Chapter 119: Nine Years Later

It was a sweltering summer day in Dongning Prefecture.

Meng Dachuan was now the patriarch of the Meng clan. Among Dongning Prefecture's five prominent Godfiend families, the Meng and Zhang clans were indisputably the leaders. In fact, the Old Ancestor of the Zhang clan had even secretly instructed his family members that, in Dongning Prefecture, the Zhang clan should consider itself the second-ranked Godfiend family, ceding the top position to the Meng clan. This clearly demonstrated the Meng clan's current prosperity.

The imperial court had appointed many Meng clan experts to lucrative positions within Dongning Prefecture. This had led to the Meng clan's booming prosperity, making it the most flourishing period in the family's history over the past thousand years.

In contrast, the Yun clan was the weakest of the five Godfiend families. After the battle in Dongning Prefecture, the Yun clan's Old Ancestor, Yun Wanhai, had recuperated for ten years and diligently nurtured younger family members. However, while it was easy to cultivate ordinary experts, it was difficult to produce geniuses who could become Godfiends. The Yun clan also had a small population, and no such geniuses had emerged in a decade. Although Yun Wanhai sighed, he unhesitatingly left his hometown early last year to return to the battlefield. His determination to die on the battlefield earned him the respect of the other four Godfiend families.

However, if Yun Wanhai were to die, the Yun clan's influence would undoubtedly decline significantly. No family could forever occupy many lucrative positions; the legacy of a Godfiend could at most ensure they lived wealthy lives for a time. As time passed, the family's foundations would gradually erode, and if no powerful figures emerged, a complete decline would be normal.

Mirror Lake Meng Manor.

Meng Dachuan sat in his chair, noticeably heavier than in previous years. At this moment, his plump, thick fingers clutched a letter, which he read with a joyful grin. He called out to Liu Yebai, who was eating watermelon nearby, "Yebai, Yebai! From now on, we'll be in-laws!"

"Our two children aren't married yet," Liu Yebai said, putting down a watermelon rind and wiping his mouth.

"Isn't it a done deal?" Meng Dachuan chuckled. "Do you have any objections?"

"No objections, I have none."

Liu Yebai was straightforward. "I watched Meng Chuan grow up. I'm relieved that Qiyue will marry him. However, both Meng Chuan and Qiyue mentioned in their letters that they plan to get married after descending the mountain."

"Why not get married on the mountain?" Meng Dachuan sighed. "They are both Godfiends; why bother with worldly customs?"

"Mount Yuanchu is a sacred place; even if you and I were to go up, we couldn't stay for long," Liu Yebai said. "The children want a lively wedding, inviting relatives and friends from all over, but many of them can't come up the mountain. So it's better to hold the ceremony after they come down. They've thought it through quite carefully."

Meng Dachuan nodded and chuckled, "Alright, whatever they decide. I'm just waiting to hold my grandchildren now."

"Their decision to marry must be kept secret for now," Liu Yebai whispered. "You know, those people from the Liu clan have always wanted Qiyue to return to her ancestral family. They wouldn't dare disturb her on Mount Yuanchu. But if she comes down, and the marriage is announced early, the Liu clan will surely cause trouble. While we're not afraid of the Liu clan, for such a joyous occasion, it's best to avoid such complications."

"Yes, don't worry, I'll keep it completely secret," Meng Dachuan quickly added. "Their plan to marry after descending the mountain will remain confidential."

"I wonder when the two of them will descend the mountain," Liu Yebai said.

"According to the letter, Chuan'er is practicing the Black Iron Heavenly Book, which has no artistic conception legacy, making its cultivation extremely difficult," Meng Dachuan said. "It will probably take some more time."

"The Black Iron Heavenly Book is incredibly difficult to cultivate, but it is also exceptionally powerful," Liu Yebai said. "It's worth spending more time on it."

"Yes," Meng Dachuan replied, a look of anticipation in his eyes.

Both elders believed their own cultivation potential was relatively weak. They feared they would only ever achieve the level of ordinary Godfiends like Aunt Meng Xian and Yun Wanhai. All their hopes rested on Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue.

Mount Yuanchu, Ten Thousand Thunder Peak.

Ten Thousand Thunder Peak was one of Mount Yuanchu's top ten highest peaks. It was a special place where the peak itself continuously generated faint streaks of lightning, and heavenly thunder occasionally struck. Consequently, it was rarely visited, and ordinary stewards and servants dared not approach.

The summit of Ten Thousand Thunder Peak was extremely cold. Even with occasional heavenly thunder strikes, it remained covered in snow and ice.

A young man in a light cyan robe sat cross-legged on one of the peaks. This was the highest point of the mountain, offering a view over the clouds below and a deep blue expanse of sky. Around him, a sizzling sound could be heard as lightning was generated in the void. Streaks of lightning, like electric snakes, emerged from the void and continuously entered his body.

