56: The fog dissipates, witnessing death; the spirit stone's legacy returns.

From the cuff of his dark purple brocade robe, a sharp and peerless golden light suddenly shot out. It was incredibly fast, aiming straight for the space between Jiang Lu's eyebrows as he lay on the ground!

This strike was silent, its magical power restrained. Clearly, it had been prepared for a long time; the moment he struck, it was intended to be a fatal blow to destroy both the body and the evidence!

"Jiang Lu is a rebel of my Jiang Family and was removed from our records long ago!

I, Jiang, shall clean up my own house right now!"

Jiang Heming shouted sternly at the same time.

However, just as that sharp golden light flew into the range of the mist, a phantom of a green vine shot out from the side, arriving second but hitting first.

It appeared out of thin air like a spiritual snake, yet it was incredibly tough as it coiled around the golden light.

"Chiss—"

That seemingly incomparably sharp golden light was actually twisted and crushed by the phantom of the green vine.

The golden light quickly dimmed and collapsed, finally turning into a few scattered bits of Spiritual Qi and vanishing into the mist.

Jiang Heming's pupils suddenly constricted, and for the first time, a look of shock appeared on his face.

This move, the 'Sharp Gold Piercer,' while not his ultimate secret technique, was a First-Tier High Grade Gold-attribute spell he had practiced for many years. It emphasized speed, precision, and ruthlessness.

To ensure a certain kill, he had even secretly mobilized his magical power while speaking, using his wide sleeves and High Grade Dharma Robe to hide his preparations.

But the opponent... that vine spell the opponent had seemingly tossed out at random could actually neutralize his long-prepared attack so effortlessly?

Metal overcomes Wood is common sense, and he had the advantage of a sneak attack. How could this be?

'Could this Family Head Qi be a Spell Cultivator?'

Jiang Heming's mind raced, filled with shock and suspicion.

'Or perhaps he was already on guard against me and was also secretly gathering power?'

Whichever the case, it meant that this newly established Family Head was by no means someone to be trifled with!

His wariness deepened, but he forced a smile onto his face and gave two dry laughs, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

"Family Head Qi has fine methods!

In my haste, I only wanted to deal with this scum who betrayed the Family. I was a bit abrupt.

Since Family Head Qi has already made arrangements, that is for the best."

Jiang Lu, lying on the ground, saw everything.

The last spark of light in his eyes extinguished.

For the sake of the Family's so-called 'Grand Plan,' he had risked crossing the border, was captured after failing, and suffered through torture.

In the end, all he got in return was the Family's attempt to silence him.

Qi Yuan stopped looking at Jiang Lu on the ground and locked his gaze back onto Jiang Heming. His tone was flat, but every word hit like a hammer.

"Jiang Family Cultivators crossed my prefecture border, forcibly seized Immortal Sprouts, and injured my descendants.

Let me ask you, before my Qi Family came to Cloud Dream, how many Immortal Sprouts did your Jiang Family abduct with such behavior?"

He paused, not giving Jiang Heming a chance to make excuses, and continued.

"For this matter, your Jiang Family must give my Qi Family, and also our fellow Daoists of Yunliao Prefecture, an explanation."

Jiang Heming's expression shifted. He knew that today would not end well without some bleeding.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger and frustration in his heart, and said in a low voice:

"What kind of explanation does Family Head Qi want? You might as well state your terms.

However, you should know that although my Jiang Family is not fabulously wealthy, we are not soft persimmons to be squeezed by anyone."

Qi Yuan reached out his right hand, fingers spread, and calmly spat out two words: "Spirit Stones."

Jiang Heming's eyelid twitched. "How many?"

Qi Yuan retracted three fingers and said indifferently, "Two hundred."

"Two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones?!"

Jiang Heming's voice suddenly rose, and his face completely darkened.

"Family Head Qi truly has a massive appetite! Eight years of my Jiang Family's savings are only about that much!

This matter was merely an unfulfilled misunderstanding. Does Family Head Qi intend to press us so hard?

Do you really think my Jiang Family has no one of consequence?

Even if Family Head Qi has the appetite, you should be careful not to break your teeth!"

"One hundred and fifty."

Qi Yuan's tone remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard the other's threat.

"Absolutely impossible! At most fifteen!"

Jiang Heming gritted his teeth and offered a floor price.

This number made his heart ache, but it was still within the edge of what he could bear.

"Eighty."

Qi Yuan made a slight concession, but his gaze swept over the swaying figures faintly visible in the mist, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Family Head Jiang, the safety of many of your clan's younger generation tonight depends on your single thought.

I, Qi, have limited patience."

Jiang Heming's heart tightened, and his expression became even more unsightly.

The opponent was using blatant coercion!

His chest heaved as he weighed the pros and cons.

If he truly disregarded everything and turned hostile, the opponent had the advantage of the Formation; he might not necessarily come out on top.

Moreover, if the matter blew up, the consequences would be even more unthinkable.

"...Forty!"

He squeezed the words out from between his teeth, feeling as if his heart were bleeding.

"Plus... a copy of my Jiang Family's ancestral First-Tier Medium Grade Formation diagrams and Formation theory insights!

This is my Jiang Family's final bottom line!

If Family Head Qi is still not satisfied, then go ahead and strike. Let's see if my Jiang Family's sons are truly for you to squeeze as you please!"

Although a Formation Master Legacy was only First-Tier and not considered top-tier among the hundred arts of cultivation, any technical Legacy was the foundation of a Family and would not be easily leaked.

However, compared to hard Spirit Stones, a transcribed copy of the Legacy seemed like a smaller price to pay.

Qi Yuan remained silent for a moment.

Forty Spirit Stones were already within his expectations; the Concentric Jade he gave to Xuan Peak was only worth twenty Spirit Stones.

But adding a First-Tier Formation Master Legacy made it an even bigger gain.

Formation Master legacies were rare. Even a Medium Grade one was enough to glimpse the threshold, and it would be of great benefit for enriching the Family's foundation and improving defensive capabilities.

The several Formations he currently had on Green Cloud Mountain were set up using Formation Plates. Although they were connected to the Spiritual Vein, they were still not as good as those laid out directly against the ley lines.

This Jiang Heming seems to have truly been backed into a corner.

"Acceptable."

Qi Yuan finally nodded. "Establish a spirit contract. Once the Spirit Stones and the diagram Jade Slip are handed over, this matter will be concluded."

Jiang Heming breathed half a sigh of relief, but his face remained ashen.

"The spirit contract must state clearly that this matter is settled here, and your Qi Family may not use this as an excuse to cause trouble in the future!"

"Acceptable."

Qi Yuan agreed once more.

Jiang Heming's expression softened slightly as he took out a bulging cloth bag from his robes.

He then signaled to a trusted Elder who had hurried over from behind to hand over a Jade Slip.

He placed the cloth bag and the Jade Slip on the ground and pushed them toward the edge of the mist.

Qi Yuan's Spiritual Sense swept over them, confirming they were indeed forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and the Jade Slip containing the Formation content. No longer hesitating, he waved his hand and took the items into his sleeve.

He no longer looked at Jiang Lu curled on the ground, nor did he pay any more attention to the ashen-faced Jiang Heming outside the mist. His body swayed slightly, and the azure profound sword beneath his feet flashed with light, carrying him as he rose gracefully.

Just as he turned his sword to leave, a sharp green light shot out from his sleeve, piercing Jiang Lu's brow.

Jiang Lu's body trembled slightly, the light in his eyes completely vanished, and his breath stopped abruptly.

This man knew about the Concentric Jade he had given to Xuan Peak; leaving him alive would only be a liability.