The Ninth Ancestor Descends, Returning to the Clan for Secluded Cultivation

"Yuan Shengyuan!"

The Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor clutched his chest as he slowly flew out of the enormous crater. A trace of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, the bolt of lightning had injured him.

Not far away, a figure descended. His hair and beard were white, and he wore white robes. His eyes were as deep as the sea, as though he stood beyond the mortal world.

Unfortunately, his face was dark now. An extraordinarily terrifying presence erupted freely from his body as he said angrily, "Dongji, you're nothing more than a first-stage Quasi-Emperor. How dare you take my clansmen hostage to threaten our divine son?"

With the arrival of the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor and his attack on the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor, the spatial freeze on everyone present was lifted.

Looking at the terrifyingly powerful Ninth Ancestor, the crowd still felt lingering fear. They exclaimed, "To think the Yuan Clan's divine son has the Ninth Ancestor guarding his Dao! That shows just how much the Yuan Clan values him."

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor!

He was a supreme powerhouse from countless epochs ago. In one particular epoch, a Yuan Clan Sequence had been traveling when he accidentally entered the Netherworld Land, one of the Ten Lands, the forbidden regions of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

Everyone other than its own people was forbidden from entering. Trespassers would be killed without mercy!

The Yuan Clan Sequence identified himself and explained that he had entered by mistake, but the Netherworld Land's powerhouses refused to listen and killed him on the spot.

The flame of that Sequence's soul, kept in the Yuan Clan's Spirit Hall, suddenly went out. Soul flames were the marks of each person's life; when one went out, it meant that person had died. The clan elder guarding the Spirit Hall sensed that something was terribly wrong when he discovered the extinguished flame and immediately reported it.

The Yuan Clan flew into a rage and immediately investigated. Only then did they discover that the Netherworld Land was responsible. They sent ten ancestors from the Yuan Clan's ancestral grounds, including the Ninth Ancestor, and a hundred present-day ancestors straight into the Netherworld Land. The battle lasted over a month.

The Netherworld Land suffered grievous losses. The Lord of the Netherworld was severely injured, and seventy percent of the ancestors awakened from its ancestral grounds fell. Ninety percent of its present-day ancestors were lost.

The Netherworld Land's disciples were nearly wiped out. On the Yuan Clan's side, the Ninth Ancestor suffered only minor injuries. Aside from three who were severely wounded, the ancestors from the ancestral grounds were all largely unharmed.

The present-day ancestors might have fared slightly worse: over thirty fell, and forty or fifty were wounded.

In the end, the Lord of the Netherworld told the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor that if he kept pressing him so hard, he would prepare to undergo Extreme Sublimation and restore his Great Emperor power.

Many Great Emperors, unwilling to pass away in their later years and vanish from heaven and earth, would cut themselves once as their lifespans neared their end, forcibly severing themselves from the Heavenly Dao imprint. The Heavenly Dao imprint was also something one had to fuse with to become a Great Emperor. Their cultivation would thus fall from Great Emperor to peak Quasi-Emperor.

Such people later came to be known as Ancient Emperors. They would then enter the Ten Lands, either unleashing turmoil and slaughtering the people of entire star regions to absorb vast quantities of life essence, or entering the source of life to fall into a deep sleep.

In any case, they waited for the path to immortality to open, then entered the Immortal Realm to gain eternal life.

Though their cultivation fell after they cut themselves, when faced with mortal danger, they could also undo their seals and restore their Great Emperor cultivation. This was called Extreme Sublimation.

But Extreme Sublimation came at a cost. First, it lasted only five minutes.

Second, they would die once those five minutes were up, so they generally would not undergo Extreme Sublimation unless their lives were in danger.

Yet the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor had forced the Lord of the Netherworld to the very brink of Extreme Sublimation. One could imagine just how terrifying his strength was, how unmatched his combat prowess.

Afterward, the Ninth Ancestor led the Yuan Clan's people swaggering out of the Netherworld Land, leaving the furious Lord of the Netherworld roaring where he stood, his cries shaking the heavens, amid corpses strewn across the ground.

That battle showed the world the true might and power of the Yuan Clan.

The Ninth Ancestor was also hailed as the foremost person beneath the Great Emperor realm. In an age when no Great Emperor had emerged, he was unquestionably a terrifying existence. From then on, very few in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands dared provoke the Yuan Clan.

Yet the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor had dared to use the Yuan clansmen as bargaining chips to threaten Yuan Zhexian. The Yuan Clan's ancestor was naturally furious.

"I wanted to invite the Yuan Clan's divine son to visit my hall as a guest. I meant nothing else by it," the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor said, steeling himself.

"A guest?" The Ninth Ancestor frowned slightly. "Spare me your excuses. Do you think I don't know what you're scheming? Since you dared to injure my clansmen and threaten our divine son, you'd best prepare to perish."

"Enough. Be on your way."

