Chapter 55: The preparation.

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The preparation.

Chen Haoran and the elders then began entertaining the two guests, continuing the conversation and discussing various matters with them.

Zhao Lianyu and Zhao Linger naturally noticed their willingness to engage with them, and they knew this was their golden opportunity to deepen the bond between the two families.

Especially since her father himself had emphasized how important it was to establish a strong connection between the two families in the kingdom.

Zhao Linger took the opportunity, and from the main hall, Chen Haoran, the elders, and even the three young cultivators, Chen Yichen, Chen Minghao, and Chen Yuexin, began guiding the two women and the two guards around the rest of the family grounds.

Their voices gradually faded into the distance.

The scene then shifted away from the main hall, slowly rising higher along the central mountain.

Past the rooftops and even beyond the courtyards and winding paths, the view continued to rise higher and higher until the sounds of the gathering below gradually faded into the distance.

The higher it went, the quieter the mountain became, until finally, the top of the mountain came into sight.

Unlike the slopes below, the summit was completely flat.

It was not naturally shaped this way.

Chen Feng had personally leveled the entire mountaintop before construction began, cutting away the uneven rock and clearing the area until a vast, stable plateau had been formed.

The work had taken considerable effort, but the result was an enormous stretch of flat land large enough to accommodate the Chen Family’s ancestral grounds.

A long stone path began from the front gate and wound its way upward through several wide terraces before reaching the plateau.

Stone railings lined both sides of the path, while spiritual lamps had been placed at regular intervals along the edges. Several newly planted spiritual trees stood beside the road, their branches moving gently in the mountain wind.

At the end of the winding path stood a large gate, and beyond it was the newly constructed ancestral grounds.

The overall design had been based closely on the original ancestral grounds below. The same architectural style had been preserved, from the dark wooden beams and tiled roofs to the stone courtyards and familiar arrangement of the buildings.

Yet everything here was larger, which meant more space for Chen Yuan to play around with.

The ancestral hall still stood at the center of the grounds.

Its familiar structure had been moved here almost exactly as it had been before, allowing the Chen Family’s ancestral roots to remain at the heart of the new grounds.

A broad stone courtyard surrounded the hall, with several smaller buildings arranged neatly around it. Newly planted trees lined the courtyard, while sections of the ground had been covered with smooth stone tiles.

On one side of the ancestral grounds stood a massive pagoda.

It rose five stories into the sky, its dark wooden structure standing above the surrounding buildings. Each floor had wide balconies and curved roofs.

Behind the ancestral hall, a section of the mountain itself had been opened.

A massive stone entrance had been built directly into the mountainside, its huge gate standing several times taller than an ordinary person.

The gate was already open, and beyond it was a wide staircase descending deep into the mountain.

Step after step disappeared into the darkness below, with floating fireflies embedded along the walls providing just enough light to reveal the path.

No one could see where the staircase ended.

The further it descended, the darker the surroundings became. Then a voice echoed from somewhere below.

"The Royal Family has finally sent their delegation. It seems your guess was right, Chen Yuan. They were wary of us."

Another voice answered calmly.

"Though they seemed to have come with goodwill..."

"Indeed, but perhaps this is good news for us."

The staircase continued downward until the final step came into view. Beyond it was a vast underground chamber.

The perspective emerged from the staircase and slowly revealed the enormous space hidden beneath the ancestral grounds.

Countless crimson fireflies floated throughout the chamber, their gentle light illuminating the walls, the stone floor, and the enormous empty space surrounding them.

At the center of the chamber, three figures stood suspended in the air.

Chen Yuan.

Chen Yan.

And Chen Feng.

They stood several meters above the ground, surrounded by the drifting fireflies as the faint crimson light illuminated their figures.

Beneath them, a much larger and more polished stone platform had been constructed, with the same ancient sword embedded at its center.

This place was the new inheritance trial cave, based on the previous one. It was much deeper and wider, with far more space to work with.

The three continued their conversation.

