Chapter 121: The Ancestor of the Yun Clan

The Scarlet Bright Nine Heavens Diagram is the most widely disseminated cultivation method of divine and demonic body refinement in the Great Xia world, and it ranks among the top-tier divine and demonic body refinement techniques across the Three Realms. Essentially, any tribal power with even a modest foundation and strength will have basic training methods based on the Scarlet Bright Nine Heavens Diagram, ranging from the acquired innate to the Purple Mansion levels. However, few truly manage to cultivate to the innate level through this diagram. Such a supreme divine and demonic body refinement method demands exceptional talent.

Xia Yuntu’s ability to reach the innate level using the Scarlet Bright Nine Heavens Diagram naturally signifies considerable talent. With such gifts, if he belonged to a larger tribal force, he would surely receive substantial support and likely achieve even greater heights. Unfortunately, the Xia clan’s tribe was only established a few years ago and lacked deep foundations.

“Big brother, keep training hard,” Yun Tian stepped forward, patting Xia Yuntu’s shoulder. “I’m heading to Yun City this time, and then I plan to join a cultivation sect in An Tan City. When you become a Purple Mansion cultivator, come find me in An Tan City. Then, as brothers, we’ll walk the path of cultivation together.”

Xia Yunling couldn’t help but speak in a clear, tender voice, “Second brother, when I become a Purple Mansion cultivator, I will definitely come find you. Whatever cultivation sect you join, I will join the same one.”

“Heh, Ling’er, it’s not so easy to join those cultivation sects,” Yun Tian teased with a smile. “They only accept disciples with great talent. If your talent isn’t good enough, they won’t take you.”

Xia Yunling lifted her head defiantly. “Second brother, don’t underestimate me! How do you know that just because you’re a reincarnated immortal your cultivation has improved so rapidly, I can’t join a sect? My talent isn’t bad either. I stepped into the innate realm even earlier than big brother! Maybe one day, I’ll surpass you.”

“Haha... well, Ling’er, you have ambition. I’ll be waiting for the day you surpass me,” Yun Tian laughed.

Seeing Xia Yunling so full of confidence, Xia Qing and Xia Yuntu couldn’t help but smile as well.

Looking at their mother Xia Qing, their sworn brother Xia Yuntu, and sworn sister Xia Yunling—who had all stood up fearlessly to protect him from being taken away by Yun Xiao—Yun Tian silently resolved that in this world, beyond cultivating and pursuing the Dao, he must ensure they all live well. Whoever dares to harm them even slightly will regret it deeply.

That night, the family enjoyed a joyful and sumptuous dinner. Early the next morning, Yun Tian bade farewell to his reluctant mother Xia Qing, the silent yet tearful Xia Yuntu with tiger-like eyes, and Xia Yunling, who was crying with tear-streaked cheeks, before setting off for Yun City.

Yun City lay nestled in a valley basin beneath Tianyun Mountain, surrounded by mountains on three sides and boasting a strategically perilous terrain. It was a full seventy to eighty thousand miles from the Xia clan’s tribe. Despite this, Yun Tian, flying on his sword but not at full speed, took only half a day to reach Yun City—setting out in the morning and arriving as the sun dipped westward in the afternoon.

As the tribal power controlling a territory spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, the Yun clan’s stronghold, Yun City, was vast, nearly a hundred miles in length and breadth.

From afar, before even approaching Yun City, Yun Tian clearly sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from the colossal city. It was the energy of a formation; the entire city was enveloped by a massive array. This formation not only provided defensive power but also continuously absorbed spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, enriching the city’s qi and accelerating the cultivation of its inhabitants.

Flying was forbidden within the city’s airspace, and the formation prevented direct aerial entry.

Yun Tian, riding his black flying sword, descended from the air and landed outside the city’s massive gate, causing the Yun Armor Guard stationed there to tense up. To wield a flying sword required at least Purple Mansion level cultivation.

The guards did not dare demand an entry fee or approach Yun Tian, merely watching as he entered. They quickly reported to their superiors that a Purple Mansion cultivator had entered Yun City.

Inside Yun City, the streets paved with white stone bustled with people and carriages. Those at the innate realm were common sights, as were innate beings parading around with various demonic beasts. Here, humans and demons coexisted harmoniously.

Yun Tian had lived in Yun City as a child, so he was familiar with it. Passing through the bustling streets, he headed directly to the inner city.

“Who goes there? Don’t you know the inner city is forbidden to trespass?” The black-armored guards at the inner city gate shouted as Yun Tian approached.

Yun Tian paused briefly, then unleashed his divine sense recklessly, sweeping across the inner city. Almost instantly, he felt seven or eight divine senses retaliate, enclosing him. Usually, divine sense manifests only in those who have reached the True Reality stage, indicating the inner city housed at least seven or eight True Reality cultivators.

Most daunting was a powerful divine aura like a surging tide aimed directly at him, causing Yun Tian to narrow his eyes. Such divine perception belonged only to those of the Nascent Soul level. Clearly, this was the presence of the Yun clan’s patriarch.

As Yun Tian stood near the city gate, some black-armored soldiers frowned and prepared to drive him away. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him as if descending from the sky—a man in a gray-black robe with graying hair: Yun Tao.

“Sir!” The guards visibly recognized Yun Tao and immediately knelt in anxious reverence.

Yun Tao ignored them, his gaze burning as he smiled at Yun Tian. “Boy, you’ve kept me waiting! Not bad, not bad. It seems your three months of hard cultivation haven’t been in vain. Your current power is somewhat beyond my understanding.”

“Let’s go! The patriarch has long wanted to see you. Come, follow me,” Yun Tao said, grabbing Yun Tian’s arm and flying with him into the inner city. Soon, they arrived at a large, serene mansion, where they alighted before a conspicuous black palace, then entered it directly.

Inside the somewhat dim palace, the space was empty except for pillars supporting the structure and a few meditation cushions.

Upon entering, Yun Tian’s attention was drawn to a bright spot in the center. There, on a bed carved from icy white jade exuding faint coldness, sat a white-robed youth who appeared fifteen or sixteen years old. Yet his hair and eyebrows were white, giving him an eerie appearance. His eyes, deeply profound, carried the weariness of worldly insight—something no mere youth could possess.

“Patriarch!” Yun Tao stepped forward and bowed respectfully from over ten meters away to the youth seated on the jade bed.

Yun Tian couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise at the patriarch’s appearance. He had expected a frail old man, but instead saw this youth. Then it dawned on him: to cultivate to the Nascent Soul level required extraordinary talent and early entry into the innate realm. Generally, once humans step into the innate realm, their appearance remains fixed. That this patriarch, unknown in age, still looked youthful was thus understandable.

“You must be Yun Tian?” The patriarch regarded him with a faint, gentle smile, his eyes filled with interest as he spoke.

Seeing Yun Tian standing dumbfounded, Yun Tao hurriedly whispered, “You should pay your respects upon meeting the patriarch!”

“No matter,” the patriarch chuckled softly. “Yun Tian is a reincarnated immortal. Your previous cultivation was likely even higher than mine, so there is no need for formalities. Yun Tian, I do not know your name from your past life, so how about we simply call each other Dao friends?”