297: I've succeeded!

At this very moment, thunderclouds churned in the firmament, with purple light faintly visible; the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation had finished brewing.

"Boom!!"

A purple lightning bolt as thick as a water bucket crashed down, striking directly toward the Murong Family below.

Just as it was about to land, a figure shot up from the depths of the Murong Family grounds, fearlessly meeting the world-destroying Lightning Tribulation.

Murong Jingyang's Qi surged like a tide as he unleashed all his methods, forcibly resisting each lightning bolt that struck down.

However, his Core Formation this time had been hasty and lacked sufficient preparation, making it inevitable that he would appear somewhat disheveled while dealing with the Lightning Tribulation.

Amidst the exploding lightning, his clothes were torn to shreds, his Physical Body was covered in scorch marks, blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and his aura teetered on the brink of collapse several times.

Fortunately, he ultimately managed to maintain clarity of mind and gritted his teeth to persevere.

When the final Lightning Tribulation descended, Murong Jingyang let out a long howl, staking every usable treasure on his person as he forcibly withstood the final bolt amidst a burst of brilliant light.

As the thunderclouds gradually dispersed across the sky, he stood bathed in blood, his body swaying unsteadily, yet golden light flickered within his eyes.

The Golden Core, achieved!

"Hahaha, it's done! I have succeeded!"

Murong Jingyang stood in mid-air, laughing loudly toward the sky, his voice shaking the surroundings.

At this moment, the Heavenly Tribulation dispersed, and strands of misty, flowing light descended from the firmament like celestial nectar, rapidly nourishing his damaged Physical Body and Divine Soul.

At the same time, the newly condensed Golden Core gradually stabilized under this gift from heaven and earth.

However, just as his mind relaxed slightly, immersed in the joy of attaining the Golden Core.

Two sharp whistling sounds suddenly tore through the sky; Liu Wusheng and Teng Qianjue had tacitly chosen to strike at the exact moment the Heavenly Tribulation dissipated!

Flanking from left and right, a palm print and a ghost claw intertwined, aimed directly at Murong Jingyang's back and Dantian!

"I was already guarding against you!"

Murong Jingyang had clearly anticipated this, reacting swiftly. As his figure spun rapidly, his protective golden light surged, blocking this fatal combined attack at the critical moment.

However, although he was also at the Early Golden Core Stage, he was ultimately a newcomer to this realm; his Golden Core-level combat techniques and magic power manipulation were far less proficient than those of his two opponents.

After only a dozen rounds, he was already flustered; the wounds on his body that had been healed by the heavenly dew burst open again, and his aura began to grow chaotic.

Yet, he was not overly panicked, and for good reason.

Murong Jingyang could sense that although Liu Wusheng and Teng Qianjue's attacks were fierce, they never delivered a killing blow.

Though he did not know why, it did not stop him from finding a glimmer of hope for survival within the situation.

Meanwhile, Liu Wusheng and the Teng Family Old Ancestor, while seemingly holding the upper hand in the fight, actually harbored their own reservations.

On one hand, if they truly forced a Golden Core cultivator into a dead end, their desperate counterattack could leave the two of them severely injured, or even result in mutual destruction.

On the other hand, they also remained vigilant, keeping a portion of their attention on their surroundings.

Because the Hu Family Ancestor had yet to appear; he might be lurking somewhere, waiting for the opportunity to let both sides suffer losses so he could reap the benefits.

It was precisely because of this hesitation that Murong Jingyang, though disheveled, was never defeated.

Finally finding an opening, he immediately burned his Essence Blood, transforming into a streak of blood-red light that fled toward the depths of the Black Sha Marsh, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Liu Wusheng and the Teng Family Old Ancestor did not pursue, instead withdrawing their attacks and standing still.

As for the Murong Family grounds below, Liu Wusheng and Teng Qianjue did not make a move to destroy them.

It was not out of kindness, but rather because they had concerns.

