The First Venerable of All Paths

"Walk!"

Seeing that the man in the blood-red robe had already escaped, the remaining two men in black robes dared not hesitate and immediately used their strongest movement techniques to flee into the distance.

"Trying to leave?"

Li Guanlan snorted coldly and was about to give chase, but was stopped by Fang Xuan.

"Let them be, but be careful, it might be a trap!"

Li Guanlan hesitated for a moment, then withdrew his spiritual power.

Seeing Fang Xuan put away the Devouring Soul Jar that was hanging above his head, Li Guanlan put it away as well and said softly, "I'll explain it to you another time."

Fang Xuan nodded and landed on the ground.

He slowly walked towards Zhao Fu, the murderous intent in his eyes not diminishing in the slightest.

"Fang Xuan, what are you doing?"

Zhao Fu lost both legs and was severely injured, so he could only back up by supporting himself with his hands on the ground.

"I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless. If I die here, the Zhao family will never let you off the hook."

Fang Xuan didn't take these threatening words to heart at all.

"I have no intention of letting your Zhao family off the hook either."

Fang Xuan said indifferently, "I will repay you a hundredfold, a thousandfold, for everything you and Zhao Qingcang did to me back then!"

Two years ago.

Zhao Fu and Zhao Qingcang destroyed his dantian and martial meridians, seized his Dao body, and even knocked him off a cliff.

If it weren't for his good fortune and long life, he would have turned into a pile of dust long ago.

The Fang family will also be devoured by the Su family.

Fang Xuan had never forgotten these things for a moment.

He had sworn an oath to Heaven that Zhao Qingcang and Su Qingyao would pay the price and avenge their blood debt.

As Zhao Fu was also a participant, Fang Xuan would not let him off the hook either.

"Don't kill me!"

Sensing the brutal killing intent in Fang Xuan's tone, Zhao Fu's expression changed, and he hurriedly pleaded, "Fang Xuan, I know I was wrong. As long as you let me go, I'll go back and plead with the young master for me, and we'll call it even, okay?"

Looking at Zhao Fu's pleading face, Fang Xuan said expressionlessly, "Two years ago, I also begged you."

Zhao Fu froze for a moment, then burst into a tirade of curses.

"You little bastard, do you really think that killing me will put you at odds with the Zhao family?"

Zhao Fu shouted hoarsely, "My Zhao family is a first-class family in Zhongzhou with a profound foundation. Young Master Qingcang is even a Holy Son of the Dao Seeking Sect. If you dare to touch me today, I guarantee you will die a terrible death."

"You've already said those words."

Fang Xuan looked down at Zhao Fu, his murderous intent already solidified into a tangible form.

"I will kill Zhao Qingcang, and I will also destroy the Zhao family."

On Fang Xuan's palm, the Undying Phoenix Flame emerged, releasing a terrifyingly high temperature that was suffocating.

"From the moment Zhao Qingcang dared to seize my Dao Body, my feud with your Zhao family has been irreconcilable!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Undying Phoenix Flame landed on Zhao Fu.

"Crackling and popping!"

The scorching heat caused Zhao Fu's skin and flesh to melt rapidly, and the excruciating pain that penetrated to the bone marrow made him wish he were dead.

"It hurts, it hurts so much."

Zhao Fu rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames.

But it was all in vain.

"Please, kill me, please."

The intense pain made Zhao Fu want nothing more than to die and find a quick end to his suffering.

But Fang Xuan would not grant his wish.

He controlled the Undying Phoenix Flame, burning Zhao Fu's flesh and blood inch by inch, subjecting him to inhuman torture.

Hearing Zhao Fu's heart-wrenching screams, everyone felt their scalps tingle.

Even Li Guanlan frowned deeply.

She only knew that Fang Xuan and Zhao Qingcang had a grudge, but she didn't know the specifics.

But based on her understanding of Fang Xuan...

She wouldn't torture someone like that unless there was a deep-seated hatred.

This kind of hatred, this kind of resentment, is beyond words.

