Chapter 71 - 70: Cultivation of Literature and Changes

Inside a spacious assembly hall, the leaders of the Han and Liu Families had gathered.

Moonlight pierced through the grand pavilion, illuminating the central structure of the majestic architectural complex. In the main hall, a pale, middle-aged man dressed as a scholar sat off to the side. He was none other than the current pride of the Liu Family—Liu Lin, a peerless prodigy who had reached the Refining Viscera realm at the mere age of thirty-one!

However, his current position among the crowd was incredibly awkward. He looked like a child at a loss for what to do.

"Brother Han, are we really going to do this? Once we take this step, there will be no turning back!" a towering man built like an iron tower asked the pale, middle-aged man sitting next to the head seat.

The head seat itself was empty, meaning this man was the de facto leader of everyone present.

Han Sui closed his eyes for a moment before snapping them open. Through gritted teeth, he declared, "Our families have reached their absolute peak here. Whether as individuals or as a whole, we need a larger stage!

"Feiyun City is already rotting from the inside out!"

He looked at the empty head seat, a hint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.

"It seems Lord Yang Jun won’t be coming.

"Everyone," he continued decisively, his tone laced with iron-blooded resolve, "this operation is the greatest opportunity our two families have seen in three hundred years. The Lei Family’s annihilation is a stark warning right before our eyes. I expect all of you to learn from it and refrain from any carelessness! Tomorrow’s great battle will draw the attention of the entire city. That will be our perfect window of opportunity."

He paused, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd as he added with a hint of threat, "Duan Jue is already suspicious of us. We have passed the point of no return. I ask all of you to burn your bridges and fight to the bitter end!"

"Yes!"

In the City Guard’s Mansion.

Duan Jue was a scholar. Although he was already over sixty years old, he looked like a man in his forties. He tilted his head slightly, resting it in one hand while his other hand gently tapped against the armrest of his chair. His eyes were half-closed like a sickly tiger, yet his entire being exuded an aura that was in no way inferior to Li Zongkang’s.

It was an aura cultivated through years of holding a position of high authority.

"It looks like Feiyun City has come back to life. How wonderful," Duan Jue sighed softly.

Li Zongkang stood silently to the side. Seeing Duan Jue reach for his teacup, he immediately extended a hand to help. With his long arms, he easily delivered the teacup into Duan Jue’s grasp.

"It has been a long time since the city was this lively," Duan Jue said with a touch of nostalgia.

Li Zongkang remained speechless. That was just his nature. He had always viewed Duan Jue as his guiding light and treated him like a father.

"Since the Profound World experienced that turmoil last year, triggering massive changes in the Central Plains, the Mysterious Strange Pavilion has withdrawn too many people and cut ties with the State City. I knew then that people’s hearts had changed...

"The Han and Liu Families have attached themselves to my Feiyun City for over a century. It’s about time we clean them out!"

Li Zongkang still spoke little, but a sudden, chilling murderous intent erupted from his body. "Understood!"

Seeing Li Zongkang’s reaction, Duan Jue shook his head and smiled bitterly. Li Zongkang was great in every aspect, except his personality was a bit too cold.

Noticing Li Zongkang’s demeanor, a sudden surge of childish curiosity welled up in Duan Jue. He asked softly, "Who do you think will win tomorrow?"

This time, Li Zongkang did not stay silent. He gave a concise answer. "Xu Guang!"

Duan Jue was taken aback. "You actually have high hopes for that Xu Guang?"

Li Zongkang remained silent.

"Ever since you told me about him, I’ve had this Xu Guang investigated," Duan Jue continued. "He comes from the Xu Family Village, five miles outside the city. He learned Zhao Fu’s Golden Willow Skill, but for some reason, he uses a Big Spear.

"From what I know, he has been practicing martial arts for less than two years, yet he dares to challenge Yang Sha. He must be confident. Reaching the Refining Viscera realm in just two years implies that his Bloodline Power must be related to the Profound World, allowing his Cultivation speed to surpass that of ordinary mortals. However, that should be the extent of it. Unless... do you know what his Bloodline Power is?

"Could it be that, like you, he possesses a Golden Bloodline?"

