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

Inside the villa's living room, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, dispelling the chill of the late-night battle. Zhang Guoqiang and his wife were busy attending to Yue Buwei, their faces filled with gratitude and awe for this "old sage," completely unaware that Zhang Bufan, sitting to the side, had already become as solemn as iron, his mind churning with turbulent emotions.

The surprise attack just now seemed to have ended in a complete victory for our side, even crippling Xiao Jiulang and killing two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators. But only Zhang Bufan knew how much luck was hidden behind this victory. If Xiao Jiulang and his group hadn't misjudged their strength, thinking they were just easy targets like "one early-Foundation Establishment cultivator and two Qi Refining cultivators"; if they hadn't possessed the sect's Xuan-rank magic weapon, far surpassing the Xiao family's few Huang-rank magic weapons; if he hadn't received the empowerment from Xuanqing Daoist, giving him extraordinary spiritual power and allowing him to sense the danger two kilometers in advance—the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The thought sent a chill down Zhang Bufan's spine, his heart clenching. For the first time, he truly understood the cruelty of the cultivation world, far more terrifying than he had imagined. Simply because he had reunited with Ye Qingxue and thwarted Xiao Jiulang's delusions, he had incurred such ruthless retribution. The attack in the dead of night wasn't just aimed at him alone; it was a ploy to wipe out his entire family, even his parents, in a tragedy of "family extermination." "Just because of a personal grudge, they want to exterminate us all?" A cold shiver ran through Zhang Bufan.

He had always thought that with his immortal inheritance and status as a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, he could rely on the sect's powerful backing and progress smoothly as long as he cultivated discreetly. But now it seemed that these were ultimately external factors. No matter how profound the immortal inheritance was, without sufficient cultivation, it couldn't unleash its true power; and no matter how prestigious his status as a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect was, it couldn't protect him from attacks by desperate criminals. In fact, his status might even make his enemies more wary, leading them to resort to more extreme measures. He suddenly realized that in this dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, only his own cultivation and strength were the foundation for his survival.

Today, only three Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Xiao Jiulang, came, and they were even killed due to a misjudgment of intelligence. But what if a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, or even a Core Formation cultivator, had come? Forget protecting his parents, he himself would likely have no chance of survival. What terrified him even more was that the path of cultivation was long, and he would inevitably offend others for various reasons. If he encountered forces more ruthless and powerful than the Xiao family, and unable to defeat him directly, would they turn their attention to his parents, who had no cultivation, and use them to blackmail him? This thought, once it arose, coiled around his heart like a venomous snake, making him restless and uneasy.

He had indeed considered bringing his parents to the sect, but then he thought that they had lived in the countryside their whole lives and might find it difficult to adapt to the sect's strict rules and unfamiliar environment. That's why he decided to build a new house in their village so that his parents could enjoy their later years in peace. But after tonight's surprise attack, he realized that his previous thinking was too simplistic and naive. The mortal world may seem peaceful, but it has no ability to resist the threat of cultivators. His parents living here is like living in an undefended castle, where they could face deadly danger at any moment.

"Master." Zhang Bufan could no longer remain calm. He stood up, walked to Yue Buwei, bowed, and said with barely concealed anxiety, "I have a request for you, Master. Please enlighten me."

Yue Buwei was sipping tea when he saw Zhang Bufan's solemn expression. He put down his teacup and said gently, "Bufan, please speak freely." "Master," Zhang Bufan said in a deep voice, "today's events have made me realize that the cultivation world is far more dangerous than I imagined. I'm worried that if I offend other forces in the future, they might harm my parents. I would like to ask Master, how can we ensure their safety?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian's smiles froze instantly. They exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and worry in each other's eyes. Although they didn't understand the rules of the cultivation world, they could sense the gravity in their son's words. It turned out that their son's path of cultivation was so perilous that even their safety was threatened.

Yue Buwei had already seen through Zhang Bufan's thoughts and wasn't surprised by his words. He smiled faintly and said, "This matter is simple; you don't need to worry too much." He paused, then continued, "In the outer area of ​​the Huashan Secret Realm, there is a city specifically built for mortals, called 'Anhe City.' The city is inhabited by relatives of the sect's core disciples, elders, and even grand elders. Most of these relatives lack cultivation aptitude and cannot cultivate on the mountain peaks with the disciples, so the sect specially opened this city for them to settle down. Simply bring your parents to Anhe City; sect disciples are stationed there, and unauthorized personnel cannot enter—it's absolutely safe."

