Inside the ancient and solemn council hall of the Du Family, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt tangible, pressing down on everyone's hearts. Hearing Du Bufan's words, the members of the Du Family stood rooted to the spot as if struck by a powerful immobilization spell, their minds completely blank, as though they were living through an absurd dream. Their gazes intertwined with shock, doubt, and anticipation, much like travelers lost in the dark who suddenly catch sight of a strange and dazzling ray of light.
Had anyone else spoken such words, they would have scoffed, dismissing the speaker as blinded by greed and driven to madness. However, the power Du Bufan had just displayed had exploded in their ears like a thunderclap at the end of days, or roared like an ancient prehistoric beast shaking the heavens. It had left an indelible, deeply etched mark upon their hearts, mercilessly shattering their final shred of doubt. They knew clearly that every word Du Bufan uttered sounded like solid gold and stone—terrifyingly real and incomparably heavy, each syllable carrying the weight of the family's rise and fall.
"Du Bufan, if you need to break through to the Qi Gathering Realm, no matter how rare the resources, the family will exhaust everything to help you!" The First Elder's gaze was like a blazing torch, the fervor in his eyes seemingly hot enough to ignite the surrounding air, the flame appearing ready to burst through the oppressive atmosphere. His tone was as firm as a towering mountain that had withstood a millennium without falling, leaving no room for question, every syllable sounding like a solemn vow to the family's destiny.
This was by no means an empty promise. Once Du Bufan broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm, the Du Family would be like a phoenix rising from the ashes, soaring with proud grace to leave a brilliant silhouette across the skies of the Luyu Ancient Kingdom. By then, the family would produce a legendary figure capable of rivaling Return to Void powerhouses. For the Du Family, this would be equivalent to lighting a dazzling beacon in the mysterious, spiritual mist of the Southern Wasteland Domain's Luyu Ancient Kingdom, or even across the vast and boundless Honghuang Continent. The Du Family would rise like a comet piercing the night sky, becoming a top-tier faction respected and pursued by all. The family's safety would become as secure as an iron fortress, and rare resources would pour in endlessly like the waters of the Heavenly River, making the Du Family a legendary clan envied by everyone and leaving a heavy, colorful stroke in the long river of history.
"Very well, I do indeed have a few items that require the family's help to procure." As Du Bufan spoke, he slowly withdrew a list radiating a mysterious aura from his sleeve. The list seemed imbued with spiritual rhyme, flashing with a strange glow. The light was dreamlike and mesmerizing, as if it were a mysterious summons from another realm, capturing everyone's gaze. With a solemn expression, he handed it to Du Tianxiong, his eyes revealing a deep trust in the family and an intensely burning desire to break through his realm. That gaze was like a brilliant star shining brightly in the dark.
The path of martial arts was like an ancient, mysterious trail covered in thorns and treasures, winding endlessly into the distance. Breaking through minor realms was like effortlessly picking up loose stones by the roadside, requiring only the absorption of the heaven and earth's spiritual Qi to fall naturally into place. But crossing major realms was like opening an ancient stone door leading to a mysterious treasure trove, requiring numerous rare materials imbued with the mysteries of heaven and earth to serve as the key. Du Bufan was endowed with exceptional talent, and the materials he required for his breakthrough were complex, rare, and priceless. Each one was as dazzling as the brightest star in the world, obtainable only by rare fortune. After all, cultivation was inherently a thorny path that defied the heavens, demanding countless precious resources just to carve out a foothold in this Honghuang Continent teeming with powerful figures and become part of legend.
This list was something Du Bufan had obtained during a mysterious fortuitous encounter from the ancient *Tian Dao Lunhui Daode Jing*, which seemed to date back to the very dawn of heaven and earth. When the ancient text appeared in the world, the heavens changed color and winds and clouds surged, as if the god of fate had descended to the mortal realm, bringing new variables. It was surrounded by a mysterious halo, with every page seeming to contain the secrets of the cosmos and stars. Those ancient characters appeared to recount ancient and mysterious tales to those fated to hear them. This ancient book was the god of fate's favor toward Du Bufan, an essential guide for him as he stepped onto the path to the peak, acting like a lighthouse in the dark to illuminate the path ahead.
