Chapter 700: Xu Family (II)

After the seven-pattern Purple Flame Qilin yao departed, Lin Zheyu resumed roaming through the magma. Before long, he had collected enough Purple Flame Qilin yao below the six-pattern level and began searching for six-pattern specimens.

***

Over the next several days, terrifying auras belonging to Purple Flame Qilin yao occasionally erupted from within the magma. Whenever the seven-pattern Purple Flame Qilin yao detected the aura of a living being, they immediately set out to search for the intruder. However, no matter how they searched, they could not locate the enemy's aura.

Several days later, a humanoid creature over three meters tall and covered in scales burst from the scorching magma. Lin Zheyu's figure flickered as he raced into the distance. He could not afford to provoke the seven-pattern Purple Flame Qilin yao for now, while he had already collected enough specimens below the seven-pattern level.

It's time to leave, Lin Zheyu thought.

He extended his spiritual sense into the void within the Primordial Chaos Pool. Countless yao were suppressed inside, enough to keep him occupied with research for a long time. However, before leaving, he needed to store more demonic lake energy. He had nearly exhausted his previous reserves, and what little remained was unusable.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Zheyu shook his head and dismissed the idea. "Forget it. I'll head to the Eastern Sea first. There are plenty of space-time nodes there as well."

Comprehending the demonic patterns and shamanic patterns would likely require a considerable amount of time. Keeping demonic lake energy stored within the Primordial Chaos Pool throughout that period would consume a substantial amount of chaos origin energy. It would be far too wasteful. Chaos origin energy was much more precious than demonic lake energy. Every bit used was permanently lost, and once depleted, there would be no more.

Lin Zheyu stepped forward and disappeared into the darkness. Just as he was about to leave the depths of the demon cave, his expression shifted slightly, and he stopped.

Lin Zheyu looked toward the distant sky, his expression shifting slightly. "What powerful sword intent. It feels so familiar... Mu Jianli? Has she come here as well?"

He had met Mu Jianli only once and had no personal relationship with her, but strictly speaking, Lin Zheyu owed her a favor. Oh, and Lei Xiyuan of the Lei Family as well. He carefully extended his perception and confirmed that they were not in danger. He then smiled faintly and disappeared into the darkness.

***

Above the Chaotic Star Sea in the Eastern Sea, Lin Zheyu stepped out of the void and descended toward the island below. To him, the island's defensive formation might as well not have existed.

"Greetings, my lord."

"Greetings, Fellow Xiao!"

Wu Di and Xu Chi had already been waiting on the island for quite some time.

"Mm. Shall we leave now?" Lin Zheyu asked calmly as he turned to Xu Chi. His primary reason for coming here was to obtain the Xu Family's place in the Heavenly Derivation Sect.

"That would be ideal," Xu Chi hurriedly replied, his eyes lighting up with delight. A trace of exhaustion lingered between his brows. The Xu Family had been experiencing a difficult time recently.

"Then let's go. Wu Di, inform Kong Yujing and have her bring the demonic cultivators she recruited here to await my return," Lin Zheyu instructed calmly.

"Yes, my lord," Wu Di replied respectfully.

Only after Lin Zheyu and Xu Chi departed did Wu Di slowly raise his head and breathe a slight sigh of relief. He felt increasing pressure whenever he faced his lord. That inexplicable presence was so oppressive that he could scarcely breathe.

***

"It's just ahead, fellow friend," Xu Chi said with some urgency, breathing slightly heavily.

His clan was currently overwhelmed with problems, and he had only managed to slip away briefly.

"Mm."

Lin Zheyu acknowledged him softly and glanced toward the front right. A Foundation Establishment realm cultivator was concealed there. The cultivator was using a special concealment dharma treasure that even a Golden Core realm cultivator would fail to detect without deliberately searching.

Lin Zheyu gave the man a brief glance before looking away. He had no relationship with the Xu Family, and helping Xu Chi's grandfather was merely part of a transaction. As long as their troubles did not interfere with that transaction, he had no intention of becoming involved.

The two soon arrived at the Xu Family's residence.