Li Zongkang shook his head. "I don’t know."

His gaze was somewhat strange, as if wondering why Duan Jue was asking such profound questions when he was the one who had strictly ordered them not to investigate too deeply.

Duan Jue also remembered this and suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "I think this kid is not bad."

He paused, stood up, and looked at Li Zongkang.

"Send out all the Pigeons from the City Guard’s Mansion! Within a day, I want the news of this Refining Viscera duel to spread both inside and outside Feiyun City! Let me see exactly what kind of freaks and monsters are hiding in the shadows!"

He had always harbored the deepest hatred for bandits like Yang Sha, yet he now wanted to recruit them due to unavoidable hardships.

A City Guardian, a City Guardian—his duty was to guard a major city. Yet, ever since leaving the Capital City, his influence had waned the moment he departed. He truly felt... powerless!

With the Yellow Heaven Sect looming just outside the city, he had to display some means to reassure the opportunistic factions within the walls.

Later that night.

The night was as cool as water. With the summer more than half over, a faint chill quietly seeped into the darkness.

Ji Xiaolu leaned against Xu Guang’s shoulder, recounting Cheng Lian’Er’s visit earlier that day. Xu Guang had a vague guess about what Cheng Lian’Er had delivered, and sure enough, it was a Cultivation of Literature.

He took it out and carefully flipped it open. A bizarre sensation welled up in his palms—a smooth, water-like feeling that made one unconsciously want to drown in it.

He vaguely sensed something was wrong and quickly looked away. The Secret Manual for this Cultivation of Literature gave him a strange feeling, as if it was meant to be seen by only a select few. If too many people read it, it would automatically crumble and destroy itself!

It was a Cultivation Technique called the Immortal Spring and Autumn Skill. Its effect was exactly as Cheng Lian’Er had described: prolonging life and granting longevity.

Xu Guang’s expression turned solemn. Was it really that simple?

Its miraculous nature filled him with curiosity. He tried channeling a faint trace of Power into it, but there was no reaction. After some hesitation, he decided to let Ji Xiaolu and Mrs. Xu practice this Cultivation of Literature.

The postures were very simple. With his guidance, Mrs. Xu and Ji Xiaolu quickly managed to execute them properly.

"Mother, do you feel anything?"

Mrs. Xu shook her head nonchalantly. Clearly, she hadn’t noticed any changes.

Xu Guang didn’t take it to heart. After all, Mrs. Xu was no longer young, and she had sacrificed too much for the family in her early years. She would need long-term recuperation.

Ji Xiaolu, on the other hand, had a strange look in her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed red, making her look incredibly adorable. "Brother Guang, I feel... a miraculous force coming from another world!"

She said the last part with absolute certainty.

Xu Guang frowned. One Cultivation Technique had produced two completely different effects. He couldn’t quite understand it.

Regardless, he told the two of them to continue their Cultivation, as it would help prolong their lives.

He then opened the Searcher to investigate something he had been curious about for a while.

[Search Keyword: Ji Xiaolu’s Physique. Related Words: Abnormal Power, Cultivation. Search Range: Thirty miles of Feiyun City. Search Results Display: 1]

[Searching... 0%. Estimated Duration: Seven years. Do you wish to cancel?]

Xu Guang’s expression changed instantly. Understanding Ji Xiaolu’s physique would actually take seven years? That was only about half a year less than the time it took for him to acquire the Celestial Eye.

This was far too bizarre.

He quickly clicked on the newly appeared cancel function. Turning around, he gazed at Ji Xiaolu with an indescribable look in his eyes.

"Lu, growing up, was there anything unusual about you?"

Naturally, Ji Xiaolu didn’t know. It was impossible for her to know. At least in her own memory, she was no different from any other girl her age during her youth.

Unable to get an answer, Xu Guang had no choice but to give up. After some hesitation, he decided to leave the choice up to her. He was only her husband, not her entire world.

To his surprise, Ji Xiaolu looked at him with sheer determination. "I want to practice it. Because... I have a premonition that if I continue my Cultivation, I will be able to help you, Husband."

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her tone was shy as she spoke.