Chapter 315: Northward Advance

The white snow on Cold Cloud Peak never melted, even in summer, resting on the upturned eaves of the ancestral hall. Inside, dim candlelight flickered, and Fei Tongyu, for the first time since he began cultivating, felt a cold so intense it made him shiver on the ground.

His grandfather, Fei Wangbai, lay in the coffin before him. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his flesh hadn't decayed, appearing as it did in life, though slightly paler. His eyes were tightly closed, as if in a deep slumber.

Fei Tongyu still couldn't believe his grandfather had died this way. It all felt too unreal, too sudden, making Fei Tongyu wonder if it was just a dream.

That day, when news returned that Li Tongya had slain Mahakala with his sword, the smile on Fei Wangbai's face instantly vanished. His eldest son, Fei Yihe, had gone to the Southern Border, so he could only take his eldest legitimate grandson, Fei Tongyu, by the hand and say in a deep voice:

“Yu Yufeng is likely dead, probably killed by Li Chijing,” he stated. “The Li family’s power is too overwhelming now; this is not good.”

Fei Yihe’s abrupt departure had disrupted Fei Wangbai’s plans, forcing him to train Fei Tongyu from scratch. Fortunately, Fei Tongyu was diligent, and there was still enough time.

As they were talking, the door was gently pushed open. A man in white, his face veiled, stepped inside. Fei Wangbai’s expression subtly changed as he asked:

“Who are you?”

The white-robed sword cultivator said nothing. He looked at both of them, then fixed his gaze on Fei Wangbai, drew his sword, and lunged.

At that moment, the Fei family’s Cloud-Gathering Sky-South Grand Formation, though not fully activated, was not meant for free entry or exit. Yet, this person moved like a ghost. His swordplay was ethereal and otherworldly, revealing he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Fei Wangbai, being only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, was vastly outmatched in both cultivation technique and spear art. Within dozens of moves, his magical artifact was severed. He barely managed to escape to the foot of the mountain, but after a brief, desperate struggle to dodge, a flash of sword light took his head.

Foundation Establishment cultivators possess a vigorous life force, and for a moment, Fei Wangbai did not die. He even picked up his head to try and place it back on his neck, but sword qi surged from the wound. After two failed attempts, he finally dropped his head and collapsed.

His head landed in the snow, still shedding tears and crying out:

“The pain is killing me!”

Throughout his life, Fei Wangbai had been a man of elegance, always meticulous about his appearance and demanding dignity in all matters. Yet, he was beheaded in front of everyone, utterly without dignity. His clothes, which had never been sullied, were stained red by the blood gushing from his neck, and his body twisted as it fell to the ground.

The wind and snow intensified abruptly, lifting a corner of his brocade robe before it was swiftly buried by the heavy snow. The Fei family members were thunderstruck, staring in disbelief at the sword cultivator hovering in the sky.

Some Fei family members trembled, others wept hysterically, while some piloted their magical artifacts forward to attack. The white-robed sword cultivator merely stood in mid-air, and with a single sword stroke, he dissipated dozens of spells. He then said softly:

“Listen closely! For eighty years, no one shall cultivate the 'Long Brocade Heart-Seeking Art' to Foundation Establishment. Should anyone achieve the Intermediary Brocade, they shall meet the same fate as this man.”

His tone was calm, devoid of any pride, as if crushing an ant.

He then rode the wind and departed. The Fei family’s ancient Cloud-Gathering Sky-South Grand Formation, which they had relied upon for years, was like flimsy paper before this sword cultivator, behaving as obediently as if he were its true master.

The 'Long Brocade Heart-Seeking Art' was the Fei family's direct lineage cultivation technique, and Fei Wangbai had used it to forge his immortal foundation and achieve the Intermediary Brocade. With this declaration, the sword cultivator intended to sever the cultivation path for the entire Fei family's direct lineage.

Fei Tongyu broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, and the entire Fei family was in disarray. When Fei Tongyu finally looked up again, the Cloud-Gathering Sky-South Grand Formation had been fully activated by Fei Tongxiao. At that moment, even the fastest cultivators had only reached the mountaintop; not a single one had managed to escape.

His gaze refocused on the dark coffin before him, and Fei Tongyu murmured:

“Father went to the Southern Border… Grandfather… I am only at the peak of Fetal Breath cultivation… What am I supposed to do?”

