"Fine, if you say it's settled, then it's settled."
Hun Qianling waved her hand, the expression of the small virtual figure changing from doubt to excitement.
"But you did a truly beautiful job this time! Do you know? When the news came back, my brother was so happy he almost jumped for joy!"
Han Xuanji chuckled. "Was it really that much?"
"How was it not?"
Hun Qianling's eyes widened.
"You have no idea. During that period before, the rumors and gossip simply wouldn't stop."
She paused, her tone full of satisfaction.
"It's fine now. As soon as the news of you reaching the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder spread, all those voices vanished! My brother said he's going to upgrade your treatment and deal harshly with those who impeached you before, especially Ling Feng!"
Hearing this, Han Xuanji shook his head slightly.
"There's no need to make a big fuss."
"Huh?"
Hun Qianling was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Han Xuanji pondered for a moment, his tone calm.
"Among those who impeached me, some were genuinely questioning, some were just following the crowd, and some were merely being used as pawns. Regardless of which it was, now that they've all quieted down, there's no need to keep hounding them."
He looked at Hun Qianling's virtual projection and said seriously,
"You know your brother's current situation better than I do. Having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."
"This Ling Feng is nothing more than a vanguard pawn anyway."
Hun Qianling fell silent.
She naturally knew the current state of the Hun Family.
Although the Hun Family had a deep Foundation, they had indeed been on a decline in recent years. Factions within the clan were numerous, and internal strife was constant. Although the Family Head's faction was powerful, they couldn't cover the sky with one hand.
If they were to conduct a massive purge of those who had opposed Han Xuanji just to vent his frustrations, it would certainly be satisfying, but it might also intensify conflicts and drive more people to the opposing side.
And Han Xuanji's willingness to "suffer a little grievance" shook Hun Qianling's heart, leaving her deeply moved.
From her perspective, Han Xuanji had clearly suffered so much injustice, yet he didn't have a single word of complaint.
He had silently endured all those scoffs and doubts, never complaining to her, and never asking her to stand up for him.
Now that he had the chance to hold his head high, he wasn't thinking of revenge, but of the Hun Family's overall situation.
"Xuanji..."
Hun Qianling's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes seemed to redden.
"You... you really are a fool."
Han Xuanji smiled faintly. "I'm not a fool, I just feel it's unnecessary."
He stayed here not to stand out, but to develop steadily.
The Hun Family's internal struggle would likely explode one day, but he hoped it wouldn't be now. Once he reached the Eternal Saint Realm, he could settle such conflicts with a wave of his hand.
But right now, if the conflict intensified, it would bring him no benefit.
If Hun Qianxue won, that would be fine; if he lost, Han Xuanji could only do his best to preserve himself. Of course, that was just the worst-case scenario; he would do his best to prevent it from happening.
Hun Qianling took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and nodded heavily.
"Alright, I will relay your words to Big Brother."
After a pause, she added:
"But Ling Feng must be taught a lesson! Otherwise, he'll think we're easy to bully!"
Han Xuanji did not object.
Ling Feng was the one who led the trouble. If even he wasn't dealt with, it would instead make Hun Qianxue look weak and easily bullied, which wasn't conducive to establishing authority.
"Do as you wish."
Han Xuanji nodded.
"As long as it doesn't involve me. I'm going into secluded cultivation again for a while."
"Don't worry, we'll be sensible."
Hun Qianling waved her hand, her tone returning to its usual brightness.
"Cultivate well in your Immortal Cave. I'll have someone send another large batch of cultivation resources to you then. You've earned it, so don't be polite."
"Alright."
Han Xuanji's heart stirred and he nodded, not refusing this kindness. The light faded, and the small virtual figure disappeared from before his eyes. Han Xuanji put down the jade talisman and let out a soft breath.
The outside world was noisy and chaotic, but he had no intention of paying it any mind.
This trip to the Five Elements Tower had brought many benefits, and he still needed to digest them one by one.
The twelve Sign Ins on the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder had already raised his comprehension of the Five Elements Dao Laws to an extremely high level.
And now, he only needed to contemplate the "Five Elements Great Dao Secret Canon" to completely condense the Five Elements Dao Laws. Furthermore, he planned to take the path of Five Elements Fusion, which was extremely difficult.
Many Cultivators who followed the Way of Laws condensed the Five Elements Dao Laws as five separate laws, but he intended to condense them into a single Five Elements Dao Law all at once. The difference in difficulty between the two went without saying.
Even with Han Xuanji's current mastery over the Five Elements Dao Laws, he still needed to prepare carefully.
First was the first Sign In reward fused from the Five Elements Altar, which was also his first Trait reward since arriving on the Eternal Continent. Now that he had safely returned to his Immortal Cave in the Hun Family with no one to disturb him, it was the perfect time to fuse this Trait.
"Claim reward."
Han Xuanji gave the command in his mind.
[Five Elements Source Stream: Self-rotating Five Elements, endless and unceasing. Can control the form of all things; only the balanced can wield the power of creation.]
In an instant, a warm and majestic power spread out from his Sea of Consciousness, instantly sweeping through his entire body.
Han Xuanji felt as if his whole body were soaked in warm water. His originally stagnant spiritual power became increasingly fluid. The Five Elements spiritual Qi in the air, which was usually difficult to capture, felt as if it were being drawn by an invisible force, gathering toward his body in a continuous stream and forming a faint Five Elements spiritual light around him.
He could clearly feel that his comprehension of the Five Elements Dao Laws had become even clearer and more distinct.
Previously, the twelve portions of insight he had obtained from the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder had caused his understanding of the Way of the Five Elements to advance by leaps and bounds, but those insights ultimately belonged to others, and there was a thin, intangible membrane between them and his body.
It was like looking at the world through someone else's eyes; although one could see clearly, it always lacked a bit of reality.
But now, that membrane had vanished.
The power of the Five Elements flowed slowly within his body, no longer crudely pieced together, but naturally generating and supporting one another, forming a subtle cycle.
Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water, Water nourishes Wood...
The five powers nourished and fulfilled each other, like an inexhaustible river surging endlessly within him. Even more wondrously, this cycle did not require his conscious activation. Just like a heartbeat, like breathing, or like blood flowing through veins, the power of the Five Elements circulated on its own, endless and unceasing, as if it had already become a part of his body, merging with his life Foundation.
"Self-rotating Five Elements, endless and unceasing..."
Han Xuanji murmured to himself, finally experiencing the first Profound Truth of this Trait.
In the past, when he contemplated the Way of the Five Elements, he needed to actively sink his mind into it, actively operating and harmonizing it; the slightest carelessness would lead to an imbalance.
After fusing this Trait, his affinity for the Five Elements Dao Laws increased significantly. He could autonomously draw the Five Elements spiritual Qi from heaven and earth, neutralizing the disadvantages of elemental conflicts, laying the Foundation for his future Five Elements Fusion.
Moreover, the power of the Five Elements operated on its own without requiring his distraction, continuously nourishing his body and Divine Soul.
This not only meant he could more easily invoke the power of the Five Elements in battle, but it also meant he was cultivating at every single moment. Even while sleeping, walking, or talking with others, the power of the Five Elements was circulating and advancing on its own.
Over time, this advantage would grow to an incalculable extent.