A furious shout tore through the air like ripping silk, instantly followed by a thousand echoing responses!
Above Dongxi, the battle cries thundered, shaking the very heavens.
The sudden uproar caused the winds and clouds to violently shift!
"Arrow rain, descend!"
Xu Mingwei was the first to launch an attack. He condensed hundreds, even thousands of golden arrows. Like a swarming hive or a meteor shower, they pierced the air with shrill whistles, enveloping the cultivators of the Sima and Xue clans.
Every golden arrow contained the sharp aura of the metal element, boasting formidable power.
However, his mana was also draining at a frenzied pace.
But in the very next moment, Xu Mingwei swallowed a high-grade Truth Condensing Pill, rapidly restoring his depleted mana.
The Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator of the Sima clan darkened his expression and ordered, "Qi Refining disciples, scatter! Attack the Xu clan's Qi Refining cultivators!"
The same applied to the Xue clan's side.
The Xue clan's Foundation Establishment perfection expert present was Xue Wuxiu's older brother, the Xue clan's First Elder.
As a newly minted Golden Core aristocratic family, the Xue clan's foundation naturally could not compare to the Sima clan's. Their only Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator was the First Elder.
"Kill!"
Wearing a black mask and wielding a fine-grade magical artifact long saber, Xu Dewen took the lead, charging toward the Qi Refining cultivators of the Sima and Xue clans.
Seeing over a dozen magical arts hurtling toward him,
a shield materialized in his left hand, rapidly expanding against the wind.
Staring down the incoming spell bombardment, he did not retreat a single half-step.
Following closely, the rest of the Xu clan cultivators unleashed magical arts in retaliation, though these were blocked by the enemy's mana shields or defensive magical artifacts.
Waiting until the barrage of enemy spells weakened, Xu Dewen leaped into the air and slashed out with an astonishing blade strike.
"A fine-grade magical artifact? Leave him to me!"
From among the Sima clan's ranks, a middle-aged man at peak Qi Condensation charged out, also brandishing a fine-grade magical artifact.
He swung his saber to meet the attack!
The two blade lights collided in midair.
Boom!
The rippling shockwaves sent the surrounding people flying.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In the blink of an eye, Xu Dewen and the Sima clan cultivator exchanged seven or eight moves with their long sabers. Their fierce duel sent countless sparks flying continuously.
Almost no one dared to approach them.
The same scene played out all across the battlefield.
No one was foolish enough to charge at a Xu clan disciple wielding a fine-grade magical artifact while only holding a high-grade one.
Multiple people attempting a siege was possible.
But such groups were quickly broken apart in the chaos.
However, the combined number of the Xu clan's Qi Refining cultivators and Grandmaster martial artists ultimately surpassed the forces of the Sima and Xue clans by quite a margin.
In mere moments, the Qi Refining battlefield devolved into either one-on-one duels, or groups of Xu clan martial artists cooperating with cultivators to gang up on a single enemy.
On the other side.
The Sima Family Head swept his gaze over the Qi Refining battlefield and instructed two mid Foundation Establishment cultivators from his clan, "You two go. Wipe out the Xu clan's Qi Refining cultivators first."
"Yes, Family Head!"
They had barely flown a dozen meters before Xu Deheng and Xu Deyue blocked their path.
"Mere first-layer Foundation Establishment cultivators. You're courting death!"
The two Xu family members each commanded a top-grade magical artifact, individually attacking one of the enemies.
A top-grade metal-element longsword appeared in Xu Deheng's hand, while the Lunar Moon Chakra floated above Xu Deyue's palm.
Bang! Bang!
Magical artifacts violently clashed against each other.
Surprisingly, both sides were sent flying back by the residual shockwaves of the collision.
"You aren't at the first layer of Foundation Establishment?!"
Since both sides wielded top-grade magical artifacts, a direct clash should have easily resulted in the mid Foundation Establishment cultivators holding the upper hand.
Naturally, Xu Deheng and Xu Deyue did not bother answering. They continued to manipulate their magical artifacts, entangling the two enemies in combat.
The two Sima clan members were at the early fifth-layer and the peak fifth-layer of Foundation Establishment respectively, yet they showed no signs of gaining any advantage against the siblings.
