The Situation Deteriorates

Xie Yuan flicked his spear, glanced at Cui Lei, who looked as though he had lost all will to live, then flashed past him.

The Cui Family Grandmasters watching from the sidelines shifted slightly, yet ultimately stayed where they were. Their gazes were complicated as they assessed Xie Yuan, who was now little more than a faint afterimage, and Cui Lei lying on the ground.

He had actually lost so quickly.

Cui Lei was the pride of the Cui Family's younger generation. He was also the young Cui clansman most likely to break into the Great Grandmaster Realm, ranked first on the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking and only a step away from becoming a Grandmaster.

Before the battle, they had believed Cui Lei could personally take down Xie Yuan.

Halfway through, they had thought a draw would not be bad either.

Later on, all they could do was watch to see whether Cui Lei could hold out long enough to find an opportunity to turn defeat into victory.

Yet at the very end, Cui Lei abandoned the stalemate outright and unleashed his ultimate move, intending to clash head-on with Xie Yuan.

Under ordinary circumstances, that move might have allowed him to claw his way back from death's door and win by surprise. But he had spent so long dodging in midair, and he was not yet a Grandmaster. The breath in his chest had long since run dry.

More importantly, in a direct clash, Xie Yuan's reserves were not the slightest bit inferior to Cui Lei's—if anything, they surpassed his.

One move decided the victor.

Seeing Cui Lei defeated so cleanly and decisively, the Cui Family Grandmasters all sighed faintly.

There had been no tricks in this battle at all. It had been a straightforward confrontation, yet Xie Yuan's strength was entirely above Cui Lei's.

They had not expected the Xie Family's young Patriarch to grow so quickly, nor for his talent to be so terrifying. For a moment, they even had the thought of not letting him leave so easily.

But when they looked at Cui Lei lying on the ground...

A Cui Family Grandmaster who had approached said in a low voice, "Get up. You are a dignified descendant of the Cui clan—what kind of sight is it to sprawl on the ground?"

Cui Lei gave a chuckle, sprang up like a carp flipping out of water, then dusted himself off without a care.

The Grandmaster looked at him with a complicated expression. "Did you deliberately let him go?"

"I definitely didn't hold back!"

Cui Lei waved his hands repeatedly, then sighed with a trace of desolation. "I originally planned to, but in the end, I realized there was no need... I'm old, old indeed!"

The Grandmaster ignored his muttering and frowned slightly. "Do you know how much we would gain by taking him down? We would have far more room to bargain. The Wang Family has been pressing the Xie Family step by step. If we fall behind and truly let the Wang Family control Chen Commandery, we will be the next ones they force into a corner."

"Uncle, isn't it because I couldn't take him down? Your nephew's strength was lacking. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could do."

Cui Lei smiled brightly.

"Hmph. Even so, you should not have opened this side up and allowed him to leave."

The Grandmaster shook his head helplessly.

Xie Yuan had swept directly past Cui Lei. Once Cui Lei was defeated, that side became the gap in their encirclement.

Cui Lei watched Xie Yuan leave with his own eyes, yet simply lay on the ground and gave up.

After Xie Yuan passed through, the Grandmasters could still have pursued him if they truly insisted.

Although Xie Yuan was fast and his secret arts were extraordinary, now that they had locked onto him, they could surely catch up after chasing him for a hundred or several hundred li.

But Cui Lei seemed to have no such intention, and the Cui clansmen disagreed among themselves. Thus, they could not be bothered to do something so unsightly.

Seeing that the Grandmasters neither approved nor objected, Cui Lei merely shook his head. "I knew the Hidden Dragon Ranking could not be trusted. First place? I wasn't even a match for someone else. Now that title has been plucked away by the Xie Family..."

The other Grandmasters were even more helpless. The reputations and influence of the three rankings were far from insignificant, especially the Soaring Dragon Ranking and the Celestial Dragon Ranking. Even though great clans often concealed their true strength on such rankings, they still had to put forward several people to cooperate with the Imperial Court's open scheme and stabilize their own reputations and standing.

Though the Hidden Dragon Ranking was less crucial, Xie Yuan, who stood at the eye of the storm, happened to be listed on it. If the Xie Family allowed Xie Yuan to seize first place at such a critical time, it would be a modest yet undeniable deterrent both within and beyond the clan. It was certainly not something the Cui and Wang Families wished to see.

