Ce Heaven Domain was one of the Thirty-Six Upper Domains and the location of the Immortal Gu Family's headquarters.
At that moment, deep within the Gu Family lay the place where many ancestors slept.
A white-robed young man sat cross-legged atop a white jade platform, profound energy radiating from his body as he cultivated some powerful technique.
Just then, the voice of an Immortal Gu Family ancestor suddenly reached the young man's ears.
"Changtian, news has arrived from outside. That little brat from the Lu Clan, Lu Yuan, has returned. Who would have thought that five months ago, he hadn't died in that chaotic battle, nor had he exiled himself with the Lu Clan. That brat is a huge problem. Are you confident you can deal with him?"
"If not, kill him as soon as possible. Otherwise, with that brat's talent, he will definitely go to the Divine Martial Heavenly Ruins. By then, he will be a huge problem."
"Lu Yuan has returned? Where is he?"
The young man opened his eyes, and a flash of golden light flickered deep within them.
"We don't know for now. His movements are highly secretive. He may be hiding somewhere, or he may already have been recruited by some major faction."
Gu Changtian thought for a moment before saying, "Ancestor, to be honest, I'm not confident I can defeat him one-on-one. So if there's an opportunity, we should kill Lu Yuan as soon as possible. Otherwise, he'll cause major trouble in the future."
As the Young Master of Gu Family, Gu Changtian was not conceited. He knew the gap between himself and Lu Yuan very well.
Hearing this, the Immortal Gu Family ancestor sighed and said, "Changtian, the path of cultivation is about who can have the last laugh. Don't lose heart. Though Lu Yuan's talent is formidable, he is ultimately only a flash in the pan. Throughout history, most peerless prodigies like Lu Yuan from the Dark Continent have fallen like shooting stars."
Gu Changtian smiled faintly. "Ancestor, of course I understand that. I've never thought that falling behind Lu Yuan for a moment means I'll always remain behind him. I will prove my name in the Divine Martial Heavenly Ruins!"
"It's good that you can think this way."
Feathered Immortal Dynasty.
Within the palace of a certain Prince.
"Your Highness, the report has been confirmed. Lu Yuan has returned." A general clad in dark armor knelt on one knee in the hall.
Above them, a golden-robed young man embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon narrowed his eyes. "He didn't return when the Lu Clan disappeared, yet he came back at this critical juncture before the Divine Martial Heavenly Ruins. Interesting."
"But so what? I have already mastered the Supreme Ancestral Dragon Divine Canon. Lu Yuan, this time, I won't lose to you again!"
A confident, arrogant smile spread across the golden-robed young man's face.
Dark Immortal Hall.
Atop a certain sacred mountain.
A fresh and gentle breeze brushed lightly past a young man sitting at the edge of a cliff.
The young man extended his hand and spread his five fingers. The gentle breeze suddenly turned violently fierce. As he slowly moved his fingers, strands of wind gathered into his palm.
In the next moment, the young man abruptly clenched his fist and struck fiercely toward the heavens.
Boom!
The heavens erupted with a thunderous roar, and layer upon layer of clouds was torn apart.
"Lu Yuan, this time, you are doomed to die!"
The young man's cold, indifferent voice echoed across the mountaintop.
Several days later.
One after another, members of the Lu Clan were escorted back by Qingling Star Travel. They encountered no obstruction along the way.
As for the culprits who had attacked the Lu Clan, their objective had already been achieved.
Offending Qingling Star Travel over some unimportant collateral members of the Lu Clan would have been extremely unwise.
Outside Qingling City.
Within a manor covering a million mu.
Lu Yuan sat quietly beside the lake while Lu Changming stood nearby giving a report.
"Brother Yuan, we've already brought back more than two hundred thousand clansmen. This manor is starting to become too crowded."
Lu Yuan said, "I know. I remember that my Lu Clan also had businesses and residences in Qingling City. How are they now?"
