Chapter 5

At the same moment, everyone felt a terrifying pressure so strong it was suffocating!

The pressure came quickly and left just as fast; in an instant, Jiang Daoxuan withdrew it.

Once the Jiang family members around them came to their senses, they erupted like boiling water!

"The clan leader has broken through to the Purple Mansion realm?"

"Hahaha! Our Jiang family now has a Purple Mansion cultivator to stand guard! Let's see who dares to bully our family for lacking talent in the future!"

"Fortune has turned; truly, our ancestors are protecting us. We are fortunate enough to see the birth of the second Purple Mansion cultivator in hundreds of years at this critical moment for the family's survival!"

"At this point, the city lord is from the imperial court and will not meddle in the struggles of noble families. But the Tang family's ancestor is already old and frail, likely not long for this world. Now, who can still stand against our Jiang family's might?!"

For a moment, the entire courtyard was filled with the laughter and joy of the Jiang family's children.

This was not because they lacked composure; one must remember, this is the Purple Mansion realm!

Even though the Jiang family has been established in Wudan City for hundreds of years, only their ancestor has ever reached such a realm until now.

And now, their Jiang family is fortunate enough to produce a second one?

A powerhouse of such a realm, if he went to the overwhelmingly powerful Qianshan Sect, could even hold the honored position of an Elder and be entrusted with great responsibility!

Even if he joined the imperial court, he could wield heavy power and become the city lord of a remote region!

Such a powerful existence has appeared in their Jiang family again; how could they not feel excited?

At this moment, even the First Elder, who was usually quite steady, could not remain calm, his whole body trembling with excitement.

His lips parted slightly as he murmured, "Fortune has turned; truly, fortune has turned..."

Under the burning, admiring gazes of the crowd.

Jiang Daoxuan's expression remained normal; he simply took out a black pill from his robes and handed it to the First Elder.

"The toil of these years has made your foundation unstable. Take this Solid-Source Pill and consume it first..."

Solid Yuan Pill?

The Grand Elder's eyes widened.

He was not unfamiliar with this item; it was a top-grade Huang-tier elixir, worth a fortune.

Even with the Jiang family spending vast assets, they could not purchase many.

Its effect was miraculous; once taken, it could accelerate wound recovery and stabilize the foundation.

Years ago, before Jiang Daoxuan entered seclusion, he had spent a great price to buy one.

"Th-thank you, Clan Leader, for your gift."

The Grand Elder, overcome with excitement, extended his trembling hands, carefully took the pill, and held it in his palm.

Immediately after, he swallowed it in one gulp, sending it down into his belly.

Before long, the deathly pallor on his face began to fade at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his complexion quickly turned ruddy.

[Ding~ Investment successful. Congratulations, Host, on receiving a bottle of Marrow-Cleansing Pills! It has been automatically placed in the System Warehouse and can be withdrawn at any time.]

Hmm, not bad, quite considerate.

Jiang Daoxuan nodded, then turned to the Grand Elder and spoke slowly. "How much time has passed since I entered seclusion? What has happened during these days..."

Only after using his Purple Mansion spiritual sense to detect the crisis within the courtyard did he rush over in haste.

Yet he did not know the true cause inside.

Hearing his own Clan Leader speak, the Grand Elder immediately suppressed his inner joy, recalled recent events, and began to recount them in detail.

"Reporting to the Clan Leader, it has been over six years since you entered seclusion. These years, because news of your seclusion spread, many people... many people guessed you failed to break through and died. Thus, the Tang family grew increasingly brazen, starting to seize our Jiang family's fields and instigating various conflicts, all just to test if you were still alive."

"Years have passed, and seeing that you never appeared, the Tang family lost all restraint. They began to ally with the Sun and Gao families to massively occupy our Jiang family's mines and fields, disrupt our shops and restaurants within the city, causing many customers to complain, forcing us to lose much market share, and making our situation increasingly dire."

"However, two years ago, we erupted into a fierce conflict with the Tang family, and your younger brother, Dao Ling, was killed by the Tang family."

"Afterwards, Dao Ling's son, Jiang Chen, displayed his cultivation talent. Our clan sold several shops and restaurants, converted thirty percent of the clan's assets into liquid wealth, and used this to bribe connections, allowing Jiang Chen to join Qianshan Sect and become an inner sect disciple."

