The Ninth Ancestor Arrives, Returning to the Yuan Clan

Each of the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords was terrifyingly powerful, and only an expert at the Supreme Saint level could use the sword art that combined two of them. As for the even more terrifying three-in-one sword art, only a supreme expert at the Quasi-Emperor Realm could use it. Its terrifying power might not be enough to contend head-on with a Great Emperor, but it could at least make its user invincible among those of the same realm and even let them slay enemies above their realm.

Yuan Xun's "Four Immortal-Slaying Swords-two swords as one" was a terrifying sword art that combined the Immortal-Slaying Sword Art and the Immortal-Butchering Sword Art. Its sword intent and momentum were already enough to threaten a Quasi-Emperor.

Two enormous, peerless divine swords appeared in the void, radiating terrifying power. One shone with golden light, its blade giving the impression that it would destroy whoever looked at it. The other shone with white light, and a single glance made one feel as though the depths of their soul were trembling.

The two peerless divine swords then merged into a single white sword wreathed in golden divine radiance. The terrifying power it radiated instantly shattered the surrounding space. Then it shot toward the enormous seven-clawed dragon claw.

"Bang!" When the combined divine sword met the terrifying seven-clawed dragon claw, two faintly visible semicircular masses of energy appeared where they collided, pushing against each other. The two terrifying forces then produced countless powerful bolts of lightning and fearsome torrents of radiant air.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Lightning and radiant torrents spread relentlessly toward the ground. Some of the people below fled, while others used energy shields to protect themselves and their disciples. Still others were blasted to pieces by the lightning and radiant torrents.

Then, with a "crack," the two terrifying arts actually tore space apart. The ruptured space churned into a massive black hole that swallowed everything around it. A flash of light followed, and a violent explosion rang out. Yuan Xun spat blood and clutched his chest, laughing loudly as he said, "Is that all a Quasi-Emperor can do?"

The old man in the golden dragon robe had also turned deathly pale, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, though his injuries were clearly not as severe as Yuan Xun's. Looking at Yuan Xun, he said, "Madman! You actually pushed all your spiritual power to its limit to use that art. How dare you fight with such disregard for your life? You really are a madman."

Just as the old man in the golden dragon robe finished speaking, three more voices rang out from the void.

"What? You couldn't even take down a Supreme Saint? You've brought shame on us Quasi-Emperors."

"You were actually injured by this Supreme Saint."

"Enough! Stop talking. This man is formidable. He can contend head-on with a Quasi-Emperor while only at the Supreme Saint Realm. He'll be a menace if we let him live. To prevent him from threatening us in the future, let's strike him down."

The old man in the golden dragon robe looked at the three who had arrived at his side and said, "You came too slowly. This Yuan Clan supreme elder really is formidable. I would have had to pay a price to kill him. Since you're here, let's strike together."

At the sight of the three newcomers, Yuan Xun instantly lost his confidence. Though he was very sure of himself and could barely contend with one Quasi-Emperor, facing four at once truly left him uncertain. He silently cried, Ninth Ancestor, why haven't you come yet?

The four Quasi-Emperors looked at Yuan Xun and said, "The Yuan Clan has gone too far this time. Our divine sons were successors we nurtured at the cost of countless heavenly treasures, yet your clan's divine son killed them just like that. They only came to demand an explanation, but you struck first and injured them. In that case, prepare to fall." With that, they readied themselves to attack.

Just as cold sweat began to run down Yuan Xun's face, time between heaven and earth seemed to stop. Everything around them, even the air, seemed to be frozen in place. A white-robed elder with white hair and a white beard stepped out of a spatial-temporal rift.

"Ninth Ancestor."

Seeing that his grandfather was about to face four Quasi-Emperors alone, Yuan Zhexian had been deeply worried. The Ninth Ancestor's arrival made him heave a great sigh of relief, and he called out to the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor.

