Chapter 1965: Joke

Guanyang Mountain was home to the Baili Clan, a renowned cultivation family in the Yan Kingdom. Over several centuries, the family's strength steadily grew. In just over two hundred years, two geniuses emerged consecutively, both achieving the Nascent Soul realm. The clan was overseen by three Nascent Soul patriarchs. Although all were only at the early Nascent Soul stage, they were a rare phenomenon among cultivation families. Now, this powerful regional hegemon was under siege, with enemies attacking its mountain gate.

Sha Jiayu stopped at a distance, gazing towards Guanyang Mountain. He saw a swirling vortex of energy, with spiritual power fluctuations visibly rippling through the air. A rumbling sound echoed. Even from his vantage point, Sha Jiayu felt the violent tremors emanating from Guanyang Mountain. Various colored lights continuously burst forth from the mountain, illuminating the dark clouds above and creating streaks of vibrant cloud formations. These were phenomena caused by the collision of Daoist spells and magical artifacts. Among these phenomena, the most striking were the eight crimson fire dragon pillars, which together formed the Baili Clan's mountain-protecting formation. The crimson fire dragon pillars stood nearly a hundred zhang tall, positioned at eight different points around Guanyang Mountain. Each pillar had a fire dragon coiled around it. The fire dragons were exceptionally fierce, baring their fangs and claws, moving through the flames as if alive. Every so often, they would spray a burst of fire skyward. The flames spread out in mid-air, forming a vast sea of fire that shrouded Guanyang Mountain below. However, under the relentless external assault, a layer of the fire sea was instantly dispersed. The fiery barrier visibly weakened at an alarming rate. Once the sea of fire was broken, it would mean the collapse of the Baili Clan's mountain-protecting formation, leaving their mountain gate and the entire clan completely exposed to the enemy!

"The Lock-Killing Blade of the Qi Sha Sect!""The Lion's Roar Spell Sword of the Dong Jian Mountain!""The Kuang Family's Nine Yin Nether Spirit Banners...""Elder Qi's Earth Yuan Thunder Drum!"The more Sha Jiayu watched, the more alarmed he became. The Qi Sha Sect, Dong Jian Mountain, Kuang Family... these were all prestigious families and sects near the Yan Kingdom, some no less powerful than the Baili Clan in its prime. Elder Qi and others were well-known rogue cultivators of great skill. What abominable act had the Baili Clan committed to provoke such a concerted assault from cultivation sects, noble families, and powerful rogue cultivators? The Baili Clan, standing alone against so many formidable foes, could not possibly hold out. Even if Baili Qingkong hadn't died by his hand, it wouldn't change the outcome. The area around Guanyang Mountain was completely sealed off. Some even deployed larger formations to prevent escape, indicating an intent to wipe out the Baili Clan entirely. The situation the Baili Clan now faced was even more desperate than what the Sha family had endured back then. Sha Jiayu couldn't imagine how the Baili Clan could possibly break out of this predicament. Seeing his enemy's impending destruction, Sha Jiayu's face showed no joy; his eyes held a complex expression.

Just then, an earth-shattering roar echoed from Guanyang Mountain. A beam of green light pierced through the dark clouds above. The cultivators floating above Guanyang Mountain hastily moved aside. The green light descended from the sky. In an instant, the mountains glowed with a verdant hue. The green light, like a sword and with the force of thunder, shot straight towards the main peak of Guanyang Mountain, aiming for the center of the eight dragon pillars. Boom! Intense flames surged forth. The flames rose thousands of zhang high, painting the sky crimson. The timing of this green light's arrival was incredibly precise, hitting just before the fire dragons could breathe fire, when the sea of fire was at its weakest. Under this astonishing impact, Guanyang Mountain's protective formation instantly became precariously fragile. In this moment of crisis, figures flew out from beneath the fire pillars, circling them and frantically pouring their true essence into the formation. Their expressions varied: some were numb, some desperate, some furious, yet they could only make futile attempts to resist.

"Baili Yuanying, aren't you coming out? Are you going to hide like a coward until death? Today is the day your clan is annihilated! Hahaha..." Someone cackled wildly, their laughter filled with glee, clearly holding a grudge against the Baili Clan. Baili Yuanying was the current head of the Baili Clan, a strategic and ambitious leader who had forged alliances and expanded the clan's influence in the cultivation world, a key figure in their rise to power. The destruction of the Sha family had been his doing. Most people silently watched Guanyang Mountain, offering no sarcastic remarks. Some felt a twinge of empathy, a sense of "the fox mourning the death of the rabbit," but could only sigh inwardly as they continued their relentless assault. The wild laughter finally provoked Baili Yuanying to appear. From a grand white jade hall on Guanyang Mountain's main peak, its doors wide open, an elder emerged. The elder had a full head of silver hair but showed no signs of infirmity. Facing such a predicament, he remained composed, standing tall and looking up at the sky. He spoke slowly, word by word: "In what way has my Baili Clan offended you fellow cultivators? If our crime truly warrants annihilation, I will die without regret! Otherwise, should you not provide me with an explanation?" Hearing these words, the person who had been cackling added more sarcasm and amusement to their laughter. "Baili old ghost, you're cunning and treacherous! Don't you understand how the world's sentiment has turned against you? Just think of all the wicked deeds your Baili Clan has committed!" Baili Yuanying disdained to acknowledge this person. Seeing that others remained silent, he looked towards familiar faces.

