Xu Jingfeng laughed three times before looking at Xu Wan’er. He said gently, “Put the sword down. What’s the matter? Don’t you listen to your cousin anymore?”

Gripping her sword tightly, Xu Wan’er growled through gritted teeth, “The day your cohort killed Father is also the day I’ve ceased to be a member of the Xu Clan!”

Xu Jingfeng laughed. “I was going to leave you some dignity, but if you’re not going to cave, then you’ll have no mercy from me. I wonder if you still can keep that tough attitude after I’ve fucked you in front of everyone?”

Suddenly, Little Junior Brother yelled from a corner, “Save me, cousin! I don’t have long!”

Xu Jingfeng cast him a glance before replying, “Worthless garbage. So many years as a spy, and yet you’ve accomplished nothing. Just die. The Xu Clan does not make a habit of keeping useless people!”

Finally, his gaze settled on the motionless Yun Feifei. For the first time, lust blazed in his eyes as he licked his lips. “She really is one-of-a-kind!”

Inside the central hall, Wei Yuan suddenly sensed something and looked up. He saw the roof disappearing en masse as if something was erasing them from existence.

Higher up, an old man was floating in the air and unleashing streams of yellow qi from his hand, eroding swathes of earth and causing the entire hall to sink a few zhang into the underground. The secret vault was fully exposed just a moment later.

A clear look of surprise flitted across the old man’s face when he saw Wei Yuan. He asked, “Are you a disciple of the Palace of Absolute Beginning, Junior Nephew?”

Wei Yuan paid him a salute. “That is correct. This junior has been sent here to retrieve something.”

As it turned out, the old man was an Avatar Trueman. His eyes were currently shrouded by a dark green aura. Just one look was enough to inflict a sense of sharp discomfort in Wei Yuan; it felt as if something had stabbed his perception.

The dark green aura possessed the ability to damage one’s perception and dispel one’s fortune. Its level of existence was unnaturally high as well; far higher than an Avatar’s at least. It must be how the old man had discovered the underground stone chamber. Although Wei Yuan had activated Qingming, the room was still filled with the power of incense prayer. It should have been enough to coerce even an Avatar Trueman to ignore it.

“I am Xu Guanwen, Sixth Elder of the Xu Clan. I am in charge of external affairs. On whose orders have you come here, and what is this item you’re planning to take?”

“This junior is carrying out my Immortal Lord’s orders. As for what I am asked to take, you’ll have to forgive this junior for keeping it a secret.”

Wei Yuan noticed that the situation wasn’t quite right and kept his cool. He then brought up Immortal Lord Tinghai’s name hoping that it would be enough to keep Xu Guanwen in check.

Xu Guanwen’s gaze rested on Qingming, and his breathing abruptly grew heavier. Then, a look of wild joy spread across his face as he said, “The Ancestor’s foresight is flawless—it really is the item! Step aside, Junior Nephew! You wouldn’t want to damage my clan’s heirloom!”

“I believe there has been a misunderstanding, Elder Xu. You claimed that this is your clan’s heirloom. Do you know what it’s called then?”

Xu Guanwen chuckled as he stroked his beard. “You are a shrewd one, Junior Nephew! Well, why not? My Ancestor has always been on good terms with Immortal Lord Pei, so I see no harm in telling you the truth. This is the ancient realm stone, Qingming. It is an artifact of the immortals. Several centuries ago, a traitor in the clan had stolen it from us. We did not know that it had fallen into the hands of the Swelling Water God Palace and hidden in this place. If not for the Ancestor’s decree, this immortal artifact would likely still be gathering dust right now.”

Wei Yuan didn’t think that Xu Guanwen would be able to identify Qingming accurately. However, he still did not trust a word of what he had said.

Although the old man was wearing a benevolent expression and smiling kindly, a dark-red aura was emanating from every part of his body, and an overwhelming strong stench of blood was filling the air. Not only that, a faint, shadowy figure was floating behind the old man and seemingly intent on ripping Wei Yuan to pieces. Finally, every single one of these phenomena had appeared when he was performing the Mortal World Immortal Inquiry Method!

