Chapter 293: Jiang Yan

Chapter 293: Jiang Yan

Linghai Prefecture had originally been the domain of the Yu Family.

After the Azure Pond Sect regained control of the area, the Yu Family quickly changed their allegiance. With several of their ancestors serving in the Azure Pond Sect, they managed to retain most of their territory and continued to dominate Linghai Prefecture.

However, after the deaths of several ancestors, the Yu Family's influence slowly waned year after year. Despite the emergence of a genius, Yu Yuxie, he quickly perished at the southern border, leading to the decline of the main branch of the Yu Family.

Several branches united with external families and established their own bases. Although the vast territory still nominally belonged to the Yu Family, they were fragmented and operated independently.

Fortunately, Linghai Prefecture was located in the southeast, surrounded by no external enemies, and the Azure Pond Sect did not allow clans to span prefectures. Thus, the fragmented Yu Family managed to maintain a status quo, preserving a rigid social structure that had lasted for nearly two centuries.

The wide road was bustling with people. From time to time, small traders and vendors passed by on donkeys and horses. By the roadside, a raggedly dressed boy sat, his face pale and lips blood-red, his gaze lightly scanning the passersby. Suddenly, he spoke, "Master, what exactly are the cultivators of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivating?"

From among the passersby emerged an old farmer, who was sweating profusely. He sat down next to the boy, his stench overwhelming. With a mouth full of yellow teeth, he replied, "The Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao... The cultivation method involves consuming people, playing with spells, refining pills, gathering qi, and manipulating the lives of others... None of their cultivators are good people."

The boy raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Does this path not cultivate the metallic essence? To seek longevity, one will naturally use all means possible."

The old farmer spat and scoffed. "Heh! The Maha and Dharma Masters who cultivate destinies aren't any better. You will serve the Mahas for generations, year after year under their rule. Encountering a Maha or Dharma Master brings about despair and injustice that is even worse than dealing with Golden Core Daoists!"

The old farmer ranted agitatedly, his spit flying everywhere. The boy covered his nose and protested, "Old man, maybe you should change your skin... This one is too stinky!"

The old farmer paused, as if realizing something. He looked around in confusion, slapped his thigh, and cursed, "What the hell, how did I end up in this state? I am getting muddle-headed over the years..."

He jumped up and walked down the road, ignoring the boy who was traveling with him. Shortly after, a female farmer, relatively clean in appearance, came by, cursing with a smile, "Having practiced spells for over ten years, and yet you still care about appearances!"

The boy curled his lip and remarked, "You sure have it easy... avoiding the emissaries of death and wandering the world carefreely!"

"Damn it," the female farmer cursed before she continued ranting, "I have given most of my metallic essence and fate to them. What I have left is neither enough to form a Golden Core nor to become a Maha. Instead, I am just barely surviving. What is so carefree about that? Luckily, the heavenly fate has changed. If there were still calamities now, I would not even be able to survive. To end up like this is truly laughable!"

The pain and shock were unbearable for the man, but to everyone’s horror, his severed arm stretched out like a lump of mud, leaping and writhing like a frenzied mule, clawing at her own face.

"What kind of spell is this?!" Senior Brother Chi exclaimed in shock.

"Senior Brother! Let us help you!"

The remaining Azure Pond Sect cultivators flew up to assist immediately, but they were too late. The man, slapped hard by his own hand, spun like a top for about four or five revolutions before finally losing all signs of life.

"What?!"

The rescuing cultivators were stunned into silence. The lifeless body of the man trembled momentarily in mid-air before his other hand reached up toward his neck.

Without warning, he ripped out a bloody white spine, swinging it like a sword at the approaching cultivators.

Realizing the impending danger, the cultivators quickly shot out over a dozen talismans, their faces pale with fear as they shouted, "Devil cultivator! A Purple Mansion Realm devil cultivator..."

Crack.

Before he could finish, he was smacked hard on the head, spinning like a top before falling silent. His limbs were separated from his body, yanking out his heart, spleen, stomach, and lungs, which then moved independently, each seeking out other cultivators.

"Devil cultivator... A devil cultivator!"

The entire market turned into a bloody massacre, with screams echoing everywhere.

The young man stood quietly in the air, with flesh and blood swirling around him like obedient beasts, sticking close to his side. He smiled maniacally as he watched the fleeing cultivators and called out loudly to the distant figures, "Tell the Azure Pond Sect that Jiang Yan has come to avenge the massacre of the prefecture!"

His voice echoed through the air icily, and the Azure Pond Sect cultivators fled even faster. Jiang Yan savored the moment, while the head of a man, with his hair now disheveled, flew past him, spitting blood and laughing as it spoke, "The Azure Pond Sect is so arrogant... This whole market does not even have a single Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Hurry and leave; the Yu Family is already on their way!"