From the fake emperor to the concubine

As soon as Xiao Tianxing arrived, he immediately felt the chilling pressure emanating from Zheng Yi. His expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Patriarch Zheng, I have long admired your name," Xiao Tianxing said, bowing slightly, his tone somewhat solemn. "I heard you have broken through to the Integration Realm, and I have come to offer my congratulations."

Zheng Yi sneered: "Congratulations? Sect Leader Xiao, that's a nice way to put it. Your Taixu Sect besieged my Zheng family, and now you're offering congratulations? Don't you find it ironic?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xiao Tianxing's face, but he quickly regained his composure: "This matter was indeed an oversight on the part of our Taixu Sect. Now that Patriarch Zheng has broken through to the Integration Realm, how about we simply let bygones be bygones?"

"To wipe the slate clean?" Zheng Yi shook his head. "Sect Leader Xiao, do you think things are that simple? You came here today intending to wipe out my entire sect. Now that you can't win, you say you'll wipe the slate clean? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Tianxing's eyes: "Then what does Patriarch Zheng intend to do?"

"It's very simple," Zheng Yi said calmly. "Your Taixu Sect either submits or perishes."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Taixu Sect were greatly shocked.

"Arrogant!" Mo Qianjue roared. "Zheng Yi, do you think you're invincible just because you've broken through to the Integration Realm? Our Sect Leader is also at the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul Realm, only one step away from the Integration Realm! Moreover, our Sect Leader possesses the Taixu Sect's most treasured artifact; we might not necessarily lose to you!"

Xiao Tianxing raised his hand to stop Mo Qianjue: "Qianjue, don't be rude."

He looked at Zheng Yi and said in a deep voice, "Patriarch Zheng, are you sure you want to fight my Taixu Sect to the death?"

“It’s not that I want to fight you to the death,” Zheng Yi said. “It’s you who have been pushing me. Since three years ago, you have been constantly testing and provoking me. I have repeatedly yielded, simply because I didn’t want to cause bloodshed. But you have taken my forbearance as weakness. Today, it’s time to settle things.”

Xiao Tianxing took a deep breath, a resolute look in his eyes: "Fine, since that's the case, let's see whether your Nascent Soul Realm is more powerful, or the foundation of my Taixu Sect is deeper!"

He took out a golden longsword from his robes. As soon as the sword appeared, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth began to converge upon it frantically. The sword was covered with ancient runes and exuded a terrifying pressure.

"This is the Taixu Sword, the most prized treasure of the Taixu Sect, passed down for three thousand years," Xiao Tianxing said. "Today, I'll let you witness its power!"

He channeled his spiritual power, and the Taixu Sword instantly burst forth with boundless golden light. The entire sky was illuminated, as if a second sun had appeared.

"The Great Void Sword Technique—One sword shatters the heavens!"

Xiao Tianxing swung his sword, unleashing a golden sword aura a hundred feet long that tore through the void and slashed towards Zheng Yi. Wherever the sword aura passed, space was cleaved open, leaving behind pitch-black cracks.

This sword strike embodies Xiao Tianxing's lifelong cultivation, and with the enhancement of the Taixu Sword, its power is almost on par with an attack from the Integration Realm.

Upon seeing this sword strike, the disciples of the Taixu Sect cheered excitedly, "Our Sect Leader is mighty!"

"This single sword strike is enough to kill a cultivator in the early stages of the Integration Realm!"

"Zheng Yi is dead!"

But Zheng Yi's face showed no sign of panic. He didn't even flinch, simply uttering two words: "Settle."

In an instant, the golden sword energy froze in mid-air, as if solidified by an invisible force. Not only the sword energy, but Xiao Tianxing himself was also frozen, remaining motionless in his sword-wielding posture.

"What kind of supernatural power is this?" The disciples of the Taixu Sect looked at this scene in horror.

On the Zheng family's side, everyone was also shocked. The patriarch was actually this powerful; a single word from him could withstand the attack of a cultivator at the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm?

“Space-Time Imprisonment,” Zheng Yi said softly. “This is a divine ability of the Space-Time Clan, capable of distorting space-time within a certain range. For cultivators below the Integration Realm, there is no way to break it.”

He raised his hand and pointed, and the golden sword energy suddenly changed direction, flying towards the crowd of Taixu Sect members.

"Not good! Get out of the way!" Mo Qianjue was shocked and tried to use his supernatural powers to defend himself. But he was horrified to find that his body was also unable to move, as he was restricted by the space-time confinement.

Seeing that the sword energy was about to strike the crowd, causing numerous casualties, Zheng Yi uttered another word: "Disperse."

The golden sword energy instantly dissipated, turning into specks of golden light that vanished into the air.

"I said, it's either submission or destruction." Zheng Yi looked at Xiao Tianxing. "I'll give you a chance. Kneel down now and lead the entire Taixu Sect to submit to the Zheng family. I might spare your lives. Otherwise..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Xiao Tianxing was frozen in place and unable to speak, but the expression in his eyes was changing drastically. Humiliation, anger, resentment, and fear were all intertwined.

