Night fell.
Inside the carriage, Fan Feiqi and Dongbo Xueying sat side by side, with guards and attendants standing nearby. Dongbo Xueying had only brought his demonic servant, Zi Bai, along.
“Junior Brother Xueying, we’re here,” Fan Feiqi said, pointing into the distance.
“As expected of the Fan Clan,” Dongbo Xueying remarked, gazing at the vast, sprawling estate in the distance. “Their residence in the Southcloud Capital is even grander than the Fireblaze Marquis’s estate.”
The Fan Clan—one of the three great families of the Summerwind Ancient Kingdom.
The other two great families of the Summerwind Ancient Kingdom were far more aloof, looking down upon other nations and disdaining the idea of establishing branches outside their own domain. Only the Fan Clan had aggressively expanded their influence, weaving their power across every corner of the Heartworld Continent. In truth, among the top ten super clans of the Heartworld Continent…
They all possessed an innate arrogance, which was only natural. Their individual strength was so overwhelming that they saw no need to associate with minor nations. To them, time and effort were better spent in quiet cultivation, striving to become even stronger!
Super clans willing to aggressively infiltrate and befriend others were exceedingly rare.
“A single family capable of overpowering the Skymount Ancient Kingdom… If they truly wished it, they could likely annihilate the entire Southcloud Nation with ease. Only the Nation Lord would have a chance to escape,” Dongbo Xueying mused silently.
The Fan Clan…
They were too formidable. Having read countless miscellaneous texts in the Southcloud Sacred Sect’s library, Dongbo Xueying had only deepened his understanding of their might.
The Fan Clan embodied **dominance**, **brutality**, **ruthlessness**, and **slaughter**—the only one of the three great families of the Summerwind Ancient Kingdom that actively sought external conquest. Even a peerless figure like the Southcloud Nation Lord had to greet them with a smile, not daring to provoke their wrath.
Many genius cultivators pledged allegiance to the Fan Clan, becoming their retainers, swearing loyalty and waging war in their name.
—
Within the towering, opulent hall, several cultivators were already present, seated apart and engaged in lively conversation. At the head of the gathering sat a tall, burly man.
“Brother Tianchong!” Fan Feiqi called out loudly as she strode into the hall. “I’ve brought Junior Brother Xueying.”
Fan Tianchong sat there, smiling as he regarded Dongbo Xueying. “Young Master Xueying,” he boomed jovially. “I’ve long heard of the peerless genius who emerged from Southcloud. If you don’t mind, you may call me Brother Tianchong. Come, come—take your seat. The ‘Flying Lip Beast Feast’ will begin shortly. The meat is best enjoyed fresh, so any delay would diminish its flavor.”
“Thank you, Brother Tianchong,” Dongbo Xueying replied humbly, bowing slightly.
Though the other party was courteous, Dongbo Xueying dared not be careless.
He knew full well…
Fan Tianchong was the head of the Fan Clan’s Southcloud branch—their highest-ranking figure in the region. A tenth-level Chaos Realm cultivator, he could contend directly with a Cosmic God. More importantly, he commanded the vast resources of the Fan Clan. If the Southcloud Nation Lord was indisputably the strongest force in the land, then the Fan Clan ranked second.
Fan Tianchong was, in essence, the second most powerful figure in Southcloud.
“Fan Tianchong cultivates the Fan Clan’s closely guarded **Tearing Heaven Demon Strength Scripture**, granting him monstrous strength and a body as resilient as a treasure weapon,” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself. According to the intelligence he had gathered, Fan Tianchong’s physical prowess surpassed even the perfected tenth level of the **Southcloud Sacred Body**. Unfortunately, the **Tearing Heaven Demon Strength Scripture** was never shared outside the clan.
“His personal strength is immense, and it’s said he’s the favored disciple of the Fan Clan’s **Tearing Heaven Great Venerable**—which is why he was entrusted with overseeing the strategically important Southcloud branch,” Dongbo Xueying mused.
—
Laughter filled the grand hall as the banquet guests conversed.
“Hahaha… That old fool Bi from the Hooked Snow Nation was truly an idiot,” Fan Tianchong chuckled. “Arrogant just because he’s a Cosmic God, looking down on me, a mere Chaos Realm cultivator. He actually dared to clash with me head-on—that’s how I smashed him into severe injuries. Pity he escaped too quickly, or I’d have crushed him outright.”
“Utter foolishness! Challenging Brother Tianchong is nothing but self-humiliation!”
“Cosmic God or not, he still fled in disgrace under Brother Tianchong’s might!”
“Those lunatics from the Hooked Snow Nation are just asking for death, always interfering with our affairs.”
