Chapter 030: The Eastern Yellow Dragon (Third Update Seeking Recommendations)

What hidden truths lie behind Xu Xuan’s inexplicable dismissal? At this moment, the four members of the family all fixed their gaze upon the father, Xu Zheng. Xu Zheng’s fists were clenched, his expression deeply conflicted, showing resentment, shame, and unwillingness. The shifting emotions on his face heightened Xu Xuan’s curiosity, making him eager to uncover the answer.

Mother Wang Yu stared at her husband, her expression thoughtful.

“You should know the true master behind the Pinghua Town Academy—who holds the greatest power?” Xu Zheng took a deep breath, striving for composure, though his breathing remained uneven and his eyes blazed with hatred.

“The Dongfang family,” Xu Xuan replied, no longer the naïve youth he once was. From the day he touched the enrollment certificate, he suspected the academy was controlled by a powerful force behind the scenes.

“Exactly! The Dongfang family, among the most prominent in Yellow Dragon City. Within a thousand miles, their influence covers half the sky,” Xu Zheng’s eyes burned with a hatred that seemed engraved into his soul.

Xu Xuan was well aware of the Dongfang family’s prestige and power; in Yellow Dragon City, only the Zhang family could rival them. The Zhang family’s heirs had once appeared in Pinghua Town, dazzling all present and earning reverence from the commoners. Xu Xuan had never encountered anyone from the Dongfang family himself.

“Father, do you have a feud with the Dongfang family?” Xu Xuan’s expression shifted, though he found it unlikely. His father was just a commoner; what qualification did he have to provoke the Dongfang family?

Xu Zheng’s breath trembled, his face full of sorrow. He closed his eyes, recalling the past before exhaling heavily. “This matter traces back to three years ago…”

The family listened in silence; Xu Xuan’s expression changed with the unfolding story, and the truth gradually emerged.

Three years ago… Xu Xuan was only twelve, still a child. Yet that moment marked a watershed, a time when their family underwent dramatic change.

Three years ago, the family was relatively well-off, free from want. Three years ago, his father was in his prime.

Xu Zheng was once the pride of Yangmu Village: at eighteen, he reached the third stage of Body Refinement; at twenty-two, the fourth; by twenty-eight, the fifth.

Body Refinement, fifth stage! In a small village, such achievement earned the respect and admiration of countless commoners. But Xu Zheng’s accomplishments did not end there!

Three years ago, when Xu Xuan was twelve, Xu Zheng broke through to the sixth stage of Body Refinement—a startling feat that made even the likes of Xu Da Hu pale in comparison.

Body Refinement had nine stages, each three forming a boundary. Crossing into the seventh stage brought a qualitative leap in strength—one could easily unleash power exceeding a thousand pounds with a mere gesture, becoming unstoppable.

Moreover, after advancing to the seventh stage, there was a chance to touch upon the elusive path of immortal cultivation, and from then on, to become an immortal cultivator was not impossible.

Seeking breakthrough and greater prospects, Xu Zheng journeyed a thousand miles to Yellow Dragon City.

“On the road to Yellow Dragon City, I witnessed a ‘beast’ assaulting a beautiful woman in the street. In a fit of rage, I intervened to stop him,” Xu Zheng took a deep breath, his eyes instantly reddening.

“Father, you did nothing wrong,” Xu Xuan replied, slightly astonished.

“But I never imagined that the beast would be Dongfang Ba, the young master of the Dongfang family!” Xu Zheng’s face twisted in grief and hatred, tears glimmering in his eyes.

Dongfang Ba!

Xu Xuan’s heart quaked: How could this be? The man who became his father’s enemy was the young master of the Dongfang family.

Xu Xuan had heard stories of Dongfang Ba even in the countryside—his reputation for cruelty and arrogance spread far and wide, his tyrannical behavior infamous in the region, unchallenged by anyone.

“With my strength at the sixth stage, I was crippled in a single blow by him, forced to watch helplessly as he abused that young girl…” Xu Zheng’s voice trembled, hatred crystallizing to its utmost.

“What! Father’s leg was crippled by Dongfang Ba?” Xu Xuan shot to his feet, rage and murderous intent blazing in his eyes.

“Even in the village, few know of this. For your sake, I kept it hidden. I never thought this would be the reason for your expulsion from the academy,” Xu Zheng’s face was full of shame and sorrow, tears flowing freely.

Xu Xuan was stunned. From birth until now, his father had always been stoic, bearing hardship alone, his tears hidden within his heart. Xu Xuan never imagined his father could be driven to tears.

The mystery of three years ago was finally laid bare.

