164: Chapter 164: Amidst the ruins, there was not a trace of life.

Steward Wang looked at his three consecrated experts, a smile returning to his face.

He pointed at Yun Tianxiang, his tone filled with smugness: "A mere Initial Stage of Void Refinement dares to run wild on my Chunhui Xie's territory?"

The three consecrated experts took a step forward simultaneously, their three Initial Stage of Void Refinement pressures intertwining as they bore down on Yun Tianxiang.

In their eyes, this scene was already enough to suppress the opponent. After all, four Initial Stage of Void Refinements against one Initial Stage of Void Refinement was a completely one-sided match no matter how one looked at it.

But in the next moment, his smile froze.

Not only was the young man in the gray robe not forced back by the pressure, but he actually took a step forward. He did not release any Aura from his body, yet the pressure of the three consecrated experts shattered instantly, as if they had crashed into an invisible barrier.

Steward Wang's expression changed slightly. He suddenly realized that he might have misjudged things; this young man in front of him was definitely no ordinary Initial Stage of Void Refinement.

"Do it!" Steward Wang barked without hesitation.

The three consecrated experts simultaneously mobilized their spiritual energy, and their Magical Artifacts flew from their hands. Three beams of spiritual light blasted toward Yun Tianxiang from different directions. The speed of their attacks and their seamless cooperation made it obvious that this was not the first time they had fought together.

The spiritual lights tore through the air, carrying fierce killing intent, completely enveloping the space within several Zhang around Yun Tianxiang.

Yun Tianxiang did not draw his sword, nor did he even move his feet.

He merely raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and pressed down lightly into the empty air ahead.

An invisible force surged from his palm, and ripples spread out in all directions with him as the center.

Wherever the ripples passed, the three fierce spiritual lights crashed into what seemed like a copper wall and iron barrier, emitting a muffled explosion before silently shattering and dispersing into a sky full of spiritual light.

The expressions of the three consecrated experts changed drastically at the same time. They could feel that the invisible force did not stop after crushing their techniques, but instead continued to spread toward them.

The force seemed gentle, but it carried an unstoppable crushing momentum, as if heaven and earth themselves were squeezing down on them.

The three simultaneously activated their protective spiritual light in an attempt to resist, but the moment their protective lights contacted that force, they began to flicker violently, emitting a strained buzzing sound.

In the next instant, the protective spiritual lights of all three shattered at once. Their bodies were sent flying backward by the force, crashing heavily against the courtyard wall, blood spraying wildly from their mouths.

The three struggled at the base of the wall but could no longer get up. Steward Wang's smile froze completely on his face.

His hands, which had been clasped behind his back, clenched unconsciously. His fingernails dug into his palms, sending a sharp sting of pain.

He had been standing behind the three consecrated experts, intending to watch a good show. However, the twist in the show had come too quickly and too decisively, leaving him absolutely no time to react.

He watched his three consecrated experts fall to the base of the wall like tattered sacks, then looked at the gray-robed young man who had not even moved his feet from beginning to end, a wave of unprecedented chill rising in his heart.

"You... who on earth are you?"

Yun Tianxiang did not answer. He withdrew his hand, his gaze falling back onto Steward Wang. His tone was flat but carried an unquestionable coldness: "Where is my brother? I do not like to repeat myself a third time."

Steward Wang's lips twitched. He opened his mouth, wanting to use the Xie Family's name to suppress the other party, but the words "Xie Family" had just reached his tongue when he swallowed them back down.

The combat strength this young man had just displayed had already far exceeded the scope of the Initial Stage of Void Refinement. To defeat three opponents on his own without even moving a single step—this was simply not an existence he could contend with.

He calculated rapidly in his mind. Although the opponent's combat strength was astonishing, he was ultimately only at the Initial Stage of Void Refinement. Meanwhile, the Xie Family's Old Ancestor was at the Peak of Body Integration. As long as he could stall for time and get the Xie Family to take action, they might still have a chance of victory.

"Alright, I'll speak."

Steward Wang took a deep breath, pretending to admit defeat, his tone carrying a hint of submission.

"Your brother is indeed in my hands, but I didn't do anything to him. He is just locked up in Muyun Villa."

He paused, then continued, "Muyun Villa is eight hundred miles southwest of Qingkui City. There are several consecrated experts from the Xie Family stationed there, one of whom is at the Late Stage of Void Refinement. If you want to save your brother, you will have to go there yourself."

Yun Tianxiang looked at him, his gaze calm, as if he could see right through his thoughts.

Steward Wang felt a chill down his spine under his gaze, but he still forced himself not to look away, secretly praying in his heart that the other party would leave as soon as possible so he would have a chance to send word.

Yun Tianxiang remained silent for a moment, then walked toward him with unhurried steps.

Steward Wang instinctively took a step back and barked, bluffing fiercely, "What do you want to do? I've already told you!"

Yun Tianxiang stopped in front of him, raised his hand, and a beam of spiritual light sank into his forehead.

Before Steward Wang could even resist, he felt a force invade his Sea of Consciousness, forcefully rummaging through his memories.

Muyun Villa, a dungeon holding Loose Cultivators and vagrants, guarded by the Xie Family's Second Elder.

Most of the captured people were used to test medicine, while a small portion were sent deeper inside, supposedly related to a secret plan of the Xuanyuan Dynasty's Xie Family.

Yun Tianque was locked up in the deepest part of the dungeon, injured but still alive.

Yun Tianxiang withdrew the spiritual light. Steward Wang's body collapsed limply to the ground, his eyes rolling back and his breath weak. Although he did not lose his life, he was already reduced to a crippled state, unable to cause any more trouble.

Yun Tianxiang did not spare him another glance, turning around to walk toward the courtyard.

He stood still in the center of the courtyard, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire Chunhui Xie estate.

The guards, servants, and accountants cowering in the corners were all pale and trembling at this moment, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Some wanted to flee, but their legs refused to obey, leaving them paralyzed on the spot.

Yun Tianxiang withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes. His Divine Sense, like an invisible tide, spread out in all directions with him as the center, enveloping every single corner of the Chunhui Xie estate.

After confirming that no one had slipped through the net, he slowly raised his right hand.

Above his palm, a ball of crimson-gold light was condensing. Though the light was only the size of a fist, the power contained within caused the air of the entire estate to tremble slightly, and the bluestone slabs on the ground began to crack.

Those kneeling on the ground finally realized what was about to happen. Some began to wail loudly, some desperately kowtowed for mercy, and some tried to scramble up and run.

Yun Tianxiang did not hesitate. The crimson-gold light in his palm suddenly surged, condensing into an extremely refined pillar of light that crashed down violently toward the vast estate below.

With a deafening roar, the Chunhui Xie estate shattered inch by inch within the crimson-gold light.

Bricks disintegrated, beams and pillars snapped, and spiritual light dispersed. Those who had not yet managed to escape were completely swallowed up, without even having time to scream.

After the light dissipated, the once bustling and prosperous Chunhui Xie had been reduced to a heap of ruins. Broken walls and debris lay everywhere, dust filled the air, and the residual scorching heat still lingered in the atmosphere.

Within the ruins, not a single trace of life remained.