Ten Thousand Mountains.

The Zhang clan, clan land at Cangyuan Mountain.

Cangyuan Mountain spans over twenty miles, with a Second-stage Middle Grade Spirit Vein in the mountain. It is said that hundreds of years ago, this was the territory of the Second-stage Demon Beast, the Blue Ape.

Later, the Zhang clan's ancestor slew it, took over this Spirit Vein treasure land, and founded this cultivation family by marrying and taking concubines.

At the summit of Cangyuan Mountain, inside a grand hall, more than ten Late-Stage Qi Cultivators sit quietly, the air filled with an oppressive atmosphere, as if even time itself has frozen.

Finally, a venerable old man at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation slowly speaks, breaking the silence: "Now that the Clan Leader's whereabouts are unknown, Langqing is continually provoking us with a group of Loose Cultivators. We must provide an explanation today."

"What explanation? We need to give them a stern lesson to show them that even without the Clan Leader, we are not to be trifled with." A hot-tempered cultivator bursts into anger, slamming the table, his voice like thunder.

"That's inappropriate. Langqing is only at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. Since he dares to gather so many Loose Cultivators to cause trouble for us, there must be someone manipulating him from behind. He's trying to use Langqing to test our strength."

Someone argues back and calmly analyzes, "The person behind him probably wants us to battle with Langqing."

"But if we don't respond, they might take advantage and directly attack our Cangyuan Mountain," another person expresses concern.

"Neither this nor that is possible, what exactly should we do?" The hot-tempered cultivator glares in anger.

...

Underground, Xu Ping, controlling a Rat Demon, silently listens to their dispute.

The Rat Demon has been lurking here for several days, and he has already mostly figured out the personnel structure of the Zhang clan.

Over a hundred Qi Cultivators, with more than ten elders at the Late-Stage Qi Cultivation.

In terms of strength, they're considered top-tier within the entirety of Ten Thousand Mountains.

After all, throughout Ten Thousand Mountains, there are only four Foundation Establishment families and sects.

But now that Zhang Yu's whereabouts are unknown, their days are not easy.

The Second-stage Spirit Vein without Foundation Establishment guardians is a tempting piece of meat.

Other Foundation Establishment forces are certainly envious, and Langqing is definitely supported by some Foundation Establishment forces, though it's unclear exactly how many.

"Now Hu Country is invading Yue Country, while Ten Thousand Mountains is still mutually vying for benefits," Xu Ping shakes his head helplessly.

At that moment, a middle-aged man rushes into the hall in panic:

"Elder, it's bad, Langqing and a group of Loose Cultivators have killed several of our clan members and are gathering at the foot of Cangyuan Mountain, threatening to storm the mountain and wipe out our clan."

"What!"

The elders in the hall are furious, there's no need for discussion; they're already being besieged, failing to respond will lead to annihilation.

"Gather everyone and destroy all the invading enemies!" said the venerable ninth-level Qi Cultivation elder, with a look of anger.

His name is Zhang Qingfeng, the great elder of the Zhang clan.

"Elder, should we call Elder Zhang Yan?" The middle-aged man hesitated.

The elder hesitated for a moment and slowly said, "Call him, after all, he is still a clan member of the Zhang clan."

'Zhang Yan?'

Upon hearing this name through the Rat Demon, Xu Ping frowned slightly, "Same name?"

Although Zhang Yan mentioned he would return to Ten Thousand Mountains to visit his clan, there are quite a few people in Ten Thousand Mountains with the surname Zhang.

Moreover, in recent days, using the Rat Demon to scout Cangyuan Mountain, there has been no sign of Zhang Yan.

Thinking for a while.

Xu Ping decided to control the Rat Demon to follow the middle-aged man through numerous twists and turns, finally arriving at a small courtyard in Cangyuan Mountain.

This courtyard is too secluded; in recent days almost no one from the Zhang clan has visited, hence he hadn't come here either.

Xu Ping controlled the Rat Demon to enter the courtyard ahead.

Under an old tree in the courtyard, a figure sat limply on a chair as if without bones.

Wisps of smoke spread in the air.

He swallowed one Bliss Pill after another, occasionally taking a puff of something akin to opium from a past life. Despite being thin to the bone, his face showed extreme enjoyment.

"It really is him!"

Xu Ping couldn't help but reveal a slight smile. Meeting an old friend in such a place was definitely pleasing.

"Elder Zhang Yan." The anxious voice of the middle-aged man sounded outside the door.

Zhang Yan frowned at the disturbance, his tone filled with displeasure: "Didn't I tell you not to bother me!"

"Elder Zhang Yan, I didn't mean to disturb you..."

The middle-aged man briefly explained all the recent events.

Listening to his narration, Zhang Yan's face showed a shocked expression.

The conflict between him and the clan had not dissipated, so since he returned, he hadn't been much in contact with clan members, mostly living alone.

He was unaware of many external affairs, and now, hearing the narration, he realized the magnitude of the events outside.

But upon hearing about someone taking advantage of the Clan Leader's unknown whereabouts to rob, anger appeared on Zhang Yan's face: "Let's go! I'll go with you to obliterate this band of thieves!"

Although his conflict with the clan was unresolved, he was still part of the clan and naturally couldn't sit idly.

"Okay." The middle-aged man showed joy and took Zhang Yan quickly towards the foot of Cangyuan Mountain.

With Elder Zhang Yan, being a Late-Stage Qi Cultivator who returned from Qiu Xuan Immortal City, the advantage in battle was significant.

When Xu Ping, controlling the Rat Demon, followed them to the foot of Cangyuan Mountain, the two groups were confronting each other.

One group was led by Elder Zhang Qingfeng of the Zhang clan, the other by a fierce-looking, red-skinned middle-aged cultivator.

"Humph! If you Zhang clan quickly vacate Cangyuan Mountain, I might spare your entire clan. Otherwise, today will be your Zhang clan's extinction day." The middle-aged cultivator sneered, his threat apparent.

"Langqing, you have quite the mouth. A dog who used to bow down to our Zhang clan, now having found a new master, dares to bark so boldly?"

The elderliness of Zhang Qingfeng was evident; his words were like sharp swords, piercing Langqing, causing him to shake in anger.

"You old fool at death's door, today marks the end for your Zhang clan." Langqing stopped the verbal fight, issuing a command, and both sides engaged in battle, with deafening roars.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Ah!"

The battle had just begun, and some Loose Cultivators were killed by the Zhang clan members.

Both sides had similar numbers, but in terms of Cultivation, Mana, and talismans, the Zhang clan members clearly had an edge.

And Zhang Yan even faced two Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Loose Cultivators on his own, suppressing them steadily.

In a short time, the battlefield showed a one-sided situation.

"A mere rabble dares to attack my Zhang clan!" Zhang Qingfeng wielded an Upper Grade Magical Artifact, pushing Langqing back repeatedly.

"Hmph!" Langqing snorted coldly, secretly anxious at heart, wondering why reinforcements hadn't arrived yet.

Suddenly.

Whoosh!

"Ah!"

An artifact resembling a flying shuttle, in a surprise attack, cut off the head of a Zhang clan elder, causing blood to gush out.

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