In other words, Xu Guanwen was most likely the ambusher who was foretold to kill him. Even if he wasn’t, he was at least someone related to the ambusher. Wei Yuan had used the Immortal Lord’s array disc when performing the fortune-telling. It was like Immortal Lord Tinghai was performing the act remotely. Naturally, the result was miraculous in its own right. That was why Wei Yuan was able to tell that something was amiss the second he lay his eyes on the old man.

Noticing Wei Yuan’s guarded expression, Xu Guanwen said, “It’s fine if you don’t believe me. You may ask your seniors for confirmation after you’ve returned to the Palace. Now please, get out of the way. I would not want to hurt you while I retrieve the immortal artifact.”

“Wait! The artifact has already taken root. You cannot—”

But why would Xu Guanwen waste his breath on a nobody like Wei Yuan? With a flick of his sleeve, he swept Wei Yuan aside while a surge of dark green aura dispersed the power of prayers filling the stone chamber. Then, he reached out with a large hand and grabbed Qingming. The realm stone let out a mournful cry, and it was ripped out of the earth just like that!

Wei Yuan was both shocked and furious as he stared at the floating realm stone. It was because ripping out the ancient realm stone by force would cause the environment within a thousand-li radius to deteriorate rapidly. In three months, everyone living on the former land of Ningxi Commandery would die!

Originally, Ningxi Commandery had a total population of 1.5 million. Despite many years of war, many people were still clinging to life in various corners of the region. The human race possessed remarkable resilience, just as the people in the northern district of Willow Ash Town were still stubbornly surviving.

At least several hundred thousand mortals were still living in the former lands of Ningxi. None of them were capable of migrating to a safer region, so they could only fend for themselves.

Wei Yuan put a lid on his anger and asked slowly, “Elder Xu, you have just sentenced hundreds of thousands of people to death by removing Qingming! Has the Xu Clan made the preparations to relocate the populace already?”

Looking at the rising realm stone, Xu Guanwen replied uncaringly, “This domain belongs to the Xu Clan. These people too belong to the Xu Clan. The fact that they have survived this long is all thanks to us. Anyway, you’re meddling far too much, Junior Nephew. Whether they live or die is none of your concern.”

Wei Yuan’s face turned cold as he replied, “You have no intention of sparing these people’s lives—Is that what you’re saying, Elder Xu?”

By this point, Xu Guanwen could not keep his impatience out of his tone. He barked, “This is the Xu Clan’s land! It’s none of your business how many people die here! If you must meddle in such trivial matters, wait until you’ve become an Avatar!”

Wei Yuan’s tone grew positively icy. “Six thousand li, several centuries of blood, sweat and tears—and you’re going to hand it over just like that?”

Xu Guanwen exploded in anger. “Another word, and I will end you, junior!”

Suddenly, Wei Yuan appeared next to Qingming and grabbed it with his bare hand. He then inserted the activation array and activated the realm stone once more. As the Great Realm and Qingming resonated, a beam of blue light suddenly shot out of the realm stone all the way to the heavens!

In an instant, Qingming became as heavy as a mountain. Not even an Avatar like Xu Guanwen was able to keep it afloat. As a result, the realm stone slammed back into the ground and became one with the earth once more!

Xu Guanwen exclaimed in surprise, “What did you do?!”

Wei Yuan declared slowly and determinedly, “I will protect the people you care not to protect. I will defend the land you dare not defend!

“From here on out, the surname of this land is Wei!”

Xu Guanwen was shocked and furious. At his level, he naturally recognized that Qingming had instantly acknowledged the young man as its master. This was an immortal artifact! Even he, an Avatar Trueman, dared not dream of becoming an immortal artifact’s master, so how did a mere Dao Foundation succeed? And how dare he?!

Xu Guanwen’s eyes burned with fury. “I was going to let you live a couple more days and finish my business before removing all traces of you. But since you insist on courting death, who am I to deny your wishes? Don’t worry, you won’t go easily into the afterlife. I promise I will crush your Dao Foundation and make you scream for three days and nights before you finally perish!”

A terrible weight suddenly sat on top of Wei Yuan’s shoulders at the same time countless dark green chains appeared out of nowhere, binding him and pinning him in place!

Wei Yuan struggled with all his might, but the chains were the angry product of an Avatar’s power. It was simply beyond the ability of a Dao Foundation stage cultivator to break out from. No matter how hard he struggled, he was unable to move an inch!