After all, a Golden Core True Person is not inherently terrifying, but a Golden Core cultivator who has lost their Family, has no further attachments, and is solely focused on revenge, is a presence that truly keeps one from sleeping or eating in peace.

Therefore, to avoid Murong Jingyang becoming desperate and reckless, they decided to spare the Murong Family for the time being.

This was both a precaution and a means of keeping Murong Jingyang in check.

Teng Qianjue had no objections to this, but Liu Wusheng felt extremely stifled.

Although Poison Marsh Ridge was situated at the intersection of the three families, it belonged to the Liu Family's territory, both in name and geography.

Now that there was a Golden Core cultivator—one who harbored hostility toward him—sleeping right beside his bed, he would find it difficult to Cultivate with peace of mind in the future.

What he found even harder to accept was that once this precedent was set, the vassal families beneath him would inevitably harbor ulterior motives.

After all, who would be content to be controlled by others for their entire life?

Previously, they had not dared to, lacked the opportunity, and had no one to lead them.

Now, however, Murong Jingyang was a living example.

He had transformed from a mere vassal Family into an emerging power capable of influencing the Black Sha Marsh!

One has to ask, if given the chance, would they not follow suit?

Thinking of this, Liu Wusheng could no longer stay. He planned to return and properly discipline the families below, while also drawing a lesson from this experience.

In the future, he would strictly control the resource exchanges of his subordinate forces; he absolutely would not allow a second Murong Family to emerge.

However, before leaving, his gaze swept over the panicked members of the Murong Family below, and he let out a cold snort. His voice, like ten-thousand-year glacial ice, echoed across the surroundings.

"Your Old Ancestor has already abandoned his Family and fled; how pathetic and lamentable! Today, I shall spare the lives of your entire Family. I hope you will act wisely. You must understand that while a Golden Core cultivator is an Immortal Master, those who abandon their Family to cling to life are nothing more than stray dogs!"

These words were venomous, and the intent was clear.

It was to take advantage of the panic within the Murong Family and sow seeds of discord.

Although this move would not be of much use—once Murong Jingyang returned, any restlessness would be quelled—it could at least disgust Murong Jingyang, which was good enough.

Having said this, Liu Wusheng flicked his long sleeves, transformed into a streak of light, and departed.

Teng Qianjue, who was off to the side, did not follow immediately.

He stood in mid-air, his gaze deep as he looked down at the rolling mountain ridges and the terrified Murong Family, his mind already beginning to scheme.

Since Murong Jingyang had now achieved the Golden Core, the matter was already set in stone and could not be changed.

Since that was the case, there was obviously no point in dwelling on it.

Moreover, for the Teng Family, this was not necessarily a bad thing.

The three-way stalemate in the Black Sha Marsh had lasted for a long time; with the Murong Family's sudden rise, the Liu Family would be the first to bear the brunt.

If he could secretly incite a conflict between these two tigers, the Teng Family could sit back and reap the benefits, regardless of which side suffered losses.

Perhaps... he could even follow the Hu Family's example and collude with the Murong Family!

That was right; he was certain that the Hu Family and the Murong Family had formed an alliance.

"Old Ghost Hu has yet to appear; he must have been colluding with the Murong Family all along!" A flash of realization crossed Teng Qianjue's eyes.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain why the Old Ghost of the Hu Family hadn't shown his face from beginning to end. If they hadn't formed an alliance, what could it be? Could he be dead?!

So if the Hu Family could do it, why couldn't his Teng Family?

As long as there were benefits, he could cooperate too!

As for joining forces with Liu Wusheng to target Murong Jingyang today?

Teng Qianjue did not care in the slightest; that was merely a matter of his stance.

Moreover, in the world of cultivation, there have never been permanent enemies, only eternal interests.

He believed that if Murong Jingyang wasn't stubborn, he would certainly understand this principle!

With his mind made up, Teng Qianjue no longer lingered, and his figure gradually faded away.