"This is the place. Please come inside," Xu Chi said respectfully.

The two entered the residence. Sensing Xu Chi's arrival, a middle-aged man emerged from the great hall and stared at him with displeasure.

"As one of the clan's Golden Core realm combatants, where did you run off to at such a critical time? The Qian Family could cast aside all pretenses and attack the Xu Family at any moment, while numerous surrounding factions are watching us like tigers eyeing their prey. Yet at a time like this, you bring a man of unknown origins into the clan residence. Are you trying to place the entire family in danger?" the middle-aged man rebuked angrily.

He narrowed his eyes and fixed the unfamiliar man beside Xu Chi with a dangerous stare. He could not see through him at all, which made the middle-aged man deeply wary.

Xu Chi frowned but patiently offered an explanation. "Third uncle, this is Fellow Xiao, the man I mentioned before who can resolve the corrosion of yao will. The Xu Family's present predicament stems from grandfather's condition. Once grandfather is cured, every problem will resolve itself."

"Hmph, absurd! There is no cure for the corrosion of yao will. Unless we enlist the aid of a mighty Deity Transformation realm cultivator or use a special secret treasure, the condition cannot even be alleviated, and alleviation is all those methods can achieve," the middle-aged man declared sternly. He turned toward Lin Zheyu as his aura grew increasingly threatening and a dangerous gleam flashed through his eyes.

"What is your background? What exactly do you intend to accomplish by using Xu Chi to infiltrate the Xu Family?" the middle-aged man demanded coldly.

Lin Zheyu glanced at the man and said indifferently, "None of your damn business."

As a demonic cultivator, he ought to possess the fiery temper expected of one. There was no need to show courtesy to an unreasonable fellow like this. Moreover, Lin Zheyu had activated his spirit Heavenly Eye the moment he entered the Xu Family's residence and had already analyzed nearly all the formation restrictions throughout the clan grounds. The strongest individuals currently present were only at the Golden Core realm. Even with the aid of the formation restrictions, they posed no threat to him.

The middle-aged man stared at him in disbelief before a terrifying aura erupted from his body. "You! You're courting death!"

Before Lin Zheyu could act, however, another powerful momentum blocked the man's aura. Xu Chi stepped across and positioned himself in front of Lin Zheyu.

"Third uncle! Don't force me to fight you!" Xu Chi warned coldly, his expression dark.

Great families had their own internal troubles, and the Xu Family was far from completely united. Xu Chi's third uncle had long been searching for an opportunity to wrest more resources and authority from his hands.

"Fine, fine, fine!" The middle-aged man repeated the word three times, laughing in fury before snorting coldly and turning away.

"Activate the emergency measures and all surrounding formation restrictions. Seal this place off. No one is permitted to leave without my order!" the middle-aged man's voice called from the distance.

Energy immediately began circulating through the surroundings as powerful formation restrictions gradually activated.

"What is the meaning of this, fellow friend?" Lin Zheyu asked in a low voice, narrowing his eyes.

The Heavenly Eye within his sea of consciousness quietly observed the surrounding formation restrictions. After confirming that they could not trap him, Lin Zheyu abandoned the thought of leaving.

"My apologies for subjecting you to such an embarrassing display. Rest assured, I possess the family elder's token. He cannot trap us here," Xu Chi apologized with a slight frown.

Seemingly worried that Lin Zheyu might misunderstand, Xu Chi pondered briefly before producing a jade talisman and handing it over. "This jade talisman can teleport you directly out of the Xu Family's residence. If you encounter any danger, you may use it to leave immediately."

In truth, he did not trust Lin Zheyu completely either. If anything went wrong, his third uncle's activation of the formation could prevent Lin Zheyu from posing an even greater danger to the Xu Family. Meanwhile, the jade talisman he had given Lin Zheyu would both guarantee his safety and reassure him enough to treat Xu Chi's grandfather without reservation. It accomplished several goals at once.

Lin Zheyu accepted the jade talisman and responded softly without expression. "Oh..."

"Let's go. Where is your grandfather?" he asked calmly.