Chapter 388: Small Gain, Jin Family’s Shock!

The burly man and the delicate young woman left Hujialing and went straight into the Nine Heavens Gale Layer.ale.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”

The fierce wind was intense, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, battering against the two people violently.

“Buzz!”

A starlight disk appeared under the burly man’s feet, radiating brilliant starlight that enveloped both him and the young woman.

Then the man’s bones crackled as his appearance and figure rapidly changed into that of a tall, handsome young man.

Naturally, this young man was Lu Changsheng.

The delicate young woman beside him was actually the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet in disguise.

Lu Changsheng had made a full plan when deciding to act against the Jin Family.

He disguised himself as an evil cultivator wanted by the Phantom Sound Gate and Heavenly Sword Sect.

So, this time when targeting the Jin Patriarch, as per the plan, he disguised himself as two evil cultivators.

“It’s a pity the Heavenly Yuan Treasure Lotus hasn’t been refined into a Void Treasure. Otherwise, using the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra to unite various techniques would’ve made the conversion of cultivation powers into corresponding demonic techniques even more realistic.”

“But, with the Tier 3 Devilish Qi Talisman, it’s good enough. A few Foundation Establishment cultivators shouldn’t be able to see through it.”

Lu Changsheng channeled his cultivation power, dispersing the residual devilish aura around him.

After a thorough inspection to make sure everything was in order, he stayed in the Nine Heavens Gale Layer to sort out his gai gains, clearing out any suspicious items from the storage ring of the Jin Patriarch.

He also checked the payment he received from the Hu Family to make sure there was nothing fishy.

Outside the Hu Family’s mountain gate at Hujialing.

Only after Lu Changsheng and the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet left did the Jin Family cultivators dare to move.

If not for the fact that the bloody remains of their patriarch’s corpse were still in front of them, they would’ve thought the whole incident was just an illusion.

“Let’s go, retreat immediately!”

A Jin Family Foundation Establishment cultivator sent a telepathic message, ordering everyone to flee Hujialing.

Now that the patriarch was dead, they were no match for the Hu Family cultivators.

Moreover, given the current situation, they feared any unexpected surprises.

“Leaving? It’s not that easy! Do you really think you can come and go in our Hu Family territory as you please?”

A Hu Family Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted upon seeing the situation.

With the Jin Patriarch’s death, they naturally had no fear of the Jin Family cultivators outside.

Even if they couldn’t keep the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, they could still kill many of the Late-Stage Qi Refining Jin Family cultivators.

Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators are the backbone of any family!

“Hurry up and run, we’ll cover you!”

The two Jin Family Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged glances, telling the other Qi Refining cultivators to flee.

However, they had handed over their Storage Bags to the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet before and had no Spirit Boats or flying Artifacts, so they could only use Wind Riding techniques to escape, which was slow.

Meanwhile,

Jinlong Ridge, Jin Family ancestral hall.

“Crash!”

An elder guarding the ancestral hall of the Jin Family was startled by the crisp sound from within.

In the Jin Family, besides a few direct core members, only Foundation Establishment cultivators are qualified to have a Life-bound Soul Tablet.

That sound was the shattering of a Life-bound Soul Tablet, indicating that a core member had encountered an accident!

He quickly rushed into the ancestral hall.

The silent hall was brightly lit.

When the elder saw the shattered jade tablet at the topmost platform, he was thunderstruck, his voice trembling as he shouted, “This is impossible!”

That jade tablet was the Life-bound Soul Tablet of their Jin Patriarch!

Their Jin Patriarch was a False Core stage cultivator of great renown. How could he have suddenly fallen?

“No, this is impossible. Absolutely impossible!”

The elder’s face was crazed as he looked at the broken Soul Tablet in disbelief, then stepped forward to cradle the jade tablet.

The once-warm jade tablet was now cold and shattered, just like his heart.

He knew that his family’s patriarch had truly fallen!

“The patriarch had only gone to Hujialing, how could anything have happened?”

The elder’s cloudy eyes turned red, tears streaming down his face as he muttered.

Without further hesitation, he quickly informed the family head and the Great Elder.

Now that the patriarch had fallen, it meant something had happened at Hujialing. The family needed to quickly discuss countermeasures.

“Great Elder, something terrible has happened!”

As the Jin Family Patriarch urgently approached with a worried expression, Jin Zan’s face darkened as he asked, “In handling serious matters, one must remain composed. What happened?”

“Great Elder, the patriarch… the patriarch has fallen.”

