From the fake emperor to the concubine

However, these fragments did not dissipate, but instead reassembled under the influence of the Immortal Essence, forming a completely new life form.

This life form was only the size of an infant, but it had the exact same face as Zheng Yi.

"Nascent Soul! My Nascent Soul has been born!" Zheng Yi was extremely excited.

The birth of his Nascent Soul marked his formal entry into the Nascent Soul stage, making him a high-level expert in the cultivation world.

Moreover, nourished by the essence of immortality, this nascent soul is more solid than an ordinary nascent soul, and contains even greater power.

"This isn't over yet, keep absorbing!" Zheng Yi discovered that there was still a lot of immortal essence left to absorb, so he immediately continued refining it.

As more immortal essence was incorporated, his nascent soul began to grow rapidly. From its initial infant state, it quickly grew into a toddler, and then a teenager.

"Early Nascent Soul Stage, Mid-Nascent Soul Stage, Late Nascent Soul Stage"

In just a few hours, Zheng Yi's cultivation level broke through several minor realms and finally stabilized at the late Nascent Soul stage.

"This is incredible!" Zheng Yi felt the surging power within him and could hardly believe it was real.

The leap from the peak of the Golden Core stage to the late stage of the Nascent Soul stage is an unprecedented improvement.

But what surprised him even more was that the Immortal Essence not only enhanced his cultivation level but also improved his physique and comprehension. Now, both his physical strength and his understanding of Daoist techniques have reached a completely new level.

"Is this the power of the Immortal Essence Pearl?" Zheng Yi exclaimed. "No wonder the immortals used heavenly tribulation lightning to protect it."

After three days and three nights of refining, he finally fully absorbed the power of the Immortal Essence Pearl.

Zheng Yi is now more than ten times stronger than before. Not only has his cultivation level improved significantly, but his understanding of swordsmanship has also reached a new level.

“It’s time to leave.” Zheng Yi stood up, preparing to return to his family.

But just as he was about to leave the cave, a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy suddenly came from outside.

"Someone's here?" Zheng Yi frowned. "And more than one person."

He cautiously walked to the cave entrance and looked out.

Seven or eight cultivators stood near the crater, each emanating a powerful aura. Judging from their attire, they came from different factions.

"Found it!" one of the cultivators exclaimed, pointing towards the cave. "This is it! The energy fluctuations we just heard came from here!"

"It seems someone is refining some treasure here," another cultivator said greedily. "Anything capable of causing such intense energy fluctuations must be an extraordinary treasure."

"Who cares who he is, just take it first!" the third cultivator said fiercely.

Hearing these words, Zheng Yi sneered inwardly.

It seems these people were attracted by the energy fluctuations when he refined the Immortal Essence Pearl, and wanted to take advantage of his misfortune.

"Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite." A hint of murderous intent flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes.

Having just broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage, I need real combat to test my new strength. These reckless fools are perfect litmus tests.

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique: Ten Thousand Swords Return to Their Origin!"

Zheng Yi suddenly burst out of the cave, his dazzling sword light enveloping the cultivators like a net.

"Who goes there?" The cultivators were shocked and quickly cast defensive spells.

But little did they know that the Zheng Yi of today was not the same Zheng Yi as before.

With his cultivation at the late Nascent Soul stage, coupled with the nourishment of immortal essence, his strength had reached a terrifying level.

"boom!"

Wherever the sword light passed, all defenses became as fragile as paper.

Those cultivators didn't even have time to scream before they were torn to pieces by the sword light.

"How...how is this possible?" One of the Nascent Soul stage cultivators stared in horror at the scene. "How can he be so strong?"

"Because you've messed with the wrong person," Zheng Yi said coldly. "Since you're here, then stay."

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - The Great Sun Shines in the Sky!"

A huge golden sun rose behind Zheng Yi, its oppressive aura causing the entire volcano to tremble.

This move was more than ten times more powerful than before. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to breathe under such pressure.

"Spare us! We know we were wrong!" The remaining cultivators knelt on the ground, begging for mercy in despair.

But Zheng Yi showed no pity whatsoever.

These people are insatiable and want to seize his opportunities, so they must bear the corresponding consequences.

"go to hell!"

The golden sun suddenly exploded, and the terrifying energy instantly engulfed the remaining cultivators.

When the light faded, the area around the crater was a scene of utter devastation, and all those ignorant cultivators had been reduced to ashes.

