64: New and old grudges

“What is happening outside? Such noise, where is the decorum?”

Zhao Shouren lightly blew away the tea foam and took a sip.

An Innate Martial Artist stumbled in.

“F-Family Head...”

Fear was in the Xiantian's eyes, and he weakly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

“Young Master... Young Master...”

Zhao Shouren heard that this involved his son and couldn't help but roar in anger.

“What is wrong with that rebellious son again? Didn't I tell him to go invite someone? Why is he causing such a huge commotion?”

Zhao Shouren understood his son well. Now that he controlled the Zhao Family, he usually used his authority to arrange simple tasks for his son, allowing him to contribute to the Family Head position and accumulate prestige for future inheritance of the Family Head role.

“Family Head, don't be angry. Ling'er is still young and will become more steady later. Lu Xuan already has a grudge against us; if Ling'er's attitude was too good, it would only make him think we were afraid of him.”

An old man sat steadily in a Grand Tutor's Chair, completely reserved and calm, like an ordinary person. This was Zhao Shikuan, the Zhao Family's Half-step Xiantian Great Grandmaster.

“Family Head... The Young Family Head, he was killed by Lu Xuan!!!”

The Xiantian finally revealed the news, realizing that if he didn't speak now, Lu Xuan would have already broken in.

“What!”

Zhao Shouren flashed in front of the Xiantian, grabbed his collar, his voice like winter ice, his eyes splitting with rage.

“The Young Family Head was killed by Lu Xuan.”

“Feng'er is dead? Feng'er is dead!!!!

Then why are you still alive?”

The Grandmaster's power erupted, and Zhao Shouren, striking in fury, instantly crushed the Xiantian's head.

Zhao Shikuan, standing nearby, remained silent, but his formerly restrained aura instantly burst forth the moment the news was revealed, clearly stating his stance.

“Lu Xuan!! Lu Xuan, you killed my son! I will make you pay a blood debt! Your wife, children, and Elders, the entire West Mountain Village, will pay a bloody price for your actions.”

Although his son was a bit of a scoundrel on normal days, he was still Zhao Shouren's son, completely different from those commoners.

“Elder, I trouble you to come with me and slay this fiend.”

“Naturally. If we don't kill this person, others will think my Zhao Family can be bullied!”

“Guards!”

“Family Head!”

“Gather all Innate experts, seal off this Manor. Absolutely do not let that villain escape.”

“Yes!”

----

Lu Xuan walked from the outside toward the inside, killing as he went.

Servants, killed!

Martial Artists, killed!

There was not a shred of mercy.

He quickly arrived in front of the hall.

Zhao Shouren was already waiting there, accompanied by the Zhao Family's Innate experts.

“Lu Xuan, you villain! I sent Ling'er to invite you, ready to turn conflict into friendship, yet you killed him!!!”

“Today, I will make you pay a blood debt! Not one of your wife, children, or Elders will escape!”

“Heh heh~”

Lu Xuan chuckled; his only response to Zhao Shouren was the strike of his blade.

A three-meter-long Saber Radiance lit up on Lu Xuan's blade.

In an instant, Lu Xuan unleashed more than ten consecutive slashes, but he still maintained his Grandmaster cultivation.

He intended to boil the frog slowly, forcing out all of the Zhao Family's strength bit by bit.

If he immediately displayed Xiantian Great Grandmaster cultivation, there was a risk that someone might secretly flee.

Seeing the overwhelming and dense Saber Radiance, Zhao Shouren thrust out his longsword.

Sinking Water Sword Art.

The sword was like rivers, lakes, and seas, attempting to block Lu Xuan's Saber Radiance.

However, the imagination was beautiful, but reality was cruel.

Even though Lu Xuan had held back his strength, over fifty percent of the Saber Radiance was still not blocked.

Dodging and maneuvering.

Bang, bang, bang~

The tables, chairs, and benches inside the hall were all split apart by Lu Xuan.

“Elder!”

“Attack together.”

Lu Xuan had locked onto the old man in the back early on. Although that person hadn't revealed his aura, Lu Xuan could still sense that his strength was likely the greatest among the group.

Zhao Shikuan held a Golden Mace in his hand.

His mace technique was executed with fierce vigor, and Lu Xuan even sensed a hint of Intent forming within it.

While effortlessly parrying the attacks of the two men, Lu Xuan consciously moved to kill among the crowd.

Every slash was directed not only at the two of them, but the remaining momentum, undiminished, killed the surrounding Martial Artists.

For a time, screams echoed incessantly.

“Villain, how dare you!!!”

Although Innate Martial Artists were not as important as Grandmasters, they were still the backbone of the Zhao Family. It must be known that the Innate Martial Artists here constituted nearly half of the Zhao Family's Innate experts, and both of their Grandmasters had come out.

If Lu Xuan killed too many of them, even after executing Lu Xuan, the Zhao Family's business and influence would still suffer.

Thinking of this, the offensive in Zhao Shouren's hand couldn't help but speed up by thirty percent. He even deliberately exposed a flaw, hoping Lu Xuan would fall for the trap.

But no matter how he attacked, Lu Xuan remained as relaxed as strolling in a garden, like a killing machine, continuously harvesting the Lu Family's Innate Martial Artists.

‘Long River Setting Sun!’

Finally, Zhao Shouren used his ultimate skill. This was a Secret Technique of the Zhao Family. This strike was equivalent to severing his hope of advancing to Xiantian Great Grandmaster. This attack poured out all his True Qi, Essence, and Spirit, shortening his lifespan by three years and leaving him weak for three months.

However, this strike would unleash power far exceeding that of a Peak Grandmaster, even posing a life threat to a Half-step Great Grandmaster.

He exchanged a glance with Zhao Shikuan, hardening his resolve.

His son was dead; he could not let the Family fall into further difficulty. Since the Elder was about to enter the Great Grandmaster Realm, only he could execute this Move.

He refused to believe Lu Xuan could also possess Half-step Great Grandmaster cultivation!

A yellow, water-like radiance rose from the soles of his feet. All the Essence and Qi in his body converged onto the sword in his hand. His originally black hair slowly turned gray, and a few wrinkles appeared on his forehead.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Faint sounds of flowing water even appeared above the courtyard.

“Lu Xuan, die!”

Zhao Shouren tapped his toe and rapidly attacked Lu Xuan. Every strike was accompanied by the rushing momentum of a great river.

“His strength has improved quite a bit. If I were only a Peak Grandmaster, I would truly be in trouble. It seems I cannot underestimate the accumulation of these Aristocratic Families and Sects.”

“You dare to be Divided Soul while fighting me? Arrogant!”

‘Setting Sun’

The previous Move was Long River, like a vast waterway; the next Move, Setting Sun, was the kind of Move that signified mutual destruction, a rebirth through death.

The water-like sword technique instantly became as scorching hot as the great sun.

“Ah~~~”

All of Zhao Shouren's True Qi surged out.

Bang! The sword momentum was undiminished, smashing the houses and walls behind, kicking up clouds of dust.

“Is he dead?”

The surrounding Innate experts could not see Lu Xuan clearly within the smoke and dust.

“He must be dead. That was the Long River Setting Sun.”

“That Move was once used by a Zhao Family member to slay a Grandmaster while only being Innate!”

“It's good that he's dead. I heard his Family is in West Mountain Village. We must go along when they are exterminated.”

Zhao Shouren half-knelt on the ground, supporting himself with his sword, his chest heaving violently.

He stared intently into the dust cloud.

Zhao Shikuan came to his side, helped him up, and transferred a stream of True Qi into his body.

However, his expression was serious. As a Half-step Great Grandmaster expert, he could clearly sense Lu Xuan's unhidden Blood Qi within the dust cloud.

Swish~

“Be careful, retreat quickly!”

Unfortunately, it was too late.

All the recently gathered Innate Martial Artists were sent flying by a single strike from Lu Xuan, either dead or crippled.

“This Move was decent, but unfortunately, it lacked something!!”

Lu Xuan's nonchalant voice drifted out from the dust cloud.

A slight breeze blew, scattering everyone's expectations.