When this was said, even the Core Formation guests couldn’t remain calm.
The pockmarked Devilflame Sect Enforcer frowned and said, “Fellow Daoist Fu, it seems enemies have snuck into your castle. Brother Sun and I will go out with you and have a look.”
The blue-robed old man’s anxiousness was greatly relieved upon hearing him. He immediately rejoiced and said, “I am greatly thankful for your assistance. I will have to trouble you to do so.”
The middle-aged man surnamed Sun frowned as if disapproving of his companion’s actions, but he followed him nevertheless.
As for the remaining four Core Formation cultivators in the hall, they glanced at each other and didn’t reveal the slightest intent to help. The others in the hall grew completely silent, watching the three Core Formation cultivators walk out from the hall.
As the three calmly approached the hall door, loud buzzing suddenly came from outside the hall. The three couldn’t help but halt their steps upon hearing this.
In the blink of an eye, a thirty-meter-long beam of azure light swept inside and wrapped around the three Core Formation cultivators. A dozen lines of fine azure light then shot out from the azure beam in a display of blinding brilliance, forcing the cultivators in the hall to momentarily close their eyes. In that instant, the azure beam spiralled throughout the hall.
The blue-clothed old man and the two Devilflame Sect cultivators halted and their bodies grew motionless as if from shock. As the cultivators in the hall were stunned in their awe, they were completely oblivious to what was happening.
The sudden shriek of a female cultivator attracted the attention of all in the room.
The paled female cultivator was sitting at the side of a Fu Clan steward whose head had tumbled down at an unknown time. The headless corpse was still sitting upright as blood sprayed from its severed neck.
The other cultivators then discovered that tens of Fu Clan cultivators, regardless of their rank, had their heads tumbling onto the ground in a silent death.
“The azure light! Someone is using a magic treasure to attack them! Fellow Daoist Fu, you must...” A cultivator who had decent relations to the Fu Clan loudly shouted in alarm as if to warn the three Core Formation cultivators, but soon, his words came to a sudden stop and his face became ashen.
At that moment, the blue-robed old man and company suddenly split into pieces as if they were made of paper. Their bodies had collapsed into piles of gore.
When this occurred, the guests of the birthday celebration felt their breath turn cold. Although these cultivators were able to somewhat keep their calm previously, they were now in a complete panic. Each of them enveloped themselves in a colorful barrier and filled the room with the bright glow of various colored lights. Magic tools of all sorts began to float in front of many cultivators. Even a few of the cultivators who held more than friendly relations to the Fu Clan gathered together restlessly with terrified expressions.
For three Core Formation cultivators and tens of Fu Clan disciples to be killed in the instant, how could it be anything else apart from the fearful existence known as a Nascent Soul cultivator! If it was truly a Nascent Soul cultivator, killing everyone else in the hall should be an extremely easy matter.
As fear filled the hearts of those present, none dared to make any noise. Many guests presently felt vast regret for attending this Fu Clan celebration. Wouldn’t they be caught in the crossfire?
Deathly silence filled the hall.
A few of the Core Formation cultivators with stronger spiritual senses thought to stealthily release their spiritual sense to observe the outside. However, the Fu Clan had placed down many spiritual sense restrictions in order to protect their secrets from prying eyes. As a result, they were blocked and couldn’t help but resentfully curse the Fu Clan.
As anxiousness filled the hall, the voice of an unfamiliar man spoke, “Those present are restricted from leaving this hall for two hours. Those who disobey will be killed! After those two hours are over, you may leave as you wish.”
The man’s voice was simple and cold, but it also carried an indescribable malice, shaking the hearts of those who heard it. Once those words were said, the cultivators in the room were greatly relieved. From his tone, it appeared that he had no intention of killing them.
However, they clearly understood that they were spared most likely because they hadn’t seen the man’s true appearance. As such, none dared to disobey him. As for taking revenge for the Fu Clan, the thought itself was a joke. Even if one had the capability, who would feud with a Nascent Soul cultivator over the mere Fu Clan?
