Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 620 A Beauty's Curse! Annihilation of the Clan!!

After seeing off Chief Wuyao of Tianyin, Chi Liao's eyes no longer held any of the previous "generosity," only a cold sharpness and a burning ambition remained. Without delay, he directly crushed a crimson jade talisman shaped like a feather.

For a moment.

Powerful auras rose from all parts of the tribe and quickly converged.

The heavy stone door was pushed open, and more than ten cultivators dressed in crimson robes, their auras deep and composed, filed in.

They all had sharp eyes and strong spiritual energy fluctuations around them, and they were all at the Golden Core stage! This was the foundation of the Vermilion Bird Tribe. Thanks to the care of the Nascent Soul Grandmother in the Royal Court, the number of Golden Core cultivators in the tribe far exceeded that of ordinary forces, with more than twenty of them. At this moment, nearly half of the core members were present.

The elders sat down in order, their gazes all falling on Chi Liao, who sat in the main seat, with a mixture of awe and inquiry.

Chi Liao didn't get up; he didn't even exchange pleasantries, going straight to the point:
“We just saw off Tianyin’s Wuyao.” His words immediately drew everyone’s attention. “The Luo family is going to make a move against them, and they’ve come out in full force.”

An elder with a lean face and sharp eyes raised an eyebrow slightly:
"What does the chief mean?"

"What I mean?" Chi Liao's lips curled into an almost ferocious smile. "Tianyin couldn't hold on any longer and came to us for help. They're willing to offer up the western mountain range and that spiritual vein in exchange for our troops."

A slight commotion arose in the room. The elders exchanged glances, some surprised, some greedy, and some cautious.

“This is no small risk,” said another elder, whose hair and beard were both red and whose temper was clearly more fiery.

"Those Golden Core cultivators from the Luo family, who are made up of pills, may have a weak foundation, but their numbers are undeniable. If we were to fight them head-on, even if we could win, we would suffer serious injuries!"

"A serious injury?" Chi Liao slammed his hand on the armrest, the entire stone chamber seeming to tremble. "Think long-term! I want more than just half of Tianyin's territory!"

He glanced at everyone, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"I will also chop off the claw that the Luo family has extended—the Black Mountain stronghold—and bring it into my Vermilion Bird territory!"

"That idiot Luo Tianyue has been blinded by the petty gains of the Cangling Realm. Does he really think he can establish a firm foothold in the Eastern Wilderness with just pills? He's forgotten where he is! Dragons must coil up, and tigers must lie low! Since he's overreached, don't blame me for cutting off his arms and hands!"

He didn't give the other elders much time to think, and immediately began making arrangements, like a general about to go to war calling his troops:

“Elder Chiwu!” He looked at the irritable elder with red hair and beard.

"exist!"

"You will lead your Crimson Flame Guard and depart immediately to secretly infiltrate the western side of Tianyin, take over the defenses, and familiarize yourself with the terrain. If the Luo family attacks, I want you to be nailed there like a nail!"

"I obey!" Elder Chiwu's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

“Elder Chi Ling!” He turned to the elder with the slender face.

"The chief gave the order."

"You excel in strategy, so you'll be in charge of overall planning. Analyze the Luo family's possible routes of advance and identify their weaknesses. In this battle, we must not only repel the enemy but also capture as many of the Luo family's Golden Core cultivators as possible! We must strike fear into their hearts and establish the might of our Vermilion Bird tribe!"

"Understood." Elder Chi Ling's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he bowed and accepted the order.

"All other units, prepare for war! Distribute all elixirs, talismans, and magical artifacts! I want to see a ferocious army capable of tearing apart any enemy by today!"

One of the more composed elders frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself:

"Chief, shouldn't this matter be reconsidered? After all, it involves a direct conflict with the Great Zhou forces, and what about the royal court..."

"The royal court?"

Chi Liao snorted coldly, interrupting him:

"I'll handle things with my aunt! The Eastern Wilderness is currently rife with undercurrents, and this is the perfect time for my Vermilion Bird tribe to expand our influence and accumulate strength! Hesitation will only lead to missed opportunities! The Heavenly Yin tribe has delivered itself to our doorstep, and the Luo family has revealed its weaknesses. This is a golden opportunity! To not dare to reach out would be to betray our ancestors and the Vermilion Bird bloodline within us!"

He abruptly waved his hand, his tone decisive:
"The matter is settled! Do as I say! Does anyone have any objections?"

