Harvest

Chen Commandery Xie Clan Land.

Outside Creek Water Council Hall.

Xie clan elders arrived one after another, exchanging greetings.

"Fifth Brother, what have you been busy with lately?"

"Other than cultivation and official duties, what else could I be doing?"

"Oh? Then why did I hear you secretly begged Luofu Mountain for a spirit pill and were preparing to enter seclusion? Making progress without taking your old brothers along, are you?"

"Don't, don't talk nonsense! There are so many people here. I'll tell you later..."

Others quietly made under-the-table deals.

"Elder Bing, about what I told you last time, about my youngest grandson entering Dragon Martial Academy..."

"Dragon Martial Academy has limited slots. Everything is determined by the assessment results."

Xie Bing said flatly.

That elder watched Xie Bing's impartial, iron-faced back and sighed helplessly, worrying over his child's schooling.

Others traded barbs.

"Elder Zhi, why have the goods Xinglong Hall is supposed to deliver to the pharmacy been late so often lately? Are you having some difficulty? Do you need me to send someone to help?"

Xie Wen asked with a smiling face.

Xie Zhi gave a cold snort.

"Then why have the quotas your pharmacy gives my people lately all been defective goods?"

The two exchanged a glance. One sneered, the other darkened his face. Then they both turned away and strode into the council hall.

Once most of the elders had taken their seats, they began whispering among themselves.

"What is today's meeting about?"

"It has been a long time since an Elders' Council meeting was held. Perhaps the family head wants to see everyone. After all, he has just broken through to Grandmaster and has not formally informed us yet..."

"Such a young Grandmaster. He ought to be riding high on the spring breeze."

"And that great battle in Wei County a few days ago—has there been any news?"

"No idea. We only heard Xie Yuan acted, but who he fought and what the result was, there has been no explanation."

"Perhaps we will find out shortly."

The battle between Xie Yuan and Ji Xuan had shaken heaven and earth. The people of North Mountain Village, even all across Wei County, had seen it, so naturally the clan land's Grandmasters were concerned.

However, after Xie Yuan returned, he simply said that he had acted himself, sparing the investigating Grandmaster elders any further trouble.

As for the details, he had revealed very little. Most of the elders were curious about who would dare penetrate deep into the heart of Yu Province to ambush the Xie clan's family head, and why Xie Yuan had gone alone to Wei County.

Before long.

Xie Yuan, clad in a Mystic Robe, emerged from behind the council hall.

The hall immediately fell silent.

By now, Xie Yuan was the undisputed family head of the Chen Commandery Xie clan. Whatever the elders might truly think in their hearts, not a single one showed any defiance on the surface.

Especially when facing Xie Yuan today.

His body stood tall and straight, his features open and clear. Paired with the imposing Mystic Robe, he carried his own natural bearing.

Most importantly, he made no effort to conceal the aura of his realm.

A genuine Grandmaster.

Even though every elder seated here had long learned of this through various channels, when many saw it for themselves, complicated emotions still rose uncontrollably in their eyes.

How old was he, really?

Thinking back to themselves at his age...

Better not think about it.

What differed even more from many people's expectations was that Xie Yuan did not possess the faintly unsteady aura of someone who had only just broken through.

The feeling he gave off even carried a trace of weight and solidity. He did not resemble a newcomer who had only recently advanced, but rather a true Grandmaster, a great martial master who had cultivated for many years.

Many elders even felt pressure from him, and doubts arose in their hearts. How could Xie Yuan, having only just broken through, already make them feel oppressed? It was as though his realm had already caught up with theirs.

The time Xie Yuan had spent on the martial path was probably not even as long as the time they had spent as Grandmasters, yet now he stood on the same step as most of them.

Once Xie Yuan took his seat, the elders all saluted him, as they always had.

But this time, many of their mindsets had subtly changed. They unconsciously gained an extra measure of solemnity and lost a trace of casualness.

Xie Yuan returned the salute, sweeping his gaze across the room and taking in every Grandmaster present.

He did not waste words and went straight to the point.

"I called all of you Grandmaster elders here today because there are several matters to announce.

"First, as you can all see, I have successfully broken through to Grandmaster."

