Bihai Immortal Sect's Reaction, Arrival at Earth Vein Volcano

Seeing Su Muyan's earnest expression, Su Zhengxiong knew that she had truly taken his words to heart.

He felt considerably more at ease.

"Times are different now. My Su Family already shows signs of decline. Though you possess a Dual Spirit Root and breaking through to the Golden Core realm should not be a major problem, the family cannot offer you much help.

"Grandfather is already one hundred and ninety this year. Although Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of two hundred and forty years, that is only if their bodies are uninjured. When I was young, I was competitive and headstrong, leaving my body with many old wounds.

"Clearly, I will not live to die a natural death, nor will I be able to protect you for many more years.

"And the Clan Leader is now over one hundred and seventy. His body has long since ceased to be at its peak, and he only has a Triple Spirit Root. Even with the help of a Golden Core Pill, his chances of breaking through to the Golden Core realm are not high."

At this point, a trace of desolation and confusion appeared in Su Zhengxiong's eyes.

As for the family's future, he was utterly powerless to change it. Everything depended on Heaven's will.

Seeing this, Su Muyan hurriedly rose and poured her grandfather a cup of tea, but she did not know how to comfort him.

After taking a sip of spirit tea, Su Zhengxiong continued, "If the Clan Leader successfully breaks through, then my Su Family will remain one of the three great overlords of the Penglai Islands.

"If he fails, then my Su Family will face the danger of extinction.

"Bihai Immortal Sect harbors the heart of a wolf and the ambition of a wild beast. They are determined to unify the Penglai Islands, yet they fear our two families joining hands, which is why they have delayed making a move.

"The Zhang Family's rise has become increasingly evident over the years. Zhang Xuanbing and Zhang Xuanchen, two Dual Spirit Root cultivators, have appeared one after another.

"They can no longer sit still."

At this, Su Zhengxiong fell silent, his eyes brimming with dense killing intent.

"If no Golden Core cultivator is born in my Su Family within twenty years, Ancestor will burn away the last of his lifespan and take one of Bihai Immortal Sect's Golden Core Ancestors with him. That will also ease some of the pressure on the Zhang Family.

"It will leave behind a thread of bloodline for my Su Family."

The Su Family had already prepared for the worst. Marrying Su Muyan to Zhang Xuanbing also carried selfish motives—they wanted the Zhang Family to do its utmost to preserve more of the Su Family's bloodline.

Bihai Immortal Sect.

The sect's Main Hall.

Yang Haoyu, a great cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Peak, was respectfully standing beside the seat of honor, serving tea and pouring water.

Seated in the seat of honor was a stunningly curvaceous, mature beauty whose charm remained undiminished.

She lounged lazily against the seat, utterly unconcerned despite exposing a large expanse of snow-white skin. Beside her stood a handsome young disciple, continuously feeding grapes into her mouth.

"Haoyu, why did you call This Seat out of seclusion?"

The woman was named Xi Mengyao. Among Bihai Immortal Sect's three Golden Core True Persons, she ranked second in strength.

Hearing her question, Yang Haoyu replied, "In response to Martial Aunt, this disciple wished to discuss the marriage alliance between the Zhang Family and the Su Family..."

Before Yang Haoyu could finish, Xi Mengyao raised a hand and interrupted him.

"There is no need to worry about that. Su Old Dog's lifespan is nearly at its end. What they are doing is nothing more than the last struggle of a dying man.

"We need only remain on guard during the final years of his life. Otherwise, if either I or my two senior brothers dies or suffers grave injuries, our sect's plan to unify the Penglai Islands will be delayed by decades, perhaps even centuries.

"Once that old fellow passes away in meditation, no matter how powerful that madman Zhang Chongxian is, he will not be able to withstand the three of us joining forces!

"When the time comes, those two Dual Spirit Root geniuses of the Zhang Family will both become this Ancestor's male pets!

"Oh, and leave the sect's affairs to those elders. Temper your cultivation and prepare to break through to the Golden Core realm, just in case."

Upon hearing this, Yang Haoyu respectfully bowed. "This disciple understands."

