Enemy Attack

Ye Feixue unconsciously stroked her long hair and asked leisurely, "Brother, what do you think? Do you want me to go to the Danyang Sect, or stay with the Lu Clan?"

"I can't make that decision for you. You have to decide it yourself."

Lu Xuanji said, "If you stay with the Lu Clan, the drawback is that our resources are limited, and what we can provide will certainly be inferior to the Danyang Sect. The Nine Heavens Fiery Spirit Art I gave you can only be cultivated to the Purple Mansion Third Layer; you'll have to seek out the later techniques yourself. But if you remain with the Lu Clan, you may become the Lu Family Patriarch in the future, with half the clan's resources at your disposal."

"Our Lu Clan is small, but it also has fewer vexing matters. Everyone in the clan is united in wanting to make the Lu Clan flourish, so there is relatively less internal strife."

"If you join the Danyang Sect, you can obtain many resources and top-tier cultivation arts, perhaps even become the disciple of a Golden Core Ancestor. But the disadvantage is that the Danyang Sect has many factions and fierce internal struggles, and accidents could happen at any time... The Lu Clan has only one Foundation Establishment Elder in the Danyang Sect, unable to provide you with much support."

"Of course, I'll stay with the Lu Clan."

Ye Feixue said, "I have a Heavenly Spirit Root. Advancing to the Golden Core stage requires few resources for me, so there isn't much difference between staying with the Lu Clan and joining the Danyang Sect. Why should I covet a few resources and throw myself into a whirlpool?

"The Lu Clan has treated me well, and this place is extremely safe. Some Purple Mansion cultivators in the Danyang Sect are nearing the end of their lifespans, and there are also Golden Core cultivators who are old and decrepit. If I enter it, I fear I may suffer Body Seizure and lose myself."

Those with Heavenly Spirit Roots had very low resource requirements.

There was simply no need to join the Danyang Sect.

The Danyang Sect was not safe either. To many cultivators on the verge of passing away or severely injured and near death, seizing the body of someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root was the supreme vessel.

There were also particular rules to Body Seizure.

Cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm disdained Body Seizure. Nascent Soul True Lords could already Leverage Heaven and Earth Laws, enter reincarnation, and undergo a tribulation rebirth; there was no need for them to seize bodies.

Body Seizure was mainly practiced by Golden Core cultivators and Purple Mansion cultivators.

Likewise, those whose bodies were seized were mainly Qi Refining stage cultivators.

Qi Refining stage cultivators had weak souls, making them the easiest to seize.

But once one reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the soul became powerful. After Body Seizure, the soul had difficulty merging with the physical body; the two repelled each other, creating disharmony.

After seizing a Foundation Establishment cultivator's body, it was difficult to enter the Purple Mansion Realm.

Upon reaching the Purple Mansion Realm and opening the upper dantian, the soul became powerful enough that Body Seizure was no longer possible.

Qi Refining stage cultivators were the most endangered.

Among Qi Refining stage cultivators, those with Quadruple Spirit Roots and Five Spirit Roots were the safest, because their aptitude was too poor to be worth seizing. Only those with Triple Spirit Roots, Dual Spirit Roots, and Variant Spirit Roots were relatively dangerous.

If she were in the Danyang Sect and had a powerful background and backer, those old cultivators would not dare seize her body.

But someone like Ye Feixue, with no powerful background or backer and a Heavenly Spirit Root besides, would be walking straight into a tiger's den if she entered the Danyang Sect. One careless step, and she would become another's wedding dress.

Of course, perhaps she was overthinking it. Perhaps those ancestors of the Danyang Sect were upright in character, noble in virtue, and protective of the younger generation, and would never commit Body Seizure.

But Ye Feixue had no intention of testing the humanity of those Golden Core Ancestors.

Human nature could not withstand testing either.

Hearing this, Lu Xuanji smiled. "Congratulations. You'll remain with the Lu Clan. Let's go pay our respects to the Great Elder and the Patriarch."

"Alright."

Ye Feixue nodded.

