Nameless District Arc: Chapter Eighty-Nine, The Shangguan Family

The Shangguan surname carried immense prestige even in the Nameless Region. Their clan had produced several Void-Deity True Lords in the past; though all of them had long since left the Nameless Region, their fate unknown, that alone was enough to secure the clan’s standing.

What was more, within the clan there were now several True Lords whose cultivation had already reached the late Nascent Soul stage, some even the great perfection stage. They were, without question, one of the dominant powers of the Nameless Region.

The Shangguan Clan cultivated both spellcraft and the sword, using techniques to support their blade arts. Though not as piercingly lethal as pure sword cultivators, they had their own strengths. In battle, their ability to maneuver and prolong combat was greater than that of external sword cultivators, and they tended toward a style akin to half an internal sword cultivator.

Shangguan Liming was the direct son of the current clan head, Shangguan Ba, and he was the only son at that. It was thus only natural that he inherited the position of young clan lord. His talent was indeed outstanding: he was not yet a hundred years old, yet already a fifth-level Golden Core expert. His future ascent to Nascent Soul seemed close at hand, and many elders in the clan held him in high regard.

A clan was not a sect. A single family bore a single surname; otherwise it could not truly be called a family. That was also the reason the Xingyan Sect had met its ruin.

A sect that had been occupied by the Xu family for thousands of years, while also accepting disciples of many different surnames, would inevitably accumulate contradictions. Sooner or later, those contradictions would burst forth.

This was not to say that the Shangguan Clan was united as one. Since it was a family, there were naturally struggles between the main line and collateral branches. But no matter how fiercely they contended for power, the surname Shangguan would never change.

The Shangguan Clan was based in Yuandong City, a city named after the Shangguan ancestor Shangguan Yuandong. Naturally, the Shangguan Clan was also the undisputed ruler of Yuandong City.

Outside Yuandong City, the land stretched endlessly, open to the eye and unbroken by obstacles. Looking closely, the ground itself seemed almost artificially leveled, spanning a range of hundreds of thousands of miles. Everywhere there were rows upon rows of homes and buildings, where ordinary folk and low-level cultivators lived side by side in remarkable harmony.

This was only the outermost district. All the buildings here were single-story and no more than five meters high. Above a height of one hundred meters, however, a no-fly formation was in place. Any cultivator who trespassed into that airspace without permission would be slain on the spot.

Shangguan Liming wore the Shangguan token at his waist and opened a protective barrier, sheltering Zhou Xuanhong and Li Li within it as they passed through unhindered.

Soon, they arrived in the district of two-story buildings. These were mostly occupied by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and there were far fewer of them than in the outermost zone.

After that came the city wall. Though not tall, it encircled the core district completely, and its surface was packed with formations. It was far stronger than the grand protective array that had once guarded the Xingyan Sect.

Within it lay the true heart of Yuandong City. Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage were simply not permitted to enter, and even Golden Core experts had to pay an entry fee.

But there was one exception: the Shangguan Clan. Relying on his token, Shangguan Liming flew straight over the wall and into the city, and the guards were long accustomed to such a sight.

Zhou Xuanhong chuckled. “This Yuandong City is truly interesting. The ground in this area is remarkably flat, and there are so many ordinary people living outside.”

Shangguan Liming explained, “It is said that this land was once flattened by a single sword strike from our Shangguan ancestor. As for the truth of that, who can say after so many years have passed?”

Zhou Xuanhong was somewhat puzzled. “There must be well over a hundred million mortals living here, and they’re packed in so densely. Aren’t you afraid the evil sects or demonic sects might strike at ordinary people?”

Shangguan Liming smiled confidently. “That is no secret. Many places in this region have transmission formations hidden in secret. If anything happens, the elders of the clan can be sent over at once.

“And why gather so many mortals here? There’s no trouble in it. In fact, with more people, more cultivators of outstanding talent may emerge. If they are carefully nurtured, they may one day return the favor to our Shangguan Clan. Even if they do not become retainers, should our clan ever face difficulty, they would still come to our aid. Wouldn’t you agree, Brother Zhuang?”

Zhou Xuanhong only smiled and asked no further. Zhuge Jiangniao was the false name he used; the hidden meaning of it need not be dwelt upon.

Before long, the three of them reached Yuandong Manor in the city center. Though called a manor, it was in truth a grand and magnificent complex of buildings: great halls and inner courtyards, towers and pavilions, lakes and streams, arenas and lecture grounds. In the sky, cranes soared with outstretched wings; on the ground, spirit-beasts frolicked and fed; in the water, ferocious creatures rolled and played. Spiritual energy drifted like mist, and immortal grace seemed to pervade every corner.

Shangguan Liming brought the two of them down at the main gate. Only after the formation confirmed their identities were they allowed to enter, the restrictions parting to open a passage.

Zhou Xuanhong narrowed his eyes slightly. He could see that the great array of Shangguan Manor and the city’s grand formation complemented one another perfectly. Both were top-grade tier-four defensive formations, and both also possessed trapping functions. If one were caught within them, one would be suppressed from all sides by the power of two formations at once.

He, however, had no fear of being trapped. Without hesitation, he followed Shangguan Liming inside, with Li Li close behind.

