Chapter 55

Night, deep as spilled ink.

In the Wang Family council hall, lamps flickered, casting light on one pale, tense face after another; more than thirty figures—old and young, male and female—were all the Wang Family's core bloodline and most loyal collateral branch, yet now they were like chicks with their throats gripped, not daring to breathe.

Wang Shan sat in the main seat, his face, weathered through life-and-death battles, now like ten-thousand-year ice. He fell silent for a long time, so long that those below almost doubted whether time had stopped.

Finally, he moved.

Not by speaking, but he slammed his palm hard onto the red wooden table before him!

Smack!

The crisp sound exploded in the dead-silent hall, startling everyone into a shudder.

"Listen up!" Wang Shan's voice wasn't loud, yet it hammered like a hammer into each person's heart: "Luo Bay County, we can't stay here any longer!"

"The Wan Family Main House's retaliation is coming right away!"

He paused, as if gathering strength, then spat out those two words that chilled everyone: "This time those coming might very well be… Foundation Establishment!"

Boom!

It was as if an invisible thunderclap exploded above everyone's heads.

Foundation Establishment!

That is a legendary existence! One who can soar through the void, turn hands into clouds and rain—an immortal!

At the Body Refining stage, what difference is there between us and ants before Foundation Establishment?

"Family Head…" someone trembled, wanting to speak, but found their throat too dry to utter a sound.

Several young disciples, having survived the previous bloody battles, had thought themselves strong enough, but now their faces turned ashen, their legs shaking like sieves, barely able to stand.

"Staying here is just waiting for death! The whole family will be exterminated!" Wang Shan's voice suddenly rose, harsh and fierce: "We barely snatched a life from that old dog Wan Hong's grasp—not to wait for death here!"

His gaze was like a blade, sweeping over each person: "So, I have decided!"

"Abandon everything here! All foundations, all properties—except the core spirit fields—discard them all!"

"Take all the spirit stones, pills, and cultivation arts we can carry, plus our people!"

"Leave immediately! Go now!"

Abandon?

Abandon the Wang Family's foundations in Luo Bay County that have been operated for generations?

This decision is too sudden, too heavy.

A "waa" sounded as a girl in her teens could no longer hold back, bursting into tears: "Family Head! If we leave, our home is gone! This place is our root!"

Her sobs were like lighting a fuse, instantly detonating the suppressed atmosphere.

"Dad! We can't leave! The ancestors' foundations…"

"Family Head, think again! Let's fight them to the end!"

Cries, pleas, and unwilling growls tangled together.

"Stop crying!" Wang Shan leapt to his feet, a Body Refining eighth-layer aura exploding, silencing the entire council hall: "Shut up, all of you!"

He pointed at the black night sky outside: "Home can be rebuilt! As long as our people remain, the Wang Family endures!"

"If people are gone, what use is keeping this empty shell? To give the Wan Family a trophy?"

"Remember this! Stay alive! Nothing is more important!"

"As long as the green mountains remain, there's no fear of lacking firewood!"

His words, firm and decisive, carrying the scent of blood and fire, finally calmed those agitated emotions somewhat.

The older clan members, though their eyes were equally filled with grief and reluctance, had experienced more and could better grasp Wang Shan's resolve and the cruelty of reality; they silently lowered their heads, accepting this difficult decision.

Seeing this, Wang Shan knew there was no time to lose; he immediately began assigning tasks, speaking rapidly, leaving no room for doubt:

Zhizhe!

Present! Wang Zhizhe stepped forward, his expression solemn.

All spirit stones, pills, and cultivation manuals, especially the items snatched from that old dog Wan Hong's storage bag—particularly that upper-grade spirit stone and that animal-skin scroll—none may be missing! Have them inventoried and packed into storage bags!

Yes!

Zhitao!

Dad! Wang Zhitao also stepped forward.

Organize manpower, especially women, children, and the wounded, to prepare boarding! Move quickly! Stay concealed!

Understood!

Zhi Che!

Grandson here! a rather shrewd young man replied.

All account books, clan registers, important records, and those things that cannot see the light—burn them all! Burn them to ashes! Leave no handles or clues for the Wan Family! Also create some chaotic traces to interfere with their pursuit!

Grandson receives the order!

Zhihai!

Wang Zhihai, Wang Shan's fourth son, who had long handled the family's punishments and some dark affairs, stepped forward upon hearing: "Father, your orders."

Wang Shan gave him a cold look, his tone icy: "Go to the woodshed and dispose of Chen Tianfeng…"

Dispose?

