As the Su family's former allies defected one after another, the Su family was defeated like a landslide.
All the families vented the resentment for their dead clan members on the Su family.
In less than a quarter hour, all the Su family disciples who had left the grand array perished here.
Basically, all encountered sieges by multiple people.
The Zhou family side and their allies, relying on several times the numerical advantage, had few casualties afterward. Only a dozen or so were rather unlucky, being forcibly dragged by Su family members to perish together.
Zhou Shaoyuan, seeing the overall situation was settled and shocked by Xu Mingwei's methods, immediately flew over, wanting to probe his origins.
"Fellow Daoist, thank you for killing the Su family head. Otherwise, we would have had to expend considerable effort to kill him, and he might even have escaped."
Xu Mingwei, seeing him approach, tucked the storage bag into his bosom.
"Fellow Daoist need not worry. Su Yuanze was killed entirely by your own power, Fellow Daoist. My Zhou family has already stated that the spoils of war from those killed all belong to their respective families."
"The Xu family?" Zhou Shaoyuan, no matter how he thought about it in his mind, couldn't find any deeply hidden immortal cultivation family surnamed Xu in Yuehu Commandery.
"Is Fellow Daoist not from a Yuehu Commandery family?"
Xu Mingwei smiled faintly, "My Xu family is just an obscure and unknown small family in Yuehu Commandery. How could we enter Family Head Zhou's eyes?"
"A family that rose because it produced an immortal cultivator with astonishing talent?"
Zhou Shaoyuan instantly understood. This type was also common.
After all, it wasn't only immortal cultivation families that could give birth to immortal cultivators with true spiritual root aptitude or higher. Even common households could as well.
It was just that, relatively speaking, the probability was higher in immortal cultivation families.
"However, cultivating to the eighth layer of Qi Refining without becoming famous in Yuehu Commandery, this Xu family is truly patient enough. Moreover, could this person have previously traveled and cultivated in other commanderies? Just staying within the family without abundant immortal cultivation resources, he shouldn't have reached the eighth layer of Qi Refining at such an age, right?"
Zhou Shaoyuan scrutinized Xu Mingwei. His qi and blood were excessively vigorous, making him almost mistake him for a martial artist. However, based on his appearance, he could deduce that his age probably hadn't exceeded sixty years.
"The upcoming attack on the Su family's grand array probably won't require my help, right?"
Zhou Shaoyuan was startled, "Brother Xu doesn't plan to join us in attacking the Su family?"
"No need. With so many people attacking, one more isn't much, one less isn't lacking. At full force, it probably won't take more than an hour or so to break through."
Xu Mingwei smiled faintly, "Nearly seventy to eighty percent of Yuehu Commandery's combat power is here. If we still can't destroy the Su family, wouldn't that be losing face for our Yuehu Commandery?"
The corner of Zhou Shaoyuan's mouth twitched slightly, "Brother Xu speaks reasonably."
"Furthermore, your ancestor has already agreed that after destroying the Su family this time, my Xu family alone will occupy thirty percent of the resources, including spirit stone medicinal fields, spirit medicines, spirit stone magical artifacts, and so on. Moreover, regarding Dao texts and secret arts, my Xu family doesn't need the originals, but we must have an imprinted copy of everything."
"What?!" Zhou Shaoyuan couldn't believe it.
Thirty percent of the Su family's resources was enough to create a top-tier fifth-rank family, even surpassing the Yuan family, currently Yuehu Commandery's number one Qi Refining family.
"Family Head Zhou doesn't believe me? If it were a lie that could be easily exposed, how would I dare open my mouth before Family Head Zhou?" Xu Mingwei smiled faintly.
"If this is true, why would Ancestor..."
"The Su family also had trump cards. Under a sneak attack, Senior Zhou nearly died, and I happened to resolve the crisis and held back the Su family's reinforcements. Does Family Head Zhou think this merit is worth thirty percent of the Su family's foundation?"
"The Su family's reinforcements, was that the golden-robed cultivator sitting on a gourd?"
