Chapter 31: Breaking through the city and taking out the Song family

The siege dragged on, locked in a stalemate.

Occasionally, some of the De Molinos family’s armored guards managed to scale the walls of Purple River City using cloud ladders.

But the Ashfell family was not sitting idly by.

Though the Ashfell guards defending the city had been forcibly conscripted, they still held the advantage as defenders.

With the numbers between attackers and defenders relatively even, the defensive side naturally had the upper hand.

After an initial period of chaos, the Ashfell guards on the walls gradually regained their footing and even began stabilizing the situation.

Beyond Purple River City’s walls, numerous factions of cultivator families watched from a distance, observing the battle unfold.

These factions refrained from aiding the De Molinos family in their siege. While they were prepared to submit to the De Molinos family if necessary, they were unwilling to waste their own forces in the process.

After all, even if they helped the De Molinos family breach Purple River City, they stood to gain little in return.

“Ancestor, why hasn’t the De Molinos family’s Ancestor made a move yet?”

“If he intervened, the city should fall in an instant…”

In the Madden family’s camp near Bicester Town, a Skin Tempering-stage cultivator glanced toward Purple River City, his face filled with puzzlement as he addressed a stout middle-aged man standing nearby.

The middle-aged man, clad in a crimson robe, exuded an aura of extraordinary strength despite his short and stocky frame.

This man was none other than Madden Jack, the Ancestor of the Madden family in Bicester Town.

Madden Jack’s cultivation was formidable, having reached the peak of the Bone Tempering stage. He was only one step away from breaking through to the Organ Tempering stage.

It was his presence that had allowed the Madden family to maintain its independence in the face of Ashfell family dominance while continuing to develop steadily within the region surrounding Purple River City.

Even the Ashfell family, at its peak, dared not underestimate a Bone Tempering cultivator of his caliber.

If Arius had reached the peak of the Bone Tempering stage when he left the Luoxia Sect, the Ashfell family would never have dared to target Nezier Town.

The Madden family had led their forces to Purple River City not only to assess the De Molinos family’s strength but also to signal goodwill toward them.

However, the idea of submission? That was not in the Madden family’s plans.

The Madden family had no desire to bow to any other force. Their only goal was to continue developing quietly in Bicester Town and to pass their legacy down through the generations.

But in the current landscape, the Madden family alone could hardly maintain its independence in the face of the De Molinos family’s rising dominance.

Fortunately, the Madden family was not alone. Alongside the Green and Hoover families, they formed a triad of allied forces.

These three factions had stood together for years, with each having a Bone Tempering-stage Ancestor as their cornerstone. Even the Ashfell family, at its height, had lacked the strength to annex all three.

The three families had not always opposed the Ashfell family directly, however. Instead, they had maintained a cooperative coexistence, aligning with the Ashfell family as long as their core interests were not threatened.

Now, with the De Molinos family poised to take over Purple River City and replace the Ashfell family as the dominant power, these three families, along with other smaller factions, sought to preserve the balance of power that had existed under Ashfell family rule.

“The De Molinos family’s ambitions seem boundless.”

Madden Jack’s eyes remained closed as his mind churned with thoughts. After a long pause, he slowly opened them and spoke, his voice heavy with concern.

He had seen enough to understand what was happening.

The De Molinos family wasn’t just fighting to take Purple River City—they were using this war to temper their clansmen and forge a solid foundation for their rise.

This battle would come at a great cost for the De Molinos family.

But once it ended, the younger generation of the De Molinos family would likely produce extraordinary individuals.

War and the crucible of life and death could transform not just a faction but the people within it.

“Simon… is ruthless!”

Madden Jack murmured to himself, glancing toward the Madden family’s current patriarch. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Compared to Simon, his handpicked successor for the Madden family lacked the boldness and vision necessary to steer the family through turbulent times.

And behind Simon stood an even more enigmatic figure—the De Molinos family’s Ancestor.

Madden Jack’s expression grew distant as he contemplated the situation.

He could sense it clearly now: the De Molinos family’s rise was unstoppable.

In the face of the De Molinos family’s growing power, even if the Madden, Green, and Ashfell families banded together with other factions, they might not be able to hold their ground.

Boom!

Under the desolate autumn wind, dark clouds rolled in from the west, shrouding the sky in oppressive gloom.

At Purple River City’s gates, broken swords and scattered limbs littered the battlefield. Pools of crimson blood burned like fiery embers across the ground, painting a grim picture of war’s cruelty.

Half an hour, the De Molinos family had already lost half of their clansmen and a third of their armored guards.

Even Simon was now covered in wounds, his armor dented and bloodstained.

On the walls of Purple River City, the Ashfell family’s guards had utterly collapsed in morale. No amount of threats or executions from their overseers could prevent the impending rout.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud-thud!

The battering ram pounded relentlessly against the gates, each impact resonating with a deep, heavy sound.

On the city walls, several key defensive positions had already fallen into the hands of the De Molinos family’s armored guards.

In some places, the De Molinos family’s banners were slowly rising, fluttering defiantly in the wind.

The wind howled.

Clouds churned ominously.

The last rays of the setting sun cast a dim, blood-red glow over the battlefield, a fitting metaphor for the Ashfell family’s desperate, dying struggle.

Boom!

Another seven minutes passed before a resounding crash echoed across the battlefield—the gates of Purple River City were finally breached!

As the gates fell, the remaining Ashfell family guards completely lost the will to fight.

Some screamed in despair, others tried to flee.

Even the Ashfell family’s once-mighty overseers, who had ruthlessly slaughtered retreating guards earlier, were now overcome with panic.

They had once held power and privilege within the Ashfell family, standing above ordinary people. Yet now, faced with their own deaths, they were more terrified—and more cowardly—than anyone else.

“Don’t kill me… please don’t kill me…”

“I surrender! I surrender!!”

One of the overseers dropped to his knees, kowtowing frantically before the advancing De Molinos family forces. His obese body quivered, and the rolls of fat on his face shook comically as he begged for his life.

But his pleas were met only with a flash of steel.

“Those who served the Ashfell family shall face death without mercy.”

“No Ashfell clan member—young or old—shall be spared.”

“As for the city’s ordinary residents, as long as they have no ties to the Ashfell family, none are to be harmed!”

Simon, atop his horned beast, issued the command with unwavering authority as he looked back at the De Molinos family clansmen and armored guards.

Meanwhile, within the Ashfell family estate, the remaining forces and surviving cultivators could no longer sit idly.

The Ashfell patriarch emerged from the estate, his expression twisted with anger as he faced the advancing De Molinos family forces.

He bellowed threats, his voice carrying over the chaos.

“Does your De Molinos family truly intend to wipe us out entirely?”

“I’ve already sent word to the Song family in Lunford City! If you dare to continue this slaughter… are you not afraid of provoking the Song family’s wrath?”

As he spoke, the Ashfell patriarch’s eyes darted constantly, scanning his surroundings.

He did not strike at the De Molinos family forces, instead focusing on one thing—searching for Arius.

He knew that Arius was the true key to this entire battle.

If Arius wanted him dead, not even thousands of De Molinos family forces—or tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers—could save him.

The divide between immortals and mortals could not be bridged by sheer numbers.

But if Arius chose not to intervene, escape might still be possible.

As for the Song family? The patriarch’s mention of them was little more than a bluff to intimidate the De Molinos family.

Would the Song family intervene? And even if they did, when would they arrive?

The Ashfell patriarch himself had no confidence in the answers to these questions.

 

Chapter 32 Huge Wealth, the Ashfell Family’s Accumulation

When the Ashfell patriarch invoked the name of the “Song family,” many of the De Molinos family clansmen furrowed their brows.

The Song family’s reputation was widely known, spreading across thousands of miles.

Within Pyrenees Mountain County, the Song family might seem like an insignificant power. However, within the thousand miles range surrounding Lunford City, only two or three factions could truly rival them.

Even with their internal divisions and declining influence, the Song family’s foundation remained formidable.

Even a cultivator who had recently broken through to the early stage of the Level 1 realm would hesitate before challenging the Song family alone.

After all, no one knew how many hidden cards the Song family might hold.

Seeing the hesitation and concern on the faces of the De Molinos family clansmen, the Ashfell patriarch allowed himself a moment of relief.

For him, the only path left was to stall for as much time as possible.

But in the next instant, a blurred shadow shot over Purple River City’s towering walls like a meteor piercing through dark clouds. The air rippled with violent energy as it descended directly in front of the Ashfell patriarch.

“Kill!!”

“Leave no one alive.”

The shadow spoke in an aged voice before casually swiping its hand.

In that single motion, the Ashfell patriarch’s body was reduced to a mist of blood.

A peak Bone Tempering cultivator of the Ashfell family was thus slain on the spot.

