Chapter 350:
As the days bled into weeks, the Southern Region of the Crimson Lotus Empire transformed into an unprecedented crucible of power and wealth.
Cultivators from every corner of the empire, and powerful foreign delegations from neighboring realms, flooded into the territory like a rising tide. The streets of Thousand Waves City, Southern Frost City, and Crimson Iron City overflowed with itinerant sword-masters, arrogant young sect disciples, and ancient itinerant elders seeking a final opportunity to break through their mortal lifespans.
With demand for recovery elixirs, high-grade pills, and defensive armaments skyrocketing overnight, market prices surged to astronomical heights. The Tang Clan moved swiftly to capitalize on the chaos.
Recognizing the need for a unified economic monolith, Yilan traveled personally to Crimson Iron City to solidify a grand consolidation. Under her brilliant leadership, the Tang Clan merged its expansive holdings with Bai Ruolan’s Golden Cauldron Merchant Union and the Cao Clan, both of which were already secretly controlled by Shen Yu from the shadows.
Out of this strategic merger, a singular, dominant faction was born: The Golden Spring Union.
By combining the Tang Clan’s refined forging output under Master Lu Chen, the Jade Spring Pavilion’s imperial pill distribution network, and the Cao Clan’s vast logistical trade routes, the Golden Spring Union instantly established an absolute monopoly over the Southern Region’s supply chain. In less than three weeks, their profits soared beyond anything the territory had seen in a century, elevating the Tang Clan as the undisputed sovereign leader of the strongest mercantile power in the south.
Meanwhile, within the quiet sanctuary of the Tang Clan Estate, Shen Yu’s individual progression reached a terrifying level.
Through the continuous, high-pressure channeling of his celestial Qi to treat young Lu An’er, Shen Yu’s internal meridians had expanded to nearly three times their original width. Environmental spiritual energy poured into his dantians like an unyielding river. Combined with nightly dual-cultivation sessions with his devoted beauties, Shen Yu shattered through the middle stages of Foundation Establishment in record time.
Sitting upon his cultivation mat, Shen Yu opened his golden eyes, letting out a breath of dense, iridescent mist.
He had officially reached the Peak of the 9th Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. His liquid Qi had compressed into a dense, ocean-like reservoir within his lower dantian, hovering just a fraction of an inch away from forming a true Golden Core.
Outside the meditation chamber, a crisp, energetic laughter echoed through the courtyard.
In the garden below, a young boy swung a heavy iron saber with incredible speed, his small frame moving in a blur of precise, wind-shearing strokes. It was young Lu An’er.
Having been completely cured of his life-threatening affliction, the boy’s Primordial Void-Devouring Physique had fully awakened. Fueled by the dense spiritual Qi Shen Yu had poured into his core during his treatments, Lu An’er’s cultivation had rocketed straight to the 2nd Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Though Shen Yu had originally tasked Lixue with instructing the boy in basic martial arts, Lu An’er had quickly abandoned the sword, falling head-over-heels in love with the unyielding violence of the saber. His innate comprehension was nothing short of monstrous. True to the nature of his Void-Devouring Physique, he devoured martial knowledge instantly; in just two short weeks of practice, his mastery over the blade easily rivaled seasoned cultivators who had trained for years.
"Not bad, little brat," Lixue teased from the pavilion edge, fanning herself lazily as she watched the boy complete a sweeping slash. "Keep that foot grounded, or your master will use your head for target practice."
"I got it, Sister Lixue!" Lu An’er shouted back with a rebellious, fiery grin, immediately adjusting his stance and driving his saber forward with a sharp burst of compressed Qi.
Shen Yu stepped out onto the balcony, his black-and-gold robes fluttering softly in the mountain breeze. Looking over the thriving estate, his golden eyes narrowed as he felt the distant, heavy vibrations in the atmosphere.
Only three days remained before the opening of the Desolate Asura Realm.
Over the past week, the brutal slot competitions across the empire had officially concluded.
Thousands of hopeful geniuses had bled and died in the bloody arenas, with the remaining passes hoarded by the monstrous young lords of the Imperial Capital’s supreme clans and top-tier sect elites.
Now, the entire continent’s attention converged on the borders of the Mist Cloud Forest.