The family head's increase in strength was an extremely important matter for the entire Lineage.

Especially in Xie Yuan's particular circumstances, it naturally had to be announced at the first opportunity.

However, due to Xie Yi's situation and the matter of his origins, Xie Yuan had never made a formal announcement. This meeting was being used to notify everyone at once.

When the Grandmaster elders heard Xie Yuan say it himself, indescribable feelings stirred in their hearts.

Then they all clasped their hands and congratulated Xie Yuan.

"Congratulations to the family head on breaking through to Grandmaster!"

"Young and accomplished indeed, worthy of being the foremost prodigy of our Xie clan!"

"The family head possesses his father's bearing, even surpassing the blue that gave it birth."

"I said long ago that Family Head Xie Yi's judgment could not possibly be wrong."

Xie Yuan clasped his hands in a circle, calmly accepting the Grandmasters' congratulations.

Then he pressed his hand down and swiftly announced several decisions and personnel transfers.

The elders' expressions shifted. They all understood that Xie Yuan was displaying his influence, like a young lion marking out his territory.

Yet he had only just broken through to Grandmaster, and his prestige was at its peak. The elders had only just congratulated him; even if some had minor objections, they could not voice them.

Moreover, Xie Yuan had considered these decisions deeply. Having accumulated experience for so long, he grasped the proper measure perfectly, keeping everything within the elders' acceptable range. Every strike of the stick was followed by a sweet date, leaving people no choice but to swallow their temper and watch as Xie Yuan smoothly turned each of his decisions into reality.

Everyone suddenly realized that Xie Yuan had not merely reached the Grandmaster level in strength. His discernment, decisiveness, and methods had reached the minimum standard expected of a family head long ago, and now they far exceeded it.

Having failed to refuse this time, it would clearly be even harder to say no next time.

After Xie Yuan smoothly displayed his first authority since becoming the family head in truth as well as name, seeing that everyone was cooperative, that most had accepted reality, and that the few remaining dissenters were powerless to reverse the tide.

He stopped at the right point and moved on to the next matter.

"The Grandmaster battle at North Mountain Village earlier was caused by my encounter with an expert of the Stove Sect. But rest assured, he caused no losses and has already been executed."

At once, the elders' faces turned grave, and they began whispering among themselves.

Within Yu Province, not far from the Xie Family Clan Land, in the very core of the Xie clan's sphere of rule, a Demon Sect Grandmaster had appeared and tried to assassinate the family head?

If word got out, where would the Xie clan put its face?

And if a Demon Sect Grandmaster dared to venture so arrogantly into the Xie clan's heartland, was that some kind of signal?

Yet some focused on words such as "caused no losses" and "has already been executed," quietly studying Xie Yuan.

Sure enough, he did not look like a Grandmaster who had only just broken through. He had directly slain even a Demon Sect Grandmaster, yet his aura was full and abundant, with no sign of injury whatsoever.

The elders' spirits rose, and their assessment of Xie Yuan's strength climbed another step.

Seeing the elders' discussion grow louder and louder, Xie Yuan continued explaining.

"That man was not some veteran elder. He was the leading figure of the younger generation from the Ji Family of Heaven Beyond Heaven—the family of that Demon Sect's leader. The current sect leader considered him the successor with the greatest hope. Other than that, there is nothing much to say. Elders, there is no need for concern."

He waved a hand, utterly calm and unruffled, as though he were simply telling them a fly in the house had been swatted and there was nothing to worry about.

For a moment, the elders were speechless. As Xie clan elders, they had all heard more or less of the name Ji Family of Heaven Beyond Heaven. Even those who knew little could hear the implications in the words "the sect leader's family."

This was absolutely a powerful family within the Stove Sect, perhaps even its foremost family. In terms of their experts' strength, they might not be inferior to the Xie Family.

And the strongest member of the younger generation of such a family, the successor personally chosen by the current sect leader, had to be one of the Stove Sect's greatest prodigies. There was a ninety percent chance he had been a Great Grandmaster.

Such a blazing sun of the demonic path had actually been slain by Xie Yuan?

And his tone was still so flat, as though he had merely driven away a stray dog by the roadside.

