Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Receiving Territory and Establishing a Sect

The surroundings were silent.

The ground was riddled with scars, littered with severed limbs.

The surviving members of the Long Family erupted into ecstatic cheers.

Long Que and the others were also overwhelmed with joy as they gathered the remains and flew to Chen Ansheng’s side.

“Dao brother Chen…” Long Que called out, but suddenly felt it inappropriate, and quickly changed his words, saying, “Thank you, immortal, for your intervention. Please allow us to bow before you.”

After saying this, Long Que knelt halfway, and the other three followed suit.

“Brother Long, please rise. We are peers; there’s no need for such formalities!” Chen Ansheng used a gentle surge of celestial power to lift Long Que and the others up.

Hearing this, Long Que and the others could only smile bitterly, acknowledging that Chen Ansheng’s status was undoubtedly beyond their understanding.

The sword cultivator Long Yu immediately cupped his hands in salute and said, “Immortal, you overstate our worth; how can we consider ourselves equals?”

Chen Ansheng smiled lightly and replied, “Brother, that’s not the case. I am merely a loose cultivator, with no background or connections. If I were to ascend to the immortal realm one day, I would be like a wandering soul without ties, how can I compare to esteemed brothers from noble families?”

The four of Long Que, being old cultivators with over ten thousand years of experience, naturally understood the implication behind Chen Ansheng’s words.

Immediately, Long Que’s expression became solemn, as if making a vow, and stated, “Immortal Chen, your great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by my Long Family, even when we ascend to the immortal realm in the future. As long as any member of the Long Family is alive, you will forever be our most respected benefactor!”

Beside him, Long Yu added, “Brother Que speaks true. If we all ascend to the immortal realm together, should you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to speak. Even if the ancestors of the Long Family in the immortal realm don’t intervene, I, Long Yu, will not hesitate to sacrifice myself for you!”

“I’m the same!” The third elder of the Long Family, a robust man with a bushy beard, who was not much for words, seconded the sentiment.

“I am willing to go through fire for the immortal!” The last elder firmly stated as well.

Chen Ansheng nodded slightly and said, “In that case, why do you still refer to me as ‘Immortal’? Let’s speak as equals, and our drinking will be more enjoyable, don’t you think?”

The four exchanged smiles, and Long Que laughed, “Hahaha, then we shall boldly address you as Brother Chen.”

Afterward, Long Que ordered men to gather all the top-tier immortal artifacts to return to Chen Ansheng.

Chen Ansheng waved his hand and said, “You brothers keep these items.”

Long Que’s expression changed drastically. “Brother, this is unacceptable! Our lives are all saved by you; how could we be so greedy? Besides, if we keep so many top-tier immortal artifacts, the younger generation in our family might fight over them when we ascend, leading to the fragmentation of the Long Family.”

Long Que’s words were not without reason.

A large family like the Long Family was far more complex than common imperial courts; keeping so many top-tier immortal artifacts could certainly cause trouble once the older generation ascended and left.

“That makes sense. Then I will keep the items belonging to others, and you four brothers can keep your immortal artifacts for personal use.”

With a wave of his hand, Chen Ansheng stored away the broken pieces of metal.

The four finally felt relieved; otherwise, they would be left owing a huge favor, which would be impossible to repay.

“Brother Chen, now that the experts of the four major forces have all been eradicated, I suggest you quickly take the territory and remnants of the four forces under your command,” Long Que said.

“Yes, Brother Chen. The four forces have a long history, accumulating many valuable items over generations. You should act swiftly to collect them before any remaining factions get wind of it and flee with treasures,” Long Yu added.

Chen Ansheng pondered for a moment.

The four major forces and the Long Family had dominated the entire Netherworld for countless years.

The talented disciples and rare treasures they possessed were indeed worth considering.

Thus, Chen Ansheng called gently, “Where is my disciple Shaoyan?”

Long Shaoyan had been waiting nearby, having refrained from interrupting while the elders conversed. Hearing his name, he immediately flew over, saying, “Disciple is here!”