Rather than drawing unnecessary attention by traveling as an independent powerhouse, Shen Yu had arranged for his group to depart alongside the City Lord’s convoy, the City Lord having been granted a single complimentary slot by the Imperial decree, which he naturally bestowed upon his eldest son.
Standing near the courtyard pavilion, Shen Yu adjusted his gold-embroidered cuffs before turning his golden gaze toward his traveling companions.
"Let us move," Shen Yu commanded smoothly.
For the four guaranteed slots in their possession, Shen Yu had carefully finalized his lineup: himself, Lixue, Li Na, and young Lu An’er.
Every member met the Imperial Court’s strict prerequisite for entry, remaining below the Early Golden Core Realm, which ensured only Early Golden Core cultivators and below could cross the threshold. Through their recent, intense dual-cultivation sessions, Lixue’s foundation had surged rapidly to the 6th Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, while Li Na’s cultivation had propelled her to the 8th Stage.
Originally, Shen Yu had no intention of exposing the young boy to the bloodbath of an ancient Spirit Severing realm. However, a direct prompt from the System revealed that an ancient opportunity, specifically tailored to ignite the true potential of the Void-Devouring Physique, lay hidden deep within its depths.
It took a moment for Shen Yu to reassure Lu Chen, the anxious father naturally reluctant to send his young son into a death trap, convincing him that the boy’s path to true power required tempering.
To ensure Lu An’er’s absolute safety, Shen Yu armed him to the teeth. He bestowed upon the boy a wealth of high-tier protective gear purchased directly from the weekly Primal Store, including several Tier-2 defensive talismans, two potent Tier-3 defensive charms, a Tier-2 spirit-grade armor, several different types of pills and a rare, long-distance teleportation talisman for emergencies.
With all preparations complete, the group glided out of the estate and made their way toward the main city gates, where the City Lord’s grand carriage and armored escort were already waiting.
...
The morning sun cast a rich golden hue across the formidable stone archway of Thousand Waves City.
Outside the main gates, a grand procession stood waiting, a dozen Tier-2 spirit steeds clad in iron barding, surrounding an ornate carriage carved from dark ironwood and bearing the crest of the City Lord.
Standing proudly amidst a battalion of heavily armored guards was City Lord Wu Shan.
Beside him stood his son, Wu Junjie, whose ash-blonde hair whipped softly in the morning breeze.
As Shen Yu approached, his golden eyes casually scanned the young lord, noting the sharp surge in his foundation, Wu Junjie had broken through to the 7th Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Steping down from their carriage, Shen Yu and Yilan led the group forward.
City Lord Wu Shan immediately stepped up to offer a warm, respectful greeting to Yilan and Shen Yu before nodding politely toward Lixue, Li Na, and young Lu An’er, who was strutting alongside them with a puffed-out chest and a charmingly arrogant swagger.
Wu Junjie stepped forward, bowing deeply toward Shen Yu and Lixue with genuine humility.
"Brother Tang, Lady Lixue," Wu Junjie began, his voice sincere
"I must apologize for my foolish arrogance during our past spar, as well as the absurd bet I placed. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive my childish vanity."
Shen Yu chuckled smoothly, waving his hand in a relaxed gesture.
"Think nothing of it, Brother Wu. Youth and spirit go hand in hand."
Lixue offered a graceful smile, offering her forgiveness as well.
Behind his calm facade, however, Shen Yu knew the absolute truth.
The Tang Clan, now steering the mighty Golden Spring Union, had grown into an economic and martial titan that eclipsed the region.
City Lord Wu Shan couldn’t afford a single misstep with them, and Wu Junjie’s newfound humility was a direct reflection of who held the true power.
With the pleasantries concluded, the combined convoy set off, leaving Thousand Waves City behind as the carriages rolled steadily toward the ominous depths of the Mist Cloud Forest.
The journey toward the core of the Mist Cloud Forest took two days of high-speed travel across ancient, winding mountain passes.
As the convoy pressed deeper into the wilderness, the ambient environmental Qi grew dense, suffocating, and heavy with a blood-scented, ancient pressure that weighed upon the soul.
By the late afternoon of the second day, the dense emerald canopy gave way to an extraordinary sight.
-x-
A/N:
Hey guys, my bad for the single Chapter release today! Traveling threw a wrench in my schedule, but I made sure today’s Chapter is a super-sized one to compensate.
Happy Reading!!!