"Most other disciples are unwilling to come to Ten Thousand Thunder Peak, but it's a treasure trove for disciples of the Lightning Godfiend Body lineage," Meng Chuan murmured. He slowly opened his eyes, which flickered with lightning before it receded. "Half an hour of cultivation here is equivalent to five or six hours in my cave dwelling, and it saves me a lot of Thousand-Star Pills."

Disciples of the Lightning Godfiend Body lineage who came to Ten Thousand Thunder Peak typically cultivated at the halfway point or other areas. Only those who had mastered the 'Thunder World-Annihilating Fiend Body' dared to cultivate at the summit because occasional heavenly thunder strikes always hit that area. The Thunder World-Annihilating Fiend Body was inherently formed by harnessing the power of heavenly thunder, making its practitioners the least afraid of it.

"After so many years on the mountain, it's truly difficult to have only recently comprehended the 'Blade Soul'," Meng Chuan mused to himself.

The 'Soul Realm' was almost unattainable for ordinary Godfiends throughout their lives. Even those who cultivated middle- and lower-grade Godfiend bodies and managed to become Great Solar Godfiends usually only reached the 'peak of the Intent Realm'.

Mount Yuanchu disciples were famously powerful. However, the vast majority only cultivated to the Great Solar Godfiend level, and reaching the 'Soul Realm' in blade or sword techniques was their ultimate achievement.

With the artistic conception guidance of Godfiend ultimate techniques, it took them anywhere from twenty to thirty years, or even thirty to fifty years, to comprehend the 'Soul Realm'.

For those like Meng Chuan, Xue Feng, and Xiao Yunyue, who cultivated the Black Iron Heavenly Book ultimate techniques, there was no artistic conception legacy; they had to rely purely on their own exploration. Even with extremely high talent, reaching the 'Soul Realm' remained incredibly difficult.

Xue Feng comprehended 'Sword Intent' at fifteen and 'Sword Soul' at twenty-three, taking over eight years. He was already an unparalleled prodigy.

Xiao Yunyue comprehended the 'Intent Realm' at twenty-one and the 'Soul Realm' at thirty-six, taking a full fifteen years to reach the 'Soul Realm'. This was still less time than typical Mount Yuanchu disciples, and it was remarkable given she had no artistic conception guidance. She had also descended the mountain two years ago.

Meng Chuan comprehended 'Blade Intent' at nineteen and finally 'Blade Soul' at twenty-nine this year, taking a full decade! This was still thanks to his 'Ten-Zhang Domain', which allowed him to clearly perceive every move of his blade technique, resulting in extremely high cultivation efficiency. Without the Ten-Zhang Domain, he would likely have taken no less time than Xiao Yunyue.

"After becoming an Indestructible Godfiend, I once implored my master to grant me the original Black Iron Heavenly Book 'Heart Intent Blade' so I could receive its legacy," Meng Chuan mused. "My primordial spirit is strong enough to bear the legacy. Once I receive it and have the artistic conception guidance, my blade cultivation would be much faster. But my master said... he wanted me to explore on my own, and only after I reached the Blade Soul Realm through my own efforts would he allow me to accept the legacy."

"A Blade Soul comprehended through one's own exploration will be even more beneficial for becoming a Marquis or King in the future," Meng Chuan sighed inwardly. "I know my master wasn't misleading me, but it also kept me stuck at the peak of Blade Intent for five years."

He comprehended Blade Intent at nineteen, achieved mastery at twenty-two, and reached its peak at twenty-four. After that, he was stuck.

Breaking through major bottlenecks was the most difficult.

He only broke through recently.

"It's almost time. I haven't neglected any aspect of my cultivation, and I've also mastered the Lightning Devil Mark," Meng Chuan nodded slightly. "I can challenge the Nine Profound Cave again."

His figure moved, transforming into a flash of lightning.

The lightning directly streaked across the surface of Ten Thousand Thunder Peak, all the way to its halfway point. With a single leap, the lightning flashed, covering a li of distance, and landed directly on another peak, disappearing quickly after a few more flashes.

In terms of speed, only a handful of ancient Godfiends on Mount Yuanchu could surpass Meng Chuan. At least, most Marquis Godfiends did not possess such terrifying speed.

"Whoosh."

At the entrance of a silent cave, a flash of lightning landed, revealing Meng Chuan's figure.

"Nine Profound Cave." Meng Chuan looked at the three large characters above the cave entrance. The Nine Profound Cave was incredibly mysterious and a place every disciple had to pass through to be qualified to descend the mountain.

Meng Chuan had visited many times over the years.

Even if one couldn't pass, they could still fight to their heart's content.

Meng Chuan calmly walked into the Nine Profound Cave. What appeared to be an ordinary cave was impeded by an invisible force. Once he completely passed through the obstruction, he saw a vast world, bathed in a deep crimson hue.

Within the dark red world's membrane, a figure descended. It was a wolf demon in a white robe, holding a scroll and reading with relish. He looked up at Meng Chuan and sneered, "Kid, you're back again? You've already lost to me seven times, haven't you?"