168: Chapter 168 Eliminate the Weeds at the Root

Sword shadows pierced through his chest one after another, and fresh blood stained his clothes red.

With his hair disheveled, Jiang Wuyu's figure fell to the ground amidst the intertwining sword momentum and shadows.

He recalled many things about Qingyuan, and a self-deprecating smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of his mouth.

After his Foundation Establishment back then, he should have ignored the opinions of various factions and directly acted to annihilate the Su Family, rather than trying to pry into the secret that allowed their descendants to be born with Spiritual Roots.

Now, not only had he failed to obtain the Su Family's secret, but he had also met his end. It was truly more loss than gain.

Jiang Wuyu grinned and laughed maniacally, seemingly oblivious to the sharp sword piercing his heart, letting the blood flow freely.

"What a pity..." He spat out blood foam, his eyes gradually losing focus amidst his madness, "I couldn't slaughter your Su Family clean with my own hands..."

His last remaining breath, carrying a malicious curse and twisted pleasure, rasped out hoarsely:

"Don't think you've won. Though I'm dying, your Su Family has long been razed to the ground by demonic Cultivators! Hahaha... Ugh!"

Wei Yan's gaze was as cold as ice. She suddenly twisted the long sword in her hand, completely crushing his heart vessels.

Looking at the manic laughter frozen on Jiang Wuyu's face, her tone was indifferent, without a hint of emotion.

"A frog in a well!"

"You have no idea what kind of person Patriarch Su is."

"Those demonic Cultivators are likely already in the underworld, waiting for you for a long time now."

Jiang Wuyu's words failed to shake her heart in the slightest.

Mere demonic Cultivators, and they dare to speak of annihilating the Su Family?

Wei Yan had profound confidence in Su Yang's strength.

Even when she reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, she could not see through the depths of this Clan Chief's cultivation. At that time, she had already guessed that Su Yang might have long since broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!

She couldn't help but recall the scene before her departure, when Su Yang personally handed her the foundation establishment pill, along with that solemn exhortation:

"After Foundation Establishment, remember not to rush into building your dao foundation. Wait until you return, and I will teach you the strongest Foundation Establishment method."

If anyone else had said such words, Wei Yan would have certainly scoffed in her heart.

As the direct disciple of the Wan Jian Sect Master, she held the Sect's orthodox Foundation Establishment Legacy in her own hands. Why would she easily believe such an absurd promise?

However, since these words came from Su Yang's mouth, no matter how inconceivable they were, Wei Yan would subconsciously choose to believe them.

After all, she had personally witnessed the miracles created by the Su Family one after another, especially her two children who originally had no Spiritual Roots but were born with True Spiritual Roots under the Su Family's Hunyuan Condensing True Method.

Since even a Heaven-Defying Dao method that allowed Mortals to be born with Spiritual Roots could exist, the strongest Foundation Establishment method seemed like nothing out of the ordinary.

After taking Jiang Wuyu's storage ring, Wei Yan undid the Formation and quickly returned to her clansmen with Song Baiqing.

The surrounding Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not hide the wariness in their eyes, and Patriarch Yuan Chongde, at the back of the crowd, had an even deeper look of apprehension.

Others only knew that the Su Family had two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Wei Yan and Song Baiqing, but Yuan Chongde harbied doubts. He suspected that Su Yang had also long since established his foundation!

The sense of pressure he felt when facing Su Yang back then had made him mistakenly think it was Qi Refining Perfection, but now that he had come to his senses, that pressure was definitely not something Qi Refining Perfection could possess!

The Su Family didn't just have two Foundation Establishment Cultivators; they were hiding three... or even four.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel secretly lucky.

Fortunately, he had chosen to back down at that time, otherwise the Yuan Family would have definitely been annihilated. No matter which Foundation Establishment Factions he turned to for help, it would be futile before a behemoth like the Su Family.

"Is everything settled?" Cheng Lan's tone was light, yet the unconcealable wariness in her eyes ultimately exposed the lack of peace in her heart. "Does the Su Family have any unfinished business to handle?"

Song Baiqing turned his gaze to Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan, leaving the power of decision to the two of them.

Su Xuanheng smiled indifferently: "There is nothing else. We can set off."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and then boarded the flying boat one after another, their minds in a turmoil, lacking any of the joy of harvest this trip should have brought.

Everyone was secretly speculating: after returning to Qingyuan, what exactly would the Su Family do? Would they seize the cultivation resources of each Family? Would they drive them out?

Although the Su Family claimed they wouldn't, Cultivators were full of lies, and it was hard for them to believe the Su Family would keep their word.

But even if the Su Family really wanted to make a move, what could they do?

The Su Family had two Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators presiding over them.

The sky over Qingyuan Market was likely about to change completely!

...

Qingyuan Market, Su Residence.

Su Yang, through Stargazing, perceived that the Family's foundation had surged. He knew that Wei Yan must have successfully established her foundation, and the Su Family's trip had been very fruitful.

In the courtyard, Su Yang lay on a rocking chair with his eyes slightly closed, his fingertips gently tapping the rhythm along with the zither melody flowing from his wife's hands.

On the stone table was spiritual tea freshly brewed by Xiao Mei, emitting curls of hot steam that were brushed away by the breeze, blending into the warm afternoon sunlight. Life was so pleasant it almost seemed to stand still.

Qin Jiangmei's slender fingers brushed over the strings as the song ended, its lingering sound still circulating in the courtyard.

She turned her head to look at her husband who was resting with his eyes closed, a soft smile spreading across her features: "Counting the days, the little ones have been away from home for nearly three months. I really miss them; it's better when the house is more lively."

Su Yang didn't open his eyes, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he let out a vague hum in response.

Seeing this, the smile on Qin Jiangmei's lips deepened.

How could she not know? Her husband's earlier words about "not feeling lonely with just the two of us" were just him being stubborn.

Over these years, he had grown accustomed to the days of children and grandchildren gathered around, filled with laughter and noise. In his bones, he had long since become an 'old man' who couldn't bear to be without a house full of descendants and Family bustle.

Just then, Su Yang suddenly opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his face: "You just thought of them, and they've come back in a hurry!"

"Hmm?"

Qin Jiangmei was slightly startled upon hearing this, and then she also noticed something unusual.

The Cheng Family's flying boat sped from the horizon and slowly landed on the open ground on one side of the market.

Cultivators from various factions moved upon hearing the sound, stepping forward one after another, their faces filled with anticipation for their returning clansmen.

However, when the Cultivators on the flying boat filed down, everyone was stunned.

In the returning team, except for the members of the Su Family who looked normal and even had composed smiles, the Cultivators from all other families had heavy expressions, without a trace of joy from their harvest.

An ominous premonition shrouded everyone's hearts.

Had an accident occurred within the grotto-heaven?

Su Xuanheng paid no heed to the surrounding whispers and suspicious gazes. His cold eyes swept over where the members of the Jiang Family and Golden Feather Gang were, and then he strode toward Su Yang and Qin Jiangmei.

Walking up to his parents, he solemnly cupped his hands, his voice clear and cold as it spread across the silent square:

"Father, Mother, in the Wangchuan Valley grotto-heaven, the Jiang Family and the Golden Feather Gang joined forces to set an ambush, intending to wipe out our Su Family."

"Now, the Cultivators of both families have been completely exterminated by us, and their leaders, Jiang Wuyu and Hou Zhang, have also been executed!"

He paused slightly, and his voice requesting orders rang out with chilling killing intent: "To eliminate all future troubles, your son requests Father and Mother's permission—to immediately send people to uproot the enemy and completely annihilate the Jiang Family and the Golden Feather Gang!"