At this point, Yue Buwei added, "However, there is one thing I need to tell you in advance: Anhe City is isolated from the world. There are no modern facilities such as electricity and cars in the city. Ordinary people live a rural life similar to that of ancient times. Although they have no worries about food and clothing and live a peaceful and stable life, they do not have the prosperity of the outside world. Your parents may need some time to adjust."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bufan felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and a joyful smile appeared on his face: "Thank you for your guidance, Master! Now I can rest assured!" The reason he hesitated before was because he was worried that his parents would not adapt to the sect's environment. Now that there is a special mortal city in the secret realm, where all the relatives are of the same type, his parents are not only safe and secure, but also do not have to worry about being lonely or bored. It is simply a perfect solution.

He quickly turned to his parents and said sincerely, "Dad, Mom, you heard what happened. It's too unsafe to stay at home now. I want to take you to Anhe City, which Master mentioned. It's protected by the sect there, so it's absolutely safe. Plus, it's close to me, so I can visit you anytime I miss you."

Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian hesitated. They had only moved into this newly built villa a few days ago. The villa was spacious, bright, and fully equipped, the envy of everyone in the village. They had originally planned to spend the rest of their lives here peacefully. Familiar neighbors and villagers, the land they had lived on for so many years—it was the place they knew best and felt most comfortable in, so naturally they were reluctant to leave. Xie Fenglian's eyes reddened slightly, and she said softly, "Bufan, we're quite happy living here. Is it... really necessary to move?"

Zhang Bufan felt a pang of sadness. He knew his parents were reluctant to leave, but he understood the importance of safety even more. He patiently persuaded them, "Mom, I know you're reluctant to leave, but it's really not safe here. Today they only came with minor characters. If a more powerful enemy comes next time, I might not be able to get there in time. Moving to Anhe City will not only be safer, but it will also be closer to me, allowing me to cultivate in peace. When I'm strong enough to completely protect you, I'll bring you back to visit, okay?"

Zhang Guoqiang was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and said, "Bufan, we know you're doing this for our own good. Don't worry, we'll go with you. As long as you can cultivate in peace and we don't become a burden to you, it doesn't matter where we live." He knew that his son's path of cultivation was of paramount importance, and they couldn't let their own selfishness distract him or put him in danger. Although they were reluctant to leave their hometown, for their son's sake and for their own safety, they had no choice but to leave.

Seeing her husband agree, Xie Fenglian nodded, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile: "Yes, Bufan, we'll go with you. We'll be closer to you, and that will make us happy." Zhang Bufan was overjoyed to see his parents agree and quickly bowed to them: "Thank you, Dad! Mom, you understand! I will definitely cultivate diligently and bring you a peaceful life as soon as possible!" Then, he turned and bowed again to Yue Buwei: "Thank you, Master, for relieving my worries!"

"It's alright." Yue Buwei waved his hand and said calmly, "Protecting the safety of disciples' relatives is the sect's responsibility. There's no time to lose. Since you've already made your decision, pack your things and leave as soon as possible, lest something unforeseen happens."

"Yes, Master!" Zhang Bufan nodded and immediately began packing. Actually, there wasn't much to pack; the furniture and appliances were all new, so it didn't matter whether he took them or not. The main things were his parents' clothes, bedding, and some everyday items. Zhang Bufan took out his storage ring, circulated his spiritual energy, and gently gestured towards the items in the room. His parents' clothes, bedding, and other belongings instantly transformed into streams of light and were absorbed into the storage ring. His movements were lightning fast; in just a few minutes, he had collected everything he needed to take from the house into the storage ring. The once cozy villa instantly became empty.

Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian, having long been accustomed to their son's miraculous abilities, simply stood silently to the side, their eyes filled with a hint of longing for their hometown. After packing his things, Zhang Bufan said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, wait a moment. I'm going to my cousin's house to explain something, I'll be right back."