There were not many people here, so they could simply keep quiet about it... Yet the Cui clan disdained concealing such matters, especially given Cui Lei's attitude.

Cui Lei let out a breath, shook his head, and walked toward his fine horse. "I'm preparing to return to Qinghe."

"You are not going to Chen Commandery?"

A nearby Grandmaster asked in surprise.

Without looking back, Cui Lei said, "I was only going there to have a chat with Xie Yuan. Since we have already met and fought, what would I still be going for?

"If my strength is lacking, I will go back and cultivate. Once I break through to Grandmaster sooner, I can beat him up again.

"Rather than going to scheme and scramble like flies over filth with the Wang Family, exhausting ourselves with calculations, we might as well cultivate on our own. Nobody welcomes us anyway. What's the point?"

Watching Cui Lei turn his horse around and ride toward Qinghe, the Grandmasters exchanged glances and shook their heads with smiles.

"Forget it. Let us leave as well."

The leading Grandmaster sighed.

"What Cui Lei said is not wrong. Why must our Cui Family fight the Wang Family over this and that, only to end up reeking like them?"

"Let them leave their names throughout the court and the martial world for all eternity. We should cultivate properly, then one day stab our swords through the skins of those hypocrites."

"But weren't we..."

"Their Patriarch does not welcome us. Why go and make fools of ourselves? I cannot be bothered."

The leading Grandmaster spoke leisurely.

He flicked his longsword, and its clear ring soared into the clouds.

The others likewise turned their horses around and headed back the way they had come, returning with easy abandon.

After slipping away for a hundred li and seeing no pursuers behind him, Xie Yuan finally relaxed slightly.

Accidentally falling into the encirclement of the Cui Family Grandmasters had truly been somewhat perilous.

After all, the two families were hardly on friendly terms now. As the weakest Patriarch in Xie Family history, even if he were merely coerced into losing face, it would be an unbearable humiliation and a tremendous blow to the Xie Family. He himself would likely be remembered in the clan records as well.

He was already a hundred li into Yu Province, only five hundred li from Chen Commandery. He could return to the clan land in less than a day.

Xie Yuan therefore stopped resting. He activated the Heaven Concealing Art, stepped forth with the Cloud Dragon Step, and used the vast, surging Great Golden River Skill to sustain his expenditure as he raced toward Chen Commandery.

By evening, Xie Yuan finally saw the majestic gates of the Xie Family Clan Land.

Upon returning home, Xie Yuan hurried all the way to the Patriarch's residence, first to visit Xie Yi and pay his respects to Cui Pingjun.

Inside the room.

Cui Pingjun was still sitting quietly beside Xie Yi's sickbed, while Xie Lingyun listlessly read an illustrated storybook nearby.

Knock, knock.

The door was gently tapped.

"Come in."

Cui Pingjun called softly.

A maid pushed the door open and entered, offering a bow. "Madam, the Patriarch has returned."

"The Patriarch?"

Cui Pingjun and Xie Lingyun were both stunned. They rose at once and looked outside.

Xie Yuan walked in from the courtyard and bowed to Cui Pingjun. "Aunt, I'm back."

He then looked at Xie Lingyun and called with a smile, "Lingyun... slacking off again?"

"What do you mean, slacking off?! I've been practicing all day... Are you all right?"

Xie Lingyun instinctively retorted, but when she saw Xie Yuan's travel-worn appearance and damaged clothes, her voice immediately softened with concern.

"Am I not perfectly fine?"

Xie Yuan spread his hands and laughed.

A glint flashed in Cui Pingjun's eyes. As a Grandmaster, she could naturally tell that Xie Yuan's aura had undergone tremendous changes after leaving and returning. His strength seemed to have improved enormously.

Yet seeing that Xie Yuan was unharmed, her concern naturally turned to another matter. Even her breathing grew slightly heavy. "Yuan'er, you..."

Xie Yuan nodded. "I have obtained the secret prescription for treating Soul Loss Syndrome."

"What?"

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

Xie Lingyun and Cui Pingjun were both greatly shaken, their emotions surging.

