Chapter 181: Please Ancestor to Death

**The Chaotic World: Beacon Fires and Feudal Lords**

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On Daxieping, dark clouds hung low, threatening a mountain storm.

"You wish to shake Kunlun?"

Upon hearing his grandson Xuanyuan Jingcheng's words, Xuanyuan Dapan threw his head back and laughed heartily, completely unconcerned that an enemy was imminent. This was not due to Xuanyuan Dapan's arrogance. Considering the opponents this old man, already past ninety, had challenged: in his twenties, he challenged the family's old patriarch, leaving him fatally wounded; at thirty, he faced the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu, falling short by a small margin; at forty, he single-handedly entered the Wu Family Sword Tomb, forcing the Sword Crown of that generation to employ his flying sword technique—though he lost, it was a glorious defeat. After that battle at the Sword Tomb, he spent ten years comprehending swordsmanship, confident his skill could rival Li Chungang, the Sword God and peak master of that era, only to lose again. He then practiced saber techniques and fought against the young Gu Jiantang, losing once more. Not to mention, during this period, Xuanyuan Dapan also competed in internal energy with the Immortal Qi Xuanzhen; losing was natural, but if his cultivation had been mediocre, why would Qi Xuanzhen, who spent his entire life enlightened on the Demon-Slaying Platform, have even bothered to engage him?

Xuanyuan Dapan appeared to lose every fight, earning him the jibe "Xuanyuan the Undefeated." However, aside from Qi Xuanzhen, who was arguably the only one in five hundred years comparable to Patriarch Lu, and Li Chungang, who was then invincible in the mundane world, even the most inconspicuous Gu Jiantang of that time is now a master of saber techniques, claiming second place with no one daring to claim first. Considering this, how many truly dare to belittle this old ancestor of the Xuanyuan family? People often praise the past while disparaging the present. Xuanyuan Dapan, who has lived for nearly a century, is different from Li Chungang, whose cultivation declined steadily until he became disheartened; generally speaking, Xuanyuan Dapan has been steadily improving. It is widely believed that he reached the Heavenly Phenomenon realm when he was already an octogenarian. In recent years, he has dedicated himself to dual cultivation, striving to merge Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism into one. Given Xuanyuan Dapan's increasing strength with age, it's not impossible for him to reach the realm of a Land Immortal. Since Qi Xuanzhen's ascension to immortality, Longhu Mountain has not seen another Grand Master of this realm. Once Xuanyuan Dapan achieves great longevity, the old grudge will be repaid to the Taoist ancestral temple. At that time, even if Gu Jiantang's saber techniques are superb, how could he be a match for a Land Immortal?

Well-informed individuals harbor malicious conjectures about Li Chungang's ascent of the mountain, suspecting the one-armed old man intends to establish his prestige by challenging Xuanyuan Dapan. Most are pessimistic about the old Sword God, whose cultivation has severely declined. Gossips in the martial arts world have even set up wagers on Li Chungang's matches against various First-Rank masters, and the odds are uniformly extremely high, indicating how little hope there is for Li Chungang. As for the odds against Wang Xianzhi and the new Sword God Deng Tai'a, a wager of five thousand taels on Li Chungang winning would likely bankrupt the bookmaker.

The martial arts world is forgetful and fickle, just as scholars have always disparaged each other.

Xuanyuan Dapan's ten years of secluded cultivation clearly led to a significant increase in his power; the transformation of his frosted white hair to dark is clear evidence, signifying a return to simplicity and an auspicious sign of achieving a True Immortal state of longevity. (When Qi Xuanzhen was slaying demons on Longhu Mountain, he was in his seventies but had the handsome appearance of a young man.)