Chen Yan looked toward Chen Yuan, his expression thoughtful. "So then, can you create another avatar now? If possible, with the Royal Family delegation here, once they leave, we should execute our plan as soon as possible to lay the foundation for our next ancestor."

Chen Yuan, floating in the air, shifted his gaze toward a firefly that drifted before his face.

"After a month of training, I think I’ve gained something, and I’ve even discovered a particularly new feature."

He waved his hand, and the panel appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Chen Yuan]

[Age: 90]

[Lifespan: 500 Years]

[Realm: Peak Foundation Establishment]

[Techniques: [Myriad Flesh Avatar Technique, Entry - 1%], [Flaming Fireflies, Transcendent], [Heavenly Breath Concealment Technique, Mastered], [Spiritual Energy Manipulation, Mastered], [Body Tempering Technique, Mastered], [Wind-Stepping Technique, Mastered], [Spiritual Shield, Mastered], [Soul Suppression Technique, Proficient], [Formation Recognition, Mastered], [Flying Sword Technique, Proficient], [+]

Chen Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on the panel floating before him.

"The percentage wasn’t there the last time I checked."

Chen Feng and Chen Yan exchanged a glance.

Neither of them could see the panel.

To them, Chen Yuan was simply staring at something that wasn’t there, but they had already become accustomed to this strange habit of his.

"So, what does the percentage mean?" Chen Yan asked as Chen Yuan continued looking at the panel, his gaze hovering over the 1% number. "It seems to represent my progress in comprehending the technique."

"After a month of training, I’ve gained a certain level of improvement, and the system has now started displaying it."

"It is now 3% for Entry level proficient."

Chen Feng was silent for a few breaths before asking, "Then, can you actually create another avatar, Chen Yuan? But make sure that it is safe first."

His question was straightforward, but there was a certain caution behind it.

Deep down, after hearing the number, even Chen Feng himself did not know whether Chen Yuan would actually be able to perform it or not.

"If you are not confident, we can postpone the plan a little further. We have enough time, after all..." Chen Feng said.

"But I prefer to do it now..." Chen Yuan replied as he looked back at the panel. "Reaching the first one percent unlocked more information about the technique, especially regarding the requirements for creating the next avatar."

Chen Yuan paused briefly before continuing, "From what I understand, reaching one percent is enough for me to create another avatar. I don’t need to reach any higher mastery before doing so."

Chen Yan listened quietly while Chen Yuan continued explaining.

"As for the avatar after that, I need to reach ten percent Entry mastery first. Once I reach that point, the technique should unlock more information about the requirements for creating the next avatar."

Chen Feng nodded slowly as he understood.

"So, as long as your comprehension reaches the required threshold, the technique will tell you what you need to know about the next avatar?"

"That’s how it seems," Chen Yuan said. "I don’t know what the requirements will be after ten percent, but I should find out once I reach it."

Chen Feng thought about it for a few breaths before nodding. "Then there is no reason to delay anymore."

Chen Yuan did not say anything else to his words. Instead, he simply closed the panel and began the technique as he sat cross-legged in the air.

The blood began seeping out from his skin and through his clothes, seemingly appearing from nowhere.

Yet his clothes remained completely untouched, as if an invisible force was drawing the blood directly from his body while leaving everything else unaffected.

The blood gathered in front of him and rapidly took shape into a slowly pulsating orb of blood.

The process was almost identical to when Chen Yan had been created. The Body Law formed the flesh and bones, the Spiritual Law connected the newly formed body to spiritual energy, and the Soul Law gave the body its own soul.

However, this time, Chen Yuan’s control was far better.

As the body gradually formed, he carefully adjusted its appearance from the very beginning, shaping every feature instead of allowing the avatar to naturally settle into a form.

Her face slowly took shape first, with delicate features, a smooth jawline, a small nose, and soft lips.

Her long hair followed, flowing naturally down her back as Chen Yuan adjusted its length and texture. Her figure was slender and graceful, with proportions carefully shaped according to his intention.

He made several final adjustments before the body completely stabilized.

Within only a few breaths, the entire process was finished.