As the blood mist dispersed, both the De Molinos family clansmen and the surviving Ashfell family members froze in shock.

The one who had acted was Arius.

Seeing their Ancestor’s consistent decisiveness, many of the De Molinos family clansmen let out wry smiles internally.

But their hesitation didn’t last long.

They quickly reasoned through the situation.

The relationship between the Ashfell family and the Song family was tenuous at best. Even if the Song family decided to intervene, they wouldn’t risk offending the De Molinos family for a nearly extinguished Ashfell family that no longer held any value.

However, under the pretext of “protecting the Ashfell family,” the Song family might still send people to Purple River City to compete for the spoils of war. That was certainly a possibility.

“Attack!!”

Following Arius’s decisive strike, the De Molinos family clansmen and armored guards began their slaughter.

The remaining Ashfell family cultivators, seeing the situation turn hopeless, abandoned their kin and tried to flee Purple River City.

They lacked the courage to face Arius.

The power gap between Skin Tempering cultivators and an Organ Tempering master was akin to the difference between a lion and a mouse.

Even if they fought to the death, they wouldn’t be able to so much as scratch Arius.

“Spare me…”

“I’m willing to serve the De Molinos family as a slave for the rest of my life. I’ll join the De Molinos family…”

“My child… please, spare my child!”

“Curse you all! You deserve to die!!”

Purple River City descended into chaos.

Under the relentless assault of the armored De Molinos family guards, wielding steel blades, the Ashfell family members were cut down like weeds, slaughtered with no mercy.

“Sigh…”

Among the De Molinos family forces, a young man in scholar’s robes, exuding a scholarly demeanor, glanced around with a look of sorrow and pity.

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you feel uneasy?”

Arius, having slain the Ashfell family cultivators, noticed the young man’s expression. A faint smile appeared on his face as he spoke in a calm tone.

“Ancestor…”

Hearing Arius’s voice, the young man snapped out of his thoughts and hurriedly cupped his hands in respect.

“No need to be so tense.”

Noticing the unease in the young man’s expression, Arius waved dismissively and shook his head slightly.

“Kindness and compassion are not inherently bad.”

“But remember this: showing mercy and compassion to your enemies is the greatest cruelty you can inflict upon your loved ones and your clan.”

“If you don’t believe me, take a closer look. Look into the eyes of the Ashfell family’s women and children…”

“Look at their expressions!”

“Right now, their eyes don’t only show fear; they are filled with anger and madness!”

“We, the De Molinos family, have taken their city, replaced the Ashfell family as the ruling power, plundered everything they once had, and killed their kin and clansmen…”

“Such a deep hatred cannot be resolved. The only way to prevent future trouble is to uproot it entirely!”

“You must understand—our De Molinos family stands tall today not because of so-called mercy. Every foundation of power is built upon the corpses of its enemies!”

“Mercy, compassion, justice… These are nothing more than beautiful veils that conceal the brutal laws of this world.”

Arius’s voice echoed like thunder, striking the young man’s ears and shaking his understanding of the world.

“If, in this struggle, the Ashfell family had emerged victorious, the fate of our De Molinos family would have been the same.”

“Worse, even!”

“Our De Molinos family eradicates its enemies completely, but we do not humiliate their women and children. We do not torture or kill for sport…”

“For the sake of our family’s survival, we must see them dead. But we grant them dignity in death and do not harm the innocent.”

Arius’s final words carried across all of Purple River City.

The earlier part was a lesson for the younger generation. The latter was meant to reassure the city’s residents.

And Arius’s words were no hollow boast—they reflected the truth.

Unlike the Ashfell family, the De Molinos family had not razed the city nor plundered indiscriminately after breaching its walls.

Their actions targeted only the Ashfell family and its direct vassals.

This restraint quickly brought order to the chaos and panic that had gripped Purple River City, stabilizing the situation.

A faction seeking prosperity needed more than just bloodshed; it also needed to win hearts and establish order in the regions it controlled.

“Impressive… The De Molinos family is truly remarkable!”

“Let’s go. It’s time for the Green family to enter the city.”

“Remember, once we’re inside, no wandering around, no looting, and no disrupting the city’s order.”

“Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with as a traitor to the family!”

Outside Purple River City, the Green family’s Ancestor leaned on his staff, his gaze deep as he watched the events unfold.

Seeing how the De Molinos family entered Purple River City and swiftly restored order, he issued commands and personally led the Green family into the city.

As the Green family moved, the Hoover family, White family, and other smaller factions followed suit, entering the city one after another.

Within Purple River City, Simon, accompanied by his armored guards, began taking stock of the Ashfell family’s treasury and accumulated wealth.

The Ashfell family’s legacy spanned nearly four centuries, and the wealth they had amassed during this time was staggering—far surpassing anything the De Molinos family could have dreamed of.

The gold ingots and silver bars alone filled hundreds of carts.

In addition, there were stores of rare medicinal herbs and fragments of spiritual stones. While these resources weren’t vast, they were enough to sustain Arius’s cultivation needs for a long time.

“Ancestor, with this wealth, our De Molinos family can outfit an elite force of fifty thousand armored guards.”

“With these resources, the overall strength of the De Molinos family will increase hundreds of times over!”

Simon’s face was alight with excitement as he gazed at the Ashfell family’s treasures.

Even with his considerable self-control, he found it difficult to suppress his emotions in the face of such immense riches.

 

Chapter 33: The De Molinos Family is the Most Respected Family in the World

“Alright,” Arius said calmly.

“I’ll take half of this worldly wealth. As for the rest, you can distribute it as you see fit.”

Despite the vast amount of gold and silver before him, Arius’s expression remained indifferent, without the slightest ripple of excitement.

Worldly wealth and cultivation resources alike were merely tools for strengthening oneself.

For cultivators, the only thing that mattered was their own power.

Without achieving immortality, all else was fleeting and meaningless.

“Yes, Ancestor,” Simon replied promptly, bowing with respect. He dared not object.

Even with half of the Ashfell family’s wealth taken by their Ancestor, the remaining treasures were more than enough to propel the De Molinos family’s development to new heights.

Besides, the Ashfell family’s monetary wealth was not the most valuable gain.

The real prize that would ensure the De Molinos family’s continued rise and eventual dominance was the territory of Purple River City and the surrounding thousand-miles region.

Tap! Tap-tap!

While the De Molinos family busied themselves with maintaining order in Purple River City and rooting out the remaining Ashfellloyalists, the allied forces led by the Madden family entered the city.

“Jack Madden of the Madden family extends his congratulations to the De Molinos family on their successful occupation of Purple River City!”

“From this day forth, the Madden family, along with the Hoover family, Green family, and other forces, hope to forge an eternal alliance with the De Molinos family, working together to maintain order in the thousand-miles region around Purple River City.”

The Madden family’s Ancestor, Jack Madden, spoke from his luxurious carriage, his tone steady as he addressed Simon.

Behind him, the Hoover family’s Ancestor, the Green family’s Ancestor, and the leaders of various smaller factions echoed his sentiments.

“Congratulations to the De Molinos family on taking Purple River City!”

“Congratulations to the De Molinos family on taking Purple River City!”

Hearing their words, Simon frowned slightly.

The ostentatious display of unity from these factions was clearly a veiled challenge to the De Molinos family’s authority.

They were making it known that even though the De Molinos family had replaced the Ashfell family, they should not expect these forces to bow.

Over the past century, these factions had banded together for mutual survival. Even the Ashfell family had hesitated to act rashly against them.

With the Madden, Green, and Hoover families each having a Bone Tempering-stage Ancestor, and the smaller factions collectively boasting close to twenty cultivators, they were a formidable coalition.

Adding their combined armored guard forces into the equation, even the Ashfell family would have had to pay a steep price to subdue them.

The Ashfell family’s original plan had been to take Nezier Town first, then launch a surprise attack to annihilate the Madden family, ultimately consolidating their control over the thousand-miles region around Purple River City.

With four centuries of legacy, the Ashfell family had grown stronger than ever. If not for the De Molinos family’s rise, they would have easily swept through the region and extended their influence far beyond a thousand li.

Unlike the Song family, whose internal divisions weakened them, the Ashfell family’s internal cohesion had always been relatively stable.

But fate is fickle.

Before the Ashfell family could rise to its full potential, they were entirely replaced by the De Molinos family.

In his final days, the Ashfell patriarch had tried everything—securing their legacy, negotiating for his life—but all his efforts were in vain. Even his hope for the Song family’s intervention never materialized.

In the end, it was the Ashfell family’s misfortune to face such a decisive rival.

Clang!

Just as the allied factions led by the Madden family attempted to intimidate the De Molinos family, a sword light suddenly tore through the void!

