The old man seemed reluctant to discuss the matter further, using the excuse of changing tea to hurriedly leave.

"If I recall correctly, the Xu family, like the Shen family, should also be an ennobled family, right?"

"Their family members have even entered the Immortal Sect; who is so bold as to dare take action against the Xu family?"

Huang Qingzhou spoke in a deep voice.

Back then, in Anyang County, three Immortal Seedlings entered the Immortal Sect, and the former Emperor Yu, Li Cangwu, personally ennobled the families behind the three.

Although the Yu Country is now in name only, Xu Jing of the Xu family is still a disciple of Qiyun Valley.

To dare take action against the family behind an Immortal Sect disciple, the culprit is certainly no simple character.

"What does my father-in-law think is the reason for the Xu family's annihilation?"

Shen Wenxing asked.

Huang Qingzhou thought for a moment before uttering two words: "Blood Toad."

Shen Wenxing nodded.

In recent years, various forces have placed increasing importance on cultivation resources, but on the land of Yu Country, the Blood Toad is a key item for Body Tempering.

More importantly, the older it is, the better its medicinal effects.

The Xu family had been raising Blood Toads for years, and their home must have had quite a few mature ones.

For some forces, investing manpower and resources to start raising them now is far less efficient than simply seizing ready-made ones.

Although the Xu family was also a noble family with members in the Immortal Sect, it probably lacked powerful figures within, making it the target of the culprits.

"Do we still need to go there?"

Huang Qingzhou frowned.

Since the Xu family has already been exterminated, their Blood Toads have probably been looted.

Moreover, that place is likely fraught with troubles now, and going there rashly might attract enmity.

"We better not go."

Shen Wenxing thought for a moment before speaking.

"Then let's head to the other family now."

Taking out two copper coins from his pocket and throwing them on the table, the two did not linger further, mounted their horses, and headed toward another predetermined family.

On the road, Shen Wenxing suddenly frowned and said, "Father-in-law, the other family you're talking about isn't the Bai Family where Bai Yue is from, is it?"

Huang Qingzhou smiled and shook his head: "It's not the Bai Family, but it is indeed in Huangyan Town."

"That family is named Huang, same as mine."

"The elder patriarch of the Huang family is a Postnatal Peak Martial Artist, a straightforward and admirable elder."

Riding and chatting along the way, the two headed towards Huangyan Town.

They didn't reach Huangyan Town until nightfall and, after some inquiries, finally found the Huang family mansion.

In recent years, the price of the Blood Toad's Shedding has skyrocketed, and the Huang family made a considerable fortune from it.

The mansion was built with grandeur.

As they approached, two Martial Artists wielding blades nervously stepped forward to question them.

"Who goes there!?"

Huang Qingzhou slightly cupped his hands: "Please report that Huang Qingzhou from Yunshui Town is here to visit the esteemed elder."

The two scrutinized them doubtfully for a moment, then one of them cupped his hands: "Please wait a moment."

Saying that, he ran inside.

A moment later, an elderly yet robust man with a head full of white hair walked out from the door.

Following him were two middle-aged men of similar age to Huang Qingzhou.

"It's truly nephew Qingzhou."

Seeing Huang Qingzhou, the old man greeted him with a smile.

Huang Qingzhou cupped his hands: "Uncle, how have you been lately?"

"Good, good, good." The old man said with a cheerful smile, extending his hand: "Nephew, please come in."

Huang Qingzhou nodded, bowing to the two middle-aged men: "Brothers."

The two cupped their hands in return: "Please come in, younger brother."

The group entered the mansion and arrived at a side room.

"Nephew Qingzhou, is this your... son?"

The old man looked at Shen Wenxing, mistaking him for Huang Qingzhou's son.

"I have no sons; this is my son-in-law, Shen Wenxing."

"Oh!?"

The old man was slightly taken aback: "Is he from the Shen family of Yunshui Town?"

Shen Wenxing cupped his hands: "Shen Wenxing of the Shen family greets the esteemed elder."

The old man quickly returned the gesture: "This old one is Huang Yushui; I have long heard of the Shen family's renown, never did I think they were related to nephew Qingzhou."

