Returning to Dongxi.
Xu Mingwei suddenly asked, "Father, why didn't you force them to make a vow?"
"Between personal safety and clan safety, those two families will make their choice.
Moreover, this is also a punishment for the two families."
"Punishment?" Xu Mingxian didn't understand.
"When you face the same choice as those two families, what will be in your hearts?"
The two immediately brightened, understanding, "Unbearable torment, perhaps even more terrifying than being killed directly."
"Choices can be big or small, light or heavy. Sometimes a single choice might leave you haunted by inner demons for the rest of your life, unable to advance further, or it might let you progress by leaps and bounds, singing triumphantly all the way.
Just like when you make choices for your own children, choosing whether they walk the immortal path or the martial path.
The pressure of this, you'll understand when you truly have to make that choice."
The two felt their hearts sink.
Choices, terrifying as this!
"What if they ultimately still choose to oppose our Xu family?" Xu Mingwei asked.
"The probability of that is less than ten percent, but if they truly do so, do you think our Xu family won't have a chance of victory?"
Xu Mingxian grinned, "Elder brother, the second-rank superior Four Symbols Heaven Force Array is rumored to be able to slay Foundation Establishment cultivators. Little brother actually really wants to see its true power."
Hearing this, Xu Mingwei shook his head with a laugh. This younger brother of his was also cunningly wicked.
Oh, that's not right, he was no longer the youngest of the second generation anymore.
In just a few more months, their youngest little brother would be born.
Seven or eight days passed in the blink of an eye.
Just a few more days until November.
The autumn wind was bleak, carrying threads of killing intent in the air.
The Xu family activated the outermost first-rank superior defensive formation, the Earthen Defense Grand Array and removed the Cloud Mist Array because it would also affect the vision of Xu Chuan and the others.
More than a hundred cultivators all rode flying swords, transforming into streaks of light that streaked across the sky and stopped above Dongxi.
"The Cloud Mist Array has disappeared?"
Yuan Chenggang was slightly stunned, then he immediately formed a hand seal and cast toward Dongxi.
Peng!
A layer of earth-yellow translucent light curtain suddenly rose, blocking the spell. The light curtain seemed to ripple slightly.
"An earth-attribute first-rank superior formation?" Yuan Chenggang smiled, "The Xu family's foundation is truly not shallow. They've only established their immortal cultivation family for a few years, yet they've already obtained such a formation."
He flew to the very front, turned around and swept his gaze over everyone, "The Xu family has few people but abundant resources. Their foundation is probably equivalent to three or four fifth-rank Qi Refining families.
Today, for the peace of Yuehu Commandery, we will eliminate the Xu family, and everyone present will have a share of their resources!"
The Yuan family disciples and others who had come coveting the Xu family's foundation all responded enthusiastically but the Huang family and Lu family were relatively indifferent.
"Brother Huang, Brother Lu, you two seem to be in an odd state."
Just at this moment, Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, and Xu Mingxian appeared.
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian still only displayed eighth layer Qi Refining cultivation.
"What a grand scene. Brother Yuan, you brought so many people here, are you planning to annihilate my Xu family?"
"So what if I am?" Yuan Chenggang turned around, "Your Xu family has heaven-reaching ambitions. Sooner or later you'll come after us established families, using us as your Xu family's stepping stones, your road paved with white bones.
We're merely striking first today!"
Xu Chuan smiled lightly, "Brother Yuan, you're quite clever, but you only got half of it right."
"My Xu family will only deal with your Yuan family, because from the moment my Xu family emerged, your Yuan family has been constantly finding ways to target my Xu family, isn't that so?"
"Nonsense!"
Even if this was the truth, Yuan Chenggang would never admit it.
"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it. Your Yuan family's path has reached its end anyway."
"Laughable. Do you think this first-rank superior formation can really block our three families' many cultivators joining forces?"
"Right, it is three families, but not you three families, it's us three families!"
Yuan Chenggang was about to mock loudly.