The sword descended, and blood splattered across the skies as a severed head fell to the ground.

“In the thousand-miles region around Purple River City, the De Molinos family alone reigns supreme!”

“Maintain order with my De Molinos family? Are you even worthy?”

The one who had struck was none other than Arius.

Beneath the overcast sky, his white hair danced wildly, and his gray robes billowed in the wind. Empowered by the immense force of an Organ Tempering-stage cultivator, Arius wielded nothing more than an ordinary iron sword. Yet with a single strike, he decapitated Jack Madden, the Madden family’s Ancestor.

Witnessing Arius’s sudden and ruthless attack, the Ancestors of the Hoover and Green families were filled with shock and terror.

They had never imagined that Arius would act so decisively, striking without the slightest hesitation!

The reason the three families dared to challenge the Ashfell family in the past, and now the De Molinos family, was not out of foolishness. It was because they held trump cards.

Each of the three families possessed a low-grade Five Thunder Talisman.

Although it was only a low-grade talisman, if detonated, even a Level 1 cultivator could be severely injured!

“Senior De Molinos, what is the meaning of this?”

“Even though you are an Organ Tempering cultivator, you must give the three of us an explanation for what happened today!”

The Hoover family’s Ancestor spoke in a low, menacing tone as he brandished a talisman crackling with lightning energy, radiating a dangerous aura as if it could be unleashed at any moment against Arius.

The Green family’s Ancestor followed suit, raising his own Five Thunder Talisman while coldly staring at Arius.

Faced with the two talismans, Arius showed a trace of caution.

However, both the three major families and the other factions unwilling to submit needed to be eradicated for the De Molinos family’s survival.

Through a surprise attack moments ago, Arius had already dealt with Jack Madden, the Madden family’s Ancestor, and seized the Five Thunder Talisman he carried. This significantly eased the pressure on Arius.

The strength of the Hoover and Green family Ancestors alone posed no real threat to Arius.

As long as he could neutralize the remaining Five Thunder Talismans, no force within the thousand-miles region of Purple River City would be able to challenge the De Molinos family ever again.

Although wary of the talismans, Arius had his countermeasures in place.

He wouldn’t have confronted the three families without confidence in his ability to prevail.

The Ashfell family had failed to deal with the three families primarily because they feared significant losses and lacked an offensive Level 1-grade artifact.

Had the Ashfell family possessed such a weapon, the three families would have been wiped out long ago, even with their low-grade Five Thunder Talismans.

“Fine. This old man shall give you an explanation…”

Arius gazed at the Hoover and Green family Ancestors, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

As the two Ancestors heard Arius’s response and assumed that the sight of the Five Thunder Talismans had forced him to compromise, Arius suddenly unfurled a formation flag.

Consuming several fragments of spiritual stones, the flag instantly unleashed a surge of elemental energy.

In the blink of an eye, the flag created a 50-meter radius domain, with Arius at its center.

Gold, wood, and fire elemental forces coalesced, forming lethal attacks that descended simultaneously upon the heads of the Hoover and Green family Ancestors.

“You… you…”

The two Ancestors panicked immediately, unable to fathom that Arius would possess a Level 1-grade artifact capable of area attacks.

Trapped within the domain of the Three Talents Formation Flag, the Green family’s Ancestor desperately activated his Five Thunder Talisman, hoping to shatter the formation and break free.

Unfortunately, the Five Thunder Talisman, despite its power, was the lowest-grade variety and lacked the strength to disrupt the Three Talents Formation Flag.

As for using the talisman to attack Arius? That was even less feasible.

After deploying the Three Talents Formation Flag, Arius further fortified his defenses by summoning the Earth River Shield, an artifact he had obtained from the Ashfell patriarch.

With one Level 1-grade artifact for offense and another for defense, the Hoover and Green family Ancestors, even armed with their low-grade Five Thunder Talismans, posed no real threat to Arius.

 

Chapter 34 This world is only about strong and weak

Trapped within the Three Talents Formation Flag, the Hoover family’s Ancestor and the Green family’s Ancestor gradually exhausted all their trump cards as time dragged on.

Finally, a series of golden swords formed from elemental energy pierced through the Green family Ancestor’s chest.

As he felt his life slipping away, the Green family Ancestor’s face contorted in fear.

At that moment, regret consumed him.

Over the years, his prolonged negotiations with the Ashfell family, coupled with the low-grade Five Thunder Talisman in his possession, had fueled his arrogance.

Had he chosen to submit to the De Molinos family earlier, he might have saved his life.

The age-old saying echoed in his mind: When weak, fear the strong; to act without respect or provoke one’s powerful neighbors leads only to ruin.

In the final moments of his life, the Green family Ancestor finally saw the truth clearly—but it was too late.

“I’m unwilling… unwilling to die like this!”

With one last roar of defiance, his body collapsed to the ground.

Moments later, his corpse was consumed by the fire element within the Three Talents Formation Flag, reduced to ashes.

“Ancestor!!”

The Green family’s forces erupted into chaos at the sight of their Ancestor’s demise.

The smaller factions aligned with the three families trembled in fear, paralyzed by Arius’s overwhelming power and ruthlessness.

With the White family Ancestor and the Green family Ancestor already dead, the Hoover family Ancestor was all that remained.

But his desperate struggle within the Three Talents Formation Flag could last only a few breaths longer. It was clear that the destruction of the three families was inevitable.

“I surrender…”

“Senior Arius, please spare me!”

Watching the Green family Ancestor’s body disintegrate into nothingness, the Hoover family Ancestor’s spirit broke completely.

Unlike the Green family Ancestor, he abandoned his pride the moment he realized the battle was lost. Kneeling within the Three Talents Formation Flag, he prostrated himself before Arius.

“I am willing to serve Senior Arius, to become your eternal slave, obeying your commands for all my days!”

“My Hoover family’s resources, territories, and even all of its people can be offered to Senior Arius and the entire De Molinos family!”

“I beg you, Senior Arius, show mercy and forgive my ignorance and offenses.”

“As a token of my sincerity, I offer this low-grade Five Thunder Talisman to you, Senior Arius…”

His voice was filled with sincerity and humility, as he tossed the talisman out of the Three Talents Formation Flag.

For cultivators, survival is the ultimate priority.

Even if it meant bowing his head in disgrace and abandoning all dignity, the Hoover family Ancestor believed that as long as he lived, there would always be a chance to recover.

Having lived for over a century, he understood the harsh realities of the world better than most.

Lying prostrate on the ground, he cared nothing for his face or pride.

In his heart, there was no hatred for Arius or the De Molinos family.

In this world of cultivation, where the strong preyed on the weak, anger and resentment were the luxuries of the powerless.

Every conflict had its winner and loser. He had lost, and that was that.

For now, he chose to submit. But he vowed that, when the time came, he would rise again without hesitation, kill Arius, and annihilate the De Molinos family to wipe away today’s humiliation.

“Submission, is it?”

Hearing the Hoover family Ancestor’s plea, Arius narrowed his eyes slightly before bending down to pick up the low-grade Five Thunder Talisman the Ancestor had offered.

The battle with the three family Ancestors had left Arius with two low-grade Five Thunder Talismans as his greatest reward.

With the Divine Treasure Appraisal Mirror, he might even be able to enhance their power to the point where they could kill Level 1 cultivators outright.

After carefully storing the talisman, Arius turned his gaze back to the Hoover family Ancestor, who remained trapped within the Three Talents Formation Flag.

Moments ago, the Ancestor had wielded the Five Thunder Talisman, forcing Arius to trap him and wear him down slowly.

Now that the talisman was in Arius’s possession, he no longer had any fear of the Hoover family Ancestor.

Boom! Boom!

Arius stepped into the Three Talents Formation Flag, extending his hand slowly. A terrifying surge of power gathered in his palm before he struck with overwhelming force.

With a single palm strike, the Hoover family Ancestor’s body was obliterated into a mist of blood.

The entire process happened so quickly that even the Hoover family Ancestor failed to react.

From the moment he handed over the low-grade Five Thunder Talisman, his gestures of submission—abandoning his dignity, kneeling, and pledging allegiance—had all been a gamble.

He gambled that Arius would accept his submission and spare his life.

While trapped within the Three Talents Formation Flag, Arius had been cautious of the talisman’s power, avoiding close-range combat.

However, the formation itself was already wearing him down. A few more breaths, and the Hoover family Ancestor would have perished regardless.

But in the end, his gamble failed.

Against enemies—especially cunning ones like the Hoover family Ancestor—Arius had always believed in rooting out every trace of danger.

“Run, we must leave immediately!”

With the Hoover family Ancestor’s death, the leaders of the three families instantly realized the depth of their peril. Arius’s decisiveness and ruthlessness left no room for negotiation.

