He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The night breeze ruffled Zhang Bufan's robes, carrying the chill of late autumn, but it did nothing to dispel the rage in his heart. After dealing with Xiao Gang, he strode to Xiao Jiulang's side, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of Xiao Yuan and Xiao Gang not far away, his brows furrowed. These three had launched a sneak attack in the dead of night, their target clear, obviously prepared, and certainly not some random bandit encounter.

"Wearing a mask and hiding your true colors, you dare to come out and commit murder?" Zhang Bufan sneered, stepped forward, and first bent down to remove the black mask from Xiao Yuan's corpse. Beneath the mask was the face of an unfamiliar middle-aged man, his expression ferocious, clearly having suffered immense fear before death. He then walked to Xiao Gang's corpse and removed the mask as well. It was also an unfamiliar face, somewhat similar to Xiao Yuan's, most likely a member of the same clan.

Finally, he approached Xiao Jiulang, who was collapsed on the ground, groaning in pain. He grabbed the man by the collar and roughly ripped off his mask. The moment the mask fell off, Ye Qingxue, standing to the side, suddenly narrowed her eyes and exclaimed, "It's you! Xiao Jiulang!"

Upon hearing this name, Zhang Bufan's heart sank. He lowered his head and carefully examined the person before him. The face was handsome yet held a hint of sinister intent; the arrogance and greed in his brows hadn't completely faded even in extreme pain. He instantly recalled what Ye Qingxue had mentioned to him before—Xiao Jiulang, the youngest son of the Xiao family patriarch in the capital, had repeatedly harassed her, and later the Xiao family had even proposed a marriage alliance, which was ultimately rejected by Ye Dechang because of Zhang Bufan's appearance.

"I see." Zhang Bufan's eyes instantly turned icy cold. "So it turns out your Xiao family's marriage proposal to the Ye family was rejected, and you still haven't given up on Qingxue, so you took the risk and brought people here to take revenge on me?"

Xiao Jiulang, clutching his shattered dantian, convulsed. Hearing this, he raised his bloodshot eyes, glaring venomously at Zhang Bufan and Ye Qingxue: "So what? Zhang Bufan, you scum who rose to power by luck! If it weren't for you, Qingxue would have been my Daoist partner long ago, and my Xiao family wouldn't have lost face in front of Ye Dechang! Even if I die, I will not let you go!"

"Still being stubborn even when death is imminent." Zhang Bufan's killing intent intensified, and he raised his hand to end Xiao Jiulang's life, but then he forcibly suppressed the thought. Behind Xiao Jiulang was the Xiao family of the capital. According to Ye Qingxue, the Xiao family had a late-stage Core Formation ancestor, making them a top-tier family in the mortal cultivation world. He had killed the two people Xiao Jiulang brought and crippled his cultivation, but this undoubtedly created a deadly enmity with the entire Xiao family. He would keep them alive as evidence or leverage.

He was currently only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, as was Ye Qingxue. While Yue Ling'er was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, her strength was simply insufficient against a powerful family possessing a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Since the Xiao family dared to send Xiao Jiulang with Foundation Establishment cultivators to launch a sneak attack, they must be emboldened and likely have even stronger forces arriving to retaliate. This matter was beyond his control; he had to immediately seek help from his sect!

Thinking this through, Zhang Bufan no longer hesitated and quickly took out a cyan token engraved with immortal sword patterns from his storage ring—this was the identity token of a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, and also an emergency communication token, allowing him to directly contact his mentor, Yue Buwei. He infused the token with spiritual power, and the token instantly lit up with a soft green light, hovering in mid-air.

"Master, your disciple Zhang Bufan has an emergency to report!" Zhang Bufan said in a deep voice to the token, his speech rapid yet clear. "Back in my hometown, I was ambushed by Xiao Jiulang, a member of the Xiao family from the capital. He brought two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack me, but my junior sister Yue Ling'er and I have already killed both of them and crippled Xiao Jiulang's cultivation. The Xiao family knew that I was a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect and your personal disciple, yet they still attacked recklessly. I fear there will be further retaliation. I implore Master to come to my aid!"

