Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 661 - 308: Wang Xiu, Not Dead!_1

For an entire month, the Yi Clan had thirteen of their strongholds uprooted one after another. The scene at each was identical: every expert was annihilated, not a single one left. Among them, more than ten Saint-level experts had fallen, and the number of cultivators at the Soul Travel Realm and below was simply countless. When the news broke, it caused a massive uproar.

...

"All dead?"

"How terrifying! Thirteen strongholds in a row, over a thousand people from top to bottom, and not one left alive. They couldn’t even piece together a single complete corpse!"

"That’s just too brutal!"

"Have they found out who did it?"

"No ordinary person could do something like this. Who in the world did the Yi Clan offend?"

"It’s not clear. I heard the Yi Clan dispatched numerous masters, even mobilizing the reclusive clan elders, but they still haven’t caught the culprit!"

Countless people were discussing the matter, their whispered conversations echoing everywhere. The Yi Clan was an Ancient Clan with a long heritage and a profound foundation, one with a Supreme Quasi-Emperor presiding over it, commanding respect from even the great sects of the Nine Heavens. Yet now, someone was slaughtering their way through their strongholds, and the clan couldn’t even fight back. It was staggering.

"You’re all behind the times. I heard the attacker is from the Lower Realm, and his name is Wang Xiu!"

"What did you say? The Lower Realm?"

"How is that possible? How could someone from the Lower Realm dare to move against the Yi Clan?"

Everyone’s eyes widened at this news. It was simply incredible. In the minds of many, the Lower Realm was synonymous with weakness and inferiority—a notion etched deep into their very bones, one not easily changed.

"How is it impossible? Have you all forgotten those two incidents from years ago?"

"Hiss... you mean... oh! There’s more to that story? I thought it was long over!"

Reminded of the past, most of them had a sudden realization. Events like this weren’t so rare anymore; it had happened twice in the last few decades! No, counting carefully, it was three times. Later, the Yi Ancestral Grounds were robbed of their treasures, and word was the thief had never been caught. Including this latest incident, this was the fourth time!

"Wang Xiu... Wang Xiu... That name sounds familiar!"

"I remember! Back when the prodigies of the various clans descended to the Lower Realm, the ones sent by the Yi Clan were wiped out by a talent from the Lower Realm. It was a great loss of face. Wasn’t that person’s name Wang Xiu?"

"That’s right! So this is an old grudge!"

"And later, when the people of Sanqing entered the Nine Heavens, the Yi Clan, still bitter about that incident, made trouble for them behind the scenes. That’s what led to this whole series of events..."

"If that’s the case, then everything makes sense!"

...

Word always gets out. Despite the Yi Clan’s significant efforts to suppress the news and quell the turmoil to protect their reputation, it was all for naught. Within a month, all sorts of rumors were flying about. The Yi Clan was powerful, so many cultivators didn’t dare discuss it openly, but there was no shortage of people pointing fingers and making mocking comments in private. The air was thick with chatter about karmic retribution, heavenly justice, and how the clan was getting what it deserved. Coupled with the fact that the Yi Clan’s reputation was never particularly good to begin with, the situation had now been blown wide open. Many Yi Clan disciples couldn’t even hold their heads high when they went out.

"That’s not all. I heard even more explosive news! They say Wang Xiu never intended to hide his actions. He left traces at every stronghold, making it clear to the Yi Clan that he was coming to settle the score..."

"Isn’t that just a blatant slap in the face?"

"Can the Yi Clan possibly tolerate that?"

"They can’t, but what good would it do? This Wang Xiu must be resourceful. After all this time, they still haven’t found the slightest trace of him!"

"Of course he’s resourceful. His talent is exceptional. Back in the Lower Realm, he was able to defeat the Yi Clan’s prodigy at the same cultivation level! Now, after disappearing for sixty years, it seems he’s had another fortunate encounter and his strength has skyrocketed. To think he could topple so many Yi Clan strongholds on his own... his cultivation level is likely on par with some of the older generation’s experts now!"

"Indeed. The people of the Yi Clan might be of questionable character, but their strength is undeniable. Every stronghold was guarded by experts of the Saint Manifestation Realm, yet they were crushed so easily. It’s truly unexpected!"

People once again began to marvel at the mysterious young man from the Cangyuan Realm. His strength was truly profound and unpredictable. Sweeping through numerous Yi Clan strongholds single-handedly, he seemed to many like a future star on a meteoric rise.

"A star? What a joke! He’s just a flash in the pan!" someone scoffed sarcastically. "This world is never short of geniuses. Countless people have captured the world’s attention, but how many truly grow to their full potential? In the past, many dared to challenge the authority of the Ancient Clans, but what was the final outcome? It’s still those same Ancient Clans standing at the top. Have they ever truly been shaken?"

These words resonated with many. The Yi Clan had stood for so many years. How could it be shaken by such a small matter? At most, it was just a ripple, not enough to harm their foundation. After all, Wang Xiu was still young, far too green.

...

The news spread further and wider, and the fact that Wang Xiu had entered the Nine Heavens gradually became known. The name was unfamiliar to ordinary cultivators of the Nine Heavens, but for the major powers that had sent their prodigies to the trials on Longhuang Island, it was glaringly conspicuous.

「Liangzhou!」

In a canyon shrouded by a mysterious grand formation, one hundred and eight thousand iron chains stretched across the sky, extending from all directions to converge upon a floating palace. Inside one of its halls, a middle-aged man glanced down at a glowing communication talisman. His usually calm eyes trembled.

"Wang Xiu... is still alive?"

A respectful voice came from the talisman, "My lord, I have confirmed it. The information is very likely true!"

"I don’t want ’very likely’! I want it verified beyond all doubt!"

"Understood, my lord!"

...

In a deep abyss, where it seemed the sun never shone, a bone-chilling cold permeated the air. A dark purple fog, so thick it was almost tangible, hovered over the chasm, cutting off all light. Few knew that beneath this abyss lay a vast world teeming with countless living beings.

At this moment, at the very bottom of the abyss, two figures were conversing.

"News from Qingzhou. That person from the Lower Realm who went missing on Longhuang Island is still alive!"

"If I recall correctly, his name is Wang Xiu?"

"It is him."

"What must we do?"

"Find him. Ask him what, exactly, he obtained on Longhuang Island."

"Now that the news is out, it likely won’t be so easy."

"Which is why we must act quickly. If you travel through the Dead Spirit Abyss, you should be able to get ahead of everyone else!"

"I understand."

...

「Yaoguang Domain, Canglong Valley.」

This was not the original ancestral land of the Dragon Clan. At their peak, the Dragon Clan ruled the entire endless Western Sea, with all the myriad sea clans paying them homage. But after that great battle, their strength waned considerably. Without their Dragon Emperor or any supreme expert to preside over them, they could only retreat again and again, hiding away in a desolate land far from the world’s hustle and bustle.

At this moment, in a hidden valley, Ao Canghai was bathing in a Dragon Blood Pool, tempering his body. An endless stream of Dragon Qi transformed into runes that emitted a dazzling radiance, continuously forging his flesh.

Suddenly, a streak of mysterious light pierced the void and landed before him.

"Wang Xiu... is not dead!"

WHOOSH!

Ao Canghai’s eyes snapped open.