Chapter 113: The Lu Family Treasury

Within Dongji City, countless cultivators gazed up at the scene above the Lu Manor, their hearts trembling in profound shock.

There, a row of cultivators stood in deferential silence. Each of them possessed an imposing aura, their sharp, predatory gazes commanding respect; in ordinary times, these were the paramount titans of Dongji City, figures whose mere footfalls could make the entire city quake. Yet now, they stood obediently behind a young man, their constrained posture leaving the observing crowd of Dongji City cultivators utterly flabbergasted.

The young man from the Yao family lay atop the shaft of a massive black brush, watching the scene with intense excitement, his small fists clenched tightly. "Brother Wang is truly incredible!"

In his eyes, Wang Ran was a god of war. Starting from the moment he had crushed the arrogant Lu family scion with a single palm, he had steamrolled over everything: destroying the Lu family’s ancestral hall, descending upon the manor to slay Lu Qiming and Lu Yi, and then relentlessly hunting down the patriarch, forcing the latter to flee in disgrace. To a native of Dongji City like him, these events were nothing short of miraculous and unimaginable. This valiant display left an indelible mark on his young heart.

"One day, I too will be as powerful as Brother Wang!" the boy silently resolved.

Even Yao Jianjia, perched upon the giant brush, wore a smile in her eyes as she viewed the scene with admiration. "Perhaps he truly has the qualifications to vie for a position as a core disciple against that prodigy, Ye Cang." After witnessing this battle, Yao Jianjia had finally reached a definitive assessment of Wang Ran’s strength.

Judging by the abilities Wang Ran had displayed, he was flawless even among the top-tier geniuses. Was he not on par with Ye Cang, the one in the sect hailed as having the "Millennial Saint Body"? It was indeed true; although Wang Ran had started late, his progress was rapid. If they were to face each other in a direct confrontation, he would certainly have the capital to compete with Ye Cang.

The competition for core disciple status had always been brilliantly intense, with only the one-in-a-million chosen ones qualified to participate. Having experienced that brutal trial herself years ago, Yao Jianjia still felt a sense of melancholy whenever she recalled it. The competition of her generation had been unimaginably cruel; many once-dazzling geniuses had their Dao hearts shattered in that battle, fading into obscurity and leaving only sighs of regret in their wake. The path of immortality was ruthless, and the struggle for the Great Dao allowed no sentimentality. No matter how brilliant one appeared on the journey, only a handful could reach the end.

Yao Jianjia had once suppressed all other prodigies to ascend to the position of core disciple, a testament to her formidable means and strength. Yet, her apprehension now stemmed from the fact that this current competition would be even more grueling. The number of talented disciples in the Weiwu Sect today far surpassed those of her own era. Whether it was the Millennial Saint Body Ye Cang, the reincarnation of the God of Slaughter Zhao Xiaobai, or figures like Meng Jiang and Chu Yingxuan, each was a darling of the immortal path. It could even be said that this was the most prosperous era for geniuses since the founding of the Weiwu Sect several centuries ago.

Naturally, the more geniuses there were, the more difficult the competition became. Initially, Yao Jianjia had not been optimistic about Wang Ran because he started too late; when he had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, Ye Cang was already at the half-step Golden Core stage. But now, after this battle with the Lu family, her eyes brightened. Wang Ran’s strength had grown to a level that even surprised her.

At this moment, inside the Lu Manor, Wang Ran walked through the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his pace unhurried. Following him were the titans of Dongji City and the surviving Lu family disciples—the former feeling anxious, the latter trembling in their boots. Wang Ran had destroyed the Lu family and would naturally take over their assets, but what he intended to do next remained a mystery. After all, the Lu family had been a massive force, and with Wang Ran’s formidable strength now acting like a tiger gaining wings, the city’s power brokers had no choice but to treat him with importance, or even submit to him.

After a tour, Wang Ran lowered his gaze, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow. Without turning to look at the crowd, he said indifferently, "After today, I do not wish to see the name 'Lu' in Dongji City ever again."

"Yes!" the titans of Dongji City replied in unison, their heads bowing repeatedly in trepidation.

"Furthermore, my destruction of the Lu family was to seek justice for the Yao family. From now on, all properties seized from the Yao family by the Lu family are to be returned, and this Lu Manor now belongs to the Yao family as well. Have the plaque replaced by tomorrow." Wang Ran’s words were filled with an aura of absolute command.

"Rest assured, Senior. By tomorrow... we will have a new master. We will serve the Yao family and assist them in taking over the Lu family’s industries," a quick-witted servant who had worked for the Lu Manor stepped forward to promise. They were not members of the Lu clan, merely hired hands with low cultivation, mostly at the Qi Condensation stage, earning a meager salary of spirit jade. The operation of the manor and the Lu family’s industries relied on them, and to them, it mattered little if the Lu family fell; serving the Yao family was merely a change of employer.

The landscape of Dongji City was thus settled. Over the next three days, Wang Ran and Yao Jianjia did not return to their sect, but instead assisted the Yao clan in taking over the Lu family's assets. From time to time, the titans of the city would come to pay their respects and offer gifts. Every time someone arrived with a tribute, Wang Ran would adopt the demeanor of an expert, putting on a grand show of arrogance before these powerful figures. In a few days, he had earned several hundred "Dao-Proving Points," leaving him unable to hide his delight.

Another few days passed. One day, while meditating in the Lu Manor’s study to absorb the spiritual energy refined from the corpse aura of the Lu family ancestor, Wang Ran found that this dense energy—the greatest of tonics—caused his cultivation to climb steadily. Suddenly, a series of rumbles echoed within his body. Wang Ran opened his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Seven full days, and I have finally refined all the spiritual energy derived from that corpse aura. I have now broken through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Combined with the additional power granted by 'Zhen Shanhe,' I am now no different from a half-step Golden Core!"

Wang Ran opened his palm and clenched it, feeling the surging power within him. His confidence grew; his strength had taken a massive leap.

As he stood up from his mat and prepared to leave the study, he noticed that the power he had released during his breakthrough had triggered a mechanism in the back wall, revealing a hidden passage. Intrigue piqued, he stepped inside and walked for a while, only to find himself in the Lu family’s treasure vault. However, the Lu family could not compare to the Beize Sect, and the items inside were too mediocre. After a few glances, he lost interest.

Just as he was about to leave, his gaze caught a jade slip on a bookshelf, and he froze. On the slip was carved a cultivator in a running posture, and most importantly, dragon shadows flickered beneath his feet. Wang Ran immediately recalled the movement technique Lu Hengyuan had displayed that day, which had also featured dragon shadows. Could this be it?

His interest surged. He impatiently picked up the jade slip and prepared to examine it. Suddenly, the slip flared with intense spiritual power, and an ancient voice resonated in his mind:

"Wandering Dragon Treading Heaven Technique, Fragmented Chapter!"