129: Half the power

A few days later.

The Xuanqing Sect counterattacked, with True Person Qingmu personally leading the charge. Without True Person He defending, the He Family retreated repeatedly.

The He Family Head could only seek aid from the Ming Family, but when he went out to seek help, he discovered that the Ming Family had already left, just like when the beast tide attacked.

The Ming Family was, after all, a major power with a Golden Core Stage True Person presiding over it.

When Xu Chenfeng and Elder Chu left, they already knew that True Person He had no chance of survival.

However, Venerable Ming, this Golden Core True Person, could not be easily given up.

Therefore, when they left, they sent a message to the Ming Family.

Venerable Ming was also decisive. After receiving the message, he led his Clan Disciples to leave Huichuan Prefecture again the next day, heading towards the Lingxu Branch Sect in Qingzhou.

As for the He Family, having lost a Golden Core True Person, its strength was greatly reduced, and it no longer had the value for Xu Chenfeng to risk completely offending a Nascent Soul True Lord to save it.

After the He Family members received the news that the Ming Family had left, their hearts were all greatly shaken.

Coupled with the fact that their Old Ancestor had not returned and the Xuanqing Sect was invading in full force.

Everyone in their hearts already had a realization: the Old Ancestor was probably in grave danger.

With the tide turning against them, the He Family Head made a decision in a short time.

They would break into smaller groups, abandon their foundation, and flee in separate directions.

As long as the Bloodline existed, the He Family would still have a chance to rise again.

He Family Legacy Hall.

The He Family Head looked at the He Family Disciples of the Qi Refinement Stage of different ages before him, feeling immense sorrow in his heart.

“Have you remembered it clearly?”

The He Family Head asked in a deep voice.

“We have memorized it!”

Everyone below responded in unison.

“Good, then go and flee for your lives!”

The He Family Head nodded, but there was not much joy in his eyes.

After this escape, who knew how many would survive.

The Qi Refinement Stage Disciples here were all Legacy Disciples chosen by the Clan.

At this critical juncture, the He Family Head opened the Clan's supreme Golden Core Stage Legacy, allowing the Qi Refinement Stage Disciples to make a Divine Soul oath to memorize it.

This way, as long as one person escaped, the Legacy and Bloodline could be ensured to continue.

As for the He Family Foundation Establishment Stage Elders, their target was too large, and the Xuanqing Sect would certainly not let them go easily. Their chances of escape were probably even smaller than those of these Qi Refinement Stage Disciples.

Everyone below had sorrowful expressions, with unshed tears in their eyes.

After a moment of silence, everyone dispersed, leaving the He Family through the back door, changing their appearance, and fleeing in separate directions.

As for how many could escape, that could only depend on the will of Heaven.

The He Family Head was silent, turning to look at the He Family Legacy Hall before him. This was the core of the He Family, but now it could not be left to outsiders.

On this day, the He Family was engulfed in a great fire. Many valuable items that could not be taken away were burned to ashes, including the most important Golden Core Stage Legacy.

At this moment, outside Guangming Mountain, two figures in the shadows were slightly anxious.

“Damn it, why isn't this Zhou Leren coming out yet...”

Elder Ming was a little impatient.

Several days had passed, and Zhou Leren still hadn't emerged from the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

“Brother Ming, be patient. The way of hunting, one is one's own strength, and the second is patience.”

Elder He, however, was not anxious, remaining calm and composed, speaking unhurriedly.

“Brother Ming, just think, a Genius like this killed by the two of us. When we return, the Clan will certainly not be stingy with rewards. You and I might even be able to advance further with this!”

Elder He had a hint of longing in his eyes. Cultivation strength was the unchanging truth in this world.

As cultivation improved, one's treatment and status in the Clan would also increase accordingly.

How could such a good thing not make people feel joyful?

“Brother He is absolutely right.”

“Then let's wait patiently a little longer...”

Hearing this, Elder Ming largely agreed, suppressing the impatience in his heart, and continued to calm his mind, waiting secretly.