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor smiled faintly and nodded at Yuan Zhexian. Then he waved a hand toward Yuan Zhexian and the others, and the Yuan Clan members, the Yu Clan's supreme elder, and the Jun Lineage's supreme elder vanished from where they stood. With another flash, they were all at his side. Yuan Xun also flashed over, bowed, and said, "Ninth Ancestor."

"Yuan Xun, you've done very well. You must have gained some new insight from this battle. After you return and enter seclusion, I expect you'll soon advance to Quasi-Emperor," the Ninth Ancestor said with a smile.

"That's right. This battle deepened my understanding. This time in seclusion, I should be able to attempt a breakthrough to the Quasi-Emperor Realm," Yuan Xun said happily.

Seeing that his grandfather was about to advance to Quasi-Emperor, Yuan Zhexian said happily, "Grandfather, let your grandson congratulate you in advance on a successful breakthrough to Quasi-Emperor."

"Hahahaha!" Yuan Xun laughed happily.

As the saying went, one family's joy was another's sorrow. While the Yuan Clan members were happy, the four supreme Quasi-Emperors were deeply troubled. They had not expected the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor to be the one who came again. He was a god of slaughter. Back then, even an Ancient Emperor like the Lord of the Netherworld had nearly been forced by this god of slaughter to undergo Extreme Realm sublimation. How could they, who were only first-stage Quasi-Emperors, possibly stand against the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor?

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor looked at the four and said, "I heard you were preparing to kill my clan's divine son and supreme elder?"

The more composed the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor appeared, the more frightened the four became. The True Dragon Clan's ancestor said, "Senior, it was all a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? Hmph!" The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor gave a cold snort, and the presence of a peak Quasi-Emperor bore down on the four.

"Pfft..." The terrifying pressure of a peak Quasi-Emperor struck all four at once, making them feel as though divine lightning had slammed into their chests. Unable to help themselves, they spat out mouthfuls of blood.

"Fellow Daoist, hold your hand!" The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor was just about to attack when he heard a voice from the sky. He turned and saw four people standing above. Each seemed to have become one with heaven and earth, having returned to a state of pristine simplicity, without the slightest trace of power about them.

"Oh? I didn't expect an old loach like you to come, or you three old undying fellows," the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor said indifferently.

The newcomer was the Fourth Ancestor, one of the True Dragon Clan's ten great ancestors, an exceedingly ancient being who had existed for countless epochs. Behind him were the Third Ancestors of the Heavenly Cang Clan, the Golden-Winged Peng Clan, and the Mystic Sect. All four were peak Quasi-Emperors and the most important figures steering their respective Lineages. Normally, they would not emerge unless their people faced annihilation. But the lives of their Quasi-Emperors were now at stake, leaving them no choice but to come out. Quasi-Emperors were also among a Lineage's most vital foundations; nothing could be allowed to happen to them.

"Are the four of you here for them?" the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor asked, glancing at the four first-stage Quasi-Emperor ancestors in the distance, blood still flowing from the corners of their mouths.

"Yuan Shengyuan, your clan's divine son killed our divine sons. They came to demand an explanation, and by rights, there was nothing wrong with that, was there? Besides, they've all been injured now, while your clan's divine son is completely unharmed. Why don't we put this matter behind us? What do you think?" the True Dragon Clan's Third Ancestor said.

He was also very reluctant to fight the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor. The golden age had arrived, and they still needed to preserve their strength and make plans for the future. At their current level of cultivation, every time they fought, their lifespans grew a little shorter. They were unwilling to act unless absolutely necessary.

"Put it behind us? Just now, someone threatened to kill my clan's divine son and supreme elder. How utterly arrogant. He even said our Yuan Clan had gone too far. Heavenly treasures belong to those capable of claiming them. If your people were killed because they lacked strength, you can't blame anyone else. But you used your seniority to bully the young. Do you think there's no one in the Yuan Clan? Do you think this can simply be put behind us?" the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Then what will it take for you to put this matter behind us?" the Golden-Winged Peng Clan's Third Ancestor asked at once.

