Chapter 153: Family Bloodshed!

Boom!

Wan Honghai, too lazy to waste a word, flicked his robe, and a massive blue‑green giant palm formed from pure Spiritual Power materialized out of thin air, bearing the momentum to crush everything, and slammed it at the Cave Entrance hidden by rocks and vines!

The few already trembling Talisman glows, under this overwhelmingly domineering strike, not even a ripple formed; with a few "Puff—" sounds, they were completely erased!

"Old thing, get out here and die!" Wan Honghai's voice boomed like a great bell, shaking the rocks into a rustling clatter.

On the other side, the Black-clothed Leader merely waved coldly; dozens of black silhouettes behind him, like well‑trained hounds, crept silently from every direction, their assorted Magic Artifacts flashing cold light, clearly ready to cooperate with Wan Honghai's frontal assault and break through from the flank.

Their tacit understanding seemed rehearsed a thousand times, the target fixed on Wang Shan, who was breaking through inside the Cave.

"Attack!" Li Hu roared, his eyes blazing red.

Before his words finished, Zhang Mei's Iron Bone Bow was already drawn to a moon‑full tension, three Armor‑Piercing Arrows, each faintly glowing with Spiritual Light, were nocked in a finished character‑shaped formation on the string.

Swoosh— swoosh— swoosh!

A sharp whooshing sound rang out, and three cold rays surged straight toward the nearest few Black‑clothed Persons.

Puff! Ah!

A Black‑clothed Person failed to dodge, an arrow struck his shoulder, he let out a wail and staggered. The other two reacted instantly, barely evading, but were forced back a few steps.

"Brother Hu, hold the line!" Zhang Mei shouted hurriedly, quickly nocking another arrow.

Li Hu didn't need her reminder; he had already slapped all the Third-Order Defense Talisman that Wang Shan had handed him before leaving onto the makeshift defense at the Cave Entrance in one go.

Hum—

Several thick Light Screens instantly flared, sealing the tiny Cave Entrance tightly.

"And this!" Li Hu pulled out a few Second-Order Geng Metal Talisman and Flame Talisman, and tossed them indiscriminately toward the outside.

Whoosh— whoosh— whoosh!

Boom— boom!

Golden light glittered, flames burst! Though the power was insufficient to threaten Wan Honghai, who is in the Foundation Establishment stage, it caused considerable trouble for the Body Refining Fifth or Sixth Layer Wan Family Cultivators and Black‑clothed Persons; for a moment, wails and curses rose and fell.

"Trivial tricks!" Wan Honghai snorted coldly, paying no heed to these low‑tier Talisman, and the blue‑green giant palm, undiminished, slammed hard onto the Light Screen.

Bang—!

The earth shook and mountains roared!

The outermost Third-Order Defense Light Screen quivered violently, its hue dimming a few shades.

Li Hu felt a massive force rebound, his chest tightening, almost spitting blood. "Damn it, that late‑stage Foundation Establishment monster, its strength is huge!"

"Senseless creature!" Wan Tianjue, standing behind Wan Honghai, glared at the Cave Entrance with venomous resentment, "Supreme Elder, let us strike, and first slay these two watchdogs!"

Wan Honghai scoffed, "Why use a cow‑blade to kill a chicken? Let them bounce around a while longer. Once I break this turtle shell, the mice inside will have nowhere to flee."

He again summoned Spiritual Power, and the blue‑green giant palm struck once more!

Bang!

Another Light Screen shattered in response!

The defensive Talisman at the Cave Entrance, under attacks from a being like Wan Honghai, proved as fragile as paper.

"Mei, be careful!" Li Hu roared, brandishing his Kaishan Axe and charging straight out. He knew the Talisman alone couldn't hold forever; he had to take the initiative to buy time!

His Body Refining Seventh Peak physical strength was immensely fierce; the Kaishan Axe whistled through the air as it cleaved toward a Wan Family Cultivator at the front.