A powerful aura, accompanied by intense spiritual pressure, permeated the entire council hall, silencing all sound. All the elders, regardless of their original intentions, bowed their heads before Chi Liao's absolute authority and surging fighting spirit, responding in unison:
"I will obey the chief's command!"

Chi Liao looked with satisfaction at his group of generals who were as attentive as his own arms, his eyes burning with ambition. He could almost see the Luo family's defeat, the change of ownership of the Black Mountain stronghold, and the expansion of the Vermilion Bird tribe's territory under his control.

"Go!" he roared. "Let those hothouse flowers of the Luo family see what the true power of the Eastern Wilderness is!"

...

...

Inside the Luo family's council hall.

Luo Tianyue sat high in the main position, his spiritual power surging, exuding confidence and high spirits.

Below, more than ten Golden Core elders of the Luo family stood on both sides, each rubbing their hands together, their eyes gleaming with greed for the resources and territory of the Tianyin tribe.
"Everyone!"

Luo Tianyue's voice boomed like a bell, and with a wave of his hand:
"The Tianyin tribe is weak and feeble, barely clinging to life with only a broken formation! This is a golden opportunity for my Luo family to occupy Tianyin Mountain and elevate our power to a new level! This expedition should be launched with all our might, with overwhelming force, to flatten Tianyin Mountain in one fell swoop!"

"The patriarch is wise!"

"That's how it should be!"

"Crush Tianyin!"

Most of the elders echoed this sentiment, and the crowd was filled with excitement.

In their view, the Luo family, with their overwhelming advantage in the number of Golden Core cultivators, was destined to win this battle!

A cold, clear voice rang out at that moment.

"Chief, while launching a full-scale attack will certainly ensure victory, we must also guard our rear strongholds."

Luo Haitang, who was sitting a little further back, slowly stood up:

“I suggest that Yongxuan be left to guard the Black Mountain stronghold. She is meticulous and has exceptional swordsmanship, making her more than capable of this task.”

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Many elders glanced at Luo Haitang and Fu Yongxuan, who stood calmly behind her, each with their own thoughts.

Luo Tianyue's smile froze slightly, and a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes.

"Elder Haitang's love for her daughter is understandable. However, Elder Yongxuan is now a pillar of the Luo family, and we are in need of his talents. How can we leave him behind?"

"Moreover, you and your daughter have cultivated a secret technique for combined swordsmanship. When the two of you work together, your power is multiplied! If we were to separate you, wouldn't it be like cutting off our own arm?!"

Upon seeing this, Fu Yongxuan sighed inwardly.

She understood her adoptive mother's protective intentions and also knew of Luo Tianyue's scheming and suspicion. She stepped forward and bowed to both Luo Tianyue and Luo Haitang, her voice clear and calm:
“Clan leader, Mother, as an elder of the Luo family, Yongxuan has received great favors from the family and should serve the family. How can I be afraid to fight? The front line is dangerous, and Yongxuan is willing to go with my godmother to take care of each other and do my best.”

Seeing that Fu Yongxuan was so "sensible," Luo Tianyue's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he laughed heartily.
"Very well! Elder Yongxuan is truly wise and understanding, a blessing to the Luo family! In that case, this matter is settled!"

Having resolved this minor incident, Luo Tianyue was in an even better mood, and he clearly didn't take the defense of the rear outpost too seriously.

"As for the Montenegro stronghold..."

He waved casually, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before finally settling on a young man who looked somewhat immature, his eyes filled with excitement and eagerness:

"Then let my son Luo Hao stay behind with two pseudo-core elders. Hao'er, you have only recently broken through to the Golden Core stage, so this is a good opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the affairs and guard this area, which can also be considered as training."

"Yes, father!"

Luo Hao responded in a low voice, but in his heart he was extremely unwilling.

"In that case, let's set off immediately!"

After everyone left the council chamber.

The last remaining clan leader, Luo, patted Luo Hao on the shoulder, his tone unusually solemn:
"Hao'er, I know what you're thinking. It's a good thing that a man's ambition lies in all directions and you yearn to make a name for yourself on the battlefield." He changed the subject, his expression becoming serious. "But guarding our home is equally important! The foundation of the Luo family is here, and we cannot afford to lose it. Although you are staying behind, it is crucial to whether we on the front lines can concentrate on our duties. Remember, keep a close watch on the mountain-protecting formation at all times. The key points of the formation must be manned by your trusted people on rotation, without the slightest negligence! Any disturbance from the outside world must be immediately reported to me with the highest level of protocol, understand?"

