The Patriarch of the Qian Family was a Mid Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    If he had taken the Human Life Pill and extended his life without a decline in Blood Qi or Spiritual Power, he would likely be the strongest Foundation Building Cultivator in Tongxian City.


    Moreover, he was certainly an Evil Cultivator, practicing strange but powerful Evil Path Skills.


    Therefore, the n to eliminate the Patriarch of the Qian Family had to be both meticulous and prudent.


    The following evening, the Taoist Soldiers feigned departure from Tongxian City, breaking camp.


    At the middle of the night, they covertly returned, stayed overnight at Big ck Mountain, and at the break of dawn, they dressed as Monster Hunters, disguised themselves to enter the city, and stealthily hid in the houses surrounding the Qian Family’s home.


    The hiding spot was provided by the An Family.


    Mo Hua rose early too, found a secluded house, climbed onto the roof, and watched the Qian Family’s movements with his Divine Sense.


    His Cultivation was modest; he wasn’t needed to strike at the Patriarch of the Qian Family.


    And with such perilous matters, he couldn’t show himself either.


    All he could do was to sketch the Formation Method Map of the Qian Family estate, aiding Leader Yang and the others in their ambush.


    For now, his only option was to watch from afar.


    Luckily, his Divine Sense was strong, his perception range wide, so even from a distance, he could roughly grasp the progression of events.


    The first step of the n was to enter the Qian Family and probe the details concerning the Patriarch of the Qian Family.


    The morning sunlight shone on the Blue Stone Street.


    The street was empty, scarcely any foot traffic in sight.


    Elder Yu notified all the Loose Cultivators in advance, telling everyone to stay indoors today.


    He himself, however, had arrived early at the grand entrance of the Qian Family, knocking on the door while loudly cursing.


    Elder Yu’s curses were unsavory.


    For many years, this had been amon urrence for Elder Yu.


    Before long, there was a stir inside the Qian Family, and a Qian Family Elder came out to argue with Elder Yu.


    The argument persisted, with Elder Yu stubbornly refusing to leave, casually lying about a Monster Hunter’s death and ming it on the Qian Family.


    The Qian Family Elder thought it was true.


    After all, such deeds weren’t umon for the Qian Family, so initially, there was no suspicion that Elder Yu was lying.


    But the Qian Family would certainly not admit to it and instead used Elder Yu of ndering them.


    Elder Yu indeed was ndering them, while continuing to curse even more vehemently, moring ceaselessly that he would report the matter to the Taoist Court and seek justice.


    The Qian Family Elder, provoked to irritation, said, "Fine, then ask the Court Leader toe and we’ll discuss the matter clearly!"


    The Qian Family went to summon the old Court Leader.


    The old Court Leader arrived leisurely, intentionally showing difficulty in the situation, urging both sides to value peace and not start more trouble.


    Elder Yu, face flushed, argued with the old Court Leader:


    "The dead one isn’t from the Taoist Court, that’s why the Court Leader is indifferent."


    The old Court Leader became angry and said, "What do you want then?"


    Elder Yu said, "I want that old tortoise Qian Hong to give me an exnation; if he isn’t in charge, there’s an even older tortoise in the Qian Family, I must have them give me an answer for this affair!"


    Given the circumstances, Qian Hong had no choice but to show himself.


    Afterward, Elder Yu and the old Court Leader went inside the Qian Family residence.


    The Qian Family had Formations that blocked detailed spying, so Mo Hua could not see clearly.


    However, if the n proceeded smoothly, Elder Yu would escte the situation, the old Court Leader would fan the mes, until it escted to a point where the Patriarch of the Qian Family had to show himself, allowing them a sessful encounter.


    Then at that moment, Elder Yu would suddenly attack, catching him off guard, and they would be able to test the Patriarch of the Qian Family’s skills, thus knowing whether he was concealing his abilities or harboring secrets that must not be disclosed.


    This task could only be carried out by Foundation Building Cultivators.


    Leader Yang couldn’t do it; as the leader of the Taoist Soldiers, his presence at the Qian Family would raise suspicion.


    Old Master An wouldn’t be suitable either, as he had a feud with the Qian Family, and they would not allow him entry.


