Chapter 50

Heitu City, Heavenly Confucian Academy.

Unlike the bloody, oppressive atmosphere of Luo Bay County, here still lingered a faint scent of books.

But this tranquility was quickly shattered by an urgent message sent from thousands of li away.

The message was brought back by Qian Bo. The old servant, dust-covered and travel-worn, his face showing incredulous excitement and lingering fear, almost rolled and crawled into Wang Xuanqing's courtyard.

"Young master! Young master! Great victory! We won! Father… he… he slaughtered Wan Hong that old dog!"

Wang Xuanqing was practicing calligraphy in the courtyard; hearing this, his hand trembled, and a drop of thick ink instantly stained the whole sheet of xuan paper.

He jerked his head up, seeing Qian Bo speaking incoherently, excited to the point of nearly fainting, his heart felt as if gripped hard by an invisible giant hand.

"Qian Bo, what are you saying? Say it again! Grandfather… how is he?!!"

"Grandfather is fine! Grandfather broke through! Body Refining Eighth Layer! He used… used the talisman you gave me, young master, to turn the tables on Wan Hong, that Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak…! Along with the four experts he brought, they were all wiped out—not one escaped!" Qian Bo panted, spilling out all the details he knew.

Confirmed! It's true!

Grandfather not only is unharmed, but he… he actually slew Wan Hong, the Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak?!

The immense joy burst forth like a flood, instantly sweeping away Wang Xuanqing's days of worry and fear.

He only felt his vision darkening in waves, as if something blocked his throat; he wanted to shout but could not.

The next moment, the usually composed boy in the academy could no longer hold back his emotions; tears streamed down. He whirled around, facing the direction of Luo Bay County, and with a "plop" knelt on the ground, his forehead striking the blue stone slabs heavily, emitting a dull thud.

"Grandfather… grandfather!"

He kowtowed over and over, tears mixing with dirt, smearing his face. The great stone that had weighed on his heart these days was finally lifted. The family is safe! Grandfather is alive!

Nothing is more important than this.

Deep within the academy stood a quiet, elegant chamber.

The Vice Dean held a jade slip, his brows slightly furrowed. On the slip was the detailed intelligence of the Wang family battle in Luo Bay County, transmitted back as quickly as possible by the academy's agents stationed everywhere.

"Early-stage Body Refining Eighth Layer… counter-killing Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak… 【Righteous Qi Talisman】…"

The Vice Dean set down the jade slip, his face showing an exceedingly rare surprise.

He stroked his beard, muttering to himself: "When I first gave the talisman, I did it only for Xuan Qing's sake, doing my duty, hoping to leave the Wang family a sliver of chance, to buy a little time… but I never imagined…"

He shook his head, a flash of admiration in his eyes: "This Wang Shan is truly a remarkable man! Not only did he break through in the heat of battle, but he also seized that fleeting opportunity, using the talisman's power to accomplish this heaven-defying feat… tsk tsk, such courage and resolve are beyond ordinary people."

Originally, in his view, Wang Shan was merely a lucky country old farmer who had gained some opportunities, his grandson entering the academy being considered ancestral graves emitting green smoke. But now his perspective had completely changed. This was no longer explainable by luck; it was a resilience, an astonishing power erupting from dire straits.

This little Wang family seems not so simple.

After thinking, he still sent a voice transmission to summon Wang Xuanqing.

Looking at his disciple's red, swollen eyes from crying, the Vice Dean felt some emotion, but he still put on a stern face: "Xuanqing, get up."

"Master…" Wang Xuanqing wiped his tears and respectfully rose to his feet.

"Your grandfather's feat is indeed gratifying and counts as regaining face for your Wang family." The Vice Dean nodded, then shifted tone: "But do you know that the aftermath of this may be even more perilous?"

Wang Xuanqing's heart jolted.

"Wan Hong holds a significant position among the Wan family's collateral branch; his cultivation is virtually at the threshold of Foundation Establishment, a key focus of the Wan family's collateral branch training. Now he has died at the hands of an obscure small family, and in such a manner… the Wan family's main house will certainly not let this rest."

The Vice Dean's voice carried a hint of gravity: "This is no different from viciously slapping the Wan family across the face, and doing so with a shoe sole studded with nails. To preserve their dignity and uphold family prestige, their retaliation will only become more frenzied, heedless of cost."

