"Young Patriarch, this is bad! The Patriarch and the elders are holding a meeting right now to strip you of your position as Young Patriarch!"
A maidservant rushed into the bedroom.
Half-reclining on the bed was a pale-faced young man.
Xia Yu, the Young Patriarch of the Xia Family.
Xia Yu slowly raised his head and said feebly, "If they want to strip me of it, let them."
"But Eldest Miss went to reason with them and got into an argument. It looks like... it looks like she was hit."
"What did you say? My sister was hit?"
"Y-yes."
"Who dares to hit my sister?"
Xia Yu flipped off the bed and instantly bolted out the door.
...
Inside the main hall of the Xia Family, Patriarch Xia Hongji sat in the main seat with a blank expression.
The First Elder sat to his left, the Second Elder to his right, and the other elders, stewards, and younger generation members sat in order.
Only a young woman stood in the middle of the hall, her left cheek red and swollen, five fingerprints shockingly clear.
Yet her gaze was unyielding as she locked eyes with the Patriarch.
After a long silence...
Xia Hongji sighed and said, "Xiaoyao, why must you be like this?"
"Over the years, Xia Yu has indeed put in a lot of effort fighting for the Xia Family. But the cultivation resources he enjoyed were the greatest among the younger generation, the cultivation techniques he practiced were the finest the Xia Family had to offer, and he was even made the Young Patriarch of our Xia Family. Tell me, has the Xia Family ever treated him unfairly?"
"Never!" Xiaoyao said coldly.
"The rule of the Xia Family is that the capable rise and the incapable fall. Every branch of the Xia Family is treated equally!"
"Now that his Dantian is damaged and his meridians are severed, he will never be able to advance another step in this life. According to the rules of the Xia Family, removing him from the position of Young Patriarch—could that possibly be wrong?"
"Not wrong." Xiaoyao's gaze was icy as she said, "However, a damaged Dantian is not a shattered Dantian. There are medicinal pills that can cure it."
Xia Hongji shook his head and said, "That would require at least a tier-two medicinal pill. Huai City doesn't have one, and even if it did, the Xia Family couldn't afford it."
"I know," Xiaoyao said calmly. "Huai City doesn't have it, but Luzhou does. If Luzhou doesn't have it, the Imperial Capital certainly will."
"The Xia Family cannot afford it, and I know that too. Therefore, I want the Shengwu Token that Mother left behind when she passed away."
"Xiaoyao, you are going too far! There is only one Shengwu Token, and it belongs to the Xia Family. Are you even worthy of it?"
Before the Patriarch could speak, the First Elder at the side pointed at Xiaoyao and shouted coldly.
"That belongs to the mother who left it to us," Xiaoyao retorted without showing any weakness.
"Nonsense!" the Second Elder also chimed in. "That was something your mother left for the Xia Family back then, not something left for the two of you."
"Xiaoyao, stop making a fuss. Although Xiaoyao won't be able to cultivate in the future, our Xia Family will definitely ensure that you and your brother live in peace and prosperity for the rest of your lives. Once Xia's injuries heal, I'll have him become a steward. How about that?"
Xia Hongji sighed once more, trying to persuade her with well-meaning words.
"I want the Shengwu Token my mother left me!" Xiaoyao's tone was resolute.
Xia Hongji's expression darkened, and the faces of the First Elder and the others turned exceptionally ugly.
Suddenly, a young man stood up.
"Xiaoyao, let me tell you, I am the Young Patriarch now, and the Shengwu Token is mine as well! Don't even harbor such delusional thoughts!" Xia Longfei's expression was icy.
"Hmph, it seems that slap just now didn't teach you a lesson yet. Monkey, slap her face for me! Beat her until she's speechless. She used to have some good-for-nothing backing her up, let's see who's going to back her up now!"
"Yes, Young Patriarch!"
A thin, frail young man standing behind Xia Longfei acknowledged the order and walked forward with a weird grin plastered all over his face.