Xie Yuan directly took out the brocade box containing the two extinct medicinal ingredients and the prescription, then handed it to Cui Pingjun. "They say this is an ancient secret formula created by a great physician. But he never truly used it himself, so whether it will actually work..."

He phrased it tactfully. How could anyone guarantee such a thing? Seeing the mother and daughter so excited, he feared they would place their hopes too high and could not help but temper their expectations first.

"I understand. Even for a common cold, no one would dare claim the medicine would cure it instantly, much less such an illness. But as long as there is hope, it is already a blessing beyond measure!"

For the first time in a long while, a trace of joy colored Cui Pingjun's face.

She impatiently opened the box and examined the prescription, then frowned slightly. "These things truly are not simple. Many have not appeared in the world for a long time. Well, if treating Soul Loss Syndrome required ordinary medicine, that would be strange instead. Hm? You have already obtained two of them?"

Cui Pingjun abruptly raised her head. The King Yama Blood Fruit and Netherworld Soul Returning Grass had long been extinct. It was only said that a scant few ruins might produce them, though no one knew whether they could truly be found.

Yet Xie Yuan had not only acquired the prescription, but had already obtained two exceptionally hard-to-find ingredients?

Cui Pingjun's gaze was complicated. He had been gone for less than a month, yet he had handled the matter so well and seemed to have gained much else besides. But none of these things were ordinary. How could the twists and turns in between have been easy?

She was both astonished by Xie Yuan's gradual growth and deeply moved. "Yuan'er, you have worked hard... Thank you."

"Aunt, what are you saying?"

Xie Yuan's expression turned serious. "No matter how one looks at it, this is what I ought to do. Back then, Second Uncle said that saving me did not require my thanks. When I saved Lingyun, he did not thank me either. It is the same now. We are family—why speak such formal words?"

Cui Pingjun nodded and said gently, "You are right. I was being too formal. But you have still worked hard."

"It was only what I should do, and it was not too difficult."

Xie Yuan chuckled.

Xie Lingyun's eyes kept darting about, her expression filled with boundless hope. "Can this really wake Father up?"

"There is great hope. But the things listed here... must be carefully sought out."

Cui Pingjun glanced at the prescription again and nodded faintly, though she seemed somewhat hesitant.

Xie Lingyun's large eyes instantly burst with dazzling light. She cheered, then leaped directly onto Xie Yuan.

"Hey? What are you doing?"

Xie Yuan was instantly somewhat embarrassed. Though the siblings were close, neither of them was a child anymore, and Cui Pingjun was watching right there.

Sure enough, Cui Pingjun frowned and reprimanded, "Lingyun, what kind of behavior is this? Get down from your brother at once!"

Xie Lingyun giggled and jumped down again, but she still tightly hugged Xie Yuan's arm, her eyes sparkling. "I knew you were amazing!"

"Enough, enough. Stop being so carefree all day. Once Second Uncle wakes up and sees you are still in the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm, be careful he does not spank you!"

Xie Yuan rubbed Xie Lingyun's head and threatened her.

Cui Pingjun frowned slightly. She felt that the siblings' words and actions were somewhat too intimate, not entirely in keeping with the etiquette of a great clan—especially when the little girl already harbored certain feelings that could not bear the light of day...

But Xie Yuan had just rendered great service, so Cui Pingjun could not say anything to him. She merely addressed Xie Lingyun. "You little monkey, stop clinging to your brother. He has only just returned and is already exhausted. How could he have the energy to play around with you?"

Only then did Xie Lingyun release Xie Yuan and ask with concern, "Are you tired? Do you want to go back and rest?"

"It is nothing."

Xie Yuan shook his head.

Seeing Cui Pingjun's troubled expression when she mentioned the medicinal ingredients, he could not help asking, "Aunt, many of the things on this list are ancient objects from the Western Regions, so they truly will be hard to find. But our family should be able to obtain the others somehow, right?"

"Yes. Under ordinary circumstances, that would not be a problem."

Cui Pingjun was unusually hesitant. Then she sighed softly. "You have only just returned. I originally wanted to let you rest a while, not burden you with worries immediately."

"Aunt, what are you saying? I am full of energy."

Xie Yuan smiled and waited for her to continue.