The Jin Family Patriarch spoke with deep sorrow and fear.

“What!?”

Jin Zan was shocked, freezing in place as his face went pale.

His eyes then emitted a chilling light as he stared at the Jin Family Patriarch in disbelief, “What did you say?”

“Great Elder… the patriarch has fallen…”

The Jin Family Patriarch’s eyes were red as he spoke.

He too was in disbelief when he received the news, so he rushed to the ancestral hall to verify it.

Confirming that their patriarch’s Soul Tablet had indeed shattered, he dared to report to Jin Zan, who was in seclusion.

After all, the Great Elder had just recovered from his injuries and was focusing on his cultivation.

But this news would certainly upset him, risking a backlash of qi and blood, potentially affecting his cultivation.

“How could this be? How could the patriarch have fallen? What happened?”

Jin Zan’s blood-red eyes fixed on the Jin Family Patriarch, his voice trembling.

Under the False Core pressure of Jin Zan, it felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe as the Jin Family Patriarch bitterly explained, “We don’t know either. A short while ago, the patriarch went to Hujialing to oversee the Hu Family Young Master’s attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.”

“Hujialing? The Hu Family is just a Foundation Establishment family, and their patriarch was defeated by me. How could they have killed our patriarch? He couldn’t have possibly died at Hujialing!”

Jin Zan interrupted before the Jin Family Patriarch could finish.

Although the Hu Family was an old Foundation Establishment family with some trump cards,

they definitely wouldn’t have the means to kill a False Core cultivator!

Furthermore, their patriarch had broken through to the False Core stage a hundred years ago, and his Life-bound Spirit Tool had long since advanced into a Magical Treasure.

A False Core cultivator with a Magical Treasure was vastly different from one without!

So there was no way the Hu Family could’ve killed their patriarch!

“I will go to Hujialing right now to find out what happened!”

Jin Zan didn’t hesitate, preparing to go investigate.

“Great Elder, you mustn’t! Now that the patriarch has met with an accident, if there’s any danger at Hujialing…”

The Jin Family Patriarch hurriedly spoke up.

With the patriarch having fallen outside, their other False Core Elder, Jin Zan, absolutely couldn’t fall as well.

If something happened to Jin Zan too, without another False Core cultivator as a pillar, their Jin Family would certainly decline.

Hearing these words, a deep fear surged in Jin Zan’s heart.

Years ago, his tyranny was greatly supported by the Jin Patriarch.

Now that the patriarch had fallen, he was the only one holding the family together. He couldn’t act as rashly as before.

Otherwise, if something happened to him, the Jin Family would collapse.

“Alright, send someone to investigate immediately.”

After a long silence, Jin Zan finally spoke, his face heavy with concern.

A nameless fear swelled within his heart.

Nine Heavens Gale Layer.ale.

Lu Changsheng stood on the Starlight Disk, clearing the Jin Patriarch’s storage ring, the Jin Family cultivators’ Storage Bags, and the payment received from the Hu Family.

The gains from this trip weren’t exceptionally abundant.

Aside from his False Core and Life-bound Magical Treasure, the Jin Patriarch only had a blessed small bell of considerable value.

The value of the spirit tools, Spirit Stones, and Natural Treasures in the Storage Ring wasn’t high, totaling around thirty to forty thousand Spirit Stones.

However, adding the Storage Bags of other Jin Family cultivators, the total value was around fifty to sixty thousand Spirit Stones.

As for the payment from the Hu Family, Lu Changsheng estimated it to be around fifty to sixty thousand Spirit Stones as well.

“No wonder so many cultivators, even those at Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, still resort to being bandits or evil cultivators; it really is quick money.”

Lu Changsheng sighed.

This sum of Spirit Stones wasn’t particularly large.

But from the time he left home to the time the battle ended, it hadn’t even been a day.

The efficiency of making money this way easily beats being a Talisman Master, pill refiner, or formation master.

“Sometimes, being an evil cultivator is better. You don’t have to worry about anything, and you can kill without needing a reason.”

“Unlike me, as a family patriarch, with hundreds of concerns tying me down, I have to consider everything and always tread carefully.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, knowing that such things couldn’t be exposed. He would have to avoid doing them if possible.

Otherwise, as the saying goes, ‘Often walking by the river, how can your shoes stay dry?’

After destroying and clearing out all suspicious items from the Storage Bags, Lu Changsheng quietly returned to Bihu Mountain.

He had been cautious the entire time, so he wasn’t worried about anyone tracing it back to him.