Xia Longfei looked pleased with himself as he watched quietly.
Back when they were children, he had offended Xiaoyao over some trivial matter and received a brutal beating from Xia Yu—a memory that remained fresh in his mind.
At that time, Xia Yu, who had displayed astonishing talent, was already the Young Patriarch. Even though Xia Longfei was the exalted son of the current Patriarch, he had no choice but to swallow his pride.
Now, he was going to exact repayment tenfold, a hundredfold.
"Hehe, Miss Xiaoyao, you mustn't blame this humble servant, oh!"
Monkey sneered, putting his full strength into a ferocious swing of his palm toward Xiaoyao's face.
"You dare?"
Suddenly, a figure darted out and grabbed Monkey's hand in a tight grip.
Filled with killing intent, Xia Yu brought his knee up and slammed it viciously into Monkey's stomach.
In an instant, Monkey clutched his abdomen and let out a miserable howl.
"Sister, who hit you?"
Xia Yu looked at his sister, his expression turning gloomy the next moment as an intangible aura of murderous intent soared into the sky.
"Why are you here? You're still recovering from your injuries! Hurry back," Xiaoyao said, her face full of concern.
Xia Yu slowly turned his head, his cold, grim gaze sweeping across every single person present.
At that moment, even Xia Hongji felt a pang in his heart.
"Who hit my sister?"
Word by word, his voice sounded as if it came from the netherworld, bone-chillingly cold.
He and his sister had depended on each other since they were little. When Xiaoyao was seven and he was five, their mother had inexplicably left, abandoning just the two siblings.
From that day on, it was Xiaoyao who took care of Xia Yu, right up until Xia Yu became the Young Patriarch, after which their lives finally improved a little.
In his heart, his sister was his absolute reverse scale.
You could bully him all you wanted, but bullying his sister was completely unacceptable!
"Who hit my sister?"
Xia Yu enunciated each word, asking again.
"I had Monkey hit her, so what? This young patriarch..."
Before Xia Longfei could finish speaking, he saw Xia Yu move.
Raising his foot, Xia Yu stomped directly onto Monkey's right forearm.
*Crack!*
Monkey's right forearm snapped instantly, the shattered bones protruding through his skin in a bloody mess.
Without even pausing, Xia Yu rushed straight at Xia Longfei.
"Impudent!"
Xia Hongji and the First Elder shouted in unison.
By then, Xia Yu had already reached Xia Longfei and hurled a punch forward.
Xia Longfei wore a look of utter disdain and threw a punch of his own to meet it head-on.
*Boom!*
A muffled thud rang out.
Xia Yu didn't take a single step back, while Xia Longfei stumbled three steps back.
"You worthless trash, and you dare touch my sister!"
Xia Yu stepped forward and lashed out with a ferocious kick at full force.
This kick was aimed straight at the Dantian; if it connected, Xia Longfei would likely be crippled.
"Audacious!"
The First Elder roared in anger. With a flash, he appeared right in front of Xia Yu and slammed a punch directly into Xia Yu's chest.
"Boom..."
Xia Yu was sent flying through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood spewed from his mouth.
He stared coldly at the First Elder, murder burning in his eyes.
That punch looked like it had landed on his chest, but in reality, a hidden force had struck his Dantian.
His already damaged Dantian shattered completely from this blow.
He was thoroughly ruined, left with no hope whatsoever.
"Hmph! To dare attack the Young Patriarch in front of the Patriarch and all the elders—he deserves execution!"
The First Elder felt an unexplainable tremor in his heart. With a gloomy expression, he shouted loudly and brought his palm down toward the crown of Xia Yu's head.
Kill this fellow.
Cut the weeds and root out the problem!
"Stop!"
Xiaoyao, standing nearby, turned deathly pale. She shrieked in panic, "If you kill my younger brother, how will you explain it to my mother when she returns?"