Luo Hao felt even more bitter as he listened to his father's words.

What "important task" and what "foundation"? They sound nice, but they just look down on his newly promoted Golden Core strength and think that he would be a burden if he went to the front line. It's better to leave him in the seemingly safe rear.

Yinshan Mountain has a long and rich history; who knows if there are any hidden treasures or elixirs there? It's true that swords and spears are merciless on the front lines, but opportunities also exist! Staying at the stronghold, besides watching the protective array, what opportunities could we possibly have? It's practically a trap!

These thoughts churned in his mind, almost overflowing into his words.

But remembering his father's harsh punishments for brothers who failed in their duties, and recalling his elder brothers in the clan who were eyeing him covetously and hoping for his mistakes, he immediately composed himself, raised his head, forced a calm and reliable expression, and bowed in response:
"Father, rest assured! Your son is well aware of the weight of this responsibility and will certainly do his utmost to ensure the safety of the mountain gate! I would never dare to betray your trust!"

Luo Tianyue carefully examined his son's expression. Seeing that his son was respectful and showed no resentment, he nodded slightly and said, "Well, that's good. Everything in the house is now in your hands."

Having said that, he said no more, turned and strode to the front of the group, waving his sleeves: "Let's go!"

The mighty Luo family cultivators transformed into streaks of light, soaring into the sky and heading straight towards Tianyin Mountain.

...

...

After seeing off the menacing advance team, Luo Hao forced a "heavy responsibility on his shoulders" expression and returned to the array's central platform. The cold array runes and the silent control room served as constant reminders of his current "duty" and "imprisonment." He sat there listlessly for a while, finding the time unbearable, and the suffocating feeling of being excluded grew stronger.

Just as he was about to lose his composure, a trusted servant rushed in, his face filled with urgency, and whispered an urgent report:
"Young Master, Madam Liu of Cuiyun Pavilion has suddenly gone into labor; it seems... it seems she's about to give birth!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Hao was taken aback. Madam Liu was one of his favorite concubines, with a charming appearance and a knack for pleasing him. He had been abstaining from sex for a long time in order to break through to the Golden Core realm, and now that he heard that his beloved concubine was about to give birth, his sense of responsibility was instantly thrown to the winds.

"Lead the way quickly!"

He immediately got up, not bothering to give detailed instructions, and only hurriedly told the disciple on duty outside the control room to "keep a good watch" before rushing to Cuiyun Pavilion with the servants.

Outside Cuiyun Pavilion, a scene of bustling activity unfolded, with maids and servants carrying hot water and cloths back and forth, appearing quite tense.

Luo Hao, without suspecting anything, pushed open the door to the inner room.

However, the expected painful groans of the woman in labor did not occur. The room was filled with a warm fragrance and the candlelight was dim. His favorite concubine, Liu, who should have been lying on the delivery bed, was now reclining on a soft couch. Although her belly was high and protruding, her face was rosy and her eyes were full of seductive charm. There was not a trace of the pain of childbirth.
What made Luo Hao's heart skip a beat was that there were two other women standing to Liu's left and right. One was dressed in pink, with a beautiful and refined face, yet her temperament carried a subtle allure; the other was dressed in purple, with a voluptuous figure and a captivating charm in her eyes and brows, both possessing the beauty of a national treasure.

"Young master..." Liu Shi said in a sweet, seductive voice as he entered, "You've finally arrived. My two younger sisters and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Luo Hao understood instantly.

This was not a labor breakup at all; it was clearly a trap set by this vixen who knew he was feeling depressed today and took advantage of the fact that no one at home could control him. He had been suppressing his true nature for a long time in order to form his core, but the base instinct of lust that was ingrained in him had long been stirring.

With his elders and brothers all gone to war, he is now the king of this place! What could be more important than enjoying life to the fullest?
"Hehe, you clever little devil!" Luo Hao slammed the door shut and casually set up a soundproof barrier. He eagerly walked towards the soft couch, simultaneously sending a message to his trusted aide waiting outside. The message was simple and direct:
"Notify the array master, Elder Li, to go to the central platform and stand guard for me for a few hours. Do not disturb him unless it is urgent!"

...

...

Outside the mountains, dark clouds loomed over the city.

