34: Second Life: First Steps on the Immortal Path (Chapter 33)

After being severely injured while harvesting the Earth Vein Fire Lotus, Xu Yuan deeply realized the lack of his own methods—he lacked a trump card that could truly turn the tide of battle in one stroke.

For this reason, he pondered for a long time.

Although there were many disposable Talismans in the camp with considerable power, they were truly too expensive for him at the time; furthermore, he was focused on accumulating merit to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, so such Talismans had too low a cost-performance ratio and were not worth it.

In a flash of inspiration, Xu Yuan suddenly recalled what he had learned in his previous life.

Back when he had just stepped onto the path of cultivation in this life, he had combined the martial saber techniques of his previous life with cultivation Spells, allowing him to unleash a strike comparable to the 6th Layer of Qi Refining while at the 4th Level of Qi Condensation.

Unfortunately, that Move consumed a massive amount of energy, had only enough power for a single strike, and its attack range could not compare to Spells; as his cultivation level increased, he gradually abandoned it.

But now, while pondering his trump card, he recalled this direction once again.

At this moment, Xu Yuan's cultivation level was no longer what it used to be, and his understanding of the Dao was much deeper.

Therefore, he decided to make "Accumulating Momentum" his trump card—sealing his Saber Intent within his magic weapon, nurturing it with his mind, and letting it accumulate over time; the Saber Intent became increasingly profound, eventually forming a momentum capable of a one-hit kill.

Even after his Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, Xu Yuan did not abandon the method of Accumulating Momentum. Now, his magic weapon happened to contain a Saber Intent that he had accumulated for a year, nurtured day and night with his Foundation Establishment Spiritual Qi!

"Hum!"

A terrifying Spiritual Qi, far exceeding any previous display and causing one's Soul to tremble, suddenly erupted from within Xu Yuan's body!

This was not the fluctuation of a Qi Refining Spell, but a terrifying power that was extremely condensed, extremely compressed, and held back without being released!

The first-grade magic weapon in his hand, which had accompanied him for over twenty years and had slain countless Yao Beasts in the desolate regions, let out a mournful cry, unable to bear the burden!

Countless fine cracks instantly spread across the blade!

All his spiritual power, along with the heaven-shaking Evil Qi and killing intent honed in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, was poured into the blade at this moment, condensing into a nearly tangible—blood-colored Saber Intent that radiated an aura of annihilation!

The moment this Saber Intent appeared, the surrounding space seemed to freeze!

The sinister grin on the Sun Family Ancestor's face instantly turned into extreme fear and disbelief!

He wanted to retreat, he wanted to defend, but the distance was too close!

Moreover, in his pursuit of a one-hit kill, he had used almost all his strength to charge forward; at this moment, his old strength was exhausted, and his new strength had not yet been born!

"Die!"

Xu Yuan let out a hoarse roar, his arm muscles bulging and veins protruding. Holding the magic weapon that was about to shatter completely, he unleashed a simple horizontal slash at the Sun Family Ancestor, who was right before him!

There were no flashy Moves, only extreme speed and destruction!

Chh—!

A thin, blood-colored line that seemed capable of cutting through the Soul flashed and disappeared!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The Sun Family Ancestor's forward charging motion suddenly stiffened, and the look of terror on his face froze.

A fine line of blood slowly appeared at his neck.

The next moment!

Pfft—!

Blood shot into the sky like a fountain!

The head, filled with shock and bewilderment, detached directly from the neck and flew into the air, tumbling!

And the Anyan Blade, having completed its final mission, shattered into countless metal fragments with a "clang" the moment it was swung, scattering in all directions!

The headless corpse took two more steps while maintaining its forward charge before crashing heavily to the ground, blood instantly staining a large area of the ground red.

The head in the air also fell with a thud, rolled a few times, and its eyes remained wide open. It seemed that until death, it did not understand why it had died at the hands of a junior who had just achieved Foundation Establishment and did not even know Foundation Establishment Spells.