Suddenly, a series of miserable screams rang out from the crowd behind him, the voices coming from Yuan family disciples.
He whipped his head around to look.
He saw that the hundred-plus cultivators had already fallen into chaos.
The Huang and Lu families on both sides suddenly launched sneak attacks, instantly causing more than a dozen Yuan family cultivators to perish.
The cultivators at Qi Refining late stage from various families who had been invited to assist were all stunned, immediately distancing themselves.
"What's going on?"
They looked at each other in confusion.
Wasn't this supposed to be a three-family alliance besieging the Xu family?
How had it turned into the Huang and Lu families ambushing the Yuan family?
Should they still act?
Some people said nothing and immediately mounted their swords to flee.
However, Xu Chuan's voice rang in their ears, "Those who came here today, within half a month, bring generous gifts and apologize at our door.
You may try to escape, but the families behind you, not a single one can escape!"
His voice was ice-cold, as if coming from the Nine Netherworlds, making their hearts go cold!
"Huang Mingyu, Lu Yuntao, have you forgotten the vow we made?!"
Yuan Chenggang could never have imagined that even with a vow binding them, the Huang and Lu families would still attack his Yuan family!
Both of them smiled miserably.
Huang Mingyu said, "I must have been possessed back then to be persuaded by you to besiege the Xu family. Even the Zhou family wants to befriend them, what virtue or ability does my Huang family have to oppose them!
Today I can only drag you down with me to compensate for my Huang family's mistake."
"I, Lu, am the same. The Lu family has already selected a new family head, so I can be at peace. Yuan Chenggang, at this moment my Huang and Lu families should be besieging your Yuan family's ancestral grounds.
I presume they won't be guarding against us two families."
"You, you two are truly sinister and ruthless!" Yuan Chenggang's eyes were like molten lava erupting, yet sorrow rose in his heart.
"Not hesitating to stake your own lives just to destroy my Yuan family, what deep hatred does my Yuan family have with your two families!"
Peng!
Yuan Chenggang's blue steel shield made teeth-grinding groans under Lu Yuntao's purple flying sword. Each block exploded with a circle of visible spiritual power ripples.
The top-grade flying black sword he controlled with his left hand clashed with Huang Mingyu's Silver Rainbow flying sword. The sparks from the two swords colliding actually condensed into brief fire lotus phenomena in midair.
The battlefield behind had turned into a vortex of spiritual power storms.
A defensive formation formed by Yuan family cultivators was split open by a bloody blade light.
Exploding talismans bloomed in the crowd, sending cultivators within three zhang flying in bloody pieces, though some cultivators managed to raise defensive artifacts in time and were only jolted by the blood qi but they were immediately pierced through the heart by flying swords from the two families' cultivators.
"Family Head!"
A familiar voice called out, and Yuan Chenggang saw a flying sword fly past his side.
It was the youngest elder of the Yuan family, who had just reached seventh layer of Qi Refining last year. His potential was good, and he would definitely be able to reach ninth layer of Qi Refining in the future.
"You scoundrels from the Huang and Lu families, die!"
One Yuan family elder, filled with indignation and seeing they were outnumbered, self-destructed on the spot.
A thunderous roar resounded through the entire sky.
The spiritual power impact it stirred up sent even Yuan Chenggang, Huang Mingyu, and Lu Yuntao flying seven or eight zhang away.
"Fifth Elder!"
Yuan Chenggang's eyes filled with desolation but in the next moment, Huang Mingyu and Lu Yuntao's attacks came flying again, forcing him to scramble to respond.
"Why?!"
Yuan Chenggang wanted an answer, but when his gaze caught sight of Xu Chuan and his two sons watching coldly from inside the grand array, he understood instantly.
"It's the Xu family, isn't it? What benefits did they promise you two families to make you work so hard for the Xu family? Even willing to betray the vow and face its backlash!"
"If your Yuan family isn't destroyed today, our two families will also be buried with you!" Huang Mingyu finally revealed the reason.
"Just relying on the Xu family?"