The Luo family's army was at the city gates, their murderous aura soaring to the sky.

Luo Tianyue stood in mid-air, looking down at the Tianyin Tribe's protective mountain formation shrouded in a hazy gray light, his face full of arrogance and confidence.

The array light rippled, and the figure of Chief Wuyao of Tianyin Chieftain appeared within it, his expression solemn. His voice, transmitted through the array, carried a final warning:

"Luo Tianyue! Does your Luo family truly intend to provoke a war between the Great Zhou and the Eastern Wilderness Royal Court? Retreating now may still salvage the situation!"

"War?" Luo Tianyue scoffed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Wuyao, you think too highly of yourself! A tribe with only one Golden Core cultivator, whether it's the royal court or the Great Zhou, who would go to war for you? Today, Tianyin Mountain is destined to change its surname to Luo!"

He stopped wasting words and waved his hand dismissively:
"Formation Master, make your move!"

The Luo family's array master team, which had been preparing for a long time, immediately responded to the order, and dozens of beams of spiritual light accurately struck several seemingly inconspicuous nodes of the array—these were the "weak points" that the Luo family had spent decades exploring through various means.

Sure enough, as soon as the array master's spiritual light fell, the array screen in that area began to fluctuate violently, its light flickering erratically, as if it might collapse at any moment.

The chieftain of the shaman in the formation's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly activated the formation's power, attempting to interfere with the repair. The hazy array light condensed into several tentacle-like streams of energy, lashing out fiercely towards the direction where the Luo family's formation master was located.

"Form the formation!" Luo Tianyue had anticipated this and gave the order. The twenty-odd Golden Core elders behind him instantly linked their auras, forming a solid battle formation. Their spiritual light coalesced into a wall, forcefully withstanding the formation's counterattack. Amidst the deafening roar, the Luo family's battle formation remained unmoved.

"Break!" The formation master in charge of breaking the formation seized the opportunity and shouted, concentrating all his power on one point!
"Tsk-!"

Like a piece of cloth being torn apart, the sturdy protective array was actually forcibly ripped open, revealing a gap several meters wide, exposing the view of Tianyin Mountain behind it! Dense spiritual energy emanated from it, and the panicked members of the Tianyin tribe could be vaguely seen inside.

"The gate of life is open! My men, follow me and charge in! We'll flatten Tianyin Mountain and take all the resources!" Luo Tianyue's eyes blazed with greed and excitement. He pointed his long sword and charged forward, transforming into a streak of light as he rushed toward the breach.

"kill!!"

The Luo family cultivators behind him were like sharks smelling blood, their eyes bloodshot, roaring with excitement. Decades of forbearance and planning had finally borne fruit! Who wouldn't want to be the first to rush in, seize the credit, and claim the best resources? In an instant, all the Golden Core cultivators, along with a large number of Purple Mansion elites, surged towards the gap like a tidal wave, fearing that if they were a step too slow, the benefits would be snatched away by others.

As Fu Yongxuan was about to follow the crowd, a jade talisman she carried close to her body in her storage bag suddenly became hot! She scanned it with her divine sense, and her expression changed drastically—it was an urgent message from her father, Fu Changsheng!
The message was extremely brief, yet it plunged her into an icy abyss: "There's a trap in the formation, retreat immediately!"

In a flash, Fu Yongxuan didn't have time to think. Almost instinctively, he grabbed the arm of his godmother Luo Haitang, who was about to rush into the gap, with such force that Luo Haitang staggered.

“Yongxuan? You…” Luo Haitang turned around in astonishment, not understanding what he meant.

At this moment——

"what--!"

"No! What is this?!"

"A trap! It's a trap!!"

A series of extremely shrill screams and desperate wails suddenly erupted from the Luo family cultivators who had just poured into the breach!

Followed by.

The gap in the formation that had been torn open did not continue to expand as expected; instead, it rapidly closed up at a speed visible to the naked eye!
The hazy array light instantly turned as deep as ink, and a terrifying, destructive wave suddenly spread out from within the array!
In just a few breaths, the breach closed completely, sealing off the main force of the Luo family that had rushed in, including the patriarch Luo Tianyue, inside the formation!
Luo Haitang stared at the tightly closed array, emanating an aura of death, then glanced at Fu Yongxuan beside her, his face pale. A chill ran from her toes to the top of her head. She knew that if it hadn't been for her adopted daughter's desperate pull just now, she would be trapped in the array, her fate unknown!
… …

Within the array.

