Chapter 69: Yun Wanhai's Arrangement

"How did you kill the demon commanders?"Meng Chuan's heart tightened. His grand-aunt had strictly forbidden him from revealing the secret of his 'forehead space' until he had thoroughly investigated it upon entering Yuanchu Mountain.

"Reporting, Marquis," Meng Chuan respectfully replied. "When I arrived at the Blazing Sun Academy, the demons had already breached Blazing Sun Fortress, and Liu Qiyue was severely injured. Eager to save her, I didn't think twice and moved to block the two demon commanders. Unexpectedly, at that critical moment, my body erupted with power far beyond the usual, and my blade's might soared. I actually killed one demon commander with a single strike, and then quickly killed the second."

"Eager to save her?" Marquis Nanyun understood, nodding slightly with a smile. "It seems Liu Qiyue is very important to you, enough to make your potential erupt."

At moments of life and death, an individual might unleash several times their normal strength. Such bursts of power, especially for someone vitally important, have occurred throughout history, though they are rare. Legends even speak of Godfiends unleashing more than ten times their strength in desperate situations, slaying their opponents, only for their bodies to quickly collapse and die afterwards.

Godfiends of extremely high cultivation can perfectly tap into their body's full potential without any self-harm. However, those who unleash several times their strength at critical moments typically sustain significant bodily damage. The more power unleashed, the greater the injury, sometimes leading directly to physical collapse and death.

Of course...Such an outburst of several times one's strength is extremely rare and requires many contributing factors to align. Many cultivators, even when facing death with intense desperation, find it difficult to boost their power. For instance, when Meng Chuan was pursued by the Poison Pool Demon King, no matter how strong his will to survive or how unwilling he was to give up, his speed only increased by twenty percent at most.

For those historical figures who unleashed several times their power, it might have been a singular event in their entire lives. Even when faced with similar desperate situations again, they might not be able to replicate such a burst. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

"Qiyue and Meng Chuan grew up together," Meng Dajiang explained with a smile. "When this boy learned of the demon invasion, his first priority was to save Qiyue."

"Hmm." Marquis Nanyun nodded. "Although you haven't comprehended 'Blade Intent,' your successive killings of two demon commanders were witnessed by many demons and people alike. This cannot be kept secret! Once the demon race learns of it, they will likely dispatch Celestial Demons to assassinate you."

"Celestial Demons for assassination?" Both Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang felt the pressure. Celestial Demons are a cultivation system specially created by the demon race for human traitors, equivalent to demon kings or Godfiends.

"You're certainly planning to take the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination, aren't you?" Marquis Nanyun asked.

"I will participate this year," Meng Chuan nodded.

"Today, Yuanchu Mountain will send someone to pick up Liu Qiyue," Marquis Nanyun stated. "You should go with them then. You'll temporarily reside in Yuanchu City, where you won't need to worry about danger."

"Yuanchu City?" Meng Chuan and his father exchanged glances.

The most prosperous and safest city in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty was not the capital, but 'Yuanchu City'.

Yuanchu City is situated at the foot of Yuanchu Mountain, and many Godfiends from Yuanchu Mountain have moved their families there. Some powerful Godfiends even reside within Yuanchu City, only ascending Yuanchu Mountain for important matters.

Therefore, Yuanchu City became the safest city in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and over the past eight hundred years, it also grew into the most prosperous.

"Alright, I'll go to Yuanchu City," Meng Chuan nodded.

"Can I go with them?" Meng Dajiang asked.

"Yes," Marquis Nanyun nodded. "But no one else can accompany you."

It was common for family members to accompany them. Each year, talented individuals participating in the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination were permitted to bring one family member along.

Of course...If the examination was successful and they entered Yuanchu Mountain, their family members typically returned to their hometowns.

After Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang had bowed out, Marquis Nanyun shook his head slightly. "So it was merely a temporary outburst. I thought our Wuzhou had produced an unparalleled genius who comprehended 'Blade Intent' at eighteen. I was expecting too much." He felt rather disappointed.

While a genius with Phoenix bloodline was important, an unparalleled genius who comprehended 'Blade Intent' at eighteen was even more crucial, as such a talent was sure to become an extremely powerful Godfiend. Unfortunately, they were exceedingly rare.

Yun family, underground hall.

Yun Wanhai sat cross-legged, his body encircled by purple flames, and his complexion looked much better. The life force of Godfiends was incredibly resilient; despite being gravely wounded and near death earlier, he had recovered significantly after just two hours of rest.

