Chu Xiuran rushed into the city, speeding toward the location of the Chu family from his memory. The small town's original appearance had completely vanished, with only the thundercloud above Qingyang Lake remaining as the most prominent landmark.
"Audacious! Flight is forbidden above Qingyang City!" A furious shout suddenly rang out as a figure shot up from below, blocking Chu Xiuran's path.
"Huh? Xiuran?" Chu Zhan exclaimed in surprise at the flying figure. Wasn't he supposed to be at the Thundercloud Sect? Why had he returned?
"Chu Zhan?" Chu Xiuran halted midair, staring at the bullishly muscular young man before him.
"Hahaha! Xiuran, it really is you!" Chu Zhan excitedly approached, throwing an arm around Chu Xiuran's shoulders. "Why didn't you send word of your return? I could've prepared a feast and met you outside the city!" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on NoveIꜰire.net
Despite his combative nature, Chu Zhan enjoyed an excellent reputation within the family. As one of the few young first-tier warriors back then, he and Chu Xiuran had often sparred.
"Come on, let's land first. Flight is forbidden in Qingyang City!" Chu Zhan laughed.
"Forbidden flight?" Chu Xiuran suddenly stared at Chu Zhan in shock. "You... you've reached the fourth-tier Martial Sect level?"
"Hehehe, that happened months ago! Now I'm just one step away from Martial King!" Chu Zhan grinned before sighing. "Ah, I'm ashamed I can't compare to you, having already broken through to Martial King. Congratulations! We must spar for 300 rounds later!"
"Wait, Chu Zhan, tell me - how's the family? How are the elders and ancestors?" Chu Xiuran urgently asked.
"Everything's fine!" Chu Zhan replied. "The old ancestor... ah, I'm so envious of him! Xiuran, you wouldn't believe it - the ancestor has been cultivating with the Beast God recently and reportedly broke through to sixth-tier Martial Emperor just days ago! I wonder when I'll reach that level..."
Chu Zhan sighed wistfully, his face full of melancholy. Among those who'd received the divine beast's blessing, he had the lowest cultivation because he constantly sought sparring partners stronger than himself, often getting severely injured and needing long recovery periods.
Chu Xiuran's mind rang with shock, his body freezing in place as if his legs had been filled with lead.
"The ancestor... broke through to Martial Emperor? Chu Zhan, you're not lying to me?"
"Why would I lie? This is common knowledge among our family's upper echelons, though not publicly announced yet," Chu Zhan calmly replied.
Behind them, the Thundercloud Sect members exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment. The Chu family had risen to prominence in less than a year, and Chu Tianyang had already become a Martial Emperor-level expert?
Arriving at the family compound, Chu Xiuran was deeply moved seeing the twenty-plus bloodstained stone pillars still standing at the Chu family entrance.
"What are these?" Meng Wu asked. He'd noticed the pillars during his last visit but hadn't paid them much attention.
"These are our Chu family's Pillars of Shame," Chu Zhan solemnly declared before suddenly asking, "Who are you people?"
"This is my master, along with our sect leader and ancestors."
"Oh! Then we're all family! Come in, come in!"
Entering the family grounds, Chu Xiuran's worries completely dissipated at the sight of the thriving household. He then paid respects to clansman Chu Jingyue, growing increasingly shocked with each observation - even the family head, formerly just a first-tier warrior, had now reached fifth-tier Martial King? Several elders had terrifyingly strong cultivation levels, some even rivaling his own.
"What exactly happened to our family?" Chu Xiuran grew more perplexed. How could such earth-shaking changes occur in less than a year?
"Haha, your timing is perfect," Chu Jingyue said to Xiao Zhentian's group with a smile. "In a few days we'll hold a ceremony celebrating the Chu family's promotion to six-star status. Please stay as our honored guests so we may show proper hospitality."
"Family Head, has the ancestor truly broken through to Martial Emperor?" Chu Xiuran asked, still stunned.
"Indeed, he broke through just days ago and is currently secluded with the Beast God to stabilize his realm. He should emerge in a few days," Chu Jingyue nodded. The Beast God had instructed them not to hide their strength - in this world, only greater power could secure more resources. Most importantly, the Beast God would appear that day to accomplish something momentous!
"Family Head, what kind of fortune did our Chu family obtain to become a six-star family so quickly?" Chu Xiuran asked in amazement. Having studied the Thundercloud Sect's history, he knew it took centuries for them to develop from a minor force to a six-star sect, while the Chu family had done it in under a year.
"Fortune? Our greatest fortune is the Beast God!" Chu Jingyue said earnestly.
In the following days, various forces large and small came to visit the Chu family, including the other three six-star sects. Even Ge Tianli, head of the Qingyang City Myriad Domain Merchant Guild, paid a visit.
"This old man didn't bring any extravagant gifts," Ge Tianli stroked his beard.
"You honor us with your presence, Senior. The ancestor instructed that should you visit, we must receive you with our highest honors," Chu Jingyue said respectfully.
The Myriad Domain Merchant Guild's influence spanned the entire mortal realm - a true behemoth that made the Chu family seem insignificant. Back in Flamesun City, ancestor Chu Tianyang had befriended Ge Tianli, who'd helped the Chu family procure high-level martial techniques, elixirs and other treasures through the guild.
"Hahaha! Though I bring no gifts, I do bear news that should interest your Chu family."
"It concerns an Earthfire." Ge Tianli continued, "At the borders of Cangzhou, an Earthfire has manifested - ranked seventh on the Earthfire Ranking: the Green Lotus Core Flame! With your family's current strength, you're qualified to join the competition for it."
"However, you should deliberate carefully. The Earthfire's appearance will attract not only Cangzhou's top forces, but powerful experts from neighboring regions and possibly the entire Qian Domain!"
Chu Jingyue was astonished - an Earthfire Ranking flame had appeared? Heaven-earth flames were classified from highest to lowest as Heaven, Earth, Mystic and Yellow grades. Only Emperor-tier experts could refine Heaven-grade flames - those below Emperor-tier couldn't even perceive them, let alone obtain them, forcing people to settle for lower grades.
Earth-grade flames could not only refine elixirs but also serve as devastating weapons to enhance one's strength!
"Many thanks for this invaluable information, Senior!" Chu Jingyue bowed deeply. This news was more precious than any material gift.
Several days later, Chu Tianyang emerged from seclusion, not concealing his Martial Emperor aura in the slightest.
"This feeling is incredible!" he exclaimed, clenching his fist. "It's as if heaven and earth move at my whim!"