Compared to the Huang family, the Shen family is a newer, yet vastly different, noble family.

The Huang family, after hundreds of years, is merely a local affluent noble family in Anyang County.

Whereas the Shen family is renowned and on par with the He family of Yunzhong County.

"Some days ago, I heard the Shen family's Martial Arts Hall and academy were opening, and I intended to send a small gift."

"But I worried it might be presumptuous and, with some recent unrest at home, couldn't spare anyone, unfortunately."

Huang Yushui sighed and shook his head, his expression somewhat grave.

Unrest?

Shen Wenxing and Huang Qingzhou exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands: "Esteemed Elder, do you mean the Huang family is being targeted too?"

Huang Yushui nodded slightly: "Have you heard about the incident with the Chunshui Xu family?"

Huang Qingzhou spoke: "We just came from Chunshui Town, originally planning to visit the Xu family, but unexpectedly, the Xu family was exterminated three days ago."

Huang Yushui shook his head with a bitter smile.

"In the past, our two families competed for over a hundred years because of the Blood Toad business..."

"Now, hearing this news suddenly, my heart is utterly desolate."

"Since the Xu family incident, I've recalled my two sons and family warriors, fearful that one day my Huang family will meet the same fate as the Xu family."

Huang Qingzhou frowned slightly and asked: "Uncle, do you know who the assailants are?"

Huang Yushui shook his head: "The enemies were too ruthless, leaving no survivors."

"But..."

He looked up at Huang Qingzhou: "To have such means and strength, it must be one of those forces supported by the Immortal Sect."

"They have the Immortal Techniques bestowed by the Immortal Sect and urgently need resources to enhance their strength."

"Families like us, who hold cultivation resources, naturally become fat sheep in their eyes."

"In the past, the laws of Great Yu managed things, and with many interests protected, there wasn't much worry."

"Now..."

Huang Yushui's face showed bitterness: "We have no opportunity to connect with the Immortal Sect."

At this point, he turned to Shen Wenxing: "Young Master Shen, I heard the Shen family is under the protection of the two Immortal Sects of Luoxia Mountain and Qiyun Valley, and I wonder..."

Boom!

Before Huang Yushui finished speaking, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the courtyard!

The people inside the house exchanged worried glances, quickly got up, and rushed outside!

Under the starry night sky, the once majestic and stately sandalwood gate of the Huang Family had been smashed to pieces!

The two Initial Postnatal Realm martial artists guarding outside were now lying in the courtyard, their bodies twisted in a strange position, clearly dead!

On top of the walls surrounding the Huang Family's courtyard, numerous masked martial artists in black had appeared at some point.

Seeing this scene, Huang Yushui's expression turned grave.

Disciples of the Huang Family also rushed over from various parts of the courtyard, wielding swords, spears, and halberds, gathering behind a few individuals.

"Who are you, exactly?"

"Are you not afraid of provoking the He Family for such wanton behavior?"

Huang Yushui asked sternly, hoping to use the He Family of Yunzhong County to intimidate the intruders.

The two masked martial artists in front of them seemed as if they hadn't heard, merely scanning around coldly before slowly raising the long swords in their hands.

"Kill!"

"Leave no one alive!"

The martial artists on the surrounding courtyard walls received the order, drawing their weapons and leaping down!

In an instant, a bloody slaughter began.

Although the Huang Family had some Postnatal Realm martial artists,

in terms of both strength and numbers, they were far inferior to the enemy.

Upon first contact, it was clear which side was dominant.

Behind Huang Yushui, two middle-aged men, seeing their family members being slaughtered, charged forward in a rage.

Both were at the Peak of Postnatal Realm, and they dove into the group of masked warriors, barely managing to maintain the situation.

But the two masked warriors in the center of the courtyard clearly did not want to waste time.

One of them suddenly leaped, his form like a great roc spreading its wings, crossing dozens of yards in an instant, rushing towards the Huang brothers!

"Innate!"

Seeing this, Huang Yushui's face was filled with shock!

"Son, be careful!"

He quickly shouted a warning and dashed forward.

"Father-in-law, be careful yourself, I'll go help."

