Ling Xi How dare you claim to suppress your own father

Beneath the broken walls of the ruined General's Manor, Ye Wentian fixed his gaze intently in the direction of the imperial palace.

The barrier laid down by Little Black isolated all sound. He couldn't hear the slightest noise of slaughter, yet his heart grew increasingly tense.

The imperial palace was heavily guarded, with a Heaven-Human Realm ancestor holding down the fort. Even if Ruobai and Hanyu were incredibly strong, it would be difficult for them to succeed in a short time, and they might even fall into danger.

Just as he was waiting anxiously, familiar footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.

Ye Wentian abruptly looked up, only to see Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu walking side by side, with that highly intelligent little black bird resting on their shoulders.

Surprisingly, following behind them was a man dressed in a moon-white robe. His garments were spotless, and his ethereal temperament made him seem like a being not of this mortal world.

Ruobai! Why are you back?

Ye Wentian hurriedly went to greet them, his tone full of urgency.

Was the palace guarded too strictly? Did you not find a chance to strike? It's fine, we can plan this out again. We'll eventually find an opportunity...

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Xiao Ruobai's calm voice: Uncle Ye, there is no need to wait. Our great vengeance has been exacted. All bloodlines of the Great Yan imperial family have been executed.

What... what did you say?

Ye Wentian's pupils shrank drastically, looking at Xiao Ruobai in disbelief.

All royal bloodlines? How... how is this possible? There is a Heaven-Human Realm ancestor in the palace, and so many hidden guards. How could you be so fast...

His words were filled with shock, even doubting his own ears. That was the Great Yan imperial family that had entrenched itself for years. How could it be utterly annihilated by two people in a mere half-hour?

Xiao Ruobai didn't explain much. He simply stepped aside, bringing Gu Changge forward, and said solemnly: Uncle Ye, this is my master, Gu Changge.

Only then did Ye Wentian properly look at Gu Changge. With just one glance, he felt the aura surrounding the man was unfathomably deep, as if it could encompass heaven and earth. He cupped his hands in greeting: I am Ye Wentian!

Gu Changge nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Ye Wentian, and spoke indifferently: You are Xiao Zhan's old subordinate. Your dantian was crippled back then to protect the General's Manor, which shows your loyalty and bravery. Since you are someone Ruobai cares about, I will lend you a hand.

Before his voice faded, Gu Changge raised his hand. A surge of pale golden spiritual energy suddenly poured forth. Carrying majestic vitality, this spiritual energy surged into Ye Wentian's dantian like a torrent!

Ye Wentian only felt a scalding warmth coming from his dantian. The dantian that had been shattered and dead for years was rapidly reshaping under the nourishment of this spiritual energy. The blockages in his meridians dissipated instantly, becoming even more unobstructed than during his peak!

What shocked him even more was that the spiritual energy within his body surged madly. His Cave-Heaven Realm cultivation, which had long since stagnated, began to climb rapidly.

The bottleneck shattered with a cracking sound. In the blink of an eye, he broke through to the peak of the Cave-Heaven Realm and continued to surge upward. The threshold of the Heaven-Human Realm was also easily smashed open by this spiritual energy!

In just a moment, Ye Wentian went from a cripple with ruined cultivation to not only regaining his Cave-Heaven Realm strength but directly breaking through to the late stage of the Heaven-Human Realm!

All his old ailments were eradicated, restoring him to perfect health.

Feeling the surging spiritual energy in his body and looking at his hands that had regained their power, he trembled with shock. His lips moved for a long time, but he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

This... is this the aura of the Heaven-Human Realm?

Ye Wentian whispered with a trembling voice, his eyes filled with ecstasy and disbelief. He had never imagined that in his lifetime, he would not only recover his cultivation but also break through to the Heaven-Human Realm that countless cultivators dreamed of!

He abruptly fell to his knees, about to kowtow and thank Gu Changge, but was held up by an invisible spiritual energy, unable to lower himself any further.

No need for formalities, Gu Changge said flatly, withdrawing his hand.

Supported by the spiritual energy, Ye Wentian looked at Gu Changge with immense gratitude, then turned to Xiao Ruobai, about to say he would follow him.

But Xiao Ruobai suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a bit of seriousness: Uncle Ye, now that the Great Yan imperial family is destroyed, the imperial capital is without a leader, and the commoners might fall into chaos.

You once guarded the Northern Region with my father. You know how to govern an army and understand the hearts of the people, and you have just broken through to the Heaven-Human Realm, possessing enough strength to suppress the situation. Are you interested in becoming the new Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty?