Wang Zhihai's heart tightened—was this to silence him?

But he didn't ask, merely replied in a low voice: "Yes!"

After assigning the tasks, Wang Shan immediately turned, his consciousness sinking into his mind.

"System, let this old man see what resources remain."

【Spirit Plant Points: 6128】

Hmm, not bad. Earlier we swept up the Wan Family remnants, looted the Chen clan, and these past days we used spirit stones to spawn a batch of low-grade spirit plants, recovering quite a bit. Hope this time it'll be strong.

"Refresh the Mall!" Wang Shan silently thought, eyes fixed on the virtual panel, his heart praying like worshipping a bodhisattva, hoping to refresh something good to repair the core of the Black Feather Boat.

【One-Time Acceleration Rune (can instantly boost flying Magic Artifact speed by 30%, lasts for the duration of one incense stick, cooldown two hours): 1000 Spirit Plant Points per piece】

【Basic Concealing Breath Art (passive skill, slightly reduces chance of one's Spiritual Power fluctuation being detected): 500 Spirit Plant Points】

【64】【Spirit Glue Wood (First Order repair material, strong adhesion): 100 Spirit Plant Points per piece】

【Spirit Glue Wood (First Order repair material, strong adhesion): 100 Spirit Plant Points per piece】

【Stable Flow Silk (First Order repair material, can stabilize energy flow): 50 Spirit Plant Points per bundle】

……

Nothing else?

Just these?

Wang Shan's eye corner twitched.

What about the plan to repair the core? Even a broken one would do!

"Damn it!" He couldn't help cursing in his heart, "This system... how is it so weak at crucial moments?"

I still thought I could rely on the system to turn the tide, directly repair the Black Feather Boat, and then with increased speed, even Foundation Establishment cultivators might not be able to catch up.

Now it seems, he overthought it.

The system isn't an all-powerful wish-granting machine; at most it's... a fairly comprehensive auxiliary plug-in.

The escape route is even more difficult than anticipated.

Forget it, having something is better than nothing. Even a mosquito leg is still meat.

"Exchange!" Wang Shan gritted his teeth, "Three One-Time Acceleration Runes! Basic Concealing Breath Art! Plus ten pieces of Spirit Glue Wood, twenty bundles of Stable Flow Silk!"

【Spirit Plant Points-4000】

In an instant, he lost more than two-thirds, and Wang Shan felt as if his heart were bleeding.

This was exchanged with his life!

But now is not the time to feel sorry; preserving life is crucial!

Having obtained the materials and the technique, Wang Shan immediately exited the system space, tossing the materials to Wang Mingyuan (son of Wang Zhihai, the most clever among the younger generation) and several dexterous clansmen who had been waiting nearby.

"Time is short! Use these things to reinforce every possible spot on the Black Feather Boat! Especially the energy output lines—wrap them tightly with Stable Flow Silk! Don't let it explode mid-flight!"

He himself couldn't afford to worry about his Family Head status, personally rolled up his sleeves, and, relying on his partial understanding of arrays and the simple diagrams provided by the system, guided the clansmen in emergency repairs of the flying boat.

Hammering and knocking, applying and smearing.

Under the moonlight, that Black Feather Boat, already covered in scars, after a round of "mending and patching," looked…… even more broken.

Like a beggar's garment patched all over.

But after Wang Shan carefully sensed it, the energy flow was indeed somewhat more stable than before, and the hull structure seemed a bit sturdier.

Better than nothing.

Next, he transmitted the essentials of the Basic Concealing Breath Art directly into the minds of all over thirty clansmen participating in the escape, using his spiritual sense.

"Remember this well! Now! Immediately! Start cultivating right away!"

"Don't expect this trick to hide from the Spiritual Sense of a Foundation Establishment old dog, but gaining even a moment's time gives an extra chance to live!"

No one dared to delay; they all sat cross-legged on the spot, grasping every second, beginning to circulate this rudimentary Concealing Breath method.

For a moment, the spiritual energy fluctuations in the courtyard were weak and wavering, yet carried a deathly silence-like oppression.

On the other side, the Woodshed.

Wang Zhihai, accompanied by two trusted aides, pushed open the creaking wooden door.

A foul stench rushed over.

Chen Tianfeng, his cultivation abolished, lay curled like a puddle of mud in the corner's straw heap, his whole body filthy. Hearing the commotion, he struggled to lift his head, his cloudy eyes instantly filling with hatred and madness.

"Wang... Wang Shan... cough cough... did he send you to kill me?" Chen Tianfeng's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like a broken gong being scraped.

