Xu Xuan closed his eyes again.
He immersed himself in cultivation.
After breaking through to Qi Refining, the aid of his spiritual sense further improved the efficiency of refining qi within his body.
Feeling his magical power grow each day.
Xu Xuan finally understood just how bitter his previous lives had been.
In his last life.
He had only broken through to Qi Refining at ninety-eight.
He could have been called a legend of the cultivation world.
Unfortunately, his Spiritual Root had been ordinary then, and his blood and vitality had already declined.
To climb even one floor higher in the Qi Refining Realm had been as difficult as ascending a stairway to heaven.
In this life, however, he cultivated extremely quickly.
He had his spiritual sense to improve his efficiency.
He had the Evergreen Technique to nourish his Spiritual Root and stabilize his magical power.
He had the Body Rebirth Technique to temper his physique and awaken his potential.
He also had the blessings of two fate registers.
The bloodline totem he had awakened, the Soaring Serpent, could also draw in spiritual energy and feed it back into his body.
These many advantages combined to give Xu Xuan a cultivation speed that could only be described as terrifying.
Another ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the stone chamber, bottles of Grain Abstinence Pills piled up like mountains.
Xu Xuan sat as still as a boulder, his aura as deep as the sea.
A strand of magical power flowed around his fingertips.
At times, it became a sharp golden gleam; at others, it condensed into a heavy earthen glow.
It obeyed his will, changing in countless unpredictable ways.
He abruptly opened his eyes, magical power surging around him.
He had already reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining.
His spiritual sense could cover more than twenty li.
"Ten years of arduous cultivation, and I've reached the peak of the middle Qi Refining stage."
A sharp gleam flashed through Xu Xuan's eyes.
This speed surpassed his former pace by far more than a few times.
"With my seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation, the bloodline totem Soaring Serpent, and the Crimson Register Dragon Vigor and Tiger Might, I now have the strength to protect myself in the Yue Kingdom's cultivation world."
"It's time to leave seclusion and see the gathering winds and clouds outside."
Boundless heroic spirit filled Xu Xuan's heart.
He rose and swept his sleeve, gathering the formation discs and flags and putting all his remaining supplies into his storage pouch.
As he looked around the quiet chamber, a trace of wistfulness flashed through Xu Xuan's eyes.
"After more than ten years of secluded cultivation, the Soaring Serpent raises its mist."
"I'd like to see just what you, the Chen royal family of Yue, and you, the Demon Suppression Bureau's state preceptor, are afraid of..."
Without further hesitation, he rode his flight light through the curtain of water.
He became a long rainbow of interwoven gold and yellow, cutting through the clouds toward the main peak of Spiritual Expanse Mountain.
His flight light descended into the valley.
Seeing that it was him, the disciples guarding the mountain hurriedly bowed respectfully and opened the formation.
With a slight stir of his spiritual sense, Xu Xuan sensed that the valley was more prosperous than it had been fifteen years ago.
Even the spiritual energy seemed somewhat denser.
Clearly, the Lineage's great spirit-gathering formation had been strengthened again.
He went straight to the Lineage head's council hall.
Inside the hall.
Xu Mingxuan was discussing affairs with several Lineage elders.
Seeing Xu Chen return, they all rose to welcome him.
"Brother Chen, you're back."
Once Xu Mingxuan saw clearly that it was Xu Xuan, joy appeared on his face.
He had now taken full charge of Lineage affairs, and his bearing had grown increasingly composed.
His cultivation had also risen steadily to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.
"Did your seclusion go smoothly?"
"Thank you for your concern, elder brother. Everything went reasonably well."
Xu Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the elders present.
Apart from two old elders who remained from Xu Xingzong's time.
The other three were unfamiliar faces, with cultivation ranging from the fourth to the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
They were presumably Qi Refining Practitioners who had recently risen within the Xu Lineage.
Everyone exchanged pleasantries and took their seats.
Xu Mingxuan then briefly introduced the Lineage's current circumstances to Xu Xuan.
The spirit fields had expanded.
The mines' output was stable.
Their alliances with several neighboring small Lineages had been consolidated.
Several promising talents had emerged among the younger generation.
Overall, the Lineage was still developing steadily.
Yet Xu Xuan still keenly noticed it.
Beneath the seemingly harmonious surface, everyone present harbored their own thoughts.
Though the three newly promoted elders outwardly treated Xu Mingxuan with respect, the glances they exchanged were thought-provoking.
One of them was a sixth-layer Qi Refining elder named Xu Linjiang.
When reporting on the affairs of the mines under his jurisdiction, his words seemed respectful.
Yet he kept seeking instructions on minor matters he could have decided himself.
He used this to wear down Xu Mingxuan's patience and test his limits.
The council lasted an hour.
After it ended.
The elders took their leave.
Only Xu Chen and Xu Mingxuan remained in the hall.
Xu Mingxuan rubbed between his brows, a trace of weariness appearing on his face, and sighed.
"Brother Chen, you've come at just the right time."
"The Lineage seems prosperous now, but within, it is no longer as pure as it once was."
Xu Xuan poured him a cup of spirit tea and quietly waited for him to continue.
"Ancestor Qingchan has yet to return from her voyage, and Great-grandfather is advanced in years and remains in seclusion year-round."