The two hours passed by neither fast nor slowly.
During this time apart from a few whispers, screams of anguish occasionally came from the outside. They were curt and lasted only a moment. It was clear none in the Fu Clan castle was able to retaliate as they were killed.
The cultivators in the hall felt their heart tremble upon hearing these screams. Each of them guessed that the Fu Clan had offended an expert or great power and was being exterminated as a result. There were many in the hall that felt schadenfreude or pity for them.
After the time it took to finish the cup of tea, the screams in the Fu Castle had ceased and the outside became as silent as within the hall. The guests then glanced at one another but none of them dared to act rashly.
Once the two hours had passed, the man’s voice didn’t return. In the end, one of the braver Core Formation cultivators decided to leave the hall and he safely left.
In the following moment, the other guests began to rush out with relief.
Chapter 655: Descendant
The Fu Clan Castle was entirely empty apart from a few bloodstains on the ground. It appeared that all of the direct lineage disciples of the Fu Clan had been exterminated and even their corpses were burnt to ash.
However, there were a few people that flew over on their magic tools and surveyed the entirety of the Fu Clan Castle, only to discover that the mortals and low grade external disciples of the Fu Clan were all unscathed. They even appeared to be completely ignorant of what had happened inside the castle. It seemed the attacker felt that killing off the direct lineage of the Fu Clan was enough to ensure its extinction.
Having just experienced that frightful affair, these cultivators naturally didn’t dare to remain. A majority of vagrant cultivators immediately set off while a small portion of them temporarily stayed behind to have a whispered discussion before also departing.
The Fu Clan’s extermination was an extremely important matter to both friendly and hostile powers. And with two Devilflame Sect Enforcers slain as well, the Devilflame Sect would now be forced to take action regardless of whether or not it was a Nascent Soul cultivator who had exterminated the Fu Clan!
The witnesses of this incident quickly brought the information back to their sects and clans as quickly as they could. These powers needed to prepare for the vast changes that would soon occur!
As the last few cultivators were hurriedly leaving the Fu Clan, many green-robed cultivators had arrived just outside the Purple Road Mountains. They were surprised to see that the restrictions protecting the Fu Clan Castle were unmanned.
At that moment, a few of the Fu Clan outer disciples entered the castle and discovered what was inside. These Qi Condensation cultivators made a huge uproar and each of them had completely lost their minds to fear.
The many green-clothed cultivators that were waiting in the air looked at each other in dismay upon seeing the panicked low grade disciples.
The top clan in the State of Yuan Wu had met their end at the hands of a mysterious Nascent Soul cultivator. Word of this event spread throughout the entire cultivation world in the State of Yuan Wu, raising an uproar amongst the various powers.
With two of the Devilflame Sect Enforcers having perished during the Fu Clan extermination, the upper echelon of the Devilflame Sect flew into a humiliated rage, and sent out men to find the mysterious and vicious attacker who di
d this. They even stated that their own Nascent Soul Founder wouldn’t allow this expert to run free.
However, those with sharper judgement would realize that the Devilflame Sect was merely putting on airs, and would most likely not take action. After all, according to the witnesses, the two Devilflame Sect Enforcers had recklessly taken the initiative to stand closely to a Fu Clan cultivator as the Nascent Soul cultivator was carrying out his revenge. It was merely bad luck.
Even if the Devilflame Sect was even more powerful and attempted to hunt down the murderer, cultivators weren’t easily trapped or killed once they had reached Nascent Soul stage. They would need to dispatch four Nascent Soul cultivators of a similar grade or place down a fearsome restriction to even think of killing him.
Of course, the Devilflame Sect wasn’t about to dispatch several Nascent Soul cultivators over revenge for a few Core Formation enforcers. Even if the sect was willing, the Nascent Soul eccentrics weren’t about to take action over something so trivial.
Regardless of the declaration, a tremor swept through the entirety of the State of Yuan Wu. The Fu Clan’s spirit stones, marketplaces, and other holdings were divided up by several different powers.
