Chapter 163 - Closed Door Cultivation

“Everyone here deserves great credit for exterminating the Tan and Liu Clans!” Chen Zhengqing, the patriarch, said as he swept his gaze around.

“Eternal Victory to Chen Clan!”

“Glory to Chen Clan!”

“Undefeated Chen Clan!”

Aside from the elders of the Chen Clan, the troops’ commanders and many more were also present.

Everyone was in high spirits, their hot blood refusing to calm even after the battle's conclusion.

Chen Zhengqing held his hands out, signaling the crowd to quiet down as he continued, “Our Chen Clan is undefeated only because everyone here fought together. You all fought tooth and nail to forge our glory.

“The Tan and Liu clans were wiped out. Our Chen Clan also took over their wealth and businesses. Everyone here made huge contributions in this battle, and all warriors here have achieved great merits.

“Now, our Chen Clan isn’t lacking in cultivation resources. Contributions warrant rewards. You can go to the Finance Hall to receive your well-deserved rewards. I hope everyone will take this opportunity to work even harder and bring your cultivation to the next level.

“Xuanyang City is now firmly in the grasp of our Chen Clan. The Tan and Liu clans’ businesses are also now under our clan’s control. However, I will need you to oversee and develop the businesses.

“Our Chen Clan definitely won’t be limited to this tiny Xuanyang City. We’ll need to develop in Grade-2 cities, even Grade-1 cities in the future. You understand?

“I don’t wish to see you people falling behind in the future. Just because we have won and have plenty of resources now, I don’t want you all to lose your fighting spirit! Am I clear?!”

Chen Zhengqing’s cultivation level would soon recover. And with that cultivation, he would be considered an expert even in a Grade-2 city. Naturally, he would be unwilling to live humbly in Xuanyang City.

The Chen Clan also wouldn’t stop its development here, and if it were to continue to grow and develop to the next level, it had to venture out of Xuanyang City.

In the past, their lack of strength confined them to guarding their territory in Xuanyang City, but circumstances had changed.

The speech made the blood of Chen Clan elders boil again, and they shouted, “We shall follow the Patriarch’s order carefully!”

The stronger the Chen Clan became, the greater their influence, and naturally, their statuses would also rise.

“Very good.” Chen Zhengqing nodded.

The Chen Clan’s aura flourished greatly after the battle, with everyone’s energies peaking. If they cultivated with some primeval stones and pills, they could likely advance to the next level.

The Chen Clan's peak combat forces comprised only three Qi Grandmasters and a dozen eighth-level martial artists. Though not weak, the clan needed more Qi Grandmasters and even Yuanfu realm experts.

“Despite our victory, many lives were lost in this battle. Convey my orders: those of the Chen Clan who died, whether our descendants or troops, will receive an honorable burial, and a monument will be erected in their memory.

“My Chen Clan will support their family’s living and provide their children with resources for cultivation. They are our Chen Clan’s heroes!”

“Heroes!”

“Heroes!”

The crowd shouted.

The commanders of the private troops, some not clan descendants but possessing decent cultivation, were moved by Chen Zhengqing's words.

“Alright, everyone, attend to your respective matters and organize the estates of the Tan and Liu clans. Don’t delay the businesses,” Chen Zhengqing said. The crowd nodded and prepared to leave.

Chen Fan suddenly stood up and shouted, “Hold it!”

Everyone turned around and looked at Chen Fan, their expressions filled with awe and fear.

Chen Fan's prestige within the Chen Clan now surpassed even that of Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong.

The two clans' extermination could largely be credited to Chen Fan's exceptional contributions.

If it weren’t for Chen Fan killing Tan Wanshan, Liu Shan, Tan Feng, and the others with his overwhelming strength, the Chen Clan would have been wiped out instead.

