The humpbacked ray flew joyfully through the air, casting a small, dappled shadow over the vast Black Marsh.
Tianshan Villa was faintly visible in the distance. Just as they were about to arrive, Fang Qingyuan suddenly halted the humpbacked ray's advance.
Fang Qingyuan stood atop the ray's head, his gaze fixed on Tianshan Villa. But his mood was not nearly as cheerful as the creature beneath his feet.
He had a vague, faint feeling of an unsettling aura emanating from ahead.
Fang Qingyuan's primary cultivation was a Wood Element Technique. Among the five elements, its perception was the most acute. He could sense even the slightest disturbance on the wind, and this breeze had just carried a distant aura to him.
It wasn't that his Divine Sense was exceptionally powerful; the aura was simply too potent.
It was an aura of anger and battle intent. To be perceptible from such a great distance, its source had to be an extraordinary Cultivator.
'Who would dare cause trouble at Tianshan Villa?'
At that moment, Fang Qingyuan recalled Uncle Grandmaster Le's words from the day before: "Invite the Wei Family of Celestial Gate Mountain for a discussion." 'Did the two families fail to reach an agreement?'
Sensing what felt like an erupting volcano ahead, Fang Qingyuan ignored the darkening sky. He no longer hesitated, guiding the humpbacked ray to dive swiftly toward the surface of the Black Marsh below.
Just as he reached the ground, a beast's roar, sharp enough to shatter metal and stone, rang out, followed by the furious bellow of the Wei Family's ancestor:
"What a Beast Taming Sect! What a Zhao E Lian! To dare frame and ambush me! I will settle this with you today!"
In an instant, beams of Escape Light danced through the air. It was a battle between Golden Core experts. Everyone fled for their lives, desperately trying to get away from the center of the conflict.
Unfortunately, the Wei Family's ancestor bore a deep grudge against the Beast Taming Sect. As he attacked, he showed no regard for the low-level disciples of the villa. His Celestial Measuring Ruler erupted with brilliant light, illuminating half the sky.
The disciples caught in the light stiffened and fell to the ground, their conditions unknown.
"Ancestor, save me! Ancestor, have mercy!"
Cries for help and agonizing screams merged into one. A moment later, the familiar voice of Uncle Grandmaster Zhao finally rang out:
"You wretched Wei Tong! Not only did you collude with Demon Cultivators, but you also dare to slaughter the disciples of my Beast Taming Mountain! Even if we have to take this dispute to the Great Zhou Academy, I will not let this matter rest!"
"Zhao E Lian, stop your slander! Aren't you just plotting to take over my Celestial Gate Mountain? My father never should have sold you that land in the first place! Enough talk. Let's see what you've really got!"
As the two bickered, Fang Qingyuan felt an even more powerful shockwave wash over him. Even from ten li away, his scalp tingled with fear.
But more than the physical sensation of his scalp tingling, a chill spread through his heart. Just now, Zhao E Lian had clearly stood by and watched as Wei Tong slaughtered the Tianshan Villa disciples. He was creating a pretext to drag this out in legal disputes later, which was why he had delayed his intervention.
Every breath Zhao E Lian delayed his attack, a few more disciples would die at Wei Tong's hands. Yet Zhao E Lian was completely unconcerned. 'What a ruthless heart.'
'Damn it, the villa's disciples are Beast Taming Sect disciples too! Does only a disciple from Zongshan count?'
'And if I hadn't come out today to hunt Pig Fish for Zhao E Lian's Golden Silk Silver-backed Manta Ray, would I have been casually killed by Wei Tong as well?'
At this thought, panic seized Fang Qingyuan's heart. He directed his humpbacked ray to dive headfirst into the muck of the Black Marsh. With a SPLASH, both he and the ray plunged into the muddy water.
Wei Tong was fighting one against four and gradually losing ground. Fortunately for him, the Beast Taming Sect only wanted to capture him alive. The Wei Family had been enfeoffed for three generations and was under the protection of the Great Zhou Academy, so Zhao E Lian and Lechuan didn't dare kill him on the spot.