However, a thought emerged in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

Now that such an incident had occurred, the Jin Family and Hu Family would definitely report it to the Enforcement Palace of the Azure Cloud Sect.

The head of the Enforcement Palace was none other than Caiyun Zhenren, with whom he had a close friendship.

If Caiyun Zhenren found out that it was related to him, would she cover it up for him?

After Lu Changsheng quietly returned to Bihu Mountain, he acted as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, the Jin Family cultivators who had gone to Hujialing also returned to their family home at Jinlong Ridge.

If not for the Jin Family sending people to check the situation immediately, they might have ended up being wiped out.

Even so, the two Jin Family Foundation Establishment cultivators were heavily injured; over half of the twenty-some Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators died.

The losses were devastating!

Counting the death of Jin Patriarch, this incident had severely weakened the Jin Family.

It would take several decades before they could recover their strength!

“You said the culprits were the wanted evil cultivators, Phantom Sound Gate traitor Hua Ziyi and the unknown body cultivator?”

Jin Zan’s face was grim as he looked at the two Foundation Establishment cultivators in front of him, his voice hoarse.

“Yes, Great Elder.”

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke with bitter expressions, recounting the events in detail.

“Killed the patriarch with a single punch? How is that possible!”

Jin Zan’s eyes widened in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

He had already come to terms with the fact that their patriarch had been killed.

But now, learning that the patriarch had been killed with one punch, with no chance to fight back, he couldn’t believe it.

“It should be that Hua Ziyi from Phantom Sound Gate used a Charm Technique to disrupt the patriarch’s mind, allowing that body cultivator to seize the opportunity and kill him with a punch.”

One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke up.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he barely managed to discern part of the situation.

Their patriarch didn’t use his Magical Treasure when facing the burly man’s attack, suggesting that he was distracted.

The techniques of Phantom Sound Gate are known for their Charm and Illusion Techniques, making them almost impossible to guard against.

So, he guessed their patriarch had unknowingly fallen into a trap.

“Why did these two attack the patriarch? We’ve never offended them, and we’ve never had any dealings with the Phantom Sound Gate!”

The Jin Family Patriarch clenched his fists, his red eyes full of frustration and unwillingness.

“We don’t know. They just suddenly appeared.”

“When A’Ming asked why they killed the patriarch, that evil cultivator said it was because the patriarch’s gaze made him uncomfortable.”

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke blankly, their eyes vacant.

Even after all this time, and having barely escaped with their lives, it still felt surreal, like a bizarre dream to them.

“His gaze made him uncomfortable…”

Jin Zan’s face was dark and twisted, the veins on his forehead bulging.

His hands clenched tightly, his sharp nails digging deep into his palms, causing severe pain.

Killed the patriarch over an uncomfortable gaze.

What an absurd and laughable reason!

Yet, through the absurdity, he felt an undeniable truth—the ruthlessness of the cultivation world!

Perhaps, to those two, killing their patriarch was as casual as killing a few Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivators would’ve been for him.

“Without forming a Golden Core, one is ultimately an ant.”

A deep fear and powerlessness welled up in Jin Zan’s heart.

Indeed, a False Core cultivator had already stepped into the higher realms and was a person of some significance!

But in the grand scheme of the cultivation world, to a true Golden Core cultivator, a False Core cultivator is nothing more than a small, insignificant figure unworthy of the title.

With the slightest misstep, one could be killed, their soul scattered.

The patriarch’s death made Jin Zan feel a deep chill, shattering his ambition to become a Golden Core cultivator.

He now feared the cultivation world more, no longer focusing solely on his limited territory.

“Good thing it wasn’t our Jin Family that provoked those two.”

In this moment, Jin Zan actually felt a sense of relief.

Relief that it wasn’t their Jin Family who had drawn the attention of these two evil cultivators.

Otherwise, their family would have been completely ruined.

“Great Elder, should we report these two wanted criminals to the Azure Cloud Sect?”

The Jin Family Patriarch looked over at Jin Zan, speaking with a bitter expression.

The Azure Cloud Sect has rules that any family under their jurisdiction must immediately report if they encounter demonic cultivators, bandits, or wanted criminals!

But these two evil cultivators were too domineering!

He couldn’t help but worry that if they reported it to the Azure Cloud Sect and those two found out, they might come after their family.

Jin Zan’s heart skipped a beat, and after a long while, he finally said, “Report it.”