Xuanyuan Dapan was not in a hurry to make a move. He had waited twenty years and finally this day had come. As people age, their patience often improves. Xuanyuan Dapan gazed at his eldest legitimate grandson, who was performing an unearthly starting move in the distance, his eyes devoid of emotion. To him, blood ties could be important or trivial. If someone was obedient, compliant, and showed potential to rise, he would cultivate them. But if they were a mediocre talent or a 'waste,' even his own child or grandchild, he would casually abandon them if they didn't suit his wishes. When had Xuanyuan Dapan ever been a benevolent elder who enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren? Familial bliss was insignificant compared to his own pursuit of immortality. He had exceptionally given this grandson, once held in high regard, an extra chance. The first time was during Xuanyuan Jingcheng's coming-of-age ceremony, when he asked if he wished to practice martial arts. Unfortunately, the stubborn child insisted on studying how to govern the nation and bring peace to the world, like Xun Ping of Zhizhang City. That would have been fine; Xuanyuan Dapan was indeed amazed by his grandson's talent. Even if he remained an uncarved jade his whole life, he could have been kept at home, perhaps gathering dust. Later, when Xuanyuan Jingcheng encountered a distressed woman and returned to the mountain to beg the family for help, Xuanyuan Dapan granted him another chance. But this grandson, who squandered his prodigious talent, refused again. Xuanyuan Dapan was furious and no longer considered him his legitimate eldest grandson, instead grooming the less talented but ambitious Xuanyuan Jingxuan. Later, the woman even voluntarily requested to practice dual cultivation with him. Xuanyuan Dapan simply went with the flow; since he had decided to discard Xuanyuan Jingcheng, a comely, young granddaughter-in-law was merely something to be consumed. Women suitable as 'furnaces' were always welcome.

Xuanyuan Dapan calmly looked at the tornado, drawn by Xuanyuan Jingcheng's abundant vital energy. It formed a massive funnel, its base spinning violently on Daxieping, as if reaching directly to the heavens, continuously tearing down black clouds from the sky, growing ever more intense. Xuanyuan Jingcheng extended one hand, drawing an arc, and slowly raised the other upwards, whispering, "Rise again." To the left of Daxieping, another large tornado rose out of thin air. The elements of heaven and earth swirled around the tornado's axis, stirring up endless dust, sand, and flying stones. Xuanyuan Jingcheng, in a single surge of effort, saw his aura surge without any sign of weakening. With both hands clenched into fists, his scholar's green robe billowed like a sphere, and his vital energy instantly peaked. He slowly said, "Rise, third!" A tornado rose on the right side.

On Daxieping, three dragons were drawing water!

Xuanyuan Dapan's graying hair was disheveled by the strong winds. He calmly said, "Stealing the power of heaven and earth—is this your Heavenly Phenomenon realm? Such opportunistic tricks are fine for scaring people, but to try and harm me is utterly ridiculous!" Xuanyuan Jingcheng remained silent. The three tornadoes, carrying tremendous might, rapidly moved towards the motionless Xuanyuan Dapan. The three dragons suddenly converged, pressing in on the old ancestor of Huishan, who disdained to dodge.

"Excellent!" Xuanyuan Dapan laughed heartily, forming his hands into claws. He extended his left hand into two of the tornadoes, and the vast sea of vital energy, accumulated over nearly a century, began to exert its power, churning like a boiling cauldron. The reason he disdained Xuanyuan Jingcheng's prodigious skill was related to Xuanyuan Dapan's own cultivation. Broadly speaking, the saints of the Three Teachings each left fragmentary sayings for posterity to ponder the Great Dao. Among them, the Northern Saint Zhang Su proposed that reading cultivates the vast righteous qi of heaven and earth, and also said that when great individuals are not treated justly, they will speak out. Therefore, masters who enter the martial arts realm through Confucianism are extremely adept at resonating with heaven and earth, using their minimal strength to move tremendous celestial forces. This is undoubtedly a grand and spectacular sight. However, to Xuanyuan Dapan, who cultivated through strength, it was merely ridiculous. This old ancestor never bowed to heaven, earth, or any ruler or master in his life; he only believed in his own two fists. He followed the same path as Li Chungang, whose single sword strike could make heaven and earth tremble and ghosts weep. "'If the Dao does not prevail, I will set out on a raft upon the sea,' or 'suffer in this life for blessings in the next'—all nonsense!" The more Xuanyuan Dapan delved into the profound mysteries of the Three Teachings, the more firmly he believed in his original path: "I have my two hands; immortals, buddhas, demons, and monsters must all obediently scatter and get out of my way!"

Moreover, Xuanyuan Dapan had an even clearer goal: to prove that the path he chose was not only viable but exceptionally correct.

Wang Xianzhi of Martial Emperor City!

"In this world, only a handful can fight me, Xuanyuan Dapan. You, Xuanyuan Jingcheng, this good-for-nothing abandoned son of the family, are not worthy."

Xuanyuan Dapan actually tore two of the tornadoes apart. The 'dragon drawing water' with its severed base, and the black clouds at its peak slowly churned in a death throe before finally dispersing, returning to the sky. Just as he dealt with the last 'dragon drawing water,' Xuanyuan Jingcheng tapped his foot, blasting a large pit into the ground. His figure, like a long rainbow, pierced through the tornado, passing through it, then reappeared before Xuanyuan Dapan and pushed out a palm.

