It was entirely foreseeable that the Duan family possessed supreme dharma artifacts.
Though supreme dharma artifacts were rare treasures that ordinary cultivators could seldom lay eyes on, the Duan family held high status as an artifact-forging clan, and Duan Qiankun himself was a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. Possessing one or two supreme dharma artifacts was hardly surprising.
Yet a magic treasure... and a defensive magic treasure at that, which was comparatively rarer, was something that inspired immense dread.
Luo Chen's mind stirred as he recalled the casual remark Miao Wen had once made.
Among the five Foundation Establishment cultivators who had besieged Mi Shuhua, three of them—Nangong Jin, Li Yixian, and Wang Haichao—possessed no magic treasures.
In other words, the only ones with magic treasures were Elder Zhou of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance and Duan Qiankun.
Comparing that now with what Duan Feng said, there was indeed no discrepancy.
"The Marsh Country Gui Chart?"
"What rank is this treasure, and what are its strengths and weaknesses?"
"Is there any way to counter it?"
Questions poured from the mouths of those gathered.
Even with Duan Feng knowing the Duan family's affairs like the back of his hand, he felt somewhat overwhelmed.
He offered a bitter smile. "How could I possibly know a way to counter it?
"As for its strengths and weaknesses, I recall my mother saying this treasure has virtually no flaws. Gui Water True Essence is sealed within the chart, allowing it to absorb and devour any attack."
"That powerful?" Sima Huiniang could not help but gasp in amazement.
Duan Feng sighed. "Of course it's powerful. This treasure is an imitation of the Marsh Country Battle Chart, one of Tianfan City's six superior exotic magic treasures.
"However, the genuine Marsh Country Battle Chart requires the integration of seven wondrous waters—such as Mysterious Origin Heavy Water, Ren Water, and Heavenly One True Water—to be forged.
"This imitation, the Marsh Country Gui Chart, only holds Gui Water True Essence, which barely elevates it to the low grade."
After hearing the origins of this magic treasure, everyone exchanged looks.
Even if it was only a low-grade magic treasure, it was still not something they could easily contend with!
Had morale taken a hit?
*Ahem!*
A soft cough rang out, drawing everyone's gaze toward Luo Chen.
"As for Duan Qiankun, I have my own arrangements. There is no need to worry."
The crowd was taken aback.
The association head was truly this confident?
Wang Yuan glanced at Luo Chen, lost in thought.
Luo Chen moved past the topic and said faintly, "Aside from this, there are two other matters that warrant attention."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Luo Chen spoke steadily. "First is Duan Rui. Although the outside world claims he is insignificant, he has attained the realm of Qi Refinement Great Perfection after all. He must not be underestimated."
Everyone nodded in agreement; that went without saying.
"Second, the Duan family still possesses a puppet with combat prowess comparable to Qi Refinement Great Perfection."
The moment these words fell, Duan Feng's expression shifted drastically in shock.
"When did this happen?"
When?
That was already last year's affair.
Luo Chen glanced at Duan Feng. One could only say that Duan Qiankun had done far too much and made far too many preparations for his family's descendants. Even with Duan Feng's burning desire for vengeance and his ceaseless surveillance, it had been impossible for him to learn everything.
"In short, attacking the Duan family is set in stone. This matter is urgent, yet we cannot rush blindly.
"We will plan step-by-step, ensuring our losses are minimized to the utmost!"
***
"Do you have confidence in dealing with Duan Qiankun?"
Inside the stone dwelling, the two sat across from each other.
Facing Wang Yuan's question, Luo Chen smiled. "Brother Wang, my reliance is on you. Why are you asking me?"
Wang Yuan said gravely, "Without that defensive magic treasure, I could battle him. The odds of victory would be three to seven—three for me, seven for him."
"That high?" Luo Chen arched a brow, genuinely surprised.
One had to remember that when Wang Yuan had returned to the Luotian Association last year, he had possessed zero confidence against Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Luo Chen still remembered his declaration: *Do you truly think a Foundation Establishment sword lacks edge?!*
He had not expected that in such a short time, Wang Yuan would have developed such confidence.