Meanwhile, Xu Guanwen was still struggling to accept the reality that an immortal artifact of extraordinary origin had just accepted Wei Yuan as its master. It had done it right in front of his face too! The humiliation was akin to the goddess he had been chasing for years choosing a useless piece of garbage that was inferior to him in every way!

Xu Guanwen was overflowing with jealousy and hatred to say the least. Channeling the full might of his mystic energy, a gigantic bird’s foot slowly took form above his head. However, the earthly veins of this land were shattered, and the grotto-heaven’s fragments were interfering with the flow of the spirit energy as well. That was why it was taking him so much time and effort to manifest his Avatar.

An idea crossed Wei Yuan’s mind when he saw the bird foot Avatar. He was going to activate the Immortal Lord’s divine thought, but he held back for now.

While manifesting his Avatar, Xu Guanwen did not forget to toy with his prey. He taunted, “Do you really think I’m helpless after you’ve become Qingming’s master? I’m still going to remove it and take it back to my clan. My Ancestor will then suppress it, cut it to many pieces, and refine it to a dozen or so realm stones! It would be a waste, but better the Xu Clan’s realm stones than another person’s immortal artifact! As for the hundreds of thousands of people living in this place, they’ll be my burial gift to you. You wouldn’t want to walk the Yellow Spring Road alone, would you?

“Oh right, I almost forgot. Some of your sect fellows are in our captivity. One of your Senior Brother is waiting for you on the Yellow Spring Road, and two of your Senior Sisters are currently in use so to speak. It would be a shame to let their beauty go to waste, right? Don’t worry, we’ll also send them your way after we’re with them!”

While doing his best to hold out, Wei Yuan growled through gritted teeth, “Are you not afraid of the Immortal Lord’s wrath?”

Xu Guanwen sneered, “You speak as if the Palace of Absolute Beginning is the only force in the world with an Immortal Lord. Our Ancestor is an Immortal Lord as well! Since you’re dying soon, I don’t mind seeing you off with a clearer picture. The Ancestor wanted to teach the Palace of Absolute Beginning a lesson! You meddlers should’ve just stayed in the north and be content with Yun, Gan, and Ning! One would think that three provinces are more than enough to sate your appetite, yet you just can’t help but stick your hand into Ningxi, can you? Well, there is a price to pay when you mess with the Xu Clan!”

It was at this moment a layer of dark green rose out of the walls. A thick, humid stench filled the air and covered the ground in wet light in the blink of an eye. The next moment, a hill of flesh swam into the hall. The hill of flesh was a little over a zhang tall and wearing a strange cloak. It had a neck that was thicker than its head, and three human faces were embedded into its neck. Several squid-like appendages were also wriggling incessantly beneath its robes.

The creature with a monstrous head was, in fact, a Shaman. He asked in a stiff, formal Great Tang language, “Why are you wasting your breath with a lowly being? His Lordship has already assembled the troops. Can you wrap up soon so he may mobilize them?”

Xu Guanwen replied, “Relax, will you? It’s not like the populace is going anywhere, not to mention that you have to nurture them for a time before they become usable. Just let me vent!”

“Your feelings are none of my concern, but if something goes wrong with His Lordship’s arrangements, you’ll have to pay one hundred thousand humans to make up for it!”

Xu Guanwen’s expression darkened. “You must be a newly promoted recruit. How dare you speak to me like that! You’re not even an Avatar yet; I can crush you with a single swipe of my claw! Without the Xu Clan, you can only dream of coming and kidnapping humans as you please. Is your master advancing too quickly? We can give him some setbacks if that is his desire!”

His response irritated the Shaman greatly. He kept swinging its appendages and whipping the floor until they cracked. However, it was equally clear that he was afraid of Xu Guanwen. No matter how violent he reacted, he did not attack the Avatar.

Xu Guanwen turned back to Wei Yuan and cracked a vicious grin. “Now, you know both what you should and shouldn’t know. Time to move on.”

The giant foot in the sky finally took form and fell on Wei Yuan. It reached straight into his sea of consciousness and grew a thousand zhang long in an instant. The next moment, four hundred-zhang-long talons sank deep into the ground and pulled!

The vast expanse shook a little... and that was it. Next to the jade hill, a few pebbles bounced off the earth and flipped a side.