Unsurprised, Xuanyuan Dapan sneered, changing his claw into a fist and striking directly at the center. Xuanyuan Jingcheng tilted his palm, disregarding the surging fist aura, merely resting it on the back of Xuanyuan Dapan's fist. Xuanyuan Dapan's expression showed a slight change. He retracted his right fist and used his left hand to stick to the middle joint of Xuanyuan Jingcheng's 'hand bridge,' attempting to dislocate the wrist. Unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Jingcheng's 'grasping hand' instantly transformed into a 'box hand,' pressing diagonally downwards, and his left hand fiercely struck Xuanyuan Dapan's shoulder. This seemingly light strike, however, disrupted the balance of the old ancestor, whose internal energy was already perfected, causing his body to lurch forward. But Xuanyuan Dapan was incredibly skilled in combat maneuvers; he immediately used the momentum to execute a 'Shoulder Bump of Mount Tai,' intending to crush the chest of his uniquely strange eldest legitimate grandson. However, the expressionless Xuanyuan Jingcheng, with exquisite skill, instantly transformed his 'box hand' back into a 'grasping hand,' pushing Xuanyuan Dapan back to his original position. For a moment, the latter, despite possessing rare courage and strength, could neither move nor stand still.

All of this was merely a rapid exchange of offense and defense between the two in the blink of an eye.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng pushed out another palm. Xuanyuan Dapan accurately gauged the palm's speed and retaliated with an even fiercer elbow strike. Unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Jingcheng's palm, initially like a needle hidden in cotton, unleashed its vital energy like a surging flood as it was about to meet the elbow strike. The palm strike was stronger and faster than Xuanyuan Dapan's elbow, striking him in the chest.

Circles of visible ripples emanated between the two from that single palm strike. Xuanyuan Dapan's tall and robust body was sent reeling back ten zhang! The wind chimes that had been taut and stretched under the eaves of Guniu Peak finally gave way at that moment, breaking and falling to the ground. Xuanyuan Dapan, renowned for his martial prowess, was actually forced back?

At this moment, an old man wearing a sword slowly walked onto Daxieping. Showing no surprise at the terrifying scene, he lowered his head and announced loudly, "Father, Xuanyuan Jingxuan has been killed by Xuanyuan Jingcheng." Xuanyuan Dapan gave a lukewarm "Hmm," then looked at Xuanyuan Jingcheng, who was clearly going to defy him to the end today, and asked playfully, "How many moves did it take you to kill your third brother, who had just entered the Finger-Profundity realm?" Xuanyuan Jingcheng, who had been expressionless, suddenly smiled, coughed a few times, covered his mouth, and with a slightly muffled smile said, "I had agreed beforehand to kill him using only the Finger-Profundity realm, but I actually used the Heavenly Phenomenon realm, so it was just one move." The ancient sword 'Baopu' at Xuanyuan Guoqu's waist hummed mournfully without ceasing, and his face was contorted with rage. Xuanyuan Dapan nodded, saying, "Your last palm strike just now was the same. All your earlier moves were merely tricks to obscure the truth." Xuanyuan Jingcheng, his face as pale as snow, calmly said, "Minor tricks, of course, cannot slay a wicked dragon. May I ask, ancestor, if your hands are warmed up? If so, Jingcheng will no longer hold back." Xuanyuan Guoqu, watching from the side, was stunned. Xuanyuan Dapan let out a hearty laugh of genuine pleasure. He pointed at Xuanyuan Jingcheng and said, "You young fellow, charmingly arrogant. You truly are the one in all of Huishan I valued and favored the most. What a pity." Xuanyuan Jingcheng covered his mouth, coughed a few times, then looked up at the rolling dark clouds and softly said, "When I was young, I read a line: 'An ant trying to shake a great tree—ridiculously overestimating itself.' At the time, I truly found it laughable. Later, after careful consideration, I thought it wouldn't be bad to change 'laughable' to 'respectable.'"

An ant trying to shake a great tree—respectably overestimating itself?

Of Huishan's three 'Jing' generation, Xuanyuan Jingxuan was already dead, and Xuanyuan Jingcheng was a dying man.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng withdrew his gaze, put one hand behind his back, and extended the other, declaring loudly, "Xuanyuan Jingcheng invites the Old Ancestor to die!" Xuanyuan Guoqu was instantly terrified and speechless. When did his eldest son, once like a sick cat, transform into a fierce tiger capable of tearing and battling his father, Xuanyuan Dapan? Huishan, which prided itself on its solitary peace, could it truly not escape the fate of 'one mountain, two tigers'?

