To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

Inside the ancestral hall of the Lu family estate.

After everyone left, only the middle-aged Taoist remained.

The middle-aged Taoist priest sat alone for a while, then got up and went to the ancestral tablets, where he lit three sticks of incense.

"This unfilial descendant, Lu Xingchuan, respectfully pays homage to our ancestors. Our clan is currently facing a life-or-death crisis. If we can overcome this calamity, we will have a bright future. The slightest mistake could lead to the extinction of our clan. I beg our ancestors for protection!"

After bowing respectfully, Lu Xingchuan placed incense sticks into the incense burner and gazed at the wisps of smoke drifting away, somewhat lost in thought.

In the world of cultivation, the cycle of birth and death is basic common sense.

The purpose of worshipping ancestors is twofold: firstly, to strengthen the bond of blood ties, and secondly, to ensure that the souls of ancestors are not hindered when they are reincarnated.

As for asking ancestors for blessings, it's just for peace of mind.

Lu Xingchuan was fully aware of this. After a moment of stunned silence, he sighed helplessly and flew towards Xuan Yin Mountain in his escape light.

Half an hour later, the light stopped in front of a hidden cave.

Lu Xingchuan took a deep breath and slowly walked down into the cave.

The cave was pitch black, with only a few mosses emitting a faint light, so Lu Xingchuan had to hold up a ball of light in his palm.

As you continue forward, the slope of the cave gradually decreases.

A moment later, Lu Xingchuan stopped and stood in front of a bronze door.

He took out a token and pressed it into the recess of the stone door. With a sour sound, the bronze door slowly turned.

Lu Xingchuan stepped through the stone gate, and a bright and open view suddenly appeared before him.

No one knows who built a huge cavern inside this mountain, which is dozens of feet high. The stone walls are covered with holes about ten feet in diameter, and the layout is very regular, like a beehive.

In the center of the cavity stood a bronze coffin, but the lid had been overturned and was lying on the ground.

Above the coffin, a three-foot-long, pitch-black sphere floated, seemingly containing a strange liquid that was constantly twisting and undulating.

Beside the coffin, a figure in a blue robe stood with one hand behind his back, gazing up at the sphere with a look of fascination, as if he had seen the most beautiful thing in the world.

Lu Xingchuan slowly approached, stopping a foot away from the man in blue robes, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

The man in the blue robe turned around, revealing a pale yet handsome face. His lips were thin and delicate, as if carved by a knife, and he slightly raised them to reveal a hint of a smile. His voice was calm and gloomy.

"Well done, even faster than I expected."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingchuan smiled bitterly and bowed his head, saying, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Venerable One. The life force collected this time... is still a bit lacking."

"Still a little short?"

The blue-robed man's smile vanished instantly, his voice as cold as a biting wind.

Lu Xingchuan trembled and hurriedly said, "Your Excellency only needs to wait seven more days, and you will surely gather enough life force!"

After saying this, Lu Xingchuan quickly untied the spirit beast pouch from his waist and presented it with both hands.

The man in blue robes stared intently at Lu Xingchuan for a long time, until Lu Xingchuan began to tremble uncontrollably, before finally letting out a cold snort and taking the spirit beast pouch.

Upon opening it, one could see that it was filled with countless Gu worms that shimmered with a green glow.

"I hope you can finish it, otherwise... you know what will happen."

"Yes! I will certainly complete it!"

Lu Xingchuan quickly made his promise, and then took his leave as if he had been granted a pardon.

After Lu Xingchuan left, only the figure of the man in blue robes remained in the empty cave.

The man in blue robes turned to look at the bronze coffin, where a skeleton lay.

"Gu Changqing, you hid your grave so well, yet I still found it in the end, didn't I?"

"Soon, your legacy will belong to me, Li Mohan!"

......

Not long after the Lu family members discussed the matter in the ancestral hall, the news that the Lu family was going to hold a marriage contest spread throughout the Xuan Yin Mountain market.

After making some inquiries, Gu Fan was immediately surprised by the Lu family's actions.

