Chapter 458 - 453: Unhappy? Suck It Up

After Master Changfu and Master Huaisu were repelled, Dali City officially fell under Du Youqian’s control.

Dali City’s status as a First-class Immortal City was allowed to continue.

This was because Du Youqian, a Nascent Soul-level power, was willing to provide sanctuary for Dali City. Moreover, his bloodline gave him a legitimate claim.

No one could compete with Du Youqian any longer.

After all, those stronger than him had no legitimate claim.

And those with a legitimate claim were not as strong as him.

Over the next few years, Du Youqian used his "Jinhuan" Flying Sword and a series of Magical Combats to slowly reclaim all the resource shares that Dali City had previously lost.

The recent lesson of Master Changfu served as a potent warning; no one wanted to suffer the same fate.

However, although the total resources Dali City acquired had increased significantly, the only true beneficiaries were Du Youqian and the direct lineage of the Duan Clan, represented by Duan Shuma.

For everyone else, the resources they were allocated had actually decreased.

But even if their complaints filled the air, it didn’t affect Du Youqian or Duan Shuma in the slightest.

No matter how dissatisfied they were, they lacked the right to challenge an order maintained by absolute martial force.

They could only bottle it up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

「Twenty years later.」

As the year drew to a close, a Flying Boat engraved with the Sui Family’s crest landed outside the city.

Sui Yu merely showed his face, and the few Foundation Establishment guards on duty at the city gate bowed deeply, chanting, "Greetings and peace to Elder Yu!"

Sui Yu glanced at them and asked a familiar-looking Sui Family Cultivator, "I am well. Is Elder Xiao in the city?"

"Elder Xiao was in seclusion for three years. He came out several days ago and is now presiding over the ancestral home, receiving visits from various powers."

Sui Yu smiled and tossed him about twenty Spiritual Jades. "Thanks for your hard work!"

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator, receiving this unexpected bonus, said in pleasant surprise, "It was no trouble at all! Thank you for the reward, Elder Yu!"

Sui Yu quickly entered the city, weaving through the ceaseless streams of people.

He concealed his presence. Otherwise, he would be recognized after just a few steps, and an entire street of people would be kneeling before him.

As one of the family’s Cultivators who had recently reached Core Formation, he served as a public face for the clan and was quite active.

In contrast, Elder Xiao had lived a reclusive life for the past twenty years. Most of the younger generation, if they weren’t qualified to participate in the ancestral worship ceremonies, only knew of his existence but had never seen him.

As the legendary figure who had elevated Ruihan City, served as its greatest martial force, opened its trade routes, and multiplied the income of the Four Great Clans several times over, Elder Xiao was indeed a bit too low-key.

The other three great clans had also selectively forgotten Elder Xiao’s past suppression of them and were now deeply grateful to him.

After all, the increase in their income was very real.

As for why Elder Xiao no longer suppressed the other three great clans, everyone knew the reason without it being said.

It was no longer necessary.

Elder Xiao alone was enough to dominate the entire city, not to mention that in recent years, the Sui Family had added two more Core Formation Cultivators: Sui Yu and Sui Yuanhang.

Sui Yu’s wife, Rong Qiao’Er, had also successfully reached Core Formation.

Including the existing Sui Zhi Ancestor, Sui Bian Ancestor, and Duan Shurui Ancestor, the number of Core Formation Masters in the Sui Family was now equal to the other three clans combined.

There was truly no need to continue suppressing the three great clans.

Upon approaching the ancestral home, Sui Yu immediately sensed Elder Xiao’s aura.

It wasn’t domineering, nor did it seem particularly powerful.

But it was as striking as a red plum blossom blooming in a world of ice and snow.

It also felt as surreal as gazing at the moon’s reflection on the water while boating late at night.

Although he could clearly sense the Ancestor was in that location, Sui Yu had a strong intuition that if he went straight there, he definitely wouldn’t see him.

’Elder Xiao hasn’t advanced to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage all these years, but he’s become more unfathomable than ever.’