Artifact Refining Pavilion, Serene Cottage. Zhou Leren put away the Technique of Object Manipulation in his hand, having gained a preliminary understanding of flying with objects.

Thinking about the guizheng pagoda he had not yet refined, his eyes held a strange look.

“Am I going to fly with a pagoda in the future?”

“Hmm~”

“No, no, that would be too unsightly...”

“It seems I'll have to find another Spiritual Artifact later.”

Zhou Leren thought to himself mischievously.

As for the luan fa sword, he had originally acted because he saw its similarity to the cheng fa sword. He had bid for this dharma sword to bring it back to his Family. He himself already had the guizheng pagoda that was currently being refined, so he didn't need this Spiritual Artifact for himself.

“Senior, Sect Master Li requests your presence.”

Outside the Serene Cottage, the young Disciple respectfully saluted again, interrupting Zhou Leren's wandering thoughts.

“Oh?”

“It seems it's done.”

Zhou Leren got up, opened the room door, and flew out.

Under the guidance of the young Disciple, he flew towards Yongming Peak.

Yongming Peak Main Hall.

Sect Master Li of the Artifact Refining Pavilion was already waiting there. Seeing Zhou Leren arrive, he quickly went to greet him.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, are you satisfied with our sect's hospitality?”

Sect Master Li asked softly.

“Sect Master Li, your sect's treasured land is excellent, and the environment is elegant. The hospitality is naturally very good.”

Zhou Leren exchanged pleasantries, then continued:

“Sect Master Li, did you call me here because...?”

Zhou Leren spoke half a sentence, his meaning clear.

“Cough~”

Hearing this, Sect Master Li's expression was somewhat unusual.

“It is indeed done, but...”

Sect Master Li hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Zhou Leren looked at Sect Master Li's expression, and his heart sank.

“Did the refining fail?”

“What should I do...”

“Never mind, Fellow Daoist, you should see for yourself.”

Sect Master Li's words were not finished when his tone suddenly changed.

He stroked his Storage Pouch at his waist, and a small pagoda, eight-sided, five-storied, with an azure-red color and an ancient, somewhat wild aura, appeared in his hand.

Sect Master Li reached out and handed the small pagoda to Zhou Leren.

Zhou Leren quickly took it, seeing the words 'guizheng' on it. His Divine Sense spread out, carefully sensing it.

“This, a second-rank top-grade Spiritual Artifact?”

Zhou Leren was somewhat surprised and uncertain.

“Indeed.”

Sect Master Li gave a wry smile.

“My Senior Brother, seeing something he liked, momentarily forgot Fellow Daoist Zhou's cultivation and refined this guizheng pagoda to its current state as a top-grade Spiritual Artifact.”

Sect Master Li was also helpless. Strictly speaking, the Materials required to refine a top-grade Spiritual Artifact were considerably more precious than originally planned.

However, this could not be blamed on Zhou Leren.

With Zhou Leren's current cultivation, he probably couldn't activate this second-rank top-grade Spiritual Artifact, which was why Sect Master Li had hesitated earlier.

“A top-grade Spiritual Artifact. With my current cultivation, I can barely exert half a strike. It's quite good as a trump card.”

“Fortunately, I also bid for that luan fa sword.”

Zhou Leren made a decision in an instant.

As for blaming them, that was impossible.

In fact, he had gotten a bargain.

“Sect Master Li, it's fine. I really like this Spiritual Artifact.”

Zhou Leren held the guizheng pagoda in his hand and said to Sect Master Li with a serious expression.

Seeing that Zhou Leren's expression was completely genuine, Sect Master Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He directly praised Zhou Leren's magnanimity.

“Sect Master Li, I will need to borrow your esteemed place for a little more time.”

The two chatted for a while longer before Zhou Leren spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, please don't be so polite.”

Zhou Leren thanked him and returned to the Serene Cottage.

He held the luan fa sword and the guizheng pagoda separately in his hands, channeling his magic power to meticulously refine them, and his Divine Sense overflowed to imprint his mark upon them.

Outside Guangming Mountain, two figures were filled with anticipation, their hearts full of longing.