While the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Sima and Xue clans were still reeling in shock, Xu Dezhao, Xu Mingqing, Zhou Qingfang, Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Chonghui, and Xu Derui all launched their attacks.
Xu Chonghui and Xu Derui teamed up to attack one person, while the other five individually engaged the remaining five enemies.
The Sima Family Head noticed that among the attacking Xu clan members, some were displaying the aura of peak Qi Condensation cultivators.
Yet, they stood suspended in midair, effortlessly wielding top-grade magical artifacts. They were absolutely not at the Qi Condensation stage.
"Your Xu clan actually has even more Foundation Establishment cultivators!"
"Their cultivation bases..."
During such intense combat, it was inevitable to erupt with full power, something the Breath-Concealing Array Tool simply could not completely hide.
"Two at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, and the rest are all at the fourth layer?!" The Sima Family Head's expression turned incredibly grave. "Your Xu clan truly knows how to hide!"
"It seems the rest of you have hidden your cultivation levels as well. Why not unleash everything and fight!"
With two Foundation Establishment perfection experts and four late Foundation Establishment cultivators on their side, the Sima Family Head, Xue Wuxiu, and the others remained full of confidence.
At this moment.
Six cyan-black formation flags abruptly flew out from Xu Mingxian's sleeves, taking up six positions: east, west, south, north, up, and down.
As soon as the formation flags landed, the fabric fluttered noisily. A massive surge of spiritual power gushed from the flags, shooting straight into the sky like pillars of flame.
"Form!"
Xu Mingxian's jade-like fingers danced rapidly, forming complex hand seals. With every completed seal, a beam of spiritual light shot from his fingertips into the formation flags.
The spiritual light of the six formation flags surged brilliantly. The profound formation patterns on the flags flowed as if alive. The six beams of light wove into a net in the air, closing in toward the center at a visible speed.
In a mere instant, the four corners of the battlefield were sealed by pale cyan walls of light. Runes faintly flickered on the barriers, trapping all the cultivators of the Sima and Xue clans, as well as the Xu clan members, inside.
Seeing the formation rise, the Xue clan's First Elder, the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator, the Sima Family Head, Xue Wuxiu, and the other late Foundation Establishment cultivators all experienced a slight change in expression.
Although they didn't recognize the formation, being trapped inside one was absolutely not a good thing.
Thus, they all attempted to charge out of the grand array.
But the five top-grade magical artifacts from Ren Xiaoyao's Five Spirits Box suddenly shot out. Under his control, they attacked five of the enemies, while the remaining one was forced to deal with a loose arrow fired by Xu Mingwei.
Having cultivated the Nine Flames Art to the sixth flame, Ren Xiaoyao could split his consciousness and still fully unleash the power of every single magical artifact.
Of course, deploying all five swords simultaneously required his utmost effort.
Therefore, he could no longer conceal his aura.
"Late Foundation Establishment!"
His cultivation realm was instantly seen through by the Sima Family Head and the others.
Meanwhile, relying on his top-grade treasure bow set, Xu Mingwei—despite only being at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment—unleashed a destructive might comparable to a seventh or eighth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator wielding a top-grade magical artifact.
With just a breath or two of delay, the grand array sealed completely.
"I didn't notice it before, but those are actually two sets of top-grade magical artifacts!"
A glint of greed flashed through the eyes of the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator and the Xue clan's First Elder.
The power of a top-grade magical artifact set was not inferior to a Talisman Treasure. Moreover, unlike Talisman Treasures, they had no limit on the number of uses, making their value even greater than standard Talisman Treasures.
Even among Golden Core aristocratic families, they were an incredibly rare sight.
After all, at present, neither Great Wei, Great Liang, nor Great Jin possessed a Grandmaster Smith capable of forging top-grade magical artifact sets.
Perhaps such figures had appeared in the past, but the number of sets forged was extremely limited—just a scarce few kept in the collections of the Cao clan, the Sima clan, and the Liu clan.
However, while top-grade magical artifact sets were immensely powerful, wielding them at full strength also consumed a substantial amount of mana.