On Daxieping of Zhaoyao Mountain, a storm was approaching.

Over at the ceremonial gate, Xuanyuan Jingyi was truly enraged, especially after his niece Xuanyuan Qingfeng came out to interfere, adding fuel to the fire. "Did that carefree young prince truly come to Huishan just for sightseeing? Our Huishan has support from its neighbor Longhu Mountain, and we even dare to defy the Prince of Guangling, Zhao Yi, the foremost local power in the empire's southeast. How dare you, a prince whose foundation is far away in Beiliang and who hasn't even officially inherited his title, come here to run wild?" While there was indeed apprehension towards this 'river-crossing dragon' from Beiliang, it wasn't outright fear. What truly prevented Xuanyuan Jingyi from unleashing his full crushing power was not Xu Fengnian, who merely possessed looks and a title, nor even Li Chungang, who was still ranked eighth in the world, but rather that lame 'Human Butcher' (Xu Fengnian's father). Xuanyuan Jingyi cast a sidelong glance at Xuanyuan Qingfeng and snorted coldly. "A treacherous little hussy, truly the daughter taught by that shameless woman. You want to use influence to reverse the decline of the eldest legitimate branch, and you, a young woman, aren't even ashamed to show your face publicly! First, it was that crude country bumpkin Yuan Tingshan, then you batted your eyelashes at the Song family, leaders of the literary world, and now you've even hooked up with the notorious Prince of Beiliang? The Xuanyuan family's reputation on Guniu Peak has been completely ruined!"

Xuanyuan Jingyi changed to a genial expression, turned to his most trusted second-ranked guest elder, and smiled, "I'm troubling you, Brother Hong." Hong Biao calmly replied, "It's my duty."

Huang Man'er, who had just punched a guest elder's head off, was now idly kicking the headless corpse's hand from time to time, making the Huishan disciples shudder. The youth, with his unparalleled natural strength, grinned when he saw Hong Biao step forward. Just then, the grand steward of the second branch rushed over in a panic. A guest elder, sponsored by the third branch, maliciously tripped him, sending the steward sprawling in a rather 'graceful' fall. He didn't even bother to glare back, instead scrambling up and rushing to his master Xuanyuan Jingyi's side. The steward, whose spine was inexplicably cold, had trembling lips. He stood on tiptoe and whispered into Xuanyuan Jingyi's ear, "Third Master is dead." Xuanyuan Jingyi thought he had misheard and frowned, "What did you say?" The steward, trembling, repeated in a shaky voice, "Third Master, Xuanyuan Jingxuan, is dead." Xuanyuan Jingyi's eyes widened, but he instantly suppressed his shock, striving to remain calm as he asked, "How did he die?" The steward, as if to ward off the early autumn chill, clutched his chest with both hands and softly said, "Madam said Xuanyuan Jingcheng killed him." Xuanyuan Jingyi finally couldn't hold back his rage and yelled, "Nonsense!" The steward, with a woeful expression, said aggrievedly, "It's true! Third Master's body is still lying in the courtyard; no one dares to move it." Xuanyuan Qingfeng, who knew the truth, curled her lips into a cold smile. She had never felt such exhilaration.

The Prince, whose nature it was to revel in chaos, had a flash of insight upon seeing this scene. Inside, Qingniao was chasing the fan-wielding man like a stray dog. Xu Fengnian laughed loudly, "Qingniao, come back, come back! Guniu Peak is ablaze from within. Xuanyuan Jingcheng has done away with Xuanyuan Jingxuan. Such fratricide, how tragic and lamentable!"

The entire crowd was in an uproar. The guest elders were not blind; apart from a very few martial arts fanatics who were ignorant of worldly affairs, most were astute individuals. Connecting Xuanyuan Jingyi's unusually agitated behavior, they knew that the Prince of Beiliang's astonishing words were not far from the truth.