Desperately, they split their forces: one group launched an assault on the De Molinos family’s troops to divert Arius’s attention, while another group began evacuating key individuals.

But all their efforts were futile.

The De Molinos family’s armored guards, while not overwhelmingly strong, were bolstered by Arius’s sheer presence—an unstoppable force akin to an army by himself.

Arius manipulated the Three Talents Formation Flag to trap the remaining cultivators from the three families, then transformed into a series of blurred shadows as he began massacring their forces.

As for the smaller factions that had followed the three families, Arius refrained from annihilating them.

These minor powers were insignificant. Even if they banded together and developed for a century, they would still fall short of being a threat to the De Molinos family.

If the De Molinos family was a lion, these small factions were nothing more than ants.

A lion might concern itself with hyenas or jackals but would never be troubled by ants.

The slaughter lasted only moments.

In the end, the forces of the three great families were reduced to blood mist, scattered across the heavens by Arius’s hand.

Overhead, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed.

As torrential rain poured down, the streets of Purple River City were flooded with streams of blood. The metallic stench permeated the air, transforming the city into a nightmarish scene of carnage and horror.

Kneel! Kneel!

Swoosh…

The leaders of the smaller factions that had followed the three families were utterly terrified by the spectacle. One by one, they dropped to their knees in the downpour, sobbing uncontrollably as they kowtowed to Arius.

“Ancestor Arius… we were wrong!”

“We were blinded by greed and foolishly followed the three families to Purple River City…”

“From now on, we pledge our eternal loyalty to the De Molinos family. We will be your most devoted servants!”

Arius regarded their desperate pleas with indifference.

Words of loyalty and promises of eternal servitude were meaningless. In this world, the only truth was the divide between the strong and the weak.

“Simon…”

“You handle the rest.”

Arius had no interest in dealing with these minor factions. The cleanup and aftermath could be handled by Simon, the family’s patriarch.

Having given his instructions, Arius turned and prepared to retreat into the Ashfell family’s ancestral residence to recover and cultivate.

But just as he was about to leave, two overwhelming auras suddenly descended upon Purple River City from beyond its walls.

 

Chapter 35: Power Clash, Profits First

The source of the two powerful auras was a pair of white-haired, middle-aged men holding black umbrellas.

Walking side by side, their pace appeared leisurely, but each step they took covered dozens of meters in an instant.

These two men were none other than the Fifth Elder and Seventh Elder of the Song family.

“The city is already draped with De Molinos family banners. It seems the Ashfell family has been utterly destroyed,” remarked the tall, gaunt Seventh Elder, his wrinkled skin stretched tight over his sharp features. His tone was indifferent, showing no concern for the Ashfell family’s demise.

Hearing this, the somewhat short and stout Fifth Elder, whose face was full of flesh and who had a white beard, nodded slightly. Stroking his beard, he chuckled softly.

“It seems this ‘De Molinos family’ has some strength after all…”

While the two men conversed, they strode into Purple River City.

Outside the city, De Molinos family guards were stationed to defend the perimeter. However, in the face of the Song family elders, even Bone Tempering-stage cultivators—let alone mere mortal guards—would stand no chance of stopping them.

Inside the Ashfell family estate, Arius, who was preparing to leave, paused in his tracks.

Both Song family elders were at the Mid-Organ Tempering stage, and they had made no effort to conceal their overwhelming auras from the moment they entered the city.

Arius observed them closely. Though he had just emerged from a grueling battle and was not at his peak condition, he showed no sign of fear.

In the struggles of the immortal path, one must bow when necessary and bide their time. However, when faced with an unavoidable conflict, the only choice was to summon the courage and determination to fight with everything on the line.

“Fellow Daoists, you’ve entered my Purple River City. May I ask what business you have here?”

Arius took out a fragment of spirit stone and began subtly replenishing his strength, all while preparing for a potential battle.

It was clear from their demeanor that the Song family elders had not come with friendly intentions.

However, Arius didn’t immediately tear into them. Instead, he maintained a polite smile, hoping to gauge their purpose while biding his time.

Hearing Arius’s voice, the Song family’s Seventh Elder slowly closed his black umbrella. Standing in the rain, not a single drop touched his body.

Sensing the Late-Organ Tempering aura emanating from Arius, a flicker of surprise crossed the Seventh Elder’s face.

The Song family had extensive intelligence networks and controlled a great deal of information. According to their reports, the De Molinos family Ancestor’s cultivation level should have only been at the Blood Tempering stage at most.

But his surprise lasted only a moment before he dismissed it.

The De Molinos family’s ability to destroy the Ashfell family—which had numerous cultivators and even a Peak-Organ Tempering Ancestor—clearly indicated that their foundation was not ordinary.

Acknowledging this, the Seventh Elder cupped his hands politely and spoke to Arius:

“You must be the De Molinos family’s esteemed Ancestor, Arius.”

“Please do not take offense, Daoist Arius. We are here today as representatives of the Song family.”

“The Ashfell family of Purple River City was one of our Song family’s important allies. By destroying the Ashfell family and taking over Purple River City, you have crossed a line with our Song family.”

“That said, our Song family has always been merciful. We are willing to overlook the Ashfell family’s destruction, but you must know when to retreat.”

“Within half an hour, I ask that you and your De Molinos family forces leave Purple River City immediately.”

“This city belonged to the Ashfell family. Now that they are no more, as their allies, it is only right for the Song family to take over Purple River City.”

The Seventh Elder’s tone was calm and even, but the underlying threat in his words was unmistakable.

Boom!

As the Seventh Elder finished speaking, a towering, burly De Molinos family elder—standing nearly nine feet tall—let out an enraged roar.

He slammed a heavy sword into the ground, his face twisted in fury as he struggled to contain his emotions. His deep voice rumbled as he addressed the Seventh Elder:

“Your Song family may be strong, but to think you can take over a city my De Molinos family fought and bled for with just a few words—that is going too far!”

The De Molinos family elder was visibly trying to rein in his anger.

After all, the Song family, with their immense strength and influence centered in Lunford City, was a force that could not be easily provoked.

Crossing them could lead to disastrous consequences.

But deep down, the De Molinos family elder was unwilling to accept this.

From the Ashfell family’s invasion to the De Molinos family’s victory and occupation of Purple River City, countless De Molinos family members had sacrificed their lives. Too many had perished for this triumph.

Now, with all the hard-won fruits of victory within reach, the Song family was here to take it all.

Around the De Molinos family elder, the other De Molinos family members and armored guards also bristled with anger.

However, all of them restrained themselves. Even the younger generation, though fuming, no longer acted impulsively.

Having experienced the crucible of life-and-death battle, they had matured.

They understood that rash decisions and blind courage would only bring disaster to the entire family.

At the forefront, Simon and a few other De Molinos family elders looked to Arius for guidance.

When faced with the Song family’s threat, it was ultimately up to their Ancestor to decide how to proceed.

Suddenly, just as the De Molinos family elder finished his indignant question, the Song family’s Seventh Elder stretched out his bony hand, preparing to strike.

His expression was cold and condescending, and with a casual motion, he prepared to kill the De Molinos family elder on the spot.

“Mere mortal ant…”

“Do you think you’re qualified to speak here?”

“A lowly existence like you dares to question me? Truly seeking death!”

The Seventh Elder moved with blinding speed, transforming into a blur of afterimages. He showed no regard for Arius’s presence, intending to kill the De Molinos family elder right in front of him.

The sudden development left the De Molinos family members stunned.

Their faces were filled with fury and frustration, but they also felt helpless.

In the face of such an overwhelming opponent, the anger and grievances of mortals seemed utterly insignificant.

The Seventh Elder’s actions were not mere arrogance or recklessness.

After decades of cultivation, his mind had grown cold and calculating.

This apparent display of dominance was intentional: both a test of Arius’s limits and a warning to the De Molinos family.

As for the Song family’s Fifth Elder, he remained silent, standing off to the side like a bystander.

Despite his unassuming appearance—short, plump, and with a seemingly kind face—he was far from ordinary.

His silence was deliberate. He was prepared to step in as a mediator should tensions escalate too far.

After all, the Song family’s goal was not to declare war on the De Molinos family but to secure some of the benefits of Purple River City.

In the realm of power struggles, displays of dominance or humility always served one purpose: to maximize profit.

“Hmph!!”

Facing the Seventh Elder’s blatant provocation, Arius wasted no words.

He immediately unleashed the Three Talents Formation Flag and retaliated without hesitation.

At this moment, talking was meaningless. Only through strength and decisive action could he intimidate his opponents.

However, Arius was careful not to escalate the situation to the point of no return. He refrained from outright killing the Seventh Elder.

Given the De Molinos family’s current resources and foundation, it was far too risky to become mortal enemies with the Song family.

