Chapter 134: The Chu Clan of You Prefecture
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
On the northwestern side of the Azure Cloud Continent, in the central region of You Prefecture, lay the city of Mountain Shadow.
This place housed hundreds of families, their residences arranged meticulously in accordance with the eight trigrams—Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen, and Kun. Rows of uniform dwellings extended outward in an orderly fashion.
At the heart of the city, a grand estate occupied vast land. The architecture of this compound was ancient and majestic, its exteriors shimmering with celestial light as spiritual formations whistled through the air. Within the city, whether commoner or merchant, each individual possessed at least a Minor Illumination cultivation.
The reason for this was simple: they all bore the same surname—Chu. Even those of the most distant branches of the clan were entitled to the family’s Awakening of the True Spirit ritual.
Following the eight main roads of the city inward, one would arrive at an imposing and solemn manor. Hanging upon its entrance plaque were the characters ‘Chu Clan.’ Streams circled the estate, their waters murmuring as they flowed.
At this moment, deep within the estate, in a dense bamboo grove, a group of over a dozen servants carried a massive iron chest inside. After much bustling, accompanied by the clattering of metal, they emerged from the forest, the chest now emptied.
As they exited, wisps of black killing qi coiled through the grove, spilling outward in delicate, drifting tendrils. The air thickened into a misty haze, obscuring vision.
Standing just outside the grove was Chu Xiong, the current patriarch of the Chu Clan. His presence was formidable, his aura surging and overwhelming. His cultivation had already reached the Spirit-Wandering Realm, just a step away from the completion of the Upper Five Realms.
Such a level of cultivation was rare outside of Immortal Sects. For a noble family or an Immortal Manor, possessing a single cultivator of such caliber was enough to place them among the most elite. Without the sanction of a Daoist Lineage, ascension to the Approaching Immortal Realm was impossible—hence, achieving the Completion of the Upper Five Realms was the ultimate limit for them.
Chu Xiong slightly turned his head, glancing at the elderly servant behind him. “Where is Chu Xian? I haven’t seen him in days.”
The old servant bowed respectfully. “Young Master Chu Xian recently traveled to Yun Prefecture. He is currently on his way back to You Prefecture and should arrive soon.”
“Did he return to the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace?”
The old servant replied, “The Mystic Origin Sect Master has been in seclusion for years. The young master has been overseeing sect affairs in his place. Meanwhile, the Sect Master’s Son is nothing but a reckless troublemaker. Managing him requires constant intervention, which has made matters particularly exhausting for the young master.”
Chu Xiong gave a small nod in acknowledgment and shifted his gaze back toward the bamboo grove, where the black killing qi continued to billow outward.
This process persisted for nearly two hours, lasting until the sun began its descent into the west. Only then did the killing qi gradually retreat toward the grove’s center. As the aura receded, the bamboo grove regained its clarity, and the murky air dissipated.
Within the grove, Chu Xiong’s second son, Chu He, sat cross-legged in deep meditation. The previously rampant killing qi steadily fused into his body.
Once the qi fully merged within him, the surroundings became tranquil once more, yet the aura around Chu He now carried an unfathomable depth.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, his gaze dull at first, then transitioning into one of confusion as he looked toward Chu Xiong outside the grove.
“Father?”
Chu Xiong smiled and asked, “Son, how do you feel?”
Chu He inhaled deeply, watching the swirling qi around his body. “I feel strong. If I continue at this pace…”
“Young Master, you have been back for two months already,” the old servant interjected gently.
“…?”
Chu He froze, bewilderment flickering across his face. In his memory, he had only returned home the day before yesterday and had been brought directly into the bamboo grove.
From there, he had shut his eyes and delved into enlightenment. He had felt countless powerful energies unraveling within him, their strength vast and unyielding, which he eagerly absorbed, making his own energy grow exponentially.
Yet, he had no recollection of time passing—no memory of leaving the grove each day, resting in his chambers, or even eating meals.
Chu Xiong observed the confusion in his son’s eyes but offered no further explanation. Instead, he turned to the old servant. “Take the second young master to his chambers so he may rest.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the old servant approached, Chu He rose to his feet. After a long silence, he muttered, “During my cultivation, I felt as though something was speaking inside my mind…”
The old servant hesitated momentarily before glancing at him. “Perhaps young master has cultivated so diligently that you have begun to communicate directly with the Heavenly Dao.”
“The Heavenly Dao can speak?”
“Why wouldn’t it? The Great Daos are infinite. Every individual’s enlightenment varies, and the responses they receive naturally differ. If you have heard the whispers of the Heavenly Dao, it simply means your talent has surpassed the ordinary. Such feats are beyond most cultivators.”
Hearing this, Chu He suddenly smirked. “To think a mere wandering rogue cultivator could…”
The old servant patted him on the back and escorted him back to his quarters in the front courtyard.
Meanwhile, a grand carriage adorned with precious jade and emerald trappings slowly entered the Chu Clan estate.