Wang Yuan said helplessly, "Back then, what I lacked was not realm, but methods."
Put that way, Luo Chen understood immediately.
Methods mostly relied on external aids.
As far as Luo Chen knew, Wang Yuan had successively won several fine items at the Zhenlong Black Market, such as supreme dharma artifact gauntlets and the exotic dharma artifact River-Spanning Iron Chains. Later, Luo Chen had helped him purchase the *Heavenly Roc Transformation*, which allowed him to refine several body cultivator offensive techniques.
Looking at it now, he indeed had the right to feel emboldened.
"Moreover, Duan Qiankun is unlike an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. I hold a natural advantage over him."
"How so?"
"He is old and frail, with decaying vitality and blood essence. That happens to be where my strength lies!" Wang Yuan possessed immense confidence in this regard. "It is merely using my strengths against his weaknesses."
Yet following that confidence came distress.
"However, if he possesses a defensive magic treasure, many things become difficult to manage."
Seeing Wang Yuan's troubled expression, Luo Chen smiled faintly.
"On this point, there is actually no need to worry. In dealing with Duan Qiankun, I will never fight an uncertain battle.
"A magic treasure is something countless people dream of having!"
Those final words carried infinite wistfulness.
Vaguely, the scene of Mi Shuhua recklessly bidding for the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel at the Jade Cauldron Auction flashed before his eyes.
That uncontrollable ecstasy and familiar presence felt as if they were still vivid in the present!
Seeing Luo Chen's confidence, Wang Yuan said no more.
He knew very well that Luo Chen would never lead him into a trap.
After Wang Yuan departed, Luo Chen remained alone in the stone dwelling, repeatedly pondering over any flaws in the plan.
Only after a long while did he chuckle freely.
"Nangong Jin, I hope you won't disappoint me!"
***
Upon Mount Xiaohuan.
The snow and ice gradually melted, and withered branches and leaves trembled in the biting, steep wind.
The mountain summit was the Duan family's forbidden ground.
None save the direct lineage were permitted entry.
Only Clan Patriarch Duan Qiankun and Duan Rui, upon whom immense hopes rested, could come and go freely.
At this moment, Duan Qiankun stood outside a thatched hut, his aged face devoid of emotion.
His gaze remained fixed upon a young figure.
That person sat beside a spirit spring resembling a yin-yang fish. Two opposing auras—scorching heat and freezing cold—ebbed and flowed ceaselessly as the young man circulated his cultivation method, while the young man's aura fluctuated unstably.
After a long while, Duan Qiankun released a deep sigh, turning away from the mountain peak with a trace of disappointment.
On the mountain path outside, someone stood waiting for him.
"Patriarch, how is the young master?"
"He has not yet returned to his peak state; it is not suitable for him to attempt a breakthrough."
The aged voice carried heavy frustration at unrealized potential.
Upon Duan Qiankun's face lingered an unresolvable disappointment and regret.
If the person inside had not been Duan Rui, but Duan Feng, would he have already achieved Foundation Establishment without squandering so many resources?
There was no answer to this question.
When one grew old, one's mind invariably drifted toward such futile thoughts.
He strolled along the mountain path as the hazy white mist around him parted of its own accord.
"What did Duan Feng say? Is he still unwilling to return?"
Behind him, the middle-aged man in black replied cautiously, "He is unwilling. He said the Luotian Association is not so fragile, and that even without returning to the family, he has the capability to achieve Foundation Establishment."
"Hah..."
Duan Qiankun let out a derisive sneer, sorely tempted to call it pure delusion.
How difficult was Foundation Establishment!
Duan Rui had the full support of an entire clan, who procured countless Foundation Establishment spirit herbs for him and even prepared two Foundation Establishment Pills.
Yet to this day, he had not succeeded.
For an organization of rogue cultivators that didn't even possess a single Foundation Establishment cultivator—where Duan Feng was not even the top leader—he dared harbor such fantasies.
Truly naive!
"No, perhaps it is simply blind trust in that Danchenzi!"
Danchenzi was Luo Chen's Daoist title.
