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When Jin XIa returned back to the Xia residence, he arranged for the two sisters, Fei Yu and Fei Qing, to have their own lodge set up near his living quarter.
Shortly after getting the sisters settled down, Jin Xia was sipping tea in his yard when a male servant came in to inform him of a guest who wishes to see him.
“Oh? Who is it that wants to see me?” Jin Xia asked.
“The person calls himself Hu Feng and claims that he is the young master of the Hu Clan from Harbin City.” The male servant respectfully replied.
“Hu Clan…it doesn’t seem to have any affiliations with those three major clans, so this Hu Feng shouldn’t be here for trouble…and if I remember correctly, the Hu Clan is one of the major clans in Harbin City, which is ranked as a Greater city in the Great Azure Country.” Jin Xia thought as he recalled the information in his head.
But, why has this kind of person come to a small major city like this?
The Harbin City is the capital of the Harbin Province, with the Hu Clan reigning as one of the three major clans. Its status could said to be the strongest in Harbin City, and likewise the status of a young master from such a prominent clan is quite high.
At least, compared to the previous Jin Clan, such a clan would have been considered a colossal lump of power which the former could never hope to meet nor go against in their entire life! That is, until the “current” Jin Xia appeared.
“Alright, let’s go see what this “young master” from that Hu Clan wants.” Jin Xia had a faint smile as he leisurely walked out of his yard.
Jin Xia headed towards the Guest Hall, which was where guests who visited the Jin Clan typically waited.
Upon arriving inside the hall, Jin Xia saw a young man in blue clothes who had a clear face and a slightly plump stature, looking to have still retained some baby fat at his age. The youth looked to be around 17 or 18.
With a quick sweep of his soul, Jin Xia’s eyes flashed with a brief hint of shock. For whatever reason, Jin Xia could not see through the soul of this youth!
It was as if something was blocking his senses from probing into that person’s inner domain. The only that was revealed was the general structure of that youth’s body. Jin Xia was unable to determine the youth’s innate quality or soul. There was no obvious artifacts on the other party’s body either…
“Oh? To think I could not see through his soul…” Jin Xia thought as he slightly narrowed his eyes. The only explanations Jin Xia could think of were either the other party’s soul was much stronger than his own, or the person had a special physique.
But the youth was clearly emanating the aura of a Wudan 5th stage…just what was going on?
Seeing Jin Xia’s arrival, the youth who was originally sitting quickly got up and went forward to greet the former:
“Haha, greetings Young Master Jin Xia! I am called Hu Feng, and I hail from the Hu Clan. Seeing how extraordinary you look, I reckon the rumors of you overtaking the other three major clans were not false. If so, I will have to congratulate your Jin Clan! ” Hu Feng laughed as he politely cupped his hands towards Jin Xia in the form of a greeting.
“Ah, then this one would have to thank young master Hu Feng for taking the time to visit our Jin Clan!” Jin Xia likewise returned the polite gesture.
“No need to so modest, you can just call me Brother Hu Feng. Since I have come today to congratulate you, I have naturally brought along some small gifts. Men, bring them in!” Hu Feng ordered to his servants.
At Hu Feng’s command, two groups of servants walked into the Guest Hall, with each carrying a large iron chest. When the servants set down the chests and open them, a batch jade bottles, gold coins, and a few pieces of normal weapons appeared in Jin Xia’s line of sight.
“Brother Jin Xia, these are just small tokens of appreciation from my Hu Clan. I hope you find them to your taste.” Hu Feng said as he smiled at Jin Xia. “There are 5,000 gold coins, twenty bottles of 1-star Muscle Refining pills and five No-grade swords, personally made by my Hu Clan.”
“Haha, since Brother Hu Feng insists, how could I still bear to reject? This one will gladly accept these gifts.” Jin Xia naturally was not reserved when there was someone openly giving him something free.
To others, Hu Feng’s gifts may have seen extravagant, but to Jin Xia it was really not much. He was already planning to give these gifts to his Clan members, as they would probably find more benefits in these chests, than he himself.
“Since Brother Hu Feng had come from such a distance to visit our Jin Clan, naturally I will have to properly accommodate you. Come, let us talk over some fine wine and delicacies!”
“Brother Jin Xia is really generous. If this is what you wish, then this brother would of course accompany you” Hu Feng laughed as he followed Jin Xia to another room.
The two of them began to chat over a table as they enjoyed themselves.
As Jin Xia conversed with Hu Feng, he found the chubby youth to be quite amiable and courteous — a trait that was quite rare in this world. Although Jin Xia was unable to discern the latter’s goal yet, he was at least sure that this Hu Feng held no ill intentions towards his clan or himself.
Moreover, after several more probing with his soul to no avail, Jin Xia had given up trying to see into Hu Feng’s soul. He had hypothesized that the other party most likely had a special physique. And if that was the case, unless Jin Xia was several realms higher than the other gifted person, he would be unable to see into Hu Feng’s soul at all.
While they conversed, Hu Feng suddenly asked: “Oh, by the way Brother Jin Xia, I have heard that your cultivation has reached the Xing Profound realm? Is this true?”
Jin Xia faintly smiled and said: “Brother Hu Feng seems quite interested in my cultivation?”
Hu Feng awkwardly scratched his head as he replied: “Ah, truth to be told Brother Jin Xia, this time that I have come to your Jin Clan was not only to congratulate you, but to also confirm Brother Jin Xia’s prowess.
Since this world is regulated by the strong, many clans and powers, including the Hu Clan, have naturally received news of Brother Jin Xia’s deeds. We have also heard several rumors in regards to Brother Jin Xia’s cultivation level having reached the Xing Profound realm…but many think it is a hoax, so I had decided to personally come and ‘confirm’ this with you, Brother Jin Xia.”