They looked at one another, unsure what expressions to make.

Some of the Grandmasters present were not completely certain they could defeat such an opponent.

And their young family head had unknowingly become this formidable?

"The good news is that he did not come to target the Xie Family. His connection to the Stove Sect was actually not that great. He was mainly targeting me, so the Lineage need not worry about facing attacks from both the Stove Sect and the Wang Family at once."

After Xie Yuan spoke, curiosity arose in the elders' hearts.

Why would such a genius go out of his way to target Xie Yuan? What love and hatred lay behind it?

That young supreme expert of the Ji Family had not even had his gender mentioned. Could she have been a woman?

The elders felt that Xie Yuan had reached the proper age. Aside from Princess of Western Peace being unreliable, it seemed perfectly normal for him to become entangled with other women, and they all became somewhat gossipy.

Yet Xie Yuan's next words brought the elders, who had grown somewhat lightheaded from his series of displays and achievements, back down to earth.

"The bad news is that I have learned from a reliable source that the Ji Family of Heaven Beyond Heaven now bears a grudge against us and will soon act against the Xie clan."

The elders' expressions froze, and they all cursed inwardly.

What did he mean, acting against the Xie clan? This was clearly trouble he had brought upon himself.

The Xie Family was already facing the Wang Family's ceaseless pressure and encroachment, retreating step by step.

If the Stove Sect was added to the mix, how could the Xie clan possibly maintain the situation?

The elders erupted into noise, all discussing their future prospects.

Hearing their discussion, Xie Yuan shook his head.

"I can confirm that the Stove Sect as a whole is not involved. Only the Ji Family of Heaven Beyond Heaven is."

The Stove Sect leader had shown him an ambiguous attitude, and as for Situ Wan's side, there was no need to mention it.

In truth, the entire Stove Sect was not hostile toward Xie Yuan. Only the Ji Family would seek revenge for Ji Xuan and reclaim that axe.

Although the branch of the Joyous Union Elder was still watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, that branch mainly consisted of experts and might not necessarily target the entire Xie Family.

Hearing his certainty, the elders secretly guessed at the source of this intelligence. Perhaps it had come through Princess of Western Peace, with further implications behind it.

Everyone's expressions immediately became complicated. Although no one in the Lineage supported the matter between Xie Yuan and Situ Qin, it seemed it was not entirely without benefits.

However, Xie Yuan had not actually obtained this information from Situ Qin.

After news of Ji Xuan's death was sent back, Heaven Beyond Heaven—especially the Ji Family—had indeed been thrown into turmoil. A certain envoy who enjoyed watching the excitement had passed their movements on to Xie Yuan, informing him that the Ji Family would certainly make a move against the Xie Family.

Xie Yuan did not know whether Yun Xing counted as a traitor within the Stove Sect, but the Stove Sect was an enormous system. She was loyal to the Stove Sect, but that did not mean she could stand those families.

In any case, with Yun Xing serving as an informant, Xie Yuan had a firmer grasp on the Ji Family's foreseeable movements. Thus, he informed the Lineage's elders in advance so they could prepare.

But prepared or not, this still added another powerful enemy to the Xie clan, whose circumstances were hardly favorable to begin with.

Though no one said they blamed Xie Yuan for somehow provoking the Demon Sect, pressure weighed upon all their hearts.

Xie Yuan did not explain either. Naturally, he would not let every elder know his movements.

Under normal circumstances, the elders would have been more or less dissatisfied, feeling that Xie Yuan was too young to be family head, stirring up trouble and failing to consider the Lineage.

Yet today, none of the elders had such thoughts. They only felt that a tall tree catches the wind. With Xie Yuan's talent and strength, it was simply unavoidable that he would attract powerful figures from the Demon Sect.

Once talent and strength had been matched by fitting accomplishments, many explanations no longer needed to come from Xie Yuan himself.

Watching Xie Yuan depart, many elders felt he was looking more and more like a family head.

Though, due to seniority and age, it could not be called awe in the elders' eyes, there was now something similar to it.