"Just relying on my Xu family!" Xu Chuan said lightly.
As soon as his words fell, one black lightning arrow after another flew out from the grand array. Each arrow precisely shot and killed a Yuan family elder at Qi Refining late stage.
Although there was an element of sneak attack, the speed was like thunder, making it impossible for those Yuan family elders at Qi Refining late stage to defend in time.
This showed how terrifying Xu Mingwei's attacks were!
In just moments, all the Yuan family elders who had come perished.
Huang Mingyu and Lu Yuntao both felt their pupils constrict, their hearts filled with lingering fear.
If they had attacked them within the family grounds that day, their two families would probably have suffered heavy losses right then.
"Ha ha ha, what an Xu Mingwei!" Yuan Chenggang looked crazed, "Your Xu family is so domineering, how could the Zhou family possibly tolerate you in the future?
Your Xu family will ultimately only follow in the footsteps of my Yuan family!"
Xu Mingwei nocked his bow again. Previously he hadn't used his magical power, but now he exerted his full strength, injecting magical power into the treasure bow and arrow.
The aura of power that erupted made the Huang and Lu family heads' hearts tremble with fear.
They felt that facing this arrow, they too would surely die!
"Who exactly is being domineering? My Xu family has never provoked your Yuan family!"
"As for the Zhou family, the affairs between our two families don't need your Yuan family's concern."
Xu Chuan finished speaking.
Xu Mingwei's arrow also left the string. The magical power stirred up by the arrow actually condensed into a black flood dragon that engulfed Yuan Chenggang entirely.
His entire body disintegrated.
The remaining Yuan family cultivators were all dealt with.
Huang Mingyu and Lu Yuntao looked at Xu Chuan, "Brother Xu, are you satisfied now?"
Xu Chuan smiled lightly, "Your Huang and Lu families can turn back from the wrong path. The previous conspiracy with the Yuan family will end here. As for the Yuan family's resources, my son Xu Mingwei will go receive them."
"Understood."
"Of course, after we organize and consolidate the Yuan family's resources, we will also deliver the fifteen percent each promised to the Huang and Lu families."
"Thank you!" The two cupped their fists.
At this moment, Xu Chuan glanced into the distance, saying lightly, "Family Head Zhou, Elder Zhou Sen, since you've come, please come over and have a chat."
The two were shocked throughout their bodies. They turned to look and saw more than a dozen cultivators rapidly approaching from the distance.
The leader was none other than Zhou family head Zhou Shaoyuan and Zhou Sen.
The rest were at least at sixth layer of Qi Refining, with seven or eight at Qi Refining late stage.
"Originally I wanted to come see where I could help, but it seems I made a wasted trip." Zhou Shaoyuan swept his gaze over Huang Mingyu and Lu Yuntao, then smiled lightly at Xu Chuan.
"Much appreciated."
"Would you care to come to the clan for a chat?"
Zhou Shaoyuan thought for a moment, then said to the other Zhou family cultivators, "You all return first. Elder Zhou Sen and I will go for a bit. Regarding today's events, do not spread them carelessly."
"Yes, Family Head!"
"Then we'll also take our leave. We will definitely give the Xu family an accounting regarding the Yuan family matter."
Huang Mingyu and Lu Yuntao didn't linger long, immediately leading their clan disciples to attack the Yuan family.
Since they had already made their choice, they couldn't leave any future troubles.
As for the corpses strewn across the ground and their storage bags, they left them to Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian to handle. Xu Chuan brought the two to his quiet room.
"Brother Xu is truly remarkable, actually managing to turn the Huang and Lu families." Zhou Shaoyuan said, "As far as I know, Yuan Chenggang wouldn't make such a low-level mistake, would he?"
"The three family heads should have all made a vow to advance and retreat together." Xu Chuan said.
"Then they..."
As the two conversed, Zhou Sen silently sipped his tea and nodded, "Good tea."
Zhou Shaoyuan felt somewhat helpless, glancing at him and thinking to himself that he had the elder stay specifically to drink the Xu family's spirit tea?