To truly contend with the Song family, the De Molinos family would need time to grow and develop.

Arius understood that the De Molinos family would eventually have to compromise over the matter of Purple River City.

But even if a retreat was inevitable, it was necessary to fight for better terms first.

To ensure the De Molinos family secured the greatest possible benefit from this situation, they needed to strike a balance between confrontation and retreat.

The more the De Molinos family could gain, the greater the resources Arius would have at his disposal as their Ancestor.

 

Chapter 36 Negotiations and dormant development

Crash!

As the Three Talents Formation Flag was activated, the Song family’s Fifth and Seventh Elders were instantly engulfed within its attack range.

Centered around the formation flag, an area of fifty meters was saturated with three elemental forces: gold, wood, and fire.

The Seventh Elder of the Song family found himself entangled by vines formed from wood elemental energy. Just as he attempted to break free, he was simultaneously assaulted by razor-sharp gold elemental blades and searing fire elemental flames.

Despite being a Mid-Organ Tempering-stage cultivator, he was in a dire situation, struggling to fend off the relentless assault.

The Song family’s Fifth Elder fared no better. His robes and hair were set aflame by the fire element, while his plump face was slashed by the golden elemental swords, leaving deep wounds.

“In my De Molinos family’s territory, harming my family’s people…”

“Who gave you the courage to act so brazenly?”

Arius’s cold, aged voice was laced with killing intent as he looked at the two Song family elders in their sorry states.

Two low-grade Five Thunder Talismans appeared in Arius’s palm, their ominous aura drawing immediate attention.

Within the killing range of the Three Talents Formation Flag, the two Song family elders noticed the Five Thunder Talismans in Arius’s hands. Fear instantly surged within their hearts.

Arius had no intention of actually using the talismans.

Their purpose was to intimidate the two Song family elders, ensuring that they would not act recklessly.

The Three Talents Formation Flag alone was insufficient to deter the Song family. On the contrary, revealing possession of a Level 1-grade artifact could even provoke the Song family’s greed.

But with the low-grade Five Thunder Talismans added into the equation, the Song family would be forced to think twice.

The talismans were deadly weapons. Though individually capable of threatening only two or three Organ Tempering-stage cultivators, when paired with the formation flag, they could potentially cripple or kill up to five or six Organ Tempering cultivators in one strike.

Losing so many high-level cultivators in one battle would deal a devastating blow to the Song family’s foundation, no matter how deep their reserves ran.

Even with a 90% certainty that the threat of the talismans and flag would force the Song family to retreat, Arius was prepared for the worst-case scenario.

He planned to:

1. Use the Divine Treasure Appraisal Mirror to enhance the low-grade Five Thunder Talismans, boosting their lethality.
2. Invest all his remaining spirit stone fragments to improve his own cultivation potential.
3. Trade the Centennial Spirit-Refining Herb, which still had seven leaves remaining, in a larger cultivator market for other life-saving treasures.

These plans would ensure he was ready to confront the Song family if they refused to back down.

As Arius’s thoughts raced, the two Song family elders trapped within the Three Talents Formation Flag finally collapsed to the ground, choosing to surrender.

“De Molinos Daoist… please, show mercy!!”

“This is all a misunderstanding!”

“I apologize for our earlier offense—let’s discuss this calmly,” pleaded the Fifth Elder of the Song family, his plump frame trembling with urgency.

Though he was fairly certain Arius would not kill them outright, he dared not gamble on that assumption.

In the cultivation world, there was no shortage of madmen willing to risk everything.

If Arius truly decided to kill them both, even if the Song family later sought revenge and paid any price to avenge them, it would be meaningless to the dead.

Without life, all was dust in the wind.

“Discuss?”

“You intruded into my De Molinos family’s territory uninvited, attempted to seize my city, and attacked my people… What is there to discuss?”

“The De Molinos family may be weak, but we will not be humiliated!”

“Those who offend my De Molinos family must pay with blood!!”

As Arius spoke, the Five Thunder Talismans in his palm began to emit faint purple lightning. Their oppressive and dangerous energy spread through the area, filling the air with a suffocating tension.

Seeing this, the two Song family elders’ pupils contracted sharply.

The Seventh Elder, in particular, was drenched in cold sweat as he lay prostrate on the ground.

Regret flooded his heart.

Had the Song family’s Seventh Elder exercised more restraint earlier and not attacked the De Molinos family elder, perhaps the situation would not have escalated to this level of tension.

“Wait!”

“ARIUSS, please wait!!”

The Song family’s Fifth Elder urgently called out again, terrified that Arius might truly take action.

Though he possessed life-saving treasures of his own, being trapped within the Three Talents Formation Flag left him with no confidence in escaping the devastating power of the low-grade Five Thunder Talismans.

A single low-grade Five Thunder Talisman was enough to injure even an Early-Level 1-stage cultivator—let alone someone like him, who was only at the Mid-Organ Tempering stage.

If he were not trapped within the flag’s area of influence, he might have been able to use his treasures to survive the talisman’s power. But now, his situation was dire and precarious.

“Purple River City… can remain under the De Molinos family’s jurisdiction,” the Fifth Elder conceded, his tone filled with resignation.

“However, the Ashfell family’s accumulated resources—its foundation—must be handed over to the Song family.”

“This is a direct order from our Song family’s Patriarch.”

“Daoist Arius I urge you to remain calm…”

The Fifth Elder curled up on the ground, desperately dodging the elemental attacks within the formation.

Hearing the Song family’s attempt at compromise, Arius did not withdraw the Five Thunder Talismans from his grasp.

Hand over the Ashfell family’s foundation? That was absolutely out of the question!

However, when it came to the broader territorial interests of Purple River City’s surroundings, the De Molinos family would have to temporarily yield some ground.

After all, if the Song family were to walk away with absolutely nothing, they would certainly retaliate in some form.

“With Purple River City as the core, the outermost 300-mile radius of the territory can be ceded to your Song family.”

“This is the De Molinos family’s final bottom line!”

“As for the Ashfell family’s accumulated foundation and the governance rights to Purple River City—these are the De Molinos family’s core interests.”

“And when it comes to core interests, there is no room for negotiation.”

Arius spoke in a calm but firm tone. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that could not be challenged.

Upon hearing Arius’s willingness to negotiate, the Song family’s Fifth Elder finally let out a sigh of relief.

As long as Arius was open to dialogue, there was room for maneuver.

At the very least, no matter how the negotiations ended, his life would no longer be in immediate danger.

“Daoist…”

“The outermost 300-mile radius is largely barren, with no proper settlements or towns. It’s composed mostly of mountainous terrain and unworkable wilderness.”

“Your De Molinos family already occupies Purple River City and has inherited the Ashfell family’s 400 years of accumulated foundation. That’s understandable. But the outer 700 miles of territory must also go to the Song family.”

“Daoist Arius please consider… We’re here representing the Song family, and if what we return with is insufficient to satisfy our Patriarch, then… well…”

The Fifth Elder let out a bitter laugh, leaving the rest of his sentence unfinished.

But his meaning was crystal clear:

If the benefits the Song family received were too meager, they would not let the matter rest.

Of course, the Fifth Elder’s words were not entirely genuine—they were simply a bargaining strategy.

The Song family had no real intention of going to war with the De Molinos family over Purple River City.

As long as they could secure some tangible benefits, they would not escalate the situation further.

 

Chapter 37: Teaching the tribesmen to be brave after knowing shame

“Seven hundred miles?”

“Hahaha…”

Faced with the bargaining of the Song family’s Fifth Elder, Arius let out a cold laugh.

Hearing that laughter, the Fifth Elder of the Song family, trapped within the “Three Talents Array Flags” and covered in injuries, spoke up reluctantly, his voice filled with resignation.

“Brother, six hundred miles… let’s settle on six hundred miles! If Arius agrees, once I return to the clan, I will do my best to persuade the patriarch to form an alliance between our Song family and the De Molinos family! From this day onward, we advance and retreat together!”

The Fifth Elder’s breath grew weaker by the second. Under the relentless pressure of the “Three Talents Array Flags”, he could no longer hold out. Even if Arius had no intention of killing him outright, any further damage could harm his immortal foundation and possibly shorten his lifespan.

“Six hundred miles?”
“It seems there’s still nothing to discuss…”

Despite the Fifth Elder’s further concession, Arius did not withdraw the “Three Talents Array Flags”.

In most negotiations, the process is a game of concessions between both sides. The key to successful negotiations lies in keeping one’s composure, remaining calm, and creating more advantages for oneself while gradually forcing the other side to retreat further.

“Brother, your De Molinos family claiming only three hundred miles on the outskirts of the thousand-mile area surrounding Purple River City—this is far too little,” the Fifth Elder persisted, barely holding himself upright as he continued to negotiate with Arius.

After yet another back-and-forth, Arius ultimately ceded five hundred miles of territory.

The Song family was powerful, and if the De Molinos family refused to make concessions, another conflict would be inevitable. The De Molinos family’s current foundation was too shallow, having just emerged from a great battle. They desperately needed to maintain peace in the surrounding environment.

However, Arius had already developed a deep desire to destroy the Song family.

The ceded territory would remain in the hands of the Song family for now, but once the De Molinos family consolidated their hold on Purple River City and recovered their strength, they would take everything back.

Those who take advantage of the De Molinos family will pay a heavy price!

With a flick of his wrist, Arius withdrew the “Three Talents Array Flags”.

“Brother Arius, until we meet again!”

As soon as the “Three Talents Array Flags” were taken down, the Fifth Elder of the Song family wasted no time. After offering a formal salute, he and the Seventh Elder hurriedly fled the city like men escaping for their lives.

Although they had not fully completed the task assigned by the Song family patriarch, they had successfully claimed five hundred miles of territory from the De Molinos family.

It was worth noting that the Song family’s current domain spanned two thousand miles from north to south. Acquiring five hundred miles—equivalent to a quarter of their entire territory—without paying any price was a tremendous gain.

Such an accomplishment would undoubtedly solidify the patriarch’s power in the next leadership election.

As the two Song elders disappeared into the distance, the De Molinos family’s clansmen stood silently, their faces heavy with emotion. Many clenched their fists tightly, their eyes filled with a mixture of humiliation, helplessness, and anger.

The younger members, in particular, burned with fury at the Song family’s intrusion and the forced ceding of five hundred miles of territory surrounding Purple River City. Their rage was palpable.

In contrast, the elders of the De Molinos family—those leaning on canes, with snow-white hair—remained calm and composed.

The longer one lives, the more one understands the cruelty of the world.

If you are not strong, you will be oppressed.
If you are not strong, even the benefits you hold will be taken from you.
If you are not strong, you will have neither dignity nor the right to survive.

This is the reality between factions.
And between individuals, it is no different.

Under the pouring rain, silence reigned over the De Molinos family.

When the oppressive atmosphere reached its peak, Arius finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension.

“Are you angry? Do you feel powerless?”
“The root of all this… is that the De Molinos family is not strong enough.”

“If we are not strong enough, we must temporarily bear this humiliation.”

As Arius spoke, his eyes reflected a profound and unfathomable depth, as though stars shimmered and an infinite cosmos unfolded within them.

Hearing his words, the clansmen of the De Molinos family bowed their heads in silence.

For the past century, the De Molinos family had lived far too comfortably—so comfortably that many of them had forgotten the cruel reality of the world.

It wasn’t until the Ashfell family invaded…
It wasn’t until the Song family’s threats forced them to cede territory that they were reminded.

Fortunately, the De Molinos family’s forefather had been present to resolve one crisis after another. Without the forefather’s support, the family might have already fallen into decline—perhaps even total annihilation—long before the Ashfell family’s invasion.

“Remember this: when you face humiliation in times of weakness, do not be consumed by anger. Instead, let shame drive you to rise stronger.”

Arius’s voice, weathered and wise, echoed through the pouring rain as he addressed the De Molinos family’s clansmen, especially the younger generation.

The temporary cession of five hundred miles of territory was of little consequence to Arius. What mattered far more was forging the De Molinos family’s spirit and resolve.

Spirit and resolve are the true foundation for a family’s enduring strength—a legacy that lasts through the ages.

If a faction’s people are divided, no matter how vast and prosperous it grows, internal strife will inevitably tear it apart.

“If every member of the De Molinos family strives for greatness, what is the mere Song family to us? In the years to come, sweeping across Aragon Kingdom will be but a trivial matter!”

“Those who toil with determination will find that the heavens do not abandon them. Through patience and perseverance, three thousand warriors can overthrow the Song family, and a million soldiers can conquer the nations!”

Arius’s white hair fluttered in the wind as he turned his back to the crowd. Step by step, he walked into the former Ashfell family estate, his voice lingering in the air like a solemn promise.

The Ashfell family estate, compared to the De Molinos family’s ancestral grounds, was nothing short of a miniature imperial palace.

The spiritual energy within the Ashfell estate was also far superior to that of the De Molinos family’s land.

Arius chose the most secluded courtyard, where the concentration of spiritual energy was at its peak. After setting up a basic illusion array, he prepared to sit in meditation and begin his recovery.

From exterminating the Ashfell family’s remaining cultivators…
To erase the three allied families’ forefathers…
To confront the two Song family elders…

These efforts had drained Arius immensely. He needed to recover as quickly as possible to prepare for any unexpected developments that might arise.

Before starting his cultivation, Arius instructed his clansmen to deliver half of the Ashfell family’s resources to his courtyard.

Standing amidst a courtyard filled with mundane gold and silver treasures, Arius retrieved the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal” and began to enhance his equipment.

First were the two “Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talismans”, which, in his current state, were absolute trump cards.

Even if it required consuming a massive amount of resources, these talismans had to be upgraded.

As for magical artifacts and techniques, Arius chose not to use the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal” to enhance them.

The magical artifacts in his possession were all Level 1 artifacts. Enhancing them would elevate them to Level 2 artifacts, which Arius couldn’t yet wield effectively. While he could barely utilize some of the power of Level 1 artifacts with fragmented spirit stones, using Level 2 artifacts would be entirely beyond his capabilities.

Regarding cultivation techniques, the ones he possessed were already of Level 2, and he even had the second volume of the “Scarlet Flame Path Canon”, capable of supporting cultivation up to the Level 3 Realm.

Thus, there was no need to upgrade his techniques.

Ultimately, Arius decided to focus all available resources on three priorities:

1. Enhancing his natural aptitude
2. Upgrading the Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talismans
3. Repairing the Level 2 Spiritual Gathering Array

With these decisions made, Arius’s path forward was clear.

 

Chapter 38 Five Thunder Talisman, Twenty Times the Spirit Gathering

After completing his plans, Arius wasted no time. He placed box after box of mundane gold and silver onto the surface of the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal”.

In an instant, the mundane treasures were completely absorbed by the mirror.

Arius held the mirror and directed its surface toward one of the “Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talismans”.

A mysterious and profound radiance flowed from the mirror, washing over the talisman’s surface.

Under the brilliance of the light, the previously crude Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talisman began to transform.

When the glow from the mirror finally subsided, the talisman had turned into an object resembling a command token.

Arius picked up the enhanced talisman, examining it closely.

The upgraded Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talisman was no longer a mere talisman. Strictly speaking, it had evolved into a “Talisman Treasure”.

However, upgrading this single talisman had consumed a quarter of the Ashfell family’s accumulated resources.

Even so, Arius considered the cost well worth it.

This “Five-Thunder Talisman Treasure” radiated immense power even while sitting quietly in his hand. Its quality had nearly reached that of a Level 2 Talisman Treasure.

Talisman Treasures are unique objects, akin to magical artifacts, that require no cultivation level to use.

Even a cultivator at the Body Tempering: Skin Tempering Early Stage could freely wield a high-level Talisman Treasure.

However, crafting a Talisman Treasure comes at a great price, often reducing the cultivator’s cultivation level and consuming their lifespan.

To create a Talisman Treasure, the cultivator must have reached at least the Level 1 Realm.

When completed, a Talisman Treasure can unleash half the power of its creator.

Due to the immense cost, few cultivators are willing to make Talisman Treasures. Only those who have no hope of breaking through or are nearing the end of their lifespan will attempt such creations.

As a result, Talisman Treasures are extraordinarily valuable—often exceeding the worth of magical artifacts of a higher grade.

Rare as phoenix feathers, their price is immeasurable.

After upgrading both Low-Tier Five-Thunder Talismans into Five-Thunder Talisman Treasures, Arius had exhausted half of the Ashfell family’s resource accumulation.

Yet Arius didn’t mind in the slightest.

As his cultivation level rose, the items he needed to enhance would also require higher grades and resources.

Eventually, mundane gold and silver treasures would lose all value to him. It made no sense to waste precious time on lower-grade resources when they could instead be used to upgrade objects of greater significance.

Unless…

Arius’s thoughts shifted. Perhaps in the future, he could refine a puppet imbued with basic intelligence and unwavering loyalty.

Such a puppet could operate the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal” while Arius was cultivating in seclusion, ensuring the mirror was utilized to its full potential, upgrading items continuously.

However, such an endeavor required solving two critical problems:

1. Gathering an adequate supply of resources for the mirror to consume.
2. Preparing a sufficient stockpile of items that could be upgraded.

Arius’s mind raced with possibilities. After carefully storing away the two upgraded Five-Thunder Talisman Treasures, he took out various fragments of spirit stones and materials for cultivation, intending to repair and upgrade the Level 2 Spiritual Gathering Array.

Fortunately, the resources he had obtained after eliminating the Ashfell family and their allied cultivators were significant. Otherwise, such extravagant spending would have been impossible.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Arius finally saw results.

By consuming the majority of his cultivation resources, the severely damaged Spiritual Gathering Array, which had only retained one-tenth of its original functionality, began to undergo a transformation.

Under the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal”, the damaged array flags were repaired, emitting a faint golden glow.

Although the array now appeared to be fully restored, Arius knew better.

Using fragmented spirit stones and low-grade cultivation materials would never be enough to completely repair a Level 2 Spiritual Gathering Array.

This was only the beginning.

After being enhanced and repaired by the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal”, the Level 2 Spiritual Gathering Array was now at least functional.

To test it, Arius placed a fragment of a spirit stone into the array’s flag.

Almost immediately, the array began to activate under the energy of the spirit stone fragment.

Centered around the flag, a swirling vortex of spiritual energy formed within a radius of ten meters.

Inside the vortex, the concentration of spiritual energy was roughly three times higher than the area outside it.

Achieving a threefold increase in spiritual energy indicated that the array, while not fully restored, had at least reached the level of a Level 1 Gathering Array.

Since it wasn’t completely repaired, the array’s threefold effect came with relatively low energy consumption.

It required only one fragment of a spirit stone to sustain it for half a month.

For Arius, the threefold gathering effect was sufficient. After all, before breaking through to the Level 2 Realm or even the Level 3 Realm, his spiritual energy requirements weren’t excessively high.

Following the enhancement of the Spiritual Gathering Array, Arius was left with only forty spirit stone fragments.

Determined to make the most of his remaining resources, he retrieved twenty fragments, intending to use the “Mirror of Immortal Appraisal” to upgrade his spiritual root.

In the Body Tempering realm, a Profound-grade Spiritual Root had no bottlenecks during cultivation.

However, upon breaking through to the Level 1 Realm, the advantages of a Profound-grade Spiritual Root would begin to diminish.

By the time one reached the Level 2 Realm, the limitations of a Profound-grade Spiritual Root would make further breakthroughs exceedingly difficult—let alone achieving the Level 3 Realm or advancing further on the immortal path.

Arius placed the twenty spirit stone fragments onto the surface of the Mirror of Immortal Appraisal.

Holding the mirror, he directed its radiant, mysterious light toward his body.

The light enveloped him, and a profound, warm power surged through every inch of his body.

For the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the warmth persisted before gradually fading away.

The Mirror of Immortal Appraisal ceased emitting its glow.

Under the influence of that mysterious power, Arius could feel his aptitude had improved significantly.

However, when he checked his spiritual root, it was still a Profound-grade Spiritual Root.

Clearly, the value of twenty spirit stone fragments wasn’t enough to elevate his root to a Earth-grade Spiritual Root.

Arius wasn’t disappointed; he had anticipated this outcome.

After the failed attempt to upgrade his spiritual root, Arius decisively stopped. He didn’t want to squander any more spirit stone fragments.

The remaining twenty fragments were far too valuable to waste.

He needed to allocate them wisely:

• Some would be reserved to maintain the Spiritual Gathering Array.
• Others would be used to assist his cultivation and aid in regaining his peak state.

Arius made his decision:

He would focus on reaching the Peak of the Organ Tempering Stage in one concentrated effort.

After achieving the peak, he would immediately begin accumulating his foundation and preparing for a breakthrough to the Level 1 Realm

Arius understood that only after stepping into the Level 1 Realm could one truly enter the threshold of the immortal path.

In the world of cultivation, reaching the Level 1 Realm was the minimum requirement for establishing status.

While not considered powerful, Level 1 cultivators were respected figures throughout Aragon Country, guaranteed a place wherever they went.

Closing his eyes and steadying his thoughts, Arius sat cross-legged within the Spiritual Gathering Array.

With the vortex of concentrated energy swirling around him, he began his breathing technique, allowing the essence of heaven and earth to cleanse and refine his body.

The road to strength awaited him, and Arius was prepared to face it head-on.

 

Chapter 39 Financial Problems, Great Wealth

Time passed swiftly, and half a year had gone by in the blink of an eye.

Autumn faded into the chill of winter, and the frosty silver veil of snow blanketed the vast land, painting a majestic picture of mountains and valleys.

Within Purple River City, Simon had spent the past six months transforming the former Ashfell family estate into the new De Molinos family ancestral grounds.

Additionally, he established a “Hall of Honor” within the De Molinos family’s new territory.

The names of those who fought and died for the De Molinos family, whether they were clansmen or guards, were inscribed in this hall. As long as the De Molinos family’s legacy endured, their names would be remembered, their spirits honored, and their sacrifices commemorated by future generations through offerings and reverence.

The creation of the Hall of Honor further strengthened the unity within the De Molinos family.

During these six months, Simon not only focused on solidifying the De Molinos family internally but also worked diligently to manage Purple River City and its surrounding regions.

The area within a thousand-mile radius of Purple River City included seven towns and hundreds of villages.

After the Song family claimed five hundred miles of territory, the De Molinos family retained control over four towns:

• Nezier Town
• Bicester Town
• Icosium Town
• Lunford Town

Among these, Nezier Town was the largest, with the most industries and a population of over forty thousand, nearly one-third of Purple River City’s population.

The other three towns were much smaller, each housing only about twenty to thirty thousand people.

To better govern the four towns, Simon used one-quarter of the Ashfell family’s resources to construct a dirt road connecting them over the past six months.

This new road network drastically improved the efficiency of travel and communication between the towns and Purple River City, allowing the De Molinos family to mobilize their guard forces to any town in the shortest possible time.

In addition to building roads and bridges to foster trade, Simon personally organized a ten-thousand-strong army and a five-hundred-man heavy cavalry unit.

Following the strategies proposed by Arius, he methodically implemented plans to strengthen the family:

• Encouraging clan members to marry and have children.
• Searching for infants and children with spiritual roots.
• Establishing political alliances through marriage and infiltration of other factions.

Simon was keenly aware that certain goals could not be rushed and required time and steady accumulation. For instance, the birth of clan descendants with spiritual roots or finding talented children with spiritual roots were matters of chance, not something that could be forced.

In the De Molinos family’s new estate within Purple River City, Simon sat at his desk, gazing at the swirling snow outside while working through the towering stack of family affairs.

As the current head of the De Molinos family, Simon not only managed internal family matters but also oversaw the administration of one city, four towns, and over fifty villages.

The five-hundred-mile territory surrounding Purple River City was under De Molinos family control, but conflicts frequently broke out among the various families and factions in the villages and towns.

Simon knew he had to resolve these disputes.

Following Arius’s vision, his goal was to unify the villages and towns within the De Molinos family’s territory, forming a cohesive system centered around the De Molinos family.

Only by doing so could the De Molinos family’s economy prosper, allowing their territory to sustain a larger population.

The De Molinos family’s current financial situation, however, was dire.

Half of the Ashfell family’s resources had already been depleted after six months of intense effort by Simon.

During this time, he had accomplished a great deal:

• Forming the De Molinos family’s military guard.
• Building roads and bridges.
• Comforting and supporting the clan.

But these efforts had consumed a massive amount of wealth.

Despite leading expeditions to plunder the resources of the cultivator families in Bicester Town, Icosium Town, and Lunford Town, it was only a drop in the bucket compared to the De Molinos family’s growing expenses.

Now, the De Molinos family’s remaining wealth amounted to five thousand taels of silver.

This amount was only enough to sustain the De Molinos family for half a month.

Simon’s face was full of worry as he thought about the family’s dwindling resources.

The lack of funds was troubling enough, but the De Molinos family’s industries were barely breaking even.

In this world, the primary currencies in the secular realm were copper coins, silver taels, and gold taels:

• One gold tael = Ten silver taels
• One silver tael = One hundred copper coins

For the De Molinos family to survive and grow, drastic changes were necessary.

While Simon was racking his brain, desperately trying to figure out how to resolve the De Molinos family’s financial crisis, a young man dressed in a luxurious robe suddenly barged into the De Molinos family’s main hall.

The young man’s face was alight with excitement, as if he had stumbled upon the greatest fortune imaginable. Upon seeing Simon, he forgot all protocol and didn’t even bow before blurting out,

“Patriarch! Fifty miles outside Lunford Town, Elder Arthur has discovered a large silver mine!”

“After initial surveys, the mine is estimated to be twenty miles long and ten miles wide.”