"The late Qi Refining stage elders in the Lineage have gradually begun harboring their own ambitions."
Xu Mingxuan lowered his voice.
"Led by Elder Xu Linhai, they've drawn in a group of disciples who hold actual authority over resources and mines. They have begun forming a group of their own and sometimes obstruct the Lineage's decisions."
"That Xu Linjiang from earlier is his younger clan brother."
"Another elder, Xu Linshan, leans toward conservatism. He advocates holding on to our existing foundations and shows little enthusiasm for expansion. Most under him are older Lineage elders who seek stability."
"Though I am the Lineage head, I lack seniority, and my cultivation has not yet reached the late stage."
"Often, I have to weigh the interests of the different sides and maneuver between them before I can implement orders."
A hint of helplessness colored Xu Mingxuan's tone.
"Before Great-grandfather entered seclusion, he only instructed me to 'keep the overall situation stable and wait for the right moment,' but he never specified what that moment would be."
Xu Xuan listened quietly, understanding inwardly.
This was the inevitable result of the Lineage's growth.
The distribution of resources and interests, along with shifts in the balance of power, would always give rise to different factions.
Once Xu Qingchan and Xu Xingzong disappeared from the scene, the conflicts within the Lineage naturally surfaced.
"Do you know what they seek, elder brother?"
Xu Xuan asked.
"Nothing more than preferential allocation of resources, a greater say, and... who will become the next Lineage head."
Xu Mingxuan spoke frankly.
"Elder Linhai's faction has considerable ambition."
"Elder Linxi places greater importance on the stability of his own branch."
"As for me..."
"Perhaps they feel I haven't secured my seat firmly enough."
Xu Xuan nodded.
These people all seemed to have once distinguished themselves in the Lineage cultivation school he had established.
Now, more than a hundred years had passed.
Each had achieved success in Qi Refining and become a decision-maker within the Lineage.
The gazes those few had directed at him earlier had also carried a hint of greed.
They all seemed to want to know just what treasures Xu Xuan had obtained from that cave abode.
"Brother Chen, you've come out of seclusion at just the right time."
Xu Mingxuan looked at Xu Chen, his gaze burning.
"Though you're young, you possess exceptional talent and have earned Forefather Xuan's recognition. Your position within the Lineage is special."
"With your support, I'll have more confidence in dealing with them."
Xu Chen considered for a moment, then said:
"Rest assured, elder brother. The Lineage's stability is our foundation, and I will support you with all my strength."
"However, we shouldn't rashly upset the balance right now."
"Let's quietly observe how things develop and discuss it again once I've learned exactly who belongs to each faction and what they want."
He had founded the Lingyan Xu Lineage with his own hands.
Now that he had returned through rebirth, he naturally would not leave it unattended.
Xu Mingxuan was a direct blood descendant of his branch, and his character was reasonably good.
By supporting him as Lineage head, he could put him to great use.
Seeing Xu Xuan agree, Xu Mingxuan breathed a sigh of relief.
The other Lineage elders did not know, but he understood very clearly.
Xu Xuan had been only twenty when he broke through to Qi Refining. Now, ten years later, his cultivation was even more impossible to discern.
With his cultivation talent, he would at least be at the middle Qi Refining stage.
When Great-grandfather relinquished his position, he had said to consult Xu Chen often on Lineage affairs.
When necessary, he could serve as their pillar.
Xu Mingxuan had also found such high praise unbelievable.
However, after interacting with him over the years.
He, too, had discovered that Xu Chen was no ordinary person.
"With you here, Brother Chen, I feel much more at ease."
Just then, a trusted disciple hurried inside and reported:
"Lineage head, Elder Linhai has sent someone to invite you over."
"He says there is an important matter to discuss regarding the allocation of next year's copper mine shares."
Xu Mingxuan and Xu Chen exchanged a glance.
"Look, here it comes."
Xu Mingxuan gave a cold laugh and told the disciple.
"Tell Elder Linhai I'll be there shortly."
The trusted disciple accepted the order and left.
"The copper mine is one of the Lineage's major sources of income. The different branches have always taken turns mining it."
"By bringing it up now, Elder Linhai merely wants to secure a larger share for his branch or test my attitude."
Xu Mingxuan said to Xu Xuan, "Brother Chen, would you like to come along?"
Xu Chen shook his head.
"You can go yourself, elder brother. I've only just returned to the mountain and still need to sort through what I gained in seclusion."
"If you need anything, send me a message at any time."
Xu Xuan naturally intended to remain above the fray and would not casually involve himself in these disputes.
Xu Mingxuan did not mind either and nodded slightly.
He straightened his robes, regained the composed bearing of a Lineage head, and strode out.
Xu Xuan sat alone in the hall, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, his gaze deep.
"The tree longs for stillness, but the wind will not cease..."
"Very well. Let me see just how many hidden schemes lie within Spiritual Expanse Mountain."
His figure flickered, and he vanished from the hall.
The next moment, he had already left Spiritual Expanse Mountain.
Riding a streak of escape light, he first headed toward the nearby Sinking Sand River.
Years ago, while searching for qi of rivers for him, Xu Qingchan had been injured here by the Black Water Gate.
He had not forgotten this grudge.
But he had not come on this trip to seek revenge; he wanted to investigate a few things.