Although, it truly did taste quite good!
Xu Chuan smiled, "They probably won't live more than a year or two, but at least their families are preserved, isn't that right?"
The two fell silent, Zhou Shaoyuan took the opportunity to take a light sip as well, secretly thinking, "Good tea."
"You two brought people here, surely not just to assist, right? You also wanted to see what trump cards my Xu family has, how we would deal with the cultivators from three families?"
Seeing they didn't answer, Xu Chuan continued, "When it's time to reveal them, they will naturally be revealed."
Zhou Shaoyuan didn't dwell on it and changed the subject, "Since the Yuan family has been destroyed, what does the Xu family plan to do in the future? Will you relocate to the Yuan family's ancestral grounds?"
"As for that..." Xu Chuan paused, "You'll naturally know later."
"Then your Xu family won't make any more moves, will you?"
"Family Head Zhou, where are these words coming from? Clearly it was the Yuan family bringing people to attack my Xu family. When have you ever seen my Xu family actively attack others?"
"Our Xu family acted in legitimate self-defense!"
What legitimate self-defense!
Zhou Shaoyuan's mouth twitched slightly.
While these words weren't wrong, making a move meant annihilating an entire clan.
In all of Yuehu Commandery, how many times could the Xu family make such a move?
Just thinking about it made Zhou Shaoyuan feel his hair stand on end!
"We can't continue like this, or you'll truly invite censure from the Cao clan! Moreover..." Zhou Shaoyuan hesitated briefly before continuing, "Destroying the Yuan family before tax collection, your Xu family needs to be careful."
"Some Imperial Spirit Tax Envoys don't care about these matters, but some will inquire."
"In this matter, my Zhou family can't help you."
Xu Chuan nodded, "Thank you for the reminder. Xu will be careful in dealing with it."
"Then we won't stay long. Elder Zhou Sen, let's go."
The two stood up.
Xu Chuan said, "Family Head Zhou, won't you go see your daughter?"
"Not this time, next time."
Xu Chuan said nothing more.
At the Immortal Arts Hall plaza, the two released their flying swords. Zhou Shaoyuan added, "The Xu family has been making major moves recently, but Zhou still requests that Brother Xu deeply consider their future impact.
Don't wait until chaos erupts to regret it when it's too late."
Having spoken, the two departed.
"Future impact?" Xu Chuan murmured the phrase, then understood why Zhou Shaoyuan had given such a reminder, but he paid it no mind.
"This counts as major moves?"
He shook his head with a smile and returned to the Pill Refining Hall to continue researching martial realm-breaking pills, Bone Nurturing Pills, Body Strengthening Pills, and the like.
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian collected all the storage bags from the fallen Yuan family disciples, along with the scattered artifacts nearby then Xu Mingxian formed a hand seal, closed the Earthen Defense Grand Array, and reopened the Cloud Mist Array.
The faint mist always maintained a sense of mystery about the Xu family.
It also made this land of Dongxi a paradise on earth.
"Mingxian, I'm going to make a trip to the Yuan family. Come with me."
"Is elder brother worried about encountering formations and restrictions that might delay time?"
"Exactly."
"Then alright."
The two leisurely flew toward the Yuan family's ancestral grounds.
Having lost numerous elders and elite cultivators, the Yuan family's remaining few cultivators at Qi Refining middle and late stages, plus some early Qi Refining cultivators, how could they resist the combined siege of the Huang and Lu families?
Not to mention, both families had left behind elders at Qi Refining eighth and ninth layers, plus large numbers of powerful martial artists.
The entire Yuan family from top to bottom was wiped clean.
Under their divine sense's inch-by-inch investigation, basically no one could escape.
The entire ancestral grounds ran with rivers of blood.
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian watched coldly until the two families' forces departed.
Looking at the Yuan family grounds shrouded in blood mist like a demon realm, Xu Mingwei said lightly, "My Xu family only wants to develop peacefully, so why are there always people scheming against my Xu family?"