"Is this the power of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?" Zheng Yi felt both excited and satisfied as he experienced the power of the attack.

He now possesses sufficient strength to face any challenge, including the threat from the Heavenly Dao Sect.

“It’s time to go home.” Zheng Yi sheathed his longsword and transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the Zheng family’s territory.

Zheng Yi flew towards the Zheng family territory at an extremely fast speed, his heart filled with anticipation to share the joy with his family.

His cultivation at the late Nascent Soul stage made his flight speed several times faster than before. What used to take three days could now be completed in just one day.

But when he was still a hundred miles away from the Zheng family's territory, his keen senses suddenly detected something unusual.

Black smoke rose from the distant sky; it wasn't ordinary cooking smoke, but thick smoke from burning buildings. What alarmed him even more was the faint smell of blood and the lingering spiritual energy fluctuations from a fierce battle.

"Oh no! Something's happened to the family!" Zheng Yi's expression changed drastically, and he immediately accelerated towards the Zheng family territory.

As he got closer, the sight he saw fueled his rage.

The outer defenses of the Zheng family territory have been breached; several watchtowers are burning, and numerous corpses lie scattered on the ground. Although most are enemy bodies, some clansmen dressed in Zheng family attire also lie in pools of blood.

What shocked him even more was that dozens of cultivators dressed in various colored Taoist robes were besieging the Zheng family mansion. These cultivators came from different factions, but all possessed powerful auras, clearly indicating an organized joint operation.

"Damn it! The Heavenly Dao Sect made their move so quickly?" Zheng Yi gritted his teeth, but then realized that the situation was more serious than he had imagined.

Among the attackers were not only disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect, but also forces from various other factions such as the Blazing Fire Sect, the Water Cloud Sect, and the Thunder Sound Temple. It seems that the Heavenly Dao Sect has successfully formed an alliance against the Zheng family.

In the center of the mansion, Zheng Yi saw a familiar figure.

The clan elders, including Zheng Tianhao, Zheng Tianhe, Zheng Tianlei, and Zheng Tianfeng, were fighting desperately. They stood back-to-back in a circle, resisting attacks from all directions. Each of them was wounded, but they gritted their teeth and persevered.

What pained Zheng Yi the most was that Zhang Yunfan was among them. Although he had only recently broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he did not back down in the face of so many powerful enemies and was desperately protecting his people.

"Master, please come back soon." Zhang Yunfan prayed silently in his heart while wielding his sword to defend against the enemy's attacks.

"Clan leader, how much longer can we hold out?" Elder Zheng Tianhe, panting heavily, asked after forcing back a disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect with his sword. "Hold on a little longer," Zheng Tianhao said, though he knew in his heart that their situation was extremely dangerous.

The enemy is too numerous and powerful. Although the Zheng family's defensive formation is still operational, it probably won't hold out for long under such intense attacks.

"Why didn't you inform the Ancestor?" Second Elder Zheng Tianlei asked while fighting. "With his strength, he should be able to turn the tide."

"No!" Zheng Tianhao shook his head resolutely. "Our ancestor is at a crucial moment in refining the Immortal Essence Pearl; we absolutely cannot disturb him. Besides, our Zheng family is not without the strength to fight!"

"But..." Third Elder Zheng Tianfeng wanted to say something more.

"No buts!" Zheng Tianhao shouted sternly, "Even if we die, we will protect the family and buy time for our ancestor!"

Hearing the clan leader's words, all the members of the Zheng family were encouraged and their fighting spirit became even stronger.

But the enemy clearly realized their predicament and began to intensify their attacks.

"Hahaha! Zheng family, how long are you going to put up this stubborn resistance?" An elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect laughed triumphantly. "Isn't your Zheng Yi supposed to be very powerful? Why isn't he out here?"

"Exactly! Where is the legendary genius? Could it be that he heard the news and ran away long ago?" The disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect also joined in the mockery.

"A bunch of cowards, daring to call themselves the rising stars of the cultivation world?" The people from the Shuiyun Sect also joined in the mockery.

Faced with these humiliating words, the Zheng family members were furious, but powerless to refute them.

Indeed, if Zheng Yi were here, the situation would never have been so passive. But in order not to affect his refining process, everyone chose to silently endure it.

"Break through the defensive formation!" The Heavenly Dao Sect elder issued the final order. "Today, the Zheng family must be completely wiped out!"