The thought flashed through Sui Yu’s mind.

He recalled when he had just achieved Core Formation, and the Ancestor had suppressed his own Cultivation to the Core Formation Early Stage to spar with him.

In the end, he couldn’t even touch the corner of the Ancestor’s robes, while the Ancestor, with just one or two seemingly casual moves, would swiftly suppress him.

He could clearly sense that the Ancestor had not used any power exceeding the Core Formation Early Stage.

All he could say was that the Ancestor’s comprehension of the Great Dao and his abilities in Magical Combat were simply breathtaking.

After asking a clan member, Sui Yu arrived at the room where Du Youqian was staying—indeed, it wasn’t the location he had sensed earlier. Just as he was about to raise his hand to knock, Du Youqian’s voice drifted out lazily, "Come in, Ah Yu."

Sui Yu pushed the door open and saw Elder Xiao, his eyes half-closed, reclining at a low table. He still had the appearance of a young man; time had not left the slightest trace on the Ancestor.

Two beautiful young women from the Rong Family were gently massaging his legs and shoulders, while another from the Shen Family periodically picked up a Spirit Fruit and placed it in the Ancestor’s mouth.

Behind the Ancestor stood a screen, and from behind it came the sound of a melodious zither.

Sui Yu was utterly horrified.

When he was standing at the door, he hadn’t heard the slightest sound from the zither, yet the player had clearly not stopped performing.

And there was obviously no Sound-Insulation Array set up in the room.

’What kind of power could have prevented him from hearing the zither from outside the door?’

He couldn’t comprehend it at all!

Du Youqian had no intention of explaining.

Even if he did, Sui Yu wouldn’t understand.

It was merely a minor application of his Spatial Domain, sufficient for bullying Cultivators of the same level and Core Formation Masters. If he were to use it against a Nascent Soul Late Stage or, even worse, a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, he would just be making a fool of himself.

"Yu pays his respects to Elder Xiao! Greetings and peace to the Ancestor!" As Sui Yu was already a Core Formation Master, he did not perform a full, formal kowtow.

A Core Formation Master had his own dignity.

Du Youqian opened his eyes, sized up Sui Yu for a moment, and smiled. "I’m doing well. Ah, Yu’Er, looking at your features, there seems to be a sudden change. Your wife must be pregnant!"

Sui Yu was once again taken aback.

For the past few years, he had been stationed in Dali City as Elder Xiao’s representative, monitoring the various powers there.

He had brought Rong Qiao’Er to live in Dali City with him.

Not long ago, Rong Qiao’Er discovered she was pregnant, but he hadn’t told anyone about it yet. ’Could Elder Xiao really have guessed just by looking at my face?’

’That’s too frightening!’

Seeing him speechless, Du Youqian smiled faintly again.

"Congratulations. It’s not easy for a Core Formation Master to conceive. Your child’s Spirit Root will surely be outstanding."

The truth was, he had been preparing to leave for Momenan a few days ago, so he had performed a divination on the family’s Core Formation Cultivators to see whose fortune was flourishing, who was at risk of death, and who showed signs of a breakthrough.

When his divination reached Sui Yu, he discovered the joyous news of a new addition to his family.

Sui Yu quickly expressed his thanks, then cautiously added, "Ancestor, you possess a rare Celestial Spirit Root. Everyone hopes you will leave behind an heir."

Du Youqian was already a Nascent Soul Ancestor, so naturally, no one dared to force him to marry, not even his mother, Duan Shurui.

But the family constantly sent beautiful and talented young women with Cultivation at Foundation Establishment or above to serve him, even rotating them frequently for fear he would grow tired of them.

They simply hoped he would leave behind a bloodline.

This was because the higher a Cultivator’s tier, the harder it was to produce offspring. However, if they succeeded, the child’s Spirit Root would often be exceptional.

It might not reach the highest possible potential, but the baseline would be very high.

However, the probability of a Cultivator at Core Formation or above conceiving a new life with a partner who had not reached Core Formation was extremely low. It was almost as if there was a reproductive barrier between them.

