One Wave After Another

Concealed by a purple veil and shrouded in shadow, Yan Lingyun extended her divine sense, keenly probing the depths of the Zhou family’s estate. A mere sweep was sufficient, given the formidable power of Yan Lingyun’s divine sense, to ascertain the number of formidable cultivators dwelling within the Zhou family’s mansion.

“One Divine Soul Realm cultivator, three at the peak Divine Mark Realm, and a handful more in the minor Divine Mark Realm. Their contingency plans are precisely as we anticipated,” Yan Lingyun sneered, her voice laced with cold amusement.

Upon learning of the Lin family’s extensive preparations and the sheer number of powerful cultivators they had amassed, Yan Yun’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

Should these formidable individuals enter the fray, the battle would undoubtedly become a one-sided massacre, leaving the Yan and Jiang families with absolutely no hope of triumph.

“Fortunately, we contacted the Dai family in advance. With their experts present, even if these people act, it will at most balance the battlefield. Ancestor, please check again thoroughly. Are these truly all the Lin family’s backup plans? Do they perhaps harbor an even greater conspiracy?” Yan Yun still felt a deep unease in her heart.

The Lin family knew that both the Jiang and Yan families were backed by the Yunhua Sect, so weren’t they worried about the Yunhua Sect directly intervening?

She was convinced that as a leading family in the Royal Capital, they must have meticulously considered this very possibility; otherwise, with such paltry preparations, the Lin family would never have survived to this day.

“It’s hard to say, but from the current situation, I haven’t detected the presence of other powerful cultivators. Oh, there are also a dozen Spirit Transformation cultivators, but they are not worth worrying about,” Yan Lingyun explained softly.

Yan Yun’s expression momentarily froze upon hearing about the dozen Spirit Transformation cultivators. She then looked up at the increasingly dense dark clouds gathering in the sky, her face growing even graver.

She had considered many possibilities in advance, yet there were always things she couldn’t foresee.

After checking on the Zhou family’s situation, Yan Yun also made a detour to the Song family. There was even less to worry about on the Song family’s side.

****

Meanwhile, on the Jiang family’s commercial street, Yan Long, in concert with another Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Yan family, summarily struck Family Head Zhou from the heavens.

Family Head Zhou plummeted, crashing into the street with such force that it fractured and collapsed in successive layers.

“Zhou Shichang, although our two families have had some conflicts, it shouldn’t come to a fight to the death, should it? Is it truly worth risking your life for the Lin family?” Yan Long descended from the sky, landing before Family Head Zhou.

Family Head Zhou, clutching a large ghost-head saber, struggled to his feet.

Squinting at Yan Long, he declared, “Whether it is worth it or not, such words have lost all meaning now. Our two families have vied for centuries, and my Zhou family has only grown weaker. For the sake of the Zhou family’s future, this old man has been left with no other choice.”

“Furthermore, Yan Long, don’t rejoice too soon. You know very well that my Zhou family and the Song family are merely pawns,” Family Head Zhou wiped the crimson from the corner of his mouth, then, with a swift movement, swallowed a mysterious pill.

After consuming the pill, Family Head Zhou’s aura surged several times over in an instant, his combat power suddenly reaching the Divine Mark Realm.

Beyond that, he conjured a diminutive golden sword, its surface intricately etched with potent runes, marking it as a true Divine Mark Realm artifact.

He forcibly elevated his cultivation base using the pill, then ignited the Divine Mark Realm artifact, unleashing its formidable power to its absolute zenith.

“I, too, possess my own methods.”

“Witness this technique: Golden Light Sword Rain!”

Propelled by Family Head Zhou’s formidable power, the diminutive golden sword instantly splintered into a myriad of projections, surging forth like a devastating tidal wave towards Yan Long and the other Spirit Transformation cultivator.

Some Yan family cultivators, unable to dodge in time, were pierced through by the golden swords.

This horrific sight caused Yan Long and the other cultivators who had narrowly evaded the onslaught to visibly blanch, their expressions turning exceptionally grim.

“Damn it! Do you think you’re the only one with a Divine Mark Realm artifact?” Yan Long, without a moment’s hesitation, unleashed a dragon-shaped spear. As he infused it with his spiritual power, the spear astonishingly transmuted into a vibrant fiery dragon, directly confronting Family Head Zhou’s relentless sword rain as it surged fiercely towards its wielder.

Witnessing the fiery dragon’s swift approach, Family Head Zhou was compelled to focus the artifact’s might entirely on assailing the beast, while simultaneously executing an immediate retreat.

The fierce conflict involving the four prominent families swiftly laid waste to a significant portion of East City. As the brutal battlefield inexorably expanded, the scores of onlookers were forced to retreat further and further into the distance.

****

Meanwhile, Lin Ao, having precisely calculated the opportune moment, turned to a group of individuals and declared, “Gentlemen, the hour is at hand. I shall trouble you to eliminate the Divine Mark Realm cultivators from both the Jiang and Yan families.”

Upon receiving their orders, the individuals immediately donned black robes, concealing their true appearances, and then swiftly flew away from the Zhou family compound.

After they had all departed, Lin Ao also stood up.

“Let’s go. It’s our turn to act. This time, I will personally avenge my son.”