After saying that, he flashed and disappeared from the villa entrance in an instant. It was already late at night, and his cousin Zhang Xiaoshan's family were long asleep. Zhang Bufan arrived at Zhang Xiaoshan's door, gently knocked, and whispered, "Brother, open the door, it's Bufan."

Zhang Xiaoshan was awakened by the knocking on the door. He groggily opened his eyes and, hearing Zhang Bufan's voice, was puzzled. Why was his cousin looking for him so late? He quickly put on his clothes, opened the door, and saw Zhang Bufan standing there. He exclaimed in surprise, "Bufan? What brings you here so late?"

"Brother, I'm sorry to disturb your rest." Zhang Bufan smiled apologetically, took out the villa key from his pocket, and handed it to Zhang Xiaoshan. "We have to move out for some special reasons, so this new house is for you. Thank you for taking care of my parents before, please accept this small token of our appreciation."

"What?" Zhang Xiaoshan was instantly stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Bufan, you... what did you say? You're giving this house to me?" He knew how luxurious this villa was, worth millions. Zhang Bufan was just giving it away like that?

"Yeah, brother, just accept it." Zhang Bufan patted his shoulder. "We're in a hurry, so we won't chat with you any longer. You should get some rest." Before Zhang Xiaoshan could react, Zhang Bufan vanished into the night.

Zhang Xiaoshan stood at the door, holding the heavy key in his hand, stunned for several minutes before he finally reacted. He looked down at the key in his hand, then looked up in the direction of Zhang Bufan's house, still filled with disbelief. It wasn't until the next morning, when he arrived at Zhang Bufan's villa with a lingering sense of skepticism, and saw the villa's doors wide open and everything inside completely emptied, that he finally believed Zhang Bufan wasn't joking. This luxurious villa, the envy of the entire village, had actually been given to him! Overjoyed, Zhang Xiaoshan rushed home to pack his things and eagerly moved inside.

When Zhang Bufan returned to the villa, he saw his parents already waiting at the door. He then said to Yue Buwei, "Master, everything at home has been arranged. We can set off now."

Yue Buwei nodded, said nothing more, and with a wave of his hand, a gentle spiritual energy instantly enveloped Zhang Bufan, Ye Qingxue, Yue Ling'er, and the Zhang Guoqiang couple. Zhang Bufan only felt a blur before his eyes, and then his body lost its weight. Immediately afterward, the surrounding scenery began to change rapidly, and he heard the whistling wind in his ears. He knew that this was his master using the teleportation technique; the methods of a Nascent Soul cultivator were indeed extraordinary.

In a mere instant, the surrounding scenery stabilized. Zhang Bufan looked closely and realized they had arrived at the house where they had previously entered the Huashan Secret Realm. The two Immortal Sword Sect disciples guarding the house were startled upon seeing Yue Buwei, then quickly bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Ancestor!"

"Hmm." Yue Buwei nodded slightly, without saying anything more, and led everyone straight to the light gate deep inside the house.

The two disciples dared not be negligent in the slightest, standing respectfully to the side until the group disappeared into the gate of light, only then did they breathe a sigh of relief. Those personally led by a Nascent Soul Ancestor were undoubtedly of extraordinary status, and they naturally dared not be careless. Passing through the gate of light, the group instantly appeared on the plaza halfway up the main peak of the Huashan Secret Realm.

The square was shrouded in mist, the spiritual energy so dense it almost solidified. In the distance, towering peaks pierced the clouds, dotted with pavilions and towers, creating a scene of ethereal beauty, like a fairyland. Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian had never seen anything like it before; they were instantly stunned by the breathtaking scenery, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

"Is this the secret realm of Mount Hua? It's so beautiful!" Xie Fenglian couldn't help but exclaim.

"Indeed, this is the Huashan Secret Realm." Yue Buwei smiled faintly, then said to Zhang Bufan, "I have already notified the steward of Anhe City in the outer sect. He will be here soon to take your parents to settle them. Now, come with me to the Xiao family to settle old scores."

Zhang Bufan nodded upon hearing this. He knew that the Xiao family's matter had to be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise, things could get complicated, and no one knew what crazy things the Xiao family might do next. He turned to his parents and said softly, "Dad, Mom, please wait here for a moment. I'm going with my master to take care of some things, and I'll be back soon to help you set up your new home."