"How about this? Three emperor-grade herbs apiece for the four of them, and we'll put the matter behind us," the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor said, opening his jaws like a lion.

"Three emperor-grade herbs?" The four drew a sharp breath. Emperor-grade herbs were peerless spiritual medicines that extended the lifespans of Quasi-Emperors and Great Emperors. They did not have any, and even if they did, they could never hand them over.

The Mystic Sect's Third Ancestor said furiously, "Yuan Shengyuan, are you making fools of us? Twelve emperor-grade herbs? Tell me, what Lineage could produce that many? Do you think they're cabbages at a vegetable market?"

"I can! I can produce them. What's this? You can't even produce a dozen or so emperor-grade herbs? How can you call yourselves ancestors? You might as well sit down and pass away. I'm only standing here talking with you because I saw your sincerity. What kind of ancestors are as poor as you? Ptui!" The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor spat on the ground, his words dripping with mockery.

"Y-you... you've gone too far! I've put up with you for long enough!" the Heavenly Cang Clan's Third Ancestor roared in fury.

The True Dragon Clan's Third Ancestor was also angry, but he quickly calmed down and stopped the furious Heavenly Cang Clan's Third Ancestor. "How about this? Our four forces will gather one emperor-grade herb and thirty Quasi-Emperor-grade herbs. What do you think?"

"Fine, it's settled. Deliver them to the Yuan Clan in three days. If you're even one herb short, I'll slaughter you." With that, the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor paid them no further attention. He waved a hand, and a massive spatial-temporal rift appeared as he prepared to take the Yuan Clan members home.

The Jun Lineage's divine son looked at Yuan Zhexian and said, "Brother Yuan, it's time for me to return as well. I'll visit the Yuan Clan in a while." Yuan Zhexian smiled. "Good. I'll personally receive you then, Brother Jun." He then bowed slightly to the Jun Lineage's supreme elder and the Yu Clan's supreme elder before following the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor into the spatial-temporal rift.

Seeing that matters here had concluded, the Jun Lineage's supreme elder and the Yu Clan's supreme elder exchanged a few pleasantries before each left with their disciples, leaving a crowd of dumbstruck onlookers behind.

The Golden-Winged Peng Clan's Third Ancestor said, "With the strength of the four of us, we should have been able to stop the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor from leaving. Why did we agree to compensate him?"

The True Dragon Clan's Third Ancestor replied, "Do you really think the four of us could have stopped him? Don't forget, countless epochs ago, he nearly forced the Lord of the Netherworld to undergo Extreme Realm sublimation all by himself. Tell me, which of you here could do that? Besides, the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor is far from simple. Don't make an enemy of him unless absolutely necessary."

"Are we just going to let the Yuan Clan's divine son get away with killing ours?" the Mystic Sect's Third Ancestor asked.

"You saw the Yuan Clan's supreme elder. He could contend with a Quasi-Emperor before reaching that realm himself, and I've heard the Yuan Clan's patriarch is also extremely powerful. The Yuan Clan's divine son has such terrifying talent and aptitude as well. These three outstanding figures of the Yuan Clan truly are terrifying."

"Is there a way to get rid of the Yuan Clan's divine son now?" the Golden-Winged Peng Clan's Third Ancestor continued.

"The Divine Source Secret Realm has lain dormant for several epochs, but it's about to open. Our clan's ancient freak has slept inside it for several epochs, and now that the golden age has arrived, it's time to wake him. Our True Dragon Clan's emperor's son is also about to emerge. Their talents and aptitudes are likewise unrivaled through the ages, and they are invincible among their peers. Once they emerge, we'll see what the Yuan Clan's divine son can do. In a battle between members of the same generation, I believe that even if the Yuan Clan's divine son falls, the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor will have nothing to say."