As the carriage came to a halt, a man descended gracefully. His features were as refined as jade, clad in a flowing immortal robe of deep violet, with a glazed immortal crown resting atop his head. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to Chu He, yet even with his aura restrained, his presence was undeniably more formidable.
By this time, Chu Xiong had already left the Bamboo Forest and was waiting nearby. As soon as the man stepped down, Chu Xiong led him directly into the ancestral hall of the Chu Clan.
The ancestral hall was vast, its walls lined with hundreds of spirit tablets. The air was thick with incense smoke, the glow of candlelight flickering solemnly among the shadows.
Holding three sticks of incense, Chu Xiong knelt before the ancestors, bowing deeply. Then, turning to his eldest son, he spoke in a grave tone. “Xian, I have pondered long today. I fear that our course of action carries great risk.”
Chu Xian inserted his incense into the burner, then knelt back onto the bamboo mat, his gaze steady. “Father, what is it that you find risky?”
“Will the Heavenly Dao truly tolerate this method of cultivation?”
“The Heavenly Dao is broken. It no longer has the power to govern this world.”
“And yet, not long ago, the Immortal Cauldron of the Pill Sect overflowed with Pill Dao.”
Chu Xian’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. “There could be many reasons for that. I cannot say for certain. But if the Clan Ancestor Zheng was able to break through to the Approaching Immortal Realm and even open the path to ascension, that alone is proof enough. Otherwise, why would the Demon Clan and the Mystic Wilding Tribes grow so restless?”
Chu Xiong stared at the spirit tablets, his brows deeply furrowed.
The sacred artifacts of the Seven Great Immortal Sects could be controlled by their wielders, yet they also responded to the Heavenly Dao.
Years ago, when the Spirit Mirror of Spirit Sword Mountain had chosen its own master, it was taken as an act of the Heavenly Dao itself. If not, the Daoist Lineage would never have shifted from Heavenly Sword Peak to Mystic Sword Peak.
But if the Clan Ancestor Zheng could defy the Daoist Lineage, enter the Approaching Immortal Realm, and even tread the very road to immortality, it meant the Heavenly Dao no longer held dominion over this world. Thus, the Demon Clan began to stir, and the Mystic Wilding Tribes from the Northern Plains surged forth in aggression.
Yet, soon after, the Immortal Cauldron of the Pill Sect overflowed.
If this was not due to its wielder’s intent, then the Heavenly Dao was still watching over the world. Such contradiction set an uneasy weight upon his heart.
As Chu Xiong continued his contemplations, his eldest son’s voice brought him back.
“How is Chu He’s cultivation progressing?”
“His progress is smooth, without adverse effects. However, there remains an obstacle to his entry into the Inner Court—a scholar named Ji You.”
Chu He’s acceptance into the Heavenly Script Academy and appointment as a direct disciple of the Five Halls of the Inner Academy had been decided even before last autumn.
Given his talent, entry into the Inner Court should have been effortless.
Among his peers, even Lu Qing Qiu, the noble daughter of the Lu Clan, though having reached the Peak of the Lower Three Stages, relied on the essence of spirit cores to elevate her cultivation—such a foundation was no threat at all.
No one had expected that this year, the Heavenly Script Academy would admit a wandering rogue cultivator of unparalleled talent.
Under normal circumstances, gaining entry into the Inner Court should never have posed a challenge for the Chu Clan.
Hearing his father’s concern, Chu Xian merely furrowed his brows slightly. “I have invested greatly in strengthening him. His current power far surpasses the limitations of his realm. That wandering rogue cultivator is merely at the Mystic Enlightenment Stage—what could he possibly do, even with great talent?”
“That boy is rather extraordinary. Rumor has it he possesses the Sword Heart Clarity Body. He spent just three days at Spirit Sword Mountain and returned with some knowledge of the Sword Dao.”
“It matters not. I will remain home for the next few days to personally instruct Chu He.”
“That is all we can do for now…”
Rising from the bamboo mat, Chu Xian dusted off his robes and strode out of the ancestral hall.
The elderly servant who had escorted Chu He home now stood waiting in the courtyard beneath the night sky. Seeing Chu Xian emerge from the hall, he stepped forward in deference.
“Young Master, the one who escaped from Immortal Worship Mountain Manor has been dealt with.”
Chu Xian halted his steps. “Though I act as the interim master of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace, using their people for this matter was still too great a risk. If only I had been more ruthless back then, I would have used our own clan members instead.”
The old servant bowed low. “Young Master’s benevolence is a blessing to the Chu Clan.”
Chu Xian chuckled darkly. “I cannot afford to be too kind in the future, lest it lead to disaster. That old wretch watches me with great suspicion. Were it not for his son being a worthless fool, I would never have secured my position as a direct disciple.”
“Young Master speaks the truth.”
Chu Xian slowly unfurled his palm, revealing a wisp of black qi swirling ominously in his grasp.
“Had the Clan Ancestor Zheng succeeded that day, we would not have to conceal our efforts, fearing the wrath of the Heavenly Dao.”
The black qi flickered in his palm, a harbinger of unseen schemes yet to unfold.