Chapter 31 ·Liyang Island, Xu Fengnian

Chapter 31: Radiant Sun Island, Xu Fengnian!

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

Gu ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yan was now one hundred and forty-one years old, yet his cultivation still remained at the First Layer of the Golden Core.

His ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cultivation speed was several times slower than when he had been in Foundation Establishment, but his mindset remained calm.

Cultivating ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍immortality was like this—the higher one went, the harder it became. Being anxious was useless.

During ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍these ten years, the entry 《Fortune-Blessed Immortal Lord》 mostly granted mortal martial arts techniques as rewards each year.

Occasionally, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there were a few not-so-profound immortal cultivation spells, which he casually learned as well.

This also made Gu Yan certain that he was not blessed with overwhelming fortune every single year.

Still, he was content. If there were good things, all the better. If not, he did not force it.

……

On this day, the Taiyi Dao Sect welcomed a batch of newly promoted inner disciples.

Among them was one person named Xu Fengnian.

As the righteous leader of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Taiyi Dao Sect’s entry threshold had long risen with the tide.

To enter the inner sect, it was no longer sufficient to reach the late stage of the First Revolution before the age of thirty.

Instead, one had to cultivate to the late stage of the Second Revolution within sixty years to qualify.

Xu Fengnian appeared to be at the late stage of the Second Revolution and smoothly passed the assessment.

However, no one knew that he was actually a Fourth Revolution expert, nor was he a citizen of Great Qian.

He came from the Endless Sea, from Radiant Sun Island’s foremost great clan—the Xu family—and was its heir.

He infiltrated the Taiyi Dao Sect after hearing that three Sixth Revolution Martial Immortals were stationed within. Driven by curiosity and a family mission, he wanted to personally investigate the truth.

After all, the Xu family of Radiant Sun Island had long harbored ambitions to conquer Great Qian and replace it.

And the Taiyi Dao Sect was the greatest obstacle in their eyes.

Several months passed. Relying on the methods and disguise of a noble clan heir, Xu Fengnian established a firm foothold within the sect and gathered quite a bit of information.

There were indeed three Martial Immortals in the sect.

Elder Lin of Pill Glow Peak, the Sect Master Daoist Xuanchen, and a senior who lived in seclusion in an outer sect herbal garden.

Ordinary disciples were not allowed to approach that herbal garden—he had already known this back when he was in the outer sect.

In addition, he had heard that on the eastern side of Pill Glow Peak there was a secluded courtyard that had remained vacant for years, yet no one dared to disturb it.

It was said to be the former residence of a certain elder.

This piqued Xu Fengnian’s curiosity.

An uninhabited former elder’s residence?

Perhaps it concealed some secret?

That night, he quietly left his residence and slipped toward the eastern side of Pill Glow Peak.

By coincidence—

On this very day, Gu Yan had decided to temporarily leave the suspended cave dwelling in the back mountain and return to this long-unvisited small courtyard.

He planned to move his belongings to the cave dwelling.

For cultivators, living in a suspended cave dwelling close to nature indeed carried a more profound artistic conception.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard’s range, Gu Yan’s divine sense stirred slightly—he sensed someone.

Concealing his figure, he looked over. It was an unfamiliar young disciple, glancing around cautiously.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Gu Yan understood.

Though the other party appeared to be at the late stage of the Second Revolution, his internal power was refined and vigorous—clearly at the Fourth Revolution.

So young yet possessing such strength, and sneaking around like this… definitely not an ordinary disciple.

Gu Yan remained calm and watched silently, intending to see what this person planned to do.

Xu Fengnian probed outside the courtyard for a while. Confirming there was no aura of anyone inside, he relaxed slightly.

However, being cautious by nature, he did not rashly enter. Instead, he memorized the surrounding environment and prepared to leave.

As he turned around, perhaps thinking no one was nearby, he muttered softly:

“This Taiyi Dao Sect looks like a solid fortress, but in truth, its defenses are lax.

