The Second Yan Han Empire, Jade State.

A valley.

Here, encircled by three mountains, lay a spring and flatland capable of being cultivated into a thousand acres of fertile farmland.

Simply by erecting barricades at the entrance of the valley, one could create a defensive stance so formidable that a single man could hold it against ten thousand, rendering it impervious to ordinary refugees and disorderly troops, though not to cultivators.

At this moment, within the valley dubbed 'Su Family's Valley', dwellings rose abruptly from the ground, as the Su Family collectively relocated from the Wuji Pearl and even recruited some refugees to settle and cultivate the land, imbuing the small valley with a semblance of a peaceful and joyful haven amidst chaotic times.

"Now that the war between the east and the west has subsided, the Second Yan Han Empire may face internal strife once more," said Zhong Shenxiu to Su Tang and Su Wei. "By holding your ground here, you should be more than capable of self-defence."

After a moment's thought, Zhong Shenxiu handed them a firebox containing Mermond and continued, "This iron box conceals a spiritual beast comparable to a Primordial Pill. From now on, it shall be the Su Family's clan-protecting Divine Beast. With this beast as your guardian, as long as you devote yourselves to defence, you shall be without worries."

Thus, his obligations to the Su Family had truly been fulfilled.

"Thank you, cousin," Su Tang and Su Wei accepted, though unease lingered in their hearts.

They realized that the man now known as 'Su Daoshi' had become increasingly inscrutable, his emotions never surfacing overtly, leaving them with little they could say.

"Do you know why I didn't choose another state and also refrained from finding a new base for the Su Family near Emperor City Changluo?" Zhong Shenxiu casually asked.

"Perhaps because Changluo, being the center of the world, is fraught with trouble?" Su Wei hesitantly replied.

"Exactly… With the western nation obliterated in this east-west war, its people gone, it is as if a fire at the city gates harms the fish in the moat—you must take this as a warning," admonished Zhong Shenxiu. He instructed them further before waving his hand, signaling them to leave.

Swiftly after, he began scrutinizing several cursed items laid out on the table before him.

Most were his spoils, while a few were shared loot from Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch.

The highest-grade item among them was probably the large black umbrella.

Zhong Shenxiu reached out, lightly caressing the umbrella's surface which was as deep and dark as concentrated shadow.

In the next instant, his eyes turned pitch black, and the whole world seemed to shift into black and white.

Terrifying auras emanated from him.

"Yet to break the seal, and merely touching it has caused such phenomena?" murmured Zhong Shenxiu. "The standing of this umbrella may well be comparable to that of a Dharma Body, or even a disintegrated Immortal…"

He had firsthand experience of its primary functions:

First, to unfold the canopy and transform it into a dark shield, hinting at an invulnerability to all methods of attack.

And at the tip of the umbrella was a force capable of annihilating everything, provided it struck its target.

However, the negative effects were equally formidable.

Had Garnasen not been cursed by it, suffering a diminished Spiritual Sense, he might not have been so easily ambushed and slain with a single sword strike.

"High as its rank may be, it has limited use to me. For defence, I possess the Nine Clear Celestial Lights, and as for offence, it is ineffective unless it directly hits the enemy—the restrictions are too great…"

"And the horrific negative effects that follow its use are too terrifying. It is better to send it to another world, for my avatar to use during tribulation…" mused Zhong Shenxiu.

"Eh? Something is wrong… My avatar is already undergoing the third tribulation, and signs of the fourth are present in my true self—there are no more calamities due…"

Zhong Shenxiu silently activated the Innate Eight Diagrams, beginning his calculations.

His escape from Kaleston did not constitute a tribulation.

If it were truly a tribulation, it would demand the attention of the sect's master, and with that attention, certain death would follow.

Zhong Shenxiu's escape implied that the sect's master had not noticed him, or had intentionally spared him, thus offering a chance of survival, which meant it could not be considered a tribulation.

"So… in this Western conflict, which seems fraught with perilous battles, I haven't actually faced a real life-and-death crisis… Even if I were hunted by that 'Overlord,' I wouldn't truly die… So, does that mean it's not considered a 'fated calamity'?"

"What is the meaning of the signs that my original body is about to undergo tribulation?"

"Could it be that the calamity isn't supposed to occur in the West but in the East?"

Zhong Shenxiu's fingers flew in calculation, but his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

…

Outside the Su Family Valley.

A line of carriages descended from the sky, protected by at least Divine Power Practitioners, escorting a Magical Treasure Spirit Car.

This car was drawn by eight dragon horses, its surface covered with spiritual runes, with the Imperial Family's Jiao Long Banner on top, indicating that its master was a Prince.

"Fourth Prince, we've arrived at the Su Family's residence,"

a young eunuch whispered beside the carriage.

"Go scout ahead, and remember to be respectful,"

the prince's voice, smooth as jade, came from within the carriage.

His expression was serene, but the hands concealed in his sleeves, trembling ever so slightly, betrayed his inner turmoil.

'I never expected… Young Master Shenxiu to be Su Daoshi!'

The Su Family had relocated here, and with the Imperial Court's control over Jade State, naturally, many pieces of news were easily obtained.

And now, Zhong Shenxiu no longer concealed anything.

After all, his enemies were either dead or crippled.

Even Qingwei Dao Miao True Monarch Zhang Guiji, it was said, had fled back to the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect with serious injuries and then declared the sect closed, no longer dealing with external affairs.

'How is this possible… But the Tribute said that this Su Daoshi, may be the reincarnation of a great Cultivator…'

'Back when the Eldest Prince was plotting a rebellion, the Su Family was just a small, peripheral player, implicated to the point of nearly facing annihilation… If this powerhouse had regained his memories back then, the later events wouldn't have happened.'

'Now, as the Imperial Family is in turmoil, we must fight for every bit of strength.'

The Fourth Prince pondered silently.

At this moment, Su Daoshi was undoubtedly a desirable ally.

Primordial Spirit Peak, his combat power was comparable to half a Dharma Body.

The future was assuredly that of a Dharma Body True Monarch!

Even the prospect of becoming an Ascended Immortal was not completely out of the question!

And the Imperial Family hadn't had an Ascended Immortal of their own for a very long time.

—As a mere prince, he naturally couldn't resist that kind of existential erasure, resulting in cognitive dissonance.

'Today, with the emperor's demise, the empire in chaos, the nine dragons headless… The Imperial Family has recently lost a Dharma Body Tributor, if I could recruit Mr. Su to our side, the imperial throne would be within my grasp…'

A flame known as ambition ignited in the eyes of the Fourth Prince.

In reality, the two remaining Dharma Body Tributors of the Imperial Family held little opinion on which prince ascended to power.

It was essentially a group of Primordial Spirits and Primordial Pill Tributors of the royal lineage vying for power and profit.

Even many cultivation sects didn't care much, as they blatantly began to encroach on territories near their domains.

The prestige of the Second Yan Han Empire had declined to such an extent.

'In times of chaos, there should be a dominant leader, if I ascend, I will spare no effort, form alliances with sects, repel powerful enemies, encourage internal recuperation and reproduction, it is not impossible for me to become an emperor who revives the dynasty…'

With that thought, the Fourth Prince felt his heart burn with an even greater fervor.

When the little eunuch returned from scouting, the prince could not worry about maintaining his dignity, so he stepped down from the carriage and personally went to the mouth of the valley to say to a member of the Su Family, "Would you please inform Mr. Su that an old friend of the Imperial Family has come to visit…"

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