Chapter 61: The Storm Is Coming

“Could it be that Shan'er has heard of this elixir?” Lin Zhaonan looked at his grandson with slight surprise.

“This elixir is said to have originated from Qingyuan Sect, one of the three great cultivation sects of Great Liang, and is used by Qingyuan Sect to cultivate strongmen.”

“Moreover, it is said this elixir can slightly enhance the cultivation base of low-grade Qi Refining cultivators. I never expected a mere medicinal merchant from the Ji family could produce such an elixir—it truly surprises me,” Ding Chushan said.

“If my guess is correct, this elixir must be the work of Ji Wenyue, the Ji family’s alchemical prodigy. A few years ago, Ji Family’s Changchun Hall was nearly overtaken by Dou Family’s Baishou Hall.”

“Then Ji Wenyue appeared out of nowhere and completely reversed the situation, propelling Ji Family’s Changchun Hall to soaring success. This woman is truly extraordinary!” Ding Bangcheng said.

“Oh, what does this woman look like?” Ding Chushan asked.

“She makes flowers blush and the moon hide—she is a mortal beauty!” Ding Bangcheng replied.

“So Shan'er has designs on her?” Lin Zhaonan’s heart stirred slightly as he asked.

“The Ji family has a long lineage and deep roots. Even though they’ve declined these past years and produced no great experts besides Ji Yuanzhen, their overall strength is certainly not to be underestimated.”

“If Shan'er can marry Ji Wenyue, not only will we gain a powerful ally in this war, but with her alchemical talent, she becomes an inexhaustible goldmine,” Gong Zhonghou mused.

“Shan'er is my legitimate grandson. Even without revealing our cultivation identity, we’re still giving Ji Yuanzhen great face! If Ji Yuanzhen is wise, he’ll understand that the Xu family is in decline, and for my Ding family to propose marriage to the Ji family is a great honor for them!” Ding Bangcheng said.

“Indeed, it’s the Ji family that’s climbing high. Ji Wenyue is merely a mortal woman—how could she possibly match me? But since I cannot yet reveal my cultivation identity, I might as well promise to marry her. After this war, when I reveal my true identity, I’ll grant her the status of a concubine. The Ji family will be eternally grateful!” Ding Chushan’s face wore a look of haughty pride.

“Hehe, exactly! Who among mortals can truly climb to the level of a cultivator? If Ji Wenyue becomes your concubine and bears you even one child, the Ji family will have touched the Immortal Path!” Ding Bangcheng stroked his goatee, smugly satisfied.

“Then we must act swiftly—send a marriage proposal to the Ji family at once, and begin preparations on all other fronts,” Gong Zhonghou said.

The Xu family.

The garden connected to the rear mountain.

Xu Zhiyuan, with white hair and bushy eyebrows, lay as usual on his bamboo-and-rattan rocking chair, bathed in the sunset.

Yet his aura no longer carried the heavy weariness of old age—it now radiated a vibrant, renewed vitality.

“Congratulations, Grandfather. Your blood and qi have fully returned to their peak,” Xu Shixiong said respectfully from beside him.

“Hehe, I never expected that fruit would ripen and fall two or three months early. This one is for you—keep it safe, and take it only after several months.”

“With your talent and foundation, you should leap straight into the Ninth Rank, becoming the youngest Martial Master in Xu family history,” Xu Zhiyuan handed Xu Shixiong a jade box.

“Thank you, Grandfather, for your immense gift. I swear I will not disappoint your expectations,” Xu Shixiong hastily accepted the jade box with both hands, his gaze burning with fervor as he stared at it.

“Ha! You’ve never once disappointed me!” Xu Zhiyuan laughed heartily.

Xu Shixiong tucked the jade box into his robe, then hesitated before speaking: “Grandfather, these past days, those three families have grown bolder and more brazen, recruiting people everywhere and forcing them to declare allegiance.”