They couldn’t afford to offend these two evil cultivators, but they also couldn’t afford to offend the Azure Cloud Sect.

If they didn’t report it immediately and Azure Cloud Sect found out later, he, as the family’s patriarch, wouldn’t be able to escape blame.

Besides, these two evil cultivators have been wanted for decades.

Unless the Azure Cloud Sect truly tracks them down and chases after them, it shouldn’t bring trouble to their family.

Several days later.

News of the Jin Patriarch’s death spread like wildfire across the Qingyun region.

The news was so shocking that it was like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake, causing massive ripples.

A False Core cultivator is an existence high above for most people, families, and forces!

But now, one of the six False Core families in the Qingyun region, the Jin Family of Jinlong Ridge, had their patriarch slain by an evil cultivator in a single strike!

Many family patriarchs were not only shocked, but also filled with fear upon hearing the news.

They instructed their descendants not to go outside until the situation calms down.

Meanwhile, many families who didn’t get along with the Jin Family were celebrating.

Some even regretted that Jin Zan hadn’t been killed alongside him.

Not long after, Lu Changsheng also heard the news from his wife, Lu Miaoyun.

Such incidents had to be reported to the Azure Cloud Sect.

And with so many witnesses in the Hu Family that day, it wouldn’t be possible to completely cover it up.

However, seeing that the rumors were consistent, all attributing the death to the evil cultivators, Lu Changsheng nodded slightly.

He knew that his actions this time had been flawless.

Everyone would pin the blame on those two wanted evil cultivators, without linking it to him.

“Husband, you must be more careful when you go out in the future.”

Lu Miaoyun said softly to Lu Cangsheng.

She knew her husband would go out every now and then.

After hearing this news, she couldn’t help but worry.

“Heh, don’t worry, Yun’r.”

Lu Changsheng chuckled, seeing the concern in his wife’s eyes. He pulled her into his arms and whispered in her delicate ear, “Let me tell you a secret…”

He wasn’t one to hide secrets, especially not from his wife.

In fact, he enjoyed sharing things with her.

“What?”

Lu Miaoyun was momentarily stuned.

Then her beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she looked at her husband.

She already knew from Lu Miaohuan that her husband had the strength to kill a False Core cultivator.

But she never expected that the Jin Patriarch had actually been killed by her husband.

She knew that the outside world was saying the patriarch had died in a single strike!

“With two False Core cultivators in the Jin Family, if they continued to grow, they would surely target our family.”

“So, I decided to kill one of the Jin Family’s False Core cultivators to avoid any trouble before I go on my next trip.”

Seeing his wife’s expression, Lu Changsheng smiled and explained.

He could hide the matter of upgrading their family’s spiritual vein and preparing to break through to Golden Core from others, but not from his wife.

In this regard, he had no intention of hiding it.

“I see.”

Lu Miaoyun understood the reasning and nodded gently before asking, “Where are you planning to go next, husband?”

“I plan to visit the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. Our family’s spiritual vein is a bit stretched at the moment, and within a few years, I plan to break through to Golden Core, so I need to find some spiritual vein essence from the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.”

Lu Changsheng answered directly.

He planned to go with Ling Zixiao to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range in the coming days.

“Ah! Husband, you’re going to attempt to break through to Golden Core!”

Lu Miaoyun’s mouth gaped, her eautiful eyes glimmering.

Even hearing that her husband had killed the Jin Patriarch wasn’t as shocking.

After all, breaking through to Golden Core involves becoming a legendary Golden Core cultivator!

Unknowingly, her husband had already become so powerful.

Lu Miaoyun gazed at Lu Changshng in a daze.

“Yes, once the spiritual vein is upgraded, it’ll be just about time to attempt to break through to Golden Core.”

Seeing the admiration and love in his wife’s eyes, Lu Changsheng gently pinched her cheek and nodded.

“But doesn’t breaking through require a Tier 3 spiritual vein? It won’t be easy to upgrade our family’s spiritual vein to Tier 3, right?”

Lu Miaoyun asked worriedly, cotinuing, “And I’ve heard the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range is very dangerous…”

“Haha, I have a secret technique. I don’t need a Tier 3 vein to upgrade our family’s spiritual vein to peak Tier 2, which should be enough.”

“So, it won’t be too dangerous this time.”

Lu Changsheng replied with a smile. He then informed Ling Zixiao, Lu Miaoge, and the others..

He asked what arrangements need to be made in advance before he and Zixiao head to Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

After all, capturing spiritual vein essence from the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range would likely take quite some time.