Chapter 1012: Eliminate Him

Dongbo Xueying was still accompanying his mother Rong Xinglan and his elder sister, chatting while they ate.

Rong Xinglan was overjoyed, as her son had been in seclusion for over six thousand years, and she hadn’t seen him in ages. Now that she held a noble status, she naturally commanded the maids to serve an endless stream of delicacies.

“Though cultivation is important, my son, don’t push yourself too hard,” Rong Xinglan said with a smile. “Your mother may not understand much, but over the years, I’ve read many books and know that tempering the heart is just as crucial. To achieve great things, one must cultivate the mind. You’ve still had relatively few experiences.”

“I understand, Mother,” Dongbo Xueying replied obediently.

Rong Xinglan’s smile brightened even more. She adored her son but dared not disturb him too much, fearing it might hinder his future. She could only watch from the sidelines. However, her status was different now, and with access to countless treasures, she had easily reached the True God realm through the bloodline cultivation system. Freed from the shackles of mortality, she had become even more serene and composed.

“Xueying.” A voice suddenly echoed around them.

Rong Xinglan and Yingshan Xiyue were startled—who would dare intrude directly into Yingshan Xueying’s estate?

Dongbo Xueying turned his head to look.

Two figures descended side by side from midair. One was naturally Lord Huolie, who stood respectfully behind an elderly woman. The old woman gazed at Dongbo Xueying with a smile, while Lord Huolie barked, “Hurry and pay your respects to the Ancestor!”

“Xueying greets the Ancestor,” Dongbo Xueying quickly rose and bowed.

Beside him, Rong Xinglan and Yingshan Xiyue were shocked. In the entire Yingshan Clan, only one person was worthy of being called “Ancestor”—the renowned Matriarch Yingshan, whose name resounded throughout the Southern Cloud Nation! The two women hastily rose from their seats and knelt to the side.

“Rise,” Matriarch Yingshan waved her hand, and Rong Xinglan and Yingshan Xiyue stood up.

The Matriarch then took a seat on a nearby stool, with Lord Huolie standing beside her. She studied Dongbo Xueying carefully.

This young man…

Still so youthful, yet already at the Unity realm.

“Huolie couldn’t even manage his own marquisate properly, forcing you to be born prematurely,” Matriarch Yingshan chuckled. “But fortunately, you reached the Unity realm in just eight thousand years. Though early birth had some impact, it wasn’t too severe.”

“Thanks to the treasures bestowed by the Ancestor and the Marquis,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Those were merely external aids. In the end, it was your own extraordinary potential,” Matriarch Yingshan waved her hand, and a bracelet flew toward him. “Cultivate diligently. With your talent, reaching the Chaos realm won’t be difficult. I hope one day the Nation Lord will personally confer upon you the title of King. To become a King, bloodline alone is not enough—you must temper your heart and accumulate experience through trials.”

Lord Huolie sighed inwardly.

A King?

One must clear the ninth level of the Divine Palace to qualify for such a title.

Matriarch Yingshan nodded. She had merely set a lofty goal. She believed reaching the Chaos realm was achievable, though it might take time. But becoming a King? That was truly difficult, demanding an extremely high level of mental fortitude. No matter how noble one’s bloodline, it had no bearing on the cultivation of the heart—that was something one had to temper through personal trials.

Dongbo Xueying’s past life had reached the realm of “My Heart as the Heavenly Heart,” a state not easily attained.

“Xueying will strive diligently,” Dongbo Xueying nodded, accepting the bracelet. With a thought, he refined it and probed its contents—his heart skipped a beat.

A small mountain of Cosmic Crystals! A quick scan confirmed it: fifty million Cosmic Crystals. Such extravagance!

“Train well. And remember, Cosmic Crystals are precious—spend them wisely when purchasing treasures,” Lord Huolie also tossed over a storage bracelet. Dongbo Xueying accepted it and checked inside—eight million Cosmic Crystals. Combined with previous gifts, Lord Huolie had given him a total of fifteen million. For the Marquis, this was a significant burden.

Dongbo Xueying naturally accepted it. As a member of the Yingshan Clan in this life, he was willing to receive these benefits—and in the future, he would shoulder the responsibilities that came with them. This was what both Matriarch Yingshan and Lord Huolie expected.