Cui Pingjun nodded slightly. "While you were away this past month, the clan was much as before. But only a few days after news of your departure leaked out, Xie Wen's group began making trouble again, saying that you neglected your duties and left home, and so on... That was nothing. Your Seventh Uncle and I could handle them.

"But some days ago, something happened at Heaven Cloud Garden."

"Heaven Cloud Garden?"

Xie Yuan raised his brows, his expression turning grave.

Heaven Cloud Garden was one of the Ancient Ruins under the Xie Family's control. Though the Xie Family was immensely powerful, with branches spreading throughout the realm, Ancient Ruins were simply too rare and precious. The Xie clan held fewer than five in its hands, and not every one of them was particularly useful.

Heaven Cloud Garden was one of them, and an exceptionally important one. Though the ruin was not vast, only about the size of a low hill, its earth spirit was abundant and its climate warm and moist. It was most suitable for planting all manner of medicinal herbs, even for cultivating Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Heaven Cloud Garden had always been the Xie Family's greatest source of medicinal ingredients. Many of its unique products could be found nowhere else under heaven. Even the Wang Family and Cui Family could only come to Chen Commandery to seek them. It was truly a vital place that could not be allowed to fail.

"What happened at Heaven Cloud Garden?"

Xie Yuan hurriedly asked.

Cui Pingjun's expression was solemn. "Someone had previously set their sights on Heaven Cloud Garden's output. The convoys transporting medicinal ingredients were attacked repeatedly. Everything was seized, and the elders escorting them were injured.

"And over the past few days, not even a single convoy has been allowed through. The clansmen are holding their ground inside Heaven Cloud Garden and refusing to emerge, while the convoys have already been cut off."

Xie Yuan immediately frowned.

An elder had been injured?

The medicinal herb shipments had been cut off?

"Who was the enemy?"

Xie Yuan asked in a deep voice.

Cui Pingjun shook her head slightly.

"It is not certain yet. The elder who was injured could not even make out the enemy's identity... Later, stronger elders went looking, but found nothing.

"Still, it was most likely someone the Wang Family hired."

Xie Yuan's brow furrowed tightly.

Even a Xie Family elder could not see the enemy clearly? Then this attacker's strength was probably terrifyingly great.

And after the clan's powerful elders had gone searching and come up empty-handed, they simply stopped dealing with the matter?

Xie Yuan's expression turned somewhat subtle.

Seeing that he had caught the implication, Cui Pingjun sighed softly.

"They are setting us a question."

"Did they do it?"

"Probably not. But they will certainly use it as a pretext."

Cui Pingjun spoke with certainty. The clan had not yet split to the point of taking up arms against one another.

Xie Yuan slowly nodded and listened as Cui Pingjun continued.

"Xie Wen manages the pharmacy. Though he has been making the biggest fuss, whenever action is mentioned, he absolutely refuses to go. As for the other senior elders, they are quietly watching our response."

Xie Yuan was somewhat angered.

"Such a major matter as Heaven Cloud Garden being raided, and they can still sit tight?"

"They say that with the family head absent, they do not dare act rashly. The pharmacy's supplies have already run short these past few days. Xie Wen has spread the matter far and wide, and many clan members are quite resentful."

Xie Yuan's brow immediately knitted as he began to ponder.

Although Xie Yi had already left him a strategy before, one centered on preserving their fundamental strength and abandoning any forces that needed to be abandoned.

But Heaven Cloud Garden was clearly a vital artery the Xie Family could not abandon.

The Wang Family clearly knew where the Xie Family's weak point lay. The moment they saw signs that the Xie Family would not take the bait, they struck straight at the vital spot.

Merely cutting off supplies for a few days had affected the cultivation of the entire clan to varying degrees.

Even when Xie Yuan had been at Iron Clothes Gate and the Soaring Dragon Escort Agency, he had relied on medicinal soup and medicinal baths to assist his cultivation.

With the spiritual qi of heaven and earth lacking, martial artists cultivating both body and self still needed replenishment.

Without sufficient resources, whether it was a great family or a small martial arts school, talents could not grow. Martial artists' cultivation would stagnate or even regress. That was a fatal blow.

And on the other hand, martial artists without resources were much like common folk who could not fill their bellies. No matter how loyal they were, grievances would still rise on every side.

If this continued, Xie Yuan truly would not be able to remain in the position of family head.

