The Battle Begins

Qifeng City experienced a light rain today, significantly reducing the number of pedestrians on its streets.

From the second-floor balcony of Jin Pavilion, Jin Meng gazed towards the residences of the Zhou and Song families, a peculiar smile playing on her lips.

“Qifeng City has been quite lively these past few days, hasn’t it?” Jin Meng remarked, a serene smile gracing her face.

Beside her stood a young woman, who, upon closer inspection, was none other than Jin Tianqiao.

“Mother, which side do you think will emerge victorious?” Jin Tianqiao inquired with an equally curious expression.

“Heh, that’s hard to say,” Jin Meng chuckled, “but no matter who wins, it won’t affect the business of our Jin Pavilion. I merely hope this grand spectacle doesn’t conclude too quickly.”

Her demeanor suggested she was eagerly anticipating a prolonged show.

Turning to the Zhou family’s side, a figure cloaked in black robes swiftly traversed the distant street with an incredibly eerie movement technique, coming to a halt before the Zhou family’s main gate.

Shortly after, Lin Ao emerged from within, courteously ushering the individual inside.

With this arrival, it appeared all the helpers the Lin family had summoned were finally assembled.

Inside the Zhou family’s main hall, Family Head Zhou, Family Head Song, and several cultivators radiating powerful auras sat beside Lin Ao, patiently awaiting his instructions.

In this matter, the Zhou and Song families were clearly subordinates, their role solely to obey orders, not to issue them.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, have all the reinforcements arrived now? Is it time to assign our tasks?” a woman clad in a purple dress inquired, a wicked charm gracing her features.

Lin Ao simply offered her a smile.

“Fellow Daoist Han, please do not be impatient. I will certainly inform you when your assistance is required.

For now, let the Zhou and Song families take the lead and test the waters of those two families.”

After addressing the woman in purple for a moment, Lin Ao immediately turned his gaze to Family Head Zhou and Family Head Song.

The two family heads sighed helplessly; if there were a chance to turn back time, they would undoubtedly have chosen not to participate in this affair.

Yet, with the arrow already nocked, they had no choice but to let it fly.

“Zhou family disciples, heed my command! Follow me to attack Fancheng!” As Family Head Zhou stepped out of the main hall, he bellowed his orders to the Zhou family members who had long been prepared outside.

The moment his words rang out, Zhou family members and cultivators above the Spirit Transformation Realm soared into the sky, while those below swiftly poured out of the Zhou residence, heading directly for the Jiang family’s territory.

Family Head Song promptly followed suit, leading his forces towards the Jiang family.

This time, both families had unquestionably committed their entire strength.

When the large contingents of both families suddenly appeared on the main street with such aggressive momentum, the passersby were startled, quickly scattering to avoid them.

“Isn’t that the Zhou family and the Song family? What are they planning?”

“Judging by the direction they’re heading, it seems to be East City. Could they be going to war with the Yan family and the Jiang family?”

“Let’s go and see! This is a rare spectacle.

These families have been openly and covertly feuding for a while; it’s high time they settled the score.”

At once, numerous rogue cultivators and members of other small to medium-sized families converged towards East City.

However, the moment they made their move, both the Yan and Jiang families became aware.

Without panic, they gathered their forces, dispatching them to their respective controlled districts, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of their female family members.

“They’re finally making their move. I wonder just how many tricks the Lin family has up their sleeve.

I’ll take this opportunity to scout them out.” Yan Long declared to Yan Jun before swiftly departing the Jiang family compound.

Yan Long believed it was impossible for the Lin family to be so reckless as to attack both their families, as relying solely on the Zhou and Song families would certainly not suffice.

Furthermore, it was unlikely the Lin family would openly send their own members into battle.

Therefore, if they had a hidden ace, it was highly probable they had invited powerful experts to assist.

Yet, Yan Long harbored no worries about these individuals, for they had the Dai family.

The experts from the Dai family had already arrived, but they would not intervene until the Lin family’s hidden forces made their move.

The forces of the Zhou and Song families quickly reached the territories of the Yan and Jiang families.

Upon arrival, they unhesitatingly issued orders to their clansmen.

“Advance! Slaughter everyone in the Jiang and Yan families, seize all valuables within, and ensure no outsiders approach this area, or their lives will be forfeit!” Family Head Zhou commanded ferociously.

The moment the command was given, the Zhou family cultivators, like hungry wolves, lunged towards the Yan family’s shops.

However, the instant they drew near, a sudden change occurred: from within the Yan family’s shops, a volley of arrows erupted, each imbued with a considerable amount of spiritual power.

The first wave of approaching Zhou family cultivators was instantly riddled with arrows, resembling a beehive.

Even the leading Cavern Heaven Realm cultivators were pierced through in an instant.