"Sect Master Gu, 156 years ago, a true disciple of your Qi Sha Sect clashed with one of my descendants. If I recall correctly, my descendant was ambushed, resulting in one dead and one injured. I merely had the culprit cripple their cultivation and the accomplice bow three times before the grave, thus letting the matter go to save face for both of us. Has Sect Master Gu harbored resentment all this time?" On the west side of Guanyang Mountain, a burly man with a bronze mask and wide eyes stood on the mountaintop. Upon hearing this, his expression tightened slightly, and he averted Baili Yuanying's gaze without answering. Seeing this, Baili Yuanying turned to look at a woman. "Fellow Daoist Kuang, my third brother wronged you back then. I ordered him to face the wall for a hundred years and forbade him from entering a thousand-li radius of the Kuang family for life. The clan members you killed and injured in your rage were accounted for. Since then, my Baili Clan has actively avoided you by a wide margin. My third brother failed in his attempt to reach the Nascent Soul realm and has long since perished. Can Fellow Daoist Kuang still not let go?" The woman was graceful and elegant, appearing to be only around forty years old, yet she was a contemporary of Baili Yuanying. She gave a cold laugh. "Do not bring up those past events. This mistress does not hold grudges from a youthful entanglement until now!" "Then there must be another reason." Baili Yuanying's eyes flashed. "Even though I have been in seclusion for many years, I am well aware of the clan's major affairs. Which unworthy descendant dared to offend the Kuang family and conceal it from me!" His gaze, filled with killing intent, swept over all his clan members. The cultivators outside the mountain felt a chill in their hearts upon meeting his gaze. No one doubted that if Baili Yuanying found that person, he would surely kill them on the spot. Still, he received no response. Baili Yuanying then looked towards a patch of thunderclouds outside the mountain. Within the thunderclouds, drumbeats resounded, and a large drum was faintly visible, with an elder seated cross-legged upon it. Baili Yuanying said in a deep voice, "Elder Qi..."

"Alas!" Elder Qi sighed deeply. "Brother Baili, although I am a rogue cultivator, I understand the difficulties of managing a family. I respect your devotion to the Baili Clan. However, Brother Baili, do you still not see? This era is no longer one for playing both sides! The cultivation world has changed, and this time, Brother Baili, you've been a bit slow to realize it..." "What?" Baili Yuanying's heart skipped a beat. For the past three years, the Baili Clan had been fully focused on investigating the truth behind Baili Qingkong's demise. Had they overlooked something crucial? "My late master and your ancestor became acquainted through a confrontation. I know how your Baili Clan gradually rose to power. It was nothing more than leveraging every chaotic period in the cultivation world, outwardly offending no one, but secretly benefiting as a third party, clandestinely seizing advantages, and accumulating foundation. Each such opportunity brought a leap in your family's strength. Coupled with the frequent emergence of heroes among your descendants, your clan flourished for a time. Even when other factions reviewed the situation and noticed anomalies, they couldn't turn hostile due to the Baili Clan's power and could only endure it. With Brother Baili's keen perception, you must have long sensed the undercurrents in the cultivation world and the impending chaos. This time, Brother Baili and the Baili Clan indeed intended to sit idly by, as before, calmly observing the shifting tides, preparing to act when the time was right. However, Brother Baili, did you not consider that everyone has long been wary of the Baili Clan and is unwilling to tolerate you any longer? More importantly, someone does not allow neutrality!" Due to certain reservations, Elder Qi conveyed his last few sentences through a secret sound transmission, not daring to speak them aloud. At least, he wanted Baili Yuanying to know how they were dying. Undeniably, every head of the Baili Clan throughout history had been an outstanding figure, with a mastery of situational awareness and political maneuvering that was truly exceptional. If they could seize just one more opportunity and produce a cultivator at the mid or even late Nascent Soul stage, the Baili Clan could ascend to become a top-tier family. Now, that opportunity had arrived. Baili Yuanying had also been acting on this. Had it not been for Baili Qingkong's sudden death, the entire clan would have already been executing their plan. The Baili Clan was already a regional hegemon, with the strength to play both sides. Normally, no one would want to offend the Baili Clan and push them into an opposing camp; instead, they would strive to win them over. After weighing the pros and cons, even knowing the Baili Clan's intentions, people would choose to tolerate them. But no one could have predicted that this time, the chaos in the cultivation world was different from before. Whether it was the Baili Clan, or other cultivation sects, families, and rogue cultivators, they were all just grains of sand before a surging tide and a mighty flood. In the face of such overwhelming power, no one could act as a third party; even self-preservation was a luxury. They would either be swept along or crushed! Baili Yuanying had not realized this, bringing about utter destruction for himself and his clan. An object was needed to establish authority, and the Baili Clan was nominated, with surprisingly unanimous agreement from both sides. No one could always be the winner. It was common for the cultivation world to have its ups and downs; one could only blame the Baili Clan's bad luck. Two centuries of prosperity, like oil fueling a raging fire or brocade adorned with blossoms. One miscalculation, and they would be doomed forever! These words struck Baili Yuanying's mind like a bolt of lightning. Suddenly, he understood.