The opposition within the clan clearly had this in mind. They would first let things fester and watch coldly from the sidelines.

But.

Were they not afraid that if the Wang Family interfered for too long, then even if they brought him down, they would not be able to take it back?

Xie Yuan felt a burst of anger.

No matter how united or broad-minded a force claimed to be, once real internal strife began, it was impossible not to damage the greater cause. In the end, it would bring losses beyond measure, perhaps beyond recovery.

And that was precisely what their enemies were happy to see.

Some people always believed that once they took the throne, they could turn the tide. Little did they know that after they rose, others would oppose them in turn. By then, the Xie Family would fall into a festering cycle, until the problems inside and out spiraled ever more fiercely and crushed it completely.

Xie Yuan's face was solemn. These days, he had grown accustomed to viewing problems from the overall picture and the long term. At once, he saw the seriousness of the matter and the possible disastrous outcome.

This was no longer a question of whether he could remain family head.

Xie Yuan actually felt that even if he ultimately did not sit in the family head's seat, it would not matter as long as the Xie Family continued developing well according to Xie Yi's plans.

But now, it seemed that letting these people stir things up—disobeying him while refusing to yield to one another—would indeed only drag the Xie Family into the abyss. Xie Yi had seen this point long ago.

Xie Yuan let out a breath and said deeply,

"This must be resolved as soon as possible."

Seeing that he understood the crux, Cui Pingjun nodded and said softly,

"That is why, with no one under our command available, and you away, I came up with a method first. Do not blame me."

"Blame you? Aunt, what are you saying? I have always trusted your judgment. Please, go on."

Xie Yuan said courteously.

Cui Pingjun gave a soft hum and sighed.

"I asked Qinghe for aid, intending to draw the Cui Family in to fight the Wang Family. If the Cui Family wins this round, then perhaps, after paying some price, we can still reclaim Heaven Cloud Garden."

Xie Yuan froze for a moment. Thinking of Cui Lei and the others he had encountered in Fen River Town, his expression became slightly strange.

So they really had come to help? They were reinforcements Cui Pingjun had invited?

But ever since encountering them, Xie Yuan had not seen any sign of people catching up from behind.

Thinking of how he had driven them away, and the pride of the Qinghe Cui Clan...

Xie Yuan coughed and said,

"Perhaps they will not come after all..."

He recounted what had happened in Fen River. Cui Pingjun and Xie Lingyun were left staring dumbly.

Xie Lingyun was stunned for a while, then jolted.

"Hey, you could even knock Cui Lei down with a few thrusts?"

"I was lucky. I gained the upper hand at the start and did not give him a chance to strike back."

Xie Yuan nodded.

Xie Lingyun drew in a sharp breath and looked Xie Yuan up and down as if she had only just met him.

Cui Lei and Wang Qiwen were the outstanding young disciples of their generation, always prominent figures, though they were a little older than Xie Lingyun and the others.

Though the Xie Family had Xie Wei, he had lost more than he won in several sparring matches against those two, falling just a shade short.

Thus, Cui Lei and Wang Qiwen possessed tremendous prestige among the young disciples of the Eight Great Families and had always been regarded as the leaders of their generation.

Yet Xie Yuan was several years younger than them, and he had already fought across the gap in "generation"—and won?

Xie Lingyun had always thought Xie Yuan was formidable, but she had never thought he had reached that level.

Now that she saw it, she realized that the peerless talents of his generation had already been thrown from their horses by him and left behind.

Her own elder brother, the person she admired, was nearly at the mountaintop.

When they had first met, the two of them had still fought side by side...

Xie Lingyun suddenly felt somewhat vexed, and for the rarest of moments, a drive to cultivate diligently rose within her.

Cui Pingjun also revealed an approving expression and sighed.

"Yuan'er, your cultivation has progressed so quickly. Your Second Uncle will surely be deeply gratified when he hears of it."

Xie Lingyun, meanwhile, muttered,

"The ranking was just updated. Cui Lei is first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Does that not mean you are sitting in his place now? Oh, my number-one big brother!"

As she spoke, she grew excited, happy for Xie Yuan, looking as proud as if she herself had received the honor.

At her words, Xie Yuan fell into a daze.