"Your Xu clan's foundation is indeed unimaginably deep. If my Xue clan had not given birth to a Golden Core ancestor, I fear we might not even compare to you,"
the Xue clan's First Elder chuckled sinisterly. "But the strength of Foundation Establishment perfection is not something a mere mid-stage junior relying on a top-grade artifact set can contend with."
"Who said I was your opponent?" Xu Mingwei retorted calmly, immediately turning to Xu Mingshu beside him. "Fourth Sister, it's up to you."
"Don't worry, Big Brother. I am quite confident in holding off one person." Xu Mingshu broke into a wide grin. "Xiao Bai, Ah Ying, Black Tiger, Zhuzhu."
Before her voice even faded, she patted the spirit beast pouch at her waist. A snow-white silhouette abruptly darted out.
The late Tier 2 White Tiger was covered in fluffy, snowy fur. The King character pattern on its forehead gleamed with pale golden spiritual light.
The tiger's roar shattered the clouds in the sky. Stomping its front paws, it sent out several golden glimmers carrying an incredibly sharp aura, tearing straight toward the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator.
Feeling a hint of threat from the White Tiger, the Sima expert did not dare to be careless. Flinging his sleeve, he tossed out a top-grade shield, blocking the golden glimmers.
Immediately after.
A sharp screech tore through the sky.
A peak mid Tier 2 Purple Thunder and Green Fire Eagle swooped down. With a wingspan of over three meters, cyan-purple lightning sparked at its wingtips while clusters of dancing green fire wrapped around its talons. It dove straight at a late Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Xue clan.
That person also activated a top-grade magical artifact, clashing with the eagle's talons. A metallic clang resounded as the beast was knocked back.
Next, Xu Mingshu flicked her fingers, dropping silver threads from her sleeves.
The peak early Tier 2 Zhuzhu appeared. Her eight legs were coated in bright, toxic silver silk. With a body the size of a millstone, her crimson vertical pupils swept across the battlefield.
"Black Tiger, Zhuzhu, go help deal with the intruding cultivators!"
Following her command.
Zhuzhu scuttled toward the mid Foundation Establishment battlefield where Xu Dezhao and the others were engaged.
At the same time, a black shadow also shot forward. Its dark scales gleamed with a cold luster, and as its tongue flicked in and out, a faint trace of Flood Dragon suppressive might leaked out.
Both beasts were at early Tier 2. While they would easily be injured fighting late Foundation Establishment cultivators, they could provide tremendous assistance against mid Foundation Establishment opponents.
While the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator was temporarily tangled up by the White Tiger, the Xue clan's First Elder rapidly formed hand seals. A twenty-meter-long blood python surged toward Xu Mingwei.
"Daoist friend Xue, what skill is there in bullying a junior? Let you and I have a match."
Xu Chuan held a pill furnace in his palm, and wisps of Departing Fire Flame drifted out from within.
The flames swelled against the wind. Accompanied by a clear and resounding phoenix cry, they stretched into wings midair, transforming into a Departing Fire Phoenix.
Its entire body was condensed from blazing fire. Its tail feathers trailed behind like flowing magma for over three meters, and its fiery crest glowed with a golden radiance. The phoenix's cry pierced through the clamor of the formation, causing the blood python's body to shudder slightly.
The fire phoenix circled once. Its talons burned with scorching spiritual light as it fiercely slashed toward the blood python's head like twin bolts of crimson lightning.
Sensing the danger, the blood python violently thrashed its body, jerking its massive head sharply to the left. It narrowly dodged the phoenix's talons, but its scales were still singed by the flames, emitting a sizzling sound and curling wisps of black smoke.
Unwilling to be outdone, it slithered nimbly through the air, coiling its serpentine body to ensnare the fire phoenix. At the same time, it snapped its massive maw, lunging at the phoenix's left wing with a foul gust of wind.
The fire phoenix shrieked and slightly tucked its left wing, yet it was still grazed by the blood python's fangs. Amidst scattering embers, the fire phoenix retaliated, pecking viciously at the python's seven-inch spot with its beak.
The Departing Fire Flame landed on the blood python's scales, instantly burning a scorched black patch into it.
"Ninth layer of Foundation Establishment!"
Xue Wuxiu stared at Xu Chuan's face in absolute disbelief.
