The Glory of the Tribe

A day later, in a secluded courtyard in Flying Snow City.

The courtyard was arranged with a three-zhang formation, with a premium Yuan Crystal at its core. This formation not only gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth but also allowed the energy of the Yuan Crystal to spread throughout the formation. While standing in the formation, cultivators would experience an enhanced state while practicing their techniques, whether for martial arts or swordsmanship.
It was incredibly extravagant!
A single premium Yuan Crystal could only sustain this formation for three hours, and additional materials were required for maintenance. Even the core disciples of the Four Major Families rarely used such methods for cultivation.

Xie Hanjie practiced his swordsmanship within the formation.
"Though I’ve only surpassed Innate for a little over three years, and I’m still in the Small Heavenly Tribulation stage, due to my diligence, I’m practically unbeatable in this stage! As long as the resources keep flowing, in three to five years, I’ll break into the Middle Heavenly Tribulation stage. After passing the trial, I’ll become the Inspection Officer! Hmph! Chen Yuanxuan, why do you look down on me?!"
Clang!

Xie Hanjie threw his sword to the ground. If not for the formation’s strength, this throw would have created a large crater in the courtyard.
"Damn Jiang Xuan, if you were a man, don’t go back to the Wei family!"
Xie Hanjie paced back and forth, growing more and more frustrated.

He had kept watch on the Wei family. Yesterday, the Wei family finally sent someone to the tribe’s territory. His heart had tightened. If Jiang Xuan returned to the Wei family, Xie Hanjie wouldn’t dare kill him. Even though it would comply with imperial law, the challenge would be to kill Jiang Xuan. But, the Four Major Families had rules about not signing death contracts, and if the general head of the Flying Snow Army, Luo Yingcheng, challenged Jiang Xuan, the Wei family would stop him.
Without a death contract, even if they fought, Luo Yingcheng could not easily kill the core disciples of the Four Major Families, who were on a completely different level from the tribesmen!
"My lord!" A deep voice sounded from outside.

Xie Hanjie’s spirit shook, and he quickly responded, "Come in! Is it news from the Wei family?"
"Yes, my lord!" A man in green robes entered, walking respectfully to Xie Hanjie’s side. "Though the Wei family wishes to keep this low-key and has issued a gag order, we found out that the Wei family sent Wei Shaoce, a close relative of Jiang Xuan, along with more than ten guards and guests, including the famous Zhu Daqiu..."
The man in green robes detailed the information.

Including the Wei family’s conditions and some parts of the negotiation process, which was supposed to be confidential, but because Wei Shaoce had been scared, on the way back, he angrily cursed Jiang Xuan to the guards. The details slipped out.
Xie Hanjie listened, his face gradually relaxing, showing a pleased expression.
"The final result... Zhu Daqiu was killed by Jiang Xuan with a single sword strike, and the negotiations failed, leaving no room for reconciliation." The man in green continued.

"Hahaha!"
Xie Hanjie sneered, shaking his head. "This Jiang Xuan really is a barbaric fool! For a small tribe, he threw away the chance to become a god or demon, completely turning his back on the Wei family! Truly stupid! I had thought he was someone of substance, but I was wrong."
"Jiang Xuan’s choice is indeed hard to understand."
The man in green continued, "But it’s said that Jiang Xuan killed Zhu Daqiu in the blink of an eye, and Zhu Daqiu didn’t even have time to unsheathe his sword. Wei Shaoce didn’t even see Jiang Xuan’s move... This Jiang Xuan’s strength is indeed terrifying!"

"Terrifying? He’s still just an Innate expert, and not even the strongest in Flying Snow City. He’s nowhere near the top three on the Innate ranking, none of them are a match for him."
Xie Hanjie said dismissively, "He’s too arrogant and reckless. He kills people at the slightest provocation. With such a mindset, he’ll bring about his own downfall. He won’t last long… Alright, you may go now."
"The subordinate takes his leave." The man in green bowed and withdrew.

Xie Hanjie flicked his wrist, and the sword on the ground flew back into his hand.
"The order from the Flying Snow Army’s Demon Hunting Camp is almost approved."
Looking at the sword in his hand, Xie Hanjie thought to himself, "I just need to wait for General Luo Yingcheng to go to Black Pond Mountain and challenge Jiang Xuan. He never expected General Luo to kill him, right? Hahahaha… I really overestimated him, and wasted all that time worrying about him. It was Chen Yuanxuan’s choice that blinded my eyes!"

"No matter how talented Jiang Xuan is, at the end of the day, he’s just a tribesman! Ignorant, barbaric, arrogant, bloodthirsty, and combative… his weaknesses are far too obvious! Even without asking General Luo to personally make a move, a little trickery would be enough to end his life."
"However... since I’ve already requested General Luo’s help, it will be an honor for him to die under his spear! I can’t be bothered with him anymore."
"Such a waste of my time!" Xie Hanjie shook his head and chuckled bitterly, then once again raised his sword. He became extremely focused as he resumed his training.

He had completely forgotten about Jiang Xuan.
A soon-to-die tribesman wasn’t worth much thought. If it weren’t for Chen Yuanxuan, Xie Hanjie felt he would never have bothered with a tribesman in his life. They were too lowly! Too far removed from his world to even be worth calculating.
"Such high talent, destined to reach the Heavenly Tribulation stage, yet so abruptly 'wasted,' stopping at Innate and ending at sixteen... How many people will be shocked by this? Hahahaha!"