Mi Shuhua had specifically coined it for him to build renown for the Jade Marrow Pill.
Before these Foundation Establishment True Cultivators learned Luo Chen's true name, they had always referred to him as Danchenzi.
The cultivator in black said, "I cannot judge Danchenzi's alchemy attainments, but his strength is indeed quite remarkable. The previous beast tide originally threatened the Luotian Association, yet when Danchenzi intervened, he resolved it with ease."
"I know of this," Duan Qiankun said with feeling. "Back during the battle against the Fu family, I observed from the shadows as well. At such a young age, he had actually mastered a second-tier spell. What a pity he is not a disciple of the Five Elements Divine Sect."
"Not only Danchenzi, but Wang Yuan of the War Hall is even more formidable. On his own, he clashed head-on against a second-tier exploding ape. It was precisely because of this that our family's designs fell through," the black-clad cultivator said.
Danchenzi, Wang Yuan!
Two names rolled across Duan Qiankun's lips in a murmur.
If he were to pass away and these two continued backing Duan Feng, how could the Duan family ever know peace?
"A pity I cannot personally take action, nor am I permitted to."
He shook his head. The ties to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect behind Danchenzi truly inspired dread.
Before probing the matter thoroughly, all the Foundation Establishment forces in Dahe Market had no choice but to suppress their internal greed.
Moreover, he had recently agreed to forge a weapon for someone, leaving him even less able to pull away.
"Right, did you find that Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Xiong whom I asked you to seek out?"
The black-clad cultivator nodded hurriedly. "Found him."
"What did he say? Did he agree to become an enshrined elder of our Duan family?" Duan Qiankun was quite anxious about this matter.
"He said it is acceptable, but..."
That "but" caused Duan Qiankun's brow to furrow.
He knew Xiong Kun.
This man drifted around Dahe Market, an out-and-out rogue cultivator!
He survived solely by hunting demon beasts, wandering year-round amidst deep mountains and vast marshes.
His combat prowess was formidable, not a whit weaker than a sect Foundation Establishment cultivator!
However, this man had never liked being constrained; he judged all matters strictly by bare self-interest.
Duan Qiankun had only learned of him through a casual slip during a past conversation with Mi Shuhua.
Xiong Kun had been a helper Mi Shuhua courted at immense expense.
After all, a rogue cultivator who spent years hunting in the deep mountains and marshes possessed a natural foundation for cooperation with the Mountain Breaker Gang.
With just a slight offering of heavy benefits from Mi Shuhua, Xiong Kun had chosen to cooperate with him.
Back when the Mi family ambushed and besieged Mi Shuhua, Mi Shuhua had racked his brains to stall for time partly in the hope of waiting for Xiong Kun's rescue.
Duan Qiankun now wanted to emulate Mi Shuhua and recruit Xiong Kun.
To that end, he had offered a substantial price.
Yet the man still appeared unsatisfied?
"However what?"
"He said he can become our Duan family's enshrined elder. However, we must add more money!"
"Hm?"
Meeting Duan Qiankun's sullen gaze, the black-clad cultivator smiled bitterly. "He agreed to shelter the Duan family for thirty years, but on top of the original conditions, he demands an additional ten percent of all Duan family revenue. Not only that, he wants the Duan family to pool the strength of the entire clan to forge a magic treasure for him!"
Hearing these words, Duan Qiankun's expression turned exceedingly ugly.
The terms originally offered had already been generous enough.
To demand another ten percent of the Duan family's revenue!
Once he was gone, the Duan family's revenue would undoubtedly plummet drastically; that ten percent might well cut into their lifeblood.
And forge a magic treasure?
Did he think the Duan family was some prestigious clan of artifact masters?
Over several centuries, it was only in his generation that they had finally forged the Marsh Country Gui Chart.
And that had only been achieved by paring down the design blueprint of Tianfan City's Marsh Country Battle Chart.
To have the Duan family pool the entire clan's strength to forge a magic treasure for him—thirty years might not even be enough!
His chest heaved as Duan Qiankun reined in his temper.
