Chapter 223: Timely Arrival

Facing the assault of three Foundation Establishment cultivators, Wang Changfeng acted swiftly. He conjured a shimmering red command flag, emblazoned with a python motif, and cast a spell upon it.

The red command flag glowed intensely, rapidly growing in size and transforming into a red banner, approximately a zhang long. The python on the banner seemed to come alive, opening its mouth to spew a large swath of crimson flames that enveloped Wang Changfeng. He then summoned two second-tier puppet beasts, barely managing to withstand the siege of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

With the three Foundation Establishment cultivators focused on Wang Changfeng, the pressure on the other Wang family members significantly decreased. Wang Yaozu and Wang Yaoheng then rushed out of the courtyard, directing their clansmen to resist the enemy. Wang Yaozu, who had intended to retire at Qinglian Mountain, possessed only one spiritual artifact. He understood that Wang Changfeng was crucial to this battle; if he fell, the Wang family would undoubtedly be annihilated.

“Quick, everyone help Changfeng fend off the enemy!” Wang Yaozu shouted, waving his hands towards the middle-aged scholar. With a 'whoosh,' a gigantic wind blade the size of a door shot forth, slashing towards the scholar.

The middle-aged scholar conjured a yellow flying knife, effortlessly shattering the colossal wind blade. At that moment, Wang Mingyuan also rushed out of his residence. Before Wang Changsheng and Wang Mingjiang departed, they had left ten second-tier puppet beasts with the clan. However, most clansmen carrying these beasts had perished in the enemy's assault. Those who survived quickly summoned their second-tier puppet beasts to attack the middle-aged scholar.

Besieged by multiple second-tier puppet beasts, the middle-aged scholar dared not be complacent and swiftly cast a protective shield upon himself. Wang Yaozu continuously unleashed gigantic wind blades, striking the middle-aged scholar's shield, which emitted thumping sounds. A flicker of annoyance crossed the middle-aged scholar's eyes. He formed a spell hand sign, and a yellow flying knife circled once before shooting directly towards Wang Yaozu, intending to cut him down.

Wang Yaozu altered his spell hand sign and flicked his finger. A streak of green light shot from his hand, transforming into a zhang-tall transparent wind wall that appeared before him. He was, after all, only a Qi Condensation cultivator; a basic Wind Wall spell alone could not withstand an artifact's attack. The yellow flying knife struck the transparent wind wall, causing it to instantly disintegrate. The knife then pierced through Wang Yaozu's chest. He stumbled back two steps and collapsed.

“Grandpa!” Wang Changyue, who had just rushed out of the courtyard, witnessed this scene and was heartbroken. She immediately ran to Wang Yaozu's side, tears streaming down her face, and asked anxiously, “Grandpa, are you alright?!”

“Changyue, quick... quick, run...”

Just as Wang Changyue was about to speak, Wang Yaozu's pupils constricted. He used all his remaining strength to push her away. A yellow flying knife shot forth and severed his head.

“Grandpa!” Wang Chang's face was filled with grief.

The yellow flying knife circled once and again flew towards Wang Changyue.

“Changyue, watch out!” Wang Yaoheng saw this, lunged towards Wang Changyue, pushing her aside, and the yellow flying knife pierced through his body.

“Eighth Uncle!”

“Changyue, run quickly...”

The yellow flying knife circled once more, striking towards Wang Changyue. Just then, two yellow flying swords shot forth, blocking in front of Wang Changyue. A 'clanging' sound of clashing metal rang out as the yellow flying knife was blocked.

“You killed my clansmen. You all deserve to die!” A cold male voice suddenly rang out. Wang Mingzhong quickly walked to Wang Changyue's side, his expression icy. He had taken a Foundation Establishment pill, successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, and had previously been refining an artifact. Upon learning of the enemy invasion, he immediately rushed out of his secluded cultivation chamber, thus saving Wang Changyue's life.

“Just a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. You're asking for trouble.” The middle-aged scholar sneered, instructing his companions, “You deal with that brat. I'll handle this one. As for the others, show no mercy.”

