Chapter 1581
: Whale Falls, All Things Come to Life
Chapter 1581 One whale fall, all things come to life
Su Fan and Peng Shidao walked side by side to the front of the Su family's old house, where they saw Luo Guyin standing at the front in a formal suit.
The Su family members behind her stood in neat rows according to seniority, men, women, young and old, all holding their breath and focusing their gazes intently on the two of them.
To be precise, the object of the gaze fell upon Peng Shidao, who was standing behind Su Fan. Yet, upon catching sight of Su Fan, a surge of deep respect and trepidation welled up in Peng Shidao's eyes, giving him the solemn air of welcoming a supreme being.
"Greetings, Venerable Shi Dao, welcome to the Su family..."
Luo Guyin bowed first, his voice steady but unable to hide a hint of tension.
The Su family members behind him also bowed in unison, the sound of their clothes rustling in perfect unison, full of awe for the super demonic sect leader.
Peng Shidao wore a polite smile and waved his hand casually, but his gaze subtly swept over Su Fan, with a hint of probing and apprehension hidden in his eyes.
His composure at this moment was all a facade.
Su Fan nodded slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable sense of dominance.
"Fellow Daoist, please..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped into the old house first.
The Su family members froze on the spot, their eyes fixed on Su Fan's back. A sense of reverence spread like a tide, and they even unconsciously softened their breathing.
That's the sect leader of the Demon Sun Divine Palace.
This person, who could roam freely throughout the entire Yuanmang constellation, didn't dare to put on any airs in front of his own ancestor, and even showed a bit of deliberate flattery.
Everyone was frantically speculating, their fingertips twitching slightly with excitement and curiosity.
What terrifying level has our ancestor reached?
It's astonishing that a supreme leader of a demonic sect could be so subservient.
This glory is enough to make the Su family proud in the Jiaochen Realm for a hundred years.
Luo Guyin gazed at Su Fan's retreating figure, her eyes filled with admiration and unwavering resolve.
She had always known that Su Fan was no ordinary person.
The two walked through the courtyard and came to an elegantly decorated quiet room. The fragrance of sandalwood filled the room, dispelling the noise of the outside world.
Su Fan and Peng Shidao sat cross-legged facing each other. Su Fan picked up the spirit teapot on the table, and the moment the boiling water was poured into the teacup, the fragrance of spirit tea filled the air.
He raised his hand and pushed the teacup in front of Peng Shidao, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Fellow Daoist, have some tea..."
Peng Shidao picked up the teacup, his fingertips touching the coolness of the cup, but he couldn't suppress the heat in his heart. He took a small sip and put the teacup down.
His Adam's apple bobbed twice, and finally, unable to suppress the question in his heart, his voice trembled slightly.
"Fellow Daoist, I want to know, who exactly are you..."
He was able to endure the previous tests and Su Fan's indifference entirely because of his deep friendship with an elder of the Nine Profound Tower.
It was this friendship that allowed him to uncover the truth behind Su Fan's identity that was enough to terrify him.
When he learned that the person in front of him had single-handedly killed a great demon from the upper realm and the true form of a Taoist master, he broke out in a cold sweat.
The back of his robe was soaked through, and he was almost losing his breath.
What terrified him even more was that this person had once ventured alone into the demon realm, slaughtering demon cultivators and leaving their corpses strewn across the land.
In the end, they used brutal and evil methods to drag the eastern region of the demon realm into endless demonic calamity.
Legend has it that the demonic calamity in that region has not yet subsided, and even if it is eventually resolved, it will become a spiritless place teeming with evil spirits.
This terrifying ferocity makes him arguably the most ruthless character in the Yuanmang constellation.
Upon learning the truth, Peng Shidao did not hesitate and immediately rushed to the Su family's old residence.
Seeing that the two had not yet clashed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the cold sweat on his back slowly subsided.
He knew better than anyone that if he angered this fiend, not only would he, the sect leader, be wiped out overnight, but the entire Demon Sun Divine Palace could also be reduced to ashes.
Previously, when Su Fan deliberately tested him with words, even if he was about to explode inside, he could only swallow his anger and dare not show the slightest bit of his temper.
What does face matter? In the face of life and death, it's not even worth dust.
If he were to truly offend this terrifying demon, the thousand-year-old foundation of the Demon Sun Divine Palace would be destroyed in an instant. He absolutely could not take that risk.
Therefore, what he most urgently wanted to confirm at this moment was the identity of the person in front of him.
Only by understanding the root cause can we make the most prudent response.
Upon hearing his question, Su Fan chuckled softly, his eyes remaining completely calm.
He never intended to hide it. Given his past experiences, the truth would eventually come out if someone deliberately investigated.
Instead of hiding it, it's better to admit it openly.
He looked up at Peng Shidao, his tone calm yet carrying immense weight.
"My name is Su Fan..."
Peng Shidao stood there, stunned, unable to react for a moment.
Su Fan's fearsome reputation was already well-known in the Yuanmang Constellation, but he had been wandering in the outer realms for hundreds of years in his early years and had never stayed in the Jiaochen Realm.