The Ninth Ancestor's presence surged. He stretched out his right hand and clenched it toward the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor across the void. A giant white hand of energy, roughly the size of a person, appeared in the air and seized the ancestor's entire body.

The Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor's eyes were bloodshot and filled with terror. He tried to struggle, but the energy of the giant white hand was too terrifying. The moment it seized him, his entire body had been restrained, leaving him unable to break free.

The ancestor of the Divine-Level Divine Hall then said weakly to the sky, "Save... save... save me."

The Ninth Ancestor gave the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor no further chance to speak. He clenched his outstretched right hand with force.

Smack! Blood splashed in every direction, turning into a rain of blood.

Dead... he was dead. Everyone present changed expression. One moment, the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall's ancestor had stood supreme over the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands; the next, the Ninth Ancestor had killed him outright.

"The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor is far too strong! That was a Quasi-Emperor, yet the Ninth Ancestor crushed him like a chick."

"He killed him in a single move! That's far too terrifying!"

Everyone stared at the Ninth Ancestor with wide eyes, not daring to breathe.

Just as matters here ended, Yuan Zhexian was sent out by the Eternal Rankings. He had just arrived where the Yuan Clan had gathered when he saw the terror on everyone's faces. Puzzled, he asked, "What's wrong? What's this about? I did take first place, but surely there's no need to react like this. Ah, basic moves, no need to spam sixes."

Then he turned around, saw the Ninth Ancestor behind him, and bowed slightly. "Ninth Ancestor, what brings you here?"

Looking at the extraordinarily gifted Yuan Zhexian before him, the Ninth Ancestor smiled broadly. "Our divine son is without equal through the ages, first on the Eternal Rankings. A heaven-defying monster whose name has shaken the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands—I had to come personally to take you back to the Lineage."

"The Lineage was also afraid some vile, underhanded rats might make a move against you, so I came myself. Luckily, I arrived in time. There! Look, that fellow from the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall wanted to use our clansmen to threaten you, so I killed him."

"Oh... threaten me? The Eastern Extremity Divine Hall?"

"Don't worry. To cut the grass, we must pull up the roots. Your grandfather has already taken several supreme clan elders to the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall. Before long, the Eastern Extremity Divine Hall will be no more."

"All right, this matter is settled. It's time we went back."

He looked up at the void above and sneered. Then, without waiting for anyone to speak, he waved his hand, and the Yuan and Yu clansmen vanished from where they stood.

"Great Spatial Translocation?"

A Saint from a holy land exclaimed, "That's a Quasi-Emperor Divine Ability. Generally, translocating one or two people is already impressive. But how much strength must it take to translocate an entire group?"

After everyone vanished, five figures of supreme powerhouses flickered indistinctly deep within the void above the Ten Heavens Mountains, their faces impossible to make out.

One figure said, "That fool Dongji! We wanted him to quietly capture the Yuan Clan's divine son, but he showed himself openly instead. I really don't know how that fellow became a Quasi-Emperor. Does he have no brain?"

Another figure replied, "What happens to Dongji doesn't matter. He was only a pawn, a foot soldier. What I didn't expect was for that old fellow Yuan Shengyuan to come this time."

"That old fellow is a sly old bastard. Back then, the cultivation he showed the world was third-stage Quasi-Emperor. For countless epochs, he was always a third-stage Quasi-Emperor. It wasn't until after the Netherworld Land incident that we realized the old bastard had fooled us."

"Right. That old fellow looks kind and benevolent, but he's really a sly old bastard. Good thing I never fought him to the death back then, or he'd have tricked me to death. Who would have known the old fellow was actually a peak Quasi-Emperor?" another person with a booming voice said.

Then a more measured voice said, "Enough. There's no point dwelling on it. The urgent matter is that our attempt to capture the Yuan Clan's divine son has put that old fellow on guard. Just now, I could tell he had already sensed us.

"With Great Spatial Translocation, we can't intercept and kill them without exact coordinates. It seems this attempt has come to nothing.

"But no matter what, the Yuan Clan's divine son cannot be allowed to live. If he becomes an Emperor, the path to immortality afterward will have nothing to do with us."

"Among our juniors, there are also people whose talent makes them monsters of the ages, even taboo monsters. Everyone, stop keeping such monsters hidden. It's time for them to emerge and deal with the Yuan Clan's divine son."

"Tell these juniors that, no matter what, they must kill the Yuan Clan's divine son if they encounter him in the future. We of the older generation will strike from the shadows, while the younger generation deals with him openly. I'd like to see how much longer the Yuan Clan's divine son can live. That's that, then. All right, everyone, disperse."

As the five supreme beings departed, the Ninth Ancestor also brought everyone back to the Yuan Clan.

When Yuan Zhexian arrived at the Divine Son Palace, he saw that his grandfather, father, mother, and a group of clan elders had all gathered there.