Chen Fan’s sharp gaze swept across everyone present. “Chen Tianyin is dead. To the elders who used to stand by him, your decision not to betray the clan at the critical moment is noted. I won’t pursue the past matters. However, moving forward, any hint of disloyalty will result in merciless punishment!”

Immediately, the elders who came with Chen Tianyin yesterday to demand punishment felt chills.

Chen Fan’s might had made him an existence similar to a god or a devil in their eyes. Luckily for them, he had chosen to overlook past transgressions. Otherwise, they would have faced dire consequences.

“Alright, go do whatever you have to. The clan won't treat you badly if you work well for the Chen Clan,” Chen Fan said plainly.

While Chen Zhengqing offered the crowd a sweet incentive, Chen Fan stepped forward, wielding the metaphorical stick, cautioning them against any mischief despite their clan’s newfound wealth.

Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong watched on silently, smiling inside.

Chen Fan has grown up!

After the crowd left, only the three of them were left in the hall.

“You’ve grown up, Xiaofan!” Chen Zhengqing approached Chen Fan, expressing satisfaction at seeing his son almost matching his stature.

“Xiaofan, you are your grandfather’s pride," added Chen Tianxiong, his wrinkled face beaming with joy.

Chen Fan smiled. “Father, Grandfather, now that the two clans are gone, we’ve obtained many resources. The clan will enter a period of rapid growth.

“I suggest we identify individuals unquestionably loyal to the clan, possessing significant martial talent—whether descendants or clansmen with different surnames—and generously support their cultivation. We lack top-tier experts in the clan.

“The eighth-level elders have grown old and exhausted their potential. Even if we support them with large amounts of resources, they might be unable to advance to the Qi Grandmaster realm.”

Chen Zhengqing nodded and said, “Mmm, you’re right. I was thinking the same. Chen Clan’s future developments will be on the backs of the younger generation.”

Chen Fan continued, seeing his father and grandfather on the same page, “Father, Grandfather, I obtained a secret art at the Tan Clan. It’s very precious. You should practice it, too.”

Then, Chen Fan took out the tortoiseshell, and with a surge of his primeval qi, the writings immediately floated in the air.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong looked over, and the longer they looked, the more shocked they were. They ultimately let out a long sigh, their eyes shining.

Chen Zhengqing said, “How truly unexpected. The Tan Clan actually has such a secret art.”

Chen Tianxiong said, “Luckily, Tan Wanshan didn’t practice it. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

“Father, Grandfather, you should now seize the opportunity and breakthrough. Let others handle the clan matters. Our clan needs to be overseen by Yuanfu realm experts,” Chen Fan said.

Chen Zhengqing said, “Xiaofan is right. Now that the matter with the Tan and Liu clans is settled and we’ve obtained large amounts of resources, some martial clans will surely set their sights on us once the news spreads.

“Alright, then. I’ll go into closed-door cultivation today and refine the Buddhist Bone Relic to restore my primeval vessel. With this Nine Illusory Primeval Vessel Secret Art, once I recover my cultivation, we can gain a steady foothold even when we expand into a Grade-2 city.”

“Alright, since that is the case, I’ll also go into secluded cultivation today and attempt to break through to the Yuanfu realm while my blood has yet to cool down!” Chen Tianxiong also said grandly.

Thus, both Chen Zhengqing and Chan Tianxiong went into closed-door cultivation.

However, this didn’t affect the Chen Clan’s operations.

As for Chen Fan, he wasn’t idling around, either.

He refined the demon cores, turning their energies into vital essence, and he kept compressing the primeval qi in his dantian, liquefying and transforming it into primeval force.

In the blink of an eye, half a month went by.

Chen Clan’s operations ran smoothly and orderly, while Chen Tianxiong and Chen Zhengqing were still in secluded cultivation and had yet to emerge.

Meanwhile, a faint radiance enveloped Chen Fan's skin like a water veil. His aura surged, indicating overwhelming strength.

Within his dantian, all his primeval qi had liquefied, transforming into primeval force.