"Only after gaining the protection of Qianshan Sect did the Tang, Sun, and Gao families curb their actions significantly."

"However, the Tang family somehow learned news that Jiang Chen was attacked by the Falling Maple Sect while executing a sect mission, that his dantian was now shattered, and that he had been expelled from Qianshan Sect. This caused the Tang family to lose their fear, and Tang Zhengyang personally led clan members to our door, intending to wipe out our clan today..."

Hearing this, Jiang Daoxuan's eyes showed contemplation, and his expression gradually grew strange.

The actions of the Tang, Sun, and Gao families did not surprise him.

Yet Jiang Chen's experience, for some reason, gave him a strange sense of familiarity.

Once a family genius, joined a sect, executed a sect mission, ambushed by a hostile sect, dantian shattered, expelled from the sect...

Could it be...

Jiang Daoxuan shook his head.

How could such a great karmic cause fall upon the Jiang family? Isn't it always the Ye, Lin, Xiao, Su, and other families?

Quickly casting the thought aside, Jiang Daoxuan began to consider his next move.

Since the Tang family members have already been killed and relations completely severed, might it not be better to turn passive into active and strike first?

How can one allow others to snore beneath one's bed?

The danger must be strangled in the cradle; the Tang family's eggs must all be shaken until the yolks scatter, their ant hills must be doused with boiling water, and not a single person must escape!

Just as Jiang Daoxuan gradually made up his mind, his eyes revealing killing intent.

[Ding~ How can family dignity be trampled by others? Triggering family mission: Wipe out the Tang family and intimidate the scoundrels in the city!]

[Mission reward: Depends on the score; the higher the score, the richer the reward. If a perfect score is reached, a mysterious reward can be obtained.]

A family mission?

Jiang Daoxuan's heart rejoiced.

Excellent, the System mission aligns perfectly with my intent.

Now the Tang family truly has no choice but to be utterly exterminated!

Jiang Daoxuan sneered, then raised his head to look at everyone.

"The Tang family has acted so recklessly; how can our Jiang family endure? Such a great grudge must be washed away with blood! Do you all, willing to follow this Clan Leader to the Tang family, make them pay with blood for their blood debts and seek justice?!"

His voice echoed throughout the entire courtyard, causing everyone present to pause in shock.

But immediately after, once they realized what was happening, their faces showed excitement; they raised their arms and shouted, producing a deafening roar!

"My eldest brother and second uncle were killed by the Tang family! Such a blood grudge can only be resolved by the destruction of the Tang family!"

"Now that the Clan Leader acts for us, we willingly go!"

"The Tang family bullying our Jiang family like this is truly intolerable! This time we must seek justice!"

"Hahaha! The Clan Leader has already cultivated to the upper realm of the Purple Mansion, while the Tang family's ancestor is withering away. What fear is there of the mere Tang family? They are likely no match!"

At this moment, all the Jiang family members clenched their fists tightly, their hearts surging with emotion.

The Grand Elder watched this scene, and as if flames were rising deep within his pupils. "The debt the Tang family owes our Jiang family is now time to be reclaimed..."

Taking in everyone's reaction, Jiang Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction, then faced everyone and spoke deeply. "Set out!"

As the words fell, Jiang Daoxuan immediately turned and walked toward the Jiang family gate.

Seeing this, everyone followed closely behind, forming a long dragon-like formation.

Soon, Jiang Daoxuan had already arrived at the main gate of the Jiang manor.

Just as he stepped forward with his leading foot.

Jiang Daoxuan suddenly paused, his expression slightly stunned, his movement halting.

This caused everyone behind him to stop as well, somewhat confused.

The reason Jiang Daoxuan stopped advancing was simple.

Because the System notification appeared.

[Ding~ A golden-tier clan member detected. Host may initiate an investment.]

Golden Rank?

Jiang Daoxuan was stunned.

Even the Grand Elder, who had reached the seventh layer of the Innate Realm, was only judged by the system as Green Rank.

And now, this suddenly appeared clan member of Golden Rank—how outrageous could he be?

Driven by curiosity, Jiang Daoxuan glanced around and, following the system's guidance, quickly spotted his target.

On the street a hundred meters away stood a down-and-out youth in tattered gray robes, with a thin build, messy hair, and a pale face.

He walked unsteadily, as if he might collapse at any moment.

At this moment, the youth was struggling to make his way toward the Jiang family.

Who is this person?