Tongtian Family Patriarch Arrives in Person

"I once read a story where the Protagonist was originally an ordinary person, but after receiving guidance from a master, he gained a mark on his body, with the saying, 'Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon this person...'"

Jiang Yan excitedly muttered to himself, "Could it be that I really have some kind of Dragon-Phoenix Seal on my back? Or is there some Ancient Talisman hidden between my eyebrows? Or perhaps I have seven black moles on the soles of my feet?"

"You have a good imagination," Qin Wangchuan commented casually, his tone ambiguous, neither praising nor mocking.

After speaking, he spoke again, his voice lower and more subdued, carrying an almost sighing quality, as if he were talking to himself:

"I will make a move, but not now."

Qin Wangchuan's whisper seemed to carry a peculiar rhythm, causing Jiang Yan to pause for a moment.

He blinked, gave a vague "oh" as if he understood, but the slight confusion was quickly overshadowed by a stronger excitement.

"Never mind that for now!" Jiang Yan had already taken off his outer garment and started lifting his inner garment, while eagerly turning around to show Qin Wangchuan his back. "Eldest Brother! Quickly check if I have any Dragon-Phoenix Seal or Ancient Talisman on my back!"

His hurried manner made the Little Golden Crow on Qin Wangchuan's head tilt its head unhappily, seemingly disapproving of this loud and boisterous guy who wanted to take off his clothes in public.

Jiujiu a sip of her little mouth, a wisp of Golden-Red Flame "whooshed" past Jiang Yan, exploding three inches from his nose and dissipating into specks of golden light.

Jiang Yan was startled by the sudden flash of fire, and jumped back, almost falling to the ground.

He patted his chest, still shaken, and looked at the Little Golden Crow:

"Eldest Brother, your chicken can breathe fire!"

As he spoke, a hint of confusion flashed across Jiang Yan's eyes; he had never seen a chicken that could breathe fire before.

After this thought flashed through his mind, another question arose. He scratched his head and muttered to himself:

"But speaking of which, Eldest Brother... is this a chicken or a bird?"

As soon as Jiang Yan finished speaking, the Little Golden Crow on Qin Wangchuan's head, Jiujiu, bristled with fur.

It only intended to breathe fire to scare this silly guy, but unexpectedly, the other party not only wasn't scared, but also dared to call it a "chicken"!

"Chirp--!"

A clear, angry cry rang out, Jiujiu Chirp flapped its tender wings and took flight.

Its small body burst forth with astonishing power, Golden-Red Flame swirling around it, about to transform into a blazing torrent, determined to burn that loose-tongued fool below to ashes!

Just at this critical moment, a slender hand reached out from the air, precisely pinched the Jiujiu's body, and held it in its palm.

Qin Wangchuan held the restless Little Golden Crow up to his eyes, his fingertips gently brushing against its ruffled downy feathers:

"Be careful. If you get touched by that flame, I can't save you."

Jiang Yan looked at the little guy fluttering and Jiujiu in his Eldest Brother's palm, scratched his head, and grinned nonchalantly:

"Eldest Brother, you're joking again. How much power can a little bird have?"

He was all smiles, completely unaware that he had just narrowly escaped death.

Although the Nine-Flame Golden Crow performed poorly in the Immortal Court, it was practically invincible in the Lower Realm!

Just as Jiang Yan was laughing and joking, a powerful pressure suddenly descended.

Several Mountain Leopard pulled a Jade Chariot, which came hurtling through the air.

If the Jade Dragon Steed is the symbol of the Qin Clan, then the Mountain Leopard represents the Tongtian Family.

Because they were tasked with guarding the pillars Heaven-Reaching Pillar all realms to the heavens, these High Antiquity mythical beasts, though not exactly beautiful, were protected by law.

However, when it grows up, it stands more than three zhang tall at the shoulder, and its entire body is covered with bronze-colored scales, making it extremely terrifying in combat.

The Jade Chariot stopped, and an elderly man dressed in Star Robe slowly stepped out.

With each step he took, a celestial river of stars appeared beneath his feet, clearly indicating that he had transcended this world and reached the Peerless Expert of Quasi-Saint.

This person is none other than the Tongtian Family Head in this realm, whose Daoist name is Star River True Lord and whose real name Tongtian Xuanming.

He ruled the Tongtian Family of Middle Thousand Provinces for five hundred years, and his power shook the Three Thousand Provinces. Even the emperor of the Xiao Dynasty had to address him as "senior".

"The Tongtian Family Patriarch has arrived!" A White-Haired Old Monster hiding in the distance exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this scene.

"Even he personally intervened, just who is that young man?"

Tongtian Xuanming's gaze swept across the entire scene, not only spotting those in the open, but also discovering the rats hiding in the shadows, watching the show.

The voice seemed to come from the heavens above:

"All unauthorized personnel, step back."

Law Follows Words, the law came into effect. The space-time of the entire area froze instantly, and the cultivators who were watching from afar were moved tens of thousands of miles away in an instant.

Such earth-shattering Great Divine Ability left Jiang Yan speechless, even forgetting to breathe.

