Chapter 161: The Massacre

Chapter 161: The Massacre

Situ You stood on his large flying shuttle, his heart mixed with bitterness and joy. Below, the bustling crowds of Lixia Prefecture looked up at them, causing him discomfort and agitation.

Just like decades ago, when the Golden Tang Gate invaded Azure Pond to slaughter mortals for crafting artifacts, Situ You did not revel in the invasion as his clan brothers had back then. Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

He understood that this was not a deal but a demand from Azure Pond Sect, marking this mission as perilously risky. And quite frankly, that was why the gate had chosen him—the least valued among the illegitimate descendants of the Embryonic Breathing Realm—for this task.

The Golden Tang Gate might sound prestigious, but it was essentially controlled by the Situ Family. As cultivators reached for higher realms, their offspring were more likely to be born with a spiritual orifice, inevitably leading the sect to be dominated by a single family like the Azure Pond Sect by the Chi Family, and Golden Feather Sect by the Zhang Family. Outsiders who joined the sect would eventually be serving these families.

With the Golden Tang Gate losing its pillar after the death of a middle-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Situ You's branch, which had marital ties with the Azure Pond Sect, naturally ascended to power.

His clan brother, Situ Yi, who had slaughtered thousands had met a grim fate, leaving Situ You wary of the deep waters surrounding invasions. He was aware that any involvement likely spelled doom. Thus, with complex feelings, he embarked on this mission.

Now a vassal to Azure Pond Sect, the Situ Family was ordered to attack the five prefectures of Azure Pond.

Situ You, unclear on why the Azure Pond Sect suddenly began slaughtering its own subjects, obediently led his team southward.

"How ridiculous! I'm only an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, yet they expect me to lead a few Qi Cultivators to plunder Lixia Prefecture which is guarded by a Foundation Establishment Clan..."

Situ You's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts until a realization hit him.

"I see... I get it now! It seems a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator in the Azure Pond Sect is nearing death... Azure Pond Sect is in fear!"

"Brother!"

A Qi Cultivator called out to Situ You, snapping him back to reality. He hastily summoned his blood-red long saber, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact with the blood of over a hundred thousand mortals on it.

After this sacrifice, its kill count might even rival the top-ranked dharma artifacts of the Azure Pond Sect.

Activating the saber, Situ You unleashed a torrent of blood-red saber light. Thousands of blood lights danced in the air, seemingly sentient as they swooped down toward the mortals of Lixia Prefecture like birds, signaling the beginning of the massacre.

————

"Clan Uncle!" Xiao Ruyu cried out as he approached Xiao Yongling with urgency.

"We must act quickly! Lixia Prefecture is home to tens of thousands of mortals and thousands of our Xiao Family's common descendants... The attackers are but a dozen Qi Cultivators; we cannot let them proceed with this slaughter!"

Li Xuanfeng, with a gleeful smile, handed over a jade slip, declaring proudly, "This is the Astral Golden Bow technique. Although it’s quite complex, fully mastering it means inheriting at least seventy percent of my true legacy."

"Excellent." Li Xuanxuan praised as he accepted the precious jade slip, carefully tucking it into his chest pocket, planning to place it in the stone cave for safekeeping.

With a beaming smile, he said, "Sit down for a moment. I'll go and call our second uncle."

Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, his mustache giving him a more mature appearance. Sitting on a stool, he drank his tea in big gulps, feeling restless.

"Strange..." Li Xuanfeng said, setting down his tea bowl. He suddenly thought of Jiang Yunu, murmuring to himself, "In any case, I should bring that woman back home... It’s not easy for a Qi Cultivator to have children. Waiting for her to get pregnant might take forever, and leaving her outside all the time isn’t right either. Regardless of how Second Uncle and the others might react, I’ll have to do my best and explain."

"Feng'er!" Li Tongya called out as he descended in front of the courtyard before entering leisurely.

Li Xuanfeng’s eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up, cupping his fist respectfully.

"Congratulations to Second Uncle for breaking through to the seventh heavenly layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm!"

Li Tongya, with his aura already exuding the seventh heavenly layer of Qi Cultivation Realm and even brimming with true essence, indicated that he had broken through a year or two ago. He simply nodded and took his seat.

He accepted the tea bowl and smiled. "Have you made any progress with your bow technique?" he asked.

"I certainly have!" Li Xuanfeng replied as he beamed with pride, lifting his bow.

"A few years ago, my mastery was confined to the sheer sharpness of the bow. Now... I've truly grasped the intent of the bow. Without the need for arrows, merely drawing and aiming the bow at rabbits is enough to startle them to their demise, while aiming at people can shatter their resolve. Even Qi Cultivators—struck by my formless, colorless arrow intent, will find themselves thrown into disarray for an extended period... let alone ordinary people and those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm! Those with weaker wills may even succumb to vomiting blood and falling to a fever, unable to even take flight."

"It’s that miraculous..?" Li Tongya repeated softly as he found his bow technique quite peculiar. Lacking knowledge of archery, he could not tell whether Li Xuanfeng’s current mastery was good or bad, deciding it would have to be tested in real combat.

Seeing Li Xuanfeng looking around, Li Tongya asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Li Xuanfeng shook his head, choosing his words carefully before saying, "Well... before I begin, please forgive me, Second Uncle... I've actually taken a liking to a girl in the prefecture. She is of humble background, so I've always hesitated to bring her home. It's been over a decade. I thought of bringing her back today, to continue our lineage here..."

"Huh?" Li Tongya sipped his tea and replied, "Young love is no crime. Find an opportunity to bring her home."

Li Xuanfeng was overjoyed, nodding vigorously. Initially planning to demonstrate his bow technique to Li Tongya and the others, he was now too excited for that.

After bidding farewell to Li Tongya, he rode the wind to the prefecture to fetch Jiang Yunu.