The Attack

Ludong County was mostly hills and ridges, such as Vermilion Dragon Manor's "Zhulong Mountain," and Liangyuan Village likewise leaned against a small earthen hill.

This little hill was extremely low and tiny, not even comparable to "Zhulong Mountain," and it did not even have a name. Because the soil on the hill was quite suitable for the growth of Spirit Mulberry, it was planted full of Spirit Mulberry trees, and so it was also called "Mulberry Forest."

Around "Mulberry Forest" were small stretches of flatland, with a little river circling through it and ponds scattered everywhere. It was quite suitable for planting Spirit Rice, and could be counted as a rare blessed land.

So after the Sang Family had been wiped out back then, this territory had drawn covetous eyes from all sides. In the end, it was only after the Liang Family's ancestor made a connection with the Wang Family in the commandery city that he managed to take this piece of land.

It was now early autumn. The Spirit Mulberry in "Mulberry Forest" and the "Spirit Paddy" in the fields were both nearing maturity. When a gust of wind blew past, a clear fragrance drifted over.

A round moon had already climbed to the zenith. Rustling sounds came from within Mulberry Forest, like wind passing through the woods, like snakes and rats darting about.

On the roof of the Liang Family's tallest pavilion, Liang Zhaohuang raised a cup of mulberry-leaf tea and sipped it lightly, looking in the direction of Mulberry Forest. He shook his head slightly and murmured to himself:

"Starting half a month ago, rumors began spreading through Ludong County, saying that my Liang Family had obtained a Foundation Establishment Realm inheritance."

"This should be news released by Zhu Yuqing, carrying out the agreement from three years ago—using my Liang Family as bait to lure out the mastermind behind the scenes."

"It's just that this hidden hand actually waited half a month before making a move! I don't know if they're slow to react, or cautious?"

Liang Zhaohuang did not circulate the "Five Elements Dharma Eye," but the birds startled up from time to time in "Mulberry Forest" clearly told him the enemy's movements. They could be called utterly unrestrained.

Shaking his head slightly, Liang Zhaohuang rose and stepped out from the roof of the pavilion. An illusory Green Lotus appeared beneath his feet, carrying him as he flew toward "Mulberry Forest."

This was the Green Lotus within the innate spiritual art "Five-Colored Lotus Flower." It belonged to the wood element, and was best at flight and concealment.

When he flew to the front of "Mulberry Forest," Liang Zhaohuang hid himself in the shadow of a house. With the "Green Lotus" covering his aura, even a cultivator of the same rank at Foundation Establishment Early Stage would not notice him if they were careless.

He formed a spiritual seal with his hand. A glimmer of jade-green light flashed and vanished. Ahead, outside Mulberry Forest, a ring of Thorn had been planted, originally to isolate the wild beasts in the mountain. Now, as if brushed by the wind, it swayed faintly.

Before long, more than a dozen figures sprang out of Mulberry Forest. All of them wore black clothes and black scarves, and each held a different type of magic tool. Sha Qi loomed coldly around them.

It could be clearly seen that these people had all lived by slaughter for years; their killing intent had seeped into their bones.

As for the Liang Family's children, they farmed year-round and cultivated in the countryside. Most of the spells they mastered belonged to spirit plants or daily life. Forget killing over the course of a year—there probably were not even many fights.

It could be imagined that if the Liang Family's children were allowed to face these people, it would be no different from poultry facing fierce beasts. They would probably be killed without the slightest strength to fight back.

Liang Zhaohuang suddenly understood a little why the Black Wind Bandits had been able to destroy several poor families so quickly three years ago.

"The way we train the family's children must be changed!"

A thought flashed through his mind, and Liang Zhaohuang swiftly changed the original battle plan.

The original plan had been to match soldiers against soldiers and generals against generals.

Although most of the Liang Family's children had already withdrawn, there were still some late Qi Refining cultivators, including the clan leader Liang Xuelin, Fifth Uncle Liang Xuegui, and his elder brother Liang Zhaojun, who had remained in the family, prepared to deal with the attacking Qi Refining cultivators.

Liang Zhaohuang, meanwhile, would hide at the side, wait for the attacking Foundation Establishment cultivator to show himself, and launch a sneak attack.

