Chapter 251: After the Matter

For years, Yu Xiaogui and Fei Wangbai had been openly and secretly contending on the lake, so Yu Xiaogui knew perfectly well that Fei Wangbai was a smiling tiger, sweet on the outside but malicious within. He discerned a great deal from Fei Wangbai’s attitude and was instantly alarmed. Without further ado, he departed swiftly, like the wind, not even bothering to utter a harsh word, leaving only his hurried silhouette to the two men.

The two did not try to stop him, remaining suspended in the air. Below, the Li family members cheered. Fei Wangbai cupped his hands and smiled, "Congratulations, Brother Tongya, and thank you, Brother Tongya!"

Li Tongya naturally understood the hidden meaning in his words: the Fei family had likely made a fortune in the Misty Forest County market. He returned the gesture, cupping his hands, and replied, "Brother Wangbai, your timing was perfect. Thank you!"

Wu Shaoyun, who was standing nearby, saw Yu Xiaogui leave without looking back or greeting him, and instantly felt awkward. This gave him an opportunity to interject. He chuckled as he approached, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Wu Shaoyun of the Wu family from the South County, I greet you both, fellow cultivators!"

"Greetings, fellow cultivator!"

Earlier, Wu Shaoyun had hesitated, not intervening to help Yu Xiaogui. Although he feared Li Chijing's power, he had also shown deference, so Li Tongya was naturally very polite and responded softly.

Li Tongya's politeness significantly eased Wu Shaoyun's awkwardness. For a moment, he didn't know how to begin. After a pause, he finally spoke with some dejection, "To seize opportunities and spiritual treasures, one must engage in combat with others. If one loses their life because of it, that's fate, and no one can truly be blamed. However, I received some news, and I had to come and ask to put my mind at ease. I bear no resentment towards you, fellow cultivator..."

Wu Shaoyun's words were artful, even containing a subtle explanation, implicitly hinting at a desire to resolve any potential ill will. Li Tongya, who had no intention of making an enemy of him, simply nodded gently. Throughout his life, he hadn't had many greedy ambitions; he usually only counterattacked when his own clan was threatened. But after sixty years, there were always moments when greed and anger clouded his mind. Wu Shaoyun's words also brought him a sense of relief, and he cupped his fist in return.

The two spoke no more. Wu Shaoyun merely exchanged a few polite words, inviting them to rest and stay as guests if they ever passed by the Wu family in the future, then departed on the wind. Fei Wangbai also cupped his hands. Li Tongya gazed deeply at him, then spoke, "Although your esteemed clan has gained much this time, acquiring years of the Yu family's savings, by destroying the market town and killing Yu family members, you have formed a great enmity with Yu Xiaogui. You must still be careful and vigilant to prevent retaliation."

Fei Wangbai did not know that Yu Yufeng was already dead. Hearing Li Tongya's words, he nodded with deep understanding and replied, "Yu Yufeng is indeed formidable, truly unmatched on this lake, which is genuinely alarming. I will restrain my juniors, but..."

Fei Wangbai's expression was resolute. He solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Now, the enmity between our two families and the Yu family is as deep as the sea. Moreover, there is Yu Muxian within their clan. We still need much care and protection from the Sword Immortal..."

Li Tongya's heart skipped a beat. He could only reply, "Tongya understands. Brother Wangbai, just ensure your clan's protection."

Fei Wangbai was still afraid of Yu Yufeng's future retaliation. However, Li Tongya knew that the Yu family's current losses were extraordinary; they likely wouldn't recover for decades. It would be difficult for them to even maintain their dominance over the families on the east bank, let alone retaliate. He nodded in agreement on the surface, seeing Fei Wangbai off for a few miles before riding the wind back to Huashan Mountain.

The armored soldiers on the mountain were arrayed in complete silence, sternly and coldly lined up in two rows. Li Tongya stood still before the hall, and immediately they all knelt down with a clatter. Li Xuanxuan approached quickly with a smile, respectfully saying, "Second Uncle repelled the powerful enemy, protected the clan, and displayed awesome might. Our gratitude is beyond words..."

Li Tongya immediately chuckled, interrupting Li Xuanxuan with a wave of his sleeve. He smiled and said, "You rascal, you're starting with formalities! Go on, go on."

Behind them, Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling both chuckled at the words. Li Xuanxuan straightened up, his joy impossible to conceal. Li Xuanling stepped forward and said, "We have already collected all the An family's valuables. The cultivation techniques align with what An Zheyan said. We have thirty-seven spirit stones, six 'embryonic breath' artifacts, and five 'embryonic breath' spiritual items. We also obtained a Qi Condensation level formation disk called the 'Five Qi Returning to Origin Formation,' which, though not top-tier, is usable and can serve as a protective mountain array."