However, capturing him alive was clearly more difficult. Wei Tong fought like a cornered beast. His Celestial Measuring Ruler unleashed a sky full of pure radiance, striking the Golden Silk Silver-backed Manta Ray and causing it to roar in pain again and again.
Despite being unable to subdue him after a long assault, Zhao E Lian and Lechuan remained unhurried. They were confident that victory was already in their grasp.
Sure enough, as the battle dragged on, Wei Tong's aura began to destabilize. With a furious roar, he turned and transformed into a beam of Escape Light, fleeing toward Celestial Gate Mountain.
Seeing Wei Tong flee, Zhao E Lian and Lechuan exchanged a look and gave chase.
....
Fang Qingyuan didn't dare emerge from the mud until dawn the next day. He used the Water Control Technique to clean himself off before hurrying back to the villa with his humpbacked ray.
When he reached the villa gates, a group of disciples was cleaning up scattered bricks, tiles, and rubble. Several deep craters had appeared halfway up the mountain.
As for the Grand Council Hall at the very top, it had vanished without a trace.
Seeing this scene, Fang Qingyuan put on a very surprised expression and quickly pulled a disciple aside to ask:
"I was out on an errand yesterday. How did the villa end up like this?"
Fang Qingyuan didn't dare admit he had hidden all night. How could he bring himself to say he hadn't come to the sect's aid in its time of need?
The disciple, not suspecting a thing, replied with a grief-stricken expression:
"The Wei Family of Celestial Gate Mountain colluded with Demon Cultivators and harmed Elder Wang and many of our fellow disciples! When the Wei Family's ancestor was identified, he flew into a rage out of shame, killed the witness on the spot, and went on a killing spree. It was just horrible!"
Fang Qingyuan put on an indignant expression, then sighed and silently joined the large group cleaning up the aftermath.
When the dust settled, the remaining disciples of the villa gathered together. Fang Qingyuan discovered that another Foundation Establishment Cultivator had died.
It was Zhang Ze, the elder of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. Just yesterday, he had been respectfully following behind Zhao E Lian, serving him attentively. Now, he lay in an ice coffin, pale and motionless.
Besides Zhang Ze, there were more than ten other ice coffins, large and small. All of them contained fellow disciples Fang Qingyuan knew.
Tianshan Villa only had a little over a hundred people in total. After ten years, everyone knew everyone. Now, Cultivators who had been alive and well just a short while ago lay coldly in ice coffins, preserved as evidence to be used against Wei Tong.
Although the Villa Head had survived, his foundation had been damaged. His Early-stage Golden Core Spirit Beast had died on the spot protecting him during Wei Tong's initial attack.
'Why?'
Fang Qingyuan couldn't understand it for the life of him. 'What was all this for?'
'The Wei Family had been granted Celestial Gate Mountain as a reward for their merits in the founding wars. This boon extended for three generations, during which no other power could attack them. Wei Tong was the third generation. Wasn't Beast Taming Mountain acting a bit too hastily?'
'As for what that disciple had said earlier, Fang Qingyuan didn't believe a word of it. How brainless would Wei Tong have to be to attack on the spot like that?'
Fang Qingyuan couldn't figure it out, so he stopped trying. 'How could a mere Outer Disciple like me possibly guess the schemes of powerful figures?'
Just then, the Villa Head began to give orders:
"By order of our Uncle, no disciple is to go out today! Seal the villa gates and activate the Mountain Protection Array! We will wait for the people from the Great Zhou Academy to arrive. This time, Wei Tong must be made to answer for his actions!"
Hearing the Villa Head's words, Fang Qingyuan's heart clenched. 'The Great Zhou Academy is sending people? What am I going to do? My possession of the Immortal Mansion... it won't be exposed, will it?'
'According to the rumors he'd heard, Cultivators from the Great Zhou Academy could use Soul-Searching and Soul-Catching techniques. When they investigate a case, even Nascent Soul Cultivators have to cooperate obediently.'
'This was because the Great Zhou Academy was the Realm Master of this world, and all other sects had to abide by the rules they set.'
'Of course, the Beast Taming Sect was also a super-sect, so the Great Zhou Academy had to show them some courtesy. But could a mere Outer Disciple from a branch villa like him get through this storm unscathed?'