Killing by Borrowed Authority
"Two Foundation Establishment cultivators perished? This can't be a lie!"
Su Junsong's face darkened, all traces of composure gone. He even suspected it was a false message deliberately sent by the enemy.
After all, in all these years of war, the Su Household has only lost one Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was merely a respected elder and of little importance.
However, this animal skin paper is a unique sound transmission method of the Su Household, which needs to be activated with Law Technique beforehand. Only Su Household have mastered this ability. Before he could fully confirm it, he saw two spirit pigeons fly over.
A few breaths later, he frowned. "Zhou Ning has successfully Foundation Establishment, and his combat strength has surpassed that of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?"
Putting aside the fact that its combat strength is strange.
Where would a Qi Refining cultivator get a Foundation Establishment Pill? Could it have been given to him by Gu Xiangning of the Azure Mystic Sect?
But Gu Xiangning herself hasn't even Foundation Establishment yet!
Su Junsong exhaled, his expression grave. If this was true, he would have to summon the clan elders to deal with it.
Just then, Su Wen came out of the house. Looking at Su Junsong's expression, she asked, "Brother, are you in a bad mood?"
Su Junsong said, "Grandpa Su Ru and Uncle Nie died on the front lines."
7
Su Wen's expression changed. It didn't matter that Su Ru was dead; he was just an old man who used to act superior in front of her. He should have died long ago.
However, Nie Yi's uncle treated her very well and even lent her a Azure Nether Guard puppet at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Her subconscious thought was one of secret delight: Nie Yi is dead, so does that mean I don't have to return my puppet? But then she felt a pang of sadness, after all, her uncle Nie Yi had treated her quite well, and yet he had died so hastily.
"Brother, who killed him? Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment, I will definitely avenge my uncle!"
"By the way, big brother, did Uncle send another set of Foundation Establishment materials from the Azure Mystic Sect? Shouldn't it be my turn to Foundation Establishment this time?" Su Wen asked, seizing the opportunity.
Su Junsong's eyes darkened slightly as he observed her reaction.
Yunjin had previously told him that although Su Wen cared deeply for her Lineage, she was cold-hearted by nature.
He didn't believe it then, but now he has experienced it firsthand. At this moment, he is still only concerned with his own interests.
Even if Nie Yi Nie Yi were alive, let alone dead, this Foundation Establishment material would not be available to Su Wen; it would have already been taken by a powerful figure in the clan.
He said, "Zhou Ning killed him."
Su Wen was stunned, incredulous.
She asked tentatively, "Which cultivator changed their name to Zhou Ning?"
"It's Zhou Ning, the Alchemist guest of the Su Household of Cuiwei Lake." Su Junsong said in a heavy tone.
The Third Layer of Qi Refinement cultivator who sat in the market of Luyou Island back then, deliberately refining pills to attract attention, has now transformed into Foundation Establishment cultivator and even killed a direct descendant of the Su Household.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Foundation Establishment cultivator? Hahaha, brother, you must be joking!" Su Wen shrieked, incredulous. "He's just a lowly retainer—"
However, as Su Wen looked at Su Junsong's stern face, her voice gradually softened, becoming increasingly hesitant.
My older brother wouldn't joke about something like this.
Su Wen's face was filled with confusion. She hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment yet?
How could that lowly disciple on the lake, whose cultivation she had casually abolished, have become Foundation Establishment? Fortuitous opportunity, yes, it was fortuitous opportunity!
Her voice trembled. "Brother, Zhou Ning has fortuitous opportunity, a great fortuitous opportunity, otherwise how could he have reached the Foundation Establishment?"
Su Junsong looked at her with pity. Zhou Ning's Foundation Establishment was nothing more than fortuitous opportunity given to him by Gu Xiangning.
I never expected that Gu Xiangning would be willing to give Zhou Ning the spoils from the Azure Ruins Secret Realm. She only got two Foundation Establishment fortuitous opportunity, which isn't even enough for herself!
