Chapter 94

Ding Mansion.

Council Hall.

The young Ding Chushan sat side by side with his grandfather Ding Bangcheng, his maternal grandfather Lin Zhaonan, and Gong Zhonghou, the sect master of Ba Dao Men.

On either side sat the core elder members of the Ding and Lin families, along with the core elders of Ba Dao Men.

All were eighth-rank Great Martial Masters.

“So much time has passed, and Zhaomou and Banghong still haven’t returned—it looks like they’re unlikely to survive!” Ding Bangcheng said with a grim expression.

“I heard Xu Zhizhong returned to Li City a few days ago, but Xu Zhicheng hasn’t shown up yet—we don’t know if he’s come back,” Lin Zhaonan said.

“Our three families sent out two eighth-rank Great Martial Masters each, and all have failed to return, while Xu’s family also sent two—but one has already reappeared.

Moreover, lately, Great Martial Masters who sided with our alliance have been found dead in their homes, sparking widespread panic. This trend is deeply suspicious!” Gong Zhonghou frowned.

“Could it be that Xu Zhiyuan, that old villain, took a risky path, slipped out of the city, and assassinated our Ding and Lin family elders, then seized a large amount of wealth?

Don’t forget, the Ji family is a medicinal clan—they must have carried many elixirs. If used well, these could quickly produce numerous strong cultivators. Especially the Phoenix Cry Elixir—it’s no ordinary pill!” Ding Banghong suddenly recalled his grandson’s words on the city wall, hesitated, then spoke up.

The hall fell silent.

Many had already entertained this suspicion.

But they all felt Xu Zhiyuan was elderly, his vigor long faded—he shouldn’t dare such reckless moves.

Yet our two eighth-rank Great Martial Masters have not returned, while Xu’s family has one back.

This is clearly abnormal!

The longer the delay, the greater their suspicions grew.

“If Clan Elder Banghong’s guess is right, we can’t afford to delay any longer! Even if Xu Zhiyuan is old, he’s still a Patriarch. If he keeps launching ambushes to whittle down our strength, we’ll have no way to stop him.

The longer we wait, the more the balance shifts. If Xu Shixiong breaks through into the Patriarch realm, then our further hesitation will only bind ourselves and squander our chance!” Lin Zhaonan mused.

“Exactly. Xu Shixiong is a true prodigy in martial cultivation. If he grows stronger, our three families will lose all opportunity!” Gong Zhonghou said gravely.

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier.

“Hmph, if I weren’t short on cultivation resources, what could Xu Shixiong possibly do even if he grew strong?” Ding Chushan sneered, showing disdain at their excessive concern for Xu Shixiong.

“That’s why, no matter how heavy our losses, we must crush the Xu family. Even the Ji family possessed the Phoenix Cry Elixir—something useful to cultivators. The Xu family has dominated Li City for over a hundred years, producing successive Patriarchs—how could they lack valuable treasures?

Especially Yun Cui Mountain, tightly guarded by the Xus. In all these years, I’ve sensed three faint fluctuations of mysterious energy similar to those of Wanluo Mountain.

Though fleeting, these suggest Yun Cui Mountain likely has a spiritual vein running beneath it. Even if it’s a tiny, insignificant vein, far weaker than Wanluo Mountain,

it would still provide ample support for Chushan’s cultivation alone. And our three families control Li City—we can supply endless other resources.

With this, if Chushan succeeds in cultivation, our descendants will all gain a chance at immortality. What do our current losses matter?” Gong Zhonghou said.

“Correct. If Chushan succeeds in cultivation, any loss is worth it!” Ding Bangcheng said solemnly.

“Then let’s act soon—no more delays. The longer we wait, the more risks we invite!” Lin Zhaonan said.

After that day’s meeting.

The atmosphere in the territories controlled by the three families grew tense overnight.

Forces began moving quietly.

“Master Liang, and all the instructors, tonight you’ll move into the Ding Mansion and stay with me—await orders at all times!” That day, Ding Chuyong arrived at the temporary residence of Liang Jingtang and others in Wutong Alley and issued the order.

“Are you preparing to attack the Xu family?” Liang Jingtang asked, eyes flashing with killing intent.

“Master Liang, that’s not your concern now. You only need to obey orders!” Ding Chuyong said, a faint, unnoticed sneer curling his lips.

These fools still don’t know the rumor about the ambush on their families was planted by our Ding clan. They’re stupid enough to rush headlong into the Xu family to avenge their kin.

“Yes, Young Master Chuyong!” Liang Jingtang bowed.

“Good. Remember to move tonight—keep it quiet. Once you arrive at the Ding Mansion, someone will guide you inside.” Ding Chuyong nodded, gave a final warning, then turned and walked away.

“Pfft, an eighth-rank Great Martial Master dares to show off in front of you, Master? If it weren’t for the need to stay hidden, I’d have crushed his skull with one punch!” Yu Chi Xiao shouted, flexing his fist.

In a short time, Yu Chi Xiao had surged from fifth-rank to seventh-rank Great Martial Master—his ego had ballooned, and he longed to flaunt it everywhere.

Yet he was forced to hide in this old house every day—it was worse than wearing brocade in the dark.

Watching Yu Chi Xiao flex his fist, Zhuo Xingji silently turned and walked back inside.

He was still just a mere sixth-rank!

Liang Jingtang slapped Yu Chi Xiao hard on the back of the head, scolding: “Is seventh-rank that impressive? With your showy attitude, you claim you want to conceal your presence—can you even hide? Use your time to learn from Daoming!”

Saying that, Liang Jingtang turned and went inside too.

“Master, where did I go wrong? Besides, aren’t you also seventh-rank? And didn’t you say the day before yesterday that after we take Li City, I won’t need to hide anymore?” Yu Chi Xiao rubbed the back of his head, looking at Xia Daoming with grievance.

“Brother, it’s about emotional intelligence!” Xia Daoming patted Yu Chi Xiao’s shoulder.

“Emotional intelligence?” Yu Chi Xiao still didn’t understand.

Several days later.

The Xu family’s rear courtyard, backed by Yun Cui Mountain.

Xu Zhiyuan paced back and forth, his face dark, radiating an aura of terrifying power that left the two young women kneeling and standing nearby frozen in silence, not daring to breathe.

“Four days—and still no return! Are you certain Shixiong didn’t mention where he was going that day?” Xu Zhiyuan suddenly stopped, his gaze like a blade fixed on the kneeling maid.

“I am certain!” the maid replied.

“L-Lord, I just remembered—when Shixiong Young Master came to see you a few days ago, I privately told him about my father and cousin being killed, while the killers, that old villain Liang and others, still live unharmed.

Could it be… that after hearing that, Shixiong Young Master went out that night to kill them and avenge my Shi family? But—I’ve sent people to check these past two days, and Liang and the others are still alive.” The standing woman, pale-faced, stepped forward tremblingly.

“You mean that Liang boy from Qianjiao Martial Hall? I did hear Shixiong mention sending a team to ambush the families of that faction… but now…” Xu Zhiyuan trailed off, then suddenly paled, his face changing as he began pacing again.

“To have Qianjiao Martial Hall kill the families of my women, then deliberately spread rumors for my Xu family to ambush theirs—yet none of my men returned.

If I were the one secretly assassinating these Great Martial Masters, I’d target Qianjiao Martial Hall to vent my rage! Then Ding Bangcheng and the others could set up an ambush in advance!”

At this thought, Xu Zhiyuan’s face turned grim.

At that moment, a tall, imposing man in his sixties strode in, his expression grave.