Yu Feng Zhēnjūn was originally on duty, and Yu Huo took this sect mission because he had just inherited a powerful alchemy technique and was in high spirits. Not long after Yun Xi departed, the two of them set off for Kunyu City.
By the time they arrived, they found a group of cultivators attacking the Wei clan's estate. The two in the lead had late-Stage Golden Core cultivation, and the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment stage. The Wei clan had already activated their protective formation and was barely holding out.
Yu Feng's eyes went cold. These people were bold enough to launch an open assault on the Wei clan. Clearly, they didn't hold the Haoran Sect in any regard. Just as he was about to step out, Yu Huo held him back.
Yu Huo Zhēnjūn, a rare battle-capable alchemist, wielded fire-based techniques with near-perfect mastery. This was one of the reasons he had secured his position as Peak Master of the Dan Peak.
He sent a voice transmission.
"Yu Feng, something's off about those cultivators. They're not just here to stir up trouble. Looks more like they're trying to wipe the clan out."
Yu Feng Zhēnjūn raised a hand and cast a wind-based detection spell. A moment later, a swirling gust returned to his palm, threaded with a strange wisp of gray air. His brows furrowed.
"Yu Huo, they're evil cultivators."
Yu Huo rubbed his hands, eager.
"You take the lead. I'll hang back and land the finishing strikes."
Yu Feng nodded in agreement.
By the time the two Zhēnjūn confirmed the attackers' identity, the Wei clan's protective formation had already begun to fracture. Wei Nanfeng stood at the front, face like iron, and said coldly,
"Wei Yunxi has joined the Haoran Sect. She no longer has ties with the Wei clan. We know nothing about any so-called inheritance. Even if you kill us, you won't get what you want."
"Hah! Just empty excuses. We've done our homework. You made quite a scene when Wei Yunxi returned. Now we're giving you a chance to exchange your lives for the inheritance. I'm sure she'll give in. You'd better drop the formation and come with us obediently. Your lives are worth something, after all.
Unless Wei Yunxi wants to be shunned by the entire Weiyu Realm, she'll have no choice but to ensure your safety. Now be smart. Open the formation. Once we break it ourselves, you won't get polite words anymore."
Wei Nanfeng's expression was grim, but his mind was racing. He had to admit they had a point. If Wei Yunxi wanted to avoid being condemned by the cultivation world, she would have to protect them—and that meant trading whatever inheritance they were talking about.
And if the Wei clan got threatened because of Wei Yunxi, then she'd owe them. That would give him a better chance of securing the Longevity Pill for himself.
Wei Lingtao noticed the shift in the Ancestor's expression and grew increasingly anxious. These people clearly wanted to trick them into lowering the formation so they could use the lives of the Wei clan members to force Wei Yunxi's hand. But there was no way they'd spare everyone. Once the barrier was gone, it would be a massacre.
He spoke up immediately.
"Ancestor, we absolutely cannot lower the formation. Their words can't be trusted."
Wei Nanfeng's face darkened.
"Then we just sit here and wait for the formation to be broken? How many of us will survive that? If we open it, at least half the clan might live."
Wei Lingtao, desperate, said,
"Ancestor, I've already sent out a distress signal. The Feng family won't just sit and watch."
"Hah! A bunch of alchemists? What can they do, besides die? They haven't even shown up. Clearly, they're just saving their own skins. Don't hold your breath."
Wei Nanfeng was convinced the Feng family wouldn't lend a hand.
But in the very next moment, he was proven wrong. Feng Jiaqing arrived with more than ten Feng family Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The attackers, seeing someone had really come to help, decided to make an example out of them. They struck out viciously at Feng Jiaqing's group, hoping to scare Wei Nanfeng into lowering the barrier himself.
Feng Jiaqing drew his sword in defense. Though he was an alchemist, he had formed his Golden Core some time ago and wasn't without combat power. But the moment he engaged, he knew something was wrong. He threw out two pills that burst into white mist and shouted,
"They're evil cultivators! Don't let them get close!"
His clan members were startled. As the pills exploded into fog, they quickly used it to conceal their presence.
From the shadows, a Golden Core evil cultivator raised a gleaming dagger, aiming straight for Feng Jiaqing—he had to die for exposing their identity.
Inside the formation, Wei Lingtao frowned and moved to go help, but Wei Nanfeng blocked him.
"What are you going out there for? To die? Didn't you see the cultivation of those men in black robes? Stay here."
Wei Lingtao took a deep breath.
"Ancestor, the Feng family came to help us. We can't just let them fall into danger. If you won't let me go, then at least open a gap in the formation so Feng Family's patriarch and disciples can enter."
Wei Nanfeng rejected the idea immediately.
"Absolutely not. What if the evil cultivators take advantage of the gap to storm in? Can you take responsibility for that?"
He didn't care at all about the lives of the Feng family disciples.
From the shadows, Yu Feng Zhēnjūn let out a cold snort.
"He was expelled from the sect for a reason. Cowardice is one thing, but not even a shred of basic decency? It's a disgrace to the Sect Master's arrangement."
Yu Huo sneered.
"He should be thanking the heavens the Wei clan had one good seed like Wei Yunxi. Without her, the whole clan would be wiped out today—and they'd drag the Feng family down with them."
Yu Feng's eyes held nothing but disdain. He simply raised his hand. Dozens of wind blades tore through the air and instantly killed the evil cultivators attacking the Feng clan disciples. The dagger thrown by the Golden Core evil cultivator was also blasted aside.
The two Golden Core evil cultivators looked alarmed. After a quick glance at each other, they dissolved into black mist and fled. Their underlings had been slaughtered, and reinforcements for the Wei clan had clearly arrived. Staying meant death.
But Yu Feng Zhēnjūn wasn't about to let them escape. With a flash, he intercepted their fleeing light ten miles out. The two evil cultivators, realizing they were trapped, had no choice but to unleash their own life-bound weapons. They swung out waves of blade light wrapped in gray aura, ready to go all out.
On the other side, Yu Huo Zhēnjūn finally revealed himself. With a sweep of his sleeve, he dispersed the white mist and looked to Feng Jiaqing.
"The Wei clan is fine. You can return now."
Feng Jiaqing saw the robes the man wore and breathed a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands in salute, then left with his disciples. As for the Wei clan's gratitude, he couldn't care less.
Wei Nanfeng, recognizing Yu Huo Zhēnjūn, immediately plastered on a flattering smile. He had Wei Lingtao open the formation and bowed respectfully.
"Many thanks to Yu Huo Zhēnjūn for intervening and saving the Wei clan. Please accept my humble salute!"
Yu Huo casually waved him off, not accepting the bow.
"If you want to thank someone, thank Martial Niece Yunxi. She's made significant contributions to the sect and recently killed two Nascent Soul evil cultivators. To avoid her clan being implicated, the Sect Master sent us to escort your family to settle in Haoran City.
Save the chatter. You have two hours. Be ready to leave by then."
At that moment, Yu Feng Zhēnjūn appeared beside him, having just slain the two Golden Core evil cultivators. His tone was laced with amusement.
"Those two were under orders to wipe out the entire Wei clan."