But by this time, Xu Mingwei had already drawn his bow into a full moon, nocking an arrow and firing it right at him.
He had no choice but to focus entirely on defending himself.
Xu Deling engaged the Sima Family Head, a seventh-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Ren Xiaoyao fought a Sima clan elder at the late eighth-layer of Foundation Establishment.
"Black Tiger, go!"
Catching a glimpse of the Qi Refining battlefield from the corner of his eye, Xu Mingwei slapped his spirit beast pouch. A black light suddenly shot toward the Qi Refining skirmishes.
Upon landing, it let out a ferocious roar, kicking up a cloud of dust around it.
Seeing this, Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan also released their spirit pets to join the fray.
With the addition of two early Tier 2 demonic beasts, the Qi Refining battlefield instantly tilted into a completely one-sided massacre.
Many cultivators from the Sima and Xue clans met gruesome ends under the tiger's claws or the green fire of the eagle.
"The Xu clan... So this is Great Wei's Xu clan!!"
The Xue clan's First Elder felt a wave of horror in his heart. Of all the rumors circulating about the Xu clan, only twenty or thirty percent were actually true.
'Is this why the Cao clan dared not lightly move against the Xu clan?'
'No, they definitely don't know about the Xu clan's hidden trump cards either!'
While fending off attacks, the Xue clan's First Elder yelled, "Xu Chuan, what happened today was our fault! Look, our two families have already lost many disciples. Why don't we just let this go?
"It is always better to have one more friend than one more enemy!
"After all, your Xu clan's primary adversary is the Cao clan, right?"
"Incorrect," Xu Chuan said nonchalantly. "Anyone who sets their sights on my Xu clan is an enemy of the Xu clan!
"And when it comes to enemies, my Xu clan's policy has always been: if we can beat them to death, we beat them to death!"
Previously, when the Cao clan's First Elder attacked, the Xu clan hadn't possessed the confidence to truly face the Cao clan, which was why they didn't kill him.
But now.
It could only be said that the Sima and Xue clans had walked straight into the muzzle of the gun.
Whoever came, died!
Even if the Cao clan came now, regardless of their status, they would face certain death.
The Xue clan's First Elder darkened his expression. "Are you truly determined to fight until the fish dies and the net breaks?!"
"In less than ten minutes, the Qi Refining disciples of your Xue and Sima clans will be completely wiped out. You are also losing on the mid Foundation Establishment battlefield.
"As for the late Foundation Establishment..."
Xu Chuan swept a glance around and chuckled faintly. "...They should still be able to hold out for a little while.
"I really want to see just how the net will break in this desperate struggle you speak of, Daoist friend Xue!"
It was rare to have opponents of comparable strength deliver themselves right to their doorstep. Naturally, Xu Chuan wanted the Xu clan disciples to gain some combat experience.
After all, such an opportunity was truly hard to come by.
Otherwise, once the grand array was sealed, he could have just released Moyue and ended things instantly.
'Brother Sima, the Xu clan is bullying others excessively. We cannot hold back anymore. Otherwise, we really will be picked off one by one and trapped here until we die!'
The Xue clan's First Elder transmitted his voice.
The Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator replied, 'The Xu clan is indeed far beyond our expectations. But this is all the fault of your clan's Xue Wuxiu and his bastard of a suggestion!'
'Now is not the time to shirk responsibility. After all, it takes two hands to clap. We need to figure out how to break this deadlock!'
'The Xu clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators all have top-grade magical artifacts, and quite a few even have top-grade defensive magical artifacts. They are extremely difficult to deal with. Our only option is to use secret arts to forcefully elevate our own strength.'
While the Xue clan's First Elder and the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator were transmitting orders to their own members, Xu Chuan was also sending voice transmissions to the Xu clan members.
As for the enemy Qi Refining disciples, they were essentially abandoned.
After all, with three Tier 2 demonic beasts on the field, absolutely no numerical advantage, and vastly inferior magical artifacts, even an explosive surge in power would be utterly useless for them.
'Watch for the right moment and hit them all with a wave of the Spirit Condensation Spell!'
The next moment.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Sima and Xue clans erupted with power. After forcing back the Xu clan cultivators, they immediately executed their secret arts.
