Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Turmoil at Mirror Moon Lake
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In June, when the sun should have been blazing, a sudden clap of thunder shattered the sky. A torrential downpour began, cascading down the green stone tiles and flooding the grounds of the ancestral hall.
The clan head, Yun Xiaotian, and the five elders stood in the rain. The protective aura radiating from their bodies vaporized the raindrops before they could touch them.
Their expressions were grim, their hands clenched into fists, and their slightly nervous gazes were fixed on the rear hall of the ancestral shrine.
“Bufan is about to attempt his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!”
Yun Xiaotian barked a single command: “Activate the formation.”
In the next instant, the five elders dispersed, each holding a formation plate as they flew to five different points around the island at the center of the lake.
BOOM!!!
Amidst the downpour, another clap of thunder echoed as five pillars of light shot into the sky. They abruptly formed a massive vortex, frantically drawing in the spiritual energy from a hundred-mile radius and funneling it toward the ancestral shrine.
For a moment, all the cultivators on the island looked up toward the clan's ancestral shrine, their eyes filled with anticipation as they prayed for Yun Bufan's success.
At Number 32, Fortune Gate Residence.
Yu Daniu and his wife felt the spiritual energy draining from their home and rushed outside to investigate. They were met with the sight of five hundred-zhang-tall spiritual energy vortexes standing above the central island.
“Cousin Bufan is attempting his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.”
Yun Huizhen was a woman from the direct line of the Yun Clan. Being worldly and knowledgeable, she recognized the significance of the five vortexes at a glance.
“Foundation Establishment? Wasn’t it scheduled for the end of the year?” Yu Daniu asked, confused.
“That was likely a rumor the clan deliberately spread to mislead people. Do you see those five hundred-zhang spiritual energy vortexes?”
“Those are the clan's heirloom Second-Tier, High-Grade Spirit Gathering Formation Plates. They're only brought out when someone from the clan is attempting a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.”
Yun Huizhen drew her spirit sword and looked at Yu Daniu. “Daniu, let's go to the ancestral shrine and stand guard for Cousin Bufan.”
At that moment, every member of the Yun Clan on the island left their homes and voluntarily headed toward the ancestral shrine to stand guard for Yun Bufan.
The high-level Fishery Farmers and guest elders in the inner waters all looked toward the central island. The spiritual energy had been instantly drained, and they all knew why.
Their hearts were in their throats, every one of them hoping that Yun Bufan would succeed in his breakthrough.
Only then could they continue to live peacefully under the Yun Clan's protection.
After all, in the vast Tiannan region, it was difficult to find a patron as good as the Yun Clan.
“Has it started early?”
Chen Jianghe stepped out onto the bow of his boat. Even from dozens of miles away, he could see the vortexes formed by the heaven-piercing pillars of light.
“I hope Yun Bufan succeeds. That way, I can also have a dozen or so peaceful years with the Yun Clan to build up my foundation.”
Even if it was for his own benefit, he had to pray for Yun Bufan.
Chen Jianghe couldn't help but feel a touch of envy about Yun Bufan's breakthrough. This was the talent of a natural-born immortal with a True Spiritual Root of three elements.
Yun Bufan was only three years older than him, yet he was attempting his breakthrough before the age of thirty-five.
To say he wasn't envious would be a lie.
However, he wasn't jealous. Given enough time, he too could attempt to reach Foundation Establishment.
Rumble~~~
Lightning flashed and thunder roared. The torrential rain showed no signs of stopping.
A halo of light suddenly appeared above the Yun Clan's ancestral shrine, devouring the converging spiritual energy like a primordial beast.
This meant that Yun Bufan had begun his attempt to break through.
Whoosh whoosh~
Just then, several hundred-zhang-long flying vessels appeared from the distance. They tore through the dark clouds as they headed for the central island, causing the torrential downpour to abruptly cease.
A moment later, the flying vessels halted above the inner waters. One after another, terrifying auras emanated from them, pressing down on Yun Bufan as he attempted his breakthrough on the island.