No sooner had Lin Ao uttered these words than a contingent of over a dozen powerful cultivators materialized from the shadows, each one uniformly possessing the formidable cultivation of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

It became apparent that Lin Ao intended to personally enter the fray.

This was entirely understandable, for he harbored an irreconcilable, blood-feud-level enmity with the Yan family. Having been denied his chance for retribution previously, he was certainly not one to let this golden opportunity slip through his grasp.

Moreover, his involvement was crucial and not merely a reckless act.

Yan Yun, after completing her investigation, immediately returned to the Yan family.

She believed the Lin family’s primary target was still the Yan family. After all, the Yan family had royal connections, so they likely wouldn’t seek total annihilation.

Attacking the Jiang family was merely to prevent them from interfering.

Yan Yun arrived just beyond the Yan family compound, her gaze sweeping over the ten figures locked in fierce combat high above. She knew that the intensity of this battle was destined to escalate dramatically in but a moment.

She knew well that the Lin family’s next wave of backup was about to arrive.

However, this was not her concern. After a brief, assessing glance, she slipped through a concealed door within the Yan family compound, descending into its intricate underground complex.

Within these subterranean chambers, the female relatives, younger generations, and those incapable of cultivation from both the Yan and Jiang families had sought refuge, their respective underground complexes seamlessly interconnected.

Maintaining her concealed identity, Yan Yun reached the secluded stone chamber where Jiang Yao and Su Muyu awaited.

The moment she entered, both women eagerly rushed forward, their faces etched with concern, to inquire about the unfolding situation.

“How are things outside?” Jiang Yao asked.

Yan Yun shook her head.

“It’s hard to say. The Lin family’s current preparations are still within our anticipated scope, but my heart is restless. I have a persistent feeling that their plans run deeper than what we’ve seen.”

Jiang Yao and Su Muyu exchanged a glance.

“Are you perhaps overthinking it?” Jiang Yao questioned.

Whether she was overthinking it, Yan Yun found it difficult to determine.

Even as the trio conversed, a series of potent auras suddenly manifested directly above them. There was no need to look; the Lin family’s initial wave of reinforcements had undeniably arrived.

Yan Hua and the others, who were currently engaged in battle, felt the rapidly approaching powerful auras. Their expressions shifted slightly as they quickly distanced themselves from the Zhou family members, looking cautiously in a certain direction.

From the sky, several black-robed figures descended with startling speed, instantly encircling Yan Hua’s three brothers and the two Divine Mark cultivators from the Jiang family.

“Hahaha! They’ve finally arrived! Yan Hua, I told you, things aren’t as simple as you imagine.” The Zhou family’s Old Ancestor exhaled a palpable sigh of relief, his tension easing considerably upon witnessing the intervention of the forces summoned by the Lin family.

These were mercenaries, hired for their lethal prowess, concerned only with their deadly task and utterly indifferent to any underlying grievances.

Yet, just as they poised themselves to strike, a surge of several Divine Mark Realm cultivators erupted from below, instantly disrupting their coordinated assault.

“We’ve been waiting for you for a long time. You who hide your faces, why not reveal your true selves?”

The arriving individuals were cultivators adorned in resplendent, brocade robes.

The most formidable among them had likewise attained the Divine Soul Realm.

These individuals constituted the reinforcements dispatched by the Dai family. Their mandate was not to actively aid the Yan family against the Zhou family or the Lin family, but rather to intervene solely when the opponents’ hidden forces were deployed, ensuring their interception.

“People from the Dai family?” One of the black-robed figures immediately recognized their distinguished origin.

The leading middle-aged man, a formidable Divine Soul Realm cultivator, immediately erupted into boisterous laughter.

“Didn’t expect us, did you? It’s a pity, though, that the Lin family is still too timid to send their own experts. You must be hired by the Lin family, correct? With my Dai family here today, the Lin family’s schemes will never succeed!”

The speaker was Dai Mingyu, an Old Ancestor of the Dai family and a cultivator at the peak of the Divine Soul Realm.

“Hmph! Who will emerge victorious is yet unknown. Don’t celebrate too soon.”

These hired cultivators, proving quite dedicated to their task, actively attacked despite knowing they could no longer destroy the Yan family, thereby forcing the Dai family’s experts into battle.

As soon as they clashed, the situation grew even more chaotic.

Lin Ao also appeared with his people around the Yan family compound. He glanced at the Dai family cultivators in the sky.

“People from the Dai family? They really did hire help. It seems the informant within my Lin family holds quite a significant position,” Lin Ao snorted coldly, then led his group to infiltrate the Yan family compound.

His mission was to slaughter the young generation and female relatives of the Yan family, effectively cutting off their future.

From the outset, they never intended to completely annihilate the Yan family. However, this time, they were certainly aiming to strip the Yan family of its future. Most importantly, they wanted to ascertain whether a certain individual had truly left the Jiang Kingdom.

Furthermore, he had long known about the Yan family’s underground complex and was very clear about the location of its entrances and exits.

Currently, no one was paying attention to Lin Ao’s group. It was likely that even Yan Yun herself hadn’t realized that the Lin family’s true target wasn’t the powerful cultivators fighting openly.