Just when the Luo family thought they were doomed, the destructive power of the Nascent Soul level formation that tore through the sky crashed down, and the aura of destruction made the souls of all the Golden Core cultivators tremble.

"It's over!" This is the despair that instantly surges in the hearts of most people.

However, at the critical moment, Luo Tianyue, though startled, remained calm. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes, but he unhesitatingly summoned an ancient jade talisman. The talisman immediately emitted a vast, ocean-like pressure, and a vivid Vermilion Bird rune appeared on it, drawing the surrounding fire-elemental spiritual energy to converge wildly!
"The Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Talisman! It's a Nascent Soul talisman!" an elder who recognized its value exclaimed in surprise, his eyes regaining hope.

This is Luo Tianyue's trump card for saving his life. He obtained it from a chance encounter in a secret realm. It contains the power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch's strike and is even better at defense. It is enough to withstand a full-force attack from an early Nascent Soul cultivator for a moment!
"Om-!"

The jade talisman activated, transforming into a gigantic flaming phantom of a Vermilion Bird, its wings spread wide, firmly protecting the remaining Luo family cultivators beneath it. Almost simultaneously, the gray-black pillar of destructive light condensed from the array slammed fiercely into the Vermilion Bird phantom!

"Boom--!"

A deafening roar erupted, and a violent energy shockwave spread wildly in all directions, shaking the ground outside Tianyin Mountain down by three feet! The illusory image of the Vermilion Bird in flames trembled violently, flickering unpredictably, yet stubbornly withstood this fatal blow.

Ten breaths! A full ten breaths felt like an eternity to the Luo family. The illusory phantom of the Flaming Vermilion Bird finally let out a mournful cry, exhausting all its energy and dissipating into countless specks of light. The precious Nascent Soul talisman also turned to dust.

At the same time, the terrifying array fluctuations in the sky receded like the tide, the condensed pillar of destructive light dissipated, and the mountain-protecting array returned to its previous hazy state. Although it remained stable, the terrifying pressure comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator had disappeared.

The Luo family cultivators, who had survived the ordeal, were stunned at first, then burst into wild cheers!

"They blocked it! The clan leader's strategy was brilliant!"

"Hahaha! Heaven has spared the Luo family!"

Although Luo Tianyue had lost precious talismanic items and his face was somewhat pale, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing the array attack cease, and his arrogant, all-encompassing expression returned to his face. He laughed loudly, his voice echoing in all directions:
"Wuyao! You've run out of tricks! This kind of heaven-defying formation must consume an astonishing amount of energy! With the resources of your Tianyin tribe, launching a single Nascent Soul level attack is already the limit. Now that your source energy is exhausted, what can you do to me?"

He pointed his longsword at the great formation again, full of vigor: "Open the formation now, kneel down and surrender, and I, Luo Tianyue, will show you mercy and spare your lives. I will allow your tribesmen to become slaves of my Luo family, and you will still have a way to live! If you continue to resist, after I break the formation, I will leave no one alive!"

The Luo family cultivators behind him also started to clamor, as if their previous embarrassment and despair had never happened, and they became murderous again.

"Surrender without killing!"

"Behave yourselves as slaves to the Luo family, and we'll spare your lives!"

The words have not yet fallen.

Amidst the horrified gazes of the Luo family members, more than a dozen figures descended from the sky like meteors, landing steadily on the array's light screen!
These people were all dressed in crimson battle robes, embroidered with a fiery Vermilion Bird totem poised for flight. Each of them exuded a fierce aura, with sharp eyes like knives, and their spiritual power surged. They were all Golden Core cultivators! The leader, a burly man with flowing red hair, was none other than Chi Liao, the chieftain of the Vermilion Bird tribe!
"The Vermilion Bird Tribe?!" Luo Tianyue's pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed in shock, his face showing disbelief and panic for the first time. "How is this possible?!"

His mind went blank. Everyone knew that the Tianyin and Zhuque tribes were sworn enemies, constantly at odds, and never spoke to each other again! How could the Tianyin tribe... how could they dare to ask the Zhuque tribe to intervene? This was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house, courting their own destruction!
"Chi Liao Chief! Does your Vermilion Bird Tribe really intend to interfere in the internal affairs of my Great Zhou and become an enemy of my Luo family?" Luo Tianyue suppressed the turmoil in his heart and shouted fiercely, trying to intimidate others with the name of Great Zhou.