He said calmly, "This man places profit above all else. Whenever he finds an opportunity, he tends to squeeze the other party mercilessly without yielding an inch.
"Forging a magic treasure for him is absolutely impossible; it would deplete my Duan family's foundation.
"However, I know the whereabouts of a magic treasure. Using this as a bargaining chip, he will surely agree.
"Xiao Qi, take this map and my verbal message to seek him out once more. Arrange to meet in half a month, and I will speak with him in person!"
As he spoke, he retrieved a map from his storage bag.
Before Xiao Qi's eyes, he used spiritual power to slice it in two.
The most critical portion was kept in his own hands.
Xiao Qi was not young; he was already in his eighties.
He respectfully accepted the map.
Before leaving, he could not resist asking, "Then what should be done regarding Duan Feng and the Luotian Association?"
Duan Qiankun cast him a cold glance, and Xiao Qi hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.
"Restrain our movements recently. Pay them no mind."
Only after Xiao Qi departed did Duan Qiankun let out a soft sigh.
What else could be done?
For the sake of the family, these matters had to be settled before his passing.
In the end, they were merely a few juniors of the Qi Refinement stage; the sole concern was the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
When the time came, he would fake his death in advance, then strike with ruthless severity.
Done this way, even after he passed away, the blame would not fall upon the Duan family.
With a bit of framing, he could even leave the other forces unable to fend for themselves.
"Throughout my life, I benefited from the family's support, yet I have also been trapped by the family.
"A century of soaring ambition, yet in old age, even exhausting mind and soul still leaves flaws at every turn.
"If there is a next life, living freely like that Xiong Kun would not be a bad existence."
Muttering to himself, the old man's figure vanished into the vast white mist.
***
Silence was the keynote of deep winter.
Clamor was the awakening of early spring.
*Boom!*
Deafening thunder abruptly exploded across the dead-quiet night sky.
Spring thunder sounded, and all living things stirred to life.
The snow and ice melted, yet no sword came flying from the west to collapse the Nanwa Snow Mountain.
All that remained were silent figures stepping out into the cold, rainy night.
No umbrellas shielded them from the rain; there were only glistening, polished sabers and swords.
Aura of slaughter!
A woman clad in a sleek, form-fitting black outfit stood at the very front of the crowd.
"Director-General, the company of fifty has fully assembled."
Hearing that number, Sima Huiniang's heart trembled faintly.
This was the force that the Luotian Association had strained every nerve to gather after the beast tide.
Twenty-five late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators from the War Hall served as the main force, supplemented by twenty-five mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
Yet what they were going to face was an ancient cultivation family that had stood in Dahe Market for centuries.
To an outsider's eyes, this was nothing short of throwing eggs against a rock.
Yet Sima Huiniang did not think so.
Her gaze swept over the solemn, familiar faces in the rainy night.
Eldest Brother Sima Xian, Third Brother Sima Wenjie, Zhou Yuanli, Qin Liangchen, Murong Qinglian... a total of nine ninth layer Qi Refinement cultivators.
Even the elderly Granny Yuan had joined the battle.
Adding herself, that made ten!
Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator taking the field, this force was already sufficient to sweep aside the vast majority of minor factions.
Her gaze fell upon Duan Feng and the large pouch at his waist.
Sima Huiniang felt even more confident. With that beast present, breaching Mount Xiaohuan would be no difficult task.
Furthermore, for this battle, the association head had prepared for a long time.
Every single person among the sixty assembled held a Blood Burning Pill!
The Blood Burning Pill...
When Luo Chen had personally handed this batch of pills to her, Sima Huiniang had been utterly dumbfounded.
She had never imagined that the person who had purchased the Moisturizing Pearl Liquid from her at the black market back then was actually Luo Chen.
Yet upon careful consideration, it felt entirely logical.
In Dahe Market, who else had the ability to concoct such a formidable pill besides Luo Chen, bearer of the Danchenzi Daoist title?
One Blood Burning Pill per person meant that on the brink of death, everyone had a chance to erupt with power, perhaps even turning the tide.