"Now that you mention it, I remember that our clan's ancient freak is also sleeping in the Divine Source Secret Realm. When I return, I'll have our clan's emperor's son prepare to emerge as well," the Heavenly Cang Clan's Third Ancestor said.

"That's right! When our emperor's son and ancient freak emerge, the Yuan Clan's divine son will fall."

By then, the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor had already brought Yuan Zhexian and the others back to the Yuan Clan.

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor said to Yuan Zhexian, "Zhexian, come to the ancestral grounds." With that, he vanished.

Yuan Zhexian said to the others, "Return to the Divine Son Palace first. I'm going to the ancestral grounds." He bowed to Yuan Xun, then vanished in a flash of golden light.

"The Yuan Clan's ancestral grounds."

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor smiled at Yuan Zhexian. The more he looked at this descendant of his, the more satisfied he became. Not only were his talent and aptitude unrivaled through the ages, he was also humble and courteous, and possessed an unshakable belief in his own invincibility. He could be called a flawless person.

"Zhexian, did you gain anything in the canyon secret realm this time?" the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor asked curiously.

"I obtained three peerless treasures in the secret realm," Yuan Zhexian said, concealing nothing. This elder who had watched him grow up was one of the people Yuan Zhexian respected most, and Yuan Zhexian hid nothing from him.

"Oh? Tell me what they are," the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor asked curiously.

"The first is the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree," Yuan Zhexian said.

"The Dao Comprehension Tea Tree. Hmm... a fine treasure. It's a legendary peerless treasure that can not only improve your understanding of the Dao, but also let you comprehend the Great Dao. It really is a fine treasure. Such a fortunate opportunity was meant to be yours," the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor said, still smiling.

Yuan Zhexian found the Ninth Ancestor's lack of reaction strange. Anyone else who heard about the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree would probably have jumped up and started speaking incoherently, yet his Ninth Ancestor remained perfectly calm. Was the Lineage's foundation so terrifying that he looked down on the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree, or did the Ninth Ancestor feel that the tree simply could not move him?

"The second is a mysterious pearl," Yuan Zhexian said, putting on an air of mystery.

"Oh? What mysterious pearl?" the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor asked, puzzled.

"The Immortal-Breaking Pearl."

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor was somewhat surprised. "You actually obtained the Immortal-Breaking Pearl?" Then he recalled certain things.

From the Ninth Ancestor's reaction, Yuan Zhexian felt he must know about the Immortal-Breaking Pearl. He immediately probed, "What is it, Ninth Ancestor? Do you know about the Immortal-Breaking Pearl? It's an object from the opening of heaven."

At the mention of the Immortal-Breaking Pearl, the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor fell into recollection. But when he heard Yuan Zhexian, he immediately answered offhandedly, "Of course I know. It is... ahem." Realizing what he had said, he continued, "Zhexian, do you know that the Immortal-Breaking Pearl contains the Heavenly Dao's Power of Karma? Its owner must settle that karma."

Seeing the Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor's reaction, Yuan Zhexian smiled. "Of course I know. When he passed it down to me, that senior also told me about the opening of heaven. Naturally, I know what the Immortal-Breaking Pearl does and about the Power of Karma as well."

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor asked curiously, "Who is this senior you speak of?"

"The senior said he was from the Heavenly Mandate Clan," Yuan Zhexian answered.

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor was startled again. "The Heavenly Mandate Clan? They are the prophets among the innate humans. They are born able to know the future and understand yin and yang. Their Great Heavenly Mandate Art, in particular, can divine future events through the River of Time."

"The Immortal-Breaking Pearl was actually passed down to you by a member of that clan."

"Why would they want you to have the Immortal-Breaking Pearl?"

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor muttered to himself in confusion.

Hearing him mutter to himself, Yuan Zhexian spoke one word at a time. "He called me a fate defier."

"What?"

The Yuan Clan's Ninth Ancestor was no longer calm as he cried out.