Chi Liao looked down at him from his high position:
"Luo Tianyue, even on the verge of death, you still put on your arrogant airs of the Great Zhou family? Brother Wuyao has already allied with my Vermilion Bird tribe, and this Tianyin Mountain now has half of my Vermilion Bird tribe! Your attack is tantamount to starting a war with my Vermilion Bird tribe!"

He waved his hand and roared like thunder: "My lads, form the 'Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Formation'! Let these cowards of the Great Zhou see what true power is!"

"Roar!"

More than a dozen Golden Core cultivators from the Vermilion Bird Tribe responded in unison, their auras instantly merging into one. Blazing fire-attribute spiritual power soared into the sky, faintly condensing into a gigantic flaming Vermilion Bird phantom in the air. This echoed the malevolent aura of the "Three Talents Immortal Slaying Formation" from the Heavenly Yin Tribe below, forming a destructive encirclement!
With an impenetrable mountain-protecting formation in front and a dozen or so ferocious Golden Core cultivators from the Vermilion Bird Tribe forming a battle array behind him, Luo Tianyue and the few remaining Luo family cultivators around him were already in dire straits!
Today, the Luo family... is probably really going to fall here!
Chief Luo recalled Luo Haitang's advice before the expedition, and the option of joining forces with the Fu family, which he had once dismissed... If he had listened to her and joined forces with the unfathomable Fu Changsheng, with the Fu family's ancestor who could reverse the death of the fake infant, how dare the Vermilion Bird Tribe be so presumptuous? How could his Luo family have fallen into such a hopeless situation?
Unfortunately, there is no regret medicine in the world.

Luo Tianyue's eyes turned bloodshot, and in an instant, he made the cruelest and most helpless decision. He abruptly transmitted his voice to his trusted confidants, several of whom had followed him for many years and were in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm:
"Brothers! For the sake of the Luo family's ancestral line! Follow me... and clear the way!"

Those trusted elders instantly understood the clan leader's intention. Their eyes flashed with determination. Without any hesitation, they roared in unison, their golden cores burning wildly, their auras surging suddenly. They even used a life-or-death secret technique that depleted their life essence at the same time!

“Boom!” “Boom! Boom!”

Like moths drawn to a flame, they recklessly rushed towards the weakest point of the encirclement, completely abandoning defense and focusing solely on offense! The flashes of swords, the roar of exploding magical artifacts, and the final roars before their physical bodies collapsed intertwined to create a tragic and devastating elegy.

The desperate attacks of several mid-stage Golden Core cultivators, especially the self-destruction of the Golden Cores of the last two without hesitation, finally created a brief opening with the destructive energy!
"Go!" Luo Tianyue, covered in blood and looking like a madman, used his last strength to push the six younger and most promising Golden Core members around him toward the gap.

The six people took one last tearful look at the clan leader and the elders, gritted their teeth, and transformed into streaks of light, desperately fleeing away!
However, just as they rushed out less than a hundred feet—

"Buzz!"

A deep hum seemed to rise from the depths of the void.

Suddenly, countless crimson lines lit up in the seemingly empty air ahead, instantly weaving into a massive fire net covering an area of ​​several miles! The net was ablaze with flames, the high temperature distorting the air and emitting a scorching and viscous binding force that forcibly stopped the escape light of the six of them!

"We've been waiting for you for a long time."

A slightly hoarse voice, yet with a playful, cat-and-mouse tone, rang out.

Outside the fire net, four figures slowly emerged.

The leader was the stern-faced elder who had previously held the Vermilion Bird Flag. The flag in his hand fluttered in the wind, and the Vermilion Bird totem on the flag seemed to come alive. With a slight flap of its wings, streams of fire fell. Clearly, he was the one in charge of this trapping and killing formation.

To his left was a tall, thin, middle-aged man with sinister eyes, holding a strangely shaped curved knife in each hand. The blades were crimson and exuded a bloodthirsty aura. He licked his lips and his gaze swept over the six Golden Core cultivators of the Luo family, as if he were sizing up lambs to the slaughter.

On the right was a voluptuous and alluring female cultivator in red. She covered her mouth and chuckled, but her eyes held a coldness like that of a venomous snake. She played with several constantly leaping crimson fire beads between her slender fingers.

The last man was taciturn, with a burly figure like an iron tower, carrying a huge bronze shield on his back. Just by standing there, he gave people a sense of unshakability, completely sealing off any possibility of a forced breakout.