"Father."Yun Fucheng led the way, and Yun Wanhai's children stood respectfully before him.

"I've called you here because there's something I need to tell you," Yun Wanhai began. "During this resistance against the demon invasion, I sustained severe injuries. In fact, if not for Senior Meng protecting me, I would have died long ago."

His children's hearts tightened.

"I survived," Yun Wanhai continued. "Marquis Nanyun also helped me remove the demon power from my body. However, the demon power damaged my foundation; if I'm careful, I might linger for another ten or twenty years. But I have no intention of merely clinging to life until death. I, Yun Wanhai, will continue to recuperate in Dongning Prefecture for ten years. During this decade, I will diligently nurture the young ones in our family, and I will exchange all my accumulated merits for many treasures to leave for you. After ten years, I will go to the battlefield."

His children grew anxious.

"Father, your injuries are so severe; even if you don't go to the battlefield, Yuanchu Mountain won't blame you.""Father, you also contributed to preserving Dongning Prefecture this time, didn't you?" Yun Fu'an and Yun Fuyu both pressed.

Yun Wanhai frowned, sweeping his gaze across them, and said coldly, "I, Yun Wanhai, will die on the battlefield if I must! And if I die, I will drag a demon king down with me!"

His children dared not speak.

"I do have a share of the credit for preserving Dongning Prefecture. As I said, all the merits I've accumulated over these decades will be exchanged for treasures and left to the family, to you. I hope the Yun family can produce a talent within these ten years," Yun Wanhai sighed. "At this moment, I somewhat envy Senior Meng. All right, you may all withdraw."

"Yes," his children could only obediently withdraw.

Yun Fu'an sat in the hall, his face grim. The news he had just received was like a bolt from the blue, thoroughly unsettling him.

"Fu'an," Yun Fucheng entered.

"Elder Brother," Yun Fu'an immediately stood to greet him.

"I just received news," Yun Fucheng said. "Yuanchu Mountain will send someone to Dongning Prefecture today to take Liu Qiyue, Meng Chuan, and Yan Jin. Liu Qiyue will certainly enter Yuanchu Mountain directly, while Meng Chuan and Yan Jin will likely reside in Yuanchu City, awaiting this winter's Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination."

"They're leaving today?" Yun Fu'an was surprised.

"Yes. The Jade Sun Palace didn't keep this secret, so I believe the major Godfiend families are all aware."

Yun Fucheng nodded. "Liu Qiyue and Yan Jin are one thing; they are outsiders, and even if they become powerful Godfiends in the future, it's unlikely they'll settle down in Dongning Prefecture. But Meng Chuan is different. The Meng family has tens of thousands of members in Dongning Prefecture, and it's impossible for them to relocate entirely. Given Meng Chuan's talent, capable of slaying demon commanders, he will likely pass the examination and enter Yuanchu Mountain this year. The Meng family's influence in Dongning Prefecture will be far greater than it is now."

Yun Fu'an's eyelids twitched as he listened.

"Breaking off the engagement certainly strained the relationship between our two families. But relationships can be mended," Yun Fucheng stated. "This time, Father fought alongside Senior Meng, forging a bond of shared battle. Moreover, Senior Meng saved our father's life. We can visit them to express our gratitude... our gratitude for Senior Meng's life-saving grace."

"In that life-and-death battle, Father also helped Senior Meng, didn't he?" Yun Fu'an muttered.

"That's merely an excuse! An excuse to visit!" Yun Fucheng retorted with a frown. "And Father himself said Senior Meng saved his life. As sons, we *must* go and express our thanks. Also, we need to prepare a gift for Meng Chuan—partly as an apology, and partly to wish him well in entering Yuanchu Mountain. While our two families might not reconcile completely, we absolutely must not become enemies. The gifts are ready; prepare yourself and come with me to the Meng family's ancestral home."

"I need to go too?" Yun Fu'an asked.

"You were the one who went to break off the engagement, so of course you have to go this time," Yun Fucheng said calmly.

"Oh," Yun Fu'an could only nod obediently.

Though he was deeply displeased, he understood when it was necessary to humble himself.

The Meng family's ancestral home.

Since they were leaving Dongning Prefecture today, Meng Chuan and his father, Meng Dajiang, also came to bid farewell to many clan members.

At this time, the other four major Godfiend families of Dongning Prefecture also sent representatives to offer condolences. After mourning the Meng family elders who died in battle, they then met with Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang.