CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 328: RETURN TO WUHE STAR! [2 MORE, REQUEST FOR MONTHLY VOTES!]

On the journey.

Chen Jichuan organized the assets of the six Divinity Transformation cultivators from the Taiyin Sect.

The battle was swift.

As a result, the pills, talismans, magical treasures, and other miscellaneous items on their bodies remained largely unused.

The total value of these scattered possessions exceeded four billion Spirit Crystals.

Among these, the magical treasures accounted for the largest portion.

Each of the six Divinity Transformation cultivators had a ’Starry Sky Walking’ item, with lesser-valued ones priced at around thirty million Spirit Crystals, and more valuable ones—like He Lengchan’s ’Raccoon Cat Walk’—though not as costly as Chen Jichuan’s ’Sun Chasing Walk,’ were still worth fifty-eight million Spirit Crystals.

Though there was nothing among their possessions that truly excited Chen Jichuan, it was undoubtedly a major haul.

The remaining Spirit Crystals and Primordial Stones also added up to a considerable amount.

Altogether.

This counterstrike against the Taiyin Sect yielded nearly five billion Spirit Crystals.

Which translates to five million Primordial Stones.

"As expected of the Taiyin Sect."

"A pack of marauding thieves whose wealth far surpasses that of ordinary Divinity Transformation cultivators who abide by the rules!"

Chen Jichuan beamed with joy.

But he also knew that raiding and plundering, while lucrative, came with high risks.

The Taiyin Sect, for example, made the fatal mistake of provoking someone as ruthless as him and paid the ultimate price—all dead.

No matter how much wealth they had, it had all become someone else’s.

In this line of work, one needed sharp judgment and skills, but also a fair amount of luck.

"Not the Righteous Path!"

"And robbery doesn’t compare to the profits earned from legitimate business."

Chen Jichuan felt disdain in his heart.

Take the Starfall Pavilion, for example.

Take the Four Directions Sect.

Take Magic Sound Mountain.

These forces earn wealth that is truly staggering.

Within the area centered around Magic Sound Mountain, there are tens of thousands of Divinity Transformation cultivators active year-round. Magic Sound Mountain itself serves as a hub for tens of thousands of Divinity Transformation cultivators, with thousands residing there year-round.

Even if only two thousand stay.

Even if they live in a D-class zone.

The annual rental income alone amounts to six million Primordial Stones.

Add to that the rental fees and tax revenue from various shops, plus the personal businesses of several ancestors, and the yearly income exceeds the combined wealth of the six Divinity Transformation cultivators of the Taiyin Sect.

"With such immense accumulated wealth, it’s no wonder they invite envy."

Chen Jichuan thought to himself.

His thoughts turned to Wuhe Star.

"When I return, I’ll cultivate a group of Divinity Transformation cultivators. Then I’ll establish something like the ’Ten Ancestors of Wuhe Star,’ or perhaps ’Twenty Ancestors,’ even ’Thirty Ancestors.’"

Chen Jichuan harbored grand ambitions.

...

After evaluating the possessions of He Lengchan and the other six, Chen Jichuan turned to Galaxy and Zhenwu.

No sooner had he turned his head, than the two ancestors waved their hands simultaneously and said, "We didn’t contribute anything to this battle. Whatever gains you’ve made, we don’t want to know, nor do we want to take them!"

"..."

Chen Jichuan chuckled awkwardly.

The two ancestors were legendary figures on Wuhe Star. In the past, when they were in Magic Sound Mountain, they were in dire straits and had accepted Chen Jichuan’s magical treasures and Primordial Stones.

Now that the crisis was over, they wouldn’t take advantage of him again.

Chen Jichuan understood their mindset and didn’t press the matter.

With the Taiyin Sect matter resolved, Galaxy and Zhenwu felt a weight lifted from their hearts. Feeling unaccomplished, they decided not to return to Wuhe Star.

Instead, they bid farewell to Chen Jichuan and embarked on a journey together to explore the starry skies.

Only Chen Jichuan remained, heading back alone to Wuhe Star.

Stopping and starting along the way.

Traveling from Magic Sound Mountain, Chen Jichuan had taken fifty-seven years to reach it from Wuhe Star years ago. This time, on his way back, with fewer delays and the speed of the ’Sun Chasing Walk,’ it took only twenty-seven years to return to Wuhe Star.

That year.

Marked the year 1700 of the Wuhe Calendar.

Chen Jichuan had been away from Wuhe Star for three hundred and thirty years!

...

On this day.

Shiwu City.

Huang Jiao knelt before her father, Huang Xuan, pleading, "Father, your daughter is eight hundred and twenty-five years old this year, with only Tan’er as her only child. He is still young and ignorant—please, Father, spare him this time!"

After centuries apart.

The once neighborly little girl had long since married and become a mother. Now, over eight hundred years old, though she appeared to be a middle-aged beauty, traces of age lingered faintly around her eyes.

Beside her.

Huang Jiao’s husband, Wang Bing, his temples streaked with white, looked no better than his father-in-law, Huang Xuan.

Across millennia.

Despite the generational gap, Wang Bing and Huang Xuan were both well into their eight and nine hundred years—elderly men.

As the son-in-law of the Huang Family, and the brother-in-law of Grandmaster Huang Quan, Wang Bing was no ordinary man.

Years ago, he had already cultivated to the True Person Ten Realms, and a century ago, he became the Talisman Hall Master. His talent in talisman making even surpassed that of his brother-in-law, Grandmaster Huang Quan.

In the entire Wuhe Immortal Sect, Talisman Hall Master Wang Bing was among the notable figures.

Even so, at this moment, for the sake of his only son, he humbled himself and knelt before his father-in-law, pleading miserably, "Your son-in-law neglected to discipline Tan’er, allowing him to cause great trouble. Yet Tan’er is still so young. Both Huang Jiao and I only have this one bloodline—if anything were to happen to him, neither she nor I could bear it. Please, Father-in-law, have mercy!"

"Mother!"

"Please persuade Father to spare Tan’er this time!"

Huang Jiao was sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing Huang Xuan remain silent, she knelt and moved forward a few steps, clinging to Feng Heng and crying helplessly.

"Ah!"

"You’ve spoiled Wang Tan too much, raising him to be reckless and daring. Now he’s caused this calamity!"

Feng Heng had grown old as well.

Though the Huang Family had flourished in recent years, and she herself—being merely a woman—had cultivation and methods not worth mentioning, her status as Grandmaster Huang Quan’s mother and the matriarch of the Huang Family commanded immense respect.

But as the Huang Family grew in prominence, so did its troubles.

Feng Heng had deliberately distanced herself from family affairs, yet when it concerned her beloved daughter, she couldn’t help but intervene.

Still, she understood her husband and eldest son’s temperament. Thinking about her second son, who was still being punished in the ’Thunder God Tower,’ she shook her head and said, "Do you know the severity of Tan’er’s misdeeds?"

"Daughter knows."

"But now that Wuhe Immortal Sect is managed by Eldest Brother, and Master himself hasn’t interfered in worldly matters for three hundred years, this matter—"

"Smack!"

Before Huang Jiao could finish, Huang Xuan slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it into pieces. Startled, both Huang Jiao and Wang Bing flinched. Realizing her mistake, Huang Jiao quickly said, "Daughter misspoke—please, Father, calm your anger!"

"You—"

Huang Xuan’s chest heaved with rage. Pointing at Huang Jiao, his face turned red, and after a long moment, he managed to roar, "Ungrateful wretch!"

"Father—"

Huang Jiao was visibly flustered and pale, her eyes filled with unease.

"No more discussion."

"Wang Tan is depraved, wantonly taking lives. He’s beyond salvation."

Huang Xuan made up his mind and barked toward the door, "Huang Run, notify all Huang Family descendants within five generations—they are to gather in Shiwu City within one month without exception!"

"Yes!"

Huang Run, the eldest son of Huang Biao and the Huang Family’s eldest grandson, replied respectfully.

"Father!"

"Father-in-law!"

