133: lead the way

Meanwhile, the blood, being pulled, gradually gathered in the hook-nosed old man's hand, forming a crimson heart.

Zheng Yaohuo's eyes widened, looking at the hook-nosed old man in disbelief.

"Demonic Path Foundation Establishment Cultivator! This... how is this possible!"

He uttered these words, his lips trembling.

He never would have imagined that the person before him was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

And a Demonic Cultivator at that!

However, as their blood was gradually drawn away, their vital essence and spirit also rapidly drained.

In just a few breaths, their auras became extremely weak.

They wanted to resist, but couldn't muster any strength.

As time passed, the despair in their hearts grew deeper.

At this moment, Zheng Yaohuo looked at Zheng Qingping with a ferocious expression.

"Traitor! How dare you!"

The remaining few Zheng Family members also cursed Zheng Qingping vehemently.

At this point, how could they not see that this was clearly a trap!

They had confidently fled right into it!

They dared not resent Lu Ming, the instigator, and could only direct their anger at Zheng Qingping.

Betrayed by their own clansman, their hearts were filled with furious hatred.

But Zheng Qingping was no longer listening to any of it.

His face was pale, and he trembled all over as he watched this scene unfold.

He knew that Wu Daoren was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but he never expected him to be a powerful Demonic Path Cultivator!

Previously, he had only been forced to surrender due to the difference in cultivation.

But now, he only felt lucky that he had knelt so quickly.

However, looking at the miserable state of Zheng Yaohuo and the others, his reverence and fear of Wu Daoren reached their peak in that instant.

Otherwise, he would have followed in the footsteps of Zheng Yaohuo and the others.

Lu Ming watched this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips.

However, under the crimson reflection, Lu Ming's smile appeared particularly sinister and eerie.

He deliberately showed this hand in front of Zheng Qingping, primarily to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Controlling the Zheng Family didn't require everyone to fear him; it only needed the person in charge to hold him in awe.

And the effect was remarkably significant.

Since the objective was achieved, Zheng Yaohuo and the others should die now.

The fact that they could last so long was, of course, because Lu Ming had held back.

Otherwise, killing them too quickly wouldn't have had much visual impact or shock value.

The Demonic Bloodspring Method was fully activated, and the Yin Lotus Mother-Child Twin Birth Method absorbed the power of the Divine Soul.

In an instant, the screams and curses of Zheng Yaohuo and the others ceased abruptly.

Then, only five desiccated corpses remained on the ground.

Subsequently, Lu Ming threw a ball of dark green flame, which consumed them all, leaving not even a speck of ash.

Lu Ming also didn't forget Zheng Qingqi, who had become a living corpse; although he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, a mosquito, no matter how small, is still meat.

After doing everything and collecting the Storage Pouches of the several individuals, Lu Ming left with the pale-faced Zheng Qingping.

It was time to resolve the matter of the Zheng Family!

...

Not long after.

Two figures appeared outside the Zheng Family, precisely Lu Ming and Zheng Qingping.

However, Lu Ming's face had now changed to Zheng Yaohuo's appearance.

"Is this the second-tier Heavenly Wolf Howling at the Moon Formation?"

Lu Ming looked at the silver-glowing light barrier before him, feeling the waves of power emanating from it, and couldn't help but murmur.

Lu Ming was not proficient in the Dao of Formations and couldn't discern its intricacies.

But this Heavenly Wolf Howling at the Moon Formation made him feel a hint of danger.

Of course, it was only a hint.

Not to mention whether the Zheng Family still had the ability to control this Formation, even if Zheng Tianming personally presided over it, he was confident he could retreat unscathed.

The mobile Bloodspring of the Bloodspring was no joke.

If he couldn't be killed in one blow, he would never die, unless the Bloodspring dried up.

However, Lu Ming had gone through such a long detour, fishing and planting soul seeds.

Wasn't it all to avoid trouble?