One could say that provided Foundation Establishment did not intervene, this battle was a guaranteed victory!
*Only, Foundation Establishment... Association Head, are you truly confident?*
Sima Huiniang turned back, gazing across the vast distance toward the illusion of blazing lamplight in Crescent Moon Valley.
In a daze, she seemed to see Luo Chen braving the cold wind, watching their expedition.
"Director-General?"
"Set out!"
There was no rousing pre-battle speech, nor any promising of heavy rewards as before.
Those things had already been addressed before the assembly.
She coldly uttered those two words: "Set out."
The cultivators of the Luotian Association braved the cold rain mingling winter and spring, marching forward in silence.
***
Through the cold, rainy night, the cultivators advanced with killing intent.
Even with most of their auras concealed, the coordinated movement of so many people could never be hidden from others.
As the Luotian Association cultivators swept across the bleak night sky, escape lights gradually followed in their wake.
Most trailed from an extreme distance, not daring to approach in the slightest.
After all, anyone who saw such an orderly, disciplined force of cultivators would feel a chill in their heart.
In particular, the ten leaders each radiated the formidable aura of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.
Who would dare invite trouble?
They merely followed behind, speculating where this group was headed.
At first, it was unclear.
Yet as they ventured far beyond the outer city and the wilderness grew increasingly remote, a shocking thought surfaced in everyone's mind.
"They're heading for Mount Xiaohuan!"
What kind of place was Mount Xiaohuan?
That was the ancestral land of the Duan family, the renowned artifact-forging cultivation clan of Dahe Market!
Within sat their Foundation Establishment forebear, Duan Qiankun, overseeing the domain.
Were these people mad?
Gradually, people recognized identities among that flock of cultivators.
"Is that Zeng Wen?"
"Zeng Wen, Qin Liangchen, Yuan Yuejiao... These are people from the Luotian Association!"
"Are they insane, daring to target the Duan family?"
"Tsk tsk, they're marching to their deaths!"
"Keep up, keep up! We might be able to scavenge a scrap or two later."
"Indeed, great minds think alike. I heard the Luotian Association's cultivators are dripping with wealth!"
"With an alchemist presiding over them, if they aren't wealthy, who could be?"
Amidst instigation, secret delight, and curiosity, more and more people joined the trailing crowd.
If it were just one or two, perhaps no one would dare join the commotion.
Yet with so many gathered, herd mentality emboldened them.
In any case, even if misfortune struck, it wouldn't necessarily fall on them.
Yet as the Luotian Association cultivators advanced, not a single Duan family cultivator appeared.
This left the Dahe Market rogue cultivators bewildered and uneasy.
Since when had a cultivation family been so careless?
It was only when the Luotian Association cultivators gathered beneath Mount Xiaohuan that lights began rising one after another from the structures upon the mountain.
Sima Huiniang stowed her voice transmission paper crane and exhaled in relief.
At the very least, the first step had been executed with relative perfection!
All along the way, not a single Duan family hidden sentry had been encountered.
Their bizarre disappearance was undoubtedly tied to Luo Chen and Wang Yuan.
Lifting her head, Sima Huiniang first glanced at the solitary, dim star in the chilly night, then cast her gaze upon Mount Xiaohuan.
Snow still clung to the treetops.
Lights stretched unbroken along the mountainside.
"Elder Duan, what comes next depends on you."
Upon her command, Duan Feng flew forward without a word.
Not only him, but Zeng Wen, Sima Wenjie, and Gu Caiyi stepped out as well.
Gazing upon the familiar ground before him, Duan Feng's expression was conflicted, but hatred soon consumed his gaze entirely.
His father had died in battle for the clan!
His mother had been driven to suicide by the clan!
The Foundation Establishment opportunity that rightfully belonged to him had been ruthlessly stolen away.
Murdering his father and mother was an irreconcilable blood feud.
Obstructing his path and casting him aside like a useless pawn was utterly unforgivable.
"All of this—you forced my hand!"
Taking a deep breath, Duan Feng nodded to the other three.
Without a wasted word, the three tacitly flew in several directions.
