Chapter 2364: Qian Tu Zhen Ren, Xi Yue Xian Zi

"Friend Lan, that's not what you said seven days ago at True Monarch Qiantu's gathering. You claimed back then that ten True Monarch Five Spirits combined couldn't match True Monarch Qiantu. How has it become True Monarch Taihao now?" Luo Yiheng said with a teasing laugh. Lan Fukong was known for flattering people, speaking differently depending on who he was with.

"Exactly. Just over half a month ago, at another gathering, you said ten Void-refining foreign cultivators couldn't stand up to True Monarch Five Spirits. If you ask me, ten True Monarch Taihaos can't compare to True Monarch Boastful. You can just rely on your bragging." A graceful young woman in a golden dress said with a light chuckle.

Several Void-refining cultivators burst into laughter. Lan Fukong, showing no embarrassment, explained, "Isn't that just a metaphor? I certainly don't look down on True Monarch Five Spirits. True Monarch Qiantu's divine abilities are indeed powerful; he can fight two opponents without being at a disadvantage and even severely injure them. His Dao companion, Immortal Xi Yue, is also very formidable. I believe they will definitely be able to advance to the Integration stage, and then sweeping away foreign Integration cultivators and even reaching the Mahayana stage won't be a problem."

The cultivators were accustomed to this. In Lan Fukong's eyes, all human cultivators could reach the Integration stage and had hopes of ascending to the Mahayana stage. Everyone present had been praised by him at some point. Lan Fukong flattered everyone he met, except himself.

"The treasured seal Immortal Xi Yue wields strongly resembles the Xia family's family-guarding treasure, the 'Li Huo Demon-Suppressing Seal,' from Lihuo Valley. But the Xia family was destroyed by Senior Mad Blade. Could it be that Immortal Xi Yue acquired this treasure by chance?" Luo Yiheng asked curiously.

"I've heard about this too. It seems Senior Mad Blade's wife and child were killed by the Xia family, which is why the Xia family was destroyed by Senior Mad Blade. As far as I know, Immortal Xi Yue is a descendant of the Xia family and married True Monarch Qiantu." Lan Fukong spoke of these secret stories as if they were precious family heirlooms.

"I've also heard of Senior Mad Blade. He is bloodthirsty and has annihilated several forces. If Senior Mad Blade were to find out that Immortal Xi Yue is a descendant of the Xia family, I wonder if he would attack her," Wang Dafei echoed.

Luo Yiheng shook his head and said, "Senior Mad Blade hasn't appeared for many years; he might be dead! I heard he received guidance from Blade Saint Nine Yangs and possesses immense divine abilities. However, the Song family, to which True Monarch Qiantu belongs, is an affiliated force of Zhenhai Palace. Senior Mad Blade probably wouldn't dare to cause trouble for Immortal Xi Yue."

"Hmph, if my wife and child were killed, I would also seek revenge, an eye for an eye. If a man's wife and children are murdered and he doesn't dare to avenge them, is he even a man?" Lan Fukong snorted, his expression serious.

This time, the cultivators did not object. The speaker had no particular intention, but the listener paid close attention. Wang Qingshan secretly made a mental note of this matter.

In a secluded courtyard, a handsome, tall young man in a yellow robe and a striking young woman in a red dress sat in a stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting. The yellow-robed youth had a face like white jade, wore a yellow jade crown, and had a glowing yellow gourd tied at his waist, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. This was True Monarch Qiantu, Song Huizu, at the mid-Void-refining stage. The Song family was a cultivation family strongly supported by Zhenhai Palace's local faction, and currently had one Integration stage cultivator, though this information was not yet known to the outside world. The red-dressed young woman had skin as white as snow, exquisite features, and an elegant demeanor. A red flame mark adorned her forehead. She was Immortal Xi Yue, Xia Zhiwei, at the early Void-refining stage.

"There are many Void-refining cultivators on the Profound Spirit Continent who use blades. Can you be sure he is Duan Tongtian?" Song Huizu frowned deeply.

