Becoming an Immortal and Ancestor, Starting from the Clan-protecting Divine Beast

109: Chapter 109 The matter is over, and I return“The xuan shu thunder punishment seal... So this Thunder Seal is called that.”

When the xuan shu thunder punishment seal entered his body, a thought appeared out of thin air in Chen Zhuxiao’s mind, letting him know the cause and effect.

This xuan shu thunder punishment seal was originally excavated by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion headquarters from the Ancient Thunder Palace ruins. Due to the needs of True Monarch Shuxuan’s Dao path, it appeared in the Great Qi Cultivation Kingdom, specifically in Changli Commandery City.

Originally, True Monarch Shuxuan had assumed that many people would jump out to obstruct the completion of the Thunder Seal, but he was slightly disappointed that only a few factions did so.

As for the struggle for the Thunder Seal, aside from the Qian Family being used as a pawn, the other factions had no intention of entering the fray to seize it.

After all, it was an Immortal Artifact, and one passed down from the Thunder Palace. Even a Golden Core Upper Sect would likely find it difficult to bear the Karma associated with it; only Thunder Dao Cultivators were qualified to touch it.

“This Immortal Artifact will temporarily be entrusted to you for safekeeping as compensation. Grow strong as quickly as possible.”

A majestic voice rang out in Chen Zhuxiao’s mind, causing him to momentarily freeze.

True Monarch Shuxuan was currently fighting with other True Monarchs outside the heavens, yet he could still spare a thought to observe matters within the heavens?

“As expected of one of the top three True Monarchs of Great Qi.” Chen Zhuxiao sighed in admiration.

Immediately, he stopped delaying and descended from the sky, as countless gazes fell upon him simultaneously.

There was envy, jealousy, and complicated surprise.

A Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator carrying an Immortal Artifact—if word got out, it would likely shock everyone, astounding even Golden Core True Monarchs.

What is an Immortal Artifact? It is a tool held or refined by an Immortal, a transcendent object possessing unparalleled Immortal Might; if fully unleashed, even Golden Core True Monarchs would suffer defeat.

The leap from Purple Mansion to Golden Core is immense, no less than the difference between heaven and earth, but the gap from Golden Core to Nascent Soul is like thirty-three layers of heaven and earth—from mortal to Immortal Ascension, they are truly first-rate figures among Immortals.

What is an Immortal? When the sky is desolate, I am not desolate; when the earth is old, I am not old; when heaven and earth decay, I do not decay.

Anything related to Immortals, whether person or object, is an existence that transcends the mortal world.

Immortal Cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm are called Venerables, and the outstanding ones among them are called Great Venerables, signifying figures respected by heaven and earth itself.

In ancient times, the Nascent Soul realm was also referred to as the Earth Immortal realm.

They alone possess longevity and dwell in the world without dying among mortals; those who are said not to leave the earth are of this kind, and throughout history, those who achieved cultivation and the Dao are most numerous in this category.

In ancient years, beings who cultivated to the Earth Immortal realm already possessed the ability of longevity and presence in the world, existing alongside the earth.

Going further up is the Immortal Lord, the sovereign of all Immortals, possessing all sorts of incredible great methods.

Chen Zhuxiao didn’t pay much attention to the surrounding gazes. He quickly walked up to Su Qingyu and said with a smile, “Miss Qingyu, I am glad I did not fail the mission.”

Su Qingyu curved her lips into a breathtaking smile. Her slender, soft hand gently brushed the strands of hair falling onto the man’s forehead, and she said softly, “Thank you.”

The Red Dust Tower Lord walked over, glanced at the two with surprise, and then said, “Qingyu, it’s time to go.”

A look of reluctance and struggle flashed in Su Qingyu’s eyes. Finally, as if having made a decision, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Chen Zhuxiao on the cheek, leaving behind a fragrant lip print.

“After you reach Purple Mansion, remember to find me in The Capital.”

Chen Zhuxiao stood frozen in place, reaching out to gently touch the spot where Su Qingyu had kissed him, somewhat at a loss: “Miss Qingyu... she kissed me?”