The entire scene was deathly silent!

Xu Yuan stood where he was, his arm holding the blade trembling slightly, the web between his thumb and index finger split open, and blood dripped down from his fingertips.

Forcing the strike that utilized the Saber Intent accumulated over a year was no small burden for him, and the Spiritual Qi in his body was now completely exhausted.

But it was all worth it!

At the cost of a completely destroyed magic weapon and the exhaustion of all his own Spiritual Qi, he had traded for the instant kill of a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

"Yuan'er!" Xu Longpeng supported Xu Yuan's swaying body, "Are... are you alright?"

"It is nothing, just exhaustion."

Xu Yuan's voice was hoarse. He took out a Medicinal Pill and swallowed it, barely suppressing his churning blood and Qi. His gaze, however, was as sharp as an eagle as he scanned the fearful, prying eyes around him, and his cold voice spread out once more: "The Sun Family Ancestor has been executed! Anyone from the Sun Family is to be killed without mercy!"

With the Old Ancestor killed and their top combat power lost, the remaining Cultivators of the Sun Family had long lost their will to fight. Facing Xu Yuan's cold killing intent and the rekindled morale of the Xu Family disciples, most of them chose to kneel and surrender.

But how could Xu Yuan not know the principle that if you cut the grass without removing the roots, it will grow again with the spring breeze?

Soon, heads were rolling in Thousand Cloud City, and the entire Sun Family was annihilated!

In the following months, the Xu Family, with thunderous momentum, quickly took over and integrated all of the Sun Family's industries and territories.

Within Thousand Cloud City, there was no longer any force that could contend with them. The Xu Family had truly achieved dominance, becoming the sole hegemon of Thousand Cloud City.

One year later, a grand and joyous wedding was held in Thousand Cloud City.

Xu Yuan married Liu Yiyi, who had shared life and death with him.

The whole city celebrated, with guests as numerous as clouds, as if the bloody Foundation Establishment battle from a year ago had been forgotten; only the power of the Xu Family was greater than ever before.

However, sorrow was hidden beneath the celebration.

After experiencing that fierce battle, Xu Longpeng had exhausted his already limited life essence. His frail body, which had originally been able to hold on for thirty years by condensing a pseudo-foundation, quietly passed away one night, less than half a year after the wedding.

While grieving, Xu Yuan took over the full burden of the Family, officially becoming the undisputed helmsman of the Xu Family.

He managed the Family while meticulously nurturing the younger generation, placing his hopes on the next generation.

Five years later, the fruit of Xu Yuan and Liu Yiyi's love was born, a boy named Xu An, signifying peace and smoothness.

Liu Yiyi poured all her tenderness into the child, and her cultivation level also steadily improved with Xu Yuan's help, reaching the 9th Layer of Qi Refining.

Fifteen years later, Liu Yiyi attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, the difficulty of Foundation Establishment far exceeded imagination. Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, Liu Yiyi ultimately failed to achieve Foundation Establishment and passed away while in seclusion.

The death of his Dao Companion dealt a heavy blow to Xu Yuan. He placed all his emotions and hopes on his only son, Xu An, no longer going out to seek illusory Opportunities, but instead staying in Thousand Cloud City with peace of mind, teaching his son attentively, while also putting more effort into nurturing talented young people in the Family.

Fifty years passed in the blink of an eye.

Under Xu Yuan's all-out cultivation and his own efforts, Xu An successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Although the Dao Foundation he condensed was not flawless, it was much better than Xu Yuan's incomplete Dao Foundation; it was a flawed Dao Foundation, which still had the possibility of further improvement.

Not long after Xu An achieved Foundation Establishment, he bade farewell to his father and went out to travel.

Xu Yuan did not stop him; he continued to guard the Xu Family, like a needle pinning the sea.

Under Xu Yuan's management, the Xu Family became increasingly prosperous.