Du Tianxiong took the list, his weathered hands trembling slightly, and his gaze was instantly locked onto it, as if deeply enthralled by the contents. Astonishment and worry flashed across his eyes, and his brow gradually furrowed, as though he were deciphering ancient and obscure mysterious runes. After a long while, he handed the list to the First Elder with a heavy motion, as if he were handing over not a mere list of items, but the destiny of the entire family. The First Elder took the list, swept his gaze across it, and instantly knitted his brows into a deep knot, his eyes filled with worry that shrouded his heart like a haze.
"Most of the materials on this list are things we can still manage to figure out somehow, but there are a few kinds that the family simply does not possess... We couldn't find them even if we searched the entirety of Tianwu City." The First Elder's voice was low and hoarse, resembling a cold wind passing through an ancient stela forest, carrying a sense of vicissitude and helplessness. The emotions of worry and powerlessness lingered for a long time in the council hall like an unexorcised ghost.
"Oh? Which materials are those?" A trace of worry flashed across Du Bufan's eyes, cutting like a fine crack across his previously confident demeanor.
The First Elder extended a finger and pointed as he spoke one by one: "First, Illusion Beast blood. Illusion Beasts are mysterious creatures nurtured by pure spiritual Qi at the dawn of heaven and earth. They are the darlings of creation, born with magical powers. Their blood contains the power of the cosmic stars and is a rare divine treasure in this world, of a preciousness beyond imagination. Second, Chaos Spirit Crystal, born in places where Chaos Qi converges. It is a remnant treasure from the world of chaos at the birth of the universe, holding endless spiritual Qi within. Each one is like a miniature universe, containing boundless mysteries as if it were a fragment of the universe's heart. Third, Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, a spiritual object nurtured deep within the earth over the span of ten thousand years, nourished by the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. It condenses the essence of the earth and possesses miraculous healing and nourishing powers, akin to the fountain of life nurtured by Mother Earth. These three materials are beyond the family's capabilities; we can attempt to acquire the rest."
Du Bufan furrowed his brow and muttered inwardly: "If this is the case, things have become tricky. These three materials are like three towering pillars supporting a grand building for my breakthrough—not a single one can be spared. Without them, the subsequent path of cultivation will be fraught with difficulties, and it might even cause all previous efforts to fall short of success, much like a ship sailing in the dark losing its lighthouse and plunging into endless confusion."
Just as everyone was deep in thought and the atmosphere in the council hall was suffocatingly oppressive, the Fourth Elder of the Du Family broke the silence. He cleared his throat, the sound appearing exceptionally abrupt in the quiet hall, like a pebble dropped onto a calm lake that shatters the deadlock of silence.
"As for Illusion Beast blood, I have indeed heard a piece of news," the Fourth Elder slowly said, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, but far more of the dawn of hope flickering within them, bringing a touch of vitality to the dreary atmosphere.
"Oh?" A light of hope ignited in Du Bufan's eyes, and his eager gaze turned toward the Fourth Elder, filled with yearning like a starving leopard spotting its prey.
The Fourth Elder took a deep breath and slowly said: "Rumor has it that there is a fierce beast deep within the Misty Illusion Valley. The Misty Illusion Valley is shrouded in mist year-round, and that mist contains powerful hallucinatory power that can easily cause one to lose their mind, like falling into an endless nightmare. That beast is a descendant of an Illusion Beast, and it flows with diluted Illusion Beast bloodline. Only, I do not know whether its blood can satisfy what you require for your breakthrough."
A flash of joy crossed Du Bufan's eyes: "No problem at all! As long as it carries the Illusion Beast bloodline, no matter how diluted, it is worth a try!" His gaze regained its luster, one imbued with resolute determination, as if nothing could block his footsteps in pursuit of breakthrough.
The Fourth Elder wore a hesitant expression, his brow slightly furrowed and worry flashing in his eyes: "However, the Misty Illusion Valley is the territory of fierce beasts, and countless dangers are hidden within the mist. Every step could lead into a death trap, and every shadow could conceal a fatal threat. Even if a Void Flight Realm powerhouse ventures in blindly, it is a narrow escape with nine deaths and one life. The valley holds soul-devouring phantoms, spiritual-Qi-corroding poisonous miasmas, and all sorts of extremely fierce beasts. A moment of carelessness will lead to eternal damnation, swallowed forever by the darkness."
