The royal family of Great Xia and the three major families, including the Li Family, will undoubtedly go all out to safeguard their own interests and authority.

They will hunt down all those rebellious forces across the land, exterminating the remnants of the five great families and the five transcendent powers without leaving any survivors.

Subsequently, Lu Xuan carefully handed the two young nephews he was holding to his father’s arms.

The little ones blinked their big round eyes, still confused about the situation, waving their little hands in the air, mumbling and babbling.

Lu Xuan suddenly waved his sleeve—

"Boom!"

The sky and earth abruptly changed colors!

In the next moment, a peculiar scene unfolded where everyone’s gaze was focused.

The light seemed to be toyed with by a pair of invisible giant hands, beginning to flow backward, as if heaven and earth were being reshuffled, and the outlines of mountains and buildings twisted and changed.

The entire valley suddenly twisted like a reflection in water, as the glazed golden roof began to peel away piece by piece.

The statues of auspicious beasts atop the nine-layered eaves emitted a tragic wail before turning into streams of light and dissipating.

The people of the Lu Family and the Shen Family, outside the buildings, stared in terror at their own bodies.

A mysterious black and gold light was gradually spreading to every corner of their bodies.

Those from the Lu Family and the Shen Family, who were originally unaware of what was happening inside the building, suddenly noticed the anomaly and raised their heads to look around.

Everyone looked in all directions, their faces full of shock.

As time ticked by, this extravagant complex hidden among the mountains seemed to be ruthlessly eroded by time.

Bit by bit, it turned into flying dust scattered by the wind.

"The house, the valley, they’re all disappearing!"

Liang Cheng’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared fixedly at the strange transformations around him.

The black gold barrier that once enveloped the mountains was now crumbling like a smashed glass cup, with visible speed.

Gradually, Liang Cheng raised his head, staring in astonishment at the sky, his lips trembling slightly.

After a while, he finally spoke in a daze, "What...what on earth is happening?"

"How did the Heaven and Earth Seal set by Xuan disappear?"

At this moment, a bold idea flashed through Liang’s mind.

Liang Cheng’s pupils shrank sharply, his face suddenly filled with a mixture of joy and surprise, and he yelled to the heavens: "It’s Xuan!"

"Xuan is back!"

As Liang Cheng’s words echoed in the air, everyone within this mountain complex was gently swept over by the soft black and gold light.

In just a moment, everyone vanished like phantoms between heaven and earth, leaving not a trace behind, as if they had never existed.

Qingyun County!

The reappearing group felt a blur before their eyes, and when they opened them again, familiar surroundings came into view.

On the cobblestone road, the long-quiet entrance to the Lu Family’s residence creaked open automatically.

Trees in the courtyard budded anew, the old well gushed with spring water, and even the long-dusty wind chimes under the eaves suddenly jingled merrily.

The previously somewhat desolate Lu Family residence suddenly became bustling with activity, crowded with people.

"We’re back!"

"Hahaha!"

"I, Liang Cheng, am finally back!"

Liang Cheng stood with his hands on his hips, laughing skyward, startling a flock of sparrows under the eaves into flight.

He looked as if he had single-handedly conquered the entire world.

Just short of flying up to the sky, his chest puffed up, nostrils almost pointing upwards.

Just as Liang Cheng was about to arrogantly float to the sky, with a crisp "pop", a sharp flick landed precisely on his head.

The sound was particularly loud, echoing over the Lu Family residence, scaring the birds on the trees into flight.

Liang Cheng yelped in pain, instinctively turning his head quickly.

"Ouch!"

Liang Cheng turned, clutching his head, and when he saw who it was, his face immediately broke into a goofy smile: "Xuan!"

"I just missed home so much...."

But before Liang Cheng’s triumphant smile had the chance to last long,

The words that Lu Xuan spoke next were like a bucket of cold water, dousing his joy completely.

Liang Cheng’s face, previously red with excitement, suddenly fell, turning into one of terror.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes seemingly filled with swirling galaxies.

The hem of the long robe fluttered without wind, making a haunting hum.

"Liang Cheng, it seems you’ve been living too comfortably these days."

Lu Xuan’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"In the coming year, you, Yun Qing, and the young ones will all train in seclusion with me!

"Without my order, no one is to take a single step out of the Lu Family compound!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liang Cheng felt a sudden darkness before his eyes.

The next second, his legs went weak, and he plaintively collapsed to the ground.

He quickly shuffled forward, clutching onto Lu Xuan’s thigh, pleading like a spoiled child.

"No, please!"

"Xuan, I was wrong, I beg of you, spare me this time, a year is too long!"

As he shouted, he looked pitifully up at Lu Xuan, his expression as miserable as possible.

"Training, I can do it myself!"

"I’ll go right now!"

Liang Cheng sobbed, his face a mess of tears and snot, speaking with a thick nasal tone as he wiped his face randomly with his arm.

"Look at my skinny arms and legs, how can they withstand Xuan’s tortures?"

No one in the Lu Family knew Lu Xuan’s methods better than Liang Cheng.

This cousin of his really had no mercy in his actions.

Every training session felt like it was pushing him to the brink of death.

The intense training and rigorous demands made Liang Cheng feel like he was crawling through sharp thorns, leaving him bruised and battered.

But his cousin Lu Xuan had a Divine Technique that could turn decay into magic.

No matter the severity of the injury, even if barely breathing.

He could instantly heal you, making you lively and energetic without a trace of pain.

However, the pain of the arduous training was all too real, and Liang Cheng had suffered greatly.

After each session, his bones felt shattered, and his muscles were so sore he couldn’t move a finger.

Though this hellish training method boosted his strength rapidly, noticeably improving by leaps and bounds.

The process was torturous for Liang Cheng.

Every day felt like an eternity in hell.

Recalling the past days of "torture" by Lu Xuan, Liang Cheng couldn’t help but tremble.

He was genuinely terrified of his cousin Lu Xuan’s relentless methods.

All he could think about was how to avoid this ordeal.

But Liang Cheng’s opinion clearly wasn’t within Lu Xuan’s consideration.

"Liang Cheng, stop pretending."

Lu Xuan slightly furrowed his brow, a flash of disappointment showing in his eyes.

"With your cousin’s prowess, no one else in the world has the right to be taught personally by me!"

"And here you are, making excuses."

Lu Xuan glanced disdainfully at Liang Cheng, who lay like a lump of muck.

Without a word, Lu Xuan unceremoniously kicked him, sending him flying.

"Boom!"

With a loud crash, Liang Cheng’s body slammed heavily against an ancient tree within the courtyard.

The sturdy trunk shook, and a cascade of leaves fell like a rain of leaves, scattering around Liang Cheng.

"What has this unfilial son done now?"

Not far away, Liang Cheng’s father looked on without the slightest pity, brows furrowed and full of blame.

"It’s just as well, let Xiaoxuan help teach Xiao Cheng a lesson, it’s for his own good,"

Liang Cheng’s mother echoed in agreement, sighing softly, her eyes full of helplessness.

The reason Lu Xuan decided to spare a year to teach the youths of the Lu Family and the Shen Family personally.

Was that he was about to go into seclusion.

This time, Lu Xuan had a premonition that he might be in seclusion for a hundred years.

During which, he would leave behind some protective measures on his relatives.

A hundred years is enough time to witness the cycle of life and death of a mortal.