That Wan Family Cultivator was also a master of Body Refining Eighth Tier; seeing Li Hu so bold and fearless, a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes, and he swung his long sword horizontally to block.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew in all directions!

Li Hu felt a tremendous force surge from the axe, numbing his palm, his arm quaking, and he involuntarily stepped back two paces.

"Body Refining Eighth Tier!" Li Hu thought, his heart sinking; this Wan Family indeed had deep foundations, every cultivator a tier above his.

"Seeking death!" the Wan Family cultivator seized the advantage with a grin, his long sword like a venomous snake spitting its fang, thrusting straight at Li Hu's chest.

"Not a chance!" Zhang Mei's arrow arrived in time, "ding"— it struck the tip of the blade precisely, diverting the sword's thrust a few degrees.

Even so, the blade still sliced through Li Hu's clothing, leaving a shallow bloodstain on his chest.

"Sss…" Li Hu gasped a cold breath; without Zhang Mei, he feared he would already have been gutted.

"Thanks!" Li Hu shouted, not retreating but advancing, charging again, entangling with that Wan Family cultivator. Though his realm was slightly lower, his experience gave him an edge; every move was desperate, and for a moment they fought on equal footing.

Zhang Mei focused on the Black‑clothed Persons attempting to flank. Her archery was sharp and ruthless, each arrow striking the enemy's vital points. The Black‑clothed Persons moved with uncanny footwork, but under her dense rain of arrows they had to proceed cautiously, their assault easing.

Inside the Light Screen at the Cave Entrance, Wang Zhitao and Wang Zhize, two little kids, were shielded behind Li Hu and Zhang Mei. They clung tightly together, their faces as pale as paper, trembling as they watched the blade‑filled carnage outside.

"Bro… I'm scared…" Wang Zhitao's voice trembled with sobs, his small hand gripping Wang Zhize's collar tightly.

Wang Zhize, only slightly older than his brother, also had white lips now, but he forced himself to endure the fear, shielding his brother with his small body, his voice trembling: "Don't… don't be afraid, grandpa… grandpa will be fine! Uncle Li and Aunt Mei… they're strong!"

He said that, yet seeing the fresh blood seeping from Li Hu's chest, seeing Zhang Mei's beads of sweat rolling down her temples and her increasingly rapid breathing, the fear in his eyes could not be concealed.

The number of Wan Family Cultivators and Black‑clothed Persons was overwhelming, and their coordination flawless; wave after wave of assault surged like a tide.

Li Hu and Zhang Mei were valiant, but two fists could not match four hands.

Puff— snap!

A young disciple who had been taken in by Wang Shan years ago, only at Body Refining Fifth or Sixth Layer, usually handling chores, followed Li Hu; failing to dodge, a Black‑clothed Person seized a gap, and a poison‑coated Short Blade silently pierced his back heart.

"Uh…" the young disciple's body stiffened, his head dropping in disbelief as he stared at the blade tip piercing his chest, the spark in his eyes fading instantly. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but finally collapsed forward helplessly, silent thereafter.

"Xiao Liuzi!" Li Hu's eyes widened to a split, letting out a grief‑filled roar. The child, though not gifted, had always been diligent; he never expected…

This bloody scene also pierced the young hearts of Wang Zhitao and Wang Zhize deeply. They had never witnessed such ruthless slaughter!

"Ah—!" Wang Zhitao finally could not hold back his scream.

Wang Zhize clutched his brother's mouth tightly, tears spilling spitefully. He did not cry out, but stared at the enemies outside with blood‑red eyes, his tiny fists white from gripping, an indescribable feeling blossoming in his heart. It was fear, anger, and a hint of… unyielding resolve.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wan Honghai's attacks continued, each causing the remaining defensive Light Screens to quake violently, cracks spreading like spiderwebs.

Deep within the cave, Wang Shan sat cross‑legged, his face twisted in pain.