However, the centers of the brows of the Xu clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators were already glowing with a dark gleam, just waiting to unleash their carefully prepared Spirit Condensation Spells.
Many aristocratic families knew the Xu clan possessed a spiritual sense attack secret art, but they did not know that the spiritual sense of the Xu clan's core descendants was nearly an entire level higher than others in the same realm.
This was the fundamental reason why the Spirit Condensation Spell was always successful.
The instant the Sima and Xue clan members tried to burst forth with their power, a chorus of miserable shrieks rose in response.
Only the Xue clan's First Elder and the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator fared slightly better, merely letting out a muffled groan. Yet, their secret arts were still interrupted by two of Xu Chuan's Spirit Condensation Spells.
Transforming into a streak of golden light, the White Tiger seized the opportunity to close the distance. Its sharp claws viciously swiped at the Sima expert's head.
The Sima expert once again blocked with his top-grade shield.
But because they were too close, the terrifying physical strength of the White Tiger sent both the shield and the cultivator hurtling away.
Meanwhile, Xu Chuan silently split his consciousness and deployed the Hundred Grass Needles.
In this chaotic environment filled with fluctuating mana and spiritual power, such an imperceptible hidden weapon was nothing short of a divine artifact.
Of the thirty-six Hundred Grass Needles, seven or eight sank directly into the Xue clan First Elder's body.
"What is this?!" the Xue clan's First Elder exclaimed in shock. A blood-colored spiritual power shield rose from his skin, finally deflecting the rest of the Hundred Grass Needles.
However, the needles that had entered his body swiftly traveled through his bloodstream toward his internal organs.
Naturally, Xu Chuan wasn't going to give him a chance to recover. Controlling the pill furnace, he once again condensed the Departing Fire Phoenix to attack the First Elder.
The more the Xue clan's First Elder fought, the deeper and faster the Hundred Grass Needles burrowed inside him.
A brief moment later.
The First Elder suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. He felt as if his internal organs had been perforated with a thousand holes.
Raising his head to look at Xu Chuan, he saw the man give him a faint smile.
That smile made the hairs all over his body stand on end.
He felt that this man was even more like someone from the demonic path than he, an actual demonic cultivator, was!
As Xu Chuan continued his assault, the First Elder could only barely fend him off using his top-grade defensive magical artifact.
For a short while, Xu Chuan indeed could not break through the defense.
But the First Elder's injuries were worsening by the second. Blood flowed down his entire body, as if he had been turned into a human sieve.
In the end, seven or eight Hundred Grass Needles pierced right out of his skull.
The lifeforce of the Xue clan's First Elder rapidly dissipated.
Xu Chuan brought out a Soul-Gathering Bottle and collected the First Elder's soul. Then, using a Blood Net Bottle, he siphoned away all the blood from the corpse.
He stowed the corpse away as well.
"Brother!" Xue Wuxiu cried out in grief. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Xu Chuan and roared, "Xu Chuan, I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you and avenge my brother!"
In response, Xu Chuan raised a hand to condense the Departing Fire Phoenix, its talons wreathed in crimson flames as it swiped at Xue Wuxiu's head.
He split his focus—coordinating the Departing Fire Phoenix with Xu Mingwei to deal with Xue Wuxiu, while simultaneously manipulating the Hundred Grass Needles to assist the White Tiger in attacking the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator.
Having witnessed the fate of the Xue clan's First Elder, the Sima expert was naturally on high alert.
Xu Chuan merely chuckled softly. "Daoist friend Sima, do you think these are nothing more than hidden weapons?"
As he spoke, his hands formed a hand seal. The thirty-six Hundred Grass Needles instantly burst with a brilliant emerald light. Grouping by fours, they fused together, turning into nine thicker needles.
Then, the nine needles fused once more, condensing into three.
In an instant, an aura burst forth that was no inferior to the treasure bow in Xu Mingwei's hands or Ren Xiaoyao's flying sword set.
"A top-grade magical artifact set!"
The Sima expert's face paled drastically.
The power such an artifact could display in Xu Chuan's hands was far more tyrannical than what Xu Mingwei or Ren Xiaoyao could muster.
In the blink of an eye.