Baili Yuanying, being shrewd and strategic, naturally did not lack decisiveness. He immediately bowed deeply to Elder Qi and shouted, "I am willing to lead the Baili Clan to charge into battle for our benefactor, even if the entire clan perishes, I will not hesitate! I beg Elder Qi to pity my clan's old and young, and recommend us on their behalf!" "Hehehe..." The person who had been cackling earlier burst into loud mockery again. A moment later, Baili Yuanying received only a sigh. "It's too late." There was no further reply. The dark clouds obscured the sky, pressing lower and lower. The mountain-protecting formation faced an even fiercer assault. Heavenly thunder, earthly fire, rain, snow, and frost... Outside Guanyang Mountain, terrifying phenomena erupted, mixed with the gleam of blades and swords, and the divine might of magical artifacts. A storm that began at Fallen Soul Abyss and Yun Capital Mountain was now sweeping through the cultivation world, extending its reach to Guanyang Mountain. Guanyang Mountain, once famous and mighty in the cultivation world, now appeared so small and fragile. Boom! A clap of thunder shook heaven and earth. The sea of fire finally had a large hole blown through it, and waves of fire surged in all directions. Even with Baili Yuanying leading his clan members in desperate resistance, they could not recall the flames or mend the breach. In an instant, dozens of attacks shot through the opening. Screams erupted from Guanyang Mountain, and over a dozen clan members died on the spot. The eight fire dragons detached from their pillars, using their true forms to fill the breach, but they could only delay the inevitable for a moment. Crack! The fire pillar in the due south position suddenly snapped. The fire dragon let out a mournful cry and dissipated into the heavens and earth. For the mountain-protecting formation, this was adding insult to injury; the Baili Clan, even with their full might, could not repair it in time. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thunder, fire, lightning, and rain descended upon the southern slopes of Guanyang Mountain. The numerous halls and beautiful scenery within the mountain were instantly obliterated, and the Baili clan members there died on the spot. Crack! Crack! One crimson fire dragon pillar after another snapped consecutively. The demise of the Baili Clan was now inevitable; nothing could save them! "Ah!" Baili Yuanying roared towards the sky, his hair and beard wildly disheveled, appearing like a madman. He was unwilling to accept this. Generations of ancestors had poured their hearts and souls into expanding the Baili Clan step by step, only for it to be annihilated under his leadership. From now on, there would be no Baili Clan in this cultivation world! How could he face his ancestors and clan members in the afterlife? Even more, he still didn't know who had ordered the annihilation of his entire clan!

Outside Guanyang Mountain, Sha Jiayu stood frozen, unmoving, watching the Baili Clan's destruction with his own eyes. "Haha..." "Hahahahaha!" "Hahahahaha..." Sha Jiayu suddenly burst into loud laughter. He laughed until he swayed back and forth, even tears streamed from his eyes. He laughed at his enemy's destruction, laughed at Baili Yuanying for being too clever by half, calculating his whole life only to doom himself! He laughed at himself, who had carried hatred for two hundred years, solely dedicated to revenge. He had reunited with his old love, only to wish to use her for his revenge. He had even self-harmed, depleted his lifespan, and cultivated demonic arts, finally seeing hope for vengeance, only for his enemy to be annihilated in a comical fashion just before his success. No matter what he did, the Baili Clan would be destroyed. What was the meaning of his two hundred years of hatred? Was his two-hundred-year life just a joke? "Hahahahaha!" Sha Jiayu laughed wildly, bending his upper body, squatting down, and pounding the ground with his hands, unable to stop. His laughter grew increasingly desolate. Finally, he had laughed enough. He stopped, staring blankly at Guanyang Mountain, which had now become a ruin. After annihilating the Baili Clan, the cultivators began to retreat. Sha Jiayu's eyes flickered, noticing that the group wasn't retreating together but had split into two distinct factions. He suddenly recalled that even during the siege of Guanyang Mountain, these people hadn't truly collaborated; they had been wary of each other. "Why did they flatten Guanyang Mountain?" Sha Jiayu also had this question. Regaining his composure, he watched the two groups depart. With a flicker of his body, he too vanished.

Several months later, Sha Jiayu, who had been traveling through various kingdoms, returned to the Yan Kingdom. He was dusty and unkempt; no one would have guessed he was a Nascent Soul cultivator. Compared to before, his expression had become much more indifferent. Unconsciously, he arrived at the capital of the Yan Kingdom. Sha Jiayu's expression subtly shifted, a hint of vitality returning to his eyes. He entered the capital and made his way to the Green Sheep Teahouse by Jade Waist Lake.