116: Chapter 116 Expedition?

"Is the Wang Family Head or Brother Chongyang present? The Spirit Sword Sect's inspection envoy has arrived; come out and pay your respects immediately."

This voice was loud and arrogant, imbued with the magic power of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and every single word exploded over Lotus Pier like muffled thunder.

The sound waves swept across the entire Wogui Mountain, causing the light barrier of the grand protective array to ripple slightly.

The Loose Cultivators in the mid-mountain market stopped and looked up one after another, their faces showing expressions of shock and suspicion—why would people from the Spirit Sword Sect suddenly come to Lotus Pier?

Judging by that tone, the visitors meant no good.

Everyone in the Wang Family's conference hall who had been passionately discussing the assembly line plan fell silent at the same time, and the hall, which had just been as noisy as a market, became dead silent.

Wang Yaozu and Wang Yaowen exchanged a glance, both seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes—they had come, and they came even faster than anticipated.

"Sixth Uncle, let's go out together."

Wang Yaozu stood up, his expression solemn yet unflustered.

Wang Chongyang nodded slightly, his grey robes lightly brushing as he walked side by side with Wang Yaozu out of the conference hall.

Wang Shouren followed closely behind. As he crossed the threshold, he quietly transmitted his voice to Wang Yaowu beside him: "Third Uncle, have all the Shou-generation members retreat into the inner courtyard, and do not allow Qingcheng and Qingxin to come out."

Wang Yaowu nodded, turned, and strode toward the back courtyard, one hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.

Behind him, several Shou-generation Disciples quickly ran to various places to spread the word, while a deacon Disciple approached Wang Yaozu's side, lowering his voice and speaking urgently.

"Family Head, do we need to fully activate the grand protective array?"

Wang Yaozu did not stop his steps, pondering slightly before transmitting his voice back.

"Temporarily deactivate the grand protective array, and leave two quick-witted ones to guard the array core. Activate it immediately upon any unusual movement, and remember, do not let anyone touch the core of the array."

On the stone platform outside the mountain gate of Lotus Pier, four streaks of light descended from the clouds.

At the lead was a youth of twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old with a tall and slender figure and a face like jade. A silver-patterned white robe belonging to an Inner Sect Disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect rustled loudly in the mountain wind.

He stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the stone platform, his chin slightly raised as his gaze swept across the pavilions and towers of Lotus Pier, a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of his mouth.

That smile was not benevolent; it felt more like someone accustomed to famous mountains and great rivers suddenly being led to a rural dirt mound, finding it somewhat comical.

The Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was released without reservation, crushing the fallen leaves on the stone platform tightly against the ground.

Standing behind him were two elderly men similarly dressed in the attire of the Spirit Sword Sect, both possessing the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Their beards and hair were mottled, their expressions rigid, and their hands were tucked into their sleeves as they stood half a step behind the youth in silence, resembling two sections of withered wood.

The three of them formed a triangle formation, blocking the mountain gate of Lotus Pier tightly.

Hu Shan stood half a step behind and to the side of the youth, his expression respectful yet tinged with a subtle awkwardness. That announcement just now was shouted by him.

The transfer order for him to step down as the magistrate of Wanshan County had already been issued. Due to his merit in eradicating the evil Cultivator Ning Chuan, upon returning to the Sect, he would be promoted to an Inner Sect Deacon Elder, which was precisely a time when his future looked extremely bright.

Yet at this very critical juncture, the Spirit Sword Sect suddenly sent inspection envoys, and the person leading them happened to be this individual.

He cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he did not dare to show even a shred of it.

Wang Chongyang and Wang Yaozu walked out of the mountain gate side by side.

Wang Chongyang was still wearing that washed-white grey Daoist robe, his aura completely and cleanly restrained. If one didn't look closely, he would just be taken for an ordinary gate-guarding old Daoist.

Wang Yaozu walked beside him, his green robe neat and his expression calm. His gaze swept over the Spirit Sword Sect emblems on the lapels of the three strange Cultivators, and he already had a calculation in his heart.

Wang Shouren followed behind the two of them, lagging half a step behind. His gaze swiftly swept past the three strange Cultivators and finally landed on Hu Shan's face, precisely capturing the flash of helplessness in Hu Shan's eyes.

His heart sank—someone who could make Hu Shan wear such an expression must have a formidable background.

Wang Yaozu took the lead in cupping his hands, his courtesies thorough, neither humble nor arrogant: "We were unaware of the arrival of the Spirit Sword Sect Immortals, and failing to welcome you from afar, we hope for your forgiveness. Since the Immortals have traveled from afar, why not enter and be served tea, so that the Wang Family may fulfill a bit of our role as hosts."

He turned sideways to yield the passage of the mountain gate and made a gesture of invitation, his attitude respectful yet not flattering.

The youth didn't even lift his eyelids, still standing with his hands behind his back, and said indifferently: "Tea is unnecessary."

Hu Shan hurriedly stepped forward, gave a dry cough, and introduced them to both sides: "Brother Chongyang, Wang Family Head, this is Yang Zhenghua, the Personal Disciple under the Sect Head of the Spirit Sword Sect and ranked second among the Inner Sect Disciples."

"Senior Brother Yang has been ordered by the Sect this time to specifically investigate the case of the annihilation of the Ning Family in Xiaoshan County. Senior Brother Yang, this is Master Chongyang, the Grand Elder of the Wang Family, and this is Wang Yaozu, the Wang Family Head."

Wang Yaozu cupped his hands again: "So it is Immortal Duan, long admired."

Yang Zhenghua did not return the courtesy.

He withdrew his gaze from the distant mountain scenery and let it fall onto Wang Yaozu's face. The ambiguous, smiling curve at the corners of his mouth slowly faded, replaced by a condescending scrutiny.

When he spoke, his voice was not loud, yet it pressed down so heavily that the air in front of the mountain gate sank because of it.

"Wang Family Head doesn't need to be so polite. This deity has come to your door today for only one matter—"

He slightly tilted his head, his gaze crossing over Wang Yaozu to glance at the intricately carved pavilions and towers within Lotus Pier, his tone sounding like he was pronouncing judgment on a case that had long been concluded.

"The entire Ning Family of over three hundred mouths perished completely overnight. The laws of the Yue State strictly prohibit large-scale conflicts between families, let alone extermination of clans. Since your Wang Family is protected by the Spirit Sword Sect and enjoys the benefits of Wanshan County's Spiritual Vein, you should naturally abide by the rules of the Spirit Sword Sect."

Now that you dared to break the rules knowing them well, the Wang Family's case has been exposed.

The smile on Wang Yaozu's face did not diminish, but the smile in the depths of his eyes had quietly receded.

He was in no rush to defend himself, nor did he show the slightest bit of panic. He simply stood there steadily, his tone remaining respectful and peaceful.

"The Immortal exaggerates. Regarding the matter of the Ning Family's annihilation, our Wang Family is also deeply shocked. I wonder where the Immortal's words come from?"