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The Dongjiang Zheng Clan, a noble house that had been established in Baihe County for more than five hundred years, had three Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators openly stationed within it alone.

It was the undisputed number one family in Baihe County.

Inside the family head's study.

Zheng Lingjun, the Zheng Family's head, wore a grave expression as he read the urgent report in his hand, unable to stop himself from drawing a sharp breath.

At the side...

Old Ancestor Zheng lounged lazily in a reclining chair. Seeing Zheng Lingjun like this, he teased, "Did the sky collapse, or did the earth cave in, to make the mighty Zheng Family head lose his composure like this?"

Zheng Lingjun shook his head.

"Neither. Just now, the Li Family made its move and wiped out the Zou Family, Zhang Family, Jin Family, and the Great Saber Sect. Several thousand people were implicated."

Upon hearing this.

Old Ancestor Zheng raised a white brow and smiled. "I thought it was something serious. As this old man understands it, those families were quite formidable. Didn't Li Xuanfeng die? Does the Li Family still have the strength to destroy all four at once? Could Li Xuantong have broken through to the Qi and Blood Realm? Even so, a mere Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator shouldn't make the Zheng Family head this flustered."

Zheng Lingjun gave a bitter smile and spread his hands. "The Li Family has indeed gained another Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator, but it isn't Li Xuantong."

"If not Li Xuantong, then who could it be?"

Old Ancestor Zheng was rather surprised.

"Li Xinge."

Old Ancestor Zheng thought for a long while. Then his eyes suddenly widened, and he blew at his beard. "That Li Family junior you told me about before?"

"Correct."

Zheng Lingjun nodded.

Old Ancestor Zheng's expression froze.

Only after a long while did he clap his hands and burst into laughter. "Good... good... good! The waves behind the Yangtze River drive the waves before them; the younger generation is truly formidable, truly formidable!"

"A seventeen-year-old Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator... it is truly hard to imagine just how terrifying his talent must be. What a pity. Such a genius was not born into my Zheng Family. If he were a Zheng Family descendant, then with him here, we would surely be able to restore our ancestors' glory."

There was both regret and envy in Zheng Lingjun's words, along with a trace of apprehension hidden deep in his eyes.

That trace of apprehension happened to be precisely caught by Old Ancestor Zheng.

"What, are you afraid?"

Knowing that his little thoughts had not escaped his ancestor's notice.

Zheng Lingjun nodded without concealing anything. "That's right. This Li Xinge is too monstrous. If he is given another ten years, our Zheng Family may not be able to keep its title as Baihe County's number one family."

"And so? Kill him before he can grow?"

Old Ancestor Zheng still spoke with a smile on his face.

Zheng Lingjun thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Your child does not have absolute confidence."

"Since you lack confidence, put away those little thoughts in your heart."

Old Ancestor Zheng's smile vanished, and his expression became unusually solemn.

He slowly rose from the reclining chair. "Ling Jun, do you know why, in Baihe County, only my Zheng Family has endured for five hundred years?"

Without waiting for Zheng Lingjun to answer, he continued, "It was not because my Zheng Family was strong enough. In the past, which of the Guo Family and Yao Family was not stronger than my Zheng Family? But where are they now? They have long since died out, their clans exterminated."

"Nor was it because my Zheng Family ancestors came from the Lingxu Sect and enjoyed the Lingxu Sect's protection. One must know that favors will always run out one day."

"It was because we were careful and prudent. We never did anything we were not certain of."

"In this world, there are always some people favored by Heaven. They are gifted beyond measure, their fortune soaring into the heavens. Paths that others need decades or even centuries to walk, they can finish in only a few short years."

"Everything that fails to defeat them only makes them stronger. Those who once stood against them will all be trampled beneath their feet, becoming stepping stones for them to climb still higher."

Zheng Lingjun's eyes widened.

He asked in surprise, "Old Ancestor, do you mean that Li Xinge is such a person?"

Old Ancestor Zheng shook his head.

