and Li Xiao Sect, holding promise for the future.
With such strength, even a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator must weigh their actions carefully, but unfortunately, Zhou Chonghu is backed by a Master Fake Pill.
Een lepel voor het slapengaan, en de wormen zullen binnen een dag uit het lichaam verdwijnenOpen
His son, Zhou Wenlong, not only apprenticed under Master Peach Blossom but also became Peach Blossom's favorite concubine due to his exceptional talent, leaving them no room for resistance.
"Zhou Wenlong's claim of returning to Jade Spring Mountain is simply preposterous!"
Tang Wuji's voice grows more agitated, slamming the table in anger, causing the teacup to tremble slightly:
"The Jade Spring Zhou Clan was exterminated by the Li Clan seven to eight hundred years ago. How could there be any descendants left?"
"Zhou Chonghu was clearly a Loose Cultivator, amassing his wealth through deceit, yet now he adorns himself with false honors, shamelessly claiming nonexistent ancestral ties!"
Tang Wuya doesn't join in the complaint, closing his eyes and gently tracing a Pill Formula Jade Scroll with his finger before speaking again, tone uncertain:
"I have some acquaintance with Elder Wu from the Dan Vein of Qinghua Sect. I'll immediately send a message asking him to mediate and see if Zhou Chonghu will give Qinghua Sect any face."
Hope flickers in Tang Wuji's eyes, but quickly dims:
"We can only barely give this a try, but Master Peach Blossom has always been protective. Although Elder Wu is highly skilled in alchemy, he is still no Master Fake Pill and may not be able to dominate..."
Before he can finish, a pale purple ripple suddenly arises in the void above the assembly hall, spreading in layers.
Immediately afterwards, a figure dressed in a purple-gold daoist robe slowly emerges from the ripple, hovering in the center of the assembly hall.
Chen Sheng originally intended to leave a transmission with the Tang Clan as a reward concerning the Imperial Mausoleum of the Tang Country, but upon hearing of the Zhou Clan's news, decided to manifest himself...
As the purple-robed figure appears, a momentum as vast as the mountains and seas instantly engulfs the entire assembly hall.
Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji feel as if a huge stone is pressing on their chests, making it difficult to breathe. The spiritual qi around them seems frozen, making mana circulation arduous.
Their faces turn ashen in an instant, their legs trembling uncontrollably as they cast terrified glances at Chen Sheng.
This momentum surpasses any cultivator they've ever encountered, even the Golden Core Sect Leaders of the two sects have never exhibited such terrifying oppression!
"Greetings, senior! May I know which Master Real Man you are?"
Drawing upon his will, Tang Wuya extends a greeting to Chen Sheng, his voice quivering with fear. Tang Wuji quickly follows suit, bowing deeply, not daring any hint of disrespect.
Chen Sheng looks down at the two, his gaze calm yet exuding undeniable majesty.
Raising his hand, he waves vaguely toward them, releasing a seven-colored spiritual light from his fingertips, wrapping around Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji like a ribbon:
"Speak of the Zhou and Li Clans... leave no detail hidden."
As the seven-colored spiritual light touches them, Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji feel a peculiar force entering their consciousness, compelling them to confess the truth.
Tang Wuya speaks first, his voice unnaturally fluent:
"To answer senior, four hundred years ago, the Li Clan occupying Jade Spring Mountain declined. The last Foundation Establishment cultivator fell while training outside, and the clan's members scattered, forced to sell Jade Spring Mountain to the Cyan Wood Commerce Association to repay debts..."
"Later, an ancestor of our Tang Clan achieved Foundation Establishment and bought Jade Spring Mountain from the Cyan Wood Commerce Association to use as clan land, continuing to this day."
Tang Wuji adds:
"Zhou Clan's Zhou Chonghu was a Loose Cultivator who only established himself at the Thousand Machines Market twenty years ago. Later, his son Zhou Wenlong apprenticed under Master Peach Blossom of Peach Blossom Immortal City, and even became her most favored concubine..."
"With Zhou Wenlong's help, Zhou Chonghu also achieved Foundation Establishment, then claimed he aimed to revive the Jade Spring Zhou Clan, seeking to seize the Tang Clan's foundation!"
"As for Master Peach Blossom..."
Tang Wuya pauses, a hint of dread in his voice:
"Originally a Loose Cultivator, three hundred years ago, remnants of the Demon Sect were suppressed by Qinghua Sect and Li Xiao Sect. To protect herself, she released many Demonic False Pill Techniques."
"Master Peach Blossom sacrificed her entire clan, refining Blood Pills to achieve a Fake Pill Cultivator status. She now controls Peach Blossom Immortal City in the southwest, commanding over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, known for her vicious nature..."
...
Before long, Tang Wuya finishes speaking, his words including many offenses toward Master Peach Blossom, both men cautiously observing Chen Sheng's reaction.
Chen Sheng, however, remains calm, suddenly remarking, "Tang Country's imperial mausoleum is well-constructed."
He looks at the two still bound by the seven-colored spiritual light, speaking slowly: "I, this seat, will handle this matter for you."
At these words, disbelief and joy erupt in Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji's eyes, sweeping away the previous fear and anxiety.
Tang Wuya suddenly recalls a clan secret, the ancestor Tang Xinzu had left a legacy that the Tang Clan owed today's status to a mysterious elder bestowing Alchemy Dao transmission, whose strength was unfathomable, potentially surpassing Foundation Establishment...
"Might senior be the same elder who bestowed the Alchemy Dao transmission to our Tang Clan?" Tang Wuya's voice trembles, exuding expectation and excitement.
Chen Sheng nods lightly without elaborating—for him, this is merely a simple confirmation, but for the Tang Clan pair, it grants complete reassurance.
"Thank you, senior, for your transmission and aid!"
Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji scramble to kneel and kowtow, their foreheads touching the cold floor, hearts filled with gratitude and reverence.
Chen Sheng remains silent, the void spiritual light around him shimmering lightly. His form gradually fades into the air, disappearing from the assembly hall.
With his departure, the overwhelming momentum that filled the assembly hall dissipates quickly, allowing Tang Wuya and Tang Wuji to finally breathe deeply, their backs drenched in cold sweat, clothes clinging tightly to their bodies.
"What realm is this senior at?" Tang Wuji lifts his head, eyes brimming with awe, "Forget Master Fake Pill, even a Master Golden Core cannot possess such terrifying momentum!"
Tang Wuya takes a deep breath, his fingers slightly shaking:
"The transmission was granted five hundred years ago, and the senior is still alive, his lifespan undoubtedly beyond five hundred years, could he be the legendary Nascent Soul True Monarch?"
There are scarce records of Nascent Soul cultivators in the Chu Kingdom Cultivation Realm, outside Qinghua and Li Xiao Sects, most Loose Cultivators and clans only know the name "Nascent Soul," having no understanding of the Divine Techniques and methods of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Otherwise, upon witnessing Chen Sheng's appearance, they would immediately identify his cultivation realm.