Chapter 249: Leveling

Jiang Heqian grinned ferociously, perhaps too cruelly and maliciously, causing the expressions of the guest elders to subtly change. Fei Wangbai replied, "Brother Heqian, a deep blood feud is to be settled today. Let's move quickly! This isn't just a minor skirmish on the East Bank; we need to be careful."

It turned out that Jiang Heqian was an old friend arranged by Fei Wangbai to cause trouble among the various families on the East Bank. Despite numerous searches by the Yu family, they couldn't find him, as he was living on a small hill next to Milin Commandery. Jiang Heqian, no longer able to restrain himself, said fiercely, "Let's go!"

Milin Commandery had flat terrain with dense forests. A handful of dark, moist soil could be squeezed to yield oil, indicating it was a nurturing treasure land. No matter how much the tens of thousands of Yu family relatives and descendants might stir things up, the land could still sustain hundreds of thousands of common people.

With the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs, it was the start of a new day. Sunlight streaked across the five immortal mountains of Milin Commandery. Figures soared from the mountains, as Yu family cultivators rode the wind towards the central plain of Milin Commandery. The earth veins of the five immortal mountains converged here, and spirit veins intertwined, nurturing vast spirit fields. The Milin Commandery market town was also located within this area, its form concealed by a grand formation established through the convergence of the five earth veins. This formation, meticulously crafted by the Yu family, was their ancestral Jade Court Guard Formation, which could not only withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators but also empower those within the formation. It had cost Yu Xiaogui a substantial amount of spirit stones.

Yu Xiaou casually settled into a mahogany armchair, twirling his grizzled beard. He picked up an ancient book and began to read it carefully. He was the eldest among the Yu family's 'Xiao' generation, now at the peak of Qi Condensation cultivation, over 120 years old. Having long given up on the idea of Foundation Establishment, he had taken on the duty of overseeing the market town. He no longer cultivated, spending his days reading and enjoying music, living quite comfortably.

He had only read two or three pages when he saw someone rushing up from below, accompanied by a group of clansmen, saying repeatedly, "Great Elder! We heard the Li family attacked Huashan! The Old Ancestor went there alone! The family head sent someone over, saying we need to mobilize the family cultivators."

"What?!" Yu Xiaou stood up abruptly, slapping the table. He was both furious and alarmed, exclaiming, "That Old Fifth is always so gloomy and impatient; why did he go alone? Li Tongyai is always cunning and venomous. What if the Li family has an ambush? Li Chijing has cultivated into a Sword Immortal; how can he be underestimated?"

The people below were immediately speechless. Yu Xiaogui was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and only a few within the family dared to call him "Old Fifth" so casually. Moreover, Yu Xiaogui was a somber person, and no one dared to provoke him. Yu Xiaou's words filled them all with fear. After all, Yu Xiaou had cultivated for a hundred years and could tell at a glance that Yu Xiaogui and Yu Mugao, father and son, were underestimating their enemies. The elder's chin trembled, and his beard quivered as he urgently said, "Where is Clan Uncle Yufeng?!"

"We don't know!" The elders below panicked for a moment. Yu Xiaou quickly took charge, shouting, "Silence!" Seeing all the elders looking at him, Yu Xiaou cursed, "At your age, you're still flustered and lacking composure! Everyone, bring your gear and come with me to Huashan to find Yu Xiaogui!"

So, everyone nodded repeatedly and was about to ride the wind when they heard a loud shout, "Wait!" From the crowd, a black-clad young man sprang forth, his voice severe, holding high a letter as he announced, "By order of the Family Head, no one is to go to Huashan!"

The elders immediately quieted down, looking around in a dilemma. Yu Xiaou was instantly anxious and about to curse, but then he remembered that his nephew Yu Mugao was always resourceful. He could only restrain his temper and grumbled, "If the Family Head has a plan, then damn it, just say it directly instead of dilly-dallying!" The young man paused. Yu Xiaou's seniority was very high, so he could only repeatedly apologize. Seeing him still dragging his feet, Yu Xiaou glared and cursed again, "You good-for-nothing! Speak!"

The man stopped, then said, "The Family Head means... we are all to go to the South Bank and attack Lijing Mountain!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone held their breath, thinking. Yu Xiaou immediately understood that Yu Xiaogui was likely fine at Huashan, merely caught in a diversion. He clapped his hands, his grizzled beard bristling. He was already very experienced; he had only lost his composure temporarily due to anxiety. Now, with a slight hint, he understood, nodding repeatedly and exclaiming with emotion, "This Mugao boy is truly cunning! One can tell at a glance he's Yu Xiaogui's offspring; a wicked wolf indeed begets a wicked cub! Everyone listen carefully, we are to attack Lijing Mountain!"