"I am not sure either."

Zheng Lingjun frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"Then why...?"

"Better safe than sorry. Besides, why must you insist on thinking about nipping him in the bud? For the hollow reputation of being number one? Ling Jun, remember this: hollow reputation is the most useless and most harmful thing in this world. Benefits are what truly matter. Only when the day comes that you no longer care about such empty fame will you become a truly qualified family head."

Old Ancestor Zheng stroked his grizzled beard and looked at his successor, speaking earnestly and sincerely.

Zheng Lingjun lowered his head and fell silent.

After a long while...

Zheng Lingjun raised his head and respectfully bowed to his ancestor. "Old Ancestor, your child has learned from your teachings. Next, your child will send people to befriend this new Li Family head. If he is the sort of person you described, then my Zheng Family will follow close behind him. Perhaps we can rely on him to leave Baihe County and restore our ancestors' glory. If not, then my Zheng Family will lose nothing."

After hearing this, Old Ancestor Zheng burst into laughter.

"A child worth teaching."

Mangshan lay in the northeastern corner of Baihe County.

The renowned Mangshan Su Clan was situated amid these towering mountains and ridges.

When Su Zhe, the Su Family head, learned of Su Yun's death, he flew into a furious rage.

He smashed the table before him with one palm and roared, "That wretched brat deserves death! He actually dared kill a pillar of my Su Family!"

The Su Family higher-ups looked at their enraged family head and all lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound. At the same time, they guessed at what could have happened to provoke him to such fury.

After venting for a while, Su Zhe's anger eased somewhat.

He looked at the crowd and narrowed his eyes. "The intelligence was wrong. The Grand Elder has fallen at the Li Family's hands."

Upon hearing this, the higher-ups felt their minds go blank in an instant.

"The Grand Elder is dead? How is that possible? Other than that dead ghost Li Xuanfeng, who in the Li Family had the ability to kill the Grand Elder?"

A Su Family higher-up spoke with disbelief written all over his face.

Su Zhe sighed. "It is absolutely true. The Li Family's young genius, Li Xinge, broke through to the Qi and Blood Realm. The Grand Elder failed to escape and died at his hands."

All the Su Family higher-ups fell silent.

After a long while.

Only then did someone say hoarsely, "Family Head, how is this possible? Li Xinge is only seventeen!"

"Though I also find it hard to believe, it is the truth."

"Family Head, given the enmity between our Su Family and the Li Family, Li Xinge will surely become a great enemy of our Su Family in the future. We should make plans early. Otherwise, once Li Xinge grows up, our Su Family will be finished. Our ancestors' foundation cannot be ruined in our hands!"

The Su Family's Second Elder spoke with an anxious expression.

"I know. I truly hate that we did not pay any price necessary to kill this scourge back then. Now Li Xinge has grown into a force to be reckoned with. Regret is too late."

Su Zhe looked thoroughly vexed.

The others also sighed one after another.

At that moment.

A short, sinister-looking Purple Robe Old Man slowly emerged from the rear entrance.

He glanced at the gloomy-faced crowd, then snorted coldly. "Enough. A mere junior has frightened you out of your wits. Aren't you afraid people will laugh their teeth out if word gets out?"

Seeing the newcomer.

The Su Family higher-ups hurriedly rose to their feet.

They bent at the waist in respectful greeting. "Greetings, Grand Elder!"

The newcomer was none other than the Su Family's sole Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator, the Grand Elder, Su Changqing.

Su Changqing sat down on the family head's seat without ceremony. Su Zhe hurriedly moved to one side and stood there respectfully.

He asked cautiously, "Old Ancestor, why have you come?"

Su Changqing glared at him and sneered. "If I had not come, the Su Family would have been ruined by you fools."

Upon hearing Su Changqing's rebuke, everyone hurriedly lowered their heads.

"Why was I not informed about the plan to strike at the Li Family?"

Su Changqing narrowed his eyes, his voice icy.

