NOVPUBWan Shounian paced to the base of the black coffin.
He only saw strands of inky black gas entwined on the coffin, floating and condensing above it.
Different patterns and shapes began to form.
"You’ve come," after a long while, a hoarse voice emitted from within the coffin.
The coffin slowly lowered itself.
Wan Shounian nodded, sitting beside the coffin, he let out a long sigh.
"Have you encountered some dilemma that you can’t resolve?" the elder inside the coffin asked with a light chuckle.
"Today, a direct lineage descendant of our family had a conflict with the Wenren Family, and was almost beaten to a cripple," Wan Shounian said, frowning.
"Did the Wenren Family’s elders join the fight?" the elder within the coffin asked, puzzled.
"That’s not the case. It seems the younger generation had a dispute over something to do with Tingyu Pavilion," Wan Shounian shook his head as he spoke.
"Is this generation’s younger members so inept?" the elder inside the coffin asked with a laugh.
"So what’s troubling you?"
"I’ve always advocated for the younger generation to resolve their own issues.
Except this time, the Wenren Family’s youth went too far, Honger’s body was nearly wrecked, thankfully we still had Body Molding Pills."
Wan Shounian said, struggling to decide, "And if we don’t respond to this incident, how will the others in Phoenix Feather City view us?
Will they think our Wan Family is afraid of the Wenren Family?"
"Then do as your heart desires," the elder inside the coffin responded.
"But I’m struggling with how to measure this," Wan Shounian said, contemplating.
"If they’re willing to apologize and compensate, it’s all well and good.
But what if they don’t apologize?
Are we truly going to start a war with the Wenren Family?"
"You are the Family Head of this generation, it’s up to you to decide," the elder within the coffin explained.
"You’re aware of the state of our family in recent years, to put it bluntly, it’s decline, a slow death.
If we do fight the Wenren Family, breaking and reforming might not be such a bad thing.
But I’m afraid of breaking without the ability to reform. There’s also the looming Phoenix Perching Dynasty!
If you don’t wish to fight, lower our demands a bit when we approach the Wenren Family, so both sides have a step to descend gracefully from."
"Times have changed, many things in this world are shifting too quickly," Wan Shounian fell silent for a while.
He closed his eyes, concentrating his spirit into this dark space.
After a long time, he finally exhaled and said, "Do you remember before the Heavenly Prison Ancestor ascended, when all lands celebrated us, who dared to belittle our Wan Family?
During the glorious days of our Wan Family, their Wenren Family was just a gasping, insignificant clan."
"The decline of the family has nothing to do with you descendants," the elder in the coffin sighed.
"It’s us ancestors who failed to pass on the glory. You have already done quite well."
"In this life, can our Wan Family compete with Destiny?" Wan Shounian said quietly.
"And what path should the future of our Wan Family take?"
"It seems you don’t want to fight," the elder inside the coffin already knew the answer.
"In terms of foundation, the Wenren Family no longer pales in comparison to ours," Wan Shounian replied.
"Furthermore, Wenren Jingshi’s little lady has married into the True Martial Holy Sect.
One side is also the Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Sect; we cannot win."
"The Wenren Family is not our main enemy, and when necessary, we can even become allies," the elder in the coffin said.
"The biggest hidden danger in the last two years has still been the Phoenix Perching Dynasty!"
Wan Shounian narrowed his eyes as he gazed into the darkness, finally nodding in agreement.
His originally pitch-black eyes were now slightly filled with melancholy. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
"The Phoenix Perching Dynasty boasts unparalleled talents, especially the current monarch of this generation, a truly outstanding ruler.
Once a dynasty that lived in the cracks under the might of our two great families, it has now fully grown."
"I know what they are aiming for; they’ve wanted to rule the Phoenix Perching Empire from the beginning, including our two great families."
After Wan Shounian finished speaking, the surroundings became extremely quiet.
He rested for a long while with his eyes half-closed, leaning against the coffin before he finally stood up and walked outside.
As he reached the entrance of the Spatial Gate, Wan Shounian’s figure suddenly stopped.
"Heavenly Crane Ancestor, I’m tired!"
After saying this, Wan Shounian stepped into the Spatial Gate.
...
After a night without words, the morning in Phoenix Feather City looked very bustling.
The vendors who had been busy all night at the market were packing up their stalls, ready to go home and catch up on sleep.
Yet, those selling breakfast were setting up their stands, with the aroma of steamed buns wafting and circulating through the entire street.
Xu Zimei had been cultivating for the entire night, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
It had been a long time since he slept; at his realm, most of his time was actually spent in insight and cultivation.
Sleep, to him, had become a gradually unfamiliar concept.
The "Demonic Skills" passed down to him by the previous Demon Lord contained ten moves, each with the pinnacle of a different domain.
He found understanding them incredibly efficient and effective.
For Xu Zimei, advancing from the Saint Vein Realm to the Divine Vein Realm was not difficult; he was now contemplating his own Entering the Taoism.
Destiny might be very important to others,
But to Xu Zimei, it was optional.
His cultivation was markedly different from others; while they cultivated, he was creating worlds.
In the future, when he enters the Way, it will be the Dao of his own Divine Continent, not that of the Yuan Central Continent.
He wanted his world to grow gradually and eventually become mainstream.
So, he could enter the Way without Destiny.
However, in this life, Xu Zimei still intended to compete for Destiny.
The so-called Destiny is actually a part of the incarnation of the Great Dao.
He planned to use the mature Dao of Yuan Central Continent to perfect the nascent Great Dao of his own Divine Continent.
Creating a world was far from simple, and Xu Zimei trod carefully with each step.
He feared that one misstep would lead to further errors.
Not long after Xu Zimei opened the door to his room, he saw Wenren Su coming out of the next room.
"Cousin, have you eaten?" Wenren Su asked.
Before Xu Zimei could reply, a clan disciple hurried in through the courtyard gate.
He said to both of them, "Brother Su, Cousin Zimo, Grandfather is looking for you!"
"It seems like yesterday’s incident has been exposed," Wenren Su said to Xu Zimei with a smile, reminding him.
"Remember what I told you yesterday, don’t let it slip."
"Do you really think your method yesterday was useful?" Xu Zimei laughed.
"What do you mean?" Wenren Su asked, puzzled.
"This matter, well, it isn’t a big deal, nor is it minor, but in the end, what’s most important is the family’s face,"
Xu Zimei replied, "Seeing that the people from the Wan Family have come, as long as it’s not too excessive, Grandfather will surely provide an explanation."
"Are you saying that our punishment is inevitable?" Wenren Su asked.
"Not me, you," Xu Zimei pointed to Wenren Su and laughed.
"Although, yes, I am the grandson.
But no matter what, I’ve not seen Grandfather often, and I’m also considered half a guest.
He won’t punish me unless it’s absolutely necessary.
But it’s different for you."