He shifted his primary defensive focus from the White Tiger to Xu Chuan.
Although he was a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator of the Sima clan, he unfortunately wasn't a true figure of authority. Otherwise, the ancestor would have bestowed a Talisman Treasure upon him for protection.
Back on the Qi Refining battlefield.
The last remaining enemy was impaled by over a dozen flying swords after his fine-grade defensive magical artifact was breached. With his death, the Qi Refining battle concluded.
Xu Chuan commanded indifferently, "Qi Refining disciples, retreat from the grand array."
"Yes, Grand Elder!"
No one in the Xu clan dared to disobey his order.
The spirit pets belonging to Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan then joined the mid Foundation Establishment battlefield.
Only moments later.
A mid Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Sima clan carelessly allowed himself to be ensnared by spider silk. He was violently swatted to the ground by a tiger paw, only to be struck by falling green fire from the sky.
Finally, Xu Deyue's Lunar Moon Chakra sliced across his neck. His head hit the dirt, and the blood erupting from the wound was instantly frozen into icy dregs.
Once a breach was opened in the battle lines, it rapidly cascaded into a complete collapse.
It was like rolling a snowball.
Two fell, then three, then four...
In a mere fifteen minutes, every single mid Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Sima and Xue clans had fallen.
Next went the Sima Family Head, the eighth-layer Foundation Establishment elder of the Sima clan, the seventh-layer cultivator of the Xue clan, and Xue Wuxiu. One by one they were slain, until only the Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator remained.
The Xu clan members surrounded the final Sima expert, though they kept their distance.
If he chose to detonate himself, several of the present Xu clan Foundation Establishment cultivators might die on the spot.
"Xiaoyao, Mingwei, Deling, you three stay. Everyone else, exit the grand array!" Xu Chuan ordered.
The others immediately complied.
"Deling, you and I will focus entirely on defending against his self-detonation. Xiaoyao, Mingwei, coordinate with me. We will simultaneously unleash the strongest attacks of our top-grade magical artifact sets!"
Hearing this, the Sima expert suddenly threw his head back and burst into wild laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"No wonder your Xu clan was able to rise to such heights in just a few decades!
"Even when you have a hundred percent certainty of killing a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator like me, you remain so excessively cautious!"
"My Sima clan and the Xue clan had already greatly overestimated your Xu clan. We dispatched a lineup capable of exterminating a first-rank family, yet we still ended up in this pathetic state."
He scanned his surroundings. Corpses littered the ground—some decapitated, some cleaved in two, others torn apart by demonic beasts, and some reduced to charred husks by talismans.
In their original expectations, this horrific scene was supposed to belong to the Xu clan.
"Heh... heh..."
Broken chuckles escaped his throat, filled with profound sorrow. Raising a hand, he wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"So be it. The winner becomes king, the loser becomes bandit!"
"Xu clan... Next, prepare to face the wrath of our two Golden Core ancestors!"
The Sima clan's Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator let out a long, anguished howl. His voice was as shrill as a weeping cuckoo, and the spiritual light around him rapidly expanded.
Following a thunderous roar, the light abruptly contracted before violently exploding outward.
"BOOM!!!"
Ten thousand meters of brilliant white light bloomed, and a shockwave swept in all directions like a tsunami.
Xu Chuan and the other three had long since retreated.
Moreover, Xu Deling and Xu Chuan activated the True Yang Treasure Orb and Heavenly Wood Shield respectively. The two top-grade defensive magical artifacts cast twin layers of light—one pale gold, the other emerald green.
However, the dual defensive barriers only held for a brief moment.
But it was exactly that brief delay that allowed Xu Chuan's group of four to escape the grand array.
The array's light barrier shuddered violently under the residual force of the self-detonation. The shaking lasted for dozens of seconds, but in the end, it did not manage to shatter the Six Harmonies Absolute Sealing Formation.
About five minutes later.
The aftermath of the explosion gradually dispersed, leaving behind only a blackened, deep crater. Faint tendrils of blue smoke curled upward from the bottom; there wasn't a single trace of the cultivator left.
"A pity about that Foundation Establishment perfection soul," Xu Chuan muttered to himself.
As for any feelings of admiration for the man's bold acceptance of death? He had absolutely none.