Those world-shaking achievements of yesteryear have long been faded by time and are rarely mentioned.
He frowned and pondered for a moment, when suddenly those long-forgotten rumors flashed through his mind. His expression changed abruptly, and he exclaimed in surprise.
"impossible……"
His first reaction was disbelief. Su Fan had only left the Jiao Chen Realm a few hundred years ago, when he was only at the Refining Void Realm.
But he had just clearly sensed that the other party was already at the late stage of the Integration Realm.
He cultivated diligently for tens of thousands of years before barely reaching this level, while Su Fan, whose lifespan was only a little over a thousand years, was able to reach the same height as him.
This completely overturned his understanding of cultivation; it was utterly unbelievable.
Peng Shidao stared intently at Su Fan, his face as solemn as iron, his eyes filled with disbelief and struggle.
Su Fan naturally saw through his thoughts, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.
Not to mention Peng Shidao's disbelief, even he himself found it absurd when he thought about it.
He spoke slowly, his tone somewhat nonchalant.
"Fellow Daoist, I forgot to mention, I am now a heretical cultivator..."
Upon hearing this, the disbelief on Peng Shidao's face faded slightly, and he reluctantly accepted the fact.
Unorthodox cultivators never follow the conventional path, preferring shortcuts and unconventional methods. What Daoist cultivators can achieve in ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, they can often break through to the Integration Realm in a short time.
However, according to rumors, the price for a heretical cultivator to advance so quickly is extremely high, either damaging their very essence or suffering divine retribution.
But Su Fan in front of him was breathing steadily and had a calm expression, showing no signs of injury whatsoever, which made him even more wary.
Peng Shidao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the resentment and imbalance in his heart.
He spent tens of thousands of years, proceeding step by step, and enduring countless dangers before finally reaching the threshold of the late stage of the Integration Realm.
Su Fan, though only a little over a thousand years old, was already on par with him.
Such a disparity was bound to make him feel aggrieved.
He even had a ridiculous thought: if he switched to the evil path, could he also make such progress?
But as soon as the thought popped into his head, he forcibly suppressed it, for he had long heard of the dangers of the evil path.
Su Fan picked up his teacup and took a small sip. His expression suddenly darkened, and his tone carried a hint of warning.
"Fellow Daoist, please do not reveal a single word of my return to anyone..."
He had a terrible reputation in his early years, and now he only wants to temporarily return to the Su family and live a peaceful life.
I don't want to cause endless trouble because of past grievances and implicate the entire Su family.
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I would never dare to divulge a single word..."
Peng Shidao quickly expressed his agreement, his tone respectful, but he secretly made a mental note of it. This was an opportunity to curry favor with Su Fan, and he would never let it backfire.
Hearing Peng Shidao's assurance, Su Fan breathed a slight sigh of relief, and the tension between his brows eased a bit.
His expression immediately hardened, and his tone became serious: "Now, let's talk about serious matters..."
Peng Shidao felt a chill run down his spine, and his whole body tensed instantly.
He naturally understood what Su Fan was referring to; the difficulties that the several families of the Demon Sun Divine Palace were making things difficult for the Su family were indeed a bit excessive.
Back in the Yuanmang Constellation, Su Fan was known for being reckless and vindictive.
Now that the Su family has suffered such a great injustice, how could he possibly let it go?
Peng Shidao quickly stood up to apologize, his tone deliberately humble.
"Fellow Daoist, some people within the sect have indeed gone too far this time. I only just learned of this myself, I..."
"No need for further words..."
Before he could finish speaking, Su Fan raised his hand to interrupt him.
His tone was impatient, and he had no intention of wasting words, directly stating his conditions.
"I won't pursue the past. As long as the Demon Sun Divine Palace hands over the Jiang family, all past grievances will be wiped clean..."
Su Fan didn't want to break ties with the "Demon Sun Divine Palace," but they also had to give him an explanation.
His words struck Peng Shidao like a heavy hammer, instantly overwhelming him with humiliation and indignation.
Su Fan wasn't negotiating; he was publicly humiliating them, or even riding on the neck of the Demon Sun Divine Palace to bully them.
Even though his heart was in turmoil, he dared not show the slightest anger on his face. He could only forcefully suppress his emotions and quickly weigh the pros and cons.
As the leader of the super magic sect, he is no longer a hot-headed young man acting on impulse.
Offending Su Fan was an option he completely ruled out from the very beginning.
That was the bottom line concerning the life and death of the sect, and it must never be crossed.
As for the Jiang family, they are merely a long-established subsidiary family within the sect.
Moreover, in recent years, after the Jiang family patriarch broke through to the Integration Realm, he became increasingly arrogant and unseemly, which has long aroused the dissatisfaction of other families in the sect.
If we hand over the Jiang family, it will cause the Demon Sun Divine Palace to lose face.
However, in the long run, it may not be a bad thing if it can both quell Su Fan's anger and take the opportunity to eliminate hidden dangers within the sect and balance the power of the various families in the sect.