Three Martial Immortals? Heh, when the great army of Radiant Sun Island presses in, I wonder how long they can hold?

And this remote courtyard—it seems there’s nothing special about it either…”

Before he finished speaking, a calm voice sounded leisurely behind him:

“Young man, what do you mean… by those words?”

Xu Fengnian’s hair stood on end as he spun around!

Under the moonlight, a handsome man stood there, smiling faintly at him.

The smile was gentle, yet Xu Fengnian felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

He had not sensed at all when this person had appeared behind him!

In an instant, Xu Fengnian put on a frightened and bewildered expression and hurriedly bowed:

“E-Elder!”

“This disciple was merely taking a walk at night and mistakenly wandered here. I spoke nonsense out of frustration—there was absolutely no other intent!

I have disturbed Elder’s peace. I beg forgiveness!”

His reaction was extremely fast, and his acting was quite good.

But how could Gu Yan believe him?

That single muttered sentence earlier contained far too much information.

The Liyang army, how long the three Martial Immortals could hold…

This was clearly the tone of an enemy spy!

Looking at the panic that Xu Fengnian was desperately trying to hide, Gu Yan did not bother with pretense. He directly pressed a hand toward Xu Fengnian’s head.

He decided to use the Soul Search Technique to obtain the information he wanted.

This technique had been obtained last year from the 《Fortune-Blessed Immortal Lord》 entry.

Seeing Gu Yan’s hand coming down, Xu Fengnian’s pupils shrank. He tried to retreat violently, only to discover in horror that the surrounding air was like bronze walls and iron barriers.

Forget escaping—even moving a single finger was impossible!

‘W-What kind of power is this?!’

Before he could think further, a cold and domineering force had already forcibly invaded his mind…

Moments later, Gu Yan withdrew his hand, his brows tightly furrowed, his gaze toward Xu Fengnian filled with undisguised disgust.

Through the soul search, he not only saw that the Xu family of Radiant Sun Island had a Seventh Revolution martial cultivator who had just condensed a Martial Soul—

He also saw Xu Fengnian’s conduct.

Though outwardly refined, presenting himself as a noble aristocrat who valued grace, in truth he was filthy at heart—extremely hypocritical and double-faced.

He treated human lives as worthless, indulging and even encouraging his subordinates to commit all kinds of atrocities.

For instance, one of his trusted generals had a cannibalistic habit, particularly fond of the milk of postpartum women, often cutting it off to accompany wine.

After learning of this, Xu Fengnian not only failed to restrain him but, in order to win him over, promised to provide thousands of “materials” each year.

He even called it meeting the soldiers’ special needs and boosting morale.

Another subordinate enjoyed locking abducted young girls in iron cages with starving dogs, watching them be torn apart for amusement.

When Xu Fengnian heard of this, he merely chuckled and shook his head, saying to those who tried to dissuade him:

“On all of Radiant Sun Island, the Xu family is heaven.

If my people want to find some entertainment, what’s wrong with that? Why bother over a few lowly commoners?”

Such evil deeds were too numerous to count in his memories.

In Xu Fengnian’s view, as long as it benefited the Xu family’s rule and strengthened his control over power, the sacrifice of some expendables was necessary.

He believed that those who aimed to accomplish great things should embrace the world, and such details were not worth attention.

Xu Fengnian barely regained his senses from the dizziness of the forced soul search.

Raising his head, he met Gu Yan’s gaze—the kind that looked at him as if he were garbage—and his heart sank sharply.

“Y-You… what did you do to me?” His voice trembled as he tried to struggle.

“I am the heir of the Xu family of Radiant Sun Island! If you dare harm me—”

Gu Yan could not be bothered to listen any further.

“You vile beast—what use is there in letting you live?”

Before the words finished, Gu Yan formed his fingers into a sword and pointed lightly toward Xu Fengnian.

A thread-thin gray light, containing the cyclical essence of the Five Elements’ creation and destruction, flashed from his fingertip.

It was the Little Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light!

