Chương 41: Blood on the Mountain

Zhang Huaijin stood atop the mountain peak, dressed in white. His heart was heavy. The difficulty of establishing a foundation was as hard as reaching the heavens. Would his father succeed? Su Xuiqi sat silently in her house, Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her heart was filled with nothing but dread. Success in Establishing a Foundation meant a lifespan of two hundred and forty years.

It meant becoming a lofty Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, powerful enough to support an entire Foundation Establishment Realm family. But failure meant only a quiet, seated passing. Even if one survived, their lifespan would be drastically shortened, their meridians shattered, their vitality crippled. One path leads to heaven. Another leads to hell.

Even with the protection of a Foundation Establishment Realm Pill, which would at least prevent death, the hope of ever reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm again would be vanishingly slim. Such was the difficulty of Foundation Establishment. Such was the cruelty of the immortal path. The road was hard to walk. Every step was a hurdle. Conquer it, and the fish leaps the dragon's gate. Hardships give way to a lifetime of wealth and honor. Fail, and your vitality is damaged, your path cut off.

All that remains is a sigh of regret.

"Mother, Father will definitely succeed." Yunli appeared silently behind her, wrapping her arms around Su Xuiqi and speaking softly. The little girl who once wore her hair in a small pigtail had grown up.

"He will definitely succeed." A flash of determination lit Su Xuiqi's eyes. Carrying the hopes of the Zhang family on his back, Zhang Lixian had gone to the Heavenly Crane Sect to take the Foundation Establishment Pill and attempt his breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Zhang family continued to develop. —— For nearly two years now, the family's focus had shifted. The Tian family's suppression of the Zhang family was no longer as intense as before. But the relationship between the two families had hardly improved.

In Langya County, the three major Foundation Establishment Realm families each had their own spirit beast hunting teams. Among the twelve Qi Refining Realm families, those with the strongest standing had also formed spirit beast hunting teams. These teams earned resources for their families while tempering their members' strength. Within the vast Purple Dusk Mountain Range, spirit beast resources were endless. The hunting teams of the various families, along with rogue cultivators, all mingled there.

Conflicts were inevitable when competing for spirit beasts and rare spiritual herbs. The Tian family's hunting team had clashed with Zhang Liwei several times already. Given the gap in strength between the two families, Zhang Liwei had no choice but to swallow his pride and endure the humiliation. His own power was simply no match for theirs. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Even some of the rogue cultivators attached to the Tian family frequently bullied the Zhang family. Though the Purple Dusk Mountain Range was vast, the areas where Zhang Liwei could operate were limited to the outer part. He could only bear the insults. After all, who was to blame for being weak? —— After Zhang Huaijin returned to Green Bamboo Mountain, he did not go to Langya County town. He remained at the family compound, maintaining a strong presence.

Three days later, the Zhang family's spirit beast hunting team came rushing back, clothes stained with blood, bodies covered in wounds. Zhang Liwei had fallen into a coma. Another Zhang family cultivator at the mid stage of the Qi Refining Realm had been killed. Inside the family's main hall. The senior members of the Zhang family took their seats in order. They looked at the unconscious Zhang Liwei, their expressions extremely grim.

Zhang Huaijin took out a tier 1, low grade healing pill and had Zhang Liwei swallow it. A flush of red finally returned to his pale face. Only then did everyone breathe a little easier.

"Did you encounter a powerful spirit beast?" Zhang Huaijin's voice was calm. The eyes of Zhang Chongwen, Zhang Liliang, and Zhang Linyi fell upon the members of the beast hunting team. The Zhang family's spirit beast hunting team now had only nine people. One had died in battle. Zhang Liwei was unconscious. Seven remained standing in the main hall. The team leader, his face still streaked with dried blood, replied with a sob in his voice.

"It was Fang Yuo."

"Fang Yuo did this." The members of the family showed no change in expression. But a cold murderous intent flashed in their eyes. Fang Yuo was a notorious rogue cultivator in Langya County. He was over sixty years old, with a cultivation base at the Perfection Stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Ruthless in his methods, he commanded more than a dozen rogue cultivators who followed his orders. They operated deep in the Purple Dusk Mountain Range.

He frequently robbed others of their spiritual herbs and the spoils of beast hunts. There was a reason Fang Yuo could act so arrogantly. Someone was sheltering him. Fang Yuo only preyed on rogue cultivators and members of weaker Qi Refining Realm families. He was smart enough not to provoke the three major Foundation Establishment Realm families or the Miao and Yang families. It was an open secret that the Tian family stood behind him.

"Heh. Perfection Stage Qi Refining Realm. Naturally, my uncle was no match for him." Zhang Huaijin smiled, but everyone could see the coldness hidden beneath it.

"It seems the Tian family doesn't believe Father will succeed in advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Make a move," Zhang Chongwen said.

"We must make an example of him this time. Liwei is badly hurt, but thankfully his life is not in danger." Zhang Chongwen sighed, then rose to his feet like an enraged lion, his beard and hair bristling with fury. Zhang Liliang and Zhang Linyi felt the same. A fierce killing intent burned in their eyes. The remaining family cultivators slowly stood as well.

"The Tian family has been bullying us for years. Now even their dog dares to kick us when we're down." Zhang Chongwen's voice dripped with cold fury.

"Fang Yuo thinks that just because Lixian isn't here, we have no way to deal with him?" Though he was over ninety and his vitality was already in decline, he still had fight left in him. The Tian family had gone too far. Today, even if he had to burn through his remaining lifespan, he would kill Fang Yuo and make an example of him. Otherwise, everyone would only see the Zhang family as weak and easily trampled. As for the Tian family, the Zhang family was not yet qualified to confront them directly.

The current Tian family was simply taking advantage of their weakness. The Zhang family had only one Perfection Stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator. Fang Yuo was just a dog they kept. The real mastermind was still the Tian family. Zhang Huaijin could not figure out why the Tian family was so intent on targeting them. Could it really be just because of the artifact Forging business? There was probably another reason.

"Grandfather, let me handle Fang Yuo, You stay and guard the family." Zhang Huaijin's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable certainty.

"Second Uncle, Uncle Linyi, gather the family cultivators. Come with me to the Purple Dusk Mountain Range." Zhang Huaijin gave his orders directly, not waiting for Zhang Chongwen to respond.

"You know where Fang Yuo and his people usually operate, don't you?" Zhang Huaijin turned his gaze to the spirit beast hunting team members.

"Yes!"

"Then let's go. To avenge your team leader and your fallen brother." Zhang Huaijin's voice rang with a bone deep coldness.

"Yes!" Excitement flashed across the faces of the team members. Zhang Huaijin had always been an idol to the younger generation of the Zhang family. Though they were not sure of his true strength, the certainty in his voice told them everything they needed to know. He would kill Fang Yuo. He would avenge their brother. —— Fang Yuo had already been sentenced to death in Zhang Huaijin's heart. Not only had he severely injured Zhang Liwei, but he had also killed one of their cultivator.

If the cultivators on the Zhang family's spirit beast hunting team had not known the Purple Dusk Mountain Range so well, and if they had not happened to encounter cultivators from the Miao family… the casualties would have been even worse. And those rogue cultivators who followed Fang Yuo, doing the Tian family's dirty work, constantly oppressing them… now they had shed Zhang family blood.