After a long while, the light in his eyes finally dimmed, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.

The Integration Realm is indeed beyond the reach of those in the late Nascent Soul stage. Even with the aid of the Void Sword, and even though he was only one step away from the Integration Realm, that one step was an insurmountable chasm.

Zheng Yi understood the meaning in his eyes, and with a wave of his hand, he lifted the spacetime confinement.

After regaining his mobility, Xiao Tianxing collapsed to his knees, saying in a deep voice, "The Taixu Sect is willing to surrender."

These words caused an uproar among the Taixu Sect members. They never expected that their high and mighty sect leader would kneel and surrender.

But they soon realized. Faced with a Nascent Soul cultivator who could easily defeat their sect leader, what else could they do but surrender? Continuing to resist would only lead to their total annihilation.

"Sect Leader..." Mo Qianjue's eyes reddened, but he ultimately knelt down as well. "This subordinate is willing to follow the Sect Leader."

The other cultivators from the Taixu Sect also knelt down, saying, "We are willing to surrender."

Zheng Yi nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. A wise person knows when to yield. From now on, the Taixu Sect will be incorporated into the Zheng family, becoming a subordinate force. Your cultivation resources will be uniformly distributed by the Zheng family, but I will also provide you with better cultivation techniques and elixirs, giving you the opportunity to break through to higher realms."

He paused, then continued, "Of course, if someone harbors ill intentions and wants to betray us..."

He pointed, and a small hill in the distance suddenly disappeared, as if it had never existed.

"That's how it ends."

The members of the Taixu Sect gasped in astonishment. A mountain, just like that, wiped out? What kind of power must that possess?
Xiao Tianxing bowed his head deeply: "I understand. From this day forward, the Taixu Sect will follow the Zheng family's lead."

Zheng Yi nodded, then turned to the Zheng family members: "In today's battle, my Zheng family not only resolved the crisis but also subdued the Taixu Sect. From now on, the Zheng family will become the strongest force in this area!" "The patriarch is mighty!" the Zheng family disciples cheered in unison.

Zheng Haoran, Zheng Qingyue, and Zheng Yunfei's eyes were filled with admiration. This was the power of the Integration Realm, and this was the goal they were striving for.

Looking at these young faces, Zheng Yi felt a surge of satisfaction. The future of the Zheng family rested on these younger generations. And he would pave the way for them, making the Zheng family a true family of cultivators.

“Zheng Hongzhi,” Zheng Yi instructed.

“Master.” Zheng Hongzhi stepped forward.

"Take your men and take stock of the Taixu Sect's members and assets, and make a clear count of their cultivation techniques, magical treasures, and elixirs. Also, arrange for them to stay temporarily on the outer mountain; they are not allowed to enter the inner sect without authorization."

"Yes, Master."

Zheng Yi then looked at Xiao Tianxing: "Sect Leader Xiao, come with me. There are some things we need to discuss in detail."

Xiao Tianxing nodded: "Yes."

The two walked towards the council hall, leaving behind a group of cultivators who were still in shock.

The day after subduing the Taixu Sect, Zheng Yi decided to personally go to the Taixu Sect to find out what was going on.

In the council hall, Zheng Yi addressed several core members: "The Taixu Sect has a history spanning thousands of years and possesses profound resources. Their treasure trove must contain many valuable items. Today, I will personally take inventory to see what resources can be used to enhance the family's strength."

Elders Zheng Hongzhi and Zheng Bowen naturally followed. Zheng Yi thought for a moment, then called out the names of Zheng Haoran, Zheng Qingyue, and Zheng Yunfei: "The three of you come along too. It'll be a good opportunity for you to witness the profound strength of a major sect and broaden your horizons."

The three young disciples were overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Clan Head!"

Zheng Yi then looked at Xiao Tianxing. Since surrendering yesterday, this leader of the Taixu Sect had been staying obediently at the Zheng family home, without making any unusual moves.

"Sect Leader Xiao, thank you for leading the way," Zheng Yi said calmly.

Xiao Tianxing gave a bitter smile: "Patriarch Zheng, you're too kind. This is what I should do." Although he felt humiliated, he understood that the situation was hopeless. Since he had chosen to surrender, he had to completely humble himself, otherwise he would only bring about his own destruction.

The group of seven, along with a dozen or so Zheng family disciples responsible for transporting the goods, flew towards the Taixu Sect in a grand procession.

The Taixu Sect is about three hundred li away from the Zheng family, situated atop a towering mountain peak. This peak, named Taixu Peak, is shrouded in mist and clouds year-round, brimming with spiritual energy. From a distance, the entire mountain resembles a fairyland.