    After much consideration, only Elder Yu was deemed appropriate.


    Although he was at odds with the Qian Family, he also frequented the Qian Family, entangling them in disputes and bargaining without rming them or raising any undue precautions.


    Moreover, on this visit, he had to be joined by Court Leader Zhou, so the two could support each other.


    If the Patriarch of the Qian Family, who was at Mid Foundation Establishment, suddenlyshed out in violence, Elder Yu’s life could be in danger.


    With Court Leader Zhou apanying him, at least there was someone to assist.


    After Elder Yu entered the Qian Family, Mo Hua had no clue what transpired.


    About two hourster, a violent surge of Spiritual Power burst forth from the Qian Family; from a great distance, Mo Hua felt the vibrations.


    Simultaneously, a section of the Qian Family’s house copsed, dirt and rocks flying, Formations shattered.


    From afar, Mo Hua heard Elder Yu’s piercing scream, shouting, "Attack!"


    Before the sound faded, hidden An Family Disciples, Monster Hunters, Tribunal Cultivators, and the Taoist soldiers Court forces surged forward, charging towards the Qian Family.


    The Taoist Soldiers led the charge.


    The Qian Family’s defensive Formations lit upyer byyer only to be shatteredyer byyer by the Taoist Soldiers’ spears, turning into gravel and dust.


    Other Cultivators followed the Taoist Soldiers, jointlyunching an assault and entering the Qian Family residence.


    Mo Hua foresaw the weaknesses in the Qian Family’s Formations, marked each one, andmunicated them to Leader Yang, allowing the Taoist Soldiers’ rapid breach of the Formations.


    Taken by surprise, the Qian Family Disciples surged out from all directions, wielding swords and des, facing off against the attacking Cultivators.


    However, when they realized that their opponents were led by Taoist Soldiers, they all showed signs of shock, unsure of what to do.


    The Taoist Soldiers represented the strongest force of Tao Cultivation army, standing for the authority and dignity of the Taoist Court.


    Battling the Taoist Soldiers was akin to rebelling against the Taoist Court, a crime that led to the extermination of the entire n!


    The Qian Family Disciples hesitated, uncertain.


    They couldn’t help but shift their gaze towards the center, where Spiritual Power was vibrating and walls were copsing, the ce where the Patriarch of the Qian Family was in solitary cultivation.


    After the dust cleared, three figures appeared.


    One with a stern face and paleplexion was the elderly Court Leader of the Taoist Court;


    One who had lost an arm, with blood at the corner of his mouth and a gaunt face was Elder Yu, the Monster Hunter;


    And one more person, with half-white hair, blood-colored pupils, half of the withered skin on his face fallen off, emanating a powerful and dangerous aura.


    "Who is this person?"


    The Qian Family Disciples looked at each other in confusion.


    Some of the Qian Family elders turned pale with shock, "Is this... the ancestor?"


    The Qian Family was instantly thrown into an uproar.


    "The ancestor?"


    "How could he look like this?"


    "Why are his eyes blood red?"


    Some Qian Family elders had a terrible suspicion in their hearts and instantly turned ashen.


    Their Qian Family ancestor... was actually an Evil Cultivator!


    Evil Cultivators are not tolerated by the Taoist Court.


    The atmosphere turned tense and confrontational in an instant.


    Leader Yang and Old Master An stood out, along with Elder Yu and Court Leader Zhou; four Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded the Patriarch of the Qian Family.


    Elder Yu coughed up blood, saying, "Be careful, his cultivation technique is evil and can corrupt Blood Qi..."


    He had justunched a sneak attack, which the Patriarch of the Qian Family sensed, and after a fierce exchange, Elder Yu’s arm was broken, and his Blood Qi turned turbid due to the corruption of the evil spiritual power.


    The old Court Leader also shed with the Qian Family patriarch to aid him. Although he was not injured, his meridians suffered greatly.


    Leader Yang nodded.


    Old Master An, seeing the Patriarch of the Qian Family’s current state, was both shocked and angry:


    "Who would have thought, you have be such a ghastly sight."


    The Qian Family patriarch sneered, "As long as it’s for the pursuit of the Great Dao, what does this form matter?"