Almost simultaneously with Zhang Bufan activating his communication token, Yue Ling'er beside him also reacted. Knowing the Xiao family's power and the gravity of the situation, she quickly took out her own communication jade talisman, infused it with spiritual energy, and anxiously cried out, "Father! It's me, Ling'er! My senior brother Zhang Bufan and I were ambushed by the Xiao family from the capital at his hometown! They brought three Foundation Establishment cultivators to kill us, but luckily we reacted quickly and escaped unharmed! Please bring reinforcements to save us! The Xiao family is too arrogant; they dared to attack us even knowing we are disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect!"

In the secluded cultivation chamber deep within the main hall of the Immortal Sword Sect in the Huashan Secret Realm, Yue Buwei was sitting cross-legged, surrounded by dense spiritual energy. His Nascent Soul power circulated slowly within him, stabilizing his cultivation. Suddenly, a token floating in front of him lit up, and the familiar fluctuations of spiritual energy instantly opened his eyes.

When Zhang Bufan's voice came through the token, especially when he heard "the Xiao family, knowing his identity, still brazenly attacked him," Yue Buwei's eyes instantly became extremely sharp, his spiritual energy surged violently, the temperature of the entire secluded room plummeted, and fine cracks appeared on the hard bluestone floor.

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!" Yue Buwei roared, his voice carrying the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator, causing the stone door of the secluded cultivation chamber to vibrate. "A mere mortal cultivation family dares to covet a disciple of my Immortal Sword Sect, and even dares to attack him knowing his identity? Do they really think my Immortal Sword Sect is easy to bully?!"

Zhang Bufan was not only his personal disciple, but also a genius on whom he placed great hopes—bearing the inheritance of a top-tier figure, his spiritual power far surpassed that of his peers. In a short time, he had grown from an ordinary person to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his future prospects were limitless. He might even lead the Immortal Sword Sect to new heights, and was the hope for the sect's resurgence. Now, a mortal family actually dared to kill such a disciple. This was not only a provocation against Yue Buwei, but also a contempt for the entire Immortal Sword Sect!

Yue Buwei's anger burned ever brighter. He clearly remembered that since the Immortal Sword Sect became a top-tier secret realm sect in the Pangu Realm, no mortal cultivation family had dared to so openly attack a core disciple for thousands of years. In recent years, the sect had focused on its own cultivation, rarely interfering in the affairs of the mortal cultivation world. He never imagined that these families would forget the Immortal Sword Sect's prestige, forget who truly ruled the Pangu Realm's cultivation world!

"It seems it's time to make these mortal aristocratic families realize their place!" A ruthless glint flashed in Yue Buwei's eyes. "If we don't severely punish the Xiao family today, more aristocratic families will surely follow suit in the future. Where will the prestige of my Immortal Sword Sect be then?"

Without further hesitation, he flashed and instantly appeared outside the secluded cultivation room. With a wave of his hand, a powerful surge of spiritual energy flowed into the bronze alarm bell at the sect's mountain gate. "Dong—dong—dong—" The deep and resonant bell sound instantly echoed throughout the entire Huashan Secret Realm, its penetrating power reaching every corner of the sect.

This is the emergency assembly bell of the Immortal Sword Sect, which is only rung when a major event occurs in the sect. The moment the bell rings, everyone within the secret realm, whether they are elders in seclusion or core disciples and inner disciples diligently cultivating, stops what they are doing and rushes towards the sect's main hall with solemn expressions.

In a short while, the plaza in front of the sect's main hall was packed with people. Leading the way were several of the sect's Supreme Elders, all of whom were at the Core Formation stage; behind them were the elders and core disciples of each hall, and finally the inner disciples. The group stood in neat rows, their auras calm, and their eyes were all fixed on Yue Buwei, who stood on the steps of the main hall.

Yue Buwei, dressed in a blue Daoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back, emanating a faint aura of power that silenced the entire plaza. His gaze swept over the crowd, and he said in a deep voice, "Everyone, this is an urgent warning. It's not that our sect is in crisis, but rather that our core disciple, my personal disciple Zhang Bufan, and inner disciple Yue Ling'er have been attacked in the mortal world!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a low murmur arose in the square. The disciples all wore expressions of disbelief; none of them had expected that someone would dare to attack a disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect in the mortal world.

"The ones who did it were the Xiao family of the capital," Yue Buwei continued, his voice icy cold. "The Xiao family knew Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er's identities, yet they still sent their disciple Xiao Jiulang with two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators to launch a nighttime ambush, intending to kill them. If the two hadn't reacted quickly and fought back desperately, they would probably have already met their demise!"