Huang Jiao and Wang Bing’s faces turned ashen.

"All of them, nothing but trouble!"

"Go home and reflect deeply!"

Huang Xuan got up, snorted coldly, and stormed off.

Huang Jiao and Wang Bing sat paralyzed, despair etched on their faces.

Feng Heng, beside them, glanced at Huang Jiao and sighed, "The Huang Family owes its current glory to the favor of your Master. How could you—"

She sighed again, then rose and left.

The vast hall was left with only Huang Jiao and Wang Bing slumped on the floor, spirits broken.

...

Shiwu City.

This was the former cultivation ground of Wuhe Immortal Sect’s Xu Ning and Grandmaster Huang Quan—two Divinity Transformation Ancestors. Over the years, harnessing its coastal advantage and boosted by the Huang Family’s vigorous efforts, the area had flourished.

Though Shiwu City remained a Guard City, it had grown prosperous, encircled by over ten subordinate cities.

Prominent forces and families abounded.

Yet Shiwu City’s Huang Family undoubtedly stood head and shoulders above the rest.

The Huang Family’s ascent began with seven True Persons across two generations. Then, with Xu Ning Ancestor’s advancement to the Divinity Transformation Stage, their star truly rose. Later, upon the Divinity Transformation of Huang Quan Ancestor, Huang Family’s eldest son and Xu Ning Ancestor’s top disciple, their glory reached its zenith.

Over three centuries had passed.

The Huang Family had long since become the undeniably foremost household in Wuhe Immortal Sect.

However, strict discipline permeated the family, its laws so severe they appeared harsh even to outsiders.

Take, for example, the events one month ago.

Huang Quan Ancestor’s second brother, Huang Family’s second patriarch, Huang Biao, violated family laws by granting favoritism, leading their old patriarch, Huang Xuan, to personally tie him up and suspend him atop Shiwu City’s Prison Mountain’s ’Thunder God Tower,’ enduring twenty-four lightning lashes daily and nightly.

What kind of man was Huang Biao?

Huang Family’s patriarch!

Grandmaster Huang Quan’s second brother!

Although the Huang Family avoided conflicts of interest with Wuhe Immortal Sect by abstaining from holding public positions, Huang Biao was undoubtedly among the most influential figures on Wuhe Star.

Yet even such a man was punished atop the ’Thunder God Tower.’

The physical pain was secondary.

The public humiliation and disgrace—being subject to the stares and gossip of onlookers—were the most agonizing.

Huang Biao, now in his eighties, had limited years left unless he achieved Divinity Transformation.

Facing death, his dignity was thoroughly shredded.

"Sigh!"

Huang Biao was bound atop the ’Thunder God Tower,’ his emotions a tangled mess.

Throughout his tenure as patriarch, he had disciplined many unruly Huang Family members and those wielding the Huang Family name for misconduct.

These individuals were either imprisoned within the ’Thunder God Tower’ or directly executed.

He never imagined.

That one day, he would experience the ’Thunder God Tower’ himself.

And not merely as a prisoner within its confines, but suspended publicly atop its pinnacle, subjected to relentless torment.

Not for just one month.

A full three years of punishment.

"Sigh~ Ah~"

Just as Huang Biao sighed, a sudden lightning bolt struck him, jolting his body and forcing a scream from his lips.

The horrified wails echoed for dozens of miles around the tower.

Huang Biao could no longer concern himself with dignity or remorse. All he could hope for was the fast passage of these three years.

As he prayed.

Suddenly.

He felt space distort, and in an instant, he was no longer atop the Thunder God Tower.

Centering himself.

He discovered he was actually at home. Seated before him were two figures: his upright father, Huang Xuan, and another—

"Master?!"

Upon recognizing the second figure, Huang Biao felt both astonished and elated.

"You disgraceful wretch!"

"Kneel at once!"

Huang Xuan snarled at his son, seeing him dumbfounded.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Disciple Huang Biao greets Master!"

Springing from his torment-induced stupor, Huang Biao quickly knelt and kowtowed to the seated elder, addressing him as "Master."

...