61: Chapter 61 Want to collect protection money? Get lost! I'll protect my people!

Huoyang Commandery, East City, Qin Family Residence.

The news of the He Family being wiped out overnight reached here the next day.

A century-old ironwood tree was planted in the courtyard. Patriarch Qin Hai was standing under the tree, listening to a subordinate's report.

The subordinate reporting had a trembling voice and hardly dared to lift his head.

"Of the He Family, not a single one with cultivation was left alive. Qixia Alchemy Pavilion took less than an incense stick's time."

After the report finished, no one in the courtyard dared to make a sound.

Patriarch Qin Hai didn't speak, merely reaching out to pluck a leaf from the ironwood tree, slowly twisting it between two fingers.

After a long while, he spat out two words.

"Idiots."

There was no joy or anger in his voice.

The subordinate paused for a moment before realizing the Patriarch wasn't talking about himself, but about the exterminated Patriarch He Wanshan.

"Patriarch, as for the He Family's assets... The Zhou Family and the Zhu Family sent people to take over a portion, and they even took the initiative to hand over twenty percent of the profits to Qixia Alchemy Pavilion. Should we..."

"No need." Patriarch Qin Hai interrupted him. "A few broken mineral veins and a pile of low-grade spirit fields—Patriarch He Wanshan treated them like treasures, but in my eyes, they are worthless."

He paused and raised his eyes.

"After investigating for so long, have you found out the background of Qixia Alchemy Pavilion?"

Another black-clad Cultivator emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

"Replying to the Patriarch, it has been found out."

"The manager of Qixia Alchemy Pavilion on the surface is called Yao Shifei. Her true background is unknown, but the person pulling the strings behind her is Jiang Feng of the Jiang Family from Jiangyuan City."

"The Jiang Family of Jiangyuan City?" Patriarch Qin Hai's fingers paused, and the ironwood leaf was crushed into powder.

"Yes. And... the last place Young Master Feng appeared before he died was Jiangyuan City."

The Aura around Patriarch Qin Hai turned chillingly cold instantly.

The black-clad Cultivator lowered his head even further: "We found that Young Master Feng had intended to make a move on a Dao Companion of the Jiang Family, and then there was no further news. In Jiangyuan City, there is only one person capable of wiping out Young Master Feng without a sound."

"Ancestor Jiang Xuan." Patriarch Qin Hai's voice sounded as if it were squeezed through his teeth.

"Yes."

Patriarch Qin Hai's eyes were instantly bloodshot, and a majestic Aura of Late-stage Foundation Establishment erupted. The ironwood tree in the courtyard swayed without wind, and leaves scattered everywhere.

The hatred of killing his son is irreconcilable!

He could barely control the urge to kill his way to the west side of the city immediately.

But the black-clad Cultivator's next words were like a basin of ice water poured over his head.

"Patriarch, there is one more thing. Your subordinate recently obtained information from an Outer Sect Disciple of the Qingyun Sect who was passing through Huoyang Commandery. True Monarch Qingyue mentioned during a Sect discussion that a Golden Core Great Perfection appeared in Huoyang Commandery."

He paused and lowered his voice.

"Your subordinate has repeatedly checked, and within a radius of a thousand miles, the only one who could have this cultivation level recently... is Ancestor Jiang Xuan of the Jiang Family."

"Golden Core Great Perfection?" Patriarch Qin Hai's Aura stalled, his Face full of disbelief.

How could an old thing who had been holed up in Jiangyuan City for over eighty years break through to Golden Core Great Perfection?

This news was too shocking, but since it was someone even True Monarch Qingyue was wary of, Patriarch Qin Hai had to forcefully suppress the killing intent in his heart.

He was not a fool like Patriarch He Wanshan, who would crash headfirst into a brick wall knowing it was a hard target.

A Golden Core Cultivator, even in the Early Stage, was not something he, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment, could contend with.

Let alone a Golden Core Great Perfection.

Patriarch Qin Hai closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the bloodshot look had faded, leaving only a chilling coldness.

Coming out directly is courting death.

Then he could only... kill with a borrowed knife!

"The Jiang Family has set up a banner for a Yao Beast hunting team on the west side of the city and is openly recruiting Loose Cultivators, is that right?" Patriarch Qin Hai changed the subject.

"Yes, Patriarch. They use Medicinal Pills as bait and have promised to protect those Loose Cultivators. The protection fees from the west side of the city haven't been handed in for two days."

"Face-saving matters must always be handled." Patriarch Qin Hai sneered. "Send people over. Tell the Jiang Family that the Loose Cultivators on the west side are under the protection of the Qin Family. If they want to make a living on the Qin Family's territory, they must follow the Qin Family's rules."

"Yes!"

The black-clad Cultivator turned and left.

