Chen Xuan's father gave him a strong hug, even this man, who rarely smiled at his own son, changed his usual demeanor. A bright smile appeared on his face, a proud smile that all the family members gathered around to see.

"My boy, when did you become so powerful? Even the Spiritual Martial Realm is not your match. Have you also reached the Spiritual Martial Realm?" Chen Lihao exclaimed.

The other family members also looked at Chen Xuan with wide eyes, waiting for his answer.

"Hehe...," Chen Xuan scratched his head, "No, I'm just at the Ninth Rank of the Innate Realm, I had a bit of luck."

Chen Xuan felt a bit embarrassed.

At this moment, the family head came out to break the crowd, "All disciples, clean up the battlefield. Chen Xuan, take twenty men to raid the Wu Family, and I will lead twenty men to raid the Li Family."

The family head, Chen Batian, announced to everyone.

All the disciples dispersed to clean up the battlefield. Chen Xuan led twenty-some men toward the direction of the Wu Family.

The people on the streets were discussing fervently. The Chen Family had produced a monstrous genius. At just fourteen years old, he could kill the Wu Family's head of the Spiritual Martial Realm. This kid's cultivation soared after being ambushed last time. Nobody knew what kind of elixir he had taken.

"This time, after killing the Wu and Li Families, the Hongling Town will be dominated by the Chen Family alone. We all need to establish good relations with them from now on," said a shopkeeper from the town.

Others agreed.

Chen Xuan led a group of people to the Wu Family. It was said that the Wu Family head had been killed, and the servants, maids, and martial artists had all fled. Only some women and children remained, with no means of escape.

Chen looked at the group of old and young. At this moment, Chen Liangyu approached.

"Xuan, kill or not?"

Previously, Chen Xuan had killed because those people posed a threat to the Chen Family. But looking at defenseless women and children, Chen Xuan didn't want to be a ruthless killer. If he killed them, he would feel no different from a demon.

"Today, it was your Wu Family who initiated the conflict with our Chen Family. We only killed your people in self-defense. Everyone here should understand that. You can all leave now. Don't come back to Hongling Town, and I hope you forget this enmity. If you persist and come back to seek revenge, our Chen Family won't fear you. I'm letting you go because I don't want to harm the innocent," Chen Xuan said with righteousness.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

At this moment, a woman stepped forward.

"Thank you, young master, for sparing us. We will leave Hongling Town. I will tell the future generations of our family's grudges, but let bygones be bygones."

Everyone walked away, and the twenty-some men behind Chen Xuan didn't say a word. Although most of them were older than Chen Xuan, they all looked up to him now. If he had ordered them to kill these people, not many would have been able to do it.

"Let's go," Chen Xuan said, and everyone hurried to the back courtyard of the Wu Family. The Wu Family's property was stored in the basement of Wu Hao's study. When the group entered, they saw rows of demon beast cores, silver bills, several martial arts techniques, over a thousand Return Yuan Pills, and some unidentified herbs. The twenty-some men carried boxes out one by one, emptying the Wu Family's property.

It took two carts to move everything out. The group left the Wu residence completely empty, without a single person left. They returned to the family compound amidst laughter and joy. Family head Chen Batian had already returned, bringing two carts with him. Now, the Chen Family's wealth had increased substantially, and young disciples could get more resources for cultivation.

Everyone arrived at the Chen Family's main hall, where family head Chen Batian sat in the main seat. Today, his face was not as stern as usual; he even smiled.

"Xuan'er, I heard that you let the women and children of the Wu Family go," Chen Batian said with a hint of doubt.

"Yes, Grandfather. They had no martial power, just a group of women and children. I couldn't bring myself to harm them, so I let them leave. Please punish me," Chen Xuan said.

"Punish you? Why would I punish you? You did well, not indiscriminately killing innocents. If you had killed women and children, I would have been disappointed in you. As a martial artist, you may have to kill or be killed, but as a martial artist, you must act in accordance with your conscience. Your performance today makes me proud. The future of the Chen Family will depend on you to uphold righteousness. Whatever you do in the future, you must be true to yourself," Chen Batian said with a smile.

"Grandfather, I will remember," Chen Xuan replied.

"Today's coming-of-age ceremony was disrupted by the Wu and Li families. I have decided to hold it again in ten days. Everyone, go back!" Chen Batian announced.

Everyone dispersed.

Chen Xuan returned to his courtyard, where many people were waiting for him. Some came to curry favor, others to flatter. Chen Xuan felt overwhelmed.

"I appreciate everyone coming, but I'm a bit tired today. Can we talk about it tomorrow?" Chen Xuan said, trying to evade them.

Then everyone reluctantly left.

Finally alone, Chen Xuan sat down in his room to digest the experiences of today's battle. It was his first time fighting someone in the Spiritual Martial Realm, and the combat experience he gained was invaluable. Reflecting on the shortcomings of today's battle, he understood that only by constantly improving himself could he advance to higher levels.

"Old Li, why did the Knife Qi I released today turn into a fierce tiger?" Chen Xuan communicated with Old Li using his consciousness.

"Kid, I'm baffled too. Knife Qi transforming, even Spiritual Energy transforming, requires at least reaching the True Martial Realm. It requires powerful elemental power and soul power, which means the Spiritual Martial Realm. It's rare, and those who can do it are geniuses among geniuses. I don't know how you did it today," Old Li replied.

"After I released that knife, I felt my soul suddenly become extremely pure, even several times stronger. I felt the true energy in my Dantian like a fierce tiger pressing down on it. If I didn't release it, I felt like my Dantian would burst," Chen Xuan explained.

Old Li fell silent for a moment.

"What you said may be because the power of the Soul Stone stimulated you. I don't know much about the functions of the Soul Stone. I've studied it repeatedly since I got this Soul Stone, and it can help enhance one's soul power and quickly restore the body. As for turning the true energy in your Dantian into a fierce tiger, I've never heard of it," Old Li replied.

"Chen, quickly come into the Soul Sea and take a look at the Soul Stone. Something seems to have changed," Old Li suddenly said.

Chen Xuan activated his consciousness and quickly entered the Soul Sea, noticing that the Soul Stone seemed different, but he couldn't pinpoint the change.

"Kid, did you notice that the Soul Stone is more radiant than before? It's no longer as rough as before, like a piece of stone," Old Li pointed out.

Chen Xuan noticed it too. When he touched it, the Soul Stone felt smoother. However, apart from that, everything else seemed the same. It was smoother, but nothing else had changed.

The two of them studied for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Chen Xuan decided to leave the Soul Sea. Since he couldn't understand it, he decided not to dwell on it.