180: Chapter 180 Foundation Establishment Appearance

The next day.

Yunmeng Ruins.

A faint shadow hung in the air; the usually bustling market town felt a bit more oppressed and somber today.

The Xiao Family's announcement, demanding the Su Family come to apologize before noon today, had spread like wildfire throughout the market, becoming common knowledge.

Countless curious or calculating figures quietly gathered in the streets surrounding the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce's compound, craning their necks to see how this clash between a Foundation Establishment Family and an emerging power would end.

As noon approached, Xiao Ying had already led a group of Xiao Family Cultivators to wait in Formation outside the gates of the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce.

An overt sneer hung on her Face, and her eyes were cold with murderous intent.

"The Su Family really won't give up until they see the coffin."

Xiao Ying spoke mockingly, her voice carrying clearly to her clansmen and the onlookers behind her. "Do they think that by hiding inside this compound, a mere Formation can stop my Xiao Family? What a pipe dream!"

Since the Xiao Family dared to issue such an ultimatum, how could they not have anticipated that the other party would rely on a Formation to hold their ground?

The Family had already spent a fortune to hire several skilled Second-rank Formation Masters within the Yunmeng Ruins to accompany them. Should the Su Family resist, these Formation Masters would immediately act to find a way to break the Formation.

With both the Family Head and the Old Ancestor—two Foundation Establishment Cultivators—personally overseeing the situation, this seemingly solid defense was nothing more than a paper shell that could be pierced with a single poke.

Before true Foundation Establishment power, all protection from Formations was but a futile struggle.

Just as Xiao Ying was growing impatient and about to order a full-scale assault, the tightly closed gates of the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce opened before everyone's eyes.

The noise outside fell silent as countless gazes instantly focused on the spot.

Su Xuanxiao led the way, stepping calmly out of the compound.

He was handsome and stood tall, with faint arcs of lightning circulating around his body.

Behind him, Cheng Ningxiang, Zhao Wanyi, and a group of Su Family Cultivators filed out. Everyone looked calm and their auras were steady, not at all like people going to their deaths or seeking forgiveness.

What surprised the onlookers even more was a small child in the group, appearing to be only five or six years old, looking around curiously with large, dark eyes.

Non-Cultivators were not allowed to enter the Yunmeng Ruins.

That this child could be here meant they had clearly achieved Qi Refinement and stepped onto the immortal path! Such a young immortal sprout further highlighted the Su Family's extraordinary Foundation.

The crowd immediately broke into whispers and commotion.

Was the Su Family going to the Xiao Family to apologize?

But looking at this posture, it seemed more like they were going to... start a war?

Xiao Ying was also taken aback by this unexpected display, but a deeper sneer soon appeared on her Face.

She huffed coldly, her voice sharp and chilling. "It's already noon. Did you dawdle until now just to preserve that bit of meaningless Face?"

Su Xuanxiao paused slightly and looked up at Xiao Ying.

A cold arc suddenly curved at the corner of his mouth, and the lightning around him flared intensely.

"You're right, it's noon," he said. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a metallic vibration that reached everyone present. "It's time to send your Xiao Family on its way."

Before his words could fade, a violent aura of thunder erupted!

The members of the Su Family instantly released their full auras, their spiritual power surging.

They had never intended to hide within the Formation; their purpose in coming out today was singular: to annihilate the Xiao Family.

Activating a Formation? That was for offense and killing, not for defense.

Moreover, since the Xiao Family dared to come, they would surely bring Formation Masters to counter them. Rather than waiting for their Formation to be broken, it was better to strike proactively and kill all the Xiao Family Cultivators!

"What a 'send my Xiao Family on its way'!"

A booming voice suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, the figure of the Xiao Family Head, Patriarch of the Xiao Family, suddenly appeared. His Foundation Establishment Stage pressure swept across the field like a cold wave, carrying bone-chilling murderous intent as it pressed directly toward the Su Family.

Just as this pressure was about to strike, a loud, long laugh pierced the stagnant air.

An old man flew out on a sword. The abundant spiritual power contained in his laughter instantly dispersed the pressure.

"It's certainly lively today."

