Danyang

Chu Kingdom. Old Cold Mountain.

A group of Bandit Cultivator were attacking a second-tier formation, which was already on the verge of collapse due to the continuous attacks.

"Hahaha! Brothers, give it your all! Once we break this formation, we'll make a fortune!"

"I've arrived at the Zhuang Household's warehouse, my treasure!"

"I wonder what it's like to be a woman from a Foundation Establishment Lineage!"

"Zhuang Yun, today I'll let you taste the bitterness of your Lineage being wiped out!"

"..."

Within the grand formation, the disciples of the Zhuang Household surrounded their patriarch, Zhuang Yun, struggling to hold on, but their auras were already fading, and it seemed they wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.

"Ancestor, Zhuang Yun is incompetent; he cannot protect the ancestral land of Old Cold Mountain!"

Zhuang Yun possessed the aura of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, activating the power of the great formation and causing the crumbling formation to surge with divine light once more.

"Listen up, everyone. Once the great formation breaks, I will fight them to the death and try to hold off as many as possible. You can take the opportunity to break through with the seeds from your homes. As many as you can escape, we must not let our Zhuang Household die out."

"... Clan Chief... Father..."

Every one of the Zhuang Household's sons had red eyes, their gazes almost bursting, their voices choked with sobs, tearing at the heartstrings...

"Boom..."

"Hahaha, brothers, kill them all..."

The already crumbling formation held on for only a moment before collapsing with a deafening roar. The Bandit Cultivator outside, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed down towards it.

"Hurry up..."

Zhuang Yun roared, glaring at the Qi Refining Late Stage Bandit Cultivator cultivators heading towards the ancestral land, and stepped forward to meet them head-on, "I'll fight you to the death!"

High in the distance, Fang Yu stood on a cloud, watching the numerous Qi Refining cultivators fighting below, silently observing the intensity of the battle.

He quickly muttered, "That's enough. If we don't act soon, this Zhuang Household will really be wiped out!"

In an instant, he transformed into a streak of fire, rapidly approaching Old Cold Mountain.

"My Zhuang Household nephews, don't panic! Your uncle Danyangzi is here!"

Fang Yu's voice rang out between heaven and earth. Along the path of the fire line, fireballs the size of human heads flew out, hitting the Bandit Cultivator one by one with perfect accuracy. Whether they were small fry in the Early Stage of Qi Refining or great cultivators in the Qi Refining Late Stage, they were all burned to ashes.

"Ah... Foundation Establishment Ancestor..."

"Run!"

"How could the Zhuang Household have such outside help...?"

"Grandmaster, spare my life... Ah..."

"..."

The cultivator who had Bandit Cultivator before was now terrified and frantically fled in all directions for his life.

Fang Yu's Divine Sense fluctuated, and he continuously shot out large fireballs, turning those Qi Refining Late Stage and Qi Refining Middle Stage Bandit Cultivator cultivators who he had already targeted into ashes. As for those Early Stage of Qi Refining, he did not make a move, letting them escape and spreading his fame.

In just a short while, only the surviving Zhuang Household members remained in the entire Old Cold region.

' Foundation Establishment Ancestor!'

Looking at the unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Ancestor approaching him, Zhuang Yun felt no relief at surviving; instead, he felt even more desperate.

Before his ancestor was recruited by the Cloud Spirit Sect, he entrusted him with all the Lineage's trump cards, but the friend named ' Danyangzi ' was not among them.

This person only made his move after most of his own men had died or been injured; he must be after the Zhuang Household land.

"Zhuang Yun pays respects to Ancestor Danyang!"

"Nephew, please rise!"

Fang Yu casually helped Zhuang Yun up, sighed, and said, "It's all my fault for being late. If I had arrived a moment earlier, the Zhuang Household certainly wouldn't be in this situation!"

The Zhuang Household, not daring to raise his head, said, "My Zhuang Household's survival is entirely due to the ancestor's rescue; how could we dare to blame him?"

Fang Yu nodded, his Divine Sense sweeping over the surviving members of the Zhuang Household, then he looked at Zhuang Yun.

"You may not have heard of my name. Long ago, when I was traveling in the Chu Kingdom, I encountered a formidable enemy. Fortunately, your ancestor intervened and helped me escape. At that time, I swore that I would repay this great favor in the future."