Seeing Su Changqing demand an explanation, Su Zhe hurriedly explained, "Old Ancestor was in seclusion, and we did not dare disturb you."

"Fool! Worthless trash!"

Upon hearing that, Su Changqing viciously slapped Su Zhe across the face.

The immense force immediately sent Su Zhe sprawling to the ground.

Seeing Su Zhe's face swell visibly at a speed the naked eye could see, Su Changqing rebuked him with a look of disappointment and fury:

"Back then, this old man pushed through all objections and made you, a concubine's son, the family head because I thought you had a grasp of the bigger picture, understood reason, and knew when to advance and retreat. But now it seems this old man was wrong. Put a pig in your position, and it would do better than you!"

After taking the slap, Su Zhe did not dare harbor the slightest resentment.

He prostrated himself on the ground and hurriedly said, "It is my incompetence. I beg Old Ancestor to calm your anger."

"Calm my anger?"

"Will calming my anger bring Su Yun back to life? Do you know what Su Yun meant to my Su Family?"

"This old man does not have many years left to live. I was only waiting for Su Yun to break through to the Qi and Blood Realm, so I could hand the burden in my hands to him and leave in peace."

"Now Su Yun is dead. Tell me, what is the future of the Su Family supposed to be?"

"Did you not see the Li Family's plight? Or do you think our Su Family can also produce a Su Xinge?"

Everyone's faces turned deathly pale at once.

"Even a lion uses all its strength to catch a rabbit, let alone when the Li Family is no nameless minor clan. Your carelessness and contempt for the enemy are a joke made at the expense of the thousand-odd members of my Su Family!"

Su Changqing's oppressive gaze swept across the crowd.

Seeing everyone at a complete loss, he let out a long sigh only after a long while.

"Forget it. The grave mistake has already been made, and matters have come to this. There is nothing more to say. Give this old man another half month. If I can break through to the minor accomplishment stage, I can still protect the family for another ten-odd years. A mere Li Xinge can then be destroyed with the flick of a finger. If I fail, bring out the Blood Burning Pill. This is the last thing this old man can do for the family."

Having said that, he ignored the others and left.

As they watched that hunched, short figure recede into the distance.

Everyone wore grief-stricken expressions.

Two streams of hot tears rolled down Su Zhe's cheeks.

"Old Ancestor, I know I was wrong."

Su Changqing's steps seemed to pause, but he soon vanished from everyone's sight.

Baihe County Office.

County Magistrate Gu Zhitíng looked at the information in his hand, his expression shifting between light and dark.

"A seventeen-year-old Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator. What a monster indeed."

At the side, the Strategist with two wisps of mustache seized the chance to say, "County Magistrate, the Li Family has acted with such wanton disregard. In broad daylight, they slaughtered more than a thousand people in one day. They plainly have no regard for you, nor for the imperial court!"

Gu Zhitíng stared expressionlessly at the Strategist's furious face without moving his gaze.

Only after staring until the latter's scalp went numb did he slowly say, "Then according to you, what should be done?"

Delight flashed through the Strategist's eyes.

He hurriedly said, "The Li Family violated the imperial court's laws. County troops should be deployed to wipe them out, as a warning to others."

"With the thousand-odd crooked melons and cracked dates in Baihe Great Camp?"

Gu Zhitíng's face was full of mockery.

The Strategist smiled awkwardly, then immediately put on a flattering expression. "County Magistrate, your strength is extraordinary. If you are willing to act personally, destroying a mere Li Family would naturally be no trouble at all."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhitíng could not help bursting into laughter.

"This official is old, and my Qi-Blood has long declined. Since you possess such loyalty to the state, how about I entrust this task to you? So long as you can destroy the Li Family, I will submit a memorial to the imperial court and request merit for you."

The Strategist's expression froze.

By the time he came to his senses, Gu Zhitíng had already gone far away.

Watching that figure in a green Official Robe.

The Strategist spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the ground, his gaze vicious. "Pah, what the hell are you?"