Chapter 1042: The Fan Clan’s Recruitment

“Body-Splitting Technique.” Dongbo Xueying was filled with anticipation.

He couldn’t bear to abandon the Heart Realm Continent, as it was teeming with powerful experts and countless supreme techniques and scriptures, offering numerous aids for cultivation. Yet, after becoming a Cosmic Deity, he yearned to return to his homeland, the Chaos Void, fearing that prolonged absence might invite great calamities there. To have the best of both worlds, only the ‘Body-Splitting Technique’ would suffice—leaving a clone in the Heart Realm Continent while another returned to the Chaos Void.

“I suspect that the Fan Clan of the Xiafeng Ancient Nation will soon extend an invitation for you to join them,” said the Yingshan Matriarch.

“The Fan Clan?” Dongbo Xueying was surprised.

“Yes.”

The Yingshan Matriarch nodded. “Among the three great clans of the Xiafeng Ancient Nation, the other two look down upon external nations. Only the Fan Clan embraces all, willing to forge connections and gather geniuses from all corners under their banner. Your talent and comprehension are extraordinary—reaching the tenth layer of the Chaos Realm in just 1.5 billion years places you among the top in the history of the Xiafeng Ancient Nation. The Fan Clan will undoubtedly invite you, and the terms they offer may be quite generous.”

“The choice of whom to pledge allegiance to is yours,” the Yingshan Matriarch continued.

“But I’m already an initiate disciple of the Southcloud Sacred Sect. Wouldn’t joining another faction be forbidden?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“For ordinary initiates, that is indeed the case. Switching allegiance would be considered betrayal, warranting pursuit by the Southcloud Sacred Sect. But if you join the Fan Clan, it’s different,” the Yingshan Matriarch sighed. “Among the nations surrounding the Xiafeng Ancient Nation—whether the Black Devil Four Nations on our side, the Nine Northern Nations of Xiafeng, or even neighboring second- and third-rate nations—even if they nurture a genius, none dare accuse them of betrayal when the Fan Clan extends an invitation. Instead, they must congratulate the Fan Clan.”

“If you join the Fan Clan, even the Nation Lord would have to congratulate them,” the Yingshan Matriarch mused. “The Fan Clan is too powerful. A single family’s strength surpasses that of any ancient nation like Yuehua or Motian, and their foundation runs even deeper.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.

He could sense the Fan Clan’s dominance.

Even a supreme expert like the Southcloud Nation Lord had to bow his head, not daring to offend. While he himself might survive the Fan Clan’s pursuit, the rest of the Southcloud Nation could not withstand their wrath—unless one was as indifferent to their subordinates’ lives as the Gouxue Nation Lord.

“Grandmother, what do you suggest?” Dongbo Xueying looked at the Yingshan Matriarch.

“Let me offer you some advice.”

The Yingshan Matriarch spoke, “The Nation Lord is more generous. Once you pledge allegiance, all the rare treasures needed to cultivate the Southcloud Sacred Body to its tenth-layer perfection will be bestowed upon you immediately—worth twenty billion cosmic crystals. Moreover, during your cultivation, the Nation Lord will devote more attention to you, providing whatever external resources he can.”

“As for the Fan Clan? They are one of the peak powers of the Heart Realm Continent, with strict internal rules. To gain, you must give. However, the stronger you grow, the more they will value you.”

“If your ambition is merely to become an ordinary Cosmic Deity, then the Nation Lord’s aid will be greater. After all, he is the leader of one of the Ten Great Sects, with abundant treasures and the willingness to invest them in you.”

“But if you aspire to stand among the peak powerhouses of the entire Heart Realm Continent—to reach the Nation Lord’s level, or even establish your own ancient nation, achieving invincibility—then the Fan Clan’s support will be far more significant. Their foundation is incomparably deeper, and the three great clans of the Xiafeng Ancient Nation mutually support one another.”

“The choice is yours,” the Yingshan Matriarch concluded.

Even she felt conflicted.

For the sake of the Yingshan Clan, pledging allegiance to the Nation Lord would be better.

But to stand at the pinnacle of the Heart Realm Continent, joining the Fan Clan was the superior path.

Still, the Nation Lord was wealthy and could provide external resources—a form of assistance in itself.

“Even if I join the Fan Clan, their help wouldn’t be that substantial, would it?” Dongbo Xueying shook his head. “From what I know, the number of individuals in the Fan Clan who can rival the Nation Lord is few.”