After all, Foundation Establishment isn't just about consuming one Foundation Establishment Pill.
Even dao companion cannot achieve this level.
Su Wen gritted her teeth. "Kill him and seize the fortuitous opportunity!"
Su Junsong frowned, seizing the fortuitous opportunity?
This child has already reached the Foundation Establishment and cannot be easily manipulated. Besides, no matter how great the fortuitous opportunity, can it surpass the Su Household's third-tier Spirit Vein and numerous spiritual treasures?
Su Junsong said calmly, "Wenwen, don't come to my residence to cultivate anymore. The situation may change, and we'll have many guests visiting."
After speaking, he channeled all his spiritual power, took a step, and rode the wind to Long Mountain Island for the meeting.
He broke through to the Foundation Establishment a few years ago.
Su Wen stood in the courtyard, Su Junsong's words echoing in her mind, and she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
She knew the Su Household too well. With two Foundation Establishment dying, someone had to pay the price. Back then, she took all the credit for Zhou Ning becoming Alchemist, but now that Zhou Ning had reached Foundation Establishment, she had to bear the consequences.
"It's over—" Su Wen's face turned deathly pale. Forget about reaching the Foundation Establishment; just avoiding punishment would be the best outcome.
She recalled the humble figure of Zhou Ning, a retainer of the lake, before her twenty years ago.
At this moment, jealousy burned within Su Wen. She clenched her fists tightly, her voice venomous. "If I had known this would happen, I should have crippled your cultivation!"
One day later.
In the heart of Long Mountain Island, at the foot of the mountains.
Hidden within is an ancient cave, spanning two miles in circumference, resembling a small world unto itself.
Countless pearls shimmered within the ancient cave, their radiance illuminating the surroundings, revealing the spirit pool, water lilies, and wondrous herbs.
The density of Spiritual Qi far exceeded that of the second-tier Spirit Vein on the island. With each breath, Su Junsong felt comfortable and his meridians were warm. If he were to cultivate here, he could suddenly increase his speed by one or two tenths.
This is a secret place that the Su Household discovered by chance and has guarded strictly for generations.
A Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan has secretly possessed a third-tier Spirit Vein. If this is exposed, the entire family will be in danger of being destroyed.
The members of Su Wen's clan were demoted to a collateral branch because of their careless words.
Not far away stand three small, quiet courtyards, with red bricks and green tiles, exuding a low-key and rustic charm.
Su Junsong pushed open the half-closed wooden door. Several people had already gathered in the courtyard: Su Zundao, Su Yuanye, Su Lixia with red and swollen eyes, and an old woman leaning on a Law Artifact.
Su Junsong greeted her and then looked at Su Lixia: "Aunt, please tell me about what happened that day."
Su Lixia immediately began to describe, from Zhou Ning's first words, to the Law Artifact and magical artifacts he used, especially when she talked about Nie Yi being cleaved in two. Tears welled up in Su Lixia's eyes.
Besides Zhou Ning, there's also Han Ziyue!
After picking up the Storage Bag, the person casually fired two fireballs, burning Nie Jun to ashes. Otherwise, with the spirit medicine in his home, he might have been able to survive, even if it meant living as a mortal!
The old woman frowned and scolded, "What's the use of crying? Will crying bring him back to life?"
"If you were more capable, would Nie Yi and Ru Di have died?" she berated angrily.
Seeing this, Su Zundao, who was sitting in the main seat, spoke up to stop them, "Enough, this is not the time for internal appointments. The important thing is how to kill this kid."
He had a thin face, looking like a down-on-his-luck middle-aged scholar, but his tone exuded an undeniable authority.
Su Lixia said, "He's only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but his methods are strange, which is why I was caught off guard. If I just bring the soul-protecting Law Artifact from my home, I'm sure I can kill him."