Lu Caiwei is no ordinary person; she is the legitimate daughter of the current head of the Lu family. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she is also at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Many talented young men among the five Xuan Yin clans have long admired Lu Caiwei, but none of them have ever been able to win her heart.

Therefore, when the Lu family announced that they would publicly select a husband for Lu Caiwei in seven days, the entire Xuan Yin Shangfang Market was in an uproar!

Countless young and promising male cultivators are preparing to vie for the beauty's heart. Even if they don't intend to participate in the marriage proposal, it doesn't matter, as the Lu family allows others to watch the spectacle. It is said that a banquet has even been prepared.

Gu Fan pondered for a moment, then thought to himself, "It seems... unable to gather enough offerings, the Lu family is planning to take a desperate gamble."

Calculating the time, the marriage proposal event will be held in seven days.

If the Lingxiao Sect's reinforcements fly fast enough, they should be able to catch up.

"The problem is that the demonic cultivator is hiding somewhere, which is a bit tricky."

Gu Fan couldn't help but sigh as he thought of this.

According to the short, stout old man's confession, when they went to pay their respects to the demonic cultivator, their senses were completely clouded. They were led there by the Lu family patriarch and only knew that it was a stone palace built in the mountains.

However, the Xuan Yin Mountain stretches for hundreds of miles, and there are plenty of places to build a stone palace!

Although wiping out the Lu family would be considered fulfilling the sect's mission, Gu Fan had no intention of letting that demonic cultivator go!

......

As the sun rises and sets, six days pass quietly.

Gu Fan returned empty-handed from Xuan Yin Mountain once again. As soon as he got back to the courtyard, he saw a communication talisman hanging in front of the door.

Slightly taken aback, she removed the communication talisman, a smile appearing on her face.

Gu Fan casually burned the communication talisman and turned to walk out of the market.

Several miles away from the market town, in a grove of trees.

As soon as Gu Fan landed, he heard a familiar voice calling out, "Junior Brother Gu, over here!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, Gu Fan was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Senior Brother Chen!"

The person who came was Chen Suzhen.

After many years, Chen Suzhen had also broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Her black robes fluttered in the wind, and her temperament was like a bottomless abyss.

There were three other figures beside Chen Suzhen, all of whom were acquaintances of Gu Fan.

Gu Fan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Li Fengyi laughed heartily and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

In contrast, the Liu brothers were in a somewhat awkward position, after all, they had abandoned Gu Fan and fled in panic on Falling Star Island.

Gu Fan's eyes darted around, and he immediately guessed the two's intentions.

It seems they heard he needed help and came to assist him with the intention of repairing their relationship.

As expected, after Gu Fan bowed, Liu Daoyuan also respectfully returned the bow and said, "This trip will be led by Junior Brother Gu, and my brother and I will be at your beck and call."

Gu Fan repeatedly said he dared not, and the atmosphere became harmonious.

After everyone sat down, Chen Suzhen recounted how they had received the mission.

When Gu Fan's message reached the Lingxiao Sect, Chen Yunfan immediately informed the true disciples and recruited reinforcements.

Chen Suzhen happened to have some free time, so she was conscripted.

As for Li Fengyi and the Liu brothers, they heard the news from Chen Yunfan and took the initiative to accept the mission.

The arrival of reinforcements boosted Gu Fan's confidence.

Speaking of which, Li Fengyi has the highest cultivation level among everyone present. Relying on her Earth-grade spiritual root, she is not far from the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Liu Daoyuan broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage earlier than Gu Fan. Several years later, Liu Daosheng also caught up.

"Five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators dealing with one Lu family—what a stroke of luck!"

Gu Fan gave a cold smile and then told the story of the Lu family's marriage proposal.

"A marriage proposal?"

The four looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing the news.

"Not bad!" Gu Fan nodded slightly and explained his guesses about the Lu family.

Chen Suzhen smiled and said, "So, Junior Brother Gu wants to participate in the marriage contest?"

Liu Daoyuan looked around and teased, "Apart from Junior Sister Li, everyone here can join in the fun."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Fengyi rolled her eyes at him, then her phoenix eyes swept over Gu Fan, a strange emotion seeming to flicker in them.