If he could launch a sudden assault and heavily injure the attacking Foundation Establishment cultivator, then this battle to defend the family would no doubt be more than half won.

But now, after seeing these attacking Qi Refining cultivators, Liang Zhaohuang had no choice but to change the original plan.

Otherwise, once the clan leader, his elder brother, and the others faced these Qi Refining cultivators, probably not one of them would survive. At that time, even if he killed the attacking Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Liang Family absolutely could not withstand such losses.

Without the slightest hesitation, Liang Zhaohuang's hand seals swiftly unfolded.

The next instant, from the Thorn encircling the outside of Mulberry Forest ahead, four or five thorny vines immediately rose like venomous snakes poking out their heads—swift, fierce, stabbing straight at several black-clothed Qi Refining cultivators.

Wood-element spiritual art, Green Snake Vine!

"Such nerve!"

A furious shout suddenly burst from within Mulberry Forest. A gust of black wind came roaring like a tiger's howl, smashing grass and snapping wood as it charged over!

It was the Foundation Establishment cultivator following behind. He had discovered Liang Zhaohuang's attack and knew that a Foundation Establishment cultivator was lying in ambush.

But though the black wind was fast, it could not match the eruption of the spiritual art.

Five thorny vines had already pierced through the bodies of five black-clothed Qi Refining cultivators. The thorns were like venomous snakes, and even contained deadly poison. The five attacking Qi Refining cultivators only struggled two or three times before their bodies stiffened, and they died on the spot.

"Roar!"

The gale was like a tiger's howl. A large mass of black wind rushed into the Thorn and exploded with a boom. Countless Wind Blades swept through, chopping a large expanse of Thorn to pieces and sending them flying.

Seeing this, Liang Zhaohuang sighed inwardly in regret. He had still been practicing spiritual arts for too short a time. The spiritual art "Green Snake Vine" had only just been mastered, and relying on prior preparations and the favorable terrain of the Thorn forest, he had only managed to control five thorny vines and kill five people.

There had been a full eleven attacking Qi Refining cultivators. Now there were still six left, but he no longer had the opportunity to continue killing them.

He had to devote all his strength to dealing with the attacking Foundation Establishment cultivator.

From the might of this one black wind alone, Liang Zhaohuang could judge that the attacker's strength was absolutely above his own.

He might even already be a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator!

He had to respond carefully.

As for the remaining six Qi Refining cultivators, Liang Zhaohuang could only hope that the clan leader and the others, relying on the arrangements within the family, could hold out for a while longer.

As for defeating and killing them, he no longer held any hope. The gap between poultry and fierce beasts was simply too great.

At this moment, the six surviving black-clothed Qi Refining cultivators were gathering back-to-back with faces full of terror. Each raised his magic tool, guarding against all directions.

A gaunt figure, likewise wearing black clothes and a black scarf, walked out from Mulberry Forest. Around him coiled a layer of black wind, and a cold, murderous, savage aura pressed down on all sides.

Black Wind Bandits!

Hidden in the shadows, when Liang Zhaohuang saw this appearance, he understood almost instantly that the attackers were precisely the Black Wind Bandits who had ravaged Ludong County three years ago and destroyed three poor families.

Three years ago, the Black Wind Bandits had caused enormous destruction in Ludong County, ruining families and wiping out entire households. The county lieutenant and patrol inspector in the county seat had pursued them all the way, and in the end, it was said they had been exterminated.

Moreover, after the Zhu Family, the Black Wind Bandits truly had not appeared again, nor had any new humble families suffered disaster.

So everyone could only believe it.

But looking at it now, everything had been nothing but lies. The Black Wind Bandits, who should have been exterminated, had appeared before his eyes once more.

At this moment, Liang Zhaohuang was already ten-tenths certain that these Black Wind Bandits were absolutely connected to several of the county magnates in Ludong County.

"You keep killing your way in. I'll handle this here."

The thin man in black instructed the six black-clad Qi Refining cultivators in a deep voice.

"Yes, my lord!"

The six black-clad Qi Refining cultivators clearly trusted this Foundation Establishment cultivator greatly—or else did not dare disobey his orders. After answering, they did not hesitate in the slightest and continued killing their way into the Liang Family.

Liang Zhaohuang's hand shifted slightly. He wanted to make another move, but in the end, he held back.

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