"You need to be mentally prepared. On one hand, you yourself must train harder, swiftly increase your strength, so that in the future you can become the true pillar of your family. On the other hand, you should also find a way to warn your family: they must absolutely not let their guard down, must prepare early to face the possible thunderous wrath of the Wan family."

"Disciple understands! Thank you for your guidance, Master!" Wang Xuanqing bowed again, the joy that had just risen in his heart instantly replaced by a heavy pressure.

Indeed, killing Wan Hong merely lifted the siege temporarily; the true storm may have only just begun to brew.

Almost at the very moment Wang Xuanqing received the news, and perhaps even sooner.

Through a certain special communication magic artifact, the news of Wan Hong's death and soul annihilation, as if given wings, crossed the vast distance at a speed almost tearing through space, transmitted back to the Wan family's true stronghold—Wan Beast City!

Wan Beast City, a metropolis more than ten times the size of Heitu City, its walls towering into the clouds, studded with powerful seals and war machines; inside, the aura is mixed, containing both cultivators' spiritual power fluctuations and the ferocious qi of mighty demon beasts. This is where the Wan family's true foundation lies.

Wan Family Council Hall.

The atmosphere was oppressive, like ten-thousand-year-old ice.

On the main seat sat a middle-aged man with a stern countenance, the current head of the Wan family, Wan Tianxiong. His cultivation is unfathomable; merely sitting there, the aura he exudes makes all the elders in the hall feel shocked and fearful.

On either side below sat more than ten Wan family elders, each with powerful auras; the weakest among them is at Body Refining Ninth Layer, and several faintly exude a terrifying pressure surpassing Body Refining, clearly experts of the Foundation Establishment stage!

At this moment, everyone's gaze focused on the center of the hall, where a trembling transmission disciple knelt, having just finished reporting the bad news from Luo Bay County.

Wan Hong is dead.

Together with the four elite Body Refining Seventh and Eighth Layer offerings he brought, the entire force was wiped out.

Killed by an old man named Wang Shan in that godforsaken place of Luo Bay County.

Dead silence.

A silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

All the elders seemed as if immobilized by a spell, their faces filled with disbelief.

Who was Wan Hong? The top expert of the collateral branch! Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak! Just one step away from attempting to break into Foundation Establishment! Sending such a figure to handle a minor Luo Bay County family dispute should have been a simple capture, an overwhelming victory.

What was the result? He's gone?! All of them gone?!

This is nothing short of preposterous!

"Pfft—"

Finally, an elder with a fiery temper slammed his palm on the table; the hard iron-wood surface cracked with a sound, wood chips flying.

"How unreasonable! Utter disgrace! The face of my Wan family has been completely thrown away!"

"A Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak actually dying at the hands of an unknown old soldier in a remote small county? How is that possible?!"

"Wang family? What nonsense! They dare to lay hands on my Wan family's people?!"

After a brief silence, it erupted like a volcanic explosion into towering fury!

The entire hall buzzed, the terrifying killing intent almost condensing into substance.

Wan Hong's death is not merely the loss of a promising collateral branch expert; it is more like a resounding slap, fiercely struck across the entire Wan family's face! A tiny Wang family, previously unheard of, dares to tug the tiger's whiskers and even pull them out?! This is nothing less than tearing off the Wan family's old face, throwing it to the ground, and trampling it a hundred times over with a shoe that has stepped in dog dung!

Wan Tianxiong sat in the chief seat, his face so gloomy it could drip water. He did not roar like the other Elders, but the cold light flashing in his eyes was more terrifying than any roar.

Be quiet! his low voice rang out, instantly suppressing all the clamor.

The hall fell silent again, but the killing intent in the air grew even more intense.

Do you all understand what happened? Wan Tianxiong spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping over the messenger disciple.

The disciple was terrified out of his wits, hastily kowtowing: "Report… report to the Family Head, according to the returned news… that Wang Family Head Wang Shan, originally of ordinary strength, but after Wan Hong Helmsman arrived, for some reason suddenly broke through to the early stage of Body Refining Eighth Layer… and… he also possesses a… mysterious Talisman that can emit golden light, which seems to greatly counter Wan Hong Helmsman's Black Fiend Art…"

Golden light? Talisman? Countering Black Fiend Art? Wan Tianxiong furrowed his brows.

