He was dead?
The prefecture master, Lin Changqing, widened his eyes in shock.
A peak Level 5 Xuanwu Realm cultivator!
Even if he risked his life, he wouldn't be a match for that powerhouse. Yet, that very man had been unable to withstand even a single strike from Xiao Chen. He had been slain just like that?
Th-this was too difficult to comprehend.
Just how terrifying was Xiao Chen's strength?
"Hiss! I always thought I had overestimated him, but it turns out I underestimated him instead. Has he reached the Lingwu Realm?"
Lin Changqing took a deep breath, his eyes filled with shock and awe as he gazed at Xiao Chen.
At just sixteen years old, Xiao Chen had already achieved feats that Lin Changqing would never be able to reach in his entire life.
His power was utterly monstrous.
Especially when he considered the possibility that Xiao Chen had reached that legendary realm—the thought made his heart pound wildly, unable to calm down.
The Lingwu Realm stood above the Xuanwu Realm.
A cultivator at that level was an undisputed master. Even in Regional City, such an individual could do as they pleased, holding immense influence.
That level of existence stood above all others, overlooking all living beings.
"How could such a monster appear in a remote place like Tianyang Prefecture? Is he the illegitimate child of royalty or the disciple of a hidden master?"
Lin Changqing shook his head, suppressing his growing fear.
Yet, in his eyes, Xiao Chen was becoming more and more unfathomable...
"What? Young Master Xiao killed a Level 5 Xuanwu Realm expert with a single strike?!"
Zhao Qian's pupils shrank as he stared at the scene before him. He was left speechless for a long while before he finally spoke, his voice laced with horror.
A cultivator at the fifth level of the Xuanwu Realm—throughout the entire Tianyang Prefecture, only two out of a billion ever reached that level.
Yet now, Xiao Chen had effortlessly slain one of them!
This youth from Yunhai City continuously shattered their expectations, proving himself to be a true enigma.
It seemed as though there was no limit to his power. No matter who his opponent was, he crushed them with absolute ease.
He was utterly invincible!
"Hiss, how unfathomable... truly unfathomable. I thought Young Master Xiao's strength was only around the fourth level of the Xuanwu Realm. Who could have guessed that, in the blink of an eye, he would prove himself to be beyond the fifth level!"
Zhao Qian took a deep breath, smiling wryly.
Once, he had believed Xiao Chen to be a genius simply for reaching the first level of the Xuanwu Realm. He had even entertained the idea of taking him as a disciple.
Now, looking back, he felt nothing but embarrassment.
This young man had long surpassed him on the path of cultivation.
"From now on, the Zhao family will follow Young Master Xiao to h*ll and back!"
Zhao Qian made his decision, fully convinced. All his doubts had vanished—he now wholeheartedly recognized Xiao Chen as a true master.
"Young Master Xiao, I have a report! The remnants of the Sky Thunder Clan have all been slain."
All of a sudden, Xiao Feng knelt on the ground, delivering his report in a loud, resolute voice.
His body was covered in blood, his form marred by several grievous wounds. He had given his all in this battle, personally slaying three Xuanwu Realm masters.
"Thank you."
Xiao Chen nodded, his voice calm. "The Sky Thunder Clan has existed for hundreds of years. I'm sure they have accumulated vast resources and properties. Distribute them based on contributions to this battle."
"Additionally, I owe you all a favor. If there is anything I can do for you, I will not refuse."
"You're too kind, Young Master Xiao!"
"Haha, thank you, Young Master Xiao!"
Countless voices rose in excitement. Gratitude and admiration shone in their eyes as they gazed at him.
Many had aided Xiao Chen out of fear of his power, while others wished to bring justice to the Sky Thunder Clan.
Initially, they assumed that Xiao Chen would take the lion's share—perhaps seventy percent—of the spoils, leaving them with a fraction. After all, he had single-handedly defeated Lei Huanying, a Level 5 Xuanwu Realm master. No one would have objected if he claimed the largest share.
Yet, none of them had expected his generosity. Instead of taking everything for himself, he had granted them all of the Sky Thunder Clan's resources.
The Sky Thunder Clan's status was nearly equal to that of Prefecture City itself. Their wealth and cultivation resources were beyond imagination.
Now, after their downfall, the strength of those who had fought against them would skyrocket.
"Hehe, thank you, Young Master Xiao. With this, our households will greatly strengthen, and we will have an edge in the upcoming Battle of the Hundred Prefectures."
Lin Changqing spoke with a smile, his gaze toward Xiao Chen no longer carrying the dignity of an elder. Instead, there was a trace of flattery.
Originally, even though Xiao Chen was strong, he had still been a junior in Lin Changqing's eyes—a youth to be viewed from above.
But after witnessing him kill Lei Huanying with a single strike, Lin Changqing had abandoned such notions entirely.
In the world of cultivation, strength determined status—not age.
Xiao Chen's power commanded the respect of all.
"You're too kind, Master Lin."
Xiao Chen responded politely. This had always been his way—if someone respected him, he would return that respect. But if someone crossed him, they would suffer the consequences.
"Oh, Young Master Xiao, the Sky Thunder Clan's wealth may be insignificant to someone like you, but they did possess one particular treasure. I believe it would be of great interest to you."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Oh? What treasure?"
"It's called the Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation."
The prefecture master cleared his throat before speaking slowly.
At the mention of this name, Zhao Qian and the other experts' eyes lit up. Clearly, they had heard of it before.
"This treasure is truly remarkable, Young Master Xiao," Zhao Qian nodded. "You will certainly be impressed."
"The Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation?"
Xiao Chen frowned. He had never heard of it before.
"Haha, I imagine you're unfamiliar with it. While it is called a 'treasure,' it is actually a formation."
The prefecture master chuckled.
"Young Master Xiao, are you aware of formation masters?"
Xiao Chen nodded. The title of 'formation master' was well-known. He was naturally aware of them.
In Tianlong Land, martial cultivators dominated the world, but there were also various special professions. Even if their martial prowess was not the strongest, they held immense status. Formation masters were one such profession.
However, mastering formations required extraordinary talent, and very few could succeed.
"Formation masters harness the power of heaven and earth to create powerful formations. A high-level formation master possesses unpredictable means that far exceed those of ordinary martial artists."
"Unfortunately, one must possess an exceptionally strong soul to become a formation master."
"In the past hundred years, Tianyang Prefecture has only produced one such person—Zhang Zhen."
Zhao Qian continued, "The Sky Thunder Clan's formations were all crafted by Zhang Zhen. The Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation was his proudest creation."
"It is an extraordinary formation that combines offense and defense. It absorbs spiritual qi from heaven and earth, converting it into thunder energy. Not only does it refine the body and accelerate cultivation, but it also serves as a formidable barrier."
"It is no exaggeration to say that the Sky Thunder Clan's strength was largely thanks to this formation."