33: Chapter 33 Murderous Intent

After the Drunken Immortal Tower reopened, its business returned to its former prosperity.

The aristocratic families and powerful officials were just that pragmatic. Flattering the powerful and clinging to the influential was the norm of human nature. Who among those in high positions didn't yearn for eternal youth?

Even the Jiang Family, a Qi Refining Family, couldn't resist the temptation of youthful beauty, let alone Martial Artist families and ordinary nobility.

With the Drunken Immortal Tower generating a steady stream of wealth, the Su Family's days seemed to return to their former peace and tranquility.

However, when night fell and the wind lanterns swayed under the eaves, the hidden killing intent was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

The Su Family dared not relax. On the surface, they appeared unaware of the danger quietly approaching, but in secret, they were strictly vigilant.

Night.

Qin Jiangmei was in the bedroom, coaxing the young Su Xuanxiao to sleep.

Su Xuanjing was in the room accompanying her mother. She sat at the table, meticulously drawing a Talisman, her small face serious and focused.

This was one of the rare quiet moments for Su Xuanjing.

She was very interested in Talismans. Since she couldn't Cultivate yet, she could only draw the runes on paper.

To be fair, the runic script looked quite decent, only lacking the infusion of spiritual power.

Xiao Mei stood in the room, drowsy. Watching Su Xuanjing's adorable appearance, a loving smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

Suddenly, the explosive sound of a firework erupted in the sky above the Su Family's estate, blooming with dazzling brilliance.

Xiao Mei jolted alert, her entire body tensing up.

"Mother!"

Su Xuanjing hurriedly stood up, her tone anxious.

This was the Su Family's signal firework, launched when outsiders intruded upon the estate.

Without a doubt, it must be the Zheng Family attacking!

Qin Jiangmei's expression turned slightly grave. Her voice steady, she said, "Xiao Mei, take good care of Xuanjing and Xuanxiao. Stay inside the room and don't run around."

"Be careful, Madam," Xiao Mei reminded nervously.

Qin Jiangmei said no more. She immediately stepped outside and closed the door.

Su Xuanheng, holding a long sword, stood with a murderous aura, blocking the doorway to his mother's room. He stared ahead at two figures strolling towards him.

With the explosion of the firework, the clashing sounds of weapons and fighting erupted in the mansion courtyard.

Enemies poured in from all directions, only to be immediately intercepted by the Su Family's Martial Artists.

Only two figures strolled leisurely, traversing the estate and arriving at the inner courtyard.

"I never expected the Su Family to be hiding so many Innate Martial Artists. No wonder they dared to oppose the Zheng Family. Fortunately, Family Head Zheng is prudent, actually sending you, Elder, here."

Upon hearing this, Elder Zheng chuckled lightly, his laughter hoarse and sinister. His face was so aged he resembled an old man whose oil lamp was about to run dry.

"What prudence? It's merely excessive caution. Now it seems this Su Family isn't even worth this old man's trip. The few people in this inner courtyard can be handled by you, Family Head Zhu."

The two conversed easily as if no one else were present, gradually revealing their figures from the darkness.

Su Xuanheng narrowed his eyes slightly, Protective Aura flowing around his body.

He didn't recognize the Zheng Family's Martial Arts Grandmaster, but he did recognize Zhu Chong, the head of the Zhu Family!

He hadn't expected the invaders to include not only the Zheng Family but also the Zhu Family lending support.

"Kid, to have such achievements at such a young age, you must have consumed quite a few martial dao pills."

Zhu Chong grinned, his prominent potbelly particularly noticeable.

It was hard to believe someone with such a physique could be an Innate Realm Martial Artist.

Elder Zheng's smile was sinister. His gaze swept past Su Xuanheng to Qin Jiangmei standing behind him, a flicker of doubt arising in his heart.

A defenseless woman, instead of hiding inside, stands outside the room. Does she intend to die for love?

"I thought only the Zheng Family was attacking. I didn't expect your Zhu Family to join the excitement."

Qin Jiangmei's clear, cold face was bathed in moonlight, like a jade-carved Fairy statue, exuding an icy chill untouched by worldly dust.

"No choice. The Su Family nearly monopolizes the spirit plant business in Qingyuan. My Zhu Family wants to establish itself relying on spirit plant. This is the only way."

Zhu Chong wore a helpless expression, as if he were the victim.

Once the Su Family was destroyed, he could not only obtain the Su Family's spirit plant Legacy but also the spirit fields the Su Family had cultivated for years.

From now on, the Zhu Family would be the largest spirit plant supplier in Qingyuan County!

Qin Jiangmei sneered, "My husband was right. The vision of Martial Artist families is too narrow, each one utterly foolish."

"Enough talk. Without Su Yang's protection, you will certainly die tonight," Zhu Chong said disdainfully. "Surely, Madam Su doesn't actually think your child can match us, does you?"

A young Innate Realm Martial Artist indeed had boundless prospects and was destined to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster in the future.

