405: Chapter 404 The Enemy Arrives

He also knew that Qin Changsheng was no nameless passerby, but rather a Sect friend of his own son, Senior Brother Wu Yong.

Coming all this way to the Wu Family was because he had heard of the Wu Family's great crisis and had specially come to help, carrying nothing but goodwill and friendship.

But now, circumstances were forcing his hand; the survival of the Wu Family rested entirely on Ancestor Zhang's single thought.

In order to preserve the lives of the hundreds of members of his clan and escape this disaster of clan extermination, he did not dare to go against even a fraction of this Golden Core Old Ancestor's wishes.

Even if his heart was filled with guilt and regret, and even if this act was ungrateful and heartless, he had no other choice.

The Wu Family's Grand Elder also looked embarrassed, lowering his head in silence, tacitly agreeing to this.

In the face of the desperate situation of the Family's survival, mere personal favors and moral righteousness seemed utterly insignificant.

Wu Feng's Adam's apple bobbed. He took a deep breath of turbid air to suppress the shame and unease in his heart, and spoke in a stiff, awkward tone to Qin Changsheng, who was sitting quietly nearby: "Young friend..."

His words were hesitant, making it hard to directly order him away, yet they already carried the clear intent of asking him to leave.

Qin Changsheng, who had been silently watching the entire time, took in everyone's expressions and thoughts, understanding everything perfectly.

He couldn't be bothered to listen to Wu Feng's awkward explanations, nor did he intend to make things difficult for the members of the Wu Family, who had no choice in the matter.

He raised his eyes and cast a faint glance at the arrogant and conceited Ancestor Zhang on the main seat, his eyes showing neither anger nor resentment, only complete indifference.

Immediately after, without saying a word, Qin Changsheng stood up, turned, and left. His posture was calm and free-spirited, without a hint of lingering attachment, as he walked straight out of the living room courtyard and slowly departed.

No one knew that at this moment, the thoughts in Qin Changsheng's heart had completely changed.

Originally, he had planned to step in and block the fatal blow when the Golden Core Cultivator came to their door, saving this arrogant Old Ancestor's life, doing them a favor as a gesture of goodwill, and smoothly resolving the Wu Family's crisis.

But now, Ancestor Zhang was being overbearing and tyrannical, using his power to bully others, and driving him away for no reason.

Since the other party was so arrogant and impolite, there was absolutely no need for him to lend a helping hand.

As for the Wu Family, Qin Changsheng would still take action.

After all, he owed Senior Brother Wu Yong a favor from back then, and he also wanted the Wu Family's qi condensation flower.

"Hahaha..." Seeing Qin Changsheng leave, Ancestor Zhang laughed smugly.

Ancestor Zhang's Disciples also began to flatter Ancestor Zhang one after another.

Amidst their fawning, Qin Changsheng had become a nobody who amounted to nothing.

"Ancestor Zhang, this Junior has already prepared a banquet in the backyard!" the Wu Family's Grand Elder said flatteringly.

"Lead the way!" Ancestor Zhang stood up.

...

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the evening of this very day, a terrifying Pressure suddenly enveloped the entire Wu Family.

Every member of the Wu Family felt their hearts tighten. Every Cultivator felt a suffocating sensation originating from the depths of their Soul. Their limbs grew slightly stiff, and they subconsciously held their breath, their faces filled with tension.

Yet in this tension, there was not a hint of fear or despair.

All the Wu Family members looked on with firm gazes, raising their heads one after another to look at the brocade-robed figure sitting quietly in the center of the courtyard.

With Ancestor Zhang presiding over the Wu Family, they felt confident.

This was a genuine Golden Core powerhouse, a backer they had paid eighty percent of their Family assets to invite.

In everyone's eyes, as long as Ancestor Zhang took action, no matter how fierce the incoming enemy was, they would absolutely be unable to destroy the Wu Family. This fatal crisis would surely be passed safely.

The clan members in various parts of the residence waited with focused attention, fully prepared, looking entirely as if victory was already within their grasp.

Meanwhile, in a street-facing inn not far from the Wu Family residence, Qin Changsheng sat quietly by the window, calmly looking down at the surging scene below.

The moment that terrifying Pressure spread out, Qin Changsheng had already made an accurate judgment in his heart.