"How dare you!"

"A mere mortal family dares to challenge the majesty of my Immortal Sword Sect!"

"Please, Ancestor, order the annihilation of the Xiao family as a warning to others!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples in the square could no longer contain themselves and roared angrily, their eyes flashing with fury. When had the disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect ever suffered such humiliation? Especially since the other party was a mere mortal cultivation family that they considered as insignificant as ants.

Yue Buwei raised his hand to quiet the square instantly. He said in a deep voice, "Mortal families have shown no respect for hierarchy and have challenged the authority of our sect. If they are not severely punished, won't our Immortal Sword Sect disciples be bullied by everyone when they travel outside? Today, let us take the Xiao family as a warning and let all mortal cultivation families understand that the authority of our Immortal Sword Sect is inviolable!"

"I will immediately head to Zhang Bufan's hometown to provide reinforcements and ensure their safety." Yue Buwei turned his gaze to Yue Shouren in the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Shouren, you will immediately lead three Core Formation stage Grand Elders and one hundred Foundation Establishment stage core disciples to the capital to surround the Xiao family! Remember, not a single member of the Xiao family is allowed to escape! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed on the spot! The rest of the disciples will remain at the sect, maintaining strict vigilance to prevent other forces from taking advantage of the situation!"

"Yes! I will obey the Ancestor's decree!" Yue Shouren stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order, his eyes also filled with rage. The Xiao family dared to attack his daughter, Yue Ling'er, and even tried to kill Zhang Bufan, whom he valued most. This had simply enraged him, and he would make the Xiao family pay a heavy price.

"Let's go!" Yue Buwei shouted. Before his words even finished, his figure had already transformed into a dazzling rainbow of light, soaring into the sky and instantly piercing through the barrier of the Huashan Secret Realm, speeding towards Zhang Bufan's hometown. The speed of a Nascent Soul cultivator is terrifying; a distance of over 500 kilometers is nothing more than a matter of teleportation for him.

Yue Shouren didn't dare to delay. He immediately turned around and said in a deep voice to the three Supreme Elders and one hundred Foundation Establishment disciples behind him, "Everyone, follow me and annihilate the Xiao family!" After saying that, he took the lead and flew towards the exit of the secret realm. The three Supreme Elders and one hundred Foundation Establishment disciples followed closely behind. The mighty procession was like a long dragon, flying towards the capital.

In the courtyard of Zhang Bufan's old home, Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er were vigilantly observing their surroundings, wary of any reinforcements from the Xiao family. Ye Qingxue stood beside them, her face pale, clearly still reeling from the earlier ambush.

Suddenly, a dazzling rainbow flashed across the sky and landed in the courtyard. As the rainbow dissipated, Yue Buwei appeared before the three of them. He wore a blue Taoist robe, his hair and beard were all white, his eyes were deep, and he exuded a faint aura of power that made people involuntarily feel awe.

"Master!" Upon seeing Yue Buwei, Zhang Bufan felt instantly at ease and quickly stepped forward to bow in respect.

"Master!" Yue Ling'er quickly stepped forward, calling out aggrievedly, her eyes slightly red. The sneak attack just now was too dangerous; if it weren't for her senior brother's quick reaction, she and Ye Qingxue would probably be in real danger.

Ye Qingxue quickly straightened her clothes and stepped forward to bow in greeting: "Junior Ye Qingxue greets Senior Yue." Although she was not a disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, she knew Yue Buwei's identity and was filled with awe.

Yue Buwei's gaze swept over the three, and when he saw that they were all unharmed, the weight lifted from his heart. He smiled gently at Yue Ling'er and said, "Ling'er, don't be afraid, your master has arrived. The Xiao family will soon pay the price for their actions." Then, he turned his gaze to Zhang Bufan and nodded, "Bufan, you did very well. You remained calm in the face of danger and successfully repelled the enemy."

Zhang Bufan respectfully replied, "It's all thanks to Master's excellent guidance; I only did my best to protect myself."

Yue Buwei's gaze shifted to Xiao Jiulang, who lay slumped on the ground not far away. A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes; he had no interest in even interrogating him. With a flick of his fingertip, a sharp sword aura shot out, piercing precisely between Xiao Jiulang's brows. Before Xiao Jiulang could even utter a scream, the resentment and unwillingness in his eyes froze instantly. His head lolled to the side, and he died instantly.