Gu Fan shook his head upon hearing this.

"That's not the case. If we go to participate in the marriage proposal, although we can take the opportunity to sneak into the Lu family, it's like being led by the nose."

"Besides, there will be too many people present, making it inconvenient to start a fight."

"I'm thinking... let's take advantage of the night and storm their door, catching the Lu family completely off guard!"

After some thought, everyone agreed that Gu Fan's words made sense.

In order to prepare for tomorrow's marriage proposal event, all members of the Lu family will surely gather in the clan territory. Even the Lu family members stationed in Xuan Yin Mountain Market will return, making it the perfect time to capture them all.

Chen Suzhen nodded in agreement, saying, "Junior Brother's idea is good, but in this case, we must break the formation of the Lu family's territory..."

Halfway through her sentence, Chen Suzhen slapped her forehead.

"I almost forgot about my junior brother's skills."

Gu Fan laughed heartily, "Senior brother, just watch!"

......

That night, the bright moon climbed up the treetops.

Outside the Lu family's territory, five streaks of light pierced the night sky, yet their figures vanished without a trace.

Chen Suzhen turned her head and looked around, exclaiming in amazement, "Junior Brother can actually make the formation move with him!"

Li Fengyi and the others were also shocked, as they had never heard of such methods before.

Gu Fan smiled smugly.

The scene before them was naturally a result of him using the "Great Luo Inner Landscape Heavenly Profound Chapter" to reflect the hidden light array, concealing everyone.

A moment later, Gu Fan found a secluded spot and took out several array flags.

"The Lu family's formation is quite good, it's at least a mid-grade second rank. If we were to force an attack, we might not be able to break through it."

Gu Fan commented as he arranged the array flags.

"If that's the case, then it's no big deal, is it?" Li Fengyi, holding the spear, glanced at Gu Fan.

Gu Fan smiled slightly and instructed, "The place I chose is near the core of an array. After you break the array, you will go in first and destroy the place where the array is set up, so that the entire array will not be able to operate."

Everyone nodded in response.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Gu Fan had already quietly activated his Myriad Manifestations Eye, and the great array before him was being unraveled like a silkworm's cocoon, transforming into array key points and crisscrossing array patterns.

In the next instant, several array flags shot out and embedded themselves in the void.

A circular portal opened silently, and Gu Fan urged, "Hurry up and go in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, one after another, the crowd disappeared into the doorway.

Before long, the earth trembled, and a muffled sound came from within the formation. The entire formation under the Myriad Manifestations Dharma Eye collapsed.

Gu Fan's spirits lifted, and with a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved the array flag, transforming into a blur as he rushed into the Lu family's territory.

Not long after entering the clan's territory, Gu Fan saw a stone tablet broken into several pieces, with array patterns engraved on it, which was probably the key to setting up the protective array.

Not far away, Li Fengyi, holding a long spear, charged towards the approaching Lu family cultivators with her feet treading the steps of the Big Dipper.

Regarding the Lu family, the decree issued by the Lingxiao Sect was that all those possessing spiritual roots...

Behead to kill!

Therefore, everyone showed no mercy, and as soon as they sensed any fluctuations in spiritual energy, they used their magical artifacts to kill.

While Li Fengyi was maneuvering strategically, the other three dispersed immediately.

Breaking the protective formation would cause too much noise, so to prevent the Lu family from escaping, several directions must be guarded.

As one of the five surnames of Xuan Yin, the Lu family mostly consisted of ordinary people in their clan territory. Even including guest elders and guards, the number of Qi Refining cultivators was less than three hundred.

Moreover, Qi Refining cultivators are utterly vulnerable in the face of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The group divided the tasks and soon the sounds of crying and wailing could be heard.

While everyone was slaying the Lu family cultivators, Gu Fan rushed straight into the depths of the clan's territory, wielding the Crimson Sun Heavenly Sword, and pointed directly at the Lu family ancestral hall.

With his powerful divine sense released, Gu Fan could already sense the auras of two Foundation Establishment cultivators there!