Zhao Fu's screams lasted for almost half an hour.

Only after the Lu family had finished cleaning up everything did Fang Xuan reach out and pull out an extremely weak soul from the flames.

It was Zhao Fu.

However, Zhao Fu's soul had also fallen into a deep sleep, but it was not hard to see the lingering fear and despair on his face.

Fang Xuan clenched his fist, and flames swirled around it, sealing Zhao Fu's soul and storing it in his storage ring.

Once a martial artist cultivates to the Divine Intent Realm, if their divine soul is slightly stronger, they can still retain their soul body even after death.

Fang Xuan will not kill Zhao Fu directly.

Destroying his physical body is just a way to collect some interest first.

By leaving his soul intact, Fang Xuan wanted him to witness firsthand how Zhao Qingcang died and how the Zhao family was destroyed.

Fang Xuan gently exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling the pent-up emotions in his chest lessen slightly.

"Are you alright?"

Seeing Li Guanlan looking at him with concern, Fang Xuan shook his head to indicate that he was fine.

Li Guanlan didn't ask any more questions.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

Just then, Granny Yin's voice came, filled with anxiety and panic.

Fang Xuan turned his head and saw that Lu Zhao, who had just finished dealing with the post-war matters, was pale-faced and there was a pool of crimson blood on the ground.

He had obviously just vomited blood.

What shocked Fang Xuan even more was that Lu Zhao's once black hair had turned gray with a few strands, and his face looked much older.

At this moment, the Lu family was in complete chaos.

Fang Xuan strode over and walked toward Lu Zhao.

The latter gave him a strained smile and said softly, "Brother Fang Xuan, thank you, I..."

"Don't speak yet."

Without saying a word, Fang Xuan grabbed Lu Zhao's wrist and began to examine it carefully.

Just as Granny Yin was about to speak, Lu Zhao gently shook his head at her.

After a long while, Fang Xuan opened his eyes, his expression solemn.

"Young Master Fang, Miss...."

Fang Xuan interrupted Granny Yin and said, "Take her back to her room first. I need to check her over carefully again."

"There's nothing to check."

Lu Zhao withdrew his hand and said casually, "I'm just a little weak. I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest."

"Listen to me."

Fang Xuan's tone was somewhat domineering as he said, "Don't you want to know how Manman is doing?"

Hearing this, Lu Zhao reluctantly said, "Fine, I'll listen to you."

Soon, Fang Xuan and his group arrived at Lu Zhao's room.

"Everyone, get out."

Fang Xuan said, "No one is allowed to come in and disturb us without my permission."

"How can this be allowed?"

Granny Yin immediately said, "Young Master Fang, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that a man and a woman alone in a room together... if word gets out, it will damage my young lady's reputation..."

"Mother-in-law, let's go along with his suggestion."

Lu Zhao slowly shook his head and said, "The affairs of the clan are complicated, and I will have to trouble my mother-in-law to help me with some things."

Granny Yin knew, of course, that Lu Zhao was referring to the matter of Lu Fa and the others, which needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

"Young Master Fang, I'm leaving my young lady in your care."

Granny Yin had no choice but to agree, but she gave Fang Xuan a meaningful look.

"Spring Apricot and Autumn Chrysanthemum, you two stay outside."

Granny Yin turned her head and said, "If Young Master Fang has any needs, we will do our best to meet them."

"Yes, Mother-in-law."

Fang Xuan knew, of course, that Granny Yin wanted to use these two maids to monitor him.

However, he didn't mind, as long as they didn't come in and disturb him.

"You should go and rest too."

Fang Xuan said to Li Guanlan, "I have something to tell you later."

Without saying a word, Li Guanlan turned and left.

But she didn't leave. Instead, she, Chunxing, and Qiuju stood there, looking at each other, in a stalemate at the door.

After the door closed, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Lying on the bed, Lu Zhao suddenly chuckled and said, "Weren't you quite domineering just now?"