These four people were the second line of defense arranged in advance by Chief Chi Liao. They were composed of experienced and ruthless core elders, and were specifically tasked with eliminating any who managed to escape!

"Fight them!"

A young Golden Core cultivator from the Luo family roared in despair, unleashing his flying sword to slash at the fire net.

"The mayfly shakes the tree."

The elder holding the Vermilion Bird Flag snorted coldly, and the flagpole paused slightly.

"Wow!"

A sharp chirp rang out, and dozens of palm-sized fiery Vermilion Birds instantly condensed on the fire net, shooting towards the six trapped people like arrows released from a bow!

These fiery Vermilion Birds are not only incredibly fast, but also contain extremely concentrated explosive power!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of explosions rang out, accompanied by piercing screams.

The cultivator who had summoned his flying sword was the first to be hit, struck simultaneously by three fiery Vermilion Birds. His protective aura shattered instantly, and he was transformed into a fireball in the raging flames, burning to a crisp in an instant!
Another cultivator attempted to use water-attribute magic to defend, but his water tornado was instantly vaporized upon contact with the Flaming Vermilion Bird. He was also blown away by the shockwave of the explosion. While still in mid-air, he was approached by the tall, thin middle-aged man like a ghost. The man slashed across him with his twin blades, blood spurted out, and his body was severed from his head!

The alluring female cultivator chuckled, flicking her jade-like fingers. Three crimson fire beads, launched later, struck the other three individuals. Though seemingly slow, the fire beads appeared to lock onto their vital energy, and no matter how the three dodged and parried, they were ultimately caught by the fire beads.

There was no earth-shattering explosion; the moment the fireball touched the body, it fused into the body like a maggot clinging to a bone.

"what--!"

The three of them let out inhuman screams at the same time, their bodies bursting with crimson flames from the inside out, their skin cracking inch by inch, and in the blink of an eye they were burned into three twisted, charred corpses that fell from the sky.

The last man, witnessing his companion's gruesome death in an instant, completely lost his mind and turned around without hesitation, fleeing back the way he came, towards the battle group that had been overwhelmed by the main force of the Vermilion Bird tribe.

"Want to go?"

The burly elder who had been silent until now moved. He did not pursue, but instead took the massive bronze shield from his back and thrust it forward!
"Boom!"

A muffled thud resounded, as if striking the heart of the earth.

A highly condensed crimson beam of light erupted from the shield's surface, striking the fleeing cultivator precisely in the back.

"puff!"

The cultivator's body stiffened abruptly. He looked down at the charred, bowl-sized hole in his chest, his eyes dimmed rapidly, and his body fell limply to the ground.

The whole process took only a dozen or so breaths.

The six young Golden Core cultivators of the Luo family, on whom Luo Tianyue had placed his last hope, were wiped out without even putting up a decent fight, all because of this inescapable trap.

The elder holding the Vermilion Bird Flag waved it expressionlessly, removed the fire net, and nodded slightly towards the main battlefield, indicating that the cleanup was complete.

Behind him, Luo Tianyue, who witnessed this desperate scene, let out a final, heart-wrenching roar before being completely engulfed by the Chi Liao Chieftain's domineering flames.

The main force of the Luo family has been wiped out.

...

...

The Luo family stronghold, the Soul Palace.

Inside the dimly lit hall, the golden core soul lamps, representing the family's highest fighting strength and hope, had been burning steadily like stars. However, at this moment, these "stars" were extinguishing one after another at a breathtaking rate!

"puff……"

Another soul lamp, which was in the front row and shone brightly, suddenly swayed a few times, the flames shrank rapidly, and finally, with a soft "pop," it was completely extinguished, leaving only a wisp of smoke.

Luo Xu, the pseudo-core elder guarding the Soul Hall, was already deathly pale, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. He watched helplessly as the clan leader Luo Tianyue's brightest soul lamp flickered violently before falling silent, his last shred of hope shattered.

"It's over...it's all over..."

Luo Xu muttered to himself, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and the world spun around him. The entire Golden Core force of his clan, mobilized in such a short time, had been almost completely wiped out? How could this be!

Overwhelmed by fear and immense pressure, he suddenly realized, "No!"

We must report this to the young master immediately!
The family is in imminent danger!

