"You should have returned sooner. The sky is full of evil stars, and the journey was not smooth, hence the delay," Liou Zhen replied warmly to Liou Yuan.

When Liou Zhen spoke, Liou Yuan couldn’t see any emotion on his brother’s face, but he didn’t believe things were as calm as his brother made them out to be.

For someone capable of directly killing an alien Calamity-level Star Evil, the time delay was significant.

Clearly, the dangers encountered along the way were not something that could be easily described as just ’not smooth’.

"What he calls ’not smooth’ is a major danger to me," Liou Yuan commented, touching his nose. Luckily, he had no plans to go out.

Liou Zhen’s eyes, as deep as the stars, scanned Liou Yuan, noticing the aura of imminent breakthrough in his current state, with a glimmer of surprise in his eyes.

He then smiled and said, "Not bad, you’re about to surpass the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. My brother Liou Yuan has the potential for Foundation Establishment."

Liou Zhen would never have said this before.

Three years ago, after assessing Liou Yuan’s potential, he deliberated for a long time on whether to guide Liou Yuan onto the path of cultivation.

Only then did he place the "Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill" under Liou Yuan’s bed.

Now, seeing Liou Yuan’s potential unfold, Liou Zhen was grateful for his decision back then.

Liou Zhen didn’t question Liou Yuan’s cultivation speed, which defied his potential.

Everyone has their opportunities, and since this person was his brother, he was only too happy.

"My big brother is amazing. Staying in the Five Extremes Mountain, I finally realized how influential you are here."

"It’s indeed provided me with a lot of convenience," Liou Yuan said sincerely.

Thanks to Liou Zhen, he had the confidence to take people to Little Cyan Valley.

That Fang Yu only intervened on his behalf because of Liou Zhen.

Liou Zhen, being perceptive, noted Liou Yuan’s casually spoken words and immediately his eyes filled with a cold glint. His voice was still gentle as ever, though: "I’ve heard about the Little Cyan Valley incident from Mr. Yu."

Seeing the change in Liou Zhen’s expression, Liou Yuan thought he was about to be reprimanded and wore an awkward expression.

Who knew that Liou Zhen would suddenly change his tone: "You did well."

"The Five Extremes Mountain doesn’t prohibit magical duels because they don’t want to suppress the disciples’ fighting spirit."

"Moreover, the founder of the Five Extremes Mountain said that the strong should rise valiantly amidst battle formations. Hence, the misunderstanding of ’the strong one’s words shall be respected.’"

"Simply prohibiting fighting leads to cowardly disciples regardless of their cultivation level."

"The Five Extremes Mountain wants wolves that can fight with blades so the sect can stand firm in this chaotic world."

At this point, Liou Yuan felt Liou Zhen’s tone paused, as he saw his brother’s eyes, filled with deeper meaning, gaze upon him.

"Setting aside the sect’s standpoint, as your brother, I also hope you can become a ’strong force.’"

Much of Liou Zhen’s fame was forged through the battles he waged with his sword.

Although his tone was flat when he said this, a chilling energy flowed from him that made Liou Yuan’s heart tremble.

Liou Yuan touched his nose and voiced the doubt that had troubled him for so long: "But big brother, is there someone who holds a grudge against you here at the Five Extremes Mountain?"

Liou Yuan was referring, of course, to the unprovoked hostility from Liou Tao.

Who ever wishes to kill someone upon their first meeting?

Even though Liou Yuan was ruthless, he wouldn’t attack anyone without reason. Liou Tao was just like a mad dog.

Liou Yuan had long wanted to ask about this, but Liou Zhen had left the sect after his entrance, and only now returned.

Liou Zhen understood what Liou Yuan was asking, his expression momentarily turning solemn, as if hesitating.

Liou Yuan didn’t rush him and waited quietly for his answer.

Only when Liou Zhen shook his head and gently said, "Do you remember what you asked me in Yanhe City?"

Being asked about this, Liou Yuan gave an embarrassed smile: "Of course."

It was about Ge Jinhong’s grandson having the potential for cultivation.

Liou Zhen said that ancestors with the potential for cultivation are more likely to have descendants with the same potential.

Liou Yuan then asked, "Since the Liou Family has two brothers in the same generation with potential, does that mean our ancestors were cultivators too?"

Back then, Liou Zhen avoided discussing the topic.

When mentioning Liou Tao, Liou Zhen brought this up again, causing Liou Yuan to subconsciously connect the two matters, stirring up a bizarre and absurd thought.

"No way!" As Liou Yuan was stunned by his own speculation,

Liou Zhen’s voice echoed in his mind.

"The Xiangshan the Liou Family has two branches, their most notable difference is that one possesses the Fog Acupoint, and the other the Ice Acupoint."

"The Ice Acupoint is the elder, and the Fog Acupoint is the second. Traditionally, the Patriarch is chosen from the elder branch."

"But regardless of how exceptional a family is, there comes a time when subsequent generations are lacking. Even the elder branch couldn’t escape the cycle of decline."

"Over hundreds of years, the ties between the two branches of descendants have faded."

"By the time of our father’s generation, the elder branch was in disarray, while the second branch rose to power, naturally taking the position of Patriarch from the elder branch."

"Our great uncle was killed in the struggle for Patriarch, forcing our father to take mother and young me to flee to Yanhe City."

"Afterwards, you came along."

"Later, as the second branch pressed down harshly, our father, to protect our family’s lives, abandoned his cultivation and continued to live."

"This is the answer."

When Liou Zhen mentioned these words, there was no fluctuation in his emotions.