"Family Head's orders: send you on your way." Wang Zhihai approached step by step with a blank expression.

"Hahaha... cough cough cough..." Chen Tianfeng suddenly laughed hysterically, laughing and then coughing violently, almost coughing up his lungs: "Killing me... great! Kill me! I'll be waiting for you Wang family down below! Waiting for Wang Shan, that old devil!"

The Wan family... the Wan family's elders will arrive soon! None of you will escape! You'll all have to be buried with me! Hahaha...

His curses were vicious and mad.

Wang Zhihai frowned tightly. Keeping this guy around is indeed a disaster. If the Wan family people really find him, who knows what information he might leak.

He took out the Communication Jade Talisman from his pocket, briefly reported the situation here, and asked his father for the final decision.

Moments later, the talisman glowed faintly.

Wang Zhihai glanced at it, then put the talisman away.

He walked up to Chen Tianfeng, looking at that twisted, hate-filled face, and ultimately did not draw his sword.

Instead, he raised his hand and cleanly chopped down on Chen Tianfeng's neck.

Uh...

Chen Tianfeng's curses stopped abruptly; he didn't even grunt, his head lolled to the side, and he passed out completely.

"Drag him out." Wang Zhihai ordered his subordinates, "Throw him near the northern outskirts' mass grave, farther away, so no one easily finds him."

Yes!

The two aides dragged the unconscious Chen Tianfeng out like dragging a dead dog.

Wang Zhihai looked at the empty Woodshed, still feeling a bit doubtful.

What on earth was Father thinking?

Just throw Chen Tianfeng away like that? What if he wakes up... although he's a cripple, what if someone with ill intent uses him?

If you don't remove the roots when cutting grass, the spring wind will make it grow again.

Forget it; Father surely has his reasons for doing this. I just need to carry out the order.

……

The zi hour has passed, the night is at its darkest.

In the Wang Family's rear courtyard, that patched-up, even more dilapidated Black Feather Boat hovered silently half a foot above the ground, the runes carved on its hull dim and lightless.

More than thirty Wang Family Core members, carrying only the simplest bundles that held all their hopes for future survival, silently queued up and boarded the flying vessel.

No one spoke.

The air was filled with sorrow and fear, plus a hint of bewilderment at the vast road ahead.

Only the heavy footsteps on the metal deck made a 'thud thud' sound, and the crowd's uncontrollable, heavy breathing.

Wang Shan was the last to board.

He stood at the gangway entrance, looked back one last time, and gazed deeply at this old manor that had carried the Wang family's rise and fall through generations.

On the courtyard walls, traces of the recent bloodbath seemed to linger, and the air still seemed to carry the faint scent of blood.

Here, he had once been full of vigor and ambition, and it was also where he had nearly been buried.

But now he must abandon it with his own hands.

He did not linger overly; his gaze lingered complexly for a few breaths, then he resolutely turned and stepped onto the gangway.

The interior of the Black Feather Boat was not large; with more than thirty people crammed inside, it felt cramped and oppressive.

Wang Shan walked straight to the frontmost Control Console, where there was a recess for placing spirit stones to power the flying vessel.

He hesitated not, directly embedding the captured, priceless Upper Grade spirit stone into it!

Now is not the time to be stingy!

"Activate!"

With his low shout, the Upper Grade spirit stone instantly burst forth with brilliant light, pure energy surging like a tide into the flying vessel's every Array Node.

hum—

The dilapidated flying vessel emitted a slight, teeth‑setting tremor, as if a sleeping old fellow were reluctantly waking up.

Immediately after, it rose slowly and silently into the sky, like a huge black feather silently merging into a night darker than ink.

Below the flying vessel lay the sleeping Luo Bay County.

Ahead of the flying vessel stretched the boundless, peril‑ridden Man Yun Mountain Range.

Inside the cabin, someone finally could no longer hold back and let out a soft sob.

Wang Shan walked to the rail, watching the familiar cityscape below rapidly recede, eventually turning into a blurred Light Spot before vanishing completely into the darkness.

He closed his eyes, pressing all his reluctance, sorrow, and anger back into his heart.

When he opened them again, his turbid old eyes held only icy resolve and a yearning to survive.

Survive!

Then, bring the Wang Family and become stronger!

Ten Thousand Families? Foundation Establishment? Ten Thousand Beasts Gate?

One day, I will make you know what regret is!

"Dad..." Wang Zhezhe walked to his side, voice a little dry, "We... can we really escape?"

Wang Shan did not turn back, merely gazing at the endless dark mountains to the south.