Once upon a time, the Hidden Dragon Ranking had been something beyond his reach. Back then, he had felt that simply making the ranking meant possessing a little strength. The senior brothers and sisters ranked in the sixties and seventies were all experts, and he himself had even been rather motivated to make a name.

But as his cultivation grew higher, he cared less and less about such things.

Even if he had suddenly become the head of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Xie Yuan felt little joy.

His sights were no longer set here. He did not know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Xie Yuan merely shook his head. But after Cui Pingjun's brief happiness, she frowned.

"But if the Cui Family members were 'persuaded' away by you..."

She looked at Xie Yuan, seeming to want to speak but holding herself back.

It was not Xie Yuan's fault. The Cui Family members clearly had other intentions, and Cui Pingjun could see that. She simply had no other choice.

"I had no intention of letting the Cui Family profit, but now we must reconsider everything."

Cui Pingjun sighed.

Xie Yuan nodded. He absolutely trusted that Cui Pingjun's heart was now with the Xie Family.

For all these years, including the long time he had sat as family head, Cui Pingjun had never done the slightest thing that harmed the Xie Family for the Cui Family's benefit. She had completely fulfilled everything a Xie Family matriarch ought to do.

And this time, inviting Cui Family reinforcements had also been the only and best option after weighing the gains and losses. Had Xie Yuan been in her place, he would have done the same.

If Cui Pingjun had been seeking profit for her maternal family, signs would have appeared long ago. If she had been acting for herself or her reputation, she should instead have forced herself to avoid suspicion.

But she had done neither. She had simply made the appropriate choice at the appropriate time, regardless of whether others might have their own opinions. This was truly the bearing of a matriarch.

Only now, it seemed they had to think of another way.

After pondering for a while, Xie Yuan asked,

"Which senior elders had previously gone to investigate?"

"There were not several. Only Elder Xie Bing of the Dragon Martial Academy went once."

Cui Pingjun said.

"Xie Bing..."

Xie Yuan slowly nodded, having formed a plan.

Early the next morning, Xie Yuan first went to the Xie Family Martial Repository to pay Elder Fu a visit.

Elder Fu took one look and saw that Xie Yuan's cultivation had greatly increased. His aura was deep and steady, no longer as thin and weak as before. He was immediately extremely satisfied.

"Fine. Seeing that you gained quite a harvest from this trip, I will not hold your crime of slacking off against you."

Xie Yuan smiled bitterly. He certainly wished he could slack off, or remain in the Xie Family Martial Repository and cultivate in peace, but it was not that simple.

Under Elder Fu's guidance, he practiced the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear several times. The thin old man stroked his beard and said slowly,

"I originally thought that mastering one move before reaching Grandmaster would be enough for you. But looking at your cultivation, looking at your comprehension, perhaps you can consider practicing further ahead."

Xie Yuan nodded repeatedly.

He had already become highly proficient in Peace in the Mortal Realm. He merely needed continuous practice to increase his mastery and elevate its realm. Yet it had only one style and seven moves. Relying on spear techniques alone, he could not handle every situation. Even when he held the advantage, he might encounter a powerful opponent and lose control of the situation because he could not finish them.

He had long wanted to continue practicing and comprehending the techniques that followed.

But after practicing for a while, Xie Yuan left early again. Though Elder Fu was dissatisfied, he also knew that Xie Yuan was burdened with many affairs. He merely waved a hand and sighed.

"Go. Deal with those trivial affairs as best you can. Cultivation is the root. Once your cultivation rises, all those petty schemers and ghosts and goblins will be no more than things swept aside by a stroke of your spear."

"Elder Fu is right."

Xie Yuan deeply agreed.

But the premise was that the situation could wait for his cultivation to rise.

After leaving the Xie Family Martial Repository, Xie Yuan did not return to his own courtyard. Instead, he changed direction and went straight to the Dragon Martial Academy.

Upon entering the Martial Arts Field, Xie Yuan immediately saw Xie Bing standing before the crowd of trainees, silently supervising the disciples as they practiced martial arts.

He really did enjoy guiding others in their training, like a silent and responsible headmaster. Logically speaking, with his status and position, he did not need to personally attend to things every day.

Xie Yuan walked to his side and stood quietly for a while without saying a word.