The medicinal power of the Purple Monkey Flower rampaged through his body like thousands of steel needles piercing simultaneously; every impact against the Foundation Establishment Barrier brought heart-rending agony.

Yet at this most critical juncture, the powerful Spiritual Sense projections from the Outside World, utterly un concealed, swept over his body like cold searchlights—each pass unsettling his mind, nearly scattering the trace of Spiritual Power he had struggled so hard to gather.

Not to mention the deafening booms and the faint sounds of battle and shouts that reached him, striking his nerves like hammer blows, again and again.

"Pfft!"

Wang Shan violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face instantly paling several shades.

【Warning! External interference intensifying—Zhuren's Foundation Establishment success rate continues to drop!】

【Warning! Defensive Array energy nearly depleted!】

The system's alert tone was cold and merciless.

"Bastard… things…" Wang Shan squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth. He knew fighting must have broken out outside; Li Hu and the others… were likely in grave danger.

But right now he could barely save himself! That invisible Foundation Establishment Barrier, under attack from both within and without, grew even more blurred, even more unreachable.

He had to succeed! Otherwise, everything would be finished!

At the Cave Entrance, the fierce battle grew ever more brutal.

Li Hu had gained several more wounds, his clothes dyed crimson with blood, but he still fought like a wounded tiger, roaring, guarding the cave behind him with his life.

Zhang Mei's quiver was nearly empty, and her face had gone pale from excessive Spiritual Power depletion, but the hand drawing the bow remained steady.

"Crack…"

The final Third Tier defensive barrier, under yet another heavy blow from Wan Honghai, let out an overburdened splintering sound—on the verge of total collapse!

"It's over…" Li Hu's heart turned ice-cold.

A flicker of despair also crossed Zhang Mei's eyes.

Just then, Wang Zhize, his chest filled with fear and fury, subconsciously clutched tight the Black Jade Slip he had always kept close to his body. It was something his grandfather had left him for protection, and he had always treasured it.

Perhaps his emotional turmoil was too intense, or perhaps the jade slip itself shared some mysterious connection with this place.

"Hum…"

A barely audible chime emanated from the jade slip against Wang Zhize's chest.

Immediately after, the ancient runes on the jade slip's surface seemed to come alive, emitting a faint, delicate glow.

This light was not blinding, yet it carried an indescribable ancientness and vastness.

Almost at the same moment, from deep within the cave, the once-calm underground suddenly produced a clearer hum!

"Hmm?"

Wang Shan, struggling to breach the barrier, suddenly felt a strange fluctuation surging from deep underground.

This fluctuation was not Spiritual Power, but a more fundamental, more ancient aura, carrying a trace of… familiarity?

This aura merged into his very bones like spring rain; the Spiritual Power that had been thrown into chaos by his forced assault actually stabilized miraculously under its soothing influence.

What delighted him even more was that the previously blurred Foundation Establishment Barrier, washed by this ancient aura, seemed… to have grown a little clearer?

"This is…" Wang Shan's mind reeled—what was happening? Could the cave itself hold some secret?

He had no time to think it through; this sudden turn of events was undoubtedly a lifeline in the snow for him!

"Crack—!"

At the Cave Entrance, the final defensive barrier shattered completely!

"Hahaha! Break for this old man!" Wan Honghai laughed heartily, his figure swaying as he prepared to charge into the cave.

"You're not getting past!" Li Hu, eyes red, dragged his badly wounded body and, summoning his last ounce of strength, raised the Kaishan Axe and blocked Wan Honghai's path.

Zhang Mei nocked her final arrow, aiming at Wan Honghai's throat.

They knew that once these people burst inside, the master's Foundation Establishment would be utterly finished!

Outside the cave were family members fighting in blood, staking their lives.

Inside the cave was Wang Shan, assaulting his fate, hanging by a thread between life and death.

Above their heads, the sky grew ever darker, thick with tribulation clouds.

Everyone's fate hung by a hair at this very moment!