However, something even more shocking happened.

Tongtian Xuanming flashed and arrived in front of Qin Wangchuan.

This Peerless Expert, whose might shook Three Thousand Provinces, bowed slightly, a smile almost obsequious plastered on his face:

"I wonder which Dao Child has descended? I, Xuanming, have failed to greet you properly; please forgive me."

This sudden shift from arrogance to obsequiousness made Jiang Yan, who was standing to the side, feel extremely uncomfortable. He felt as if ants were crawling on him, and couldn't help but scratch his head, muttering to himself:

'Wasn't your entrance a bit impressive? How come you've changed so much in the blink of an eye?'

If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed that this obsequious old man was the same person as the peerless master whose Law Follows Words as law.

Seeing that he couldn't get a word in edgewise, Jiang Yan simply sat back down in his chair.

This action, witnessed by the Tongtian Family's entourage, sent a huge shockwave through them—their own Patriarch was the strongest in this realm, and he was still standing; how dare this person sit so calmly?

What's the background of this guy?

Qin Wangchuan ignored this behavior and simply said, "Nine."

As he spoke, a look of emotion crossed his face.

Some kind of Law Treasure was clearly affixed to it.

This is a "Shadow Mask" I got from my Second Brother. It doesn't have a face-changing function, but wearing it can suppress one's aura and make one look like an "ordinary person".

Tongtian Xuanming instinctively responded, "So it's Ninth Dao Child..." His expression then changed drastically, his voice trembling, "Wait! You... you could you be that..."

Normally, the people of Middle Thousand Provinces should not know about the existence of the Qin Clan Divine Son.

But the Tongtian Family is very special.

The family shares intelligence with all sectors of society, precisely to avoid unknowingly incurring the wrath of certain powerful figures.

Tongtian Xuanming lowered his body to perform Grand Gift, but was stopped by a look from Qin Wangchuan.

He quickly steadied himself, glanced at the dumbfounded Jiang Yan beside him, and nodded knowingly.

He returned the Qin Clan's token with both hands, then lowered his voice and asked, "What are your orders, Your His Highness?"

Throughout the process, the Tongtian Family disciples who accompanied them appeared calm on the surface, but their hearts were in turmoil.

They had never seen their Patriarch so humble.

Qin Wangchuan looked calmly at Tongtian Xuanming and slowly said, "I remember, ascended cultivators no longer need to pay Spirit Stone to the Tongtian Family, right?"

His voice was soft, yet it sent a shiver down Tongtian Xuanming's spine.

This rule did exist in High Antiquity times, and it was to maintain the operation of the Heaven-Reaching Pillar.

But now that the Tongtian Family's influence has already extended to the Ten Directions Immortal Court, they certainly wouldn't lack these Spirit Stones.

This is clearly a pretext used by subordinates to line their own pockets.

Tongtian Xuanming hurriedly tried to explain, "Your His Highness, please understand! The Tongtian Family stopped this practice long ago..."

"You want to argue?" Qin Wangchuan interrupted him directly, his gaze suddenly turning cold. "Isn't the He Family affiliated with the Tongtian Family?"

The question was asked very softly, yet it carried a mountain-like sense of oppression.

Tongtian Xuanming felt as if the air around him had solidified, as if the He Family would be wiped out in the next moment if he dared to nod.

He dared not say another word, and could only bow his head deeply. "Yes..."

Qin Wangchuan did not pursue the matter further.

The Three Thousand Provinces are so vast; how can everyone possibly follow the rules? There will always be some who will use their power to enrich themselves.

He turned to look at the Ascension Platform and said calmly, "Untie it."

Tongtian Xuanming felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately stepped forward in person.

He formed a hand seal, and a golden light entered the base of the Ascension Platform.

With a deafening roar, the layers of restrictions dissipated, and a gentle wave of light rippled outwards from the Ascension Platform, causing Spiritual Qi to surge and Dao Rhyme to flow wherever it passed.

Having done all this, Tongtian Xuanming obediently stepped aside and bowed respectfully.

Qin Wangchuan didn't Tongtian Xuanming.

Climbing the steps, I slowly took my seat in the center of the Ascension Platform.

His gaze passed over the surging Cloud Sea and landed on the Heaven-Reaching Pillar that pierced through the heavens and earth.

The colossal pillar reached from the heavens to the netherworld, its body entwined with countless Great Dao Rune, each containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

Standing beneath the pillar and looking up, even the sun and moon appear tiny, as if they were merely two specks of light adorning the pillar.

The Ascension Platform may be high, but it is not as tall as a single brick on the pillar; a cultivator may be strong, but he is not as powerful as a speck of dust on the pillar.

At that moment, he seemed to touch the feelings of the predecessor who first stepped onto this platform and looked up at this pillar Myriad Ages ago.

The world is so vast... and I am still so small.

A soft sigh conveyed the deepest reverence and clarity on the path of spiritual practice.

Although he gained some insights, Qin Wangchuan did not become immersed in them.

And silently recite in your heart:

"Check-in."