Although the news of Jin Clan completely eliminating the other three major clans in Tian Clan had a huge impact on the residents of the city, it did not garner much attention from the other major clans in the upper level cities.
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Clan standings change all the time, and it is normal that powers would disappear from day to day and be replaced by new ones, especially in lower level cities where the differing factions’ power are often unstable.
Therefore, the news of the Jin Clan defeating the other three major clans did not spread any further than the borders of Tian Province. Perhaps such small news would only be known to powerful clans or sects within the closest neighboring provinces, such as the Hu Clan of the Harbin Province.
Instead, the piece of news which actually spread and truly shocked all the cities in the Great Azure Country was the rumor of a sixteen to seventeen years old Xing Profound expert living in Tian City.
In the Great Azure Country where Wudan realm practitioners were common, Spiritual Dan cultivators could already be said to upstanding. There was no need to mention Xing Profound realm experts, who could already be considered top level existences.
Only major clans within the top three cities in the Great Azure Country would typically have such high-level figures.
Therefore, the rumors of the appearance of a young Xing Profound expert had instantly spread like wildfire throughout the Great Azure Country and thus, attracted the attention of several powers.
But many chose to ignore the rumors thinking it to be a hoax, the moment it was said that the practitioner was a “16 years old teenager.” In a country where a Xing Profound expert’s age would typically range from eighty to a hundred and thirty years old, there was barely anyone who would believe that someone could reach the third realm before age twenty.
After all, for Xing Profound experts, these kind of cultivators would either be the head of a clan or even an ancestor! To think a youth could possibly achieve such realm is practically impossible in the thoughts of many.
The lack of experience and strong power in the Great Azure Country severely limited the viewpoints of these inhabitants within.
Listening to Hu Feng, Jin Xia had finally cleared up the true reason why this youth had visited him.
Jin Xia listened while musing to himself: “I didn’t think my cultivation level would have sparked such a sensation, and it was even thought to be a hoax…*sigh* to think a mere Xing Profound realm would give rise to such a large wave, should I say that this is expected of a 2nd-rate world? Or should I say that the people of this country is just too weak?”
After pondering for a while, Jin Xia replied in a casual tone: “Mmn. To hide nothing from you, Brother Hu Feng, I have indeed reach the Xing Profound realm. But I have only reached the early stages of this realm, so it is not much.”
Jin Xia felt that there was no need to conceal his cultivation level at this point anymore. After all, he had boldly revealed his strength two days ago at the family inner competition in front of so many prominent families, and not many people even believe his true strength anyways. His secret had long been revealed.
What others would think or believe will be up to them to decide.
Moreover, now that he wanted his Jin Clan to rise in power as soon as possible in order for him to reach out into the world, Jin Xia felt that exposing a bit of his strength may actually help boost his clan’s reputation, even if no one believes it at the moment. At least, his Tian City would receive a great amount of attention from now on…
However, Jin Xia did not tell Hu Feng the exact cultivation stage he had reached. A little “taste” of his level should already be sufficient.
And it was.
Hu Feng’s mouth was slightly agape when he heard Jin Xia’s affirmation. The baby fat around his cheeks made his surprised expression look quite funny.
When Hu Feng had first saw Jin Xia coming into the Guest Hall, he had already felt that this young master was different.
The aura and the way Jin Xia had held himself in front of him caused Hu Feng to feel as if he was talking before a king. Although Hu Feng himself is already at the 5th stage of Wudan, he still could not help but feel faintly pressured in the presence of Jin Xia.
This has caused him feel both awe and admiration for the young man.
Now that it was confirmed that Jin Xia is actually at the Xing Profound realm, Hu Feng could not help but exclaim in his mind: “Monster!”
A person was actually able to reach the Xing Profound realm at the age of sixteen. What did this mean?
It basically means that this person’s future achievements are practically unpredictable. So much, that most likely, not even the Great Azure Country would be able to contain such a talent in the future — a young expert of this caliber has not appeared in the Great Azure Country for years, until now.
And Hu Feng could vaguely feel that the youth before him, given that he remains alive in the future, was destined to become a legendary figure.
With this revelation, Hu Feng quickly collected himself and excitedly said to Jin Xia:
“I, Hu Feng, once again congratulates Brother Jin Xia for achieving such an unprecedented feat in the history of our Great Azure Country! This one could not help, but feel endless admiration towards brother Jin Xia’s prowess.”
Jin Xia smiled as he casually waved his hand: “No, no, it was not much. I still have a long way to go.”
“I wonder, could Brother Jin xia have come across a fortuitous opportunity? Or consumed a certain life changing herb by any chance” Hu Feng asked, with a hint of eagerness in his eyes.
“Well, not exactly..” Jin Xia replied.
“Then, then did you meet someone powerful, who decided to take you in?”
“No…”
“How about your parents? Could they have been from a secret sect and thus, were once great geniuses? Hence, you received your talent from them?”
Jin Xia narrowed his eyes as he listened to Hu Feng’s inquisitions. This fellow was quite the nosy one!
“No, my parents were native of this country. As for how I cultivated to my level…let’s say, it’s a personal secret brought about by my…’hard work.’”
Listening to Jin Xia, the eagerness and excitement in Hu Feng’s eyes shot up a little more.
There was a slight hesitation from Hu Feng after Jin Xia’s sentence.
Then, as if probing for a certain answer, Hu Feng suddenly asked in a low voice: “To have achieved such heights without help in this world…I wonder, if Brother Jin Xia have some sort of special body?
Or…or perhaps…you were originally not from this world?”
Hearing this, Jin Xia slightly frowned.
“What?”