Some time ago, when I emerged from seclusion, I learned that your ancestor had died in battle and that your family had no successors who had achieved Foundation Establishment. I knew then that some villains would covet your ancestral land, which is why I rushed here overnight.

Unfortunately, it was still too late.

Fang Yu sighed as he spoke, his eyes reddening.

"Thump!"

At this moment, Zhuang Yun knelt down with a thud, wailing loudly, "Ancestor, you are so righteous, saving my Zhuang Household from dire straits! I beg you, Ancestor, to have mercy, reside in our ancestral land, and protect the remaining members of my Zhuang Household so that our lineage may continue!"

"This..."

Fang Yu hesitated and said, "This Old Cold Mountain is the ancestral land of your Zhuang Household. How can I, an outsider, usurp its place? That's not appropriate, not appropriate!"

Zhuang Yun bowed deeply, "Please, Ancestor, have mercy and protect my Zhuang Household for a hundred years. We, the descendants of the Zhuang Household, will do our utmost to support our Ancestor and ensure the continuation of our family line."

Fang Yu remained silent for a moment before sighing and saying, "Very well, I will stay here for now to repay your ancestor for saving my life. I will leave once your Zhuang Household has completed the Foundation Establishment and stabilized your foundation."

"Thank you for your righteousness, Ancestor!" Zhuang Yun bowed again, handing over a token and saying, "This is the clan treasury token. Please accept it, Ancestor. From now on, everything in the Zhuang Household will be decided by you."

Fang Yu did not accept the token. Instead, he said somewhat angrily, "You junior, what do you take me for? How could I possibly covet your Zhuang Household's possessions? Get up now and lead the way. Do you expect me to go to Cold Mountain Valley on my own?"

"Please forgive me, Ancestor!" Zhuang Yun quickly got up and led the way.

Soon, Fang Yu arrived at the ancestral land of the Zhuang Household, the Cold Mountain Valley, where the Spiritual Qi of the second-tier Spirit Vein was the most abundant.

This valley boasts beautiful scenery, with classical buildings dotting the landscape, making it a truly tranquil place for meditation.

"From now on, I will cultivate here in seclusion. You will continue to manage the affairs of the Zhuang Household. Unless it is a matter of life and death, do not disturb my cultivation!"

Upon hearing Fang Yu's words, Zhuang Yun felt a weight lift from his heart. 'Could it be that this Danyangzi is truly someone the Ancestor saved in the past, and has come specifically to repay a debt of gratitude?'

"Yes, this junior will take his leave!"

Fang Yu strolled through the Cold Mountain Valley, nodding with satisfaction as he walked.

He couldn't possibly know the patriarch of the Zhuang Household; he had only heard some intelligence about the Chu Kingdom in Mosquito Immortal City.

This Zhuang Household was one of the seven great Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan in the Chu Kingdom. They barely maintained their Foundation Establishment lineage with the help of a second-grade low-level Spirit Vein. Unfortunately, due to the matter of the mid-grade spiritual mine in Autumn Moon Mountain, they were forced to participate in the Three Kingdoms War. Not only did their ancestor die in battle, but the promising Foundation Establishment seed also perished.

Although they barely survived the war thanks to the second-tier grand formation and ushered in a period of peace after the three families successfully negotiated a peace agreement, a cultivation Lineage that had lost Foundation Establishment cultivator and occupied a second-tier spiritual land would naturally be targeted by others.

The Zhuang Household's resources were exhausted by repeated probing from various forces, and the grand formation was eventually broken. If Fang Yu had not appeared, this place would surely have been occupied by other forces.

Now that he has arrived, this will be his place of seclusion. As for why he kept the Zhuang Household here, it is naturally because he does not want to have anything to do with the Cloud Spirit Sect.

If he were to destroy the Zhuang Household, he would have to submit a petition to the Cloud Spirit Sect to acknowledge their subservience and pay tribute in order to gain legitimate rights to this Spirit Vein. Now, he is only staying temporarily, so naturally he does not have to bear any responsibility.

As for the Zhuang Household, if he really reaches the Foundation Establishment, he won't interfere. In any case, the Foundation Establishment Early Stage dealer is definitely no match for him. Unless the dealer wants to leave, the Zhuang Household will have no choice but to beg and plead to support him.