Even Xie Bing, whose expression was always stern, had gained a trace of appreciation in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Xie Wen considered the personnel arrangements Xie Yuan had made today and felt that he seemed to have gained just a tiny bit more than Xie Zhi. He could not help nodding repeatedly, in an excellent mood.

He looked toward Xie Zhi and found that Xie Zhi showed neither displeasure nor gloom. He was merely staring in Xie Yuan's direction, brows furrowed.

After the Elders' Council meeting ended, Xie Yuan returned to his own courtyard. He smiled at Yun Zhu, who thoughtfully came to help him remove his clothes, and Shi Jian, who eagerly came to take his weapon, before entering the study.

After pondering his many miscellaneous affairs for a while, he felt there were no major problems today. As was his habit, he rubbed the space between his brows, then took out a small axe.

It had a strange, curved wooden handle, an axehead marked by the traces of time, and golden thread simply wrapped around to bind the two together.

It looked like an ancient homemade Logging Axe, its antiquity rushing straight at him.

Yet Xie Yuan knew that this was a top-tier mystic weapon no less formidable than Dragon Soul, its power second only to a divine weapon.

This was the spoils he had gained after defeating Ji Xuan.

Although Ji Xuan had carried many treasures, all of them had been damaged or exhausted during their continuous struggle and the final fatal strike. Only this axe remained.

But Xie Yuan had gained more than this.

He had tested the full power of his Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear. Fighting an opponent of such caliber had caused the progress of its four forms, which he had only just begun learning, to surge forward.

Only a good opponent could count as a worthy whetstone, and Ji Xuan had undoubtedly been an extremely useful opponent.

After that great battle, combined with Xie Yuan's reflection and review after returning, his summing up of experience, and the Ten Thousand Weapons Candlelight Shadow constantly at work, all four forms of his spear technique had improved dramatically. They were unexpectedly close to advancing from the beginner stage to the proficient stage.

The advancement of his spear technique was merely a microcosm of his overall growth in strength. After such a battle, Xie Yuan's combat skills had also improved. Even the spirit liquid in his body that had not yet been fully digested accelerated its absorption somewhat, and his realm had jumped upward by a noticeable stretch.

One hearty, unrestrained battle was worth more than bitter cultivation alone. Xie Yuan only regretted that Ji Xuan had not held on a little longer.

If only he had not thought of running.

Did the Ji Family have any more sons like him?

Ji Xuan had to have some outstanding brothers or sisters, did he not?

Xie Yuan leisurely mused for a while before turning his gaze back to the axe before him.

This axe was a top-grade weapon passed down from some unknown age. Its golden radiance could amplify the power of its wielder's attacks, and the effect was extraordinarily strong.

If he used this axe to unleash his axe techniques, Xie Yuan felt that its destructive power would likely reach a level even he could scarcely imagine.

The only problem was that this item came from the Ji Family and had been wielded by them for a thousand years. The imprint within it was too strong.

Mystic weapons needed to be refined before they could move like extensions of one's arms. Faced with such a powerful imprint, Xie Yuan did not know how much effort it would take to refine it, and he even feared he might not be able to bring out its full potential. Worse, the Ji Family might use it as a locator to find him.

Losing such a prodigy and then losing this top-tier mystic weapon as well—even the Ji Family could not bear that. They would surely hate him to the bone and exhaust every means to retaliate.

With the Stove Sect's powerful inheritance and unfathomable methods, Xie Yuan no longer intended to visit even somewhere as close to the clan land as Wei County.

He planned to stay obediently in the clan land and cultivate until his strength rose greatly again, until he approached the Bridge to Heaven, or even broke through the Bridge to Heaven.

After thinking for a while, Xie Yuan looked at the axe with some reluctance, then had someone summon Xie Tiexin.

When the forging Grandmaster entered, he said with considerable shame.

"Family Head, I have not yet found a way to fully restore that mystic weapon. I have already found some clues regarding the craftsmanship, but the formations..."

Xie Yuan nodded and said gently.

"There is no rush, Elder Tiexin. I trust in your skill."

He knew almost nothing about forging. In fields he did not understand, he maintained a sense of reverence and had no intention whatsoever of letting a layman lead an expert.