Zhou Shaoyuan had glimpsed him from afar once, but being too far away, he couldn't accurately probe his realm but to dare serve as the Su family's reinforcements in this battle, he must also be a Foundation Establishment stage immortal cultivator.
If Ancestor Zhou had died, the Zhou family would definitely have been utterly defeated in this battle.
This merit should be considered the greatest merit, worth thirty percent of the Su family's resources.
Zhou Shaoyuan was silent for a short while, then looked up, his eyes carrying slight regret, before saying, "Since Ancestor has already promised, after this battle ends and my Zhou family has organized everything, we can send someone to deliver the obtained resources, or Brother Xu can come to my Zhou family to collect them?"
"I'll trouble Family Head Zhou to send someone to deliver them."
Zhou Shaoyuan nodded slightly, "By the way, Brother Xu should also understand one point. All the families have merit in this battle, so they can all share in the Su family's resources. Moreover, my Zhou family has promised to distribute according to the size of merit in this battle. My Zhou family will also make these details public to the other families. Otherwise, it will be difficult to block the murmurs of the masses. Brother Xu didn't participate in our discussions, so you probably didn't know about this, right?"
"No problem." Xu Mingwei was unconcerned.
Want to use this to make my Xu family back down?
If it were truly an ordinary family, they might be apprehensive, fearing they couldn't protect so many resources but the Xu family had long prepared thoroughly. If preparations were insufficient, how would they rashly interfere in this Su-Zhou family dispute?
Xu Mingwei continued, "I trust the Zhou family will explain clearly why my Xu family alone gets thirty percent. If anyone is unconvinced and wants to come demand an explanation, don't blame me for being merciless with my arrows."
Zhou Shaoyuan's heart suddenly trembled.
Ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators who went would probably fall with one arrow each.
"Then may I ask where the Xu family is?"
"Qingjiang, the Xu clan of Dongxi Village."
"Farewell."
Xu Mingwei rode his sword and departed calmly.
"This person is truly not simple. 'I trust the Zhou family will explain clearly'? Isn't this openly saying that if anyone comes to disturb his Xu family due to resource distribution issues, it would be my Zhou family's fault?"
He watched Xu Mingwei's figure swiftly depart, disappearing in an instant.
Standing with his hands behind his back, he watched his form vanish into the twilight. Only after a long while did he murmur softly, "In this Su-Zhou dispute, my Zhou clan may not necessarily gain all the benefits."
After speaking, a gust of late winter northern wind swept past, leaving him feeling somewhat dispirited.
The Zhou family's casualties among clan disciples were the highest among all families, and the pill supply for all families was also provided by the Zhou family at great expense.
Twenty percent would definitely have to be shared with the so-called "allies."
Originally able to get eighty percent, now only half remained.
After offsetting the consumption from this battle and the benefits promised to some martial Dao families, the remainder probably wouldn't differ much from what the Xu family obtained.
"The Xu clan of Dongxi Village?"
"Truly not simple indeed. I hope that in the future, the Zhou-Xu relationship won't become today's Su-Zhou relationship."
The Xu family's sudden appearance raised great vigilance in the Zhou family. If the Xu family threatened the Zhou family in the future, the Zhou family would probably act like the Su family of the past, suppressing or even taking clan-exterminating action.
Two or three hours later.
Xu Mingwei returned to the Xu family and reported all matters and handed over the items.
And at this time, the Su family, with hundreds of years of history, was exterminated!
…
Questioning Heart Courtyard, study.
"Father, that's roughly how things went."
"Thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, one ice-attribute top-tier attack magical artifact Profound Ice Awl, one high-quality defensive magical artifact Black Tortoise Seal, two high-grade magical artifacts, 'Blood Lineage Traction' and 'Soul Prohibition.' The harvest from this trip is truly not small."
"It's all thanks to Father's blessing."
After speaking, he returned the Lei family token with a smile and asked curiously, "Father, did you divine that the Lei family would go to provide assistance?"
"No." Xu Chuan shook his head, "I just felt that if you encountered danger, it could save your life."
"Your son finds that somewhat hard to believe."