But a Genius that hasn't grown up is, in the end, just a Genius.

Zhu Chong couldn't imagine any way the Su Family could turn the tables.

Although there were many Innate Martial Artists guarding outside, they were all engaged in battle out there and likely didn't even know someone had breached the inner courtyard.

Zhu Chong wasted no more words. He directly drew his blade and slashed at Su Xuanheng.

No matter how strong Su Xuanheng's Martial Arts talent was, with a Martial Arts Grandmaster backing him up here, defeat was impossible.

In an instant, the blade's gleam sliced through the cold night wind, emitting a shrill shriek.

Zhu Chong's figure was obese, but his speed was bizarrely fast as he charged head-on, cleaving down at Su Xuanheng!

Su Xuanheng's face remained cold and stern as ice. Not a trace of fear could be seen in his eyes, only a burning, intense fighting spirit.

His wrist flicked. The long sword rang out as it left its sheath, accurately parrying the blade tearing through the air!

Clang——!

The ear-piercing metallic clash erupted like thunder, abruptly shattering the silence of the inner courtyard!

Fierce Protective Aura erupted violently from the point where blade and sword met, transforming into a visible ring of air shockwaves that violently swept out in all directions!

Peace was utterly torn apart!

Wherever the shockwaves passed, dust and gravel on the ground were viciously scraped away. Flowers and plants in the courtyard instantly flattened and shattered. Tiles on the eaves rattled and fell, crashing to the ground with crisp, cracking sounds.

Zhu Chong felt a pang of surprise, forced to admit that the young Su Xuanheng indeed had some skill.

But so what? This Genius wouldn't live past tonight.

Just as Zhu Chong felt victory was assured and Elder Zheng watched the scene calmly.

Qin Jiangmei, who had been standing behind them the whole time, suddenly raised her hand. Over a dozen flagpoles flew out from her palm, swiftly reaching various positions.

"Kun carries Li's brightness, Dui's metal and Xun's wood, Kan's water births aura..."

Qin Jiangmei's hands rapidly formed hand seals, spiritual power activating the Formation as she uttered a soft command.

"Five Elements rotate, swords lock the celestial aura! Rise!"

In an instant, five-colored radiance shot into the sky. The Formation Flags hummed and vibrated.

Countless fine, sharp sword shadows materialized out of thin air, intertwining into a dense net of killing intent. The entire inner courtyard was instantly enveloped by the Formation!

A piercingly cold Sword Intent chilled to the bone. The shadow of death flooded the two like a tidal wave.

"A Formation! How is that possible!"

"You're a Cultivator!?"

Elder Zheng, who had been sneering just moments ago, instantly changed color.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Chong's heart instantly sank halfway.

Only a Cultivator's spiritual power could manipulate a Formation. But how could Madam Su be a Cultivator?

Both of their minds went somewhat blank, but Su Xuanheng wouldn't give them time to think.

He swung his sword, pulling along the myriad sword shadows suspended in the air within the Formation.

In that instant, countless sword shadows, carrying the shriek of tearing air, swept down like raging tidal waves!

Zhu Chong's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. Disregarding the side effects, he directly swallowed a Medicinal Pill. His obese body erupted with astonishing power.

His long blade danced wildly, his Protective Aura pushed to its limit!

"Break for me——!"

Zhu Chong roared fiercely, his eyes bloodshot.

However, the sword shadows were simply too dense. The first dozen or so sword shadows were barely blocked by his Protective Aura, emitting sharp explosive clangs, sparks flying everywhere.

But the sword shadows that followed poured down like a torrential downpour, mercilessly piercing through his Protective Aura shield.

Splashes of blood bloomed miserably all over Zhu Chong's body.

He didn't even have time to scream before his entire body collapsed under the concentrated barrage of sword shadows.

Elder Zheng, after all, was a Martial Arts Grandmaster. He had refined aura into his body, with a shimmering halo flowing around him, barely withstanding this wave of sword shadows.

The sounds of metallic clashes continuously exploded around him. The composure on his face had long vanished, replaced only by shock and gravity.

His mind raced. Even a Martial Arts Grandmaster would be slowly worn down to death within a Formation.

He had to escape outside the Formation to have a chance to counterattack.

Just as he blocked the last wave of sword shadows and was about to search for the Formation barrier to break it by brute force...

Thick fog abruptly rose all around, soundlessly.

Dense, impenetrable white mist instantly swallowed the entire inner courtyard!

The scene of the fierce battle just moments ago, the fallen Zhu Chong, Su Xuanheng holding his sword, Qin Jiangmei who had set up the Formation—all disappeared into the mist.

Elder Zheng's face froze. His turbid old eyes widened to their limits, yet he could only see a suffocating expanse of grayish-white.

"Disaster!"

Cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

This wasn't just a killing Formation; it was also a trapping Formation!

Without a Cultivator proficient in Formation Dao to break it, even if he could break it by brute force, within a trapping Formation he couldn't even find the direction of the Formation barrier, let alone break it?