Xie Tiexin let out a breath of relief. Then, gratitude for Xie Yuan's trust flickered across his face as he hurriedly asked:

"Family Head, then why did you summon me today...?"

Though Xie Tiexin was broad and burly, he was actually quite advanced in years. He had not been born into the main branch, and his strength could not be considered especially formidable. His main contributions lay in his craftsmanship, and he had only reached his current level through the main branch's wholehearted cultivation.

Thus, although he was the elder in charge of the Divine Weapon Hall and the foremost craftsman of the Xie clan, with no low standing, he had always remained humble and discreet. He respected the other elders and the family head, enjoyed an excellent reputation and fine relations with others, and this was simply in his nature.

Xie Yuan handed the axe to Xie Tiexin.

"Elder Tiexin, melt this thing down and add it to my arcane weapon."

Xie Tiexin accepted the axe and froze for a moment. Then a sharp gleam appeared in his eyes as he turned it over and over for inspection.

"What a fine axe. Such a simple forging method, yet it produced an arcane weapon like this. Great skill appeared clumsy—great skill appeared clumsy indeed.

"The materials are also an important factor. This axe blade, the golden threads, and the wooden haft are all of the highest grade. The blade is Heavenly Heart Refined Iron, infused with Essence of Yang Flame. If I am not mistaken, these golden threads should be the tendons of some strange beast. They are no weaker than dragon tendons, and are most likely extinct by now. And this wooden haft is clearly the trunk of a Black Spirit Tree. The Black Spirit Tree is a spirit-gathering tree species, revered as a sacred relic even by ancient Qi refiners, yet it was used for an axe haft. What lavish handiwork."

The more Xie Tiexin examined it, the more he marveled. Then he said excitedly:

"Family Head, if we dismantle this axe and use it to refine your weapon, we will surely break through the material shackles of your weapon and raise its power to a higher level!"

Xie Yuan smiled.

"Good. Then this axe will not have been wasted."

Xie Tiexin hesitated.

"But, Family Head, will you not use this axe directly? It would be excellent even as it is. As for the imprint within it, I can find a way to weaken it somewhat for you."

"Even so, refining it would take far too much effort. The Ji Family's thousand-year imprint will not be easy to erase. I still prefer my former weapon."

Xie Yuan shook his head.

After weighing his words for a moment, Xie Tiexin said:

"Family Head, I will do my utmost. But I cannot guarantee that I can resolve the core inscription array. If we cannot find a solution for a long time, I fear we can only use these materials to forge a new axe, lest they go to waste."

Xie Yuan sighed.

"If that inscription array is so difficult to handle, then let nature take its course."

Xie Tiexin looked somewhat ashamed.

"It is because I am incapable. I know far too little about ancient inscription arrays..."

"Elder Tiexin, you give me too much credit. This is not your fault. If even you cannot solve it, I fear there are few people in the world who can."

Xie Yuan interrupted him, then said sincerely:

"Let us do all that man can, then leave the rest to fate."

If it truly came to that, forging a good axe would be fine too. Carrying a sword at his waist, wielding an axe in hand, and bearing a spear on his back was not impossible.

The days flowed past like water.

Xie Yi still had not awakened, the Wang Clan continued pressing them hard, and now the Ji Family was also stirring restlessly, making several moves against key territories of the Xie Family.

Though the well-prepared Xie Family drove them back, the world's foremost Demon Sect had thrust itself into the affair, casting another layer of dark clouds over the Xie clan, which had already been balanced on fragile ground.

Xie Yuan handled clan affairs while cultivating quietly. He had gradually grown accustomed to such days.

He had once been utterly unable to understand how family heads and sect masters like Xie Yi and Li Xingtuo could guarantee their cultivation while also governing those under them.

Now, Xie Yuan could gradually do the same, though it was somewhat tiring.

Yet one day, as Mid-Autumn Festival drew near, ripples suddenly disturbed this peaceful life.

"Young Master, the gatehouse says someone has come to see you. It is a young lady surnamed Mu."

After reporting this, Yun Zhu looked at Xie Yuan, who had suddenly gone still, with a trace of curiosity.

What kind of young lady could make the Young Master, who had become ever more unfathomable, lose himself like this?