The two ancestors felt a chill in their hearts.

Yan Shihai took out a Thousand-Mile Communication Talisman, a talisman originally created by Chen Yindou, previously nonexistent in the world. Chen Yindou pioneered it, and it spread widely. Major families often use this talisman for communication across regions.

Yan Shihai activated the talisman, and clusters of firelight flew out, floating around them, dazzling to the eyes.

"Sect Master, Xinxiang Lei County is under attack by Red Mountain Hall. Please send troops for rescue!"

"Qing Province's Fu County is attacked by Red Mountain Hall! Requesting Qing Province to send troops for aid!"

"Sect Master, Red Mountain Hall in Meizhou is rebelling and has overrun the government office!"

...

The two ancestors looked on and saw cries for help coming from over two thousand prefectures and counties across the Fifty Provinces, as Red Mountain Hall's Talisman Masters simultaneously launched attacks against the Yan Family forces in these regions.

Yan Family has officials everywhere, especially after experiencing this massive catastrophe where the common people suffered heavy casualties, with seven out of ten perishing, whereas the main forces of the Thirteen Families were mostly preserved, with only two or three out of ten casualties at most.

This ebb and flow made the Thirteen Families even stronger than before the disaster. Without the Talisman Master Association of Red Mountain Hall, the dominance of the Thirteen Families would be more solidified!

But Red Mountain Hall has also become much stronger, spreading their Talisman Master Association throughout these places!

This attack on the Yan Family forces in various locations is merely a drill by the Red Mountain Hall Talisman Master Association.

It's just a drill.

The two ancestors heard the pleas for help, and their hearts sank.

Yan Family is truly finished.

"Even if not defeated by Chen Shi's hand, other families will seize the opportunity to annex our wealth and power, dividing us completely."

Yan Shihai's expression remained calm, and he said indifferently, "The so-called unity of the Thirteen Families is just a slogan. Given the chance to annex our wealth, they will not be merciful."

The two ancestors remained silent, quietly waiting.

Behind the front hall, five Yan Family experts of the Returning Void Realm were vigilantly prepared, and behind them were thousands of Yan Family experts in the God Refining Realm, Unification Realm, Void Refinement Realm, Divine Descent Realm, and Divinity Transformation Realm.

Everyone was connected in spirit, united as one, filled with a fierce and unyielding spirit daring to face death, with a bold willingness to sacrifice themselves for the family surging in their hearts.

Behind them were the women, children, and elderly of the Yan Family, some women wearing white mourning clothes, white hats on their heads, and some elderly women dressed in burial clothes, standing there motionlessly with the support of other Yan Family womenfolk.

There wasn't a trace of fear or hesitation on their faces, all displaying a fearless demeanor towards life and death.

The entire Yan Mansion was finally deserted by the servants and maids, making the surroundings extremely quiet.

Liuzhou City also became extremely quiet, so much so that even the drop of a pin could be clearly heard.

After an unknown period, a large black dog walked into Liuzhou City.

This black dog was dressed oddly like a human, walking upright like a person, saluting with a smile to the Yan Family cultivators along the street.

Under everyone's gaze, it approached Yan Mansion, lifted its front paw, and knocked on the large gate.

A moment later, the sound of a creaking door opening was heard, and behind the door, a Yan Family disciple courageously asked, "Who are you looking for... oh, it's to deliver a visitation card... alright, I'll pass it to the Sect Master."

The black dog turned, leisurely heading back the way it came.

The Yan Family disciple quickly arrived at the front hall, bent over and said, "Sect Master, that predecessor just said he was ordered to come and deliver a True King's visitation card."

Yan Shihai took the visitation card, opened it, and saw written with a brush on the vermilion card: "Chen Shi from Xinxiang respectfully writes to the esteemed Yan Mansion: I have long admired your high virtues and dared not visit rashly. Today I bring a token of sincerity, humbly visiting, hoping for your esteemed attention, please do not reject this humble note. Shi, humbly bowing twice."

Yan Shihai commented, "The top scorer comes to kill, but uses such elegant words."

Yan Wuji sneered, "Hypocritical and false!"

