Chapter 2690: Attack on the Qian Family

The Jinxin Mountain Range stretches for a million li, serving as the Qian Family's ancestral home. The Qian Family has a long heritage; their ancestors hailed from the Five Saints Sect. The Five Saints Sect currently has no Integration cultivators but boasts no fewer than ten Void Refinement cultivators. With such a powerful backer, the Qian Family has developed quite well.

In the northwest corner of the Jinxin Mountain Range, atop a peak that soared into the clouds, stood a resplendent golden palace. Three large golden characters, "Jinxin Hall," were inscribed on its plaque. The grand hall's doors were wide open, and dozens of Qian Family elders were gathered, conversing with troubled expressions.

"That idiot Haoyun actually went and killed a Wang Family disciple, and was seen doing it, dragging the family down."

"Hmph, that incident happened over a thousand years ago. The Wang Family disciple Haoyun killed was only at the Nascent Soul stage. The Wang Family is just digging up old grievances; they'll find an excuse no matter what."

"True Monarch Taihao is an Integration cultivator. If they want to target us, what can we do? We should cede some territory to protect the family!"

The elders discussed animatedly. A Wang Family disciple had been killed, and Wang Liangyan, the head of the Wang Family's Enforcement Hall, had personally led a team to offer a substantial reward. As expected, a substantial reward brought forth brave individuals. Someone provided evidence that a Qian Family disciple had indeed murdered a Wang Family disciple. The problem was that this occurred over a thousand years ago, before Wang Changsheng had advanced to the Integration stage.

If the Wang Family truly intended to pursue this, the Qian Family would be helpless unless they could persuade an Integration cultivator from the Xuanqing Sect to intervene. They couldn't possibly get such help. After all, they weren't a direct subordinate force of the Xuanqing Sect. The Xuanqing Sect had countless affiliated immortal cultivation families, three of which even boasted Integration cultivators—all a result of the Xuanqing Sect's support. The Qian Family only had three Void Refinement cultivators, though they publicly claimed two. This was hardly enough to attract the Xuanqing Sect's attention. If they could acquire exceptionally rare cultivation resources, such as a seventh-tier mineral vein, a large spirit stone mine, or seventh-tier tribulation-transcending materials, the Xuanqing Sect might take notice. The problem was, the Qian Family possessed none of these.

"The Old Ancestor is here."

Someone shouted, and the elders immediately ceased their conversations. Qian Ruyue entered with a tall, thin old man in a golden robe. The old man was Qian Rufeng, the Qian Family's patriarch, a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator. Qian Rufeng's expression was grim. He had only just survived his third Grand Heavenly Tribulation over a hundred years ago, suffering severe injuries from which he had not yet fully recovered. And now, this had happened. In the past, his intervention wouldn't have been necessary, but with Wang Changsheng's advancement to the Integration stage, the Wang Family was no longer what it once was. Qian Rufeng's presence was now essential.

"I understand the situation. What are your thoughts?" Qian Rufeng asked. He had already made his decision but wanted to gauge his clansmen's reactions. The more critical the situation, the better one could assess the clansmen's ability to respond.

"The Wang Family has an Integration cultivator and no fewer than twenty Void Refinement cultivators. We should hand over the culprit, concede some benefits, and endure this!"

"Indeed! When strength is lacking, one can only endure. A direct confrontation with the Wang Family isn't worth it."

"Let's ask the seniors from the Five Saints Sect to step forward! Surely the Wang Family won't go too far then."

The elders voiced their opinions, all opting for concessions; no one advocated for a direct confrontation with the Wang Family. Qian Rufeng nodded and said, "Ruyue, go find Fairy Wang and arrange a meeting place. Let's have a good talk. Harmony brings wealth, and after all, those are matters of the past."

Qian Ruyue acknowledged him and was about to speak when a refined-looking middle-aged man rushed in, his expression panicked: "Bad news, Old Ancestor! The Wang Family, in alliance with the Ji Family, has sent people to attack Jinhong Valley! Eighteenth Brother and his group can't hold them off and are requesting reinforcements from the clan. Also, the Jinshuo Mountain Range and Jinmang Pool have been attacked!"

