Su Family's Rapid Development, Nine Dragons Seizing the Heir Erupts in the Jinghong Empire

For a period of time afterward, Su Chen remained within the family, guiding the younger generation of the direct line in their cultivation.

The Su Family gradually began to sense how terrifying and mysterious Su Chen was.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

Three incredibly powerful auras suddenly erupted from within the Su Family, filled with oppressive force. Many people in Bright Moon City raised their heads, their eyes full of astonishment.

"This is coming from the Su Family. They've broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage three more times!"

"Doesn't that mean the Su Family now has five Nascent Soul Stage experts?"

"Wait, did you forget Su Chen? According to the rumors, didn't he previously possess Peak Nascent Soul Realm strength? How could he not have broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage by now?"

"By that count, the Su Family has six Nascent Soul Stage experts and one Void Refinement stage expert. The Su Family Head seems to be at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage as well. It probably won't be long before he breaks through to the Void Refinement stage."

"How difficult is the Void Refinement stage? How could breaking through be that simple?"

Discussions continued to ring out throughout the city. Whenever people spoke of the Su Family, their words were filled with awe.

The Su Family was truly far too terrifying now.

With three more Nascent Soul Stage experts, the Su Family's position among the Five Great Cities had become unshakable.

Su Chen also gave the Su Family many powerful cultivation techniques, raising their combat strength.

There were also auxiliary cultivation paths such as alchemy and artifact refinement. Originally, the Su Family had only one Third-grade Alchemist.

Now, the number of Third-grade Alchemists had increased to seven, and there was even one Fourth-grade Alchemist.

With the support of the Heavenly Spirit Root, the younger generation of the Su Family also grew extremely quickly. Su Yuze, for example, had already broken through to the Peak Core Formation Realm, only one step away from the Nascent Soul Realm.

Another year passed in the blink of an eye.

Within Bright Moon City.

Everyone's eyes narrowed. They all felt as if breathing had become difficult, as though the air between heaven and earth had been sucked away. The oppression was unbearably suffocating.

What was going on?!

Everyone looked toward the direction from which the aura came, their eyes filled with panic.

Immediately afterward, an incomparably powerful aura erupted from within the Su Family. Under this aura, everyone felt like ants, able only to crawl prostrate upon the ground.

The aura of the Void Refinement stage!

The people of Bright Moon City were filled with terror. In the face of such an expert, they felt utterly powerless.

Very soon, the aura fully blossomed, and a figure shot into the sky. The void around him rippled with waves.

"Hahahaha, I, Su Qingtian, have finally broken through to the Void Refinement stage!"

Su Qingtian laughed loudly. At that moment, he was like an almighty figure who supported the heavens, radiating tremendous pressure.

"That's the Su Family Head, Su Qingtian. My heavens, someone from the Su Family has broken through to the Void Refinement stage again!"

"So powerful. Is this the pressure brought by the Void Refinement stage?"

Countless people wore horrified expressions, their eyes filled with fear.

The Su Family now had two Void Refinement stage experts, making its strength even more unshakable.

After the other four cities learned of this, they all came to the Su Family with gifts to offer thanks and express their loyalty. Su Qingtian directly demanded that the other four cities submit to the Su Family.

Naturally, all the forces in the four cities agreed and were willing to offer tribute to the Su Family every year.

From then on, the Five Great Cities became the Su Family's sphere of influence.

That year, five members of the younger generation of the Su Family's direct line broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, while two stewards from the collateral line also broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

The Su Family now had a full eight Nascent Soul Stage experts alone. The direct and collateral lines together had nearly thirty Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, an utterly terrifying number.

Another half a year passed, and Su Hongyuan once again broke through, becoming a Mid Void Refinement Stage expert. This caused the other four cities, which had still harbored some dissatisfaction, to abandon all other thoughts.

The direct descendants of the Su Family all possessed the Heavenly Spirit Root. In addition, the cultivation resources sent each month by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion meant that they could basically break through and advance rapidly.

For a time, the Su Family reached an unprecedented height of prosperity. News of the Five Great Cities even spread to the Jinghong Empire, attracting the attention of many people.