The blood and spiritual energy faded away, leaving a fully formed woman floating quietly before the three of them.

Her long black hair drifted gently in the air, framing a beautiful face with fair skin and delicate features. Her eyes remained closed, her expression calm and peaceful, while her newly formed body remained completely still.

Chen Yuan looked at his newest creation and smiled.

"Awaken..."

The woman’s fingers moved first.

A slight twitch ran through them before her hands slowly relaxed again. Her eyelashes trembled, and after a few breaths, her eyes gradually opened.

Her gaze was unfocused at first.

She stared into the crimson-lit chamber, quietly taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The floating fireflies, the stone platform beneath her, and the three figures suspended before her slowly entered her vision.

Then the memories began to settle as Chen Yuan’s memories were copied into her.

Information that had not belonged to her a few breaths ago flowed into her mind, allowing her to understand where she was, who she was, and why she existed.

Her expression changed slightly as she processed everything. Chen Yuan watched quietly, waiting for her to finish digesting the memories.

Once she had done so, she lowered her gaze toward herself, seemingly noticing her current state only now. There was no embarrassment or panic on her face.

Chen Yuan casually waved his hand to take out a set of clothes and threw it to her. She caught them naturally with both hands and looked down at them for a few breaths before looking back toward Chen Yuan.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"So... you’re the one who gave me this life?"

Her voice was crisp, as though she was hearing herself speak for the first time.

Chen Yuan calmly nodded.

The woman looked toward Chen Yan and then Chen Feng, studying the two unfamiliar faces before returning her gaze to Chen Yuan.

She smiled again.

"Then I suppose I should start by saying thank you."

She held the clothes against herself and added calmly, "Father."

Chen Yuan’s expression froze for a brief instant, and Chen Yan and Chen Feng also looked at her with strange gazes.

"...Father?"

Chen Yuan blinked and looked at the woman again. Perhaps the process of creating the avatar had affected her understanding somehow.

He cleared his throat, raising his right hand as he gestured over the air. "You’ve only just awakened. Your memories are probably still a little confused. Perhaps you should—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

She waved her hand dismissively, cutting him off before he could finish.

Chen Yuan paused, swallowing his words back into his throat. The woman looked down at the clothes in her hands, then back at him with a thoughtful expression.

"I’ll put these on first. As for the name..." She tilted her head slightly, as if considering something very important. "I should probably choose one before I start calling you Father again."

Chen Yuan’s mouth twitched.

"Before you start?"

"Mm."

She nodded seriously.

"That sounds reasonable."

Chen Yan suddenly turned his head away, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Chen Feng glanced at him and poked his side with the sword.

"Are you laughing?"

"No."

"You’re clearly laughing."

"I am not."

The two whispered silently between themselves, but their voices didn’t go unnoticed by the woman.

The woman looked between the two of them with mild curiosity before returning her attention to Chen Yuan. "Since you created me, I’ll take the surname Chen."

She paused, her eyes wandering toward the countless crimson fireflies floating around the chamber.

"...Chen Yueran."

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yueran?"

She smiled, her head tilting to the side as her eyes squinted. "Because the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was this sea of fireflies. It seemed like a good place to begin."

Chen Yuan looked toward the ocean of fireflies around them, then looked back at her for a few breaths before nodding. "Chen Yueran. Not bad."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Then it’s settled."

She looked down at the clothes still in her hands. "Now, Father, could you turn around for a moment?"

Chen Yuan immediately turned away without hesitation. Chen Feng and Chen Yan exchanged a glance before following him.

Behind them, Chen Yueran smiled quietly as she began putting on her clothes.

"Also, don’t call me Father," Chen Yuan said, his voice slightly awkward. "It doesn’t really suit our relationship. Just call me Chen Yuan. I am no creator. We are basically the same, but different."

Behind them, Chen Yueran looked at his back while holding the clothes in her hands. "Why not?"

"Because I said so." Chen Yuan refuted right away, rubbing his forehead as he could already feel the incoming trouble this woman could bring him.

"That doesn’t sound like a very convincing reason."

Chen Yuan’s eyebrows twitched.