Was Huishan, this towering tree, about to fall? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Those who run too slowly might be crushed by the falling tree. Especially those who tied their lives and fortunes to its branches were destined to suffer the worst deaths. But would it fall? Would Huishan's fate truly change? Almost no one believed it. Even if Xuanyuan Jingcheng truly killed Xuanyuan Jingxuan, as long as the Old Ancestor was presiding over Guniu Peak, the situation wouldn't change! As for how Xuanyuan Jingcheng could have killed Grandmaster Xuanyuan Jingxuan—no one could possibly figure it out, so they simply stopped trying and instead shifted their attention to the Prince who had caused such a stir upon arriving on the mountain. Some of the more astute rogue martial artists among the guest elders shrewdly began to ponder if they could attach themselves to the Beiliang Prince's manor. People always strive for higher ground. While Huishan has many secret manuals, could they possibly outnumber those in the Tide-Listening Pavilion's armory? Old Ancestor Xuanyuan's martial power is profound and boundless, but ultimately, he cannot escape the martial world. No matter how vast the martial world is, what does it amount to when faced with the King of Beiliang, who once coldly surveyed the martial world from horseback?!

The situation suddenly spiraled completely out of control.

"Look quickly! What's happening over on Daxieping?!"

"Could those tornadoes be man-made?"

"My goodness, that's 'Three Dragons Drawing Water'! Could the Old Ancestor have emerged from seclusion? Is he about to ascend to immortality?"

Xuanyuan Jingyi turned to look, his face dark and livid. Xu Fengnian struck while the iron was hot, talking nonsense, "Hey, old man Xuanyuan Jingyi, if you don't let this Prince pass, everyone will miss a once-in-a-century spectacle!" Xuanyuan Qingfeng, rather impertinently, added insult to injury, calmly stating, "Uncle, His Highness's visit this time was at my father's invitation and with the Old Ancestor's permission." Xuanyuan Jingyi hesitated. Family disgrace should not be aired publicly, and letting that bringer of calamity pass would be a loss of face. But if he stubbornly persisted in blocking them, allowing the Prince to spread rumors, the morale of Huishan would become unstable. Wait! Xuanyuan Jingyi's mind suddenly turned. If the steward's words were indeed true, that Third Brother Xuanyuan Jingxuan was dead, and Eldest Brother, after his outrageous acts, had gone to Daxieping to seek his own demise, and Father Xuanyuan Guoqu had never desired the family head position anyway... In the future, when the Old Ancestor transcends for longevity, who would hold supreme authority in Huishan? It was truly a case of 'seeking for something by wearing out iron shoes, only to find it effortlessly in the end.' Xuanyuan Jingyi was overjoyed, but maintained an expression of indecision.

Everyone held their breath, patiently awaiting Xuanyuan Jingyi's decision.

"Is it going to rain?"

Xu Fengnian looked up at the sky, then gazed at Xuanyuan Jingyi, smiling, "Lend us a path, and lend us an umbrella. Not too much to ask, is it?" Xuanyuan Jingyi's face showed anger, but he clearly yielded his ground a step, lightly instructing a nearby steward, "Go get an umbrella." Xu Fengnian brought his entire retinue to Daxieping, while Xuanyuan Jingyi only brought his trusted confidantes, Hong Biao and Huang Fangfo, two great guest elders. Xuanyuan Qingfeng walked at the very end.

Some scenes she thought she had long forgotten inexplicably flashed vividly before her eyes. The man who used to mock himself, saying food was tasteless if he didn't read for a day, had personally taught her how to read, telling her that opening a book was always beneficial, even without deep understanding. He had taught her hand-in-hand how to write characters and compose essays, saying that at the beginning, one could use clever, striking phrases to capture attention and amaze people at first sight, even if the ending was weak. He once let her, as a child, ride on his neck, laughing as he said, "A good dog isn't judged by its barking, and a virtuous person isn't judged by eloquent speech. To be a good person, you might as well learn from a dog first." Many words and many things; Xuanyuan Qingfeng was young then, unable to understand or see clearly. When she reached an age where she could understand, she became stubborn and held only prejudice and disdain for him. For years, regarding his poems and essays, she only had scornful laughter: "'He who does not open his mouth first in spring, which insect dares to make a sound?', 'Rivers rise and fall easily, weeds on the wall sway left and right easily, and petty minds are fickle and easily change sides,' 'To eat tea, to eat rice, to suffer losses, to endure hardships—to be able to endure is a blessing, and to endure more is beneficial'..."

Now, seeing, reading, and pondering them again, Xuanyuan Qingfeng found herself unconsciously shedding tears.

On Daxieping, the wind and rain were gloomy, with lightning and thunder. The torrential rain poured down, drenching the group.

Huishan, it seemed, was doomed.