To have a Nascent Soul Cultivator produce an heir, it was best to have a Kun Cultivator at Core Formation or above conceive. Unfortunately, Kun Cultivators of that level were not common, and they were generally unwilling to be reduced to mere breeding tools.

Du Youqian was quite calm about the matter.

’Since I was born into a clan, some things are unavoidable, and some expectations must be shouldered. I’ll just let nature take its course.’

But he would never proactively seek out beautiful women; his ambitions lay elsewhere.

Seeing Du Youqian smile without speaking, Sui Yu didn’t dare say more and presented a Storage Treasure Pouch with both hands.

"Ancestor, this is Dali City’s share submitted to you for this year. It’s equivalent to about three hundred thousand Spiritual Jade."

With that, he offered another Storage Treasure Pouch. "This is from Duan Shuma and some other Core Formation Cultivators in Dali City as a private offering of respect to you. It totals around thirty thousand Spiritual Jade."

Du Youqian took the Storage Treasure Pouches and said gently, "You’ve worked hard, stationing yourself in Dali City all these years."

For the past twenty years, he had never left Ruihan City. Even when a trade caravan was nearly wiped out, he had found an excuse not to leave.

Because he had performed a divination and learned that he would be attacked if he left.

’The attacker... could it be that Ye Rui Master?’

Du Youqian wasn’t confident he could take her down without paying a price. To kill her, he would likely need to use that Divine Ability that shortens a person’s lifespan. And since her Cultivation was higher than his—though not by a full Great Realm—he would still have to sacrifice a significant portion of his own lifespan. It wasn’t worth it, so Du Youqian had chosen to bide his time.

In the future, after he advanced to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage and returned from Momenan, he would go and avenge this slight.

"It’s no trouble to handle matters for the Ancestor," Sui Yu quickly declared. "Besides, Dali City’s Spirit Vein is even better than ours, so the Cultivation speed there is faster. And in Dali, people also give me gifts from time to time, which has unexpectedly given me some extra resources."

Du Youqian laughed heartily. "You work for me, so I won’t treat you poorly. My hands are a little tied right now, so I can’t give you too much support. But when you’re ready for Nascent Soul Formation, I will prepare your Nascent Soul Pill for you."

Sui Yu was both shocked and overjoyed. He quickly bowed down. "Many thanks, Elder Xiao!"

The young women behind Du Youqian all revealed expressions of immense envy.

A Nascent Soul Pill was more effective than a typical Nascent Soul Spiritual Object and cost at least three hundred thousand Spiritual Jade.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Elder Xiao could get over three hundred thousand Spiritual Jade from Dali City alone and nearly four hundred thousand in trade dividends from Ruihan City.

For an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator, an annual income of a hundred thousand Spiritual Jade was considered quite good.

Meanwhile, a Core Formation Cultivator in the clan, without other sources of income, would only earn about three to five thousand Spiritual Jade a year. Wanting to save enough money to buy a Nascent Soul Pill would take who knows how many years.

For Foundation Establishment Cultivators like them, an annual income of one hundred Spiritual Jade was already decent. Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators toiled away at various family missions all year just to earn forty or fifty Spiritual Jade.

That was why they were using every trick in the book to win the Ancestor’s favor.

Because if they could attend to the Ancestor in his bedchambers, the family would grant them an additional five hundred Spiritual Jade annually.

If they could give birth to a blessed child for the Ancestor, the family would reward them with a one-time bonus of ten thousand Spiritual Jade!

Having received Du Youqian’s promise, a delighted Sui Yu reported on a few more matters concerning Dali City before taking his leave.

Du Youqian fell into deep thought.

’Perhaps... it’s time to return to Momenan...’

Not long ago, Du Youqian had performed another divination. Ye Rui Master was likely no longer lying in ambush nearby; she had probably returned to Huailai City.

As long as he moved quickly and disguised himself well when passing near Huailai City, he should be able to slip by quietly without alerting Ye Rui Master.

’She shouldn’t have the ability to see through my Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique.’