Become Emperor?

Ye Wentian was completely stunned and waved his hands repeatedly. Ruobai, this is absolutely impossible! I am just an old subordinate of the General's Manor, how could I...

At this moment, an incredibly thick scent of blood drifted over from the imperial palace with the wind, washing over the streets and alleys of the imperial capital like an invisible tide.

It was a scent mixed with the aftermath of spiritual energy, warm blood, and the stench of corpses, carrying the dead silence of the imperial family's annihilation, violently striking the hearts of every commoner and official.

Soon, the spies of the ministers sent back news one after another: the imperial palace was littered with corpses, the royal bloodline was completely wiped out, and the one who did it was Xiao Zhan's son, Xiao Ruobai!

...

Days later, Ye Wentian ascended the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, changing the dynasty's name to Xia. He proclaimed to the world the rehabilitation of the General's Manor, posthumously bestowed Xiao Zhan the title of Loyal Martial King of the Northern Region, and completely purged everyone involved in the incident concerning the General's Manor back then.

The General's Manor was also renovated, taking on a completely new look. This estate, which had once borne a sea of blood and deep enmity, shed its ruin and dead silence, regaining its vitality. It became a solemn yet warm sight in the imperial capital, comforting the deceased while protecting the newborn.

Gu Changge patted Xiao Ruobai's shoulder: Now that matters here are settled, accompany your master to walk through this Eastern Region. It is both a journey and a cultivation.

Xiao Ruobai understood and followed along with Fang Hanyu and Little Black.

Three people and one bird left the imperial capital, heading all the way west!

Since coming to the Purple Bamboo Peak of the Azure Profound Sect, Gu Changge had rarely set foot in the outside world. Now, using this trip, he aimed not only to experience the scenery of the Eastern Region but also to borrow the momentum of heaven and earth to guide his disciples' cultivation.

They arrived at a broken cliff. Beneath the cliff, a sea of clouds churned, and the spiritual energy was several times denser than elsewhere.

Gu Changge pointed at the sea of clouds and said: Ruobai, you cultivate the Dao of War. You need to borrow the vastness of heaven and earth to temper your heart. Right now, the sea of clouds is like rolling waves. Take up your halberd, use your battle aura to draw upon the momentum of the sea of clouds, and see if you can gain any enlightenment.

Xiao Ruobai nodded, took down the Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd from his back, and leaped to the edge of the cliff.

Golden battle aura erupted from his body, intertwining with the churning spiritual energy in the sea of clouds. As the tip of his halberd slashed through the air, it actually drew the sea of clouds to condense into the phantom of a Battle Dragon.

He gave a deep shout, and the battle aura swept the dragon phantom forward to slash out. The sea of clouds beneath the cliff exploded with a boom. A spiritual light of breakthrough flashed across his glabella—the barrier to the late stage of the Cave-Heaven Realm was quietly broken open amidst this enlightenment of heaven and earth!

Fang Hanyu watched with surging emotions. Gu Changge turned to look at him: You cultivate the Dao of the Sword, which emphasizes the unity of heart and sword. That welcoming pine by the cliff is rooted in the crevices of the rocks, standing firm through wind and rain. Sit quietly beneath it, comprehend its resilience, and try to integrate this intent into your sword.

Fang Hanyu sat cross-legged as instructed, his fingertips resting against the hilt of the Absolute Beginning Sword. A gentle breeze brushed past the pine branches; the pine needles trembled slightly but did not break. That tenacity of taking root in a desperate situation gradually merged into his comprehension of the sword dao.

A long while later, he opened his eyes and swung his sword. The sword light was no longer purely sharp, but carried a flexibility like that of the pine branches. With one slash across the cliff face, stone fragments rustled down. The sword mark actually coiled like pine roots, entirely natural and flawless. His sword dao intent had advanced to another level.

Only after Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu finished their cultivation did Gu Changge finally speak. "Cultivation is not something achieved behind closed doors; all things in heaven and earth are the Dao. The vitality of the rice paddies, the majesty of the sea of clouds, the resilience of the ancient pines—all of these can be integrated into your own Dao."

The master and his disciples continued on their journey. As they were passing through a city, a sudden clamor erupted from ahead.

They saw a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes chasing after a young girl of about sixteen or seventeen. His face was twisted in fury as he roared, "Ling Xi! Stop right there! How dare you talk back to your elders and threaten to suppress your own father? You have absolutely no respect for your seniors!"