While they made their moves, the Duan family cultivators upon Mount Xiaohuan did not simply watch the situation unfold.
Amidst hurried movements, numerous Duan family cultivators rushed toward seven locations across the mountain.
Very quickly—even faster than Duan Feng and his companions—a seven-colored light curtain surged upward with an aura bent on total annihilation.
Gold, azure, blue, red, and yellow swirled in five colors.
Black and white additionally enveloped heaven and earth.
Outside the black and white,
High in the sky, a cloud condensed of snow and ice hovered motionless.
Nangong Jin stood atop it, flanked by an intensely excited Nangong Qin.
Gazing at that seven-colored light curtain, Nangong Jin wore a grave expression as he said in a low voice to Nangong Qin beside him:
"This is the Duan family's mountain protection array—the Seven Extinctions Annihilation Loop Formation.
"A second-tier array capable of both attack and defense!
"Its might is truly remarkable. With this formation present, even if Duan Qiankun passes away, the Duan family will retain the means to protect itself.
"My Nangong family only possesses a first-tier clan protection array. If an opportunity arises in the future, we should also seek a second-tier array to shield our clan."
Listening to his explanation, Nangong Qin's excitement gradually faded.
He said solemnly, "I can sense surging spiritual energy fluctuations constantly brewing within the array.
"If unleashed, it will surely shake heaven and earth.
"Can the Luotian Association break this formation?"
Could they break it?
This question arose in the hearts of many.
In unison, they recalled the past battle against the Fu family.
The man who had breached a city single-handedly.
If that man appeared, could he break this formation?
Yet clearly, beneath Mount Xiaohuan, there was no trace of Wang Yuan.
"If they cannot break this array, you and I will turn and leave at once," Nangong Jin said softly.
Yet in his eyes, an eager desire to test himself clearly surfaced.
He dearly wanted to know what kind of backing the Luotian Association possessed to dare strike upward against a Foundation Establishment clan.
***
Almost the instant the Seven Extinctions Annihilation Loop Formation took shape, formidable spiritual energy fluctuations erupted from within.
One could imagine that in the very next moment, terrifying attacks would lash out.
Yet facing all this, Duan Feng and his three companions appeared completely composed.
They each retrieved a high-grade dharma artifact of different attributes, aiming them at four directions of the array.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, they hurled them into the formation.
Before the terrified gazes of the cultivators presiding over the corresponding nodes, the four high-grade dharma artifacts detonated in sequence along a specific interval!
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
The moment the explosions of those dharma artifacts echoed, the surging spiritual energy fluctuations brewing within the Seven Extinctions Annihilation Loop Formation dissipated in a flash.
The seven-colored light curtain, which had previously shot up like spring bamboo shoots, now drifted away like falling snow upon the wind.
Everything seemed to have become an illusion.
The Seven Extinctions Annihilation Loop Formation had broken!
A second-tier array capable of attack and defense, sufficient to shield the Duan family, had been breached so easily?
High in the sky.
Nangong Qin gasped in astonishment. "Wasn't it said to be a second-tier array? How could it be broken so easily?"
Beside him, Nangong Jin's eyes flashed with sharp light, revealing a thoughtful expression.
"So that's how it is.
"Using artifacts to lay the array, integrating the principles of five-element generation and yin-yang alternation. Though versatile in offense and defense, it relied on clever trickery rather than tethering to the earth veins and mountain contours.
"That Duan Feng originated from the Duan family; he must be quite familiar with this mountain protection array, allowing him to devise a tailored method to counter it.
"Using artifacts to break artifacts, and the five elements to counter the five elements. Though hardly a profound method, breaking the cycle of the five elements causes the formation to collapse on its own.
"Haha, the Duan family has produced a little thief from within their own house!"
Amidst Nangong Jin's soft chuckle,
The Seven Extinctions Annihilation Loop Formation cloaking Mount Xiaohuan dissolved completely into nothingness.
It was as though it had never existed.
All the Duan family members who had snapped awake now stared blankly at the sky, at a loss for what to do.
Right at that instant, a furious shout of absolute rage abruptly tore through the long night.