“Now that your blood and qi have fully returned to their peak, shouldn’t we take action?”

“Indeed, we must act. And just before taking that fruit, you need some trial by fire!” Xu Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Are you saying we should clear the field?” Xu Shixiong straightened his spine instantly, his blood and qi surging like a drawn sword, radiating sharp, piercing intent.

Xu Zhiyuan gave a slight nod and said coldly: “The rebellion of the Lingzhou King and the clash with the city garrison will inevitably spread to Licheng. Right now, they’re locked in fierce battle and have no energy to interfere in Licheng’s power struggles.”

“Once they do intervene, Licheng’s situation will become far more complex and difficult. Therefore, we must seize complete control of Licheng before they step in—only then can we hold the upper hand in negotiations with them.”

“This means we must utterly crush the three families. Before we officially declare war on them, no uncertain forces may remain.”

“They must either stand fully with the Xu family, or side with one of the other three. There is no room for hesitation, no possibility of sitting on the fence.”

“I understand! Those who side with the three families—kill them. Those who refuse to join us—kill them too!” Xu Shixiong said coldly, his intent even sharper.

“Make it clean and swift—leave no traces. Sometimes, it’s better to kill a few by accident, to stir the chaos even further.”

“In fear and panic, those people will cling tightly to whoever appears strongest,” Xu Zhiyuan said calmly, his narrowed gaze fixed on the sunset, revealing a cruel, heartless glint.

“Hehe, rest assured, Grandfather. With my current cultivation, even old dogs like Ding Bangcheng aren’t my match. With the element of surprise, the leaders of those peripheral factions won’t stand a chance—they won’t leave a single trace,” Xu Shixiong said confidently.

“I’ve heard the Ji family recently produced a powerful elixir, suddenly giving them several Sixth Rank Great Martial Masters. Ji Wenyue truly is a once-in-a-generation alchemical genius.”

“Licheng is ultimately the Xu family’s foundation—we can’t just tear it all down and rebuild. Otherwise, we’d damage our own roots. Factions like the Ji family, wealthy and powerful, should be won over if possible.”

“I suggest you send a clan elder to propose marriage to the Ji family—offer Ji Wenyue the status of equal wife. With your status and power, granting her equal wife status is already giving the Ji family great face,” Xu Zhiyuan said.

“I’ve met Ji Wenyue—she’s a beauty. I once truly fancied her. But I feared indulging in beauty would hinder my cultivation, so I suppressed those thoughts.”

“Now that I stand on the brink of becoming a Martial Master, and we need to secure the Ji family’s alliance, I might as well take her now!” Xu Shixiong said.

Someday, no one knew exactly when.

Licheng’s situation suddenly grew tense.

Previously, Licheng’s chaos mostly involved lower-tier gangs, martial academies, and families—rarely did Fifth Rank Great Martial Masters get involved.

But one day, the Ding family, Lin family, and Badao Gate officially announced their alliance.

On the same day, a massive conflict erupted between the Shi family and Wujia Fortress outside the city.

The Shi family had long been seen as a peripheral faction allied with the Xu family, while Wujia Fortress was regarded as a peripheral faction allied with the Lin family.

Their sudden, violent clash—heads rolling, rivers of blood—clearly signaled that the standoff among Licheng’s four major factions was escalating.

Moreover, many factions inside and outside the city had recently received invitations to join one of the four powers.

These were not invitations—they were ultimatums to choose sides.

Outside the original four families’ domains, most people naturally refused to pick a side and be dragged into the war.

So all factions began making excuses, stalling for time.

But then, suddenly, one day:

The leader of a faction that refused to choose sides was found dead in his own backyard.

He was a Sixth Rank Great Martial Master.

His sudden murder sent Licheng into a state of panic—every shadow became a threat, every rustle a danger.

All factions sensed a powerful crisis looming over their heads.

Whether to choose a side or not—no longer their choice.