An Inescapable Fate

Fairy Yunxia let out a cold snort, simultaneously unleashing her own power to firmly block Bihua’s onslaught.

“You are still far from my equal.”

Bihua offered no further words, instead intensifying his power as he continued to clash with Fairy Yunxia.

The colliding forces of their struggle caused the entire area to tremble uncontrollably.

Seizing the moment while Fairy Yunxia was preoccupied with Bihua, Qingxuanzi and his companions abruptly surged towards the Yan family.

They cared not whether their actions would harm the innocent.

Their sole objective was the complete destruction of Yan Yun and Yan Lingyun.

“Qingxuanzi, do you take us for mere decorations?”

Standing guard above the Yan family, he swung the Heavenly Frost Divine Sword in his hand, unleashing a frigid wave of sword light.

This spreading radiance effortlessly annihilated the attacks from Qingxuanzi and his group.

Given the situation, there was no more to be said.

“Engage Bihua’s people; our primary targets are the Heavenly Poison Maiden and her successor.”

Qingxuanzi reminded the others.

Fairy Yunxia naturally discerned their intentions, and promptly.

She gestured to the Divine Soul Realm elders.

“Fellow senior and junior siblings, form the Yunhua Grand Formation and protect the Yan family.”

These Divine Soul Realm cultivators immediately arranged themselves into a battle formation, hovering.

At various points around the Yan family compound, they conjured hand seals, causing streams of white light to surge forth from their bodies.

These lights intertwined, forming a moon-white energy barrier that enveloped the Yan family.

“This formation is sufficient to withstand the attacks of ordinary Divine Venerable cultivators.”

As this Divine Venerable-level war erupted, Qifeng City was rocked as if struck by an earthquake of catastrophic magnitude.

The ground fractured in layers, countless houses collapsed, and masses of citizens.

Fled in terror towards the city gates.

Fairy Yunxia remained locked in battle with Bihua; though he was not her equal in power.

He was perfectly capable of tying her down, preventing her from aiding the Yan family.

At this moment, Qifeng City resembled a scene from the apocalypse.

“It’s over, it’s all over! Qifeng City is doomed!”

The City Lord of Qifeng City.

Gazing at the unfolding chaos, he seethed with hatred for the Lin family.

After this battle, Qifeng City would most likely be razed to the ground.

****

Meanwhile, at the Immortal Alliance Supervisory Office.

“Lord Immortal Alliance Supervisor, are we not going to intervene? Cultivators brawling in a major secular city like this severely violates Immortal Alliance regulations!”

An Immortal Alliance disciple exclaimed to the Immortal Alliance Supervisor.

However, the Immortal Alliance Supervisor merely backhanded the speaker.

Across their face.

“You think too highly of this old man, don’t you? With these individuals, even if the Alliance Master himself came, he likely wouldn’t be able to stop them.

It seems this old man may have to seek a new posting in another city.”

The situation grew increasingly perilous; if no one intervened soon, the burning of Qifeng City would be a minor issue compared to the subsequent turmoil in Jiang Country’s cultivation world.

Thus, an individual who had been silently observing the situation from the shadows could no longer remain still and finally made their move.

A prolonged sigh echoed through the heavens.

“Alas! Everyone, cease your hostilities.”

The voice carried a profound sense of helplessness, yet strangely, the moment it resonated.

Everyone present, save for Fairy Yunxia and Bihua, was instantaneously.

Frozen in place by an irresistible force.

It was as if heaven and earth themselves had paused their rotation in that instant.

Somewhere outside the city, a divine bird resembling a Fire Phoenix, bearing immense celestial might.

Soared into the sky, arriving directly above the Yan family compound.

Yet this was no mere Fire Phoenix; it was the Vermilion Bird, the sacred totem of Jiang Country.

The power radiating from this Vermilion Bird already far surpassed that of common cultivators.

A flower, exquisitely formed from swirling flames, materialized above the Vermilion Bird’s head, its radiant glow enveloping the entirety of Qifeng City.

Above the Vermilion Bird’s head, a young man clad in vermillion kingly robes also materialized.

Upon his appearance, the youth raised a hand and made a grasping motion towards the shattered Qifeng City.

Astonishingly, Qifeng City seemed to rewind through time, swiftly returning to its former state.

Then, his voice rang out, “I, as the Human King of Jiang Country, command you all to cease your conflict.”

The newcomer was none other than the current King Jiang of Jiang Country.

The reason the royal family was considered the true master of the country lay in their command.

Of the nation’s karmic luck, which they could draw upon to empower themselves.

Hence, every generation of King Jiang was virtually invincible within their own borders.

Though King Jiang outwardly appeared to be merely a Great Perfection Divine Venerable.

Once he activated the nation’s karmic luck, he could instantly wield the power of the Divine Fire Realm.

In the presence of a Divine Fire Realm cultivator, only a Divine Venerable who had condensed an Earth-tier Dharma Body could hope to contend; ordinary Divine Venerables stood no chance.

Seeing King Jiang appear, Fairy Yunxia breathed a small sigh of relief, for she had, in fact, been anticipating his intervention.

Only with King Jiang’s presence could such formidable enemies be dissuaded.