Jinhong Valley held a medium-sized spirit stone mine, the Jinshuo Mountain Range contained a medium-sized Golden Flame mineral vein from which Golden Flame Stones could be mined, and Jinmang Pool had a medium-sized Azure Jade mineral vein. These three locations were the Qian Family's "money bags," accounting for eighty percent of their income.

"What's going on? Why has the Wang Family suddenly attacked us? And allied with the Ji Family?" Qian Rufeng pressed, his face grim. For a clan member who died over a thousand years ago, the Wang Family was attacking them without warning. This clearly signaled an intention to cripple the Qian Family.

"Wang Chuanfeng, an elite member of the Wang Family, was killed. His remains were found on our family's territory, and there are multiple eyewitnesses." The middle-aged man wore a bitter expression.

"An elite clan member? I've never even heard of this person. Hmph, they'll find an excuse no matter what." Qian Rufeng frowned, though he knew that even if it was a false accusation, he was powerless.

"Seek help from the Five Saints Sect. If they are willing to assist, the Wang Family won't go too far. Additionally, instruct those below to resist the Wang Family's attacks. If we lose those strongholds, it will be very difficult to reclaim them." Qian Rufeng ordered, his expression grave.

"Yes, Old Ancestor." The middle-aged man acknowledged the order and left to relay it. Simultaneously, the Qian Family dispatched a large number of people to seek support.

At Jinhong Valley, a colossal golden barrier enveloped the entire valley. Inside the golden barrier, hundreds of Qian Family disciples and several pavilions and palaces could be seen. The surface of the golden barrier bore a pattern of a golden python, which seemed alive, constantly slithering across the barrier. Leading the defense was a blue-robed old man with a youthful face and white hair, a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator.

Waves of enchanting music poured into his ears, unsettling the blue-robed elder. Sound waves of various colors swept forth, striking the golden barrier. Outside Jinhong Valley, Wang Yuanwei and eighteen other Soul Transformation sound cultivators stood on the ground, each holding a musical instrument: guqin, pipa, guzheng, dizi, jade flute, drum, and more.

A thick, nine-colored barrier enveloped all eighteen of them, its surface covered with various arcane musical notes. Wang Yuanwei was already at the late Soul Transformation stage, and the other clan members were at least at the early Soul Transformation stage. During their trip to the Azure Glaze Sea, Wang Ruyan had obtained many musical scores, which she then passed on to her clan members. Wang Yuanwei's mission was to capture Jinhong Valley and then hold it. If they could secure a medium-sized spirit stone mine, it would certainly be a great achievement.

Various musical sounds filled the air—guqin, pipa, dizi, xiao, and others. Though seemingly chaotic, they contained hidden lethal intent. Sound waves of different colors swept out, causing rocks and soil to crack and vegetation to be uprooted wherever they passed. Inside the valley, the Qian Family's low-level cultivators showed signs of madness, beginning to attack their own clan members.

"Stop, stop now! Are you crazy?"

"Stop quickly, they are our own people!"

"Yihong, what are you doing?"

The Qian Family elders discovered, to their horror, that they couldn't awaken their clan members and could only act to restrain them. The blue-robed elder felt agitated. This set of Golden Python Formation was a fifth-tier formation, capable of resisting ordinary attacks without issue, but it was helpless against sonic attacks. By merely defending and waiting for reinforcements, they were simply waiting for their demise.

"We cannot simply wait for death. Qingxiao, come with me to face the enemy. Other clan members, teleport away." The blue-robed elder commanded, his tone heavy. There were eight Soul Transformation cultivators from the Qian Family guarding Jinhong Valley, which was the Qian Family's largest "money bag." Eight Soul Transformation cultivators rushed out of Jinhong Valley, unleashing divine abilities or artifacts to attack Wang Yuanwei and the others.