Shi Lang and the two were shocked when they heard the voice from the cave’s depths. They looked forward with their weapons at ready. A sigh echoed, and the voice said, “Finally, someone from the bloodline is smart enough to put the clues together and come over to find me. Tell me, boy, has the family been good?”
Xiang San replied instinctively, “Yes, ancestor. There are troubles, but those are natural. The family is fine.”
The voice hummed, and the person said, “Very well, then come inside.” 𝓞𝑣𝗅xt.𝕔𝑶𝕞
Xiang San exchanged glances with Shi Lang, and the voice sounded again, “Do not worry, no array would be triggered. I am in control of the situation.”
Xiang San thanked the voice and stepped forward. Shi Lang and Xiao Nan were hesitant and moved forward. The terran thought that the earlier disruption had probably triggered some great illusion formation, and now the three of them were in a bind.
However, if this were true, he would need to find an opening only inside the illusion array to break free from this entire loop. The trio followed the cave length, and after an hour of turning around and following the instructions, they arrived inside the core of the cave networks.
Shi Lang stood in a much larger space than any cave. It was like a sacred sanctum with an idol established in the center of the place. The three of them spotted an elderly man sitting with crossed legs. Shi Lang was about to confirm that this was an illusion when an ethereal phantom appeared from the side.
Xiang San and Xiao Nan took a step back in shock, but Shi Lang, who was already caught up in the idea that all this was an illusion, did not budge. To deal with an illusion, one needs to be calm.
The Terran was calm, and he was not surprised. The phantom smiled at them, and after taking a good look, it said, “You must be from the Xiang Family.”
The gaze was pointed at Xiang San, who knelt on the ground and said, “I am Xiang San. Greetings, Ancestor.”
The Myriad Titan nodded faintly and commented, “You have a sturdy physique, but this young friend of yours. His physique is far ahead of you.”
Xiang San nodded and replied, “This is Shi Lang. I met him by chance, and his temperament matched me, so I asked for his help exploring the situation here.”
Shi Lang greeted the phantom with clasped hands, and the phantom replied to him likewise. The phantom gazed at Xiao Nan and asked, “Who might this young fairy be?”
Xiao Nan was surprised, but she could tell that the phantom did not have ill intentions and it was just a polite way of complimenting her. She clasped her hands in greeting and reported, “I am Xiao Nan. Greetings, Senior.”
Myriad Titan nodded and said, “I wondered why you seemed familiar. It turns out that you are a descendant of that sleazy businessman. Your ancestor was addressed by us all as the Merchant Fox.”
Xiao Nan nodded and said, “That was indeed his name.”
Myriad Titan smiled and asked, “Well, consider it fate. Allow me to bestow you a meeting gift.”
The old man waved his hand, and Xiao Nan winced. Shi Lang and Xiang San were surprised when they saw a black sludge materializing from her skin. Xiao Nan touched her cheek, and she could guess everything from the expression on the two faces.
She bowed deeply and said, “Thank you, senior.”
Myriad Titan nodded and said to Xiang San, “Xiao San, and I will pass you the complete set of the Titan body. However, I will lay down the bitter words first. You will not be able to reach the peak.”
Xiang San shivered, and disappointment was visible in his eyes. The young man had a lot of hopes. The phantom replied, “You do not have to worry, though. You can reach the level of an imperial emperor if you try hard.”
Xiang San raised his head, and the phantom said, “The technique must be passed only to the immediate family members. However, holding this technique does not mean you should look down on the people of the family. You will not contend for the family head. Secure your position as the family elder. Be the pillar that holds the sky if it falls on the family. Do you understand?”
Xiang San was ambitious, but this was a death sentence for all his aspirations. The phantom realized what was going on in the mind of his descendant and said, “Xiang San if you got caught up in the trivial things of the secular world. You will be caught up and never surpass your limits at all. Dreaming is necessary, but what you should dream about is not just a position on the table. But a chair watches over the table. Do you understand what I mean?”
These words finally cleared up the young man’s mind, and he kowtowed respectfully. The phantom waved his hand and passed the technique to the mind of Xiang San. The young man immediately sat down in a meditative stance.
Shi Lang watched the scene without any fluctuations on his face. He was not fazed in the least. The phantom said, “Now, Young Miss Xiao, you must also be out for an opportunity. Right?”
Xiao Nan nodded, and the phantom waved his hand. A jade slip appeared in the void, and the Myriad Titan said, “What you will get is a pair of techniques. This is called the jade illusion technique. It can help you strengthen your body, and at the same time, you can gain some insights into the dao of illusion.”
Xiao Nan was surprised, but the phantom replied, “Do not worry, I will think of it as a favor paid off to the Fox. However, you must always be an ally to my family.”
Xiao Nan nodded and said, “With all my capability. I will always help the Xiang family. As long as they don’t walk down the path of darkness.”
The phantom nodded. He agreed with her words. After all, let alone a young cultivator like Xiao Nan, even if the entire Xiao Family was to stand beside a dark family. The eastern forces will eradicate them.
Xiao Nan accepted the jade slip and immediately sat down to refine the technique.
The phantom then turned his head to look at Shi Lang. The man said, “Young man, you are the strongest and most unpredictable card on the table. What shall I give you?”
Shi Lang politely replied, “You flatter me, senior.”
Myriad Titan shook his head and said, “I do not have the habit of complimenting insincerely. I can sense some demon breath on you. It is not that strong, but it is evidence enough that you have slayed at least ten of them and rather powerful ones.”
Shi Lang did not reply, and Myriad Titan said, “You practice the attribute of lightning and destruction. However, your lightning skills are a bit shallower than your destructive instinct is stronger. How about this? I will give you a technique. This technique did not belong to me. However, it came from a friend of mine. I only have a general understanding of it.
The version is incomplete. If you wish to find the complete set, you must look for the person, Immortal Sovereign Lightning Shura.”
Shi Lang was surprised and asked, “Senior, the technique I practice from the lower realms is called the Shura Sutra.”
Surprised, Myriad Titan nodded and said, “I see. That is how it is.”
Shi Lang said nothing else and waited for the phantom to continue. Myriad Titan said, “You should go to the Spirit Heart Sect. Lighting Shura founded that school. You will find some clues there.”
Shi Lang nodded, and Myriad Titans waved his hand. A jade card appeared in the void, and he said, “Take this and forge ahead. I only hope you can be allied with the Xiang Family.”
Shi Lang finally could not help but ask, “Senior, you said that one should not get caught up in secular matters, but you asked us to be the allies. Why so?”
Myriad Titans smiled and said, “The Xiang Family is not as simple as you think. We have a force dedicated to fighting at the front in the central plains facing against the demons.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “In that case, I shall be the ally. I can also use some help.”
The phantom nodded and said, “Very well. I shall leave you to it then.”
Shi Lang accepted the jade card and began cultivating right at the spot. The myriad titan looked at the three people and mumbled, “I do not have much time left. After a while, this place will crumble upon itself. So look roughly at the techniques and do not go into seclusions.”
…
A few minutes later, Shi Lang and the rest woke up. Xiang San paid respects to the old man’s remains before he collected them in a space ring. The body of an immortal Sovereign was priceless. Plus, it was only right for him to bring his ancestor home. The three people came out of the cave and the place crumbled. The marks of the titan body techniques also vanished.