“Your Majesty, you have finally appeared,” Fairy Yunxia greeted King Jiang.

King Jiang offered a wry smile.

“Fairy, this was all within your expectations, wasn’t it? You knew.

Who would step forward to stop you all?”

Fairy Yunxia responded with an enigmatic smile.

With King Jiang now present, any citizen of Jiang Country, even a Divine Venerable.

Could not afford to disrespect him.

After halting their battle, King Jiang subsequently retracted his power.

And everything in Qifeng City seemed to return to its original state, as if no great war had ever occurred.

Such a feat was beyond the capabilities of a Divine Venerable cultivator.

“So powerful, Old Ancestor. This must transcend the Divine Venerable Realm, right?”

Yan Lingyun was utterly astonished by King Jiang’s display of power.

“Indeed,” Yan Lingyun explained. “Though King Jiang is merely a Great Perfection Divine Venerable, once he chooses to act.

He can instantaneously command the power of the Great Perfection Divine Fire Realm.”

“Next, we shall see how King Jiang mediates this dispute.”

“Great King, do you also intend to prevent our vengeance?”

Qingxuanzi asked.

Facing the challenge, King Jiang looked down upon Bihua and the others from his elevated position.

“The Heavenly Poison Maiden of yesteryear has long since fallen in the Upper Realm.

Your grievances against her should end here.

Even if some vestige of her power truly remains.

You are not to use this as an excuse to cause trouble before she has once again harmed Jiang Country.

Moreover, I am not discussing this with you.

I am commanding you.”

King Jiang’s declaration rendered Qingxuanzi and his group’s expressions exceedingly grim.

What made their faces even uglier, of course, was that King Jiang was clearly not siding with them.

“Damn it! Even so, this old man will not let the Jiang family off easily,” Lin Xiong muttered.

Lin Xiong secretly retrieved a unique communication jade slip and sent a message through it.

Immediately afterward, someone standing near Yan Long and the others also glanced at a token in their hand.

A flicker of struggle crossed their face, but they ultimately made a decision.

“But…?”

Qingxuanzi still wished to argue.

But King Jiang immediately cut him off.

“There’s no need for further words.

The events of a millennium ago should not be inflicted upon later generations.

You are all esteemed seniors and high-ranking figures of the cultivation world, yet you gather in such numbers to bully a junior who has only just reached the Cavern Heaven Realm.

What shamelessness is this?”

“I reiterate: if you still seek vengeance, you may, but for the stability of Jiang Country.

Only your juniors are permitted to act, and if they do, the cultivators of Jiang Country will not intervene.”

King Jiang’s words effectively sealed the protests on Qingxuanzi and the others’ lips.

After speaking, he cast his gaze towards Yan Yun on the Jiang family’s side.

“Yan Yun, where are you? Step forth.”

Upon hearing the summons, Yan Yun pondered for a moment before swiftly flying.

Upwards, appearing in everyone’s line of sight.

“Greetings, Great King.”

Yan Yun quickly bowed with clasped hands.

King Jiang looked at Yan Yun before him and sighed faintly.

“You, little girl, deliberately spread your poison cultivation technique, throwing Jiang Country into disarray.

Originally, I should punish you for this.

However, considering that all your actions were coerced by your ancestor.

Today, I shall temporarily pardon you.

As for the grievances between your ancestor and these sects.

They must eventually be resolved.

Are you willing to take on this responsibility?”

King Jiang was essentially offering her a way out, and it seemed she had no alternative.

“I am willing.

If their juniors seek vengeance against me, I shall await them at any time.”

King Jiang nodded.

“Very well.

You’ve all heard it: if you wish for revenge, let your juniors handle it.

This matter is settled.

You may all disperse.”

King Jiang waved his hand at them.

Qingxuanzi and his group were utterly unwilling to accept this, yet in the face of King Jiang.

They could only obey, and thus, they gathered their people and departed Qifeng City.

It seemed as though everything was finally coming to an end.

The cultivators of Yunhua Sect also dismantled the formation protecting the Jiang family.

The cultivators from other sects also gradually departed Qifeng City.

However, just as everyone believed the matter was concluded.

A loud cry of alarm rang out.

“Little Seven, Yao’er, be careful!”

This seemed to be Yan Long’s voice.

At the same moment, Yan Yun also felt a sudden, violent surge of energy expanding behind her.

She quickly turned her head, only to see a Yan family cultivator emitting streaks of white light.

He was lunging with a crazed expression towards Su Muyu, Jiang Yao, and Yan Kun, among others.

“I’m sorry, I was forced!” The Yan family cultivator roared.

Yan Yun’s pupils constricted, and she instinctively tried to react.

But it was too late; the man detonated as if packed with powerful explosives.

Yan Long and several other Yan family cultivators immediately blocked his path, simultaneously using their own power to send Su Muyu and the others flying away.

However, at the very instant they were flung back, the power within that Yan family cultivator fully erupted.

With a deafening boom, the terrifying energy explosion engulfed all the Yan family members closest to it.

Everything happened so suddenly, catching everyone off guard.

After the explosion’s energy dissipated, a large crater remained on the ground.

But to everyone’s horror, Yan Long and the other Yan family cultivators who had intervened had vanished without a trace.