"Zhexian!" As soon as Yuan Zhexian stepped into the Divine Son Palace, his mother, Yu Lingqing, rushed over and hugged him.

"Let me see how you're doing." After all, Yuan Zhexian was only five years old. In Yu Lingqing's eyes, he was still a child. Who cared if he was unmatched through the ages or number one for all time? She only wanted Yuan Zhexian to be safe and sound. Such was the greatness of a mother.

Yuan Zhexian's father, Yuan Changsheng, said nothing, but his eyes revealed so much: worry, pride, and satisfaction. He simply watched Yuan Zhexian in silence.

Yuan Zhexian's grandfather was the happiest of all. After all, his grandson had not only taken first place on the Heavenly Dao Ancient Tablet, but had also obtained a peerless Emperor art and a peerless divine treasure.

He had also defeated the Human Ancestor, who ranked first on the Eternal Rankings. Others might not know of the Human Ancestor's great achievements, but the Yuan Clan did. When the Human Ancestor had been silently protecting the human race, the Yuan Clan had already been a taboo Lineage of its age.

Up until the Human Ancestor became the strongest person known to the world at the time, the Yuan Clan had known all about him. Even a powerhouse like that had lost to his grandson, so of course he felt greatly honored.

He then said, "Zhexian, the Heavenly Dao Ancient Tablet and the Eternal Rankings are finished now. What are your plans next?"

Looking at his grandfather, Yuan Zhexian smiled slightly. "After this, I'll enter secluded cultivation and study the cultivation technique I received from the Heavenly Dao Ancient Tablet, as well as the Heaven Essence Blood. In particular, I don't know what this Heaven Essence Blood is.

"In my battle with the Human Ancestor this time, I also felt my own shortcomings. Although I defeated him using only fifty percent of my strength, I still feel I'm lacking in many areas, such as combat experience and speed."

"What?!" Everyone was shocked. Fifty percent? He had used only fifty percent to defeat the Human Ancestor at the same realm? The Human Ancestor had grown up in life-and-death circumstances every day during the Heaven-Opening Era. Whether in techniques or combat experience, he had long been invincible among those of the same realm.

He had defeated the Human Ancestor and still said he lacked combat experience. If the other geniuses of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands heard that he had used only fifty percent of his strength, what would they think?

"Zhexian, don't tell anyone else about this. You must understand that a person's strength has limits. Even ants can gnaw an elephant to death. Your talent is already the greatest from ancient times to the present."

"Because of your talent, all the geniuses of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands might fear you and join forces to attack you. You could fall. Things like this have happened many times over countless epochs, and the Yuan Clan also has far too many enemies. Do you understand?" Yuan Changsheng, who had been silent until now, frowned as he cautioned him.

Looking at his father, Yuan Zhexian said softly, "I understand, Father. Even so, I have already forged an invincible heart, believing myself invincible. If they join forces against me, I will suppress every last one of them. If I cannot sweep aside everything and suppress every enemy, then my belief in my own invincibility means nothing."

"Zhexian is right," the Ninth Ancestor said with a smile, taking up Yuan Zhexian's words. "Our Yuan Clan is invincible in this world, and Zhexian is the most heaven-defying monster in our clan's history. He too should be invincible in this world. If he cannot suppress everything, how can Zhexian and our clan ascend to immortality together in this great age?"

Looking at his family and clansmen before him, Yuan Zhexian felt a familial bond he had never known before. He silently said to himself, No matter what happens in the future, I will protect my family and clansmen. No one will harm a hair on their heads.

Everyone then left the Divine Son Palace of their own accord, and Yuan Zhexian watched them go.

He then said to Yuan Zifeng, Yuan Yan'er, and the five great Sequences still working at the Divine Son Palace, "Starting today, I'm going into secluded cultivation. I don't yet know how long I'll be in seclusion."

"During this time, I'll give you some cultivation techniques and pills. I hope that when I come out, I'll see that all of you have made progress. If anyone slacks off or makes too little progress, you'll stay in the Red Lotus Space until I'm satisfied. Understood?"

A chill ran down everyone's backs. They knew how terrifying the Red Lotus Space was; even the five great Sequences had experienced it before challenging the Heaven-Suppressing Ancient Tablet. They bowed and said, "We understand."

Having said that, he paid them no further attention. He returned to his room and began his secluded cultivation.

Yuan Zhexian had already begun comprehending the Nine Secrets after receiving his rewards from the Heavenly Dao Ancient Tablet. As for the Six Paths of Samsara Fist, he did not know whether the technique was an Emperor art or an immortal art. In any case, Yuan Zhexian still did not know; he would have to study it before finding out.

Without further ado, he took out the Heaven Essence Blood. Three drops of grayish-white blood floated in the air, giving off a dense breath of the Great Dao.

Looking at the three drops of Heaven Essence Blood, Yuan Zhexian suddenly had an idea. Instead of consuming them directly as one normally would, he injected the three drops straight into his body, eyes, and bones.