This spiritual energy was heavy and majestic, with an extremely profound Foundation, and the Pressure was overbearing and fierce. It was absolutely not something an ordinary Cultivator who had just entered the Golden Core could possess.

The newcomer's cultivation was firmly fixed at the Golden Core Stage 5.

On the other hand, Ancestor Zhang, who was presiding over the Wu Family and on whom the entire clan pinned their high hopes, was merely a newly ascended Cultivator who had made a Breakthrough just three years ago, barely stepping into the First Layer of Golden Core.

A difference of a single layer is a heavenly chasm, let alone a crushing disparity of a full four Realms.

The difference was clear immediately; the outcome was already decided.

Not a single ripple appeared in the depths of Qin Changsheng's eyes, his mind perfectly clear.

Relying on a mere shallow Foundation of the First Layer of Golden Core to contend with an established powerhouse of the Golden Core Stage 5 was pure wishful thinking.

In today's match, Ancestor Zhang was bound to lose, and the Wu Family's so-called backer was nothing but a self-deceiving joke.

He quietly leaned by the window, watching indifferently, waiting for the one-sided crushing that was to follow.

In the next instant, the clouds high in the sky were suddenly torn apart.

A blazing crimson stream of light broke through the clouds, stepping through the air and floating steadily above the Wu Family.

The newcomer was an elder dressed in a crimson robe. His robe seemed to burn with dark fire, with scorching flame-light flowing along its edges. His face was withered, yet his Aura was celestial, and his eyes were sharp as torches, carrying an innate murderous hostility.

He tightly gripped a heavy and broad red-gold saber in his hand. The blade was wrapped in flame patterns, and scorching Saber Qi spilled down from afar, burning and distorting the air below in waves.

The red-robed elder walked in the air, his posture steady and overbearing. With each step forward, blazing red fire would spawn out of thin air beneath his feet and spread wantonly. Layers of flames surged in the sky, dyeing the entire horizon a brilliant crimson.

The scorching high temperature swept in all directions, making people's breath burn. The terrifying cultivation Foundation belonging to the Golden Core Stage 5 erupted completely without reservation.

In an instant, the red-robed elder stood directly above the Wu Family residence, looking down coldly from above at the densely packed Wu Family members, a murderous Aura filling the heavens and earth.

"Wu Family!" The red-robed elder's voice was like a great bell, resounding through the heavens and earth, carrying an icy, bone-chilling resolve and intent to kill, exploding with a boom. "In the past, a Junior of your clan offended this old man, sowing a mortal grudge. Today, the time limit has arrived, and it is the day of your Wu Family's extermination!"

As his voice fell, the flames filling the sky grew even more blazing, and the shadow of clan extermination completely enveloped the entire Wu Family. Below, the hearts of the clan members suddenly tightened. Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still shaken to their core by this murderous intent.

In the center of the courtyard, Ancestor Zhang, who had been sitting quietly regulating his breathing, suddenly stood up. His brocade robe fluttered as all the spiritual energy of his First Layer of Golden Core surged around him, resisting the flame Pressure pressing down from the sky.

He had a cold expression, his eyes carrying a bit of self-possession and arrogance. He let out a cold snort and retorted loudly: "A nameless scoundrel dares to act wildly in the Wu Family's territory? Do you truly think there is no one in the Southern Region who can deal with you?"

He deliberately raised his voice, intending to steady the clan members' minds while simultaneously displaying his confidence as a Golden Core powerhouse, attempting to intimidate the elder high in the sky.

High in the sky, the red-robed elder heard this, lowered his eyes, and cast a faint glance at Ancestor Zhang. His gaze swept down his body, and sensing the other's shallow and weak Golden Core cultivation, his eyes were instantly filled with extreme sarcasm and disdain.

"Merely a newly ascended Cultivator who has just achieved Core Formation and has a shallow Foundation, yet you dare to overestimate yourself and stand up for others, blocking this old man's path?"

With just a simple sentence, he directly exposed the details of Ancestor Zhang's cultivation, completely crushing his confidence and making the gap between them clear at a glance.

In the courtyard, Ancestor Zhang's face instantly became extremely embarrassed, turning green and white in turns, as anger surged endlessly in his heart.

He had never expected that this red-robed elder would act so overbearingly and arrogantly, not giving him, a Golden Core Cultivator, even a shred of face.