Fang Xuan looked at Lu Zhao, ignoring her teasing, and said in a low voice, "Do you know how bad your current condition is?"

"I know."

Fang Xuan was taken aback, then emphasized, "You knew that, yet you still dared to act recklessly?"

"I had no other choice."

Lu Zhao sighed, shifted his body, and found a more comfortable position, leaning against the bed.

She said softly, "If we don't do this, we will all die today."

"Who told you that?"

Fang Xuan said somewhat angrily, "No matter how strong those people are, there's always a way to deal with them."

Although his cultivation level is currently very weak, the Crimson Scale Demon Emperor, for some unknown reason, could only lend him his power.

But Fang Xuan was confident that he would make sure the other party wouldn't gain any advantage.

"Do you even know who they are? How dare you say such things?"

Lu Zhao looked at Fang Xuan, his eyes deep and his tone complex.

"However, by expending so much of your vital essence, you will only worsen your condition and shorten your lifespan."

Fang Xuan said with a hint of disappointment, "If you had taken good care of yourself, you could have lived for at least another ten years, but now..."

"At most three years!"

Lu Zhao's condition was more serious than he had imagined.

With only three years to live, one could say that his life is nearing its end.

"Three years is enough."

Lu Zhao laughed easily and said, "At least in my lifetime, being able to kill Lu Ren and see Manman cultivate martial arts makes it all worthwhile."

"not to mention."

Lu Zhao said, "If I don't bring out the ancestral artifact to force those people back, you and your friends will really die."

"you......"

Fang Xuan was at a loss for words.

"Okay, I know you're worried about me."

Lu Zhao smiled and said gently, "But I don't want to talk about that now. I want to hear how Lu Ren died, and how Manman is doing now?"

Fang Xuan gave a general account of how he entered the Blood Pool Secret Realm.

This included informing Lu Zhao that Lu Ling had long since betrayed Lu Zhao and sided with Lu Ren, and that Lu Ren was preparing to sacrifice Manman's essence blood to achieve his own goals.

Of course, he omitted some details about killing Lu Ren.

"Thanks a lot."

Lu Zhao smiled gratefully and said, "Now that you're out, why is Manman still in the Blood Pool Secret Realm?"

Fang Xuan was also somewhat confused when this was mentioned.

"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics either."

Fang Xuan said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I was kicked out by her for no reason."

"What?"

Lu Zhao's expression changed, and he said, "You mean, after Manman obtained the Xuan Turtle Scales, she suddenly kicked you out?"

"To be precise, it wasn't her."

Fang Xuan said, "She doesn't have that ability; it must be the power of the Xuan Turtle's scales themselves."

"I see, then everything makes sense."

Looking at Fang Xuan's puzzled expression, Lu Zhao asked, "Do you know why my Lu family requires a woman to lead the household?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

"Don't even mention you, many people in the Lu family don't know the specific reason."

Lu Zhao said softly, "I only learned this secret after I became the head of the family."

"Many years ago, the Lu family was just an unknown and impoverished family. By chance, one of the Lu family's ancestors saved a severely injured and dying black tortoise."

Lu Zhao began to speak in a calm tone.

"Although the black tortoise gradually recovered under the careful care of that ancestor."

"To express my gratitude to my ancestor, the Xuan Turtle, before departing, sealed a portion of its power within a piece of its scales and presented it to him."

"Who would have thought that this matter would somehow come to the attention of other clansmen, who then forced our ancestor to hand over the Xuan Turtle Scales."

Lu Zhao smiled bitterly, "It's a pity that no matter who it is, none of them have a good ending after obtaining the Xuan Turtle Scales."

Fang Xuan was taken aback, then suddenly remembered Lu Fa and Lu Ren.

Both of them obtained the Xuan Turtle Scales, but their final fates were indeed extremely tragic.

"etc."

Fang Xuan suddenly said, "Could the Lu clan ancestor who saved the Xuan Turtle have been a woman?"

Lu Zhao smiled.

"Exactly."