“Of course.”

The Yingshan Matriarch nodded. “Reaching the Nation Lord’s level is incredibly difficult. The Fan Clan can offer guidance and supreme techniques, but ultimately, it depends on yourself. As for the Nation Lord, he may lack the supreme techniques perfectly suited for your path to the peak, but he can provide external resources.”

“Then I’ll pledge allegiance to the Nation Lord,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.

“Don’t rush your decision. Meet with the Fan Clan’s representatives first, then inform me of your choice,” the Yingshan Matriarch advised. “This concerns your future cultivation path. As a cultivator, you must be cautious.”

—

At dawn the next day, mist hung thick in the air.

Fan Tianchong arrived in person. The two sat facing each other in a lakeside pavilion.

“Brother Tianchong, please.”

“Haha, this wine smells divine—just the aroma relaxes my muscles and bones. Brother Xueying, you have fine taste.” Fan Tianchong sat cross-legged, pouring himself a cup and taking a sip. “Excellent. Though I’ve never had it before, and it doesn’t seem to contain any particularly rare ingredients, it’s simply delightful.”

Dongbo Xueying did indeed enjoy fine food and wine. Traveling across the realms, he had sampled many delicacies and naturally collected numerous fine wines. “This wine isn’t expensive—ten jugs for a single cosmic crystal.”

“As long as it tastes good.”

Fan Tianchong chuckled. “I’ll be direct. I’m here on my clan’s orders. Our ancestor has given his approval to take you as a disciple.”

“The Fan Ancestor?” Dongbo Xueying’s heart tightened.

The Fan Ancestor—

One of the invincible existences of the Heart Realm Continent. A single individual capable of founding an ancient nation. The techniques he created were closely guarded ‘secret transmissions,’ impossible to glimpse even with a hundred billion cosmic crystals. Among his disciples were three who rivaled the Southcloud Nation Lord, including the ‘Slaughter Heaven Venerable.’

“Our ancestor has only taken fifteen disciples in total. Even I wasn’t deemed worthy,” Fan Tianchong sighed. Though his own talent was monstrous, the Fan Ancestor’s standards were exceedingly high.

“If you become his disciple, you’ll receive a secret transmission perfectly suited to you, guiding you straight to the peak,” Fan Tianchong said.

“What else?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“Else?”

Fan Tianchong was taken aback. “Did you not hear me? This is the Fan Ancestor we’re talking about. What more could you want? You’ll be granted a supreme secret transmission. As you grow stronger, our clan’s support will increase. Reaching the level of your Southcloud Nation Lord isn’t out of the question.”

“Is there a Body-Splitting Technique?” Dongbo Xueying pressed.

Fan Tianchong’s expression darkened. “Don’t overreach. The Fan Clan operates on the principle of survival of the fittest—everything must be earned! Receiving a supreme secret transmission is already a tremendous boon. Do you know some Cosmic Deities would sell themselves to our clan and still not receive such a treasure? As for the Body-Splitting Technique, you must contribute merits to exchange for it. Our clan does possess such techniques.”

“Merits are required?” Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.

Troublesome.

The Body-Splitting Technique was highly valued in any faction, demanding significant merits. For a tenth-layer Chaos Realm cultivator like himself, accumulating enough would be no easy feat.

“Do you lack even the confidence to compete?” Fan Tianchong snapped. “Our clan is filled with powerhouses. Rise among them, shine brightly, and rewards will follow. Yet here you are, demanding favors before even pledging allegiance?”

The Fan Clan was vast and prosperous, but they couldn’t afford to squander resources recklessly.

In contrast, the Southcloud Nation Lord’s sect, as one of the Ten Great Sects, attracted countless cultivators from across the Heart Realm Continent, each contributing vast sums of cosmic crystals—accumulating unimaginable wealth. Thus, the Nation Lord could afford to be extravagant.

“I have confidence,” Dongbo Xueying inwardly shook his head.

Though confident, given the value of the Body-Splitting Technique and the Fan Clan’s abundance of experts, he would likely need to reach Cosmic Deity status and spend considerable time accumulating merits. Time he couldn’t afford to waste—once he became a Cosmic Deity, he needed to send a clone home immediately.

“Good. Confidence is key,” Fan Tianchong smiled. “When will you accompany me to the Xiafeng Ancient Nation?”