Several of the gathered cultivators chimed in with flattery.
Fan Tianchong sneered. “The Hooked Snow Nation? Among the four Black Fiend Nations, they’re the most delusional, constantly opposing our Summerwind Ancient Kingdom and our Fan Clan! Hmph. Perhaps one day, we’ll teach them a proper lesson.”
Suddenly, Fan Tianchong’s expression brightened as he looked toward the entrance.
A massive cauldron was carried in, containing a nearly cooked exotic beast. A master chef began slicing the meat, serving it alongside fine wine and other delicacies.
“Come, try this, Young Master Xueying,” Fan Tianchong urged with a grin. “Since it’s your first visit, I’ve prepared my favorite—Flying Lip Beast. A rare delicacy, and devilishly hard to catch. Half of the Flying Lip Beasts discovered in the Black Fiend Nations probably end up here, yet even I only get to enjoy them occasionally.”
With a wave of his hand, the first platter of sliced meat floated toward Dongbo Xueying.
Though many guests were present, this banquet had been arranged specifically for Dongbo Xueying’s sake. Despite his lofty status, Fan Tianchong made a point of befriending every promising talent. In his eyes, Dongbo Xueying’s potential was undeniable—reaching the ninth level of the Chaos Realm was practically guaranteed.
As for the tenth level?
That was harder to say. In terms of difficulty, it rivaled creating a ninth-level technique in the Chaos Void. Moreover, it required specialized secret arts and even matching treasure weapons to unleash tenth-level combat power.
“Thank you, Brother Tianchong,” Dongbo Xueying said, accepting the platter.
The banquet continued, accompanied by musicians and lively conversation. Occasionally, Fan Tianchong would exchange a few words with Dongbo Xueying.
“Young Master Xueying,” a young guard standing beside one of the guests suddenly called out. “I’ve heard you’ve cleared the sixth level of the Divine Soul Palace. As someone of the same strength, I challenge you to a duel!”
“Impudence! How dare you raise your voice here?” The guest beside the guard immediately berated him, his expression darkening.
Fan Tianchong, however, laughed heartily. “Brother Pang, today is a joyous occasion. A friendly duel would only add to the excitement—that is, if Young Master Xueying is willing?”
Dongbo Xueying listened and immediately understood.
This challenge was likely arranged by Fan Tianchong himself—an attempt to gauge his true capabilities.
“To issue a challenge here, he must have some confidence. But that only makes it more interesting,” Dongbo Xueying thought. Rising to his feet, he smiled. “Very well.”
His demonic servant, Zi Bai, quickly transmitted a warning: *”Young Master, I sense he specializes in saber techniques—likely vicious and ruthless. Exercise caution.”*
Dongbo Xueying chuckled inwardly. His insight far surpassed Zi Bai’s. With a single step, he appeared at the center of the hall.
“Excellent!” Fan Tianchong and the others cheered, settling in to watch.
“Young Master Xueying, be prepared,” the young guard declared, stepping forward with blazing battle intent.
“Make your move,” Dongbo Xueying said calmly.
“You’re not using a weapon?” the guard asked.
“Not yet. If you force me to, I will,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“Very well.”
The guard’s pupils contracted. In truth, he was a nominal disciple of Pang Bo, a retainer of the Fan Clan. Selected precisely because his strength matched Dongbo Xueying’s, this was his rare opportunity to showcase his skills before the Fan Clan’s Southcloud branch leadership.
“Take this!” the guard shouted.
*Whoosh!*
His figure blurred into a crimson streak as he lunged forward, a bloody saber light flashing within the afterimage.
“Brother Pang, this lad has truly grasped the essence of your **Bloodshadow Phantom Saber**!”
“Quite impressive indeed.”
The guests murmured praises.
*Thud.*
Dongbo Xueying, standing motionless, extended a single finger—gently tapping the very apex of the saber’s edge, where its power was most concentrated.
*Boom!*
A resonant impact erupted as the blade trembled violently. The guard staggered backward, forced into retreat by the sheer force of the counter.
*”Impossible! How did he pinpoint the strongest point of my Phantom Saber Technique? It must be a fluke!”* the guard thought in shock.
The Phantom Saber was renowned for its unpredictability. As a sixth-level Divine Soul Palace combatant, he refused to believe an opponent of equal strength could so effortlessly decipher his technique.
*”Hah!”*
The guard surged forward again, his movements even more erratic. The saber light howled like a relentless tide, countless afterimages weaving an intricate, ever-shifting assault.
Yet Dongbo Xueying remained unmoved. As the storm of blades descended, he once again extended a single finger—
…
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