“Show no mercy? Who gave you such audacity?!” A cold male voice suddenly rang out. No sooner had the words fallen than over a dozen streaks of spiritual light flew from the distant horizon, quickly halting near Qinglian Mountain.

After Li Haifeng and his five companions annihilated the Poison Gu Sect, Western Jin and Western Liang launched a full-scale invasion of Shu State. It was clear Shu State could not be saved; whoever had more troops would occupy more territory. At this point, the Five Sects of Wei State were deeply embroiled in the war, making a quick withdrawal impossible. After the Poison Gu Sect was annihilated, the Five Poisons Sect and the Poison Dragon Cult could no longer hold out. With the front-line battles progressing smoothly, a large number of personnel were needed to garrison the newly occupied territories. Guangdong Ren, who had slain Qu Xiong and reported to Li Haifeng and his four companions in time, had earned significant merit and was thus able to share in the spoils. Concerned about further attacks on the sect, Guangdong Ren planned to mobilize cultivation families' forces, dispatching some disciples to Ningzhou and Yunzhou to conscript them.

Wang Changsheng returned with the disciples of the Hundred Spirit Sect, intending to send his clansmen to the front lines to guard the newly occupied territories. Wang Changsheng never imagined that upon his immediate return to Qinglian Mountain, he would find it besieged by bandits.

“Damn it, how did reinforcements arrive so quickly? Retreat!” Seeing over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, the middle-aged scholar's face changed drastically, and he immediately shouted loudly.

“You still think you can leave now? All of you stay! You killed my clansmen; it's blood for blood!” Wang Changsheng's eyes were filled with killing intent. In one breath, he summoned eight second-tier flying puppet beasts, which pounced on the three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Senior Brother Ye, Senior Brother Li, please act together and eliminate these bandits who attacked our Wang family.” Wang Changxue pleaded, conjuring her artifact and attacking the middle-aged scholar and his two companions. Since the bandits only had three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the rest were at the Qi Condensation stage, the Hundred Spirit Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally did not refuse.

With over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators joining the fight, not a single bandit escaped. The middle-aged scholar suffered the most gruesome death, being smashed into a pulp by the Golden Moon Meteor Hammer. Wang Changxue captured several Qi Condensation cultivators and used a soul-bewitching spell on them. From their confessions, she learned they were disciples of the Zhao family from Zhaojialing, Chu State, and had been ordered to raid Qinglian Mountain. From their confessions, Wang Changsheng learned that the four sects of Chu State, allied with the three sects of Medicine King Valley, were invading Wei State. These bandits were merely the vanguard, tasked with plundering resources and inflicting as much damage as possible on Wei State cultivators.

Wang Mingyuan directed the clansmen to extinguish the flames and collect the bodies of their fallen family members. The leading disciple from the Hundred Spirit Sect was Ye Tong, a fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Chu State's invasion of Wei State is serious trouble,” Ye Tong said. “Junior Brother Chen, Junior Sister Sun, and Junior Sister Liu, return to the sect at your fastest speed and report the situation to Martial Uncle Guang. Fellow Daoist Wang, you must arrange for your clansmen to retreat as quickly as possible. Junior Brother Li and I need to rush to other locations to aid other cultivation families and save as many fellow cultivators as possible. You don't need to rendezvous with us; after settling your clansmen, take some of your people to the Hundred Spirit Sect and await further orders.”

Ye Tong made a decisive call, issuing multiple orders. Wang Changsheng promptly agreed, directing his clansmen to collect the bodies. After a headcount, it was confirmed that the Wang family had suffered thirty-two casualties in this battle. The only two surviving members of the 'Yao' generation had perished in the enemy's surprise attack. Wang Changyue wept uncontrollably, clinging to Wang Yaozu's body and refusing to let go. Before the fallen clansmen, Wang Qingshan swore a blood oath: he would annihilate the Zhao family in the future, demanding blood for blood. Wang Changsheng was deeply grieved, thinking that if he had returned sooner, this tragedy could have been averted.