“It must be Xu Yuan from the main Xu family… He reported this matter to the academy, which led to my inexplicable dismissal,” Xu Xuan’s eyes flashed coldly.

Once the academy’s upper echelons learned that a student’s father had a feud with the Dongfang family’s young master, they would never dare admit him. After all, the academy itself was under Dongfang family control.

How could the Dongfang family nurture someone who bore them enmity?

“Father, you need not feel guilty. The wrong lies not with you. Besides, as long as I enter the Windfeather Immortal Sect, even the Dongfang family will find it hard to interfere. The immortal sect stands above all domains,” Xu Xuan pondered for a moment, gradually regaining his composure.

Now, the immortal sect was his only path forward. Staying in Yangmu Village would leave him vulnerable to further oppression from the main Xu family.

“Indeed, if you can enter the immortal sect, all current difficulties will be resolved. Once you join, even the main Xu family will treat you with utmost respect,” Xu Zheng’s eyes shone.

That night, seated cross-legged atop his bed, Xu Xuan vowed: Once I enter the immortal sect and cultivate in a superior environment, relying on memories from my previous life, I will find a way to heal Father’s injuries!

And the main Xu family, Xu Da Hu—those who oppose me will all be eliminated!

A cold light flashed in his eyes, the hatred for Xu Da Hu burning fiercest of all, his murderous intent sharpened.

With his current strength, he had at least an eighty percent chance of defeating Xu Da Hu, who was also at the fourth stage of Body Refinement. If aiming to kill, perhaps fifty or sixty percent—a risk worth considering.

But Xu Xuan knew that in every village and town within the cultivation world, there were “Enforcers” sent from above to govern the commoners and maintain local stability through “laws.”

For example, the village’s “Enforcer Chief” possessed at least the fifth or sixth stage of Body Refinement and held power over life and death.

Xu Da Hu spent most of his time managing the mines. Killing him openly was unrealistic; even if successful, investigation would bring punishment from the Enforcer.

However, once Xu Xuan entered the immortal sect and gained the protection of the sect, things would be entirely different: at that time, killing a mere fourth-stage commoner would cause the Enforcer Chief to turn a blind eye, as the “laws” mostly constrained ordinary folk.

“If I can reach the fifth stage of Body Refinement… eliminating Xu Da Hu would be effortless, even if I acted in secret, and the Enforcer Chief would have no recourse against me,” Xu Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing his murderous intent and calming his mind.

For now, increasing his strength was the utmost priority.

…

In the following days, Xu Xuan secluded himself, dedicating all his energy to cultivating the Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent.

He had already mastered the fourth transformation, “Entwine,” a technique suited for close combat.

Xu Xuan was confident that, if he fought the Xu family’s young master again, he could defeat him without even using internal energy, crippling him with just a few moves.

Next, he would advance to the fifth transformation, “Stillness.” The essence of this transformation contrasted with the liveliness of “Entwine,” focusing on controlling motion through stillness, maximizing the power and effectiveness of every attack.

The difficulty of “Stillness” far surpassed the fourth transformation, reaching a level of profound insight.

Before that, Xu Xuan needed to master the fifth layer of the Breathing Technique.

He had attempted the fifth layer over the previous days, facing considerable resistance, making only modest progress.

Today, he immersed his mind once more in memories and insights from his previous life. Building upon his complete mastery of the fourth transformation, his determination grew, and he cultivated with renewed vigor.

That night, he made little progress.

The fifth layer of the Breathing Technique demanded extremely high levels of mental clarity, requiring absolute focus, regulating the flow of blood and energy through breathing, elevating his senses to their peak, and reaching a terrifying level of mental stillness. In that state, all that remained was the locked target; even self-awareness faded away, leaving no room for stray thoughts or emotions.

It was a state of pure reason and calm, as described in theory.

Until, in a dream… Xu Xuan wandered the barren, empty sea of memory, gradually finding the feeling.

All stray thoughts and personal emotions dissipated, reaching a state of absolute calm devoid of emotion.

His eyes grew still, as if they were a dead lake—so calm it was unnerving.

That extreme calm and rationality could strike fear into any adversary.

After several days of cultivation, Xu Xuan made considerable progress, mastering seventy to eighty percent of the fifth layer of the Breathing Technique.

Whenever he entered that state, all emotions and subjective will were replaced by powerful reason.

Finally, on this day, Xu Xuan ceased his practice, composed himself, and prepared to depart.

Tomorrow would be the once-in-a-decade recruitment of disciples by the Windfeather Immortal Sect…

(Third update seeking recommendation votes. These chapters serve as a brief transition, and the story’s structure will unfold gradually. Currently, “Immortal River” has reached first place at Zhou Point and urgently needs recommendation votes for support!)