Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 1067 - 518: Black Dragon Sea Region Two Years Later, Divinity Transformation Ancestor Zhao Xuan Returns (2)

While it is true that the Zhao Family is recognized as a Divinity Transformation house and has birthed numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators, the absence of a resident Divinity Transformation Ancestor means they no longer stand as a formidable Divinity Transformation Clan.

Should such a moment arise, the various Nascent Soul Clans scattered across the islands of the Black Dragon Sea Region might well choose to revolt.

In theory, were the Zhao Family to remain internally cohesive, those combined clans would be no match for them.

The fundamental issue, however, remains the excessive internal friction within the Zhao Family ranks.

The descendants of both the primary and secondary branches engage in brutal conflicts over resources, literally bloodying one another in their desperation.

In the past, while he retained his presence, these disputes were kept under wraps and dared not surface.

Yet with his sudden disappearance, the clan might collapse from within due to these internal feuds long before outside forces could even strike.

Should such a tragedy occur, he is powerless to prevent it.

Ultimately, every generation must forge its own destiny.

Whoosh!

With such thoughts weighing on him, Zhao Xuan ceased his brooding and darted toward the location of Zhao Family Island.

After a journey of merely a few days, he successfully arrived back at his home.

"What is happening here?"

The moment his feet touched the soil of Zhao Family Island, Zhao Xuan stood frozen in disbelief.

He was shocked to find the territory, once exclusively held by the Zhao, now teeming with foreign cultivators.

The island was no longer a private sanctuary for his kin.

Every corner of the island had been transformed into dense urban zones, clearly functioning as a thriving center of commerce.

An endless stream of cultivators flooded the streets, creating a highly animated, bustling atmosphere.

Most unsettling of all, the entire island was enveloped by a colossal Tier Six Barrier.

Even a master of the Ninth-Layer Divinity Transformation stage, such as himself, would find such a defensive formation incredibly precarious to assault.

A single mistake could easily result in his demise.

Thus, despite the raging inferno of fury in his chest, Zhao Xuan did not make a sudden move.

Having navigated the world for countless years, he possessed a remarkably calm and calculating temperament.

He would not act without first discerning the situation and gauging the true power of these adversaries, as rushing into a conflict could prove fatal.

"The Zhao Family descendants must still be present."

A piercing, icy light flickered in Zhao Xuan’s eyes as he initiated a bloodline sensing technique to scan for any cultivators possessing the Zhao ancestral lineage.

Almost immediately, he confirmed that a significant number of his kin still resided within the borders of Zhao Family Island, including several Nascent Soul Cultivators.

These individuals at the Nascent Soul stage were his own grandchildren.

Whoosh!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Xuan infiltrated the island's defenses to seek out the residence of his grandson, Zhao Xuecheng.

"Grandfather, you... you are still alive?"

Zhao Xuecheng, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, had been deep in secluded Cultivation when the intrusion startled him. He briefly feared an enemy attack, but his anxiety turned to pure shock and joy upon recognizing the visitor.

He never imagined that his grandfather, believed dead for so long, would suddenly emerge right before his eyes.

"Lower your voice and account for everything that has occurred in my absence."

"Why does the island look like this?"

"Who exactly has usurped our authority over Black Dragon Island?"

Zhao Xuan coldly demanded, having no interest in idle pleasantries.

His singular desire was to understand the developments within the Black Dragon Sea Region since his mysterious departure.

What kind of force could trigger such a massive transformation?!

"Grandfather, the force that stripped us of our dominion is a Void Refining Sect known as the Primordial Talisman Sect."

"Our Zhao Family had no defense against them."

"We were forced to surrender to stay alive."

"We weren't the only ones; even the deep-sea Demon Races were compelled to submit."

"Tragically, those Demon Races were completely enslaved by the sect."

"Every single one of their cultivators has been reduced to a Spirit Beast belonging to the sect."

Zhao Xuecheng provided a concise overview of the years of history that had transpired in the region.

With Zhao Xuan gone, the region had fallen into chaos as various families scrambled for dominance.

The Zhao Family suffered further from internal strife, with kin turning against kin in a chaotic scramble for influence.

Concurrent with these troubles, deep-sea Demon Races launched a full-scale invasion of the Human Race, leading to catastrophic bloodbaths.

Just as the Human Race faced near-annihilation, the mysterious Primordial Talisman Sect emerged and swiftly unified the entire Black Dragon Sea Region.

Many powerful clans resisted, but it was futile.

Every Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivator caught resisting was enslaved and forced to work for the Primordial Talisman Sect.

They were put to work refining pills, crafting talismans, and laboring in mines without a single day of relief.

One could only earn their freedom by fulfilling enough Contribution Points to wipe their slate clean.

"A Void Refining Sect? How is such a thing even possible?"

"Since when has the Void Realm known such an organization? I have never heard of such a thing."

Zhao Xuan found the news impossible to swallow.

He had firmly believed that in the current era of the Void Realm, Divinity Transformation was the absolute ceiling of power.

Void Refining Cultivators were strictly figures of historical legend from the Ancient Era.

The sudden emergence of a sect backed by actual Void Refining powers left him bewildered and incredulous.

How could such beings reappear in this world?

"Grandfather, there is no doubt—the Primordial Talisman Sect belongs to the Void Refining tier."

"They have dozens, perhaps thirty such experts under their banner."

"Each one possesses apocalyptic strength."

"Beyond that, the sect commands hundreds of cultivators at the Divinity Transformation level."

"Their foundation is far deeper than we can comprehend."

"We simply cannot stand against them. If I hadn't surrendered promptly, I would be shackled in a mine right now," Zhao Xuecheng said, breathing a sigh of relief.

He had recognized the inevitable tide early and complied. Others within the clan, clinging to the old pride of a Divinity Transformation house, refused to bow; they were either slain or sent to forced labor, suffering immensely compared to his current quiet life.

"Twenty or thirty Void Refining experts?"

"How can this be so terrifying?"

"Has the face of the entire world truly distorted to this degree?"

Zhao Xuan felt stunned, yet he felt little sorrow for the lost members of the clan.

After thousands of years of expansion, he had too many descendants to count anyway.

His curiosity leaned toward the secrets of the Primordial Talisman Sect and the methodology for reaching the Void Refining stage.

As someone who had reached the absolute peak of Divinity Transformation, he knew he was only a step removed from breaking through.

Securing the path to Void Refining would not only grant him immense power but, more importantly, a massive extension to his dwindling Lifespan.

"Grandfather, the world has indeed undergone a complete rebirth."

"According to their members, the Spiritual Qi of the Void Realm is undergoing rapid resurgence."

"The recovery is happening at a blistering pace."

"They believe that soon, the Void Realm will reclaim the glory of the Ancient Era."

"That is the sole reason why they can harbor Void Refining Cultivators; the world no longer places the same limits upon us."

"The previous inability to transcend was entirely due to the restrictive Heaven and Earth Laws," Zhao Xuecheng explained.

He had gained this information by carefully currying favor with sect members through gifts and tribute, a gamble that brought him true insight.

"The laws of the realm have truly shifted."

"But even so, progressing into the Void Refining stage remains an arduous milestone."

Zhao Xuan sighed, noting for himself the marked increase in regional Spiritual Qi and the emergence of Tier Six Spirit Veins.

Regardless of the environment, a chasm separated Divinity Transformation and Void Refining that proved brutal to bridge, and he remained trapped on the wrong side of it, unsure of how the sect had succeeded where everyone else had failed.