"A Foundation Establishment pill?"
Xu Xuan raised an eyebrow. Although pills for Foundation Establishment were precious, they were worth no more than ordinary spiritual treasures used for the same purpose. Why single this one out? Why would an aristocratic clan like the Liu Clan, which had once had a Foundation Establishment cultivator presiding over it, be tempted?
Putting on a show of boldness, Liu Qiuqi drained his spirit wine in one gulp, choked a little, and continued:
"Ordinary Foundation Establishment pills are refined from blood essence and incense offerings. Although they can manifest the [nature root], they also foul the spiritual dais. Once you establish your foundation, taking another step becomes difficult, let alone aspiring to the Purple Mansion realm."
"The Chen Household's precious pill was known in ancient times as the [One Origin Harmonious Peak Pill]. Refined by a Purple Mansion True Person, it can manifest one's allotted fortune and awaken the nature root, with endless wondrous effects. The pill contains a strand of the righteous intent of mountains, raising clear yang and lowering turbid yin. It is a rare treasure, one that only the inner heirs of immortal sects have the fortune to enjoy."
Xu Xuan had never heard that Foundation Establishment pills came with such distinctions. Above Foundation Establishment lay Purple Mansion, but the last person on the Great Scenery Plains to glimpse the sights of that realm had been True Person Mysterious Peak of the Chen Household, several centuries ago.
"Taking this pill only lets you travel a little farther. The Purple Mansion realm isn't something a single pill can bring you to. As I see it, it merely saves a drop of toil in a vast ocean."
Though tempted, Xu Xuan saw the situation clearly. After a single Demon Calamity, every clan and sect in the Plainlands had declined severely. Producing even one Foundation Establishment cultivator would be a blessing from heaven. Aspiring to Purple Mansion was rather laughable.
"Even so, this pill can greatly improve the chances of successfully establishing one's foundation. Every clan has its hopes set on it. They're only waiting for our lord to speak."
After discussing it, the two felt that even if they obtained the pill, it would be a particularly hot potato to hold.
A little later, a sudden commotion arose outside the doors. Xu Xuan sensed another presence approaching from beyond the hall, deep as a still abyss and imposing as a mountain, faintly clashing with Chen Weiyuan's presence on the seat of honor.
As that aura drew closer, it gradually softened. By the time it reached the hall entrance, Xu Xuan felt as though an ordinary mortal had arrived.
A man in sumptuous black robes entered, his gaze eagle-sharp and wolf-watchful. His eyes flashed like lightning as he swept them over the direct descendants of the various clans. Behind him, attendants brought in his congratulatory gift: an enormous white serpent covered with cloth. Its demonic aura had yet to disperse, and its presence was terrifying.
"The head of the Zhu Clan, Zhu Yucheng. Behind him is the corpse of a Foundation Establishment demon, at least middle stage or above."
Everyone present felt a chill of fear and fell silent.
"The Zhu Clan of the eastern plains presents the corpse of a demon general from White Azure Cavern. May your lordship's cultivated body remain free of affliction, and your attainment stand as lofty as a mountain. Slaying this demon took some time, so I arrived late. I hope your lordship will forgive me."
Zhu Yucheng's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, carrying steadily throughout the hall.
"Yucheng, you're here. Come, take your seat."
Chen Weiyuan's expression did not change. In a kindly tone, he invited Zhu Yucheng to sit beside him.
"Now that everyone is here, I have a few things to say to you."
Chen Weiyuan surveyed those below, looking over the current direct descendants of each clan, and felt disheartened.
Poor. Far too poor. Each generation is worse than the last. The decline is severe.
The previous generation had still produced Wen Fufeng of the Great Red Abbey, his own son Chen Changqi, and Zhu Yucheng beside him. The three differed in temperament and Dao arts, but all had firmly reached the standard of an immortal sect's inner heirs, seeds of the Purple Mansion realm.
Now Wen Fufeng had suffered calamity, and Zhu Yucheng's Dao Path had been severed. As for his own son? Chen Weiyuan dared not dwell on it. He quieted his heart and stilled his thoughts, wishing only to forget it all completely.
All the promising seedlings had been pinched off, so those left naturally grew worse and worse. The true inheritances of their traditions had been taken away, leaving them able to cultivate only minor branches and trifling details. This generation in the Plainlands would likely struggle to produce even a stronger Foundation Establishment cultivator. Most would have to rely on mortal blood essence and incense offerings to break through.