"Okay, go ahead, be careful." Zhang Jianguo nodded and gave him some instructions. Although he knew his son had his master protecting him, he was still a little worried. Zhang Bufan smiled at his parents, then led Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er, following Yue Buwei out of the secret realm once again.

They had barely left when a figure flew swiftly towards the plaza and landed in front of Zhang Jianguo and his wife. The newcomer was a middle-aged cultivator in a gray Daoist robe, with a gentle face and a cultivation level at the early Foundation Establishment stage. He was none other than Ma Changsi, the head steward of the outer sect.

Ma Changsi received a personal message from the Nascent Soul Ancestor Yue Buwei, informing him that he was to receive the parents of the Ancestor's personally taught disciple. Naturally, he dared not be negligent in the slightest. Upon receiving the message, he immediately put down what he was doing and rushed over as quickly as possible.

Upon seeing Zhang Jianguo and his wife, he immediately bowed respectfully, his tone extremely courteous: "I am Ma Changxi, greetings to Senior Zhang and Senior Xie. The Ancestor has instructed me to escort you both to Anhe City for your accommodation."

Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian quickly waved their hands, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Master Ma, you're too kind. We're just ordinary people, we can't accept the title of 'senior'." They had never been treated with such respect in their lives, and were momentarily at a loss for words.

"You two are the parents of the patriarch's personally taught disciple, of noble status, and naturally deserve this honor," Ma Changsi said with a smile. "You two need not be so formal, please follow me. Anhe City is still three hundred kilometers away from here. We can fly there on our swords and arrive very soon." After speaking, Ma Changsi took out a cyan flying sword, which instantly grew large enough to accommodate three people standing on it. He gestured to Zhang Jianguo and his wife, "Please, gentlemen, take up your swords."

Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian exchanged a glance, both seeing nervousness and anticipation in each other's eyes. They had never ridden a flying sword before, let alone flown in the air. With Ma Changsi's help, the two carefully stepped onto the flying sword.

Ma Changsi urged, "Hold on tight, we're setting off." As soon as he finished speaking, the flying sword transformed into a streak of azure light, soaring into the sky and heading towards Anhe City. Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian felt the wind whistling past their ears, the mountains and rivers rushing past beneath their feet, as if they were floating on clouds.

They gripped Ma Changsi's arm tightly, their hearts filled with both tension and excitement. This was a scene only seen in myths and legends, and now they were experiencing it firsthand, especially in the idyllic Huashan Secret Realm. They were incredibly proud of their son. The flying sword was extremely fast; it covered the 300-kilometer distance in just half an hour.

Before Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian could properly appreciate the scenery along the way, the flying sword slowly descended and landed in front of the city lord's mansion in the center of Anhe City.

Anhe City is a vast ancient city, with city walls tens of meters high, entirely constructed of bluestone, engraved with ancient patterns, and exuding a faint spiritual aura. The buildings within the city are all antique courtyards and pavilions, the streets are wide and clean, and pedestrians come and go, mostly ordinary mortals, with the occasional Taoist priest patrolling. Although the city lacks the bustling prosperity of the outside world, it exudes an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

As soon as the flying sword landed, the gates of the City Lord's Mansion opened, and a burly middle-aged man dressed in black strode out. Upon seeing Ma Changsi, he immediately bowed and greeted him: "Your subordinate, Niu Dali, greets Elder Ma! May I ask what brings Elder Ma here so late at night?"

Niu Dali was the city lord of Anhe City, with a cultivation level of only late-stage Qi Refining. He was an outer disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect. Being the city lord of Anhe City seemed like an official position, but it was actually a thankless job. Every day, he had to handle all sorts of trivial matters concerning the city's mortals and was also responsible for the city's security, keeping him extremely busy. It was already late at night, and he was handling official business when he heard from his subordinates that Elder Ma had arrived. He immediately put down what he was doing and came out to greet him personally. Ma Changsi was the head steward of the outer sect, with a cultivation level of early-stage Foundation Establishment. He was Niu Dali's superior, and Ma Changsi's arrival late at night must mean he had something important to discuss. More importantly, anyone whom Ma Changsi would personally escort must be of extraordinary status, so Niu Dali naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"Lord Niu, there's no need for such formalities." Ma Changsi waved his hand, pointed to Zhang Guoqiang and his wife behind him, and said, "This is Zhang Bufan's father, Zhang Guoqiang, and his mother, Xie Fenglian. Junior Brother Zhang Bufan is the Ancestor's personal disciple. The Ancestor specifically instructed me to bring these two seniors to Anhe City and settle them in. You should immediately arrange the best vacant house in the city for them to move into."