"Mhm."

As soon as she spoke, Xi Mengyao's figure vanished from the seat of honor. The handsome young man vanished along with her.

After she left, Yang Haoyu looked at the empty seat of honor, deep in thought.

Two days later.

Within the Dragon Mountain Range, a youth in tattered clothes, his entire body soaked in blood, arrived near the Earth Vein Volcano.

Though he was filthy from head to toe, as he felt the scorching heat rushing toward him, his eyes shone with vigor.

"After two days of trekking, I finally reached the Earth Vein Volcano."

Zhang Xuanchen's face was full of emotion.

The journey here had truly not been easy.

He had encountered four waves of cultivators attempting to kill him.

He had slain twenty-three First-grade Early-stage and Mid-stage demonic beasts, nine First-grade Late-stage demonic beasts, and even one Second-grade Early-stage demonic beast.

It had to be said that the defensive power of a Second-grade demonic beast was truly formidable. He had needed three Second-grade Mid-tier Spirit Talismans to kill it.

Zhang Xuanchen swallowed a First-grade Top-tier Qi Replenishing Pill. As he restored the spiritual energy within his body, he hurried toward the direction of the Earth Vein Profound Sun Fire in his mind.

This place already fell within the range of the Earth Vein Volcano.

Crimson rocks stretched in rolling waves for more than a hundred kilometers.

Calling it a volcanic range would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

Because the temperature here was extraordinarily high, no ordinary vegetation or spirit herbs of other attributes grew here. However, it was an important place of origin for Fire Attribute spirit herbs.

Such as Fire Lotus Seeds and Crimson Flame Grass.

Naturally, it was also a gathering place for countless Fire Attribute demonic beasts.

It was said that two Third Stage Fire Flood Dragons lived deep within the lava of the Earth Vein Volcano.

Fortunately, the Earth Vein Profound Sun Fire was not located in its depths.

As he continued forward, Zhang Xuanchen came across quite a few cultivators.

They were all Qi Refining cultivators. They did not dare venture too deep and could only try their luck in the outskirts, searching for Fire Attribute spirit herbs or ores to sell for spirit stones.

Zhang Xuanchen also pretended to search for spirit herbs and ores as he continued farther into the outskirts.

"Brother, I advise you not to go any farther. If you continue ahead, there is a high chance you will encounter demonic beasts at First-grade Late-stage or above.

"With your Qi Refining Level 7 cultivation, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to survive."

Zhang Xuanchen looked toward the voice and saw a tall Middle-aged Cultivator. His cultivation was the same as the one Zhang Xuanchen was displaying—both were at Qi Refining Level 7.

The other man's kind reminder surprised him somewhat.

He replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist, but the outskirts have clearly been searched many times already. I want to try my luck farther in.

"Farewell!"

With that, Zhang Xuanchen left without looking back. He had made ample preparations for the Earth Vein Profound Sun Fire. How could he possibly give up at this moment?

"Hey, you..."

A passing Rogue Cultivator who clearly knew the Middle-aged Cultivator spoke up, looking at Zhang Xuanchen's retreating back with a disdainful smile. "Fellow Daoist Qingyang, why bother with him?

"Are there too few Rogue Cultivators dying in this Earth Vein Volcano range every day?

"As the saying goes, kind words cannot persuade a ghost bent on dying. You are simply too kind-hearted."

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyang sighed. "That man looked only a little over twenty, yet his cultivation has already reached Qi Refining Level 7. That is enough to prove that his talent is not weak.

"He has great prospects ahead of him. It would be such a pity for him to die in the Earth Vein Volcano."

Hearing Zhou Qingyang's words, a trace of jealousy flashed across the Rogue Cultivator's face.

"Hmph, what use is talent, no matter how good it is? Judging by how he is dressed, he does not seem to have any backing.

"Who knows? He might die in there within a few days~"

Zhou Qingyang shook his head and did not refute him. He had been here for more than half a year and had warned quite a few cultivators.

Some listened, while others, like Zhang Xuanchen, did not.

He did not get angry at those who refused to listen.

He was merely doing what he believed was right.