As an observer, Liou Yuan’s expression grew increasingly strange.

Because the past events Liou Zhen spoke of matched exactly with the thoughts that had just emerged in his mind.

He lowered his head, and after a long while, lifted it again with a chuckle, saying, "So that’s how it is!"

No wonder Liou Tao acted like a mad dog when he saw me; everything now has an answer. It turns out it’s a blood feud.

The Xiangshan Liou Family, represented by the secondary bloodline, never had legitimate standing; they would only feel at ease by exterminating us.

But my short-lived father crippled his own cultivation.

Thinking back, the main bloodline also had connections and friendships in the Five Extremes Mountain over the years. The secondary bloodline was wary of Five Extremes Mountain’s response, so they dared not act against us openly, but they undoubtedly caused trouble in the shadows.

"My short-lived father surely didn’t die by accident," Liou Yuan thought silently.

Calculating all the possibilities, the secondary bloodline never expected that the main bloodline, which was already like a defeated dog, would unexpectedly produce someone like Liou Zhen.

Liou Zhen rose from the ashes and even went against all odds to join the Five Extremes Mountain, breaking through to Foundation Establishment right under their noses.

Come to think of it, during Liou Zhen’s time in the Five Extremes Mountain, the Xiangshan Liou Family dared not do anything to him publicly, but they were surely not idle in the background.

"My elder brother, I don’t know how much hardship he has endured over the years," Liou Yuan thought, looking at his older brother standing in front of him.

His demeanor was so cool, his gaze gentle as he looked at me, never mentioning a word about my early experiences.

Liou Yuan felt a slight pang of sorrow in his heart, nodding at him to indicate that he knew what to do.

"In that case, there’s no room for mercy," Liou Yuan said in a meaningful tone. "I’ll see to it accordingly."

"It’s been hard on you," Liou Zhen sighed softly.

"What are you talking about, elder brother, this is a blood feud," Liou Yuan responded indifferently.

Regardless of whether I am Liou Yuan or not, since I’ve taken on his identity, benefited from having Liou Zhen as an elder brother, and received Bai Xin’s care,

I am Liou Yuan now.

The Xiangshan Liou Family won’t let me go, so I won’t pass up any chance to kill their people either in the future.

"That secondary bloodline gained the position of Patriarch and must have reaped many benefits here in the Five Extremes Mountain," Liou Yuan sneered.

During their conversation, Liou Zhen used some method so that Liou Yuan couldn’t hear a sound from the outside world.

Similarly, the outside world shouldn’t be able to hear Liou Yuan and Liou Zhen’s conversation.

Realizing this, Liou Yuan had no more worries and prepared to tell Liou Zhen about the Spirit Iron Ore Vein.

At present, he whispered to Liou Zhen.

"Brother, may I have a word with you in private?"

"Alright!" Liou Zhen didn’t ask what Liou Yuan wanted to say.

He agreed, and with a sweep of his large sleeves, True Essence wrapped around Liou Yuan, making them disappear from the library.

In just a few breaths, Liou Yuan appeared with Liou Zhen by the riverbank where he often practiced magic.

Liou Yuan reached into his bosom and solemnly took out the two Cyan Iron Ore stones he had acquired from Yongquan Town, handing them to Liou Zhen.

"Cyan Iron?" Liou Zhen, being a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, could recognize the origin of this Cyan Iron at a glance, even if he wasn’t skilled in artifact refining.

"That’s right." Seeing that Liou Zhen recognized this, Liou Yuan spared the explanation and immediately narrated his discovery of the Cyan Iron Ore Vein in Yongquan Town.

He naturally didn’t mention the Fixed Star Compass.

Instead, he said he stumbled upon the ore vein beneath Yongquan Town while exterminating the Baby-eating Mink.

Why would Liou Zhen have any reason not to believe Liou Yuan’s words? He realized the complexity of the matter and in a tense voice asked Liou Yuan, "No one else knows about this, right?"

"Brother, I’m not foolish. How could I let others know?" Liou Yuan smiled smugly.

"I waited for you to come back to mention this because it’s a significant matter."

"You really are... Jackpot Boy," Liou Zhen once again marveled at Liou Yuan’s luck, teasingly calling him Jackpot Boy.

He then carefully stored away the two Cyan Iron Ore stones, evaluated the location Liou Yuan provided for the ore vein, and kindly said, "Although Cyan Iron isn’t valuable spiritual iron, its abundance makes a vein quite a notable resource."

"Enough to attract Foundation Establishment’s interest; good thing you stayed cautious."

Liou Zhen calmly laid out his plan:

"The mining of this ore vein will cause considerable commotion, it can’t be hidden from the sect, nor is there any need to."

"We just need to report this to the sect, and they’ll reward us with merit points based on the value of the ore vein."

"Before that, the sect will send people to survey the ore vein, assessing its specific value."

"Then, under my name, I’ll claim the sect’s rewards to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Liou Yuan also thought this way, only Liou Zhen’s intervention could ensure safety, so he happily said, "Let’s do as brother suggests."

"It might take a while, as the Evil Star Shift currently makes the outside world unsettled, and surveying the ore vein requires manpower and time."

"That’s fine, the ore vein won’t fly away," Liou Yuan replied confidently, having Liou Zhen back lifted his spirits; he didn’t mind waiting a bit longer.

"Little Yuan truly has great fortune," with the matter concluded, Liou Zhen sincerely sighed, "Having such luck just six months in the Five Extremes Mountain."

"Luck, pure luck!" Liou Yuan grinned proudly.