Xie Bing had not intended to pay him any attention, but seeing that Xie Yuan could hold his patience, he glanced at him.

He suddenly clapped his hands, signaling the disciples training to stop.

"Does the family head have any comments?"

Xie Bing asked.

Xie Yuan looked at the disciples, who all carried spears. They were a group in the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm who mainly cultivated spear techniques.

He shook his head.

"Your footwork lacks refinement, your handling is weak, your waists and abdomens lack strength, and your thrusts are limp. If you went to compete against a true expert like this, I fear you would not be able to receive even one move."

The disciples stirred uneasily, unconvinced but unable to make a fuss due to his status.

What ability did you, Xie Yuan, have? You were impressive, yes, but had you not merely gained a little through resources?

Everyone was in the same realm. Anyone who did not know better would think you were a spear grandmaster.

A glint flashed in Xie Bing's eyes as he asked,

"Then how do you think spear techniques should be practiced?"

Xie Yuan did not answer. He merely took the long spear from a disciple in the front row.

"I will demonstrate once."

Xie Yuan spoke calmly.

Then his spear suddenly shot forth like lightning.

Thunder burst from the clear sky, and the shriek of air being pierced exploded.

The Dragon Martial Academy disciples' eardrums ached, yet the sound had only just spread when Xie Yuan had already thrust out several times.

A rumbling roar rose. This was not the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear. Xie Yuan had merely watched the others practice for a while, then used the moves they had just employed.

Yet with the same spear technique, though it was Xie Yuan's first time using it, he was still incomparably stronger than these disciples of the same Third Transformation Realm. They were utterly on two different levels.

His spear flashed like lightning; his force moved like thunder.

Xie Yuan had grasped the true essence of this domineering spear technique in one stroke. Beneath the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear, no spear technique could escape its bounds.

The nearby disciples stared in dumbfounded shock. They could not understand how the same spear technique, when wielded by him, possessed such utterly different might from their own.

At the end, Xie Yuan slightly drew back his spear and paused.

An incomparably brilliant flash of light suddenly lit before the disciples' eyes, and they could see nothing else.

When their vision recovered, Xie Yuan was already standing with his spear lowered, while they remained dazedly absorbed in the final thrust.

"That last move was the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear. Just watch it—that is enough."

Xie Bing's indifferent voice rang out.

The disciples seemed to awaken from a dream, their expressions all somewhat complicated.

So spear techniques could be used like this.

It was not that the elders and instructors had never demonstrated more powerful techniques before. But Xie Yuan was not an elder or instructor. He was in the same realm as them, and even younger—a peer of their generation.

They thought it natural for elders to be strong. But seeing someone of the same realm be this powerful, they finally understood just how great the gap truly was.

But this also showed that they could at least do better. It was not a limitation of their realm.

Even if he could not measure up to Xie Yuan, he could at least draw closer.

The younger members thought over the demonstration they had just witnessed, all looking thoughtful.

Xie Bing watched Xie Yuan toss the spear back. When Xie Yuan came over, he said,

"I'll go again."

"Huh?"

Xie Yuan took a moment to process that.

Xie Bing stood tall in his burly frame, watching the younger members resume their practice. "No matter how we fight, we shouldn't sacrifice these young people's futures. I don't know how you manage a family, but you know how to teach people. If it truly doesn't work out, come to Dragon Martial Academy."

Xie Yuan smiled at that. "All right."

That very afternoon, Xie Bing packed up and set off directly for Heaven Cloud Garden.

The news soon spread through the Xie Family Clan Land as though it had grown wings, leaving countless people looking strange.

An elder repeatedly shook his head, his face dark. "Xie Bing, that fence-sitting bastard—Xie Yuan went to Dragon Martial Academy, promised him a few paltry scraps of profit, and he switched sides. Short-sighted as a rat! Once we become family head, won't we be able to arrange things however we please?" He said this to those around him, never mentioning that his own plans had never included putting Xie Bing in power or supporting Dragon Martial Academy.

Xie Wen in the pharmacy was stomping madly as well, his expression shifting between light and shadow. "What is Xie Bing doing, stirring up trouble again? He has no sense of the bigger picture at all. If Xie Yuan really takes that position, can the Xie Family possibly prosper? Damn it! Give me another five or ten days, and once the pharmacy is emptied out, I can directly impeach the family head for inaction! And now this... Forget it. He may not be able to resolve it so quickly anyway."