Du Bufan smiled indifferently, his smile revealing fearlessness: "No matter, I shall make the trip myself. I want to see what is so formidable about this Misty Illusion Valley that it could block my path forward." His smile was like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, falling into everyone's hearts and easing their hanging hearts just a bit.
Hearing this, everyone nodded one after another. They knew deeply that Du Bufan's strength was unfathomable, far above the Void Flight Realm; he was like a star in the dark, shining with a mysterious and powerful light. With him stepping up, although the trip was dangerous, it at least had a few points of certainty, like catching a glimpse of dawn in the boundless dark.
At that moment, the Third Elder beside them also spoke: "Speaking of the Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, I know of a place that might have some."
"Oh? Where?" Everyone's gazes snapped uniformly toward the Third Elder, their eyes filled with anticipation like children thirsting for light in the dark.
"The Zaohua Sect. This sect excels at tracking down rare spiritual objects of heaven and earth, and they control countless spiritual mines under their banner. They possess a special ability to communicate with the earth's spiritual Qi and know the whereabouts of spiritual treasures. I remember several years ago hearing that they had sold a Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, so there is a chance they might still have stock. If luck is on our side, we might be able to obtain one from them," the Third Elder slowly recounted, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes as if his thoughts had returned to the moment he first heard the news.
Du Bufan's eyes lit up: "Good. That leaves only the Chaos Spirit Crystal." A hint of excitement laced his tone, as if he could already see the hope of a breakthrough beckoning to him.
Du Tianxiong and the several elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with powerlessness that weighed upon their hearts like heavy shackles, leaving them struggling to breathe.
"Hmm? What is it?" Du Bufan acutely sensed the anomaly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, seemingly able to pierce through all appearances and reach the core of the problem.
Du Tianxiong said slowly: "Bufan, acquiring a Chaos Spirit Crystal is extremely troublesome. Chaos Spirit Crystals are rare treasures of heaven and earth, and their conditions of formation are harsh to the extreme. They require a special chaotic environment where time and space are severely distorted, and spiritual Qi surges like a sea of chaos. Only after the passage of vast ages and the nurturing of cosmic power can they form. Moreover, once they leave that special environment, they rapidly lose their spiritual Qi and turn to dust, vanishing like a dream or a bubble."
"Within our Luyu Ancient Kingdom, there are several mysterious secret realms, much like black holes in the universe, concealing countless secrets. These secret realms do contain Chaos Spirit Crystals, but first, they only open at specific time nodes, with time precision matching the orbits of the stars and admitting not the slightest error. Second, every secret realm is guarded by powerful factions. Those factions are like ancient deities guarding their domains—as mighty as mountains and difficult to cross. Although our Du Family holds some status in Tianwu City, in the Luyu Ancient Kingdom we are merely a drop in the ocean, not even ranking among the fifth-tier factions. We have no qualifications whatsoever to enter those secret realms."
"I see. Then are there any secret realms opening soon? Which one is it?" Du Bufan asked, his gaze revealing a firmness as unshakeable as steel, as though nothing could stop his determination to obtain the Chaos Spirit Crystal. His eyes burned like a raging fire, ready to incinerate all obstacles.
"The Feather God Sect's Star Secret Realm, opening on the first of next month," Du Tianxiong said, his voice carrying helplessness, as if recounting a distant and unreachable dream—a dream that seemed as close as the brightest star in the night sky yet as far away as the horizon.
The First Elder added from the side: "The Feather God Sect is a top-tier sect within our Luyu Ancient Kingdom. There are three Profound Penetration Realm powerhouses seated within their gates, standing like guardian deities and shaking all directions. The aura they emit is like the blazing sun hanging in the sky, deterring surrounding factions from provoking them lightly. They occupy the Star Secret Realm, but they do not monopolize it entirely; every year they release a few quotas outward. It's just that our Du Family lacked the strength and fortune in the past, never having obtained the qualification to enter. That Star Secret Realm is like the brightest star in the sky—we can only look up at it, unable to touch it, just like mortals gazing upon the abode of gods."
At this point, a flash of light suddenly crossed the First Elder's eyes: "However, that was the Du Family of the past! Today, we have you, Du Bufan. You are like a new star shining in the dark, illuminating the path forward for our family." His words were filled with anticipation for Du Bufan—an anticipation burning in everyone's heart like a prairie fire.