"What? The parents of the Patriarch's personal disciple?" Upon hearing this, Niu Dali's expression changed instantly. He quickly turned around and bowed to Zhang Jianguo and his wife, his tone even more respectful than before: "Your subordinate Niu Dali greets Senior Zhang and Senior Xie! I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly!" He was extremely shocked. The Patriarch's personal disciple was one of the most elite figures in the sect, with an incomparably noble status. Their parents were naturally of paramount importance, and he had to make proper arrangements for them. He absolutely could not afford to make any mistakes, otherwise, if he displeased the Patriarch, his fate would be unimaginable.

"Lord Niu, you're too kind." Zhang Jianguo and his wife quickly helped him up and said, "We're just ordinary people, no need for such trouble. Just find us a simple courtyard."

"You two are too kind," Ma Changsi said with a laugh. "Senior Zhang Bufan is of noble status, so naturally you two should stay in the best residence. City Lord Niu, why don't you quickly take the two seniors to see the residence?"

"Yes! Yes!" Niu Dali nodded hurriedly and gestured to Zhang Jianguo and his wife, "Seniors, please follow me!" After saying that, Niu Dali led the way, with Ma Changsi and Zhang Jianguo and his wife following behind, heading towards a residence not far from the City Lord's Mansion.

This mansion is a grand three-courtyard complex with vermilion gates and high walls, guarded by two stone lions at the entrance, giving it an imposing appearance. Inside, pavilions, terraces, rockeries, flowing water, and garden paths are all present. The rooms are spacious and bright, furnished with meticulously crafted solid wood furniture, and the facilities are extremely complete, making it ready for immediate move-in.

To Zhang Jianguo and his wife's even greater surprise, there were ten maids dressed in light blue uniforms in the courtyard. Upon seeing the group enter, they quickly bowed and greeted them, saying, "Greetings, Elder Ma, City Lord, and both of you seniors!"

"This...this is too extravagant. We don't need such a nice house, nor so many maids," Xie Fenglian said hurriedly. They had been frugal all their lives and had never seen such a luxurious display before, so they felt somewhat uneasy.

"There's no need for you two seniors to refuse," Ma Chang explained with a chuckle. "This is the sect's rule. When the relatives of core disciples reside in Anhe City, they are always provided with such residences and maids. The purpose is to ensure that you two seniors can live in peace and comfort, without worrying about food or clothing. These maids are specially trained and will take good care of your daily lives. If you two seniors are dissatisfied with the residence or maids in any way, you can always ask City Lord Niu to replace them."

Niu Dali quickly chimed in, "Yes, seniors, Elder Ma is right. Please settle in comfortably. If you need anything, please feel free to ask me." Seeing that Ma Changsi and Niu Dali were adamant, Zhang Jianguo and his wife knew that refusing was pointless, so they stopped insisting and thanked the two, saying, "Thank you very much, Daoist Ma and City Lord Niu."

"You two are too kind," Ma Changsi nodded and said. "Now that you two have settled in, I will return to report. Lord Niu, I will leave the follow-up matters concerning you two to you."

"Please rest assured, Elder Ma, I will make proper arrangements!" Niu Dali hurriedly said. Ma Changsi bowed to Zhang Jianguo and his wife before turning and leaving. Niu Dali then gave a few more instructions to the maids, telling them to take good care of Zhang Jianguo and his wife, before leaving the residence. Looking at the spacious, bright, and magnificent residence, Zhang Jianguo and Xie Fenglian were filled with emotion. They had never imagined that they could live in such a house, let alone that their son would have such great abilities. Although they had left their familiar hometown, the thought of being safe and secure here, and being closer to their son, lessened their attachment to the place.