‘Damn it, an ambush! Attack the shops directly and force them out!’

The cultivators who were slower to react immediately retreated and began casting spells.

In a flash, various streams of spiritual power converged and flew towards the Yan family’s shops.

The Yan family shops were instantly shattered into pieces.

From each shop, more than a dozen Yan family cultivators, armed with specially crafted bows and arrows, emerged.

They spread out, re-nocked their bows, aimed at the Zhou family members, and unleashed another volley of arrows.

Cultivators of the Zhou family who were above the Cavern Heaven Realm immediately intercepted the attack, but this wave had little practical effect.

“Hmph! Your Zhou family is truly brimming with confidence, to openly attack my Yan family in broad daylight.

Do you truly believe you can annihilate us so easily?”

Following this, a cold snort resonated in the ears of the Zhou family members.

Several cultivators whose auras indicated they were above the Cavern Heaven Realm were seen emerging from various corners of the Yan family’s territory.

These were the Yan family’s Cavern Heaven Realm cultivators, along with a few Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators.

The Yan family had clearly laid an ambush long ago, simply waiting for the Zhou family to deliver themselves.

“What if there’s an ambush? Today, your Yan family is doomed to perish.”

The Zhou family head personally led several of his Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators, each charging towards one of the Yan family’s Spirit Transformation cultivators.

The Cavern Heaven Realm cultivators also sought out their respective opponents, and thus, the direct confrontation between the two sides began.

However, several of the Yan family’s Spirit Transformation cultivators had yet to make a move, clearly indicating that the Zhou family’s strength was significantly inferior to that of the Yan family.

Concurrently, three elderly figures suddenly appeared above the Yan family’s mansion.

Confronting the residence, they began unleashing powerful spiritual energy; these individuals were the Divine Mark Realm ancestors of the Zhou family.

The strongest combatants had actually directly targeted the Yan family’s main stronghold.

Unfortunately, the moment their attacks descended, several even more ferocious counter-attacks shot forth from within the Yan family, shattering their spells.

“Hmph! Zhou Yuan, your Zhou family alone cannot defeat our Yan family.

And why haven’t the Lin family’s people shown themselves yet?” Yan Hua, accompanied by his two brothers, flew out to confront the Zhou family’s Divine Mark Realm cultivators.

Being residents of Qifeng City, they all knew each other.

The Yan family certainly didn’t believe this was the full extent of the Zhou family’s power.

“It seems your Yan family also received news long ago, preparing in advance, have you?” the Zhou family ancestor remarked calmly, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly empty Yan family mansion.

It was as if everything was unfolding precisely as they had anticipated.

“Hmph! If you want no one to know, you must not do it.

Let this old man see where your Zhou family found the courage to directly confront my Yan family!” Yan Hua extended his hand, grasping a long spear that crackled with lightning from his storage artifact.

His other two brothers likewise drew out a long saber and a long spear.

It seemed the Yan family members were adept at using such long-handled weapons.

The moment the three elders grasped their weapons, their twilight aura instantly transformed into one of sharp aggression.

Their previously withered bodies rapidly became covered in various patterns.

Propelled by the power of these patterns, they swiftly grew robust, each appearing decades younger.

This was one of the abilities of the Divine Mark Realm, allowing cultivators to restore themselves to their peak condition for a certain period through the power of divine marks.

The three individuals from the Zhou family also immediately conjured their weapons, similarly employing the power of divine marks to adjust their states to the absolute peak.

Thus, a great battle between six Divine Mark Realm cultivators commenced.

The sheer force generated by each clash between these six Divine Mark Realm cultivators caused entire sections of the Yan family’s residential buildings to tremble.

All other Yan family members were currently hidden within the Yan family’s underground complex.

This was a place specifically constructed by the Yan family for their clansmen to take refuge, housing all the female family members and those who could not cultivate.

Su Muyu and the others were also there, remaining hidden until it was time for her to appear.

“Do not be afraid; the family will surely repel the powerful enemies,” several madams quickly reassured the frightened clansmen.

From the current situation, whether on the commercial street or within the family compound, the Yan family held the upper hand.

The adjacent Jiang family’s territory had also erupted into battle, but its scale was clearly not as grand as that of the Yan family.

This was because the Jiang family only had two Divine Mark Realm cultivators, and the Song family likewise only had two.

In other words, a total of ten Divine Mark Realm cultivators had converged in this area.

Before the arrival of the Zhou and Song families, the Yan and Jiang families had already informed other families to swiftly evacuate East City to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Consequently, there were no members of other families present.

All others were observing the battle from a distance.

Meanwhile, Yan Yun had stealthily made her way to the outskirts of the Zhou family compound, intent on discovering what hidden trump cards the Zhou family possessed.