Despite both being in the Golden Core Realm, the other party completely regarded him as an ant-like Junior, mocking and despising him at will, completely ignoring him. This made the habitually proud and self-possessed Ancestor Zhang feel deeply humiliated.

But even though he sensed the huge gap in their cultivation Realms, Ancestor Zhang still did not feel the slightest fear. Instead, a hidden sense of confidence and conceit lay deep in his eyes.

Others only knew that he was a newly ascended Cultivator of the First Layer of Golden Core of three years, with a shallow Foundation and a low Realm, completely unable to contend with established Golden Core powerhouses.

But no one knew that, by a stroke of Opportunity, he had entered the Golden Eagle Secret Realm and learned a rare Golden Core Divine Ability.

This Divine Ability possessed boundless power, allowing him to fight across Realms, far exceeding ordinary Golden Core techniques.

Relying on this trump card Divine Ability, he was full of confidence and did not put this red-robed elder in his eyes at all. Even if the other party's cultivation was as high as the Golden Core Stage 5, he firmly believed that with his unique Golden Core Divine Ability, he could definitely turn the tables against the odds, defeat him, and firmly protect the Wu Family.

Just as Ancestor Zhang was secretly gathering his strength and preparing to take action himself, several Personal Disciples by his side stepped forward together, blocking the front. Each of these Disciples had a condensed Aura, was full of confidence, and showed a proud look as they requested to fight in unison.

"Master! Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken!"

"Why must Master personally take action against such an arrogant fellow? It is enough for us to step forward and meet him!"

Having followed Ancestor Zhang in cultivation for many years, they knew well that their Master possessed an unparalleled Golden Core Divine Ability and had an unfathomably deep Foundation, having long since felt boundless awe.

In their eyes, the red-robed elder was merely bluffing and was not worth their Master's personal intervention; their combined efforts would be enough to suppress him.

Ancestor Zhang looked down at the high-spirited Disciples who had volunteered, and his heart eased slightly.

At the same time, Ancestor Zhang also wanted to test the strength of this Golden Core Cultivator.

If the enemy couldn't even defeat his few Disciples...

...then he would definitely be able to easily defeat this Golden Core Cultivator.

"Very well, be careful and do not be careless."

Seeing Ancestor Zhang's approval, the several Personal Disciples no longer had any reservations, and the spiritual energy around them erupted with a boom.

Several powerful Auras of the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment exploded at the same time, strong winds sweeping through the courtyard.

Everyone had defiant expressions and high Battle Intent. Holding their respective weapons and stepping on the spiritual light of techniques, they charged together toward the red-robed elder high in the sky.

Streams of spell light shot through the air, sword shadows and saber lights crisscrossing. The offensive was dense and fierce, seemingly massive in momentum, enough to crush an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

They were full of confidence, feeling that by joining forces, even if they were no match for a Golden Core powerhouse, they could definitely entangle the other party for a moment and slightly dampen the red-robed elder's pride.

However, the red-robed elder high in the sky had an indifferent expression, with not a single ripple in his eyes, and he did not even have the interest to raise his hand and look at them directly.

Facing the several incoming attacks, he merely raised his withered hand casually and waved it gently downward.

Boom! A vast and majestic wave of invisible spiritual energy suddenly exploded, and pure Golden Core Pressure swept through the sky like an overturning mountain and sea, crushing everything.

That seemingly light blow had no fancy techniques or blazing firelight, yet it contained the terrifying Foundation of the Golden Core Stage 5.

The several Disciples of Ancestor Zhang rushing at the very front did not even have the chance to react. The protective spiritual energy they had activated shattered instantly, and the weapons and techniques on their bodies all disintegrated and vanished.

Immediately after, figures flew backward one after another like gravel struck by a massive force.

Bang bang bang bang—! Several heavy thuds resounded in succession as the several Disciples crashed heavily onto the ground of the Wu Family courtyard, creating shallow craters and sending dust flying.

Their Meridians were completely broken, their bones shattered, and fresh blood gushed from their mouths. After their bodies twitched violently a few times, they became completely still, their eyes wide open, their breath entirely cut off, with no more signs of life.

One move. With just a casual wave of his hand, several Cultivators of the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment had all lost their lives.

The members of the Wu Family watching below witnessed this bloody and shocking scene, and instantly everyone's face changed dramatically, turning as pale as paper.

Their originally settled minds completely collapsed, and boundless fