17: Second Life: First Steps on the Immortal Path (Sixteen)

Xu Longpeng resolutely entered secluded cultivation, and the position of Family Head was succeeded by Xu Yuan of the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation.

As the news spread, another surge of undercurrents moved through Thousand Cloud City.

After losing the presence of Xu Longpeng at the 9th Layer of Qi Refining, the Sun Family acted even more arrogantly. Not only did they continue to manipulate public opinion, but they also began to frequently test boundaries regarding market interests and Spirit Field ownership, deliberately making things difficult.

Facing internal troubles and external threats, the new Family Head, Xu Yuan, displayed a level of composure and ruthlessness that belied his age.

Xu Yuan did not directly clash with the Sun Family in the court of public opinion. Instead, he skillfully used the resources at his disposal to secretly spread other news, shifting the city's focus.

Perhaps a small abandoned Spirit Stone Vein was discovered somewhere, drawing Loose Cultivators and small families to swarm toward it;

Or perhaps he deliberately amplified scandalous anecdotes about a certain Elder or manager of the Sun Family;

Or even tossing out a few insignificant but eye-catching treasures left behind by the Wu Family, triggering several small-scale disputes... Under such various methods, although the talk of the Xu Family's "betrayal" did not completely disappear, it was no longer the hottest topic in the streets and alleys, having been successfully diluted and diverted.

As for the Sun Family's increasingly bold probes and provocations, Xu Yuan did not strike back impulsively, choosing instead to endure and maneuver.

On the surface, Xu Yuan restrained his clansmen, trying his best to avoid direct conflict with the Sun Family. He even appeared somewhat "cowardly" and "submissive" toward some of the Sun Family's excessive demands, which further fueled the Sun Family's arrogance, leading them to believe the Xu Family was no longer a concern.

However... the Drainage Talisman Arrays of the Sun Family's important mines would "accidentally" fail, causing the mines to flood and work to stop for several days;

The Sun Family's convoys transporting goods would "coincidentally" encounter attacks from untraceable bandits, resulting in the loss of a batch of supplies;

The descendants of small families the Sun Family intended to win over would "accidentally" get injured outside the city... These troubles were not major, but they were as irritating as psoriasis to the Sun Family, draining a great deal of their energy. Even though they knew it was likely the Xu Family's doing, they could not find any substantial evidence, and it was even more impossible to completely fall out with the Xu Family over such trivial matters before their Old Ancestor emerged from seclusion. They could only swallow their grievances in silence.

In this balance of endurance and secret counterattacks, Xu Yuan painstakingly maintained the Xu Family's situation, while simultaneously funneling a vast amount of resources to the sequestered Xu Longpeng at any cost.

As days passed, the place where Xu Longpeng was in seclusion remained completely silent, like a clay ox entering the sea.

The outside world, especially the Sun Family, began to gradually become convinced that Xu Longpeng's attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment had already failed, and that he might have even succumbed to Qi Deviation and perished long ago.

The Sun Family's probes became increasingly blatant, and they were almost unable to restrain themselves from taking action against the Xu Family.

Just as the storm was about to break—

One day, right at midday, from the direction of that long-silent Immortal Cave deep within the Xu Family estate, a powerful aura suddenly erupted without any warning!

Boom!

A powerful Spiritual Pressure soared into the sky, drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to converge frantically toward the Immortal Cave like a tide, forming a massive Spiritual Qi Vortex!

From the center of the vortex, a long howl that had been suppressed for a long time, as if breaking free from some sort of shackle, could be faintly heard!

The howl was full of vigor, containing a pressure that far exceeded the Qi Condensation Stage. Although it seemed somewhat unstable, that unique Spiritual Pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was unmistakable!

This sudden commotion instantly startled the entire Thousand Cloud City!

"This aura... it's Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure!"

"The direction is the Xu Family! Could it be... Xu Longpeng?!"

"He actually succeeded?!!"

Every Cultivator who sensed this aura underwent a drastic change in expression. The people of the Sun Family, in particular, were absolutely terrified; all their previous arrogance was instantly extinguished by this bucket of cold water, replaced by immense shock and panic.

"How... how could he have succeeded in his Breakthrough?"