However, this had nothing to do with Han Li. Unlike what other cultivators guessed, Han Li had remained inside the State of Yuan Wu for several days after the extermination was carried out. He was currently at an small, unremarkable mountain.
At the moment, he was floating in the air with his body enveloped in azure light, and was staring at the fog surrounding the mountain’s center with a reminiscent expression.
“Over a hundred years have passed yet this place is still the same. Since the restrictions here still exist, could it be that other cultivators are living here now?” Han Li muttered with a calm expression.
After he had exterminated the Fu Clan cultivators with his black-tainted Gold Devouring Beetles, Han Li directly flew to Xin Ruyin’s secluded mountain with the Fu Clan Ancestor’s severed head in his possession.
In the past, he had made friends with Xin Ruyin and Qi Yunxiao. Now that he had taken revenge on their behalf, he planned on paying his respects at their graves and bringing the matter to a conclusion. However, he didn’t anticipate that Xin Ruyin’s former residence was being occupied by other cultivators. He couldn’t help but wear a doubtful expression.
After some thought, Han Li’s directly flew towards the mountain’s restrictions. With his current cultivation and understanding of spell formations, the restrictions were incapable of stopping him.
As Han Li stood in front of the fog, he calmly flicked his fingers and shot many various colored magic seals into the restriction. Soon after, the mist roiled and revealed a small passageway that Han Li immediately flew through. A short moment later, the mist disappeared and Han Li arrived before the residence that Xin Ruyin had personally built.
Glancing at the deep yellow bamboo buildings, Han Li felt a trace of nostalgia as well as a feeling of sadness at times long passed.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman walked out from a bamboo building. Her face still contained beauty and weak spiritual Qi fluctuations were emitted from her body. She was only a fourth layer Qi Condensation cultivator. When Han Li saw her, he couldn't help but frown. This woman gave him a familiar impression.
“Ah! Who... Who are you? How did you get in here?” The middle-aged woman spotted Han Li and couldn’t help but shout in surprise. Soon after, she flusteredly took out two fire-red talismans from her waist and looked at Han Li with a hostile expression.
This was to be expected. This woman suddenly found an unfamiliar cultivator in a place that she had deemed to be completely secure. It was only natural for her to be alarmed and wary. Moreover, while this woman was unable of recognize Han Li’s true cultivation with her meager power, she was able to feel that Han Li’s magic power was profound beyond imagination. As such, she grew fearful.
Just as Han Li stroked his chin and planned to ask for the woman’s identity, she suddenly shouted in pleasant surprise after closely examining Han Li, “Yi! Could it be Senior Han?”
Han Li was stunned when he heard this and revealed a trace of amazement. After muttering under his breath for a moment, he faintly realized something. He wore a friendly expression as he asked, “What relationship do you have with Xiao Mei? You look very similar to her.”
When the woman heard Han Li call out her ancestor’s name, she realized she was correct and respectfully bowed, “Oh, Senior must be speaking of my ancestor! My ancestor passed away many years ago. For the time being, this Junior is staying in Miss Xin’s residence.”
Han Li wryly smiled and said, “You’re Servant Mei’s descendant? To think that the silly little girl is now an ancestor.” He then wore a puzzled expression and asked, “Still, how was it that you recognized me?”
The woman blushed and embarrassingly said, “In the past, my ancestor personally drew Senior’s portrait. I’ve looked at this portrait since I was small. That is why I was able to recognize Senior at a glance.”
“Oh! A portrait! I had no idea.” A trace of amazement appeared on Han Li’s face. He then curiously asked, “Could I take a look at it?”
“Of course, Senior. How about Senior first head inside? I’ll bring it to you there.” The woman stepped to the side and respectfully invited Han Li in.
After a moment of hesitation, Han Li walked into the bamboo building and noticed that the interior was unremarkable. But upon seeing that it was clean and well kept, Han Li nodded his head.
Once Han Li took a seat, the woman hastily steeped a pot of tea. Although it couldn’t be compared to the spirit tea that Xin Ruyin once made, it was still pleasant and exceptional.