The Red Dust Tower Lord shook his head and sighed, “Young people nowadays are still too open-minded.”

Afterward, he took Su Qingyu, tore open the Void Realm, and disappeared to an unknown location.

He only left behind a bewildered Chen Zhuxiao and a group of Cultivators whose faces were filled with grief and indignation. Their goddess, Fairy Qingyu, had actually kissed this pretty boy in public; this was more painful than killing them.

“Damn it, why him?” a young Cultivator gritted his teeth and said.

“If you could comprehend Sword Intent at a young age like him, and even have an incredible treasure recognize you as its master, figures like Fairy Qingyu would naturally come looking for you.” another young Cultivator teased.

Many Cultivators fell silent upon hearing this. Merely comprehending Sword Intent was harder than ascending to the heavens, let alone having an Immortal Artifact recognize one as its master—that was nearly impossible.

After a long while, Chen Zhuxiao finally came back to his senses. He wiped the lip print from his face and murmured, “Purple Mansion? It won’t be long.”

Unknowingly, the white moonlight in his heart was gradually replaced by this woman he had met by chance, occupying a significant portion of his thoughts.

Before long, Yuan Feng returned to Changli Commandery City, interrupting Chen Fufeng, who was talking with the contemporary Sect Heads of several Purple Mansion Factions.

“Old Chen, it’s time to go.”

Chen Fufeng nodded, his face showing apology: “My apologies, three sirs. We shall meet again when we have time.”

Just like that, the man and the ape left the viewing platform and flew toward the outside of Changli Commandery City.

As for Chen Zhuxiao, Yuan Feng did not expose him or bring him back to Luoyun Mountain, but instead let him continue his external training.

After all, Chen Zhuxiao had only been out training for a little over a year, which was still too short.

“Brother Yuan, it seemed like there was a Purple Mansion battle outside the city just now. I wonder which family’s Purple Mansion True Person was fighting?” Chen Fufeng brought up the topic. Too much had happened at this Artifact Refining Assembly for him to fully recover yet.

“Oh, right, and that Qian Family. Among those two Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators who were fighting for the Thunder Seal earlier, one mentioned the Qian Family. Could it be...”

Yuan Feng’s eyes were deep. He spoke first: “It was someone from the Qian Family of Liyuan Commandery. One of the Purple Mansions fighting outside the city was the Qian Family Old Ancestor, whom I have already slain.

As for that Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was slain by Zhu Xiao, and the Thunder Seal also fell into his hands.”

Chen Fufeng was stunned upon hearing this: “That Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator was Zhu Xiao?”

After speaking, he slapped his head and gave a wry smile: “I wondered why his aura felt so familiar. How could I forget that he comprehended Sword Intent at the Red Dust Tower and was invited by Fairy Qingyu into the pavilion for a chat?”

Chen Fufeng felt a mix of emotions, repeatedly lamenting that he was truly getting old if he could forget such a major event.

When Chen Zhuxiao displayed his Sword Intent, he should have known that this person was his second son.

“Brother Yuan, do you think I’m really getting old?”

Yuan Feng shook his head: “Old Chen, you are just too tired. Go back and get some good rest.”

Chen Fufeng nodded. His current state was indeed a little off; he really needed to rest properly when he returned.

Three days later, the man and the ape returned to Luoyun Mountain.

Yuan Feng handed the Storage Ring he obtained after killing the Qian Family Old Ancestor to Chen Fufeng, then leaped back to the Back Mountain Cliff, lay down leisurely, and fell into a deep sleep.

He also felt a little exhausted and needed a good period of recuperation.

Chen Fufeng did not check the Storage Ring. He immediately returned to the Main House, spent some time with Ji Wanqing, who had recently emerged from seclusion, and then went back to the bedroom and quickly fell asleep.

“Something is wrong!”

Yuan Feng woke up from his deep sleep in alarm. The power of his Divine Ability surged within him, and Size As Desired, Battle Body, and the Battle Against Heaven Strategy all began operating.

