Chapter 184
Chapter 184: Yuan Clan
In the darkness, Murong Xiao Ya’s face was pale as fresh snow, her eyes cold as a deep pool. Her once-black hair had turned crimson, the scarlet strands brushing gently against her cheek. The wind carried murderous intent, surging around her like crashing waves.
The old man in the brocade robe flashed a brief look of surprise but didn’t slow his attack. Instead, he channeled more martial Qi to trap Murong Xiao Ya, determined to end this lingering survivor of the Murong family with one decisive blow.
Yet, Murong Xiao Ya stood expressionless, utterly indifferent to his assault.
Golden whirlpools spun within her eyes, and wind and flame twined around her body. The elder’s palm crashed down, crushing the ruins beneath her feet and carving a deep, palm-shaped pit into the ground. But the attack passed harmlessly through her body, leaving her untouched.
Floating above, Murong Xiao Ya quietly observed the brocade-robed elder and his men, speaking calmly and coldly: “Tonight, you will all accompany the Murong family into the afterlife.”
As her right hand rose and gently grasped at empty air, everyone, including the brocade-robed elder, felt a sudden grip on their hearts.
Terror immediately spread across their faces.
Crack! Bang!
In the same instant, their hearts shattered into clouds of blood mist, drifting from the gaping wounds in their chests.
Under the night sky, the expressions of fear froze on their faces, life quickly slipping away. The brocade-robed elder stared in disbelief at Murong Xiao Ya until his final breath. He could not understand how this remnant of the Murong family, whom he could have crushed easily, had taken his life in a heartbeat, leaving him no chance to fight back.
Murong Xiao Ya stepped forward through empty air, instantly appearing before them. Ignoring the corpses, she drew the floating clouds of blood mist directly into her heart. As the blood essence merged, her presence grew even stronger.
With a casual wave of her hand, a thin golden-red flame flashed briefly before her. Instantly, the bodies of the elder and his men burned to ashes, drifting silently to the ground.
Having finished, Murong Xiao Ya turned her gaze toward the direction outside Murong Manor. Li Mu Sheng and the others had already left by carriage, heading toward the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s branch.
Inside the carriage, Li Mu Sheng seemed to sense something. However, he merely leaned softly against the cushion, sighing quietly.
Meanwhile, Murong Xiao Ya withdrew her gaze. Floating gracefully in the night sky, her robes fluttered gently with the breeze. Her form was delicate as a willow, her beauty striking yet fearsome. Her eyes swept slowly across the Prefecture City, filled only with unending murderous intent.
In merely a single night, she was no longer the shy, timid young lady who would blush when speaking to others. A wound now lingered eternally within her heart, never to heal, filled instead with overwhelming hatred.
At this moment, Murong Xiao Ya’s presence was chilling, forbidding anyone from approaching. Her eyes held nothing but killing intent, her vow absolute: to slaughter all from the Four Great Families and Han Chui Yuan!
The next instant, she turned into a streak of brilliant light, swiftly vanishing from Murong Manor.
…
At the Yuan Clan Estate of the Four Great Families in Sheng Province’s Prefecture City.
After the fall of the Murong family, the Yuan Clan had also suffered heavy losses, with many martial experts wounded or dead. Doctors from their family clinic gathered urgently within the estate, busily attending the injured.
At the same time, the Yuan Clan patriarch sat with the family elders and key members inside their meeting hall, discussing how to handle the aftermath and divide the Murong family’s vast wealth with the other three families.
“With Baili Chang Feng dead, our Yuan Clan should rightfully lead the Four Great Families. We deserve at least thirty percent of the Murong family’s assets,” a family elder declared gravely, his arm wrapped in blood-soaked bandages from the recent fight. His tone was fierce, implying that if the other three families disagreed, he’d be willing to destroy them himself.
The Yuan Clan patriarch shook his head gently: “Aside from the Baili Clan, the Zhu and Cen families likely share your idea, uncle. But we’ve already suffered greatly. More infighting would only leave openings for other Martial World forces.”
Hearing this, the Yuan Clan’s ancestor, sitting at the head and quietly absorbing heaven-and-earth Qi like a whale drinking water, slowly opened his eyes, stating calmly: “The Murong family was the strongest martial house in Sheng Province, a true giant. Even divided evenly, their assets are greater than our accumulations of decades. There’s no need for needless conflict.”
“Moreover,” the ancestor continued, “the patriarch is correct. Above the Martial World of Sheng Province sits the unreachable Fallen God Peak. Though we have dutifully paid tribute annually, with our diminished strength now, they might set their sights on Prefecture City.”
After these words, the Yuan Clan fell silent. Not only because the ancestor had spoken, but because they understood their current precarious situation. The Yuan Clan truly needed rest and recovery, and avoiding further conflict was wise.
“Ancestor, how severe are your injuries?” the Yuan Clan patriarch asked with concern.
The ancestor waved dismissively: “The secret technique Murong Hong used at the end was powerful, but ultimately not his true strength. Our wounds are minor, and killing him was simple enough.”
“Before our attack, my greatest concern was those two old monsters of the Murong family. Yet surprisingly, they had vanished beforehand.” He sneered slightly, adding, “If we had known earlier, we would have destroyed them sooner, saving us from their arrogant pretense.”
The Yuan Clan patriarch nodded in agreement: “Honestly, this was thanks to Baili Chang Feng. Without him insisting we attack, we might still be unaware of the Murong family’s true weakness.”
The ancestor’s eyes sharpened slightly: “Speaking of which, the master who killed Baili Chang Feng with a single finger seemed connected to the Murong family…”
But the patriarch interrupted reassuringly: “Rest easy, ancestor. According to Han Chui Yuan, that group came from the Great Li imperial court. They’re unlikely to meddle in Martial World affairs. And even if they wanted revenge, they would hesitate before facing all Four Great Families.”
Satisfied, the ancestor merely nodded, falling silent once more.