An expression of disbelief flashed across the face of Sun Hao, the Head of the Sun Family. Recalling the Sun Family's recent actions, a hint of conflict appeared on his face. After hesitating for a moment, he walked toward the depths of the Sun Family estate.

Unlike the Sun Family, within the Xu Family estate, the previously pervasive anxiety was instantly replaced by wild joy!

Xu Yuan, who had been sitting quietly in his study handling Family affairs, finally looked up toward the Immortal Cave. A look of pleasant surprise flashed across his face, and he stood up to leave the study.

Just as Xu Yuan stood up to head to the Immortal Cave to welcome him, he suddenly sensed another equally powerful, yet somewhat hollow and gloomy Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure abruptly rise from the direction of the Sun Family, approaching the Xu Family estate at extreme speed!

Xu Yuan's footsteps paused, his expression instantly becoming calm as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Within just a few breaths, a slightly dim golden streak of light appeared above the Xu Family. As the light dissipated, the figure of the Sun Family Ancestor was revealed.

At this moment, the Sun Family Ancestor's face bore an unnatural sallow hue. Although he deliberately maintained a majestic aura, careful sensing revealed the disorder and weakness deep within; clearly, his severe injuries had not yet healed, and he had forced himself out of seclusion this time.

"Hehehehe... Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Longpeng on successfully establishing your foundation! You have stepped onto a new path of the Great Dao!" The Sun Family Ancestor's voice arrived before he did, his laughter hearty as he tried to mask his own condition. "This is truly a grand event for our Thousand Cloud City!"

As his voice fell, the stone door of Xu Longpeng's Immortal Cave crashed open.

A scorching and slightly restless, unstable aura spread out as Xu Longpeng's figure slowly stepped out. His face still carried a hint of paleness, and his aura was indeed somewhat fluctuating as sensed earlier—clearly, he had just broken through and his Realm was not yet completely stable—but his eyes shone with brilliant light, and the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage truly enveloped the entire area.

Xu Longpeng looked up at the Sun Family Ancestor in the sky, and everything became clear to him in an instant.

The Sun Family Ancestor was indeed severely injured and was in a hurry to show himself, nothing more than wanting to intimidate him and gauge the Xu Family's true strength.

Xu Longpeng sneered inwardly, but a warm smile also appeared on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Ancestor Sun is too kind! This Junior only succeeded by luck, all thanks to the protection of our ancestors. Please, come inside for some tea!"

The Sun Family Ancestor descended from the clouds and landed in the courtyard. Squeezing out a smile, he waved his hand and said, "Eh, Fellow Daoist Longpeng, those words are incorrect. In the cultivation world, the one who achieves first is the Senior. Now that you have entered Foundation Establishment and condensed your Dao Foundation, you are one of us. Why stick to the formalities of Senior and Junior? Let us simply call each other Fellow Daoists."

Xu Longpeng followed suit and smiled, "Since Fellow Daoist Sun says so, then I shall take the liberty. Fellow Daoist Sun, please!"

Xu Longpeng stepped aside to invite him. Although his movements were polite, his posture was upright, and the sharp edge and confidence of a newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator could not be hidden.

The two sat facing each other, sipping spiritual tea, talking and laughing merrily, and flattering one another as if they were the best of friends. One could not tell at all that the two families had been at each other's throats and using underhanded tactics not long ago.

The Sun Family Ancestor did not mention his injuries at all, only speaking of the future of Thousand Cloud City and emphasizing harmonious coexistence. Xu Longpeng also feigned ignorance, agreeing with him, but in his conversation, he had already quietly placed the Xu Family on equal footing with the Sun Family.

"Fellow Daoist Longpeng has just broken through and still needs time to stabilize his Realm. I will not disturb you further." After a round of hypocritical conversation, the Sun Family Ancestor rose to take his leave.

"Of course. Take care, Old Ancestor." Xu Longpeng smiled as he saw him off.

Only when the streak of light that the Sun Family Ancestor had turned into completely disappeared into the horizon did the smile on Xu Longpeng's face gradually fade, turning into a look of solemnity.

"Pfft!"

After seeing the Sun Family Ancestor leave, as the members of the Xu Family were about to step forward to congratulate Xu Longpeng on his successful Breakthrough, they saw his face instantly turn deathly pale, and a mouthful of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.