In the end, he was simply a fool blinded by greed and arrogance.
Xu Chuan formed a hand seal. The formation barrier quickly faded away, and the six formation flags transformed into streaks of light, shrinking before flying back into a storage pouch.
Xu Chonghui directed the aftermath: "Qi Refining disciples, clean up the battlefield! Collect and turn in any missed storage pouches or magical artifacts. Also, make sure to gather all the souls and blood, and hand them over!"
"Yes, Family Head."
Xu Chuan surveyed the scorched earth of the battlefield.
If left without intervention, not a single blade of grass would grow here for years, perhaps even a decade.
With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of verdant light descended upon the ground, purging the charred scars and lingering mana fluctuations.
Within moments, the earth was once again brimming with vibrant greenery.
"Remember today," Xu Chuan warned. "Do not let greed and arrogance cloud your vision. Otherwise, my Xu clan will sooner or later follow in their footsteps."
He continued calmly, "Of course, this doesn't mean you should always endure silently. Whatever belongs to the Xu clan, we must seize. However, you must always make sure you are fully prepared.
"Thoroughly investigate your opponents. Estimate their possible hidden trump cards, and execute targeted plans accordingly."
"We will etch the Grand Elder's teachings into our hearts!"
The crowd bowed respectfully.
"Foundation Establishment elders, go back and rest. Those who came from Guangling will stay in Dongxi as well. This battle is not over yet."
"Yes, Grand Elder!"
Xu Chonghui handed over all the collected Soul-Gathering Bottles and Blood Net Bottles to Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan refined them and deposited the contents into the Soul Banner. Earning the souls of the Xue clan's First Elder and four late Foundation Establishment cultivators was a particularly massive haul.
The might of the Soul Banner could now rival a top-grade magical artifact set.
Years ago, Xu Deling had integrated several yin-attribute heavenly materials into it to re-refine it.
If they had kept it exactly as it was when they first seized it from the Demonic Flame Bandits, the banner would have long since lost control over the ghostly creatures sealed within.
After all, the number of ghostly creatures rivaling Foundation Establishment cultivators inside the banner now numbered in the dozens.
The power of the Blood-Devouring Orb had seen a similar upgrade.
For now, Xu Chuan kept both magical artifacts for himself, feeling they would be useful in the future.
Then there were the tracking marks left by the Sima clan.
Killing members of the Xue clan didn't leave behind any such marks.
But the Sima clan was an old, established Golden Core family; their various methods were incredibly thorough.
These sorts of tracking marks were extremely troublesome for Foundation Establishment cultivators to remove, but for Golden Core cultivators or Tier 3 demonic beasts, it was effortless.
Therefore, Xu Chuan asked Moyue to take action and erase the Sima clan's marks from his family disciples.
The fall of a large number of Foundation Establishment experts from both the Sima and Xue clans was a monumental event for both families.
Not long after their life lamps extinguished, massive shockwaves rocked their respective clans.
"Sima Qinfeng and the others actually died?! Weren't they supposedly joining hands with the Xue clan?"
Upon hearing the horrific news, a look of complete disbelief surfaced on the Sima clan's First Elder's face.
"That was two Foundation Establishment perfection experts, four late Foundation Establishment, eight mid Foundation Establishment, and sixty late Qi Condensation cultivators!"
"Go! Hurry to the Xue clan and ask about their situation!"
Over six hours later.
The dispatched Foundation Establishment elder returned. He looked at the Sima First Elder with a grim expression and stammered, "First Elder... The Xue clan also..."
"They all fell as well?"
The man sighed and lowered his head.
"What the hell happened? To be able to slaughter all of them... Could a Golden Core expert have made a move? Or perhaps a Tier 3 demonic beast?
"Or was it actually the Xu clan's doing?"
The Foundation Establishment elder pondered deeply upon hearing this. A moment later, he said, "Most of the Xue clan practices the Blood Demon Dao. The Xue First Elder's proficiency in it was second only to their ancestor.
"If he disregarded the cost and continuously cast the Blood Shadow Escape, even a Golden Core cultivator might not necessarily catch him.
"The only possibility is that they were trapped."