“We haven’t determined its depth yet… but according to Elder Arthur’s preliminary calculations, once fully mined, this could yield at least one hundred billion taels of silver for the De Molinos family!”

Hearing this, Simon, seated on his wooden chair, immediately brightened, his eyes gleaming with hope.

One hundred billion taels of silver—the equivalent of ten billion taels of gold!

To put this in perspective, even the Ashfell family’s four-hundred-year accumulation was worth, at most, five billion taels of gold.

This silver vein was worth the equivalent of two Ashfell families’ entire wealth!

With this newfound wealth, all of the De Molinos family’s financial troubles would be completely resolved. Not only that, but it would provide the foundation for unprecedented growth.

“Let’s go! Take me there immediately!” Simon commanded without hesitation.

“Make sure to assign more men to guard that silver vein!”

Without a second thought, Simon set aside all his current responsibilities, braving the harsh wind and snow as he hurriedly left Purple River City.

“Yes, Patriarch!”

The young man dared not disobey Simon’s orders. His sole purpose in returning to the family was to report this discovery.

Simon quickly assembled a group of armed guards. Riding atop a horned beast, he led the entourage out of Purple River City with great urgency.

The distance between Lunford Town and Purple River City wasn’t far. Thanks to the dirt road constructed over the past six months, the journey only took one day and one night.

The silver vein was located in a deep ravine—a place discovered entirely by chance by Elder Arthur.

Upon Simon’s arrival, a middle-aged man dressed in coarse linen, with an unremarkable appearance, quickly stepped forward to greet him.

This man was none other than Elder Arthur, the one who had discovered the silver vein.

However, Arthur’s expression was far from jubilant. Instead, his demeanor was heavy with concern.

“Patriarch,” Arthur said gravely, “we’ve completed a more detailed survey of the silver vein.”

“The silver reserves in this vein are twenty times larger than our initial estimates.”

“Two trillion taels of silver. You know what this means, Patriarch…”

Simon’s heart pounded as he processed this staggering number. Two trillion taels of silver was an astronomical fortune that could change the fate of their family and draw the attention of countless forces.

The weight of this discovery was clear: it was both a monumental opportunity and a dangerous burden.

 

Chapter 40: Silver Mine, Everything Will Turn Around

Elder Arthur’s words hung heavily in the air, and Simon’s heart sank like a stone.

An ancient saying echoed in his mind: A man can only eat as much as his stomach allows.

One billion taels of silver—while it was a staggering sum, the De Molinos family could just barely manage to digest it with their resources and foundation. But two hundred billion taels? Even if they pushed the family to its limits, they’d collapse under the strain.

Unimaginable wealth was tempting, yes, but when prosperity surpassed one’s capacity to control it, such wealth often turned into catastrophe.

As the patriarch of the De Molinos family, Simon instantly grasped the peril lurking beneath the surface of this fortune.

While cultivators generally showed little interest in worldly riches, an amount like this was enough to tempt even the fabled immortals.

And around Purple River City, many powers rivaled or even surpassed the Song family’s influence—such as the Sullivan family, the Mully family, and the Benn family. These factions might not differ greatly in strength from the Song family, but their greed would ignite at the mere rumor of such a treasure.

Yet, what worried Simon even more than these rival clans was the looming threat of the Blood Wolf Hall.

Against forces like the Song family or Sullivan family, the De Molinos family could maneuver and negotiate to carve out a share of the pie. But Blood Wolf Hall? That was a completely different beast.

Blood Wolf Hall was a faction with Level 1 Realm cultivators in its ranks. In the past, during the Song family’s peak, they had the strength to compete with Blood Wolf Hall. But with the fall of the Song family’s Level 1 patriarch, Blood Wolf Hall had risen to become the most powerful force within ten thousand miles.

The Sullivan family, the Benn family, even the current Song family—every one of them had to pay tribute to Blood Wolf Hall annually.

Blood Wolf Hall’s direct sphere of influence spanned over six thousand miles, and the hall boasted four Level 1 Realm cultivators, with its master being a formidable late-stage Level 1 expert.

If Blood Wolf Hall decided to claim the silver mine discovered by the De Molinos family, there would be no way for them to resist.

Simon sighed quietly, unwilling to dwell on such grim possibilities. Yet, clinging to a sliver of hope, he turned to Elder Arthur and asked in a steady tone, “Who else knows about this silver mine?”

Elder Arthur exhaled deeply, frustration evident in his expression as he replied, “I discovered this mine by chance after an earthquake struck the area.”

“When I arrived, many villagers from the surrounding mountain settlements had already picked up unprocessed silver ore scattered by the tremors.”

“I immediately dispatched our armored guards to seal off the area, hoping to suppress the news… but it was too late. Word of the mine has likely already spread far and wide.”

“Even if we were to deploy our guards to raze the nearby villages and wipe out witnesses, it would be impossible to contain the secret of the mine.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “That said, the full scale of this silver mine is something only we know for now. However, forces like the Song family will undoubtedly send teams to investigate soon.”

“In short, the De Molinos family cannot guard this secret alone, nor can we claim the mine quietly.”

Simon fell silent, his mind racing. After a moment, he decisively issued his orders.

“Hold this position!” he commanded. “No matter which faction sends people to investigate, stall them for as long as you can.”

“I need to return immediately and consult the patriarch. This matter is too critical, and only he can decide how we proceed.”

Without wasting a second, Simon swung onto the back of his horned beast mount. Ignoring his exhaustion, he set off toward Purple River City at top speed.

He knew all too well that the De Molinos family lacked the strength to swallow such a massive silver mine.

But abandoning it entirely? That was something he simply could not accept.

As he pushed through the snow-covered forests and mountains, fatigue clawed at his body, but Simon pressed on relentlessly.

It wasn’t until a full day and night later, with his body utterly drained, that he finally reached the gates of Purple River City.

Entering the De Molinos family estate, Simon wasted no time. Dragging his weary body through the halls, he made his way straight to the courtyard where Arius, the family’s elder patriarch, was in seclusion.

In the secluded courtyard, Arius sat cross-legged, his cultivation having reached the Peak of Organ Tempering. Though his hair remained snowy white, his vitality had grown even more vigorous.

He was now only a single step away from breaking through to the Level 1 Realm.

Yet, that final step was as insurmountable as scaling the heavens.

Across the Aragon Kingdom’s three provinces and seventy-two counties, cultivators at the Peak of Organ Tempering numbered in the countless thousands. However, those who managed to ascend into the Level 1 Realm were fewer than one in ten thousand.

Take the Albigensians Sect, for example—despite its tens of thousands of disciples, it had only two to three hundred Level 1 cultivators.

What made this all the more striking was that most Albigensians Sect disciples possessed innate talents far exceeding those of rogue cultivators in the outside world, aside from the occasional disciple admitted with an “Ascension Token.”

In the vast ten-thousand-mile radius around Purple River City, there were thousands of cultivators—yet only four among them, all from the Blood Wolf Hall, had reached the Level 1 Realm.

“I suppose it’s time to return to Nezier Town and then head to a larger cultivation market. I’ll sell the Centennial Tempering Grass and exchange it for some much-needed cultivation resources,” Arius muttered to himself as he slowly stood up from the Spirit Gathering Array, concluding his cultivation session.

With his Mysterious-Grade Spirit Root, advancing to the Level 1 Realm through sheer absorption of spiritual energy would take at least ten years without the aid of medicinal resources.

Though he seemed only a step away from his breakthrough, crossing that threshold required an astronomical amount of spiritual energy—nearly ten times the total required to advance from a mortal to the Peak of Organ Tempering.

After finishing his cultivation, Arius began to take stock of his possessions.

Among his belongings, aside from a collection of cultivation techniques, two Five Thunder Talismans, and a pair of magical artifacts, only two spirit stone fragments and a single stalk of Centennial Tempering Grass remained as resources that could aid his advancement.

The two spirit stone fragments, Arius intended to gift to the ferocious tiger beast that guarded Nezier Town.

He had promised the beast earlier that it would receive more rewards upon his return, provided it continued its watch over the town.

Just as Arius finished organizing his belongings and was about to step out of the courtyard, a weak voice called out from beyond the gates.

“Patriarch…”

“This junior has an urgent matter to report!”

Hearing the frail and exhausted tone of Simon, Arius flicked his sleeve, summoning a breeze that pushed open the wooden gates to the courtyard.

“What happened to you?” Arius asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern.

Standing at the gate, Simon was a sorry sight, his body covered in frost and snow, looking as though he might collapse at any moment.

With a light wave of his sleeve, Arius sent a wisp of his qi to Simon, channeling it directly into the younger man’s forehead.

Instantly, the ice and snow clinging to Simon’s body began to melt and evaporate, while the ghastly pallor of his face gave way to a healthier flush of color.