As he began to drink the tea, the woman excused herself and went to fetch the portrait.
Han Li casually swept his spiritual sense around and immediately spotted the woman. As expected, she was walking towards a pavilion.
The first floor of the pavilion was completely empty, but on the second floor Han Li saw a long wooden table. The table had two pitch-black memorial tablets that were inscribed with the names of Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin.
When Han Li saw this, his heart grew dim while he recalled the smiles the two wore in the past. It was a pity the two had passed so long ago.
After the woman deeply saluted the memorial tablets, she took a rolled-up, foot-long scroll from the table drawer. She then hurriedly descended and ran directly towards Han Li’s building.
Chapter 656: A Parting Gift
Han Li received the portrait and gently unrolled the scroll in his hand to reveal a meter long portrait of a smiling azure-robed man. It was a lifelike image of himself.
After taking a look at the scroll, Han Li sighed and rolled it back up.
After a moment of thought, Han Li stared at the woman and slowly asked, “Might I ask why your ancestor left behind a portrait of me? Is there a deeper meaning behind it?”
When the woman heard this, she wore a hesitant expression. With some thought, she carefully replied, “Senior Han, before Junior answers this question, may I ask whether or not you remember your promise with Miss Xin?”
“Of course I remember. You also know of the matter?” Han Li asked with a trace of astonishment.
With a heart filled with apprehension, the woman looked at Han Li and softly said, “In fact, Junior has continued to stay here in large part due to Senior. However, I hope you’ll forgive me as I cannot speak forthrightly until your promise with Miss Xin is fulfilled.”
Peng. Han Li expressionlessly tossed a wooden box onto the table from his storage pouch.
“This...” The woman felt her heart jump as she wasn’t sure what Han Li intended.
Han Li calmly said, “There is no need for Fellow Daoist to be so flustered! The box contains the head of the Fu Clan Ancestor. The direct lineage of the Fu Clan have been exterminated, and only a few distant Fu Clan members remain. The Fu Clan no longer holds any power in the State of Yuan Wu. I
s the promise considered fulfilled?”
The woman cried out in shock, “What? The Fu Clan Ancestor has already been killed?!”
She looked at the box with gritted teeth and opened the lid, filling the air with the scent of blood.
The woman’s face paled, but upon recognizing the face of the head, she smiled, “It truly is the Fu Clan Ancestor. Many years ago, I stealthily caught sight of the villian from a distance.”
Han Li smiled and said, “Because I killed him several days ago, word should’ve already spread. So long as you talk to someone you’re familiar with or go to a market city, you should be able to verify this.”
“Then Senior must’ve brought the head here to...”
“That’s right. I came to this old place to honor Miss Xin and Fellow Daoist Qi. I haven’t made many friends in my life and now that I’ve taken revenge on their behalf, I may as well follow it to completion.” Han Li’s voice grew sullen and his expression became earnest.
“When Miss Xin and Sir Qi learn of this in the underworld, they will certainly be pleased. Please wait for a moment, I will be right back.” The woman’s expression became dim, but something soon came to mind and she hurriedly left.
Han Li was baffled but nodded his head and watched as the woman rushed out of the room.
This time, the woman walked to a building in the back and began to dig below a tree, eventually taking a faint green jade box from within the dirt. She then carefully brought it back into the room and placed it on the table in front of Han Li.
“What’s this?” Han Li narrowed his eyes and waited for her explanation.
“Senior Han, before Miss Xin died from her illness, she left behind a message for my ancestor. She wished to give this box to Senior if he managed to fulfill his promise and exterminate the Fu Clan. As a result, my ancestor remained here, as this would be the place Senior would make an appearance. Many years later, Senior hadn’t yet returned and my ancestor passed this matter onto me. She even left behind a portrait of Senior so that we may recognize you. Now that you’ve personally arrived and fulfilled your promise, I will naturally act in accordance to Miss Xin’s words and hand this item over to you. At long last, I am finally free of this burden.”
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