"You’ve only existed for a few minutes. Could you at least listen to me?"

"I am listening."

"Then don’t call me Father."

There was a brief silence behind them. Then Chen Yueran’s amused voice came from behind. "I think Chen Yan probably feels the same way. He’s just too shy to say it."

Chen Yan stiffened, and his expression immediately changed as he glanced toward Chen Yuan.

"Wait..."

He quickly moved closer to Chen Yuan and lowered his voice. "Are you sure she’s supposed to be normal? She’s acting really strange, unlike me."

Chen Yuan’s face darkened.

Chen Yan continued whispering, "Did something go wrong when you created her? Maybe her brain had something missing?"

Chen Yuan slowly turned his head and glared at him. "As if you’re normal yourself."

Chen Yan’s mouth opened slightly before he fell silent. Chen Feng, who had been listening from the side, couldn’t help but look away as the corner of his mouth twitched.

Behind them, Chen Yueran finished putting on the robes and adjusted the sleeves before looking at the three men.

"See? Even he agrees with me."

Chen Feng’s expression immediately stiffened.

"I didn’t say anything."

"Alright, enough."

Chen Yuan sighed and rubbed his forehead. He had only created another avatar. How had things become troublesome so quickly?

He turned around after hearing movement behind him. Chen Yueran had already finished putting on the robes, adjusting the sleeves before walking over to the three of them.

Her long black hair fell smoothly down her back, framing a delicate and refined face. She had clear eyes, a small nose, soft lips, and a slender figure that gave her an elegant appearance.

Chen Yuan looked at her for a few breaths before finally remembering the reason he had created her in the first place.

"There is something we need to discuss."

Chen Yueran’s expression became slightly more serious.

Chen Yan and Chen Feng also turned their attention toward him.

"Our next ancestor needs a proper foundation before we can reveal his story," Chen Yuan explained. "We already have a general plan, and now that you have been created, we can finally put it into motion."

He looked toward Chen Yan first.

"Chen Yan, you will find a way to accompany the Royal Family’s delegation when they return to the capital. Since we have already set our sights on the Luo Family, we can kill two birds with one stone with this plan."

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

"The Royal Family?"

"Yes. They will eventually return to the capital, and you need to find a suitable reason to travel with them without making it seem deliberate."

Chen Yan nodded slowly.

"I understand, and I doubt they would even dare to refuse me."

Chen Yuan then looked toward Chen Yueran.

"Your task is simpler."

She tilted her head.

"Attack them?"

"Exactly."

Chen Yuan nodded.

"Somewhere along the journey, choose a suitable location and attack the delegation. Don’t actually hurt them. Your purpose is simply to create the impression that they have encountered an unknown enemy."

"Make sure to disguise yourself according to the plan we had. Reveal some of the planned story for the princess to hear so that she can bring it back to the capital. The news of the Royal Family being attacked while she was on her way back from our family would really set off the alarm for everyone."

Chen Yueran’s eyes brightened slightly.

"So I’m the villain?"

"We all are the villains..." Chen Yuan corrected. "And make sure to overperform. The bigger the impact, the faster the news can reach the capital, allowing us to begin spreading the stories."

She seemed to find that amusing.

"I can do that."

"Just make sure not to hurt anyone. Even if something goes wrong, there must be no deaths."

Chen Yuan then turned toward Chen Feng.

"As for us, we will prepare the next venue. The key and the path leading to the place..."

Chen Feng immediately understood.

"An ancient ruin."

"Correct."

Chen Yuan smiled faintly.

"We need to make it convincing. The ruins should appear to have existed for a very long time, and there should be enough traces left behind to establish the existence of our next ancestor."

Chen Feng nodded, "Then we should start preparing immediately."

Chen Yuan looked at the three of them.

"Once everything is ready, we can begin silently spreading the rumors of an ancient Golden Core cultivator with an evil force searching for his resting place."

"And the princess and the Imperial Envoy will be important parts of this story. As long as everything goes according to plan, they will unknowingly help carry the first part of the story back to the capital."