Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

New Yu Era, Year 1335, October 10

Xiapi County, located adjacent to Zhongyuan Road, at the border there is a high mountain. Due to its gentle slopes, there are no trees on it, and the exposed rocks are mostly smooth marble. From a distance, it looks like a mirror suspended in mid-air, hence the name Hanging Mirror Mountain.

Because the Official Road leading from Xiapi to Zhongyuan Road is more than thirty miles away, even in peaceful times, no one would come here, let alone now, when it is almost deserted, with not even birds or beasts to be seen.

However, at this moment, the otherwise deserted Hanging Mirror Mountain is experiencing violent tremors, with shattered stones cascading from the peak, and many cliff faces cracking with web-like fissures, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

A white pillar of light suddenly soared into the sky from Hanging Mirror Mountain, and within the pillar of white light appeared the apparition of an elderly man clad in Confucian robes. The old man's demeanor was kind, surrounded by a righteous aura, and his brows shone like torches. Surrounding demons that had yet to flee were reduced to ash with just a glance from him.

"Student thanks the Master!"

A clear and sincere voice resonated from within the mountain. The apparition of the old man in mid-air gently stroked his long beard, a trace of approval appearing on his face, before slowly dissipating into the air.

The reappearance of the Master's spirit wasn't an uncommon sight in Shenzhou, but it wasn't something seen casually either. If not mistaken, the last time was during the demon chaos in Tongling thirteen years ago, when the Great Scholar Ji Yanzhi from Bailu Academy attempted to break through to the realm of Sub-saint.

Yet, it must be said that the spirit of the Master that appeared then was not as spirited as the one just now. The current apparition of the Master not only had a clear visage where expressions could be discerned, but the Confucian aura it emanated was far greater than before.

After the Master's spirit completely vanished, the white pillar of light from Hanging Mirror Mountain expanded dozens of times over, as a young figure slowly emerged from the mountain peak.

That young man wore a faint, serene smile, surrounded by a Vast Righteous Qi which sometimes transformed into a Righteous Long Sword, sometimes coalesced into a mass of pure white as if a wish-fulfilling object, sometimes stirred the clouds above, and sometimes connected with the earth below. He seemed to merge with heaven and earth, and yet appear beyond the Five Elements, outside the Three Realms.

His footsteps were strong and composed, with each step a lotus flower blossoming beneath his feet, truly living up to the phrase 'every step born of lotus'. His brows shone like torches, not to be outdone by the recently vanished apparition of the Master in mid-air, his smile growing bolder with each lively step.

"I hadn't expected that my Confucianism would break through before my Martial Path, but it's good. In these turbulent times of demons in Shenzhou, Confucian Saint cultivation is far more helpful than that of a Martial Saint. The Martial Path will come gradually, naturally and surely. Just thinking about how those at Bailu Academy would react knowing I have become a Confucian Saint so quickly, ha..."

Hou Yuduan chuckled lightly. Although he was humble and amiable by nature, breaking through to become a Confucian Saint was such a significant event that claiming he felt no pride at all would surely be false. Counting the time he spent in seclusion within his brother's Five Elements Heaven, his actual age was at most just over two hundred years. At this age to break through to a Confucian Saint, looking across the world, no one else could be found.

To say something extreme, even the Master who founded Confucianism is overshadowed by him.

Breaking through to a Confucian Saint is far more challenging than breaking through to a Martial Saint.

"The past two years spent cultivating in the Five Elements Heaven of my brother, taking advantage of the unrestricted Primordial Blood, I thought I was only enhancing my bones, but now it seems that the Primordial Blood also had a miraculous effect on enhancing the Eighth Orifice of my heart. Normally in Confucian cultivation, I could not have broken through so quickly."

Hou Yuduan mused silently, turning his head to look at Hanging Mirror Mountain. He had realized more than a month ago that he could attempt to break through to a Confucian Saint, so he emerged from the Five Elements Heaven and roamed around within the Jianye Prefecture, until he finally reached Hanging Mirror Mountain and felt the impulse to break through. Seeing that it was desolate and quiet enough, he chose this location on the spot, unexpectedly achieving a swift breakthrough.

"Upon returning this time, my brother will likely soon ascend to the throne of the Great Emperor..."

Hou Yuduan softly murmured, his eyes glimmering with a faint glow.

"Old servant Wang Deng, congratulates Young Master on breaking through to Confucian Saint!"

"Old servant Zhao Yuan, congratulates Young Master on breaking through to Confucian Saint!"

Suddenly, two rather excited voices called from the horizon. Just as Hou Yuduan was about to embark towards Jianye Prefecture City, his pupils contracted, and as he turned his head, he saw two figures flying slowly from the side. They were none other than the elders of the Hou Clan, Zhao Si and Wang Wu, who had actively sought him out to reveal their identities when the Hou Clan's army first marched south two years ago.

Seeing the two appear, Hou Yuduan was not particularly surprised, only furrowing his brow slightly as if contemplating their intentions. After pondering for a moment, a slight smile appeared on his face as he bowed: "Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhao, no need for such courtesy, I have not formally visited in these two years, please forgive me for my neglect."

The two, seeing Hou Yuduan bowing to them, immediately showed signs of panic, hastily bowing even lower as they anxiously said: "Young Master need not do this, we are but servants of the Hou Clan, unworthy of such courtesy from Young Master. In these two years, with that person around, we did not dare approach Young Master recklessly. If there is error, it is the old servants who are at fault!"

Upon hearing the words "that person", a fleeting shade of mystery flickered in the depths of Hou Yuduan's pupils.