"I'm sixty percent certain he is Duan Tongtian. He must have altered his appearance. Unfortunately, he doesn't attend gatherings, so I can't observe him closely. That half-page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book must be in his possession." Xia Zhiwei's tone was heavy.

Duan Tongtian was a martial arts fanatic who frequently sparred with others. During one such spar, he injured a Xia family disciple and then fled. The Xia family didn't take it seriously, as minor injuries were common during junior spars. By chance, the Xia family later learned that Duan Tongtian had obtained half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book. At that time, Duan Tongtian was only at the Nascent Soul stage. The Xia family, with two Void-refining cultivators, couldn't locate Duan Tongtian, so they sent people to apprehend his wife and child. Unexpectedly, their subordinates were too heavy-handed and killed Duan Tongtian's wife and child. Duan Tongtian returned again, and with his early Void-refining cultivation, he massacred everyone and everything in the Xia family's stronghold, Lihuo Valley, leaving no one alive, not even chickens or dogs. Some Xia family cultivators who were away at the time narrowly escaped, fleeing to distant lands thereafter. Xia Zhiwei, being a descendant of the Xia family, knew the full story.

"Sixty percent? We need absolute certainty. Our family is currently thriving, and it's best not to offend a Void-refining rogue cultivator. As you've seen, that person's divine abilities are considerable." Song Huizu frowned, stating that without solid evidence of the other party's identity, he wouldn't act rashly. Making enemies everywhere was akin to being tired of living.

"I've noticed he's quite close to Fellow Daoist Wang from Qinglian Island; they're working together against the foreign tribes. Perhaps Fellow Daoist Wang knows more about this person. Both the Wang family and the Song family are affiliated forces of Zhenhai Palace, so he should tell us, right?" Xia Zhiwei suggested.

"Fellow Daoist Wang? The Wang family is a cultivation family supported by the Ascension Faction, while our Song family is supported by the Local Faction. Fellow Daoist Wang might not tell us the truth. Regardless, since it concerns the Heavenly Void Jade Book, we must go and inquire about it." Song Huizu's tone was stern, and his gaze was fervent.

The Song family already had an Integration stage cultivator, who was also a spirit body. If the half-page Heavenly Void Jade Book in Duan Tongtian's possession contained a powerful secret art, the Song family might even produce a Mahayana stage cultivator. Even if it contained other information, it would still enhance the Song family's strength.

"I heard True Monarch Taihao fought four opponents by himself and eliminated four Void-refining foreign cultivators. His divine abilities are quite impressive!" Xia Zhiwei said curiously.

"It's most likely false. If he possessed such great divine abilities, why was he not well-known before? Wouldn't it be better for someone with such powerful abilities to remain in Zhenhai Palace? Cultivators who strike out on their own to establish families usually don't have very impressive divine abilities. It's probably that Zhenhai Palace reinforcements arrived and helped him eliminate powerful enemies, and to help True Monarch Taihao gain fame, the Zhenhai Palace cultivators attributed the credit to him. Our Song family has done similar things before." Song Huizu dismissed the idea.

He only knew that Wang Changsheng belonged to the Ascension Faction and had not been prominent before. If he had possessed great divine abilities, he would have made a name for himself long ago. The Ascension Faction had always tried to support a cultivation family to rival the Song family but had not succeeded. In his view, this time the Ascension Faction was merely using the racial war to help True Monarch Taihao gain fame. Song Huizu couldn't be blamed for thinking this way. Due to the existence of the Profound Heaven item, Zhenhai Palace had strictly sealed off information about Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Even cultivators from the Ascension Faction didn't know much about them; only a few high-ranking officials were aware of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's deeds in the Profound Spirit Grotto-heaven. Since Wang Changsheng belonged to the Ascension Faction, it was perfectly normal for the Ascension Faction to help him gain fame, especially given that the Song family had done the same thing back then.