"Excellent," Li Tongya nodded, then instructed, "Jade Pavilion Mountain is steep and towering, and its spiritual veins are not thriving, so it doesn't need much emphasis. Just set up a simple formation there for now. This formation should be placed on Huashan Mountain, where the geomantic energy is gentle and spiritual energy is abundant. As for Huaqian Mountain..."

He waved his hand, gesturing to Li Xuanfeng, who was standing below him. He said gently, "Xuanfeng, go to Lixia Commandery, make some inquiries, and invite Liu Changdie here. Have him examine Huaqian Mountain's geomantic energy and terrain, then prepare to set up a formation."

"Yes!" Li Xuanfeng nodded, slung his longbow over his back, and hurriedly left on the wind. Li Tongya stroked his beard and instructed, "The news of the attack on Huashan Mountain has not yet spread. Send someone to Dongshanyue to order Shamoli to come to Lijing Mountain for an audience. I will thoroughly examine that 'Purple Thunder Secret Origin Art' for Qinghong."

"As for An Zheyan..." Li Tongya paused, stepped onto the stone stairs, and entered the vast, empty hall. It was desolate all around. Intricate patterns adorned the stone pillars. The air was thick with a pungent smell of blood. The lamps flickered, and a low, mournful wail drifted through, as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"Drip..." Thick blood slowly dripped. An Zheyan used the knife-shaped artifact in his hand to lightly carve into the flesh before him, cutting off a piece of meat as thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent. He used the small knife to lift it, gently placed it into his mouth, and swallowed it in two gulps.

"Ah..." An Zheyu was no longer recognizable as human. Thin fascia clung to stark white bones, hanging like a sculpture from the beam. His slowly beating heart and active organs were encased in a translucent membrane, dangling precariously. Blood spread all the way to Li Tongya's feet, then slowly receded due to the water-repelling ability of the Boundless Sea Immortal Foundation.

Li Tongya stared intently at the suspended An Zheyu. His draconic eyebrows revealed a shocking ruthlessness and astonishing admiration, as if the person hanging above was the one he had regretted and hated with venomous intensity day and night. For a moment, he was speechless.

Everyone fell silent. The faces of several young juniors turned pale. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan both frowned. Only Li Yuanjiao's eyes shone brightly as he stared directly at An Zheyu.

An Zheyan, oblivious to his surroundings, grabbed An Zheyu's hair and carefully carved. An Zheyu was unable to speak, only whimpering imploringly. His statue-like body trembled slightly. His eyelids and cheeks were gone, and his two bloodshot eyes looked as if they were about to fall out.

Li Xuanxuan's face was grim, but seeing Li Tongya's pensive expression, he dared not scold him. Suddenly remembering something, he whispered into Li Tongya's ear, "We had An Zheyan paired with Li Feiruo, and Feiruo is already pregnant. Someone immediately came to inform us, but An Zheyan probably doesn't know yet."

Distracted by Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya suddenly understood. He shook his head as if waking from a dream, let out a long sigh, and swept his long sleeve. A surge of spiritual power struck An Zheyan directly in the abdomen, sending him flying horizontally. An Zheyan rolled three times on the ground, then vomited a pool of bloody filth, containing various bits of flesh and skin, making everyone's eyelids twitch.

"He's ruined..." An Zheyan's lips and teeth were stained with blood, his expression confused as he sank into a deep delirium. Li Xuanling murmured, but then saw his father, Li Tongya, shake his head. Li Tongya stepped forward, grabbed An Zheyan's collar, and his voice, like a booming bell, roared into An Zheyan's ear, "An Zheyan! Li Feiruo has conceived a child!"

Li Tongya released his grip gently, and An Zheyan fell to his knees with a thud. He vomited loudly, crying as he vomited, and alternating between tears and laughter. A dignified Qi Condensation sixth-level cultivator was reduced to rolling on the ground, covered in blood and filth.

Li Tongya flicked his finger, and a burst of energy struck An Zheyu dead. The tormented head dropped down, alone as if freed. A large quantity of dark red blood and filth gushed from between his nasal bones, splashing onto the ground like blossoming blood flowers.

Silence fell over the great hall, profoundly still. Autumn winds gusted through, and everyone remained silent, immersed in an inexpressible sense of suffocation.