Dozens of powerful individuals unleashed their power simultaneously, bombarding the Zheng family's defensive formation with a barrage of powerful spells.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of explosions rang out, and the defensive formation began to tremble violently, with countless cracks appearing on its surface.

"Oh no! The formation is about to collapse!" the clansman responsible for maintaining the formation cried out in alarm.

"Everyone, prepare for the final battle!" Zheng Tianhao drew his longsword, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Even if we die, we will make these scum pay the price!"

Just as the defensive formation was about to collapse, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the sky:

"stop!"

The roar was as loud as thunder, carrying the terrifying pressure of a late-stage Nascent Soul expert, instantly making everyone present feel short of breath and their chests feel tight.

Everyone looked up and saw a golden light rushing from afar, arriving above the battlefield in the blink of an eye.

The golden light faded, revealing Zheng Yi's figure. But he was now completely different from before.

He radiated a pale golden light, and his eyes contained unfathomable majesty. Even more terrifying was that the aura emanating from him had reached the level of the late Nascent Soul stage!
"Ancestor!"

"Master!"

"The patriarch is back!"

The Zheng family members were moved to tears upon seeing Zheng Yi. With the return of their strongest member, they were finally saved.

"Master, why are you back?" Zhang Yunfan was excited, but also a little worried. "Your cultivation..."

"It's finished," Zheng Yi said calmly, but his eyes burned with fury. "And I saw a bunch of reckless bastards bullying my family!"

His gaze swept over all the enemies present, and everyone he looked at felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

"Zheng Yi! You've finally shown up!" The Heavenly Dao Sect elder forced himself to remain calm. "But you've come at the perfect time; it saves us the trouble of searching for you!"

"Is that so?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Then let's see what you're capable of that dares to come looking for me!"

"Don't think you can do it all by yourself." Before the Heavenly Dao Sect elder could finish speaking, Zheng Yi interrupted him.

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - The Great Sun Shines in the Sky!"

A huge golden sun instantly rose behind Zheng Yi, emanating a pressure even more terrifying than the real sun.

"What?! Late Nascent Soul stage?!" The Heavenly Dao Sect elder's expression changed drastically. "How could he possibly break through to the late Nascent Soul stage in such a short time?"

Not only him, but all the enemies present were shocked by the strength Zheng Yi displayed.

Their intelligence indicated that Zheng Yi was at most at the peak of the Golden Core stage. But what was now before them was a genuine late-stage Nascent Soul expert!
"Impossible! The intelligence must be wrong!" an elder of the Blazing Fire Sect exclaimed in horror. "How could we possibly deal with a late-stage Nascent Soul expert?"

"Now you're scared?" Zheng Yi's murderous intent grew stronger. "Too late!"

"Since you dare to attack my family, you must be prepared to pay the price!"

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique: Ten Thousand Swords Return to Their Origin!"

Countless golden sword shadows shot out from Zheng Yi's body, covering all the enemies like a net from heaven and earth.

"Run!"

"This guy is too strong!"

"We are no match for him!"

The enemies finally realized the seriousness of the situation and began to scatter and flee.

But how could Zheng Yi let them leave so easily?

Those who dare to attack his family and harm his clansmen will have to bear the consequences.

"Trying to run? Have you asked my sword first?"

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique: Chasing the Stars and Catching the Moon!"

Dozens of sword lights, as if they had eyes, accurately pursued the fleeing enemies.

"what!"

"Help!"

"We surrender!"

Screams rose and fell; the once menacing invaders were now like stray dogs fleeing in all directions.

In just a few breaths, more than a dozen cultivators were pierced by the sword light and fell from the sky.

"Stop! Zheng Yi, don't go too far!" Seeing the situation turning against them, the Heavenly Dao Sect elder hurriedly shouted, "Our Heavenly Dao Sect is not to be trifled with!"

"The Heavenly Dao Sect?" Zheng Yi sneered. "So it was you hypocrites who orchestrated this attack?"

"That's right! We orchestrated this!" Seeing that their scheme had been exposed, the Heavenly Dao Sect elder simply admitted it. "Your Zheng family has grown too rapidly, threatening the balance of the cultivation world!"

"Threatened the balance?" Zheng Yi laughed angrily. "To put it bluntly, it threatens your interests!"

"Since that's the case, then today I'll show you what a real threat is!" (End of Chapter)