The old man hovered in mid-air and said loudly, "Why must Patriarch Xiao be so angry? When Cultivators go out for experience, life and death are common occurrences. You can't go around wiping out a faction every time you lose someone, can you?"

Before he could finish, another figure arrived through the air. An equally powerful Foundation Establishment pressure surged forth, precisely targeting the old man.

The newcomer was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Liang Family. He looked young, and a blatant sneer played on his lips.

"Tsk, tsk. When did the Ancestor of the Qian Clan, a dignified Foundation Establishment Family, become a watchdog for the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce?"

As the two stood in opposition and their Foundation Establishment spiritual powers collided, two more powerful Foundation Establishment pressures suddenly swept in from different directions in the distance!

The four pressures collided and surged, whipping up a visible, invisible hurricane in mid-air that made the robes of those below flap loudly and sent sand and stones flying.

However, the owners of the two later pressures did not reveal themselves, remaining hidden in the shadows and using only their auras for intimidation.

Clearly, they intended to state their positions rather than get involved in the battle.

In a single day, the auras and figures of multiple Foundation Establishment Cultivators had appeared here one after another!

The onlookers were all dumbfounded. After a brief silence, bursts of uncontrollable exclamations and discussions erupted from the crowd.

"That's the Ancestor of the Qian Clan and the Liang Family Head! They've both appeared!"

"The other two auras... though they haven't shown their Faces, these unique Dao technique fluctuations seem like the Guild Leader of the Kaishan Guild and the Manager of the Baibao Pavilion!"

"Even these two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who rarely show their Faces, have come to wade into these muddy waters?"

"Tsk, tsk. My eyes have really been opened today! Is this the wrestling between great Foundation Establishment clans? They haven't even fought yet, and just the clash of pressures is already so terrifying!"

"The Su Family's ability to get the Qian Family and the Kaishan Guild to intervene and restrain the others shows that the rumors of them having a Foundation Establishment background are true."

"But their own Foundation Establishment Cultivator doesn't seem to be in the Yunmeng Ruins. Right now, in terms of the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Su Family is still at a disadvantage!"

Cultivators hiding in various shadows whispered to each other, their gazes shifting back and forth between the factions.

Patriarch of the Xiao Family scanned the area. Seeing that no more Foundation Establishment Cultivators appeared from the Su Family's side, a cold smile formed on his lips.

As expected, the only ones the Su Family could rely on were the Qian Family and the Kaishan Guild.

Ultimately, they were outsiders with shallow Foundations and limited connections; all of this was within the Xiao Family's expectations.

"It seems... these are all the trump cards your Su Family can produce."

Patriarch of the Xiao Family's gaze was like a knife, and his words were bone-chillingly cold. "The destruction of the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce today is a foregone conclusion."

"You need not worry about your hometown. Afterward, I will personally go to Qingyuan to uproot the Su Family's Foundation and execute every last member of your clan, young and old."

"You will be able to reunite with your clansmen on the road to the Yellow Springs."

The moment his words fell, the spiritual power around Patriarch of the Xiao Family suddenly boiled.

Foundation Establishment pressure erupted, like a mountain collapsing, aimed directly at the Su Family!

At this critical moment, a soft sigh, as if traversing the clamorous killing intent, sounded clearly in everyone's ears.

"Fellow Daoist, wait. I still have an unfinished Karma with the Su Family. Please give me some Face and let this matter end here."

This sudden voice caused Patriarch of the Xiao Family's movements, which were at the height of his killing intent, to suddenly freeze.

Although the other party didn't intentionally display their cultivation, the spiritual power in that voice was pure and thick, far exceeding an ordinary Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even faintly giving him the pressure of a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Patriarch of the Xiao Family's expression suddenly turned grave as his sharp gaze swept toward the source of the voice.

However, in stark contrast to Patriarch of the Xiao Family's wariness, the Faces of the Su Family members were filled with confusion.

They didn't remember inviting any other Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

Even Su Yang, hidden in the crowd, was slightly taken aback.

He looked toward the sound, his gaze passing through the crowd to land on the figure slowly walking out.

The moment he saw the person's Face clearly, a flash of realization crossed Su Yang's eyes.

This person, he knew.