"What a wonderful place!" Zheng Yi exclaimed. "No wonder the Taixu Sect has been able to survive for thousands of years; this auspicious location alone is enough to cultivate a large number of outstanding disciples."

Xiao Tianxing explained, "There's a medium-sized spiritual vein at the foot of Taixu Peak, producing as many as 100,000 spirit stones annually. Add to that the various spiritual herbs and beasts in the mountain, and it truly is a treasure trove for cultivation."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the mountain gate. The mountain gate of Taixu Sect was extremely magnificent, made of white marble, and ten zhang high. The three golden characters "Taixu Sect" were engraved on it, with vigorous strokes and containing powerful sword intent.

"These three characters were personally written by the founding patriarch of our Taixu Sect," Xiao Tianxing explained. "Back then, our patriarch was already at the late stage of the Integration Realm, and these three characters contain his insights into the Dao of Sword. If later disciples can comprehend their mysteries, their sword cultivation will surely advance greatly."

Zheng Yi carefully sensed it and could indeed feel the sword intent hidden within those three words. Although the sword intent had faded considerably over thousands of years, it was still not to be underestimated.

"The three of you," Zheng Yi said to Zheng Haoran and the other two, "you can come here to study when you have time. Although you cultivate different techniques, all methods lead to the same goal, and you will always gain something."

“Yes, Master.” The three replied respectfully.

Entering the mountain gate, there is a wide stone staircase that stretches all the way to the mountainside. The staircase is lined with spiritual trees, some bearing crystal-clear spiritual fruits, and others blooming with strange spiritual flowers, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

"These spirit trees are all hundreds of years old," Xiao Tianxing said. "The spirit fruits they ripen each year can be used to refine pills, or consumed directly to increase cultivation."

Zheng Bowen's eyes lit up: "These spirit trees will belong to the Zheng family from now on. Once the fruit ripens, we can refine a large quantity of pills for the family's members."

Ascending the stone steps, one passes dozens of buildings along the way. There are cave dwellings for disciples, courtyards for elders, as well as various facilities such as training rooms, alchemy rooms, and weapon-making rooms. The entire layout of the Taixu Sect is well-organized, demonstrating the care and attention to detail in its management.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the group finally arrived at the main hall at the top of the mountain.

The main hall, named "Tai Xu Hall," is tall and majestic, its roof covered with glazed tiles that gleam in the sunlight. Two stone statues stand before the hall's entrance, representing the two most powerful patriarchs of the Tai Xu Sect throughout history, both possessing cultivation at the Integration Realm.

Upon entering the main hall, one sees the memorial tablet of the founding patriarch of the Taixu Sect enshrined in the center. On either side of the tablet are displayed ancient magical artifacts and cultivation manuals, all relics passed down through the Taixu Sect.

"Patriarch Zheng, these are all the legacies of my Taixu Sect," Xiao Tianxing said bitterly, "and now they all belong to you."

Zheng Yi nodded, scanning the items with his divine sense. Most were Earth-rank cultivation techniques and magic treasures, of considerable quality, but of little use to him now. However, for the Zheng family's disciples, these were rare treasures.

"Put these cultivation techniques and magical treasures away for now, and distribute them to the family disciples when we get back," Zheng Yi instructed.

Zheng Hongzhi immediately led his men to collect these items.

Zheng Yi then asked, "Sect Leader Xiao, where is your treasure vault?"

Xiao Tianxing hesitated for a moment, but ultimately led everyone to a secret chamber behind the main hall. The entrance to the chamber was protected by a powerful barrier; Xiao Tianxing channeled his spiritual energy into it, and the barrier slowly opened.

The secret chamber was filled with all sorts of supplies. There were boxes of spirit stones, bottles of pills, various precious spiritual materials, and many magical treasures and weapons. A rough estimate put the value of these supplies at least as equivalent to the accumulated wealth of a medium-sized sect over several hundred years.

"Great!" Zheng Bowen exclaimed excitedly. "With these resources, the Zheng family's strength can reach a new level!"

Zheng Yi carefully inventoried the items. There were 300,000 spirit stones, including 1,000 high-grade spirit stones. There were hundreds of bottles of pills, including those for enhancing cultivation, healing injuries, and detoxifying—everything imaginable. The spiritual materials were even more diverse, including refined gold and mithril for refining weapons, thousand-year-old spiritual herbs for alchemy, and some rare natural treasures.

"Move all of these back to the Zheng family's residence," Zheng Yi instructed. "Remember to check the quantity; make sure nothing is missed."

The Zheng family disciples who followed immediately began to move the supplies. They all carried storage bags and packed the supplies into them one by one.

Looking at the room full of treasures, Zheng Qingyue exclaimed in amazement, "I never imagined the Taixu Sect was so wealthy. No wonder their disciples are all so accomplished."

"This is just the treasure trove on the surface," Zheng Yi said calmly. "A major sect like the Taixu Sect, with its thousands of years of history, must have even more hidden treasures." (End of Chapter)