As Yu Xiaou finished speaking, there was a scattering of cheers from below, and eyes turned to him. Looking at the Yu family members, some with blank expressions, others suddenly enlightened, Yu Xiaou felt a fire burning in his heart. He then kicked the person in front of him, knocking them down, and yelled furiously, "You goddamn fools! Cover up the 'Yu' character on your clothes and magic artifacts! What family kills someone's wife and leaves their name?! Idiots! I swear, bringing in a common shopkeeper would be more clever than all of you combined!"

The person below, who was fat and stocky, rolled three times on the ground before standing up, nodding repeatedly. Only then did the rest of the Yu family cultivators realize, and they quickly tore at their collars or cast illusions to conceal their markings. Yu Xiaou's eyes were bloodshot with anger as he cursed, "Truly, these unfilial descendants, what else can you do besides eat and drink?!"

His heart felt as if it were burning, followed by waves of chills. Then, he heard a thunderous roar, and dust trickled down from the entire hall, while the ground continuously trembled beneath his feet. Yu Xiaou's heart grew slightly cold, and he stumbled back a step, his lips losing color. He clutched his robe, murmuring in a faint, dream-like voice, "The Fei family... it's the Fei family. Uncle Yufeng... what happened to Uncle Yufeng?"

Yu Xiaou felt his head spinning. The few people below looked at him, bewildered, and whispered among themselves, "This is... the grand formation has been activated... Who dares to kick us when we're down at a time like this..." "Where's the Old Ancestor? We just need the Old Ancestor to come!"

Yu Xiaou took a moment to steady himself, feeling a wave of exhaustion. He sighed deeply and replied, "Maintain your respective formation flags and meet the enemy!"

Below, the Yu family cultivators entered the formation to maintain it. Yu Xiaou took control of the formation diagram for the Jade Court Guard Formation, which immediately brightened significantly. Above, Fei Wangbai, cloaked in gray and with an indistinct face, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, spoke faintly, "Fellow Daoist, I leave this Jade Court Guard Formation to you."

Jiang Heqian also obscured his face, but his voice and attire were not hidden. The mist over his face was barely sufficient, vaguely revealing his general appearance, as if he wasn't afraid, or even welcomed, being recognized by the Yu family. He coldly replied, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist! This Jade Court Guard Formation was personally passed down by my late father. Those Yu thieves only know that it can borrow the power of earth veins and combine multiple formations, but they are unaware of its true secrets!"

A milky-white light curtain rose from the formation below. Yu Xiaou's face vaguely emerged from the formation, emitting a thunderous sound under the formation's empowerment. "Fellow Daoists, why are you attacking my Yu family market town without cause? Please consider carefully, my Old Ancestor..."

Yu Xiaou tried to stall for time, but Fei Wangbai swept his sleeve, causing a massive impact sound on the formation, forcibly interrupting Yu Xiaou's words. His robes and cloak silently billowed behind him. Fei Wangbai, fearing recognition, restrained his transformation and did not take out his spear. His Immortal Foundation, the Intertwined Dao Brocade, was already secretly operating.

Jiang Heqian let out a cold laugh, clenching his jaw, his expression somewhat ferocious. Being alone and with nothing to lose, he was utterly fearless. Jade-like patterns emerged between his pupils. He clasped his palms together, and six jade-like white magical lights burst forth from his body. Jade-like patterns appeared throughout his skin, extending from his elbows and earlobes, fluttering in the air like several white silk ribbons.

As soon as this Immortal Foundation manifested, the Yu family members below were stunned. Even the formation points controlled by some flickered erratically, clearly indicating their minds were greatly shaken. There was no other reason; Jiang Heqian's manifested Immortal Foundation was identical to that of Yu Yufeng, the Yu family's Old Ancestor from many years ago, instantly causing everyone to let their imaginations run wild.

Yu Xiaou, however, was greatly horrified, scared out of his wits, and cried out, "Jade Court General... how is this possible!" The Immortal Foundation that Jiang Heqian had cultivated was the Jade Court General, formed from the "White-haired Prostration Scripture." This scripture had long lost the essence of "Dust on the Court," and the Yu family had only a single portion of this heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, which had been used by Yu Yufeng. Since then, no one else had successfully cultivated it. Now, seeing the incoming cultivator use the Jade Court General Immortal Foundation, Yu Xiaou's mind went blank, and numerous conjectures flooded his thoughts.

He even disregarded the two people attacking the formation, somewhat dazed, and hoarsely said, "It's you..."

The two outside did not give him a chance. Fei Wangbai did not use his spear, only magic and martial arts to suppress the Jade Court Guard Formation. Jiang Heqian flew forward, pressing his palm onto it. The extended jade-like patterns seemed to come alive, drilling into the milky-white formation and rapidly spreading. "This is..."