The First Elder seemed to remember something; he froze abruptly, his hand stopping three inches above Xia Yu's head.
He looked toward Patriarch Xia Hongji, who gave a slight shake of his head.
"Patriarch, my brother broke the family rules, but his crime is not punishable by death! According to family law, what is my brother's punishment?"
"According to family law, insubordination merits fifty cane strokes; assaulting a fellow clansman merits fifty cane strokes. The two crimes are combined: one hundred cane strokes," Xia Hongji said expressionlessly.
"Someone come, drag him down and give him a hundred strokes."
The First Elder immediately gave the order—one hundred cane strokes ought to beat the life out of him.
"Wait!" Xiaoyao continued, "According to family regulations, those who have made great contributions can have their crimes pardoned, right?"
"Right," Xia Hongji nodded.
"I will offer the Shengwu Token to the Xia Family to commute my brother's punishment!" Xiaoyao said coldly. "Otherwise, when Mother returns, I will definitely tell her the truth of what happened here."
Xia Hongji's expression darkened. After a brief moment of contemplation, he said, "Fine."
"Xiaoyao, let's go."
Xiaoyao supported Xia Yu and walked out of the hall.
Xia Yu remained silent, his fists clenched tightly.
At that moment, the First Elder walked up to the Patriarch and said in a low voice, "If this boy isn't eliminated, he'll be a grave hazard."
"It's too crowded with eyes around. Even though that woman hasn't returned in over a decade, what if she does? What then?" Xia Hongji said indifferently.
"The Patriarch considers things thoroughly. I just shattered his Dantian; he's completely crippled. Even a tier-two pill won't save him now. I doubt he can pull off any tricks."
The First Elder sneered.
Xia Hongji glanced at the First Elder and softly instructed, "Find someone in secret to take care of both siblings so it's untraceable."
"The Patriarch is brilliant."
"Longfei is heading to Shengwu Academy, and it's too lonely going alone. Have Longxiang go along with him."
"Thank you, Patriarch." The First Elder nodded. Xia Longxiang was his eldest grandson.
Xiaoyao helped Xia Yu back to his room and laid him on the bed.
"Xiaoyao, how are you feeling? You mustn't let anything happen to you, otherwise how will I ever face Mom?"
Xiaoyao's eye rims reddened, and tears began to fall.
"Sister, I'm fine, truly, I'm fine," Xia. Yu hurriedly comforted his sister.
Yet the moment he spoke, fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"You call this fine? I'm going to find you a medicinal pill." Xiaoyao immediately stood up.
"Sister, it's fine. Really, you don't need to go get anything."
Xia. Yu knew very well that with his shattered Dantian, no pill in the world could help him anymore.
Ignoring him, Xiaoyao fetched a medicinal pill and made Xia Yu take it.
"Xiaoyao, don't you worry. No matter what it takes, I will find a spiritual pill to repair your Dantian."
Xiaoyao wiped away her tears, her expression resolute.
Xia Yu forced a smile and said, "Sister, I'm truly fine. Can you let me be by myself for a little while?"
Xia. Yaoyao nodded and said, "All right, get some good rest first. I'm going to go stew some nourishing broth for you."
Watching his sister's retreating figure, Xia Yu clenched his hands tightly.
With his Dantian shattered, he was completely useless.
He could easily imagine what his future life would be like.
Not only was his sister Xiaoyao unable to cultivate, but she also suffered from a chronic ailment. Every night around midnight, her entire body would alternate between freezing cold and burning heat, causing her agonizing pain.
She had relied entirely on him channeling spiritual energy into her every day to suppress the affliction and ease the suffering.
Now that his Dantian was broken, what were they going to do?
At that moment, his heart ached with an unbearable agony.
He slammed a fierce fist against his chest—he was simply too useless.
Suddenly, a fierce wave of pain erupted from his Dantian.
At the same time, a grand, booming voice echoed in his mind.