Lu Changming smiled bitterly. "They've all been seized."
"Whoever seized them can spit them back out. Do I really have to teach you something this simple?" Lu Yuan's gaze was cold.
Lu Changming's entire body trembled. When the Lu Clan still stood, Lu Yuan had been the leader of the younger generation. As the saying went, an elder brother was like a father, and Lu Yuan had disciplined them even more strictly than their own elders.
Then, Lu Changming said helplessly, "Brother Yuan, we don't have enough strength."
"Not enough strength?" Lu Yuan was stunned. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "With more than two hundred thousand clansmen, you couldn't find even a few who can fight?"
"How did the statistics I asked you to compile turn out?"
Lu Changming hurriedly replied, "They're more or less complete. There are around two hundred and fifty thousand clansmen in total. Five are at the Great Heavenly Saint Realm, thirty-five are at the Heavenly Saint Realm, three hundred and fifty are at the Earthly Saint Realm, and five thousand seven hundred are at the Saint Realm. Those below the Saint Realm haven't been recorded."
Hearing these figures, Lu Yuan asked in puzzlement, "Their strength isn't weak. Why haven't they acted?"
Lu Changming said, "Those five Great Heavenly Saints are all collateral Clan Elders, while the more than thirty Heavenly Saints are collateral clan heads from various places. They believe that conserving our strength is the priority for now and that we shouldn't move against other factions."
Lu Changming's eyes flickered.
Clearly, the truth was not as he had described.
After hearing this, Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered. "Did you tell them this was my order?"
"I did, I did. But they said you're only a junior and aren't qualified to order them."
"Heh!" Lu Yuan was so angry that he laughed. He immediately rose to his feet. "Notify every clansman at the Heavenly Saint Realm or above to come to the Council Hall. They have one quarter of an hour. Those who don't come will bear the consequences!"
"Yes, Brother Yuan."
A quarter of an hour later.
The manor's Council Hall.
Looking at the hall, where only a little over thirty people had arrived, Lu Yuan's expression was utterly cold.
"Looks like many people don't take me seriously." Lu Yuan's icy voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone seated below felt a chill in their hearts.
Lu Yuan turned to Lu Changming beside him. "Record those who didn't come. Starting today, expel them from the Lu Clan and remove their names from the Family Registry!"
"Absolutely not!"
Hearing this, the many Heavenly Saints seated below couldn't help but speak up.
Lu Yuan looked at them coldly. "Who has an objection?"
Someone said in a deep voice, "Lu Yuan, only the clan head can remove someone from the Family Registry. You're merely the Eldest Son and don't have that authority. Besides, after everything our Lu Clan has been through, every clansman is incredibly precious. What you're doing will chill everyone's hearts!"
"Chill their hearts?" Lu Yuan looked at that person. "Do you think I'm discussing this with you?!"
As he spoke, Lu Yuan looked at everyone. "According to the clan rules, I am the Eldest Son of the Lu Clan and the first heir to the position of clan head. With the clan head absent, I will act as the Lu Clan's clan head until he returns!"
"Now, who agrees and who opposes?"
Lu Yuan's cold gaze swept across everyone.
"I agree."
"I agree as well."
"So do I..."
In the end, more than half of the over thirty people in the hall agreed to let Lu Yuan act as clan head. A small portion remained silent from beginning to end, including the three Great Heavenly Saints seated in the foremost seats.
Lu Yuan's gaze swept over those who had said nothing. "Since you're silent, I'll take that as agreement."
Just then.
A vigorous voice came from outside the hall.
"I object! Lu Yuan, you aren't qualified to become clan head!"
The voice arrived before the person did.
However, Lu Yuan did not give him a chance at all. He said coldly, "Since you object, then go die!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Lu Yuan transformed directly into an afterimage and charged out of the hall with a black longsword in hand.
A few breaths later.
Lu Yuan returned to the hall carrying a head that was still dripping with blood.
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