Xie Wen frowned. "But Xie Bing is so strong. What if he really drives the Wang Family away? Mm... It's fine. Once Heaven Cloud Garden resumes supplies, my pharmacy can operate normally again. That benefits me too. Mm, either way, I don't lose out. This is called a win-win."

Having thought it through, Xie Wen settled down somewhat. Unlike the other elders, he did not stomp about in fury, instead watching how things unfolded.

Xie Bing's actions had ruined many people's plans, leaving them to gnash their teeth in secret hatred.

That Xie Yuan had only just returned and was already pulling little tricks. He was truly irritating. It would have been better if he had not returned from outside, or at least returned later...

Upon hearing that Xie Bing had set out, quite a few clansmen felt somewhat reassured. They looked forward to the powerful Dragon Martial Academy elder thoroughly solving the problem and restoring everyone's supplies.

Many elders, however, were not so optimistic. The Wang Family's move would certainly not be easy to deal with. It depended on how long Xie Bing would need to settle it.

Still, the situation within the Xie Family stabilized somewhat. Having just returned and dealt with this trouble, Xie Yuan finally caught his breath and quietly waited for good news from Xie Bing.

He also now had time to properly review his journey to Heaven Beyond Heaven.

In the training room of his own courtyard, Xie Yuan lit a stick of Spirit Focusing Incense and sat down cross-legged in silence.

After battle upon battle, rampaging across the Holy Mountain, Xie Yuan had grown familiar with his current strength through actual combat, gaining no small benefit.

He had seized the Sacred Fire and received the Sect Master's baptism. His cultivation had increased greatly, his Blood Qi had surged forward, and his strength had leapt ahead once more.

Then came his days of relentless battle with Ji Xuan. It was Xie Yuan's first time encountering such a powerful opponent. Amid their entanglement, his combat techniques grew with each passing day, and he improved tremendously.

Xie Yuan closed his eyes and replayed each battle in his mind, gaining many insights as he nodded faintly.

As for everything else, he had obtained the prescription for treating Soul Loss Syndrome, paid his respects to his mother-in-law, made a little progress with the Mu Family's affairs, and finally seen Mu Chaoyun, holding soft fragrance and warm jade in his hands and arms.

That was an enormous gain as well...

Looking back afterward, this trip to Heaven Beyond Heaven could be called complete.

Xie Yuan nodded in satisfaction. By the time he had reviewed his improvements in strength and all those battles, a long while had already passed.

He exhaled and relaxed slightly, his thoughts drifting. "I'm already very close to becoming a Grandmaster. As for cultivation right now, the inside and outside are out of balance. My Inner Breath is too strong, while my Blood Qi is comparatively a little weak."

Xie Yuan pondered. His realm had risen even faster than he had expected. He had to find a solution to this Blood Qi problem now.

He had yet to obtain that final Buddhist resonance. It seemed he had little affinity with Buddhism, so he would have to think of another way. If all else failed, he could go to the Xie Family Martial Repository and find a cultivation method to switch to, making preparations early... Though the loss would be rather great.

Xie Yuan hesitated, unable to make up his mind in an instant.

"What did the Stove Sect Master mean by those words?"

Xie Yuan began pondering again.

Seeking Buddha and asking the Dao was not as good as seeking oneself. Did that refer to cultivation methods? Or something else?

Xie Yuan took out an item in each hand.

A copper coin and a glittering golden Buddhist Talisman.

The copper coin had always seemed utterly ordinary. He had won it from Zhang Junyi, and Xie Yuan did not know what use it had. Perhaps it was merely a memento. Yet he always felt that it might be the most useful thing on him.

Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on what he could not understand for now, then looked toward the Buddhist Talisman that had turned golden.

A great Buddha sat upon the talisman, kind-browed and benevolent-eyed, shining brilliantly as he rested atop a jeweled throne.

And beneath that throne, at some unknown point, surging Red Lotus Karma Fire had appeared, blazing up to the heavens.

Xie Yuan looked at the Buddhist Talisman, so vastly different from before, and at the Buddha image being scorched by the flames. Suddenly, something stirred in his heart.