Yu Xiaou's mind was in turmoil, but he noticed the grand formation becoming increasingly restless. His control, maintained by the formation diagram, slowly weakened. Yu Xiaou's heart pounded restlessly. He found it unbelievable yet felt it was a logical consequence. Yu Xiaou hoarsely said, "It's a Jiang family member."

The grand formation trembled ceaselessly, with visible cracks and flickering appearing on the Jade Court Guard Formation. Yu Xiaou heard panicked shouts and faint cries from outside the hall, and slowly released his grip.

Bang! The Jade Court Guard Formation, painstakingly established by the Yu family and linked to the earth and spirit veins of the five immortal mountains, shattered like a piece of shredded paper under Jiang Heqian's spell. The milky-white light curtain slowly vanished, turning into scattered specks of light that disappeared into Milin Commandery.

Below, clusters of buildings became visible. The Milin Commandery market town had not yet opened for business, and most within it were Yu family cultivators and guest elders. With two Foundation Establishment cultivators now present, and the Breath-Restraint and Qi Condensation cultivators having lost the protection of the formation, they dared not linger and fled in all directions. The several guest elders brought by Fei Wangbai landed at various formation points. Jiang Heqian, with almost no hesitation, moved his body and landed in the highest hall, kicking through its dome and dropping inside.

Boom... Yu Xiaou was struck by the backlash of the Jade Court Guard Formation, his internal organs aching from the shock. All his spiritual power was drained, leaving him empty and nearly collapsing, let alone riding the wind to escape. He could only watch as tiles and debris from the dome fell, retreating a few steps in vain. "You are... a Jiang family member?"

Yu Xiaou no longer thought of escaping. His expression was complex. Having cultivated the Immortal Foundation Jade Court General, targeting the Yu family, possessing the method to break the Jade Court Guard Formation, and then seeing Jiang Heqian's appearance, which bore some resemblance to his deceased wife – Yu Xiaou was certain. The Yu and An families were originally cultivators of other surnames associated with the Jiang family. Later, as the Jiang family declined, the Yu and An families slowly, like a dull knife cutting meat, encroached upon the Jiang family's influence. Ultimately, both families shared Jiang family blood. Now, seeing the former main family standing before him, Yu Xiaou's heart was filled with extreme complexity.

Jiang Heqian's eyes slightly narrowed, his two pupils possessing a jade-like translucence, just like Yu Yufeng's did back then. His two terrifying eyes stared directly at Yu Xiaou. Jiang Heqian said nothing, only watched Yu Xiaou with his eyes, causing Yu Xiaou to retreat repeatedly, his expression discomfited. Although Yu Xiaou was of the 'Xiao' generation, he was older than Yu Yufeng due to generational age accumulation. His mother was a Jiang family member, his grandmother was a Jiang family member, he married a Jiang family member, and ultimately, he killed Jiang family members.

Numerous chaotic illusions surfaced in Yu Xiaou's mind: his mother, his grandmother—their eyes converged at this moment, traversing his aged mind like lightning. Jiang Heqian had not yet made a move, but Yu Xiaou was already in full retreat.

Thud! Yu Xiaou wondered if the middle-aged man before him was his brother-in-law, or his grand-nephew, or something else entirely. But the jade-like large hand had already pierced through Yu Xiaou's chest, extracting the old man's beating heart.

A bone-deep satisfaction arose in Jiang Heqian's heart, yet the old man's sorrowful and astonished gaze made him feel a twinge of unbearable discomfort, like swallowing a fly. He dared not look directly. The ferocity in his eyes slowly receded, replaced by a damp pain. Jiang Heqian thought, "Perhaps this old man is my brother-in-law, or my grand-uncle, or something else."

Jiang Heqian lowered his head, slowly withdrawing his arm, causing Yu Xiaou to spew a mouthful of blood that streaked his white beard. Yu Xiaou strained his cloudy old eyes, trying to discern the middle-aged man's face. He saw that his features were upright and dignified, and though his eyes were fierce and malicious, they still remarkably resembled his deceased wife's: lively yet carrying a faint sadness. In his mind, he saw the flickering yellow candlelight of their wedding night that year, the woman looking at Yu Xiaou with a sorrowful gaze. Fifteen-year-old Yu Xiaou was completely captivated. He tied up her long hair and called her Heqing.

Amidst the swirling dizziness, Yu Xiaou felt fate's cruel jest. The old man's chest heaved like a bellows, his saliva trickling from the corners of his mouth due to the pain, falling in sparse drops. Urine uncontrollably seeped out. The pathetic old man trembled as he uttered two words: "Qing'er."

Jiang Heqian let out a cold laugh, as if mocking him. Yu Xiaou only lowered his head, looking at the pure white arm that had pierced through his chest. His wrinkled old hand covered the arm as if in comfort, patting it lightly and gently. The last breath, sustained by his peak Qi Condensation cultivation for his aging body, dissipated. Yu Xiaou's life force drained away, and he slowly slumped, his head drooping.