Xie Hanjie couldn’t help but take pleasure in the thought.
By noon that day, the news of the failed negotiation between the Wei family and Jiang Xuan had spread throughout Flying Snow City. Many details, including Jiang Xuan’s bold words and threats, were shared widely. The Wei family had intended to handle the matter quietly, but someone had let slip some information, and the story got out.
With some help from certain individuals, Jiang Xuan once again became the focal point of Flying Snow City.

The city buzzed with discussion.
Many people felt pity for Jiang Xuan.
"Such a waste of talent! Without sufficient resources, no matter how high his talent, it’s useless!"

"If Jiang Xuan were from the city, with no connections to a big family, the Four Major Families would’ve spent a fortune to recruit him. No matter what, they would’ve taken him in. What a pity… he has Wei family blood, and now the other families can’t take him, and he’s completely fallen out with the Wei family. He can only cultivate in a barbaric tribe. Forget about becoming a god or demon, I’m not sure if he’ll even surpass Innate."
"It’s such a shame."
Others were gloating, especially from the Shen family of the Four Major Families.

Jiang Xuan had made the Shen family lose face, but Shen Taiping had gone to Earth City under the banner of a challenge. No matter how the process went, in the end, they still lost to a two-on-one fight. The Shen family had no choice but to accept it! If they had tried to retaliate, that would have been the real disgrace!
The incident happened within the tribe’s territory, which had autonomous rights, and Lei Hong had already spoken out publicly.
For these reasons, the Shen family could only swallow their pride. The first guest, Feng Fu, was dead, and though the Shen family privately compensated his family, they couldn’t make trouble for Jiang Xuan.

It was extremely frustrating!
So, over the past few days, whenever any of the Shen family’s young masters went anywhere, people would inevitably bring up the incident, teasing them with jabs! It made them uncomfortable!
Thus, the failed negotiation between Jiang Xuan and the Wei family was a huge delight for the Shen family! The only thing that mattered was that Jiang Xuan was in trouble.

"Hahaha! Jiang Xuan is really a fool! He gave up the Wei family! What difference does that make compared to giving up the chance to become a god or demon?"
"He’s too stubborn to understand! Serves him right!"
"Let’s go, let’s go! Today, to Fuxiang Tower! My treat! Let’s drink until we’re wasted! Get the best courtesan over here!"

As rumors spread throughout the city, by dusk, some exaggerated versions of the story began to circulate.
Despite Wei family’s status as a powerful family, once the news couldn’t be kept secret, and with people starting to gossip, they decided to publicly announce: "Jiang Xuan, leader of the Jiang Tribe, has no relations with the Wei family, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be!"
This was effectively the Wei family publicly declaring that Jiang Xuan would never enter their gates. They didn’t desire Jiang Xuan to join them, nor would they give him a chance to change his mind.

The relationship was completely severed!
Two months later, on May 19.
In the back mountains of the Jiang Tribe’s Earth City.

"The God Demon Bewildering Blade is naturally a level above the Heavenly Tribulation techniques of the Four Major Families, and it only has five moves. In comparison to Cloud Sky Sword’s eight moves, if I can master the first move, ‘Illusory Phantom Ghost Slash,’ its power will not only surpass Cloud Sky Sword’s first move, ‘Shattering Mountain, Chasing the Moon,’ but it might even be stronger than the second move!"
Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged on the grass, the long blade resting on his legs. The wind in the forest gently blew by, and his breathing slowed down.
He had been cultivating Illusory Phantom Ghost Slash for over three months, and had also been cultivating dual cultivation with Chen Yuanxuan for more than two months.

Under the increasing power of his mind force, Jiang Xuan’s swordsmanship foundation and comprehension of Illusory Phantom Ghost Slash were improving at an incredible rate every day.
Until today—
Jiang Xuan felt he might finally make his breakthrough!

"Illusory Phantom Ghost Slash… half real, half illusion, fleetingly fast and intangible. The true essence of this move lies in the ‘ghost’ aspect. What is a ghost slash? It’s a slash where the blade’s origin is unknown! It can cut through space, even time. Only an invisible ghost can wield a blade that can truly be called a ghost slash. Therefore, this move..."
From morning until nightfall, and then through to dawn the next day.
Jiang Xuan had ordered not to be disturbed before his closed-door retreat, so no one interrupted him.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
On May 22, at noon, under the blazing sun, a chilling wind blew through the mountains!
The terrifying power erupted in an instant, only to disappear just as quickly.

In the refined courtyard of Earth City.
"Hmm? Heavenly Tribulation?" Lei Hong, holding a tea cup, suddenly turned his head towards the back mountains. He sharply sensed the terrifying aura fluctuation.
Though he knew Jiang Xuan could use Heavenly Tribulation sword techniques, an Innate Realm cultivator could only forcefully use a technique like that with Innate power, which wouldn’t reach the full potential of a true Heavenly Tribulation sword technique. The power wouldn’t be strong enough to reach all the way from the back mountains to Earth City!

But what Lei Hong had just felt was a true Heavenly Tribulation power! In other words, its strength was now enough to threaten a Heavenly Tribulation cultivator’s life!
"It can’t be Jiang Xuan! Who went to the back mountains? Jiang Xuan is in danger!" Lei Hong’s expression changed drastically as he thought to himself, then disappeared from the courtyard, heading straight for the back mountains.