Patriarch Qin Hai looked up towards the direction of the west side of the city.

Ancestor Jiang Xuan, Jiang Family...

West side of the city, Black Stone Plaza.

Qixia Alchemy Pavilion had a large banner erected at the entrance with the five large characters "Jiang Family Yao Beast Hunting Team" written on it. A table was set up to the side, and Young Master Jiang Chen was personally presiding over the recruitment.

"Those who join the team can receive three Qi Gathering Pills every month!"

"Upon completing Yao Beast hunting missions, there is additional Spirit Stone compensation!"

"All Yao Beast Materials will be purchased by the Alchemy Pavilion at a price ten percent higher than the market rate!"

"The most important rule! Join our Jiang Family Yao Beast Hunting Team, and from now on, you don't need to pay the Qin Family's protection fee! Whoever dares to come and collect, Qixia Alchemy Pavilion will handle them for you!"

As the rules were shouted out, all the Loose Cultivators in the west side of the city were in an uproar.

High-price acquisitions, giving out Medicinal Pills, and more importantly, being able to avoid that deadly protection fee from the Qin Family!

Captain Zhao Du was the first to carry his broken blade and press his fingerprint on the recruitment roster.

With him taking the lead, the previously hesitant Loose Cultivators swarmed up. In less than half a day, more than a hundred names were added to the roster.

However, some Loose Cultivators were timid and still watched from afar, not daring to offend the Qin Family.

Just then, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from the street corner.

A dozen Cultivators wearing Qin Family attire walked over swaggeringly, led by a manager at Qi Refining Layer 9, looking arrogant.

"Who is in charge? Come out and speak!"

The noise in the plaza stopped abruptly, and everyone's eyes converged there.

Young Master Jiang Chen stood up, his expression calm: "I am."

The Qin Family manager looked him up and down and sneered: "A mere kid? Let your person in charge come out. My Qin Family is here to collect protection fees, don't waste time."

As he spoke, he led his men toward the Loose Cultivators who hadn't joined the team yet.

Those Loose Cultivators were pale with fright and subconsciously retreated.

"Stop."

A calm voice came from the entrance of the Alchemy Pavilion.

Jiang Feng walked out with his hands behind his back, with Yao Shifei following behind him.

"These people are now people of my Qixia Alchemy Pavilion." Jiang Feng's gaze swept over the dozen Qin Family Cultivators, "Their protection fees are paid by my Qixia Alchemy Pavilion."

The Qin Family manager frowned: "Paid? Where are the Spirit Stones?"

Jiang Feng smiled.

"My protection is the Spirit Stones I give them."

"Are you playing with me?" The Qin Family manager's Face darkened, and spiritual power began to surge. "Kid, do you know who you are talking to? In Huoyang Commandery, no one dares to default on my Qin Family's debts!"

"Now there is." Jiang Feng said calmly.

"Courting death!"

The Qin Family manager roared and raised his hand, sending a stream of spiritual power blasting toward Jiang Feng's Face.

Jiang Feng didn't even move.

Yao Shifei behind him stepped forward, merely raised her right hand gently, and waved her sleeve casually.

A vast and mighty force arrived first despite starting later. It not only dispersed the stream of spiritual power but also hit the dozen Qin Family members with undiminished momentum.

"Bang!"

A muffled sound.

Those dozen Qin Family Cultivators, including the manager at Qi Refining Layer 9, all flew backward more than ten meters, tumbling and falling to the ground, wailing endlessly.

Yao Shifei didn't even have a wrinkle on her sleeve.

The scene fell silent.

Jiang Feng walked to the Loose Cultivators who were still hesitant. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the whole plaza.

"I will say it again. Join my Qixia Alchemy Pavilion, and I will protect you. If you don't join, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Recruitment is full for today, come back next time."

After speaking, he turned and walked back into the Alchemy Pavilion.

Those Loose Cultivators who had been watching from the sidelines looked at the wailing Qin Family members on the ground, then at the back of Jiang Feng as he left, and regretted it deeply.

The injured Qin Family members struggled to crawl up, cast a venomous look at Qixia Alchemy Pavilion, collected the remaining protection fees from the other Loose Cultivators, and then scurried away.

Meanwhile.

In a quiet study in the Commandery Lords Mansion of Huoyang Commandery.

Wearing brocade robes with a refined appearance, Commandery Lord Huangfu Hao was standing by the window, looking at the clouds on the horizon, his brows tightly locked.

He had no intention of caring about the infighting among these families in the city.

"The He Family is wiped out, and the Qin Family has clashed with the newly arrived Qixia Alchemy Pavilion. A bunch of idiots, only knowing how to fight over these immediate benefits."

He muttered to himself, his eyes full of worry.

"Calculating the time, it... is coming soon."