    Old Master An did not wish to waste words with him and said with hatred,


    "Qian Old Dog, you must pay for the lives of my An Family disciples!"


    The Qian Family patriarch’s blood-colored eyes revealed a mocking look, "You want to kill me, the ancestor of the Qian Family, on Qian Family’s own ground?"


    A tall and thin elder from the Qian Family shouted loudly, "We cannot let them harm the ancestor!"


    A group of Qian Family disciples raised their swords, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit.


    Court Leader Zhou gave them a cold look, "The Taoist Court has issued an edict, the Qian Family patriarch practiced Evil Skills, colluded with Evil Cultivators; his crimes are unforgivable, and byw, he must be executed!"


    "Any Qian Family disciple who interferes will be killed without mercy!"


    "If the Qian Family knew and still aided the tyrant, then the whole family will be executed!"


    Court Leader Zhou spoke with an authoritative and ice-cold tone.


    The Qian Family disciples grew fearful and hesitant.


    Seeing this, the Qian Family elder cursed angrily,


    "The Taoist Court is not our Qian Family’s Taoist Court, but the ancestor is our Qian Family’s ancestor. Can’t you see which is more important? We must ensure the ancestor’s safety at all costs!"


    Before he could finish, another elder quickly said,


    "Shut up! Do you want our entire Qian Family to be executed?"


    "Qian Zhongli, are you abandoning the ancestor?"


    Qian Zhongli said, "The ancestor is indeed our Qian Family’s ancestor, but the Qian Family is not just the ancestor’s alone. Do you wish to doom so many cultivators of our Qian Family?"


    "You spineless coward!"


    "You foolishly loyal idiot!"


    ...


    The two Qian Family elders were slinging insults at each other non-stop.


    Some Qian Family disciples became frightened and secretly abandoned their swords. With time, more and more disciples discarded their weapons.


    In the blink of an eye, most of the Qian Family disciples were unarmed.


    Some Qian Family disciples who intended to fight also abandoned their intentions.


    Elder Yu sneered, "Qian Old Dog, you’ve been abandoned by everyone."


    The Patriarch of the Qian Family shook his head and sighed, "Indeed, I did not misjudge. When disaster strikes, even one’s closest kin cannot be relied upon."


    Elder Yu, with one arm severed, pointed his sword at the Patriarch of the Qian Family with his remaining arm, "A person like you does not deserve kin."


    "I have one question that I haven’t figured out until now..."


    The seemingly cornered Patriarch of the Qian Family did not panic but showed confusion instead.


    "ck Mountain Stronghold has been secretive in its actions, whether it was murder or plunder. For over two hundred years, it has never been discovered. Those who knew about ck Mountain Stronghold either joined or were dead."


    "I also hid it very well. Apart from a scarce few, no one knew of my rtionship with ck Mountain Stronghold, nor did anyone know I built this stronghold, raising so many Evil Cultivators, and even less so, what I used these Evil Cultivators for..."


    "But why is it that all of a sudden, ck Mountain Stronghold has been discovered?"


    "Why did the Taoist Soldiers arrive so fast?"


    "I don’t even know how the news got leaked."


    "The only thing I know is that someone tampered with the formation array within the stronghold."


    "But who has the ability to tamper with ck Mountain Stronghold’s formation map right under the noses of my four Mid Foundation Establishment Householders and hundreds of Evil Cultivators?"


    "Who is it that unraveled the mystery and discovered my secret?"


    "Who let my two-hundred-year effort in building ck Mountain Strongholde to naught in an instant!"


    The Patriarch of the Qian Family looked around, his blood-colored eyes shining intensely:


    "I want to meet the person responsible for this!"


    The aura around the Patriarch of the Qian Family surged.


    Mo Hua, who was hiding at a distance secretly watching the drama, was stunned upon hearing this.


    The person the Patriarch of the Qian Family was talking about... seemed to be himself?


    Startled, Mo Hua instantly shrank back.


    He had no wish to meet the Qian Family patriarch—best to be forever apart; if the patriarch died and he lived, then they would never meet...


    Mo Hua thought to himself silently, but then doubt crept in.


    No, that’s not right!


    How could the Patriarch of the Qian Family fail to guess it was him?