Upon seeing this, Shen Wenxing understood clearly that even if the two of them did not step in, the enemy would not spare them.

He immediately dashed out.

He was much faster than Huang Yushui.

When the Innate Realm masked man reached the Huang brothers, Shen Wenxing was already there to block him.

The masked warrior, blocked, squinted at Shen Wenxing and said in a low voice, "Qi Cultivation Third Layer?"

"Overestimating yourself!"

Before the echo of his words faded, his long sword whipped through the air!

A dazzling sword aura instantly flew out from his long sword!

As Shen Wenxing dodged, the power of qi and blood in his body surged as he charged forward!

His huge fist, filled with an oppressive aura, aimed directly at the opponent's head!

The masked warrior, seeing this, raised an eyebrow, immediately thrusting his sword straight!

In his view, Shen Wenxing, empty-handed, would definitely not dare to take on his long sword head-on.

Any dodging move on his opponent's part would give him a chance to change his move instantly, severely injuring or even killing him!

Seeing the sword thrust coming, Shen Wenxing's lips curled up slightly, and in the next moment, the spiritual qi circulating slowly within his veins suddenly gathered toward his right arm!

Boom!

The spiritual qi rapidly compressed within his veins, forming a dragon-headed phantom with a red glow on his arm!

This phenomenon was the external display of the Azure Dragon Force.

Ang!

A deep dragon's roar sounded as Shen Wenxing's dragon-head-encased fist smashed fiercely into the opponent's long sword!

The immense force transmitted through the sword to the man's arm, instantly making his hand holding the sword go numb, causing the sword to fly out of his grip!

The masked warrior's eyes filled with terror, and just as he was about to dodge back, Shen Wenxing's other fist came crashing down!

With the dragon's roar echoing in his ears, the masked warrior didn't even have time to raise a spiritual power shield before feeling his head struck by a heavy hammer!

Everything went dark, and he lost consciousness!

The few bystanders who hadn't yet stepped in were momentarily stunned.

Clearly, even putting aside the other Innate expert in the courtyard, none, not even Huang Qingzhou, had anticipated Shen Wenxing could so quickly defeat an Innate strongman!

"Body Cultivator?"

Upon witnessing a Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer companion knocked unconscious with one punch by someone at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, the remaining Innate warrior said in a deep voice.

And it was this remark that made Shen Wenxing realize something.

"You are disciples of an Immortal Sect."

The masked man across the way frowned slightly upon hearing this, unable to resist speaking, "How can you be so sure we are Immortal Sect disciples?"

Shen Wenxing said calmly, "Few in Yangnao Land know of Body Cultivators; and there are almost no such young Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer experts."

The masked man did not refute.

Laughing coldly, he said, "Since you know we are Immortal Sect disciples, you should understand that you cannot protect the Huang Family."

Hearing this, Shen Wenxing hesitated, then spoke, "You first wiped out the Xu Family, and now you move against the Huang Family; it shouldn't just be for some ordinary Blood Toads, right?"

"If I could persuade Patriarch Huang to hand over what you want, would you perhaps agree to withdraw?"

Hearing these words, the masked man across seemed hesitant.

His eyes continuously assessed Shen Wenxing.

In terms of cultivation, Shen Wenxing was only at Qi Cultivation Third Layer, but Body Cultivators are generally formidable, especially during the Qi Cultivation Stage; once a Body Cultivator gets close, they become a nightmare for Immortal Dao cultivators.

Though he was at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, even he could not guarantee that he could kill Shen Wenxing outright.

More importantly, he couldn't ascertain Shen Wenxing's background; among the Twelve Immortal Sects of Qishan, only the Vajra Sect was known for Body Cultivation.

The Vajra Sect was notoriously difficult to deal with in Danzhou Qishan, and he preferred to avoid such entanglements.

Likewise, Shen Wenxing did not want to confront the disciples of the Immortal Sect.

The earlier strike had only knocked the man out; this man clearly was even stronger than that one.

If he could defeat him, fine; otherwise, if the opponent got away and traced back to the Shen Family, it would be a considerable and dangerous headache.

If mishandled, the Shen Family's efforts over many years could end up in jeopardy.

With both sides harboring their own thoughts, no one spoke.

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