He rushed out of the Soul Palace like a madman, transforming into a streak of light and heading straight for the concubine's courtyard where the young master Luo Hao was.

"Elder Xu! The young master has ordered that no one is to disturb him!" Outside the courtyard gate, two Foundation Establishment stage guards recognized him, but still stepped forward to stop him despite their reluctance.

"Go away!"

At this moment, Luo Xu no longer cared about any of this. His eyes were bloodshot, and with a sudden flick of his sleeve, violent spiritual power smashed out like a giant hammer.

"Boom! Boom!"

How could the two guards withstand the angry attack from the fake Dan Elder? They coughed up blood on the spot, flew backward, and crashed into the courtyard wall, breaking their bones.

...

...

at the same time.

The central control console of the Luo family's formation.

This place should have been the most heavily fortified and central location of the entire stronghold, but due to the negligence of the young master Luo Hao, only two Foundation Establishment stage clansmen and an elderly array master, Elder Li, remained on duty. Elder Li was indeed dutiful, keeping a close eye on the runes flowing on the array plate, but the two Foundation Establishment disciples were already yawning incessantly, muttering complaints about this arduous task.

"The young master is really something, running off to have fun while we're left here guarding the place..."

"Say less, what can we do when the young master is like this..."

Just then, a ripple spread across the shadows in the corner of the control room. The next moment, two figures appeared without warning, as if they had always been standing there.

On the left was a tall, thin man, as thin as a bamboo pole, wearing a dark red, tight-fitting leather armor. His face was covered by a metal mask with a Vermilion Bird pattern that only covered the upper half of his face, and a faint, chilling smile always played at the corners of his mouth. His code name was "Shadow Sparrow," and he was skilled in stealth and assassination, one of the Vermilion Bird tribe's top assassins.

The man on the right was short, stocky, and muscular, with a shiny bald head, a face full of scars, and a pair of piercing eyes that gleamed with a sharp light. He wore a sleeveless, bronze vest that revealed his muscular, scarred arms, and his aura was like a volcano about to erupt, full of violent power. His name was Chi Tu, and true to his name, he was violent and loved to crush his enemies with absolute force.

The two appeared silently, and it wasn't until the chilling killing intent spread that the three people in the control room were horrified to realize it!

“Enemy…” A Foundation Establishment disciple had barely uttered a single word when his voice abruptly stopped.

The figure of "Shadow Sparrow" flashed past him like a ghost, a barely visible dark red thread from its fingertip lightly tracing the other's throat. The disciple's eyes widened, his hands clutching his throat, but he couldn't utter a sound. Blood gushed from between his fingers, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

The other Foundation Establishment disciple was so frightened that he turned to flee.

"Hmph, trash." Chi Tu sneered disdainfully, not even bothering to use his weapon, and simply threw a punch from a distance.

"Oh!"

A scorching and violent fist force struck first, landing solidly on the disciple's back. Before the disciple could even scream, he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the wall. His chest caved in, and he died instantly. The wall was also smashed, leaving a spiderweb-like crack.

The elderly array master, Old Li, was deathly pale and trembling all over, but he still suppressed his fear and quickly tapped the array plate with his withered fingers, trying to activate the alarm restriction.

"Old man, not bad at reacting." Ying Que's voice was hoarse with a hint of mockery. He didn't stop him, but just watched leisurely.

Master Li inscribed his magic formula into the array plate, and the array plate flashed with light... then went out without any further reaction.

"How is this possible?!" Old Li exclaimed in shock. The control panel was clearly...

"While you were watching outside, I took care of those little gadgets inside." Shadow Sparrow chuckled, toying with a few disassembled core rune components that gleamed with a dangerous red light. "You're still too green to play with formations."

His methods were insidious and precise; he had already secretly sabotaged the control panel's emergency response mechanism.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

In despair, Elder Li roared and his spiritual power surged wildly within him, intending to self-destruct his golden core and perish with his enemy!
"Are you worthy enough to be in front of me?"

Chi Tu grinned maliciously and took a step forward, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

He moved with incredible speed, appearing in front of Elder Li in an instant. His calloused right hand, like an iron clamp, gripped Elder Li's neck. A surge of violent fire-attribute spiritual power rushed in, not only forcibly interrupting Elder Li's self-destruction but also scorching all the meridians in his body until they were broken inch by inch!

"Uh..." Old Li's eyes bulged out, and charred blood spilled from his mouth. He instantly lost all vitality.

(End of this chapter)