The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 436 - 554: A Treasure Is a Crime in Itself

Chapter 436: Chapter 554: A Treasure Is a Crime in Itself

Chapter 554: A Treasure Is a Crime in Itself

"Is everything ready?"

"All preparations are complete."

"Then we move."

With a single wave of his hand, the head of the Wen family gave the order. In an instant, figures rose into the night sky, streaking beyond the city walls like shadows slipping away from the mortal world.

Several months earlier, fortune had smiled upon the Wen family.

One of their clan elders, through sheer coincidence and extraordinary luck, had successfully hatched a mysterious stone egg. Within it slumbered an ancient exotic beast—its bloodline pure, powerful, and unmistakably extraordinary.

But joy quickly turned into unease.

The Wen family knew their limits.

Such a creature was not a blessing they could afford to keep.

To raise an ancient beast required resources, background, and protection far beyond what a mid-tier family like theirs could muster. If word spread, the Wen family would not gain fortune—they would invite calamity.

Thus, after long deliberation, the family head made a decisive choice.

Sell it.

Through discreet inquiries and layered intermediaries, they eventually located a suitable buyer. Unfortunately, the buyer was not located within Hangzhou. To complete the transaction, they would have to cross into another continent altogether.

There were no long-distance teleportation arrays between continents.

The only option was to fly.

Worse still, living demonic beasts could not be stored within spatial rings. The creature would have to be transported physically, sealed within a specially crafted cage.

Behind the Wen family head flew the Grand Elder, both of them cultivators at the peak of the Saint King Realm. Cradled carefully in the Grand Elder’s hands was a rectangular box wrapped in thick beast hide.

Within that box lay the cage.

Both the box and the hide were engraved with dense, arcane inscriptions. Layers of concealment formations flickered faintly, suppressing all aura and life fluctuations within, ensuring that even divine sense scans would reveal nothing unusual.

The beast inside was worth a fortune.

If the deal succeeded, the Wen family would rise dramatically.

And so, they spared no effort.

In addition to the family head and Grand Elder, five Great Saint Realm elders accompanied them. Seven experts in total—an escort strong enough to intimidate most opportunistic predators.

They deliberately chose to depart deep into the night, slipping out of the city in silence.

Speed was sacrificed for discretion.

They advanced steadily, suppressing their auras and avoiding unnecessary disturbances. By the time dawn approached, the group had reached the northern sea of Hangzhou. Beyond these waters lay the boundary between continents.

No one relaxed.

Every face was grim, every nerve taut. Each of them knew very well what they carried—and how many eyes would covet it if discovered.

Suddenly—

BOOM!!

The previously calm sea erupted.

Towering waves surged upward as if something monstrous had awakened beneath the depths. The violent disturbance startled the entire group.

In an instant, weapons were drawn.

True essence roared within their bodies as killing intent flared. Their reactions were instinctive, honed by years of survival in a ruthless world.

The Wen family head narrowed his eyes, scanning the waters carefully. After a moment, he let out a short laugh.

"Relax. Just two sea beasts fighting below."

Only then did everyone exhale in relief.

"So that’s all..."

"Scared the life out of me."

"When we’re done with this trip, I’m coming back to slaughter those two and make a feast out of them."

The tension eased—just a little.

And that was when it happened.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures shot out of the sea like arrows released from a divine bow.

They emerged in perfect coordination, instantly spreading out and locking down every possible escape route. Their formation was seamless, precise—like a net cast to capture prey.

The Wen family’s expressions changed drastically.

At the forefront stood a burly middle-aged man clad in a black cloak. His presence was overwhelming, his aura savage and ancient. In his hand rested a massive golden blade that gleamed with murderous intent.

He stood there like an awakened primordial beast.

And the moment they surrounded the Wen family—

They attacked.

No warnings. No negotiations.

"You—!"

The Wen family head barely managed to speak before terrifying attacks descended from all directions.

His first instinct was to flee.

But the instant he tried, despair flooded his heart.

Every retreat path was sealed.

This was no random ambush.

It was meticulous. Professional. Ruthless.

"You’re... from Seven Kings City?"

No one answered him.

The only response was slaughter.

The heavens darkened. The sea churned violently. Terrifying pressure crushed downward, annihilating everything in its wake. The two sea beasts that had been fighting moments earlier were obliterated instantly—reduced to mist beneath the overwhelming force.

The man in black was none other than Xiang Kuang.

Son of Xiang Qian—sworn brother of King Canglu, one of the Seven Kings of Seven Kings City.

And father of Xiang Zhantian.

His gaze locked onto the Wen family head.

Though both were Saint Kings, the difference between them was vast. Xiang Kuang stood at the peak of the realm, while the Wen family head had only reached the sixth level.

Their clash was decided the moment it began.

The Wen family head poured everything he had into blocking the first strike—and barely survived.

Severely wounded.

The second strike came immediately after.

A golden blade flashed.

The Wen family head was cleaved apart.

"No—!"

"Family Head!!"

Cries of despair rang out.

Blood painted the sky.

Xiang Kuang’s expression did not change. His eyes were cold and indifferent, as if he had merely crushed an insect beneath his foot.

The Wen family head’s consciousness faded amid regret and hatred.

He regretted his greed.

If he had sold the beast locally—to the Skysphere Chamber of Commerce—none of this would have happened.

Now, not only would he die, but the Wen family’s core strength would vanish with him. Their enemies would descend soon after.

The Wen family would decline.

Or worse—be erased entirely.

Hatred burned in his fading eyes.

Hatred for Seven Kings City.

Hatred for these bandits who survived by blood and plunder.

But regret came too late.

As his soul dissipated, he could already see his family’s destruction.

"Damn you bandits! I’ll die with you!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The Grand Elder roared, eyes bloodshot.

He chose self-destruction.

Before he could complete it—

"Naive."

Xiang Kuang vanished and reappeared in a blur.

The golden blade fell.

The Grand Elder was split apart mid-motion, his body torn asunder before his self-destruction could even trigger.

Blood rained down.

Screams echoed briefly—then ceased.

With their two strongest leaders dead, the remaining Wen family elders stood no chance. One by one, they fell.

The entire battle ended swiftly.

Effortlessly.

Not a single casualty on Xiang Kuang’s side.

They had done this countless times before.

Every reaction, every desperate struggle—utterly predictable.

This was the law of the world.

A man may be innocent.

But possessing a treasure is a crime in itself.

If the Wen family had never hatched that ancient beast, none of this would have happened.

Such tragedies were common in this cruel cultivation world.

Xiang Kuang extended his hand and drew the beast-hide-wrapped box into his grasp.

Just as he was about to inspect it—

A sudden change occurred.