After returning to the Branch Hall, Xu Zimo began cultivating as well.
Night fell, darkness swallowing everything like a colossal beast. A bright moon hung high in the sky.
The moon rose above the willow branches!
Xu Zimo was currently cultivating the Three Blades Great Emperor's Nirvana Art. Once the Nirvana Art was mastered, a strand of nirvana aura would be born within the body.
Xu Zimo had cultivated this technique in his Previous Life, so everything came naturally to him. He was familiar with the path, and there was no difficulty at all.
What mattered most now was deducing his own cultivation technique, the Myriad Freedom Art.
In his Previous Life, this technique had been deduced to the Divine Meridian Realm, after which he had been unable to advance even a single step.
But this rebirth had given him a deeper understanding of the future and the past.
Xu Zimo believed that it would not be long before he could deduce a technique beyond the Divine Meridian Realm.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Xu Zimo rose before dawn.
The only Meridian Technique he cultivated now was the Drawing Sword Technique. Xu Zimo was confident that even Condensed Meridian Realm martial artists, or perhaps even True Meridian Realm martial artists, would find it difficult to react to the speed at which he drew his sword.
But he felt that it was still not enough. Speed would never have an ultimate limit.
Moreover, he could fuse the nirvana aura he had comprehended into the Drawing Sword Technique, greatly increasing both its power and speed.
Xu Zimo had also set himself daily training goals: one thousand sword draws and one thousand sword swings every morning and evening.
Diligence could make up for clumsiness. Though he had been reborn, he could not afford to slack off. Hard work was indispensable on the road to becoming strong.
After breakfast and a busy morning, Xu Zimo finally stopped. At noon, he would be heading to the Chang Family.
A smile curved Xu Zimo's lips. "It is about time I gathered that item as well."
With Guan Zhenhai accompanying them, the group made their way grandly toward the Chang Family.
As a local Hegemon of Tianjian City, the Chang Family's residence naturally stood in the most prosperous part of the central street.
Standing at the Chang Family's entrance, two servants stopped them, saying that they had to report inside before letting them enter.
Xu Zimo did not stand on ceremony. He had come looking for trouble in the first place, so there was no need to be polite with them.
Lin Ruhu kicked both servants to the ground, one kick each, then swaggered inside with a shout.
The entire Chang Family residence looked extraordinarily imposing and magnificent. Pavilions and towers, artificial hills and courtyards, lotus flowers and flowing water—resplendent in gold and jade, yet vast and majestic.
"I wonder which young talents of the True Martial Sacred Sect have come to my Chang Family. Forgive me for failing to welcome you from afar," Chang Tianxiong said as he strode out with a hearty laugh. Clad in a green robe, he radiated an awe-inspiring presence.
Behind him followed the Chang Family's five elders, along with members from every branch of the clan.
"Feng Buyu, elite inner disciple of the True Martial Sacred Sect," Feng Buyu replied blandly, producing his Identity Token.
At that moment, Chang Tianxiong's heart skipped a beat. Elite inner disciples all possessed True Meridian Realm strength, enough to contend with the Chang Family's strongest fighters.
Moreover, he could tell that Feng Buyu was not the central figure of this group. The true leader was the Young Man in purple robes standing at the very front.
"Things seem to have gone beyond the budget," Chang Tianxiong thought, frowning slightly. The other party's status was even higher than he had imagined!
"Have the Sacred Sect's young prodigies come to my Chang Family because of my disappointing son?" Chang Tianxiong pondered for a moment, then waved his right hand.
Chang Wei was dragged out by servants, tightly bound hand and foot. Chang Tianxiong declared loudly and firmly, "My Chang Family has always followed in the Sacred Sect's footsteps and sworn to uphold the Sacred Sect's authority to the death.
"If my worthless son has truly offended you young prodigies, my Chang Family will absolutely not shield him.
"Today, I shall hand him over to you. Deal with him as you please; my Chang Family will harbor not a word of complaint."
Xu Zimo watched Chang Tianxiong's one-man performance with a smile, sighing inwardly, Sure enough, he is still the same as in my Previous Life—a true formidable figure.
As the Chang Family's patriarch, Chang Tianxiong was an overlord-like existence throughout Tianjian City.
Yet he was no frog in a well. He knew how vast the world beyond was, and he could judge his own strength. When it was time to be tough, he would not yield an inch; when it was time to lower his head, he could cower without shame.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own son, his expression would not change.
Xu Zimo knew that the man was digging a pit for him. Chang Tianxiong had first emphasized how loyal the Chang Family was to the True Martial Sacred Sect.
Then, with an upright attitude and without offering excuses or pleas, he had his son brought out bound hand and foot.
If Xu Zimo truly killed Chang Wei over a minor clash, what would outsiders think of the True Martial Sacred Sect?
"Patriarch Chang, what are you saying? It is perfectly normal for young people, hot-blooded and proud, to have conflicts.
"But no one would take it to heart. I forgot about yesterday's conflict long ago," Xu Zimo said with a smile. "I came today only because Senior Brother Guan told me that Tianjian City's prosperity would not have been possible without your Chang Family's help. I came purely out of admiration."
Xu Zimo had originally intended to come directly and make trouble, but he changed his mind at the last moment.
The other side was not the sort of mindless villain who would immediately clash head-on with him over a disagreement.
Doing so would indeed be somewhat inappropriate. As a villain with professional integrity, Xu Zimo felt that he should make others submit wholeheartedly and willingly.
"The hearts of you young prodigies are far broader than that of my disappointing son," Chang Tianxiong said. His gaze turned stern as he kicked Chang Wei to the ground. "Why are you still standing here? Get to the rear courtyard and reflect on your actions. Do not spoil everyone's pleasure here."
"Yes, yes," Chang Wei nodded frantically and left in a panic, supported by servants.
He knew that his father was protecting him, telling him to leave quickly and bring this matter to an end.
"It is rare for you young prodigies to visit my Chang Family. How can I let you stand outside? Please, quickly, come inside. I have already had people prepare food and wine," Chang Tianxiong said with a warm smile.
Xu Zimo nodded with a smile and entered with Lin Ruhu and the others.
Chang Tianxiong's gaze was deep as he frowned in thought.
The moment Xu Zimo forgave Chang Wei, Chang Tianxiong knew that things were not so simple.
Xu Zimo had not come to the Chang Family because of his son.
Or rather, Xu Zimo's target in coming to Tianjian City had been the Chang Family from the very beginning. Even if his son had never clashed with them, Xu Zimo would still have come to the Chang Family.
Yet Chang Tianxiong could not understand how the Chang Family had offended Xu Zimo, or what they possessed that had drawn his attention.
After thinking it over for a moment, he had more or less guessed the purpose behind Xu Zimo's group.
During the meal, Chang Tianxiong kept probing from the side, but Xu Zimo merely smiled and ate, never mentioning the purpose of his visit.
At last, after several rounds of wine, Xu Zimo and the others were nearly finished eating.
Only then did he smile and say, "I heard from others that the Chang Family's ancestor was originally just an ordinary villager from a small mountain village.
"Later, he obtained a certain opportunity, and only then embarked on the path of martial cultivation, establishing the Chang Family's present prosperity."
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