Having figured this out, Peng Shidao took a deep breath and suppressed the resentment in his heart.
He said respectfully, "Fellow Daoist, handing over the Jiang family is a matter of great importance. I need to return to my sect and discuss it with the higher-ups..."
Su Fan nodded slightly, his tone calm yet firm and unyielding.
"I'm not discussing this with you, I'm informing you that before midnight tonight, regardless of whether the Demon Sun Divine Palace hands over the Jiang family or not, I will take action..."
Peng Shidao sighed heavily, the struggle in his eyes completely gone, leaving only helplessness.
He stood up and bowed slightly to Su Fan.
"Fellow Daoist, I will return to the sect immediately and discuss this with them as soon as possible..."
He knew in his heart that the higher-ups in the sect would never be foolish enough to choose to confront Su Fan, such a vicious and tyrannical evil old demon.
Moreover, the downfall of the Jiang family would certainly be welcomed by other families within the clan.
When a whale falls, all things are born.
The resources and interests held by the Jiang family will soon be divided up by other families.
Compared to the sect's reputation, tangible benefits are obviously more tempting.
Su Fan saw Peng Shidao off at the Su family's old house, and watched his figure disappear into the night before turning back into the courtyard.
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they saw Luo Guyin, her senior sister, and others leading the entire Su family, young and old, lined up in a row.
Upon his return, everyone bowed down in unison, their voices loud and respectful, filled with heartfelt reverence.
"Welcome, Ancestor..."
Sunlight shone on everyone's faces, and every pair of eyes sparkled with excitement and pride—an expression of boundless reverence for their ancestor.
This is their Su family's ancestor, a being who can stand on equal footing with the leader of a super demonic sect, and even make the other party bow down.
They may not know how humble Peng Shidao was in front of Su Fan, but they could understand Su Fan's terrifying strength from their interaction just now.
This honor is something they will remember for a lifetime.
Senior Sister, Gu Qinghuan, and Li Miaoxue had already cried until their eyes were red and swirling with tears, but they stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Their gazes toward Su Fan were burning with longing and dependence.
That was the person they had waited for for hundreds of years, who had finally returned safely and become a reliable support for the Su family.
Su Fan stared blankly at the densely packed group of his people, momentarily stunned, and stopped in his tracks.
These people were all his blood relatives, but he had been wandering in foreign lands for hundreds of years and had not yet had time to prepare himself mentally.
The sudden admiration and adoration left him somewhat bewildered, a strange warmth rising in his heart, mixed with a touch of bitterness.
Luo Guyin saw through his unease, quickly stepped forward, her tone gentle yet firm, carrying a warmth that transcends time.
"Su Fan, let's go home..."
These three words struck Su Fan like a thunderbolt, hitting the softest spot in his heart. His nose tingled, and he almost burst into tears.
Centuries of wandering and fighting, countless days and nights of loneliness and forbearance, all transformed into a heart full of warmth at this moment.
He suppressed his surging emotions, nodded to Luo Guyin, a long-lost gentle smile appearing on his lips, and stepped into the courtyard.
Surrounded by the crowd, Su Fan arrived at the main hall of the family. Su Fan and Luo Guyin sat cross-legged at the head of the table, while his senior sister, Gu Qinghuan, and Li Miaoxue sat at the foot of the table.
Gu Man, Li Chao, Su Chang'an, and others stood respectfully opposite with their respective Daoist partners, while their two disciples, Meng Chao and Shen Yue, also stood on one side with solemn expressions.
Su Fan's gaze swept over the Daoist partners behind Li Chao and Su Chang'an, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.
These two brats have managed to gather enough Daoist partners to play two mahjong games.
However, he could understand that cultivation families had always prioritized procreation and expanding their lineage.
This situation is common in other families as well, but looking at the huge number of younger generations in front of them, they still couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
He was slightly satisfied when his gaze fell on Gu Man and He Shutong.
This kid is smart enough to only stay with Gu Man. If he dares to flirt with other women, he'll break his legs.
Then, Gu Man, Li Chao, and Su Chang'an stepped forward one by one to introduce the younger generation behind Su Fan.
In order to allow Su Fan to recognize his relatives, they specially summoned all the clansmen scattered in various markets and resource points throughout the family.
The main hall was bustling with noise, yet everyone maintained a respectful attitude towards Su Fan.
Su Fan's gaze suddenly fell on a little girl in the crowd. It was the same child he had met by chance in the market. He secretly winked at the little girl.
The little girl was stunned, her eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief.
She had thought it was just a chance encounter with an elder, but it turned out to be her family's legendary ancestor.
He originally thought she was his granddaughter, but who would have thought that this girl was his great-granddaughter.
There were so many juniors, their names and seniority intertwined, that Su Fan was dizzy from listening.
He spent most of the day introducing them, but apart from the little girl he had teased, he couldn't remember any of the others.
Looking at the unfamiliar yet blood-related faces before him, he felt a pang of guilt, yet also an indescribable sense of belonging.
This is his home, his final resting place after hundreds of years of wandering.
(End of this chapter)