The divine light landed on Xu Fengnian’s forehead. He did not even have time to scream before his entire body turned to dust and dissipated.

However—

At the very spot where Xu Fengnian had vanished, a wisp of white smoke suddenly appeared, quickly condensing into the illusory figure of an old man.

Gu Yan’s gaze sharpened. “A soul body?”

The old man resembled the soul-state of Supreme Elder Yunchenzi from the past.

Clearly, this was a life-saving or tracking measure left on Xu Fengnian.

The illusory old man looked around. Seeing no trace of Xu Fengnian and only the calm Gu Yan, he immediately flew into a rage:

“Who are you?! Where is my great-grandson Xu Fengnian?!”

Gu Yan did not answer. Instead, he asked, “Who are you?”

The old man said arrogantly, “I am the ancestor of the Xu family of Radiant Sun Island—a Seventh Revolution Martial God, Xu Yishan! Speak! Where is Fengnian?!”

Gu Yan still did not respond.

Xu Yishan’s soul body began to flicker unstably, clearly unable to last long due to the vast distance from his main body.

He glared viciously at Gu Yan. Though he had not received an answer, the sensed annihilation of Xu Fengnian’s soul and the calmness of the man before him already told him everything.

“Good! Good! Good!”

Xu Yishan shouted three times, his soul body fluctuating violently.

“No matter who you are, killing my great-grandson—this hatred cannot coexist under the same heaven!

I have already memorized your appearance and aura! When the great army of Radiant Sun Island gathers and tramples Great Qian, I will ensure your soul is obliterated, never to reincarnate for eternity!”

After delivering his threat, the soul body could no longer be sustained and completely dissipated into the night wind.

Gu Yan stood in place, thoughtful.

“A Seventh Revolution Martial God… after condensing a Martial Soul, there are indeed some methods—being able to leave a soul imprint within others.”

He slightly marveled at the profundity of this world’s martial path.

However, Gu Yan was only mildly surprised. There was no panic in his heart—if they dared to come, he would dare to kill.

After all, during these ten years of seclusion, aside from cultivation, he had deeply analyzed the martial system of this world.

A Sixth Revolution Martial Immortal lived for five hundred years because the internal power within the three hundred sixty-five acupoints transformed into true essence, deeply nourishing and strengthening the body.

As for the Seventh Revolution, according to the 《True Explanation of the Mysterious Origin Martial Soul》 and his own deductions—

It was when a martial artist’s spirit became strong enough to condense a Martial Soul. The spirit would then nourish the body and soul in return, greatly extending lifespan to a thousand years.

However, the Heavenly Dao maintained balance.

While the martial path in this world had advantages in extending lifespan, in pure combat, it was often inferior to immortal cultivators.

Qi Refining cultivation did not provide astonishing lifespan increases in the early stages, but its enhancement to combat power was immense.

Moreover, the true potential of the immortal path lay in the later stages.

Even with nine revolutions, martial cultivation’s peak lifespan was only around three thousand years.

But for immortal cultivation—if one could break through Void Refinement and even reach the Great Ascension…

A lifespan of tens of thousands of years was by no means an illusion.

“One cannot have both fish and bear’s paw.” Gu Yan shook his head and sighed softly.

He had actually intended to continue cultivating both immortal and martial paths, but the Seventh Revolution required condensing a Martial Soul—something exceedingly difficult for him.

As mentioned before, after cultivating immortality, his body had been repeatedly tempered by spiritual energy and far surpassed martial cultivators. His spirit was even more powerful.

This, in turn, made the step of condensing a Martial Soul according to this world’s martial methods extraordinarily difficult.

There was almost no suitable entry point.

No longer dwelling on it, Gu Yan stepped into the courtyard house.

He carefully put away the Flowing Shadow Sword that Lin Wei had given him years ago.

He also packed away some small items filled with old memories into the Sumeru Star Ring.

From now on, the suspended cave dwelling in the back mountain of Pill Glow Peak would be his long-term place of secluded cultivation.

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