Chapter 79 The Road to Unification

Seated within the small pavilion at the edge of Cloud Ascension Peak, Zan Yunxiao quietly gazed at the endless sea of clouds stretching beyond the cliff.

A cool breeze brushed past his black robes as his eyes remained fixed on the system panel before him.

[Mission Issued]

[Option 1:] Destroy a Demonic Sect.

[Reward:] 200 years of cultivation.

[Option 2:] Unify the Western Continent.

[Reward:] Ancient Spiritual Flower.

Zan Yunxiao carefully read both options.

His eyes first rested on the reward for the first mission.

"Two hundred years of cultivation..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"The reward has increased."

He clearly remembered that previous missions of similar difficulty had only rewarded one hundred and twenty years of cultivation.

This time, the reward had increased by eighty years, reaching a total of two hundred years.

His gaze then shifted to the second mission.

Unify the Western Continent.

Unlike the first option, Zan Yunxiao was not surprised.

After all, unifying the Western Continent had always been part of his long-term plans.

Whether the system issued the mission or not, he intended to accomplish it sooner or later.

There was another reason behind his decision.

Now that he knew the Western Continent possessed abundant spiritual veins and rich spiritual energy, he understood that this secret could not remain hidden forever.

If the powerful cultivators of the Central Continent learned of these resources...

They would inevitably invade.

To them, the Western Continent would merely be a treasure trove waiting to be plundered.

Its current fragmented states would stand no chance against such an invasion.

For that reason, Zan Yunxiao intended to unite the entire continent under a single banner.

Only by unifying the Western Continent could he establish a powerful force and create an army capable of resisting future invaders from the Central Continent.

As for the reward...

The Ancient Spiritual Flower immediately caught his attention.

"It pairs perfectly with the Spiritual Flower Pot."

If he planted the Ancient Spiritual Flower inside the pot, it would greatly enhance the surrounding spiritual energy once it matured, creating an even better cultivation environment for the Zan Clan.

His own cultivation speed would also increase by leaps and bounds.

"It seems..."

"This mission is truly a win-win situation."

A satisfied smile appeared on Zan Yunxiao's face.

The mission perfectly aligned with both his ambitions and his plans for safeguarding the future of the Western Continent.

Without further hesitation, Zan Yunxiao made his choice.

"I choose..."

"Option Two."

The moment his decision was made, the first mission quietly vanished, leaving only the objective of unifying the Western Continent.

Zan Yunxiao slowly leaned back against his chair, his expression turning solemn.

"The Zan Clan still isn't safe..."

He knew that once the cultivators of the Central Continent discovered the immense spiritual resources hidden within the Western Continent, the Zan Clan would inevitably become one of their primary targets.

After all, the clan itself possessed an astonishing concentration of spiritual energy.

"If they discover the Zan Clan..."

"They won't hesitate to attack."

His eyes narrowed.

Before that day arrived, he needed to eliminate every uncertain factor within the Western Continent.

A plan gradually formed in his mind.

"I should personally travel across the entire Western Continent."

He intended to investigate every major power, hidden region, and secluded expert.

If there truly existed hidden powerhouses stronger than himself, he would first attempt to persuade them to join his cause.

If persuasion failed...

He would continue cultivating until he possessed the strength to make them submit.

On the other hand...

If those hidden experts were weaker than him.

Or if no such experts existed at all.

Then the matter would become much simpler.

"I'll make them submit."

Having finalized his plans, Zan Yunxiao rose from his seat.

He cast one final glance toward the endless horizon beyond Cloud Ascension Peak before turning around.

"The unification of the Western Continent can wait."

"My priority now..."

"...is to become stronger."

Although he was already one of the strongest cultivators in the Western Continent, Zan Yunxiao refused to underestimate the unknown experts who might still be hiding in secluded places.

More importantly...

He knew nothing about the true strength of the Central Continent.

If he wished to protect the Zan Clan from future invaders, his current cultivation was far from enough.

. . .

Within the Zan Clan, Haoyu and Yuhan strolled leisurely along a stone pathway after finishing their morning cultivation.

The siblings chatted casually as they admired the bustling atmosphere of the clan.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared in front of them.

With his chin raised high and a smug grin plastered across his face, Junhao blocked their path.

"Hey!"

"Want to team up and hunt some spiritual beasts?"

Yuhan glanced at him before answering without the slightest interest.

"Don't wanna."

Junhao's smile stiffened for a moment before he quickly recovered.

"Don't be like that."

"Your brother is pretty strong now."

Hearing those words, Haoyu couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

"Strong my ass..."

"We're newly cultivators."

"If we really go hunting spiritual beasts now..."

"We'll definitely be the ones getting hunted."

Yuhan nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Exactly!"

"I still want to live a few more years."

Junhao's lips twitched.

"You two have no confidence at all."

Haoyu rolled his eyes.

"It's called knowing our limits."

"Unlike someone who almost got beaten to death by Senior Sun Lei."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Junhao's smug expression froze.

"..."

His eyelid twitched uncontrollably as he stared at the two siblings, who were already trying their best not to laugh.

. . .

On the eastern outskirts of the Western Continent, a vast military training ground echoed with the sounds of marching soldiers and clashing weapons.

Thousands of soldiers trained in orderly formations while officers barked commands across the field.

Standing atop a watchtower, Ling Tianyou silently observed the drills.

Having nothing better to do while waiting for Tianlin to stabilize his newly awakened physique, he had come to watch the kingdom's military train out of sheer boredom.

Just then, a streak of light descended from the sky.

A young cultivator landed gracefully before him.

It was the junior brother whom Ling Tianyou had sent to investigate Shenyuu's whereabouts.

The junior brother cupped his fists.

"Senior Brother."

"I've returned."

Ling Tianyou immediately turned toward him.

"What did you find?"

The junior brother's expression became solemn.

"I found her grave."

Ling Tianyou's body stiffened.

The junior brother continued,

"It is located in southern province, I believe it's your hometown Senior Brother."

"The tombstone bears the names..."

Zan Shenyuu.

Alongside her husband, Zan Moxuan.

Silence fell between the two.

Ling Tianyou slowly closed his eyes.

"So..."

"You really passed away..."

A bitter smile gradually appeared on his face.

"I never expected..."

"...that you would be buried in our hometown."

Although he had long known the possibility, hearing it confirmed still left a bitter feeling in his heart.

He remembered that when he left all those years ago, Shenyuu had been nothing more than an ordinary mortal.

She had never stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Compared to cultivators, a mortal's lifespan was fleeting.

Yet...

A small part of him had stubbornly clung to the impossible hope that she might somehow still be alive.

Now...

That hope had completely vanished.

Ling Tianyou let out a quiet sigh, a faint smile of self-mockery appearing on his face.

"It seems..."

"I was merely being delusional."

Ling Tianyou took a deep breath and quietly composed himself.

He straightened his robes before turning to his junior brother.

"How is the progress of the junior disciples?"

His junior brother immediately replied,

"They're almost finished, Senior Brother."

"Once they eliminate the remaining spiritual beasts in the area, we'll complete our mission and return to the Central Continent—to the Thousand Sword Sect."

After saying that, the junior brother suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Ah, Senior Brother!"

"I almost forgot."

"There's one more thing I need to report."

"There appears to be an immortal family within the Crimson Empire."

Hearing those words, Ling Tianyou instinctively wanted to ask for the family's name.

However...

The thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Learning of Shenyuu's death had left him mentally exhausted.

At that moment, he no longer had the mood to hear another report.

He simply waved his hand.

"Tell me after your mission is complete."

"Once the junior brother and junior sister finish eliminating the spiritual beasts..."

"We'll return to the Central Continent."

"Understood."

His junior brother respectfully cupped his fists.

Ling Tianyou gave a slight nod before silently walking away.

As he disappeared into the distance, a lonely smile appeared on his face.

"Shenyuu..."

"Even though I failed to protect you..."

"Even though I couldn't stop you from marrying that man..."

"I promise..."

"I'll protect your descendants in your place."