Xu Chuan chuckled, "Believe it or not, leave the things and go do whatever you need to do. Yunnu has almost reached the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining. As soon as he reaches it, he can immediately attempt a breakthrough to the ninth layer of Qi Refining without needing to polish the bottleneck. You also need to catch up quickly. Don't become complacent because of today's actions. Becoming an immortal cultivation family will also bring many corresponding matters one after another."
"Understood, Father." Xu Mingwei cupped his hands, "Then what about my father-in-law and the others?"
"Tomorrow, inform them of the commandery city situation. They'll probably leave that very day."
Xu Mingwei nodded slightly, then left the study.
"As expected, it's highly auspicious!"
Chuckling twice, he then began reading "Blood Lineage Traction" and "Soul Prohibition" to see if he could quickly learn them.
Today, when he performed divination, he had merely inquired about Xu Mingwei's fortune and misfortune.
The hexagram said that if he intervened to save Ancestor Zhou, he would obtain thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, which was a highly auspicious divination.
With these thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, the Xu family could soon establish a firm foothold in Yuehu Commandery.
As for some dissatisfaction from Yuehu Commandery Qi Refining families, let them be dissatisfied.
If they truly dared to come to the door, the Xu family wouldn't give them face either. Those who went too far would have their corpses sent back as a warning.
To establish a firm foothold, forbearance alone wasn't enough. One's own strength had to be sufficient!
The next day, Xu Mingwei went to the west courtyard.
"What? The Su-Zhou family dispute has ended?!"
Yang Zhao had just taken a sip and hadn't swallowed yet. Hearing this news, he almost sprayed it out on the spot.
Gulp~
His Adam's apple rolled.
Yang Zhao's eyes were filled with nervousness. He grabbed Xu Mingwei's arms and asked, "Which family won?"
"The Zhou family achieved victory." Xu Mingwei smiled faintly, "News came from my Xu family that those from all families who participated in this battle have already returned to their respective families."
Yang Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and released his arms. He paced back and forth twice, then turned and asked, "How are my Yang family's losses?"
"I don't know the exact details, but they should be considerable."
Yang Zhao stumbled and finally sat down in the chair beside Xu Mingwei. For a long while, he didn't speak.
"Father-in-law, what are your plans?"
"Tomorrow, no, today we'll return. Yang Shidao and I will go first. If there are truly no major problems, we'll find time to send someone to pick up Chang'er and the others."
Xu Mingwei showed no expression and nodded slightly.
Yang Zhao immediately spoke briefly with Lady Yang, then went to find Yang Shichang and Yang Shidao.
Yang Shidao and Yang Zhao immediately rode horses and hurried back to the commandery city.
With just the two of them riding fast, they could reach the commandery city in a day and a half, whereas bringing family members would take at least two or three days.
"I hope Father's journey is safe."
Yang Ronghua, Yang Shichang's family, and Lady Yang all came to the Xu residence entrance to see them off.
Xu Mingwei held Yang Ronghua's hand and smiled faintly, "Don't worry, nothing major will happen. At most, there will be some sorrow, plus some shock and existential questioning."
Yang Ronghua looked at Xu Mingwei uncomprehendingly and asked, "Husband, what do you mean by that?"
"When Father-in-law goes to the commandery city, he should learn about some of my Xu family's foundation."
"The Xu family isn't planning to keep a low profile anymore?"
"Having already made a high-profile debut, how can we return to keeping a low profile? Let's go back."
"Mm."
Yang Ronghua never asked too many questions about matters Xu Mingwei didn't want to discuss. She only needed to do her duties well.
"Clan uncle, we've arrived at the commandery city."
"Let's enter."
Yang Zhao took out his commandery captain token. The soldiers on duty at the city gate all cupped their hands, "Greetings, Commandery Captain."
"Has there been anything unusual in the commandery city recently?"
"It seems every household is wearing mourning clothes, all with crying and wailing. It should be related to the previous great battle."
"Good, I understand."
He and Yang Shidao exchanged glances, both showing helplessness in their eyes, along with a trace of anxiety.
The two immediately rode their horses into the city, heading straight for the Yang residence.