Chương 42: Into the Valley

"This hatred… only blood can wash it clean!" Zhang Chongwen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he saw Zhang Liliang and Zhang Linyi already standing behind Zhang Huaijin, he fell silent for a moment.

"Be careful out there." He walked over and stood before Zhang Huaijin. With a gentle motion so subtle it was almost imperceptible, he slipped a talisman into the young man's palm.

"Don't hold back. If anything feels wrong, use it immediately. Your own life is what matters most." His voice was low and grave. Zhang Huaijin's heart stirred as he felt the dense energy pressed into his palm. This was one of the three tier 2, upper grade talismans Weng Zho had given him.

"Grandfather, he's just a rogue cultivator at the Qi Refining Realm. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"

"I know you have a Spirit Body, gifted and powerful. But you're only at the eighth level of Qi Refining Realm. A cautious man lives long." He paused, then added, "Cherish your life, and you'll have more years to live." Zhang Chongwen's voice carried the weight of hard earned wisdom. The Zhang family had to respond to what Fang Yuo had done. If they didn't, the outside world would see them as weak. Other rogue cultivators and rival families would swarm in like vultures, tearing the Zhangs apart.

Reputation was built with blood and battle. Zhang Chongwen had founded this family from nothing, he understood that truth better than anyone. Zhang Huaijin understood it too. They had grown bolder since Zhang Lixian left. Now, they needed to be crushed. These worthless troublemakers had to pay.

"I understand, Grandfather. Just wait for news of my victory." With that, Zhang Huaijin led a dozen Zhang family cultivators off the Green Bamboo Mountain. They moved fast and kept a low profile. Fang Yuo was a rogue cultivator who haunted the Purple Dusk Mountain Range, he had eyes and ears everywhere. If he caught wind of them coming, he would flee. Zhang Huaijin was determined not to let Fang Yuo or his men escape. —— But Fang Yuo wasn't worried at all.

The outside world, even the Zhang family, had no idea what Zhang Huaijin was truly capable of. Right now, the Zhangs had only one cultivator at the Perfection stage of Qi Refining Realm left, a man in his nineties, frail and aging. To fight at his prime again, he would have to burn his own blood qi (vitality). That was one reason Fang Yuo felt so brazen. Even if he killed a few Zhangs, what could they really do to him? Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Fang Yuo didn't take the Zhang family seriously at all. He continued roaming leisurely through the Purple Dusk Mountain Range, hunting spirit beasts and searching for spiritual herbs. —— Purple Dusk Mountain Range, Green Ape Peak This place was swarming with green apes, hundreds of them. Deep within the peak lurked a tier 2, low grade green ape king, a beast that would give even an early Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator a run for his money. But the peak also held a tier 2, low grade spirit vein.

It was one of the tallest peaks on the outer edge of the mountain range, fertile land, rich in spiritual energy. Hundreds of apes spread across the mountain, all guarding their king. And Fang Yuo's target was these apes. Fang Yuo stood at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. His crew included three late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators, one at the eighth level, two at the seventh, plus eight more at the mid stage.

Among the rogue spirit beast hunting teams roaming the outer edges of the Purple Dusk Mountain Range, Fang Yuo and his people were one of the best. Twelve cultivators in total, including him. Their combined strength far surpassed that of the Zhang family's hunting team. As long as they didn't disturb the ape king, taking down these Qi Refining Realm level beasts would bring them a mountain of resources. By now, Zhang Huaijin had already arrived near Green Ape Peak with his Zhang family cultivators.

The Zhang spirit beast hunting team knew this place, but they had never pushed deep into it. Everyone feared the rumored Foundation Establishment Realm ape. If it locked onto a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, escape was nearly impossible. Zhang Huaijin stood in white robes, his face expressionless. Fang Yuo was an experienced hunter, cautious by nature. He had chosen a valley that was easy to defend and hard to attack, then sent his men out to lure the apes.

To Qi Refining Realm apes, human cultivators were irresistible. Just as cultivators saw spirit beasts as walking treasures, to spirit beasts, a cultivator's flesh and blood was a potent resource, a way to grow stronger. Right away, three green apes took the bait, charging toward the mid stage cultivator acting as bait. When they entered the valley, a brutal slaughter awaited them. But Zhang Huaijin and the Zhang family cultivators were already near the valley.

"Fang Yuo and those three late stage Qi Refining Realm rogues are mine, Uncle Linyi, Second Uncle, lead the family cultivators and wipe out the eight mid stage ones." Zhang Huaijin spoke.

"You sure about that?" Zhang Liliang's eyes flashed with shock. That was quite a bold claim.

"I'm sure. I wouldn't gamble with my own safety." Zhang Huaijin was ready to unleash his full power. The Zhang family had seemed too weak lately. Too soft. Now they needed bloodshed. They needed everyone in Langya County to know, the Zhang family was not to be bullied. Clang! A green light materialized in Zhang Huaijin's palm. Tier 1, Upper Grade spirit artifact, Azure Serenity Sword! He had forged this himself, his strongest weapon.

It was the absolute peak of tier 1 spirit artifacts, crafted from top grade green bamboo and mystic iron, refined through countless strikes. In his storage pouch, he also carried seven other tier 1, upper grade spirit artifacts, each a masterwork of its kind. Zhang Huaijin charged straight into the valley. Fang Yuo's crew snapped to alert immediately. They panicked at the sudden appearance of Zhang family cultivators, but then, seeing who had come, their panic twisted into cruel grins.

"You don't even have a single ninth level cultivator, and you came looking for revenge?" Fang Yuo laughed.

"If you're that eager to die, I'll grant your wish." Thwump! But in the next second, the two seventh level cultivators standing near him went rigid. Their faces froze. Their souls shattered. Blood seeped from their seven orifices, and they dropped dead on the spot. Two Yin Yang divine needles, silent and invisible, had snuffed out their souls. Zhang Huaijin struck with everything he had, because everyone here was going to die today. He wasn't afraid of exposing his soul cultivation techniques.

He attacked with full force and took out both seventh level men in a single breath.

"Heaven Fire Sword!" The Azure Serenity Sword swept across the void, conjuring a six meter long blazing sword aura. The spiritual energy around them turned wild and violent. Sword light howled through the air, carrying a crushing pressure. One ordinary strike from Zhang Huaijin erupted with the full force of a peak power a Qi Refining Realm could unleash. Fang Yuo was genuinely startled. A blood red spear appeared in his hand, trailing crimson light, exuding a bloody aura.

tier 1, upper grade spirit artifact, the Blood Nether Lance.