Immediately afterwards, Yue Buwei waved his sleeve, and a gentle spiritual force swept over, enveloping the three corpses of Xiao Jiulang, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Gang. With a light flick, the three corpses disappeared without a trace, and even the bloodstains on the ground were cleaned up, as if the battle had never happened.

After disposing of the body, Yue Buwei's gaze fell on Yue Ling'er again. He carefully sensed her cultivation level, and a look of shock suddenly flashed in his eyes. He exclaimed, "Ling'er, you...you've actually reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage?"

It's important to understand that when Yue Ling'er left the Huashan Secret Realm, her cultivation had only just reached the Qi Refining Perfection stage, still quite a distance from the Foundation Establishment stage. In just two months, she actually broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage—such a cultivation speed was simply unheard of! Yue Buwei had lived for over two thousand years and seen countless genius cultivators, but he had never seen anyone cultivate so quickly.

Yue Ling'er smiled a little shyly and said, "Yes, Master, I'm so grateful to my senior brother for giving me so many spiritual items rich in spiritual energy these past two months, which has enabled me to improve so quickly."

Upon hearing this, Yue Buwei instantly understood. His gaze shifted to Zhang Bufan, his eyes filled with admiration and delight. He immediately guessed that Zhang Bufan must possess some kind of extraordinary cultivation resource to allow Yue Ling'er to achieve such an astonishing breakthrough in just two months. At this rate of cultivation, Yue Ling'er's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage was almost a certainty, and she might even go further. Coupled with Zhang Bufan's own potential, the rise of the Immortal Sword Sect truly seemed within reach!

Just then, the villa's gate opened, and Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian hurried out. The sounds of fighting and explosions outside had already alerted them, but the commotion was too great, so they dared not come out rashly. Only after they heard the noise outside subside did they muster their courage and step out.

"Bufan, Qingxue, Ling'er, what happened just now? Did something happen?" Xie Fenglian quickly walked to Zhang Bufan's side, looking at the three of them with concern. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that they were all alright. Zhang Jianguo also frowned, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Upon seeing his parents, Zhang Bufan quickly went up to them and said, "Dad, Mom, it's alright. We just ran into a few petty thieves, but my master has already taken care of them." He didn't want his parents to know too much about the dangers of the cultivation world, lest they worry.

As he spoke, he introduced his parents, "Dad, Mom, this is my master, Senior Yue Buwei. After I fell off the cliff, it was my master who saved me, took me as his disciple, and taught me the skills of cultivation."

Upon hearing the name "Yue Buwei" and seeing his ethereal, otherworldly appearance, and recalling the earth-shattering commotion they had just witnessed, Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian instantly realized that this man before them was a true "Old Immortal." Overwhelmed with emotion at the thought that their son had not only survived the fall but had also been accepted as a disciple by such a master, they immediately knelt before Yue Buwei: "Old Immortal! Thank you so much for saving our son's life and for imparting your skills to him! We, as his wife, will never forget your immense kindness!"

"Please rise, both of you!" Upon seeing this, Yue Buwei quickly stepped forward, using a gentle spiritual force to help the two up. A warm smile appeared on his face. "It was nothing, nothing to mention. Bufan and I are destined to be together. Taking him as my disciple is in accordance with the will of Heaven. You don't need to be so polite."

Although he said this, Yue Buwei felt a pang of guilt. He knew perfectly well that it was Xuanqing Daoist who had truly saved Zhang Bufan; he had merely gotten a free lunch by taking Zhang Bufan, a disciple with extraordinary talent. However, Xuanqing Daoist's existence was too secretive, involving the secrets of the Immortal Realm, and he simply couldn't reveal it.

"Old sage, please come in and sit down!" Xie Fenglian reacted and hurriedly invited him in. She was filled with gratitude for Yue Buwei; if it weren't for this old sage, her son would probably be long gone.

Yue Buwei nodded and followed Zhang Bufan's family into the villa's living room. Zhang Jianguo hurriedly made tea, while Xie Fenglian thanked them repeatedly. The atmosphere in the living room gradually became warm, and the tension and fighting from before seemed to have been somewhat diluted by this warmth. At this moment, Yue Shouren was leading three Core Formation stage elders and one hundred Foundation Establishment disciples, rushing towards the Xiao family in the capital. A catastrophic disaster targeting the Xiao family was quietly descending.