How could they protect their ancestral foundations?
Chen Weiyuan sighed.
"The situation is poor. The demon mountains to the south are all making moves. The monks in the north fear me, but I cannot keep protecting you forever. Let us see how your cultivation has progressed."
With that, the old man summoned a precious tower of mysterious yellow. Gentle magical radiance spilled down, and the direct descendants seated below all felt a crushing weight descend upon them. If they resisted, it felt as though mountains rested on their shoulders, threatening to shatter their bodies. If they gave up and simply collapsed, the pressure vanished without a trace.
From his seat, Zhu Yucheng watched their embarrassing displays with a hint of disdain.
Xu Xuan and the direct descendant of the Duan Clan held out the longest, but before long, both collapsed as well. They simply could not withstand it.
"This [Mysterious Yellow Venerable Light Tower] can assess aptitude and gauge cultivation. Its pressure varies from person to person. The longer you endure, the farther you can travel within the Foundation Establishment realm. Yet now, before even a single incense stick has burned, you have all fallen."
Chen Weiyuan took out two precious pills encircled by golden markings-the [One Origin Harmonious Peak Pills]. He sighed and said with some distress:
"What good would giving you these pills do? You would still be a pack of paper-pasted Foundation Establishment cultivators. If the demons came again, I fear you would fare even worse than before."
The seated elder flicked his fingers slightly, and the two pills landed beside Xu Xuan and an ugly, short man from the Duan Clan. Those two had endured the magical radiance the longest.
"I entrust these pills to you two. Reach the ninth level of Qi Refining as soon as possible. There is little time left."
The gazes of every clan below instantly converged on them. Xu Xuan's delight at obtaining the pill immediately dissipated, leaving only the discomfort of being marked as a target.
I've drawn too much attention. This is no good.
Xu Xuan sensed the White Jade Ancient Stele within his qi sea. Above his spiritual dais, that seal-script character still flickered with clear radiance, sometimes becoming a character, sometimes taking shape.
If anyone notices something unusual about me, I'll face certain death, with no chance of survival.
Xu Xuan's master was a sword immortal, and he, too, had happened to cultivate sword qi. His cultivation was unexpectedly profound as well, leaving the others somewhat astonished.
"My lord, our clan has another matter to raise."
Someone abruptly rose from the Wu Clan's seats. It was an old man, his voice resolute, as though he had made up his mind.
"Our clan's Foundation Establishment seed met with disaster in the Plainlands. We ask your lordship to uphold justice."
Here it comes.
Xu Xuan and Liu Qiuqi both looked over. The Wu Clan could never swallow this matter. They were bound to bring it up at this gathering.
"That Wu Heyong of yours violated a taboo. That he merely died and lost his cultivation was already fortunate. You know what he did. There is no need to say more."
Chen Weiyuan's voice was utterly flat, but the members of the Wu Clan no longer had the courage to argue. As though their bones had been pulled out, they sank into silence.
This turn of events went beyond Xu Xuan's expectations. The scene of open hostility he had imagined never materialized. Instead, Chen Weiyuan and Zhu Yucheng seemed to have reached some understanding, as though they had already arranged the fates of the clans seated below.
Zhu Yucheng rose. Only now did this Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator reveal his might. The pressure was like an abyssal sea, leaving the minor Qi Refining cultivators below struggling to breathe.
"This demon general from White Azure Cavern lived right here in the Plainlands. Rather than thinking of joining forces to destroy it, your clans chose to fear me instead. Truly laughable."
There was mockery in Zhu Yucheng's words. As his wolfish gaze swept over them, the representatives of the various clans lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Forty years. What of it if I give you forty years? I have reached an agreement with his lordship. We will let you establish your foundations. A pack of pigs and dogs, disgracing the names of your ancestors! You have forgotten your old homeland, forgotten your ancestral blood feuds. Yet when someone offers you a few sweet morsels, you remember perfectly well how to scramble for power and profit."
"In forty years, I will unite the Great Scenery Plains. If you surrender sooner, I may find it in my heart to show you some mercy."
Zhu Yucheng's voice was like a bitter wind howling through a deep ravine, stripping those below of their last shred of hope. Chen Weiyuan sat beside him and closed his eyes, as though unwilling to witness the scene.
Forty years.
Xu Xuan looked at that demonlike figure in the hall. Seemingly lost in thought, he slowly tightened his grip on the pill in his hand.
(End of chapter)
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