"Rebellious wretch!"
A brilliant sword light erupted with dazzling radiance, carrying the thunderous momentum of a thousand bolts as it cleaved straight down.
Vaguely, the sound of crashing ocean waves echoed from within it.
This strike was aimed straight at Duan Feng, the main force behind breaking the array.
This was the wrathful strike of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Could Duan Feng, a mere ninth layer Qi Refinement cultivator, block it?
Under countless tense gazes,
A deafening roar erupted abruptly before Duan Feng.
*"Roar!"*
*Thump! Thump!*
In a flash, an exploding ape one and a half zhang tall blocked Duan Feng's path.
Pounding its chest, its frame swelled ceaselessly.
Two zhang!
Three zhang!
In the blink of an eye, it stood five zhang tall, resembling a small mountain.
It thrust out two colossal palms, slamming them shut in unison.
*Boom!*
The sword light was firmly seized within its paired palms. Terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations rippled outward in an instant, centered upon the exploding ape.
The ground abruptly caved in three zhang, sinking the exploding ape deep into the earth.
Right at this moment, a figure agilely vaulted upward, landing upon the exploding ape's shoulder and staring fearlessly at the aged figure atop Mount Xiaohuan.
"Old dog, today is the day this family running with filthy blood meets its doom!"
Upon Mount Xiaohuan, Duan Qiankun trembled with fury.
For a man of his temperament, hardened through decades of worldly trials, to be provoked to such an extent demonstrated just how immense the rage Duan Feng's words ignited within him.
This family was the culmination of his life's blood and sweat, the repository of his honor.
Today, someone had dared describe it as "running with filthy blood."
He laughed from sheer fury. "Rebellious wretch, does not the blood of the Duan family flow through your veins as well?"
"Indeed. That is why today, I shall place righteousness above family!" Duan Feng's gaze was chilly, yet the blood in his veins seemed to boil.
He had tossed and turned countless nights, dreaming this scene countless times at midnight.
Had not everything he thought and desired been for this very moment!
Only when this moment truly arrived did he realize just how thrilled he was.
His body trembled with excitement.
"Place righteousness above family? Haha..."
After a grim laugh, Duan Qiankun barked, "Is this how Thirteenth Mother taught you?"
"Old dog, you are not worthy of speaking my mother's name!"
Hearing that familiar name, Duan Feng's face contorted into a savage grimace, his teeth biting down hard on his lip.
"Pfft!"
Duan Qiankun sneered, his predatory gaze sweeping over the base of the mountain.
"You surely don't believe that relying on this second-tier demon beast alone will allow you to slaughter your way up the mountain, do you?"
Right at that moment,
Surging crimson light abruptly erupted from the night.
Like a tornado, it charged straight toward Mount Xiaohuan.
With every step of his stride, his aura climbed ceaselessly.
Staring coldly at that figure, Duan Qiankun remained unmoved.
His harsh gaze swept the surroundings, and his vast divine sense stretched across a radius of five li.
No one else?
Duan Qiankun's brow furrowed slightly, yet he probed verbally nonetheless.
"Just the two of you?"
Beneath the mountain,
Just as Duan Feng was about to speak, Sima Huiniang's shrill shout rang by his ear.
"No need to waste breath! He is merely stalling to buy time for the Duan family cultivators to react.
"Everyone!
"Charge with me!"
Her right hand swung down sharply. Sima Huiniang took the lead, flanked by her eldest brother and third brother, their spiritual power fluctuations soaring higher and higher.
Qin Liangchen hefted his massive golden melon hammers, striding side by side with Murong Qinglian.
Zhou Yuanli nodded to Liu Qiang beside him, a longsword circling around him as he stepped onto Mount Xiaohuan stride by stride.
Suppressing the excitement in his chest, Liu Qiang vanished into the mountain forest.
In other directions, Zeng Wen, Granny Yuan, and Gu Caiyi turned into streaks of light, marking the path forward.
The company of several dozen Luotian Association cultivators followed behind without hesitation.
In an instant, war cries shook the heavens.
Chapter 181