Soon, two servants came to receive them. Shangguan Liming left first. Recruiting two extraordinary guest retainers was not a trivial matter, especially if Zhou Xuanhong were to break through to the realm of a tier-four formation master. That would further consolidate the Shangguan Clan’s position.

The two servants were both beautiful young women, in the flower of youth, and both had Foundation Establishment cultivation. If they had been in the Xingyan Sect, they would have counted as inner disciples; here in the Shangguan Clan, however, they were merely attendants. That alone showed how much stronger the Shangguan Clan was than the Xingyan Sect.

The two women led Zhou Xuanhong and Li Li to a scenic pavilion. The view here was wide and open, stretching to the horizon. The pavilion stood more than thirty meters above the plain. Aside from the city wall and a few scattered buildings within the manor, the only other structure in sight was a forty-nine-meter-tall edifice in the western part of the city.

Zhou Xuanhong and Li Li took their seats. Another maid brought spirit fruit and fine dishes. The breeze passed through, lifting their hair and skirts, adding a touch of allure.

Li Li aside, Zhou Xuanhong paid little attention to the maids’ deliberate displays. Instead, he pointed at the forty-nine-meter building and asked, “What kind of great figure lives there?”

One of the tall women inclined her body slightly and answered with a smile, “To answer the guest, you must be here in Yuandong City for the first time. That is the city lord’s manor, under the jurisdiction of the Great Yin Extreme Corpse Sect.”

Zhou Xuanhong asked again, “The lord of a city was not even built at the center? It seems this was erected later. Isn’t Yuandong City controlled by your Shangguan Clan? Then this city lord’s manor...?”

Before the maid could reply, a rich male voice sounded out: “Young friend, you seem very interested in my Shangguan Clan’s affairs. Why not let this clan head resolve your doubts for you?”

In the sky, two figures stepped through the air one after the other and landed within the pavilion. The leading figure waved a hand, and the maids withdrew tactfully.

Zhou Xuanhong and Li Li hurriedly rose and saluted. “Greetings, senior!”

The newcomers were Shangguan Liming and his father, the current clan head of the Shangguan Clan, Shangguan Ba. Their appearances were strikingly similar, but the latter carried the weathered depth of time, along with an unfathomable aura of power.

Shangguan Ba laughed heartily and lifted his hands in the air, gently raising Zhou Xuanhong and Li Li upright. “No need for such courtesy. Since you have chosen to become guest retainers of my Shangguan Clan, everything depends on your own ability. If you advance to a tier-four formation master, you may address this clan head as an equal.”

Zhou Xuanhong met Shangguan Ba’s gaze directly. With the strength of his divine sense, he instantly saw through the other man’s cultivation: ninth-level Nascent Soul.

“You flatter me, senior. Being able to become a guest retainer of the Shangguan Clan is this junior’s honor. I am newly arrived and still unfamiliar with everything, so I could not help but feel curious. I hope my questions have not offended you.”

For an instant, Shangguan Ba felt as though he had been glimpsed through, yet he found no proof of it.

“This is not something that cannot be spoken of. It is common knowledge among the cultivators of Yuandong City, though no one says it aloud. The Great Yin Extreme Corpse Sect merely built that city lord’s manor a hundred years ago to expand its influence. Under ordinary circumstances, it only handles minor matters of order. Everything of substance still remains under my Shangguan Clan’s control.”

Zhou Xuanhong nodded and said with some emotion, “The Shangguan Clan is truly lavish. Even the servants are Foundation Establishment female cultivators, and they all still seem to be untouched. Even back in the Left-Hand Domain where I once lived, such wealth would be rare indeed.”

Shangguan Ba laughed. “Young friend, you misunderstand. These maids are not female cultivators of foreign surnames. Rather, they are all junior disciples of my Shangguan Clan. It is only that their talent for cultivation is limited, so they serve as attendants. Perhaps one day they will be favored by a formation genius such as yourself. As for such matters, my Shangguan Clan is very much in favor of them. Children born to the outstanding naturally tend to be exceptional as well. That, too, is part of our clan’s inheritance.”

Zhou Xuanhong cupped his hands. “I have been instructed.”

Afterward, Shangguan Ba turned his gaze to Li Li and asked, “This little friend must be the sword cultivator Liming mentioned. Your attacks are said to be incredibly fierce. Would you care to draw your sword and let me see?”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Li Li, under Zhou Xuanhong’s control, unleashed the sword pellet in his navel palace. In an instant, countless streams of sword light burst forth and shot straight toward Shangguan Ba.

Shangguan Ba nodded, casually raising one finger. At once, all the sword lights froze in midair, unable to advance even the slightest bit.

Li Li immediately withdrew the sword light as well and gave Shangguan Ba a slight bow.

Beside them, Shangguan Liming had only just felt his life threatened once again. Li Li’s sword light was far too sharp, so sharp that even with his fifth-level Golden Core cultivation, he could clearly feel that he would be pierced into a sieve under its onslaught.

Shangguan Ba laughed loudly. “Excellent! Pure sword cultivators such as this are already rare in the Nameless Region. Truly worthy of a genius from the Left-Hand Domain. He is far stronger than that brat Gu Yufeng from Mount Song Sword Pavilion. With such strength and talent, he is indeed a blessing to my Shangguan Clan!”