"A high-grade Tier 2 formation?" the Sima First Elder mused. "There are rumors that someone in the Xu clan is capable of setting up high-grade Tier 2 formations. Could this really have happened at the Xu clan?
"But the Xu clan only has a dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators, most of them at the early stage. Even if they have that peak Tier 2 Flood Dragon, two Foundation Establishment perfection experts would be more than enough to keep it completely occupied."
The First Elder's doubts were exactly the same as the Foundation Establishment elder's.
A moment later.
The elder asked, "First Elder, what should we do now? The Family Head and the Third Elder have both fallen in succession. This is no small matter."
The Sima clan's First Elder remained silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed, "If the Xu clan really did this, then their hidden depths are far too terrifying.
"I will report this to the ancestor and let him decide."
"Additionally, notify the elders. Three days from now, we will select a new Family Head for our Sima clan."
"Yes, First Elder. I will see to it immediately."
Not long after he left, the Sima First Elder made his way to the secluded hall where their Golden Core ancestor cultivated.
Outside a pitch-black hall towering roughly eighty meters high.
Standing before the massive doors, the Sima clan's First Elder cupped his hands in respect. "Ancestor, I, Wuwo, have a matter of utmost importance to report."
Shortly after.
An old man's voice drifted out from inside. The tone was extremely apathetic.
"What is it?"
"Sima Qinfeng, Sima Wuzhen, and five other elders at mid Foundation Establishment or above, along with thirty late Qi Condensation descendants, are suspected to have died at the hands of Great Wei's Xu clan."
"What happened?"
Sima Wuwo recounted how Sima Qinfeng and Xue Wuxiu had plotted to strike against the Xu clan, including the letter they sent to the Cao clan asking them to turn a blind eye.
The Sima clan ancestor pondered for a moment before speaking, "Merely suspected? You cannot be certain?"
"Everyone who went died. It is impossible to confirm."
"How similar this is to what happened back in the Wuhua Secret Realm!"
"The Ancestor speaks reason. How should our Sima clan proceed? Should we go to the Xu clan to investigate?"
"A mere seven Foundation Establishment elders and thirty late Qi Condensation disciples... My Sima clan can afford such a loss. The Xue clan, however, is a different story.
"Given Xue Lingshang's temperament, he will certainly take an interest in the Xu clan. We will let him scout the path for our Sima clan."
"Understood, Ancestor."
As Sima Wuwo departed, the great hall once again fell into deathly silence.
At the Xue clan.
Following the disaster, the Xue clan's Second Elder hurried to the forbidden stone cave to report the news. Instead of sympathy, he only drew the furious berating of the Xue clan's ancestor, Xue Lingshang.
"A bunch of idiots! Running off to throw their lives away without even properly investigating the enemy's strength! They deserved to die!
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Replying to the Ancestor, this disciple is Xue Wulei."
"Xue Wulei. From this moment on, you are the First Elder of my Xue clan."
"Thank you, Ancestor!" Xue Wulei was utterly overjoyed.
Soon after, a soft gasp of surprise echoed from within the cave.
"However, this Xu clan is truly unexpected. Tell me more about their situation. It seems I haven't heard much about them."
"Yes, Ancestor." Xue Wulei immediately began recounting everything he had ever heard about the Xu clan.
Fifteen minutes later.
"The Xu clan rose to prominence in a mere forty or fifty years? And their founder isn't even a hundred years old?"
"Yes, Ancestor."
"Are these confirmed facts, or simply rumors you've heard?"
"The timeframe of their rise is confirmed, and their development is mostly accurate. The only unpredictable factor is their true strength—there are all sorts of different accounts."
"What kind of accounts?" Xue Lingshang's interest was piqued.
"The members of the Xu clan possess exceptionally brilliant methods to conceal their cultivation realms. They are accustomed to hiding their true depths, to the point where even Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot see through them. As for exactly how many layers they can hide, no one is sure.
"Some say the Xu clan has more than just ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Others say that whatever realm a Xu clan cultivator displays to the public, one must assume they are actually two or three layers higher."
"Interesting. Very interesting."
The laughter of the Xue clan's ancestor drifted out from the stone cave once again.
"If these rumors are true, then the Xu clan is truly fascinating. I fear the secrets they harbor are not small."