Chapter 259

Chapter 259 - A Pride of Their Own — Late Dao Venerable

"If ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the Wang Family comes looking for payback, you'd better stand up and be counted."

"After ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, Lu Xuanxian did save your branch's Lu Xuanyuan. You owe him that much."

Lu ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tianyuan spread his hands.

Lu ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Nianfeng's expression was less than pleased, but in the end, he couldn't refuse. With a long sigh, he relented.

"Fine. ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍If the Wang Family truly comes for revenge, I'll step forward."

"Ha! ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍That's the spirit. We're all Lu Family after all. Internal squabbles are one thing, but when an outside threat comes knocking, we need to stand united."

Lu Tianyuan laughed heartily.

Just then, Lu Nianfeng cast a glance at Lu Xuanxian in the distance, his expression turning solemn.

"Tianyuan, don't you think Xuanxian looks a bit like that person from back then?"

"Not at all. Not the slightest resemblance. Besides, that person never took a Dao Companion in his entire life. Where would an heir even come from?"

Lu Tianyuan waved it off without batting an eye.

"True enough. Forget I said anything. We should have Xuanyuan and Xuanxian discuss strategy for the final stage."

Turning to practical matters, Lu Nianfeng grew serious.

After all, this was the only time the Lu Family had two entrants in the final stage. Every other faction had just one.

They needed to capitalize on this advantage. The championship of this Grand Tournament might very well belong to the Lu Family.

Lu Tianyuan had no objections, but when he turned to look, Lu Xuanxian and his group were already gone.

"Where did they go?"

Lu Nianfeng frowned.

Seeing that they had already left, Lu Tianyuan didn't bother pursuing. He simply waved his hand.

"Let it be. Trust them. They all have their pride. I doubt they'd stoop to something as underhanded as teaming up."

"I suppose you're right. We'll just have to believe in them."

Lu Nianfeng let the matter drop.

Elsewhere, after returning to the Dao Vessel, Lu Xuanxian turned to Xu Feng and the others.

"So, Boss — are you planning to stay by my side, or would you rather explore the Dao Realm on your own?"

Lu Xuanxian was naturally patient with the four of them.

If they chose to remain at his side, he would look after them personally.

And if they chose to venture out on their own, he would leave them with ample safeguards to prevent any mishaps.

As it turned out, the fact that they had become Lu Xuanxian's godsons was no accident — each of them possessed a backbone of their own.

"We wouldn't dream of troubling you, Second Brother. As your godson, I'd rather make a name for myself in the Dao Realm through my own strength."

Xu Feng spoke first. Qin Zhenguo and Wu Tianfu immediately echoed the sentiment.

"That's right. We want to forge our own path. After all, we can't very well embarrass you."

"Very well. Since you've chosen to go your own way, then take these."

Lu Xuanxian produced four Storage Rings, each loaded with resources at the Dao Venerable level.

Seeing them about to refuse, Lu Xuanxian's brow creased.

"If you still consider me a friend, take them."

"The Dao Realm is dangerous. I can't always be at your side."

With Lu Xuanxian having put it so plainly, the four of them could hardly refuse any longer and accepted.

Lu Xuanyuan, standing nearby, also stepped forward and thumped his chest.

"Since you're Brother Xuanxian's friends, that makes you my friends too. Here — four personal tokens of mine. Anywhere in the Dao Realm, as long as you present these tokens, it's as good as my being there in person."

"They'll resolve ninety-nine percent of any problems you might face."

The four of them didn't immediately accept, instead looking to Lu Xuanxian.

Lu Xuanxian nodded. "Take them. Consider it a kindness from Brother Xuanyuan."

After all, some problems were better solved with words than with fists.

With Lu Xuanxian's approval, the four accepted the tokens. Then Xu Feng suddenly remembered something important and asked.

"By the way, Second Brother — I hadn't realized you were a member of the Dao Realm's Lu Family."

"I'm not. After ascending to the Dao Realm, my talent caught their attention, so I joined the family."

Lu Xuanxian shook his head. Nearby, Lu Xuanyuan listened and fell into quiet thought.

Until Lu Xuanxian had investigated the truth and possessed the strength to stand against the Lu Family, he would not reveal his identity lightly.

However, given that his birth father was most likely Lu Daotian — who had been killed by a Lu Family Dao Venerable — this matter would almost certainly not end peacefully.

The Lu Family was destined to face a storm of blood the day Lu Xuanxian showed his hand.

Understanding dawned on the faces of Xu Feng and the others.

"I see. Well, we won't drag out the farewell. Second Brother, we're heading out. The road ahead is long — we'll meet again!"

Xu Feng cupped his fists first, bidding Lu Xuanxian farewell.

The other three followed suit, and then they went their separate ways.

Since the point was to temper themselves, there was no reason to travel together. Only Wu Tianfu and Lin Meijuan departed side by side — as Dao Companions, they would never be apart.

After they left, Lu Xuanyuan also cupped his fists toward Lu Xuanxian.

"Then I'll be off as well. Brother Xuanxian, I'll see you in the finals!"

"Mm. See you in the finals."

Lu Xuanxian smiled, watched Lu Xuanyuan leave, and then sighed.

"The life of an Immortal is always a solitary one. Who knows when we'll meet again."

But the melancholy lasted only a moment before Lu Xuanxian returned to his quarters and entered Seclusion to cultivate.

He hadn't been at it for long when he sensed something, and his expression shifted.

"Now, of all times?"

The next instant, a terrifying aura erupted from Lu Xuanxian's body, sending tremors through the entire Dao Realm.

Across the Dao Realm, countless mighty beings snapped their eyes open and stared in shock toward the center — toward the Wang Family's territory.

"What a terrifying aura. Did someone just break through to the Late Dao Venerable Realm?"

"That direction — it seems to be the Wang Family!"

"Heavens, the Wang Family has produced another Late Dao Venerable? Truly worthy of the Dao Realm's foremost power."