The Jinghong Empire was not peaceful at present. The Jinghong Emperor intended to enter seclusion and break through to the Guiyuan Realm, so he planned to abdicate.

However, the empire's rule still had to be maintained. Thus, the nine princes began competing for the position of crown prince.

Including the current Jinghong King, the Jinghong Empire had produced three emperors. Yet every time a struggle for the throne took place, nearly all the participating princes died, leaving only the final victor.

In other words, of the nine men, only one could survive in the end. This was the imperial family—a place of extreme bloodshed and cruelty.

Thus, the Jinghong Empire had been thrown into turmoil during this period. Powerful experts stood behind each of the nine princes, while the strongest among them, the First Prince, had already reached the Mid Void Refinement Stage.

He also had the greatest number of followers at his side.

Among all the princes, he had the best chance of seizing the throne.

Now, Nine Dragons Seizing the Heir had reached a fever pitch. Nearly every force in the Jinghong Empire that possessed a Void Refinement stage expert had already chosen a side.

But at this moment, two Void Refinement stage experts suddenly appeared in the Five Great Cities, one of whom was at the Mid Void Refinement Stage. This immediately caused all nine princes to develop the same thought.

They had to win over the Su Family!

Although the Jinghong Empire was extremely powerful, it had only so many Void Refinement stage experts. They were all high-end combat power.

Two Void Refinement stage experts could even play an extremely crucial role at many times.

Only a few days after the Su Family's achievements spread, the various princes of the Jinghong Empire sent people one after another to express their desire to win the Su Family over. However, the Su Family had only just stabilized, so Su Qingtian declined nearly all of them.

The Su Family's reception hall.

A luxuriously dressed man sat there, his expression somewhat unpleasant because Su Qingtian had just rejected the First Prince's proposal that the family pledge allegiance to him.

Huang Qi said unhappily, "Family Head Su, the First Prince has already shown full sincerity. Refusing him will bring you no benefit."

"Moreover, the First Prince has the strongest faction. If he gains the Su Family's two Void Refinement stage experts, his chances of victory will increase again. Once the First Prince claims the throne, he will become the king of the Jinghong Empire."

"When that time comes, will your Su Family still need to live in a remote corner like the Five Great Cities? The First Prince can choose a place rich in spiritual energy for you within the Jinghong Empire."

Su Qingtian said with an ingratiating smile, "Lord Huang, my Su Family has no desire to fight. We only wish to preserve ourselves."

The struggle among the nine princes was simply too terrifying. The slightest misstep could lead to the Su Family's extermination, and there was no need for him to get involved.

Hearing this, Huang Qi's expression became even more unpleasant.

I've made myself this clear, and you still intend to refuse?

Huang Qi rose to his feet and slowly released the aura of the Mid Void Refinement Stage. His entire body was like an enraged lion as he said, "Family Head Su, I hope you understand that the Five Great Cities are left without governance only because the founding emperor of the Jinghong Empire made an agreement with the five city lords when he first rose to power."

"But now the city lords' mansions of the Five Great Cities have all vanished, and you have rejected every prince. Regardless of who ascends the throne, there will be no place for your Su Family in this world."

"Family Head Su, do you really think the Su Family can remain neutral and protect itself?"

Su Qingtian's expression immediately changed. Although the Su Family now had two Void Refinement stage experts, it still lacked the power to fight the Jinghong Empire, such a colossal force, head-on.

If a prince truly set his sights on them, then no matter who ascended the throne, his Su Family would indeed be purged.

Huang Qi could not be bothered to waste words with Su Qingtian any longer. He snorted and turned to leave.

"Hmph. Family Head Su, take care of yourself."

In the room, only Su Qingtian remained. His expression was tinged with worry.

The Su Family only wanted to develop peacefully. Was even such a simple wish difficult to achieve?

Su Qingtian shook his head and let out an helpless sigh. This world was simply like this: lacking strength was the fundamental problem.

Two more days passed in this manner.

"Family Head, someone outside requests an audience. He says he's an old acquaintance of yours."