At this time, footsteps were heard from outside Liuzhou City, gradually approaching Yan Mansion.

The footsteps were light, yet strangely audible to everyone, as if walking on their hearts.

The footsteps drew nearer and finally arrived at Yan Mansion's entrance, with a voice ringing out: "Chen Shi from Xinxiang, humbly visiting the Yan Family."

Yan Shihai stood up, walked to the door, and saw a young man of seventeen or eighteen standing alone at the entrance, bowing respectfully, with a very courteous demeanor.

Yan Shihai scrutinized Chen Shi, having heard of him, the child scholar renowned across the world sixteen years ago, and the top scorer in the Western Capital five years ago. He had seen many portraits of Chen Shi but never met him in person.

This young man was tall, proportionally built, dressed simply in a red Confucian Daoist robe, very clean, though somewhat faded, with cuffs and elbows slightly white from washing.

He wore a golden crown, tying up his hair bun, with a simple hairpin inserted.

His brows and eyes resembled Chen Yindou, only much younger than Chen Yindou.

"Please, Top Scorer Chen," Yan Shihai gestured.

Chen Shi, with a smile, bowed slightly, "Please."

The two walked in one after the other into Yan Mansion, heading towards the front hall, as Chen Shi observed his surroundings, courteously said, "A moment ago outside the city, I saw many Yan Family relatives and servants hurriedly leaving the city. It seems something significant has happened to the Yan Family, hence my bold intrusion. I ask for Uncle Yan's understanding."

Yan Shihai entered the front hall, where the two ancestors sat without moving, only slightly lifting their eyelids to glance at Chen Shi.

Yan Shihai invited Chen Shi to sit, saying, "My Yan Family faces great calamity, fearing to implicate them, so we dismissed them."

Chen Shi smiled, "I thought there would be many Yan Family members mixed among them. So, I've mobilized the Red Mountain Hall Talisman Masters near Liuzhou to strictly guard every checkpoint, to scrutinize everyone."

Yan Shihai was greatly shocked, giving Chen Shi a deep look, and asked, "Top Scorer Chen plans to exterminate us completely?"

Chen Shi shook his head, "Why would Uncle Yan say that? I have given the order to kill without mercy, but if the Yan Family has treated people kindly, naturally someone would disobey my orders to open a way for survival. Wouldn't Uncle Yan agree that the Yan Family has done good deeds?"

Yan Shihai laughed heartily, grimly said, "My Yan Family ancestors have worked diligently for the True Dynasty Court, labored and worried for the people of the world, fought for peace against evil spirits and disasters, painstakingly established our path, contributing greatly! Has my Yan Family not done any good deeds?"

Chen Shi's expression turned solemn, "I indeed admire your ancestor's past deeds, as if looking up to a high mountain. Not to mention your ancestor preserving life and resisting Despair Slope, such a feat fills me with admiration and longing!"

Yan Shihai, filled with killing intent, yelled, "Then why do you want to destroy my Yan Family?"

Chen Shi's expression grew even more solemn, "Uncle, if the Yan Family had not grown arrogant and complacent, had not controlled the court, annexed land, monopolized mines, imposed tyranny, forced the good into vice, killed the innocent, favored nepotism, committed numerous wrongdoings, then the Yan Family would be like the descendants of saints, and we would only hold you in reverence, with not the slightest offense."

The two ancestors revealed arcs of the Void Great Realm behind their heads, their expressions gloomy.

"But you have done all those. Not just for one or two years, but for over six thousand years."

Chen Shi turned his gaze from Yan Shihai's face to the faces of the two ancestors.

"You are evil spirits, and so are you."

A sudden crash was heard as the front hall exploded into pieces, and other buildings in Yan Mansion crumbled apart, breaking into fragments.

"Kill him!"

A Yan Family cultivator shouted and launched the Primordial Spirit, rushing towards Chen Shi.

Chen Shi, with a smile, gripped the Heavenly Net Blood Transformation Divine Saber, as murderous intent rose in his heart.

To be an evil spirit, to feed on the people's wealth, is to be vanquished!

"""

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