A powerful Divine Thought swept over every inch of his body. He finally discovered a mark on the back of his head, shaped like a skull, with blood flowing from its eyes, seeming to emit a chilling laugh at him.

“What is this thing? A technique of the Blood Qi Path?!”

Yuan Feng’s gaze was solemn. He operated the Battle Against Heaven Strategy to its utmost limit, and a Brilliant Golden Divine Flame rushed out. A burst of black smoke rose, and a mournful scream echoed in his mind as the skull mark was instantly incinerated.

He got up, left the Back Mountain Cliff, and went to the Main House. Sure enough, he found the skull mark on the back of Chen Fufeng’s head.

After clearing the mark and ensuring Chen Fufeng was fine, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the back mountain.

“When did I get hit?” Yuan Feng sat cross-legged on a large tree, deep in thought.

He recalled something: the He Family of Changli Commandery City was wiped out, and the culprit was Xue’e, a renegade disciple of the Blood Fiend Demonic Sect.

This person is rumored to be a Great True Person of the Five Dharma Manifestations, who obtained the Blood Qi Immortal Legacy of the Nascent Soul level, and is suspected of carrying a Nascent Soul Immortal Artifact.

“The three False Core Great Powers present at the Artifact Refining Assembly didn’t notice it, so it’s probably truly a Nascent Soul level technique...” Yuan Feng was troubled. It seemed one wave had not subsided before another rose.

The purpose of this skull mark was to quietly absorb the essence, Qi, and spirit of the person it was attached to, weakening them little by little. It was extremely difficult to detect, and he only noticed a slight anomaly due to his powerful Divine Soul strength.

“It looks like something major is about to happen.” Yuan Feng’s gaze was serious. He didn’t know how many people Xue’e had planted the skull mark on using the Nascent Soul Immortal Artifact, but it was definitely not a small number.

“Is he seeking the Golden Core by using the flesh and blood of countless beings in a great commandery? Or does he want to step into the heavens in one go, bypassing Golden Core and directly achieving Nascent Soul?”

After thinking hard but finding no answer, Yuan Feng left Luoyun Mountain and went to Changli Commandery City again. He contacted someone from the Commandery Governor’s Mansion and informed them of his discovery.

Upon learning this, the person quickly reported it to the Commandery Governor. This news greatly startled the Changli Commandery Governor, who immediately ordered the Chief Guest Elder Yi Yu to investigate. Sure enough, skull marks were found on the back of the heads of many Changli Commandery residents.

Realizing the seriousness of the matter, the Changli Commandery Governor contacted the Golden Core True Monarch guarding Xuan Prefecture City. Soon after, a Golden Core True Monarch descended upon Changli Commandery City and used Golden Core methods to conduct a large-scale investigation.

Afterward, this Golden Core True Monarch used an Immortal Artifact belonging to the Great Qi Imperial Family to purify Changli Commandery City. All Cultivators who had left after participating in the Artifact Refining Assembly were recalled, and they could not leave without having the skull mark removed.

Finally, the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of the Great Qi Imperial Family personally took action, using Immortal methods to trace back the Karma, locate the Great True Person Xue’e, and shatter the Immortal Artifact protecting him.

However, under the obstruction of a Nascent Soul from the Blood Fiend Demonic Sect, True Person Xue’e still managed to escape and vanished without a trace.

Yuan Feng also received a reward from the Great Qi Imperial Family. After a polite refusal, he still accepted it.

Seven days later, he returned to Luoyun Mountain with Feng Cong, Heaven Forger, and Huang Shanrou.

The addition of an Artifact Refining Master and an Alchemy Great Master allowed the Chen Family’s influence to reach an unprecedented height.

The Chen Family’s prestige also rose accordingly, showing signs of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with, or even surpassing, the Jieyang Sect.

Luoyun City at the foot of Luoyun Mountain underwent another expansion. Many Rank Two Alchemists and Artifact Refiners moved in, solely to frequently meet with the two Great Masters, Feng Cong and Heaven Forger, hoping to receive some guidance or take them as teachers.

Soon, more than a year passed.