One Elder immediately interjected: "Family Head, anything that can counter such a yin and evil art as Black Fiend Art is likely a pure yang method of Buddhism or Daoism, or perhaps… the righteous vigor of Confucianism!"

Heavenly Confucian Academy? Wan Tianxiong's eyes flashed with cold light. He recalled the earlier intelligence; the Wang Family seemed to have a disciple who had entered the Heavenly Confucian Academy.

Hmph, even if a newly broken-through Body Refining Eighth Layer cultivator had the aid of a Talisman, it would hardly be easy to slay Wan Hong, who is at the peak of Body Refining Ninth Layer. There must be something fishy! Another Elder mused, "That Wang Shan must be hiding something! Or perhaps the Wang Family is hiding something!"

Wan Hong's cultivation of the Black Fiend Art is tyrannically powerful, and he also possesses the Black Fiend Claw, a vicious martial technique rarely matched among peers. Even if countered, he would not be defeated so utterly as to have no chance to flee.

There's a lot of depth to this.

Investigate! Wan Tianxiong slammed the armrest, his voice icy and piercing, "Use all your power to investigate thoroughly! I want to know every detail about that Wang Shan! All the secrets of the Wang Family! Including the origin of that golden light! See if the Heavenly Confucian Academy is behind this!"

No matter who stands behind him! Killing my Wan Family's core disciples and insulting our Wan Family's prestige must be paid for in blood!

Wan Tianxiong rose to his feet, his eyes like a man-eating beast, scanning everyone in the hall.

Convey my orders!

Mobilize manpower! This time, we need not worry about any repercussions!

I want… to blood-wash Luo Bay County! To utterly erase the Wang Family and anyone associated with them from this land! Leave no chicken or dog!

As you command!

All the Elders shouted in unison, killing intent soaring to the heavens.

A shadow far more terrifying and vast than that brought by Wan Hong began to gather above Wan Beast City. This time, the Wan Family had clearly been truly angered, not intending to engage in petty skirmishes. The direct-line forces, possibly even including Foundation Establishment cultivators, were about to be deployed!

The catastrophe aimed at annihilating the Wang Family was brewing at a shocking pace! The trap was set, all that remained was for the turtle to enter!

Luo Bay County, Wang Family Old Residence.

Outside, the heads of families who had been queuing to present gifts had already dispersed, leaving only a courtyard full of precious gifts and a desolate air after the battle.

Wang Shan sat cross-legged on the bed in the inner chamber, his face still pale, his two arms fixed at a strange angle, his chest wrapped in thick bandages. He was circulating the Duant Body Art, slowly repairing his damaged meridians and internal organs.

Although he didn't know the specific reaction from the Wan Family Main House, he could tell with his toes that killing Wan Hong meant this matter was far from over; those Wan Family people were notorious for repaying even the slightest grudge.

A greater storm could descend at any moment.

While tending to his wounds, he silently tallied this battle's gains and losses. The storage bags of Wan Hong and his companions had been emptied, containing a considerable amount of spirit stones, medicinal pills, and copies of cultivation techniques and martial arts—an unexpected windfall.

But this gain, compared to the price the Wang Family paid, was utterly insignificant.

Nearly twenty clansmen and servants lost their lives, and dozens more suffered grave injuries… this price was too heavy.

Wang Zhize entered carrying a bowl of freshly brewed herbal decoction.

Father, take your medicine.

Wang Shan opened his eyes, took the medicine bowl, and gulped it down in one breath; the bitter medicinal taste spread through his mouth.

Have you finished tallying the things outside?

Yes, they've been logged into the storehouse. Father, those clans…

Hmph, a bunch of wall-grass. Wang Shan gave a cold snort, saying no more. Now is not the time to quibble over these things.

He looked at Wang Zhize; this son had also suffered considerable injury in the battle, but his eyes were much more resolute than before.

Zhize, the Wan Family's retaliation will likely come soon, and it will be a hundred times fiercer than this.

Wang Zhize's heart sank sharply.

Then… what should we do?

Wang Shan fell silent for a moment, his gaze turning toward the window, as if piercing through layers of obstruction to behold the distant Wan Beast City.

Prepare… for a fight to the death.