"Using the body as a furnace, one can refine all things!"
"Using the Dao as a furnace, one can refine heaven and earth!"
Xia Yu was startled by the sudden voice.
He hurriedly immersed his consciousness and checked his Dantian, instantly staring in utter shock.
His Dantian had vanished, replaced instead by a four-legged circular cauldron.
The four legs were engraved with dragon tails, and four dragon bodies coiled upward, lifelike and vivid.
Four dragon heads protruded from the body of the cauldron, spitting wisps of flames into the vessel.
Inside the cauldron, a blazing fire raged, and a five-clawed golden dragon flickered in and out of sight amidst the flames.
Xia Yu recognized this cauldron.
Three days ago, members of the Xia Family had discovered a subterranean cave in the mountains, and the family had sent Xia Yu, Xia Longfei, and others down to investigate.
Deep within the cavern, they found a secret chamber buried beneath the mountain.
Everyone had been ecstatic—such places usually contained treasures.
However, the moment they approached, they triggered some unknown formation and were immediately attacked.
In that critical moment, Xia Yu had thrown himself to the front.
Because of this, Xia Yu took the brunt of the attack head-on, resulting in a damaged Dantian and severed meridians.
In the end, he saw a streak of white light rush toward him before he lost consciousness.
When he woke up, he was already back home.
He simply couldn't understand how this cauldron had ended up inside his body.
Could it have been that streak of white light?
*Roar!*
Suddenly, a dragon roar burst from within the cauldron, making Xia Yu's head spin with dizziness.
"Damn cauldron, you finally couldn't hold on anymore, did you? Hahaha..."
A booming voice resounded from within the cauldron.
The cauldron remained silent; the wisps of flame within the dragon heads instantly transformed into pillars of fire.
Meanwhile, the cauldron itself began to spin rapidly.
At that very moment, Xia Yu suddenly noticed that countless strands of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy from all directions were rushing into his body like moths to a flame.
Xia Yu was stunned. The speed at which this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was being absorbed was simply too fast to imagine.
What he did not know was that the sky outside seemed to have grown somewhat dim at that exact moment.
Over Huai City, a massive vortex composed of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy had formed in the sky.
Countless amounts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy surged into the vortex, and the vortex continued to expand crazily.
Gradually, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy within a radius of ten thousand miles was drawn over.
Many individuals who had been in closed-door cultivation were jolted awake one after another.
Why had the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy suddenly vanished?
Ten thousand miles away, in the Imperial City, an elderly man in lavish robes stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, his brow furrowed in silence.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Quickly go investigate this unnatural phenomenon descending from the heavens."
"Yes." A voice acknowledged from the void.
Deep within Shengwu Academy, a wooden door that had remained unopened for over a decade creaked open, and an old man with a crane-like complexion and youthful hair stepped out.
He glanced up at the sky, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes as his right fingers moved at lightning speed to calculate.
"Gathering ten thousand miles of spiritual energy—what boldness, quite daring indeed... Oh? Karma and disaster? Forget it, I'll continue my cultivation."
The old man turned right back around, stepped into his room, and shut the door.
At the same time, within numerous sects spanning ten thousand miles, figures rose into the air one after another.
A thousand miles outside Huai City, a slender figure raised her head to look at the sky, a look of perplexity on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
"A natural anomaly descending from the heavens... Little White, let's go take a look."
With a light tap of her foot, she landed on the back of a massive white tiger a few meters away.
With a roar of the tiger, the giant white beast leaped forward and dashed away.
Meanwhile, many people in Huai City walked out of their homes and gazed up at the sky.
"A heavenly anomaly... my Huai City is about to produce a talent. What a pity, judging by the looks of it, it didn't come from my City Lord's Estate."
City Lord Zhu Kang let out a sigh.
"Judging by the direction, it seems to be coming from the Xia Family," City Lord's Estate adviser Zhou Xing noted.