Fei Tongyu knelt silently on the ground, watching the incense flicker on the altar. Inside the coffin, Fei Wangbai’s body, separated from his head, was covered by a white cloth, barely concealed.

“It won’t fit back together…”

Fei Tongyu painfully closed his eyes. The sword qi left by the cultivator surged from Fei Wangbai’s neck, having already shattered more than a dozen coffins, forcing them to bury him with his head separated from his body.

Fei Tongyu wept bitterly, his head bowed. Behind him, Fei Tongxiao, clad in jade armor, had a calm expression. The boyish innocence had vanished from his face overnight, replaced by a mature worry and unease.

Suffering can completely change a person. Fei Tongxiao’s eyes had dimmed considerably, yet they had also become strong and focused. Staring at the ancestral tablet above, he said in a deep voice:

“Brother! This won’t do!”

“What do you suggest?!”

Fei Tongyu cast a hateful glance and sneered:

“Inform the Li family?!” he scoffed. “I’d rather trust any of those Foundation Establishment cultivators than those hungry wolves from the Li family!”

Fei Tongxiao remained silent for a long time before finally saying:

“Yu Mugao will make his move sooner or later.”

“What if he does?!”

Fei Tongyu abruptly turned his head and said fiercely:

“Not a single person in my Fei family fears death! Let him come!”

Fei Tongxiao shook his head and whispered:

“Brother… don’t be so impulsive! No matter how much hatred you feel, just strive to survive. Only with life is there a future, whether for revenge… or…”

“Those Foundation Establishment cultivators are elusive; once they go into seclusion, it's for several years. Our family’s formation has been activated for months, and everyone in Moon Lake knows, yet not one of them has come to visit… Only the Li family has sent people a few times. Right now, it's only the Li family!”

Fei Tongyu slumped to the ground. After a long silence, he said dully:

“Inform the Li family…”

***

Dense Forest County.

After years of ruthless consolidation by Yu Mugao, the lives of the common people in the Yu family territories had improved significantly. Most of the Yu family’s corrupt scions had been executed; even three of Yu Mugao's own illegitimate sons had died.

Yu Mugao had massacred his kinsmen and redistributed their lands, significantly alleviating the process of land annexation by lower-ranking Yu family members. His popularity among the common folk peaked for a time, which made raising troops remarkably smooth now.

“These mortals…”

Yu Mugao looked at the respectful faces below him, complex emotions welling in his heart, leaving him momentarily unsure how to feel. Yu Xiaogui, standing beside him, snorted and replied:

“What use are mortals?” he scoffed. “They’re only good for odd jobs. Matters that can be resolved with a single spell. The Fei family’s territory is completely out of control; a few Qi Condensation cultivators could handle it.”

Yu Mugao was roused by his words, his eyes regaining their calm and malevolence. He whispered:

“Maintaining order in the occupied towns still requires these mortals. With just a little petty gain, they will form their own hierarchies and manage everything perfectly. No spell is more effective than these people!”

Yu Xiaogui, flying on the wind, heard this and scoffed, replying:

“It’s good you understand! Otherwise, you’ll get your priorities confused, just like the Li family!”

“The Li family is playing with fire by heavily relying on outsiders,” Yu Mugao said. “We are different.”

Yu Mugao shook his head. Yu Xiaogui, meanwhile, turned his head away, as if the phrase “heavily relying on outsiders” touched upon an embarrassing memory for him. The two, along with a group of guest cultivators and Yu family members, flew silently, Cold Cloud Peak now visible before them.

The shimmering white Cloud-Gathering Sky-South Grand Formation appeared before them, its intricate patterns emerging in the air. Yu Xiaogui gazed at it silently, a look of emotion appearing on his face, and he whispered:

“This formation has stood on Cold Cloud Peak since my grandfather’s time. Buried beneath the soil, it allowed that Fei Tianxuan to take advantage and establish the Fei family right here…”

Yu Mugao stood with his hands behind his back and said softly:

“At that time, wasn’t the Jiang family the only one on the entire southeast shore?”

At these words, Yu Xiaogui immediately turned his head to look at him. It wasn't surprising that his eldest son, who had managed the family for many years, knew this. Yu Xiaogui then gazed at Cold Cloud Peak and said:

“Indeed.”

As Yu family members landed before the Cloud-Gathering Sky-South Grand Formation, Yu Xiaogui said softly:

“Before my grandfather killed his brother and murdered his mother, I was still a member of the Jiang family.”