They arrived within the Cave Dwelling and paid their respects to the Great Elder and the Patriarch.

"Good, good."

The Great Elder nodded. "Xiao Xue, with you in the Lu Clan, I can rest easy."

The Patriarch also said, "Xiao Xue is innocent and lively. Xuanji, you must protect her well."

"I will."

Lu Xuanji said.

"Xiao Xue, from today onward, you are Xuanji's Dao companion. On the path of cultivation, only by relying on each other can you travel far." The Great Elder said, "Cultivation sects are essentially formed by many cultivation families joining together. The Danyang Sect, for example, consists of the three great families—the Ye Family, Ming Family, and Zhao Clan—as well as several smaller families. They came together for shared interests, yet internal conflicts and factions never cease. If you join the Danyang Sect, you must choose a side, or you will never get far."

"Cultivation families are primarily bound by bloodline. Small ones may have only a dozen or so cultivators, while even large ones have barely over a thousand. With few people and limited power, there are also fewer vexing matters, and they are relatively united."

"As for Rogue Cultivators, they mainly travel outside in groups of three or five."

"From time to time, great sects or cultivation aristocratic families are destroyed and their members become Rogue Cultivators. Some Rogue Cultivators also establish families and become cultivation aristocratic families. Likewise, some cultivation families expand their power to a certain extent and become cultivation sects."

"Only when husband and wife share one heart can you go farther."

"I will," Ye Feixue said.

"Patriarch, I understand."

Lu Xuanji nodded.

The Patriarch was delighted.

At that moment, a piercing sound rang out, followed by hurried, tense cries.

Chirp chirp!

As the sound rang out, the great formation surrounding Ziyang Mountain began operating. Runes rose through the air one after another, surging and shifting as they emitted purple light. They continuously gathered together, forming a barrier that completely enveloped Ziyang Mountain.

Bang bang.

At that moment, a destructive ray struck Ziyang Mountain, and tides of destruction surged forward wave after wave.

Ziyang Mountain shook, and the Cave Dwelling shook with it.

Boom boom boom.

The earth trembled.

Lu Xuanji swayed, then steadied himself and asked, "Patriarch, What Happened?"

"As expected, what was meant to come has come. Someone has made a move against my Lu Clan." The Patriarch spoke, a ruthless glint flashing through his eyes. "They have abandoned their probing and directly attacked Ziyang Mountain. They intend to strike Ziyang Mountain hard."

Lu Xuanji said, "We have paid tribute to the Danyang Sect. Aren't those families afraid of punishment from the Danyang Sect?"

"Those families will not act, but certain black gloves and Rogue Cultivators will." The Patriarch said, "Xuanji, I am going outside. Be careful. If things cannot be done, remember to run."

With that, the Patriarch vanished.

The Great Elder vanished shortly afterward as well.

Lu Xuanji's heart turned cold. The worst had still happened.

Whether the Danyang Sect would avenge them or not, even if it did seek revenge afterward, what use would revenge be once people were dead?

"Hurry. Prepare for the worst."

As Lu Xuanji spoke, he took Ye Feixue by the hand and left, preparing for the worst.

Boom boom boom.

A group of cultivators appeared below Ziyang Mountain, only thirty in number.

Yet every one of them was a Foundation Establishment stage Cultivator.

The cultivator leading them emitted a Terrifying Aura. He was already a Great Purple Mansion Cultivator.

"Blazing Sun Heavenly Fire."

That Purple Mansion cultivator activated an Alchemy Furnace. The furnace transformed, growing one Zhang tall. The Dragon and Tiger Carvings upon it shimmered with brilliant radiance, as though they were about to come alive. Runes shifted within the furnace, and at its mouth, endless flames stretched a hundred zhang long, sweeping toward Ziyang Mountain.

Hoo hoo hoo.

The Blazing Sun Heavenly Fire burned fiercely as it swept over them.

On Ziyang Mountain, the formation rose.

Bang bang.

Energies collided and dissolved.

PS: Once the bookmarks reach two thousand, there will be an extra chapter.