https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-122-You-Didn-t-Really-Think-I-Was-Powerless-Did-You-/13510328/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-124-How-Could-You-Be-a-Body-Cultivator-/13510330/
Chapter 123
Chapter 123
With the Zhu Family’s account ledgers in hand, Xiao Chen now held ironclad evidence. The next step was to head to the Jing Family immediately and uncover the truth behind their mass abductions of solitary cultivators. Such large-scale captures likely meant the Jing Family was preparing some demonic ritual—acts whose consequences could range from catastrophic to irreversible.
If stopped in time, this might only amount to a case of colluding with demonic cultivators. But if they arrived too late, the ritual’s completion could spell disaster. Yet urgency demanded caution.
Xiao Chen first took the ledgers to the Chen Family at night, briefing Elder Chen. The following morning—the sixteenth day of the first lunar month—the Lihuo Sect would resume operations. The Chen Family would handle coordinating with the sect to seize the Zhu Family’s assets, rescue the imprisoned cultivators, and ensure their safe relocation. Only after delegating these tasks did Xiao Chen rush toward the Jing Family’s territory, hoping to buy time.
“Senior, save us!”
As Xiao Chen flew into Jingchuan County on his sword beam, he spotted a group of fleeing cultivators. Spotting a Foundation Building cultivator approaching, they scrambled toward him, shouting for help.
Extending his spiritual sense, Xiao Chen quickly located a blood-soaked black bear charging after them. Its eyes burned crimson, and its aura fluctuated wildly—sometimes like a Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer practitioner, sometimes rivaling a Foundation Building cultivator. It lunged at him without hesitation.
“Seven Stars Sword Technique—Tianshu!”
Xiao Chen pierced the bear’s chest with his sword, sending it crashing to the ground. Yet the beast showed no pain, ignoring its wound as it struggled to rise, swiping its claws wildly.
“Strange… Is it under a demonic cultivation technique?”
He delivered a final strike, severing the bear’s head. Unease prickled his mind. “This is the Jing Family’s domain. Why haven’t they dealt with this beast?”
Normally, he might suspect the Jing Family’s patriarch was absent, allowing demonic cultivators to stir trouble. But given the Jing Family’s suspected collusion with such forces, this seemed unlikely.
“Could another faction be behind this?”
Pondering, Xiao Chen hastened into the city.
Jingchuan County was already in chaos. Bodies littered the streets, and distant clangs of steel echoed from the ruins. Lifting a roof, Xiao Chen found a red-eyed cultivator hacking at two others—three men all at the Cultivation Second Layer. The two defenders, unable to cast spells, barely parried the frenzied onslaught, their faces pale with terror.
“Green Thorn Technique!”
Vines erupted, binding all three. “What’s happening here?”
The red-eyed cultivator ignored him, thrashing violently. His arms dislocated as he tore against the vines. The other two, trembling, blurted, “Senior, the Jing Family’s gone mad—they’re killing everyone!”
“They’ve even unleashed their tamed black bears. Even a Ninth Layer cultivator was slain!”
Xiao Chen glanced at the red-eyed man’s chest, spotting the embroidered “Jing” character on his inner robe. He released the two survivors, beheaded the frenzied cultivator, and swiftly eliminated other Jing Family members wreaking havoc, saving dozens of cultivators.
At the Jing Family’s estate, the scene was grim. The sprawling compound stood in ruins, walls shattered, streets strewn with corpses—many ordinary citizens, their eyes wide in frozen horror.
“Could they have been silenced?”
Inside, the estate was eerily empty. Scorch marks in cooking pots, overturned furniture, and collapsed walls suggested sudden, collective madness. They’d smashed through walls instead of using doors, charging outside to slaughter indiscriminately.
“A mind-altering demonic technique,” Xiao Chen muttered. “Why ally with demons? Did they truly believe this would end well?”
Despite his confusion over Jing Qi Yuan’s actions, a search of the county revealed no traces of Foundation Building-level combat. “Jing Qi Yuan must be elsewhere. He might not even know his family’s been wiped out… and he himself could be in danger.”
The trail had gone cold. Xiao Chen could only hope Jing Qi Yuan survived to thwart the enemy’s plans—though he doubted such hope was warranted.
“Mister, please save my mom! She’s bleeding so much, I’m scared!”
A barefoot boy ran up, throwing himself into a kowtow. Xiao Chen helped him up. “Where is she? Take me to her.”
The boy pointed to the outskirts. “She’s under the third willow tree outside the city. I couldn’t carry her, so I came alone.”
Xiao Chen noted the boy’s bloodied feet, lacerated by sharp stones. Without hesitation, he crouched. “Climb on. I’ll carry you.”
The boy clung to his back, arms looped around his neck. Xiao Chen steadied him. “Left or right?”
“Senior, let me teach you a lesson.”
A gravelly voice suddenly rasped in his ear.
“Next time… don’t trust strangers so easily.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