"Mm, it seems the Xia Family is about to flourish. Later, prepare a gift, and we shall pay them a visit," Zhu Kang nodded.
There were four major families in Huai City: the Xu, Gong, Zhang, and Xia families.
At that moment, the heads of the Xu, Gong, and Zhang families were also watching the anomaly in the sky, their expressions gloomy.
After a long while, they spoke, "Prepare a generous gift; we're heading to the Xia Family shortly."
Xia Yu knew nothing of all this. The cauldron within his belly spun faster and faster, absorbing a massive volume of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
The temperature radiated outward by the cauldron grew higher and higher, and Xia Yu felt as though he were about to be roasted to a crisp.
Suddenly, the vortex in the sky collapsed.
A tremendously thick bolt of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy descended from the heavens and plunged straight into the Xia Residence.
At the same time, a roar rang in Xia Yu's ears.
"Damn cauldron, you want to refine me? I'd rather pass this on to this kid than let you have the satisfaction!"
In an instant, a five-clawed golden dragon surged out from the cauldron, soaring straight into Xia Yu's mind.
"Kid, I am the Ancestral Dragon, the ancestor of all dragons! I shall impart the Art of the Ancestral Dragon to you. Remember, no matter when or where, never lose the pride of the Dragon clan!"
Suddenly, a beam of white light flew out from the cauldron, fiercely darting into Xia Yu's mind and heading straight toward the five-clawed golden dragon.
"Boom..."
Countless rays of golden light bloomed within Xia Yu's mind, instantly spreading throughout his entire body.
In a split second, an indescribable, excruciating pain flooded his brain, and he felt as though his entire being had been instantly torn into countless pieces.
"Ah!"
Xia Yu let out a miserable scream and passed out cold.
Meanwhile, inside a secret chamber of the Xia Family, someone was sitting cross-legged in cultivation.
Suddenly, that figure abruptly released a powerful aura.
"Haha, I've broken through!"
Xia Longfei stood up, clenching his fists until they cracked.
"So this is the Gathering Origin Realm—and straight to the Third Heavenly Layer of Gathering Origin Realm at that? The feeling of being filled with power is truly wonderful!"
Xia Longfei walked out.
Outside the door, Xia Hongji, who had been waiting the whole time, looked at his son coming out and asked anxiously, "Did you break through?"
"I broke through, and directly reached the Third Heavenly Layer of Gathering Origin Realm," Xia Longfei said proudly.
"Really?"
Instantly, Xia Hongji was overjoyed. "No wonder when my son was cultivating, a heavenly anomaly appeared. Heaven bless us!My Xia Family has finally produced a true genius, hahaha..."
"Congratulations, Patriarch! Congratulations, Young Patriarch! The future of our Xia Family is promising!" The First Elder nearby hurriedly offered his congratulations.
"Hahaha, this is a joyous event for our entire Xia Family. Tonight, we shall hold a banquet to celebrate my son's achievement!"
"A heavenly anomaly? What happened while I was cultivating?" Xia Longfei asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Haha, my son doesn't know yet..."
After listening to his father's account, Xia Longfei couldn't help reaching up to touch his own face, never expecting that he really was a genius.
With that, his chest puffed out even further, and his chin lifted even higher.
Along the way, every servant he met congratulated the Young Patriarch. Those adoring gazes made Xia Longfei feel wonderful all over—his ten years of bitter cultivation had finally paid off.
The path of cultivation was arduous.
The realms of cultivation were divided into the Body Forging Realm, Gathering Origin Realm, Imperial Origin Realm, Spirit Origin Realm, and Profound Origin Realm. Beyond those were the legendary Monarch Realm, Emperor Realm, and Saint Realm, with each realm consisting of ten heavenly layers—each layer acting as a formidable barrier.
Legend had it that above the Peak Saint Realm, there existed an invincible realm—the Emperor Realm.
However, within the scope of what Xia Longfei knew, he had only ever heard of Monarchs.