—

**”What?”**

**”Matriarch Yingshan has such fortune? A descendant who reached the Unity realm in just eight thousand years?”**

**”Master, I heard that this Yingshan Xueying was forced to be born prematurely after only fifteen years in the womb. The Yingshan Clan then poured vast amounts of bloodline-nurturing treasures into him, allowing him to reach the Unity realm in eight thousand years.”**

—

**”The Yingshan Clan will soon have another Marquis.”**

—

**”That old woman from the Yingshan Clan must be grinning from ear to ear.”**

—

News of this spread rapidly among the major factions of the Southern Cloud Nation, and the name Yingshan Xueying was etched into their memories. This was a name destined to be listed among the Kings and Marquises.

Meanwhile, in Huolie City, Chan Yu Yanzhen, who had been hiding in a residence arranged by her son, was utterly stunned upon hearing the news. **”What? That lowly maid’s son reached the Unity realm in eight thousand years? He’s practically guaranteed to become a Marquis in the future? What do I do? What do I do? Will he hold a grudge and kill me once he’s a Marquis?”**

—

Amidst the vast, churning black clouds, an ancient palace loomed faintly.

Inside the palace, a towering figure with black curved horns sat cross-legged, surrounded by frigid black currents.

**”The one you mentioned—Yingshan Xueying—is a descendant of the Yingshan Clan’s Huolie Marquisate?”** The horned figure’s deep voice rumbled, his blood-red eyes gazing downward.

**”Master, I made no mistake. Strictly speaking, Yingshan Xueying is the son of Huolie’s second son, Yingshan Liehu,”** a red-robed man below replied respectfully.

**”Lord Huolie?”**

The horned figure’s voice darkened. **”To think he’d have such luck!”**

The red-robed man remained silent.

He knew all too well the depth of his master’s hatred for Lord Huolie. He himself had long been tasked with gathering every scrap of intelligence on the Marquis.

—

In Huolie City, within the Misty Cloud Pavilion—a sprawling, dreamlike complex veiled in mist—a rather secluded residence stood.

**”To think that Young Master Xueying reached the Unity realm in just eight thousand years.”** A portly man sat gloomily as beautiful women fed him fruits.

He had never given up.

He still longed to seize the woman named Yan Yu—the perfect ingredient for his coveted elixir.

**”That useless Chun Yufeng.”** The fat man gnashed his teeth.

Chun Yufeng had previously promised to find a way, but the moment Dongbo Xueying reached the Unity realm, he immediately backed out, unwilling to provoke someone destined to become a Marquis. He wasn’t that foolish.

**”Hm?”** The obese man suddenly stiffened.

**”All of you, leave.”** He stood abruptly.

**”Yes.”** The women obediently withdrew.

The man swiftly entered a meditation chamber within the residence—a secure space shielded from external detection, further reinforced by his own concealment treasures.

**”Buzz.”**

A shadowy figure materialized beside him—a towering, horned silhouette wreathed in black mist.

**”Qian Ganxue pays respects to his master.”** The fat man prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the ground in utmost reverence.

**”Do you know of Yingshan Xueying? That Yingshan clansman who reached the Unity realm in eight thousand years?”** The horned figure’s voice was icy.

**”I do.”**

**”I authorize you to mobilize forces from the surrounding twelve cities. All Cosmic Crystals at your disposal may be used. Eliminate Yingshan Xueying—swiftly.”** The command was merciless.

**”Kill Yingshan Xueying?”** The fat man hesitated briefly.

The horned figure’s gaze bore down on him.

**”Y-yes! Master, rest assured, I will spare no effort!”**

**”Do not disappoint me. Or you know the consequences.”** The calm tone sent shivers down the fat man’s spine—a terror that seeped into his bones.

**”Understood! I will kill him!”**

**”Lord Huolie…”** The horned figure’s crimson eyes burned with killing intent. **”If I can’t kill you, I’ll destroy your Marquisate’s future Chaos realm expert first. You’ll go mad with rage, won’t you? Hahaha…”**

The phantom gradually dissipated.

The fat man finally stood, swallowing hard as he suppressed his panic and began strategizing frantically. He knew defiance was impossible—the mere thought of the repercussions made his blood run cold.

**”Fortunately, Yingshan Xueying has only just reached the Unity realm. At most, he’s at the first or second level of the Divine Palace—hardly a threat. The only trouble is the Huolie Marquisate’s full protection.”** He gritted his teeth. **”Master has granted me control over twelve cities’ forces and all available funds. I must devise a flawless plan. Strike decisively—leave him no chance. If Young Master Xueying doesn’t die… then I will.”**