“A junior of my clan is attempting his breakthrough, yet I've troubled you fellow Daoists to come and stand guard. I am truly unworthy of such an honor!”
A deep voice boomed from the central island. Immediately after, a gray-bearded old man flew out, wielding a top-grade spirit sword. His cloudy eyes glinted with a chilling light as he stared intently at the four flying vessels.
This gray-bearded elder was none other than the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Yun Clan. His face was a crisscross of wrinkles, and the dense aura of death he exuded made it impossible for anyone to meet his gaze.
“The three of you, I told you this old coot was fine! All that talk about him being gravely injured and on the verge of death was just a rumor spread by their Yun Clan to ensure Yun Bufan's breakthrough would be undisturbed.”
On the flying vessel marked with the character for 'White,' a dignified and robust middle-aged man pointed at the Yun Clan's ancestor and addressed the other Foundation Establishment Ancestors on their vessels.
“Once Yun Bufan successfully reaches Foundation Establishment, the Yun Clan will have two ancestors. The balance of power in the eastern Tiannan region will be shattered! I implore you, fellow Daoists, to join me in slaying this old coot first!”
The White Clan's Foundation Establishment Ancestor roared, summoned his top-grade spirit artifact, and looked poised to charge out of the vessel to fight the Yun Clan's ancestor to the death.
But seeing no movement from the other flying vessels, he nonchalantly retracted his artifact, steadied himself, and gazed at the central island as if nothing had just happened.
What a joke.
Who would dare to attack the Yun Clan's ancestor at a time like this?
Even if ninety percent of what the White Clan's ancestor said was true—that the Yun Clan's ancestor was only pretending to be injured—who would dare to make a move?
That appearance, exuding a dense aura of death.
If he was truly injured, he might still be able to take one Foundation Establishment Ancestor down with him. If he was only faking it, he could likely gravely injure at least two of them in a desperate fight.
“They're not going to fight.”
Chen Jianghe was delighted. He was naturally happy to see this outcome, as it meant he would at least get to witness the rise of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor.
But in the next moment, a voice rang out, and Chen Jianghe's expression changed drastically. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped into the lake and dove toward the bottom as fast as he could.
“Old thief Yun, you annihilated thirty-two members of my Lan Clan! Today, you will pay for that debt in blood!”
At that moment, even deep at the bottom of the lake, Chen Jianghe could feel a scorching heat.
He could vaguely make out several ten-zhang-long fire dragons flying across the lake's surface, accompanied by the sounds of curses and screams.
All hell broke loose!
He saw the boats of the high-level Fishery Farmers and guest elders on the surface being incinerated by the fire dragons. He faintly saw someone try to fly away, only to be brutally struck down into the lake by a chain, staining the water red with blood.
“Xiao Hei, dig! Quickly!”
Chen Jianghe no longer had any mind to watch the show. He immediately ordered Xiao Hei to dig into the sand and stone at the lakebed, and he joined in as well.
Xiao Hei didn't need Chen Jianghe's urging. The moment he felt the terrifying fluctuations of power, he had already begun to dig frantically.
In just a few breaths, he had dug ten meters deep. Still feeling it wasn't safe enough, Xiao Hei continued to dig deeper.
Watching Xiao Hei's desperate efforts, Chen Jianghe was a bit stunned. The turtle seemed to value its life even more than he did.
If he hadn't been sticking close to Xiao Hei, the turtle's technique of digging while simultaneously using its spiritual power to cover their tracks with sand would have long since left him behind on the lakebed.
At a depth of thirty meters beneath the lakebed, Xiao Hei finally deemed it safe. He stopped digging, retracted his head and limbs into his shell, and even activated his 'Petrification' ability.
Chen Jianghe grimaced. Steeling himself, he channeled spiritual power to his hands, pushed aside the rock and sand, and hid himself underneath Xiao Hei.
“Two-legs, what are you doing?”