Chen Ansheng stated sternly, “From now on, I command you to gather all the four forces under our banner and establish a new sect called ‘True Immortal Sect.’ You will be appointed as the first Sect Master of the True Immortal Sect, tasked with recruiting talents and expanding the sect. Failure is not an option!”

Long Shaoyan’s mind buzzed!

He never expected that his master would entrust him with leading the four major forces!

In panic, he stammered, “Master, disciple’s cultivation is still shallow. How can I possibly…”

Before he could finish, Chen Ansheng coldly interrupted, “How I arrange things is my own reason; you cannot casually decline!”

Hearing this, Long Que immediately chastised him with a serious expression, “Young Shaoyan, from now on, don’t be so hesitant in front of your master. Do you understand?”

“You are right, Ancestor. I understand,” Long Shaoyan replied respectfully and then half-knelt solemnly in front of Chen Ansheng, “Disciple accepts the command!”

“Good, good, good.” Chen Ansheng smiled and nodded, then instructed, “Quickly take people to investigate the treasure vaults of the four major forces. I have another list of medicinal materials; collect everything listed and present it to me. As for other items like spirit stones and weapons, you can distribute them as you see fit. Is that clear?”

“Disciple understands!” Long Shaoyan dared not say more.

“Very well, you may go and handle it.” Chen Ansheng nodded.

Long Shaoyan accepted his orders and took the family’s immortal realm cultivators to various locations.

Shortly after, Chen Ansheng and the others arrived at Long Que’s residence.

Only this place and the ancestral hall of the Long Family remained unharmed.

After ordering food and drinks to be served, Chen Ansheng and the others enjoyed a feast while the Black Dragon stayed nearby to serve wine.

During the meal, Chen Ansheng remarked, “Now that the four major forces have been wiped out, no one in the entire Netherworld dares to covet the Long Family anymore. Shouldn’t the four of you consider ascending to the immortal realm?”

Long Que was the first to shake his head in response, “It is still too early for ascension.”

Chen Ansheng was puzzled and asked, “Why?”

Long Que pondered for a moment before slowly saying, “Though the four major forces have been eradicated, several forbidden zones still exist. Our Long Family has rules that state as long as the forbidden zones remain, the clan must keep at least four ancestors at the seventh level of immortality to hold down the fort. Otherwise, ascending prematurely would result in punishment in the immortal realm.”

Currently, other than four ancestors at the eighth level of immortality, the Long Family only had two at the seventh level. They could not ascend until two more at the seventh level were born.

“Oh?” Chen Ansheng raised an eyebrow and asked, “What kind of forbidden zones make your ancestors so wary?”

All four of them looked toward the Black Dragon in unison.

The Black Dragon stuttered, saying, “Don’t look at me. I have already informed the young master that the grievances with your ancestors have been resolved.”

Long Que sighed inwardly, realizing that resolving the grudge between the Dragon Lord and the family made them owe Brother Chen yet another great favor.

Reclaiming his gaze, the most taciturn of the three elders, Long Fei, said in a gruff voice, “Brother Chen, you’ve been living in seclusion for years and may not know this. The Netherworld has three major forbidden zones that no one dares enter: Dragon Bone Abyss, Sword Immortal Tomb, and Spirit Burial Valley. Among these, Dragon Bone Abyss is the most tranquil, while the other two forbidden zones have tremendous calamities arising every few hundred to thousand years, wreaking havoc upon the world. Therefore, major forces have established ancestral rules that forbid anyone above the seventh level of immortality from ascending casually, so as to guard the family and protect the younger generations.”

After hearing this, Chen Ansheng had a rough understanding.

He was well aware that Dragon Bone Abyss was a place where the errant ascendant of a law cultivator set up prohibitions, preventing lower realm immortals from penetrating.

As for the other two forbidden zones, their long-standing existence and the fear they inspired in the major forces suggested they were not simple at all.

“At my current level, I am still not strong enough. I must at least reach the True Immortal realm before I can venture to the forbidden zones of various planes to seek treasures!”

Chen Ansheng knew that the forbidden zones appearing in the lower realm were not simple, and exploring them with his current strength would be extremely dangerous.

Regardless, the forbidden zones would still be there; no one could move them. It would be better to return when he had crossed major realms.