Su Zundao listened quietly and said, "I don't care what realm he is. Since he can kill someone in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, I'll treat him as someone in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage."
The young man seated in the second seat, dressed in a dark black python robe, said, "I'll go and take him back to the clan."
He is Su Yuanye, a member of the Su Household with High-Grade Spirit Root. He Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty and has been in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage for many years. His combat strength far surpasses that of his peers.
As for how to take him home, the answer is naturally to cripple him.
At this point, Su Yuanye's sharp eyebrows also rose slightly. He really didn't expect that a minor Qi Refining he had never taken seriously could actually succeed in Foundation Establishment.
That's really unexpected.
But this person will never know just how vast the gap is between those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
Upon hearing this, Su Lixia looked at her nephew, whose imposing presence and domineering demeanor filled her with gratitude, and said, "Yuanye, your aunt hopes you can—"
Before he could finish speaking, Su Zundao said, "This scoundrel has no fixed abode. If Yuanye is discovered by the other families during the pursuit, especially the Lei Household, he will likely be in a precarious situation."
Su Huaijin, a member of the Su Household with Earth Spirit Root, was ambushed and killed by the Lei Household.
"Don't underestimate others. If Zhou Ning has some powerful methods up his sleeve, it's not impossible for him to be caught off guard and suffer a setback."
7
Upon hearing this, Su Lixia's face showed resentment, and she argued forcefully. "You clearly have the ability to take revenge, so why don't you?"
Granny Su's face twitched, and she scolded, "How dare you speak! If you weren't so weak, how could my brother Su Ru have died?"
Su Lixia lowered her head after being scolded.
Looking at this scene, Su Junsong sighed and said, "Our ancestor is breaking through to the Core Formation, and he's probably at a crucial juncture. We absolutely cannot afford to make any mistakes now, or all our previous efforts will be in vain!"
If Su Zundao and Su Yuanye were to leave the island together, they could certainly kill Zhou Ning, but the risks involved would not be worthwhile.
In the path of cultivation, only through forbearance and self-control can one reap great benefits.
Isn't Zhou Ning one of them? Otherwise, if he had ever dared to show even the slightest resentment, the Su Household would have killed him long ago.
The same applies to Lineage businesses.
Thinking of this, Su Junsong's face relaxed slightly. "I did notice a oversight. When this boy accused the Su Household, he actually dared to accuse my uncle of demoting him from the Azure Mystic Sect."
Su Zundao raised his eyelids and said, "What do you mean?"
Su Yuanye seemed to be deep in thought.
My uncle Su Yanghao, did indeed violate regulations by rejecting my nomination, but it was merely a casual order, a bit of arbitrary use of power.
"Hehe, Zhou Ning has publicly questioned the Azure Mystic Sect's entrance selection process. What do you think will happen if this gets publicized and known to all cultivators, including the Azure Mystic Sect?" Su Junsong asked.
The Azure Mystic Sect admitted its mistake? Admitted to missing out on a promising young immortal?
Wishful thinking!
The Azure Mystic Sect is used to being domineering and arrogant, standing above all the other Aristocratic Clan, and receiving countless tributes every year. It would never admit its mistakes; how important is the sect's prestige?
Besides, does a Foundation Establishment cultivator even deserve to bark arrogantly in front of the Azure Mystic Sect?
If you grasp this point, the angels of the Azure Mystic Sect will take action.
He was slapped to death with both hands.
Upon hearing this, Su Zundao's expression softened considerably, and his eyes showed some appreciation. "Junsong will take charge of this matter."
Receiving praise, Su Junsong was delighted and said, "Now that Zhou Ning hates the Su Household to the bone, he will surely attack everywhere. We need to shrink our battle lines, notify our clansmen who are away, and have them hide in the formation to prioritize their own safety—"
Just then, his expression shifted, and he said, "More spirit pigeons have arrived outside."
The expressions on everyone's faces changed slightly.