However, to be safe, he covered his body, beneath his robes, with the blood he had extracted from the few Zheng Family Cultivators.

At the same time, he used the Five Elements Luo Yan Shield, obtained at the auction, to conceal any escaping aura with its stealth properties.

After ensuring everything was foolproof, Lu Ming signaled Zheng Qingping to open the Formation.

At the same time, he used the soul seed to probe his inner thoughts.

Fortunately, Zheng Qingping was very honest and harbored no ill intentions.

He took out a white jade token, activated a drop of essence blood within it.

Then, his magical power surged, he formed hand seals, and chanted incantations.

Subsequently, a white light flew from the token and merged into the Formation's light shield.

A moment later, the Formation opened a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

"Senior, I have opened the Formation, please enter!"

Lu Ming didn't hesitate and walked in with Zheng Qingping.

And the Formation did not react unusually.

Upon entering the Zheng Family, Lu Ming directly commanded, "Take me to Zheng Tianming!"

Zheng Tianming was the biggest target of this trip; the Zheng Family could only be said to be an add-on.

So, he would finish the main business first, then deal with the Zheng Family's affairs.

However, Zheng Qingping hesitated slightly.

"Senior, it's not that I'm unwilling, but no one is allowed into Old Ancestor's secluded cultivation place."

"It's fine, just lead the way."

Lu Ming waved his hand, appearing unconcerned.

No one in the Zheng Family could stop him now.

As for Zheng Tianming? Probably no one knew his current state better than Lu Ming himself.

He was barely clinging to life; even a Qi Refining Cultivator could easily deal with him.

And now, whether the Zheng Family was to be subdued or sacrificed in a blood ritual was entirely up to his whim.

"Yes, Senior, this way, please."

Zheng Qingping could only bite the bullet and agree; he had no way out now.

Whether it was betraying his clansmen or inviting a wolf into the house, the Zheng Family could no longer tolerate him.

He could only follow closely in Wu Daoren's footsteps; only by receiving the Senior's protection could he survive, and perhaps even live better than before.

Thinking this, Zheng Qingping led Lu Ming all the way to the back mountain.

Along the way, they encountered many Zheng Family members.

However, Zheng Yaohuo and Zheng Qingping's cultivation levels were among the highest in the Zheng Family.

Most of the clansmen merely greeted them and did not approach to chat, which saved trouble.

However, everyone was somewhat puzzled: why were Zheng Yaohuo and Zheng Qingping walking together?

Although the Second Branch and Third Branch were allied now, they wouldn't usually be so close in private.

And the direction they were heading seemed to be the back mountain!

This news was also reported by an astute individual to the Family Head, Zheng Yaoxing.

"Are they going to see the Old Ancestor?"

Zheng Yaoxing's expression was not good when he received the news.

He rubbed his forehead, a headache coming on; these two branches really gave him no peace of mind.

In fact, he had his own unspoken difficulties; the reason he consolidated Family power was not for personal gain, but to deal with potential crises that might arise.

Because the Old Ancestor's current state was not good at all, with the possibility of him passing away at any time, so the fewer people who knew about this, the better.

However, this led the other two branches to feel that their interests were being harmed, and they started an internal struggle at this critical juncture.

Zheng Yaoxing had talked to his two younger brothers, directly stating his thoughts and informing them of the Old Ancestor's condition.

But those two fools, blinded by power, didn't believe him at all, thinking he was making excuses.

And without the Old Ancestor's instruction, Zheng Yaoxing couldn't directly take the two to visit, so he had to drag it out until now.

Now, hearing that the two were going to the back mountain, Zheng Yaoxing couldn't sit still and rushed to the back mountain in a hurry.

Zheng Yaofeng also received the news; he didn't understand why his son would be with his second brother, and he hastily left, abandoning what he was doing.

The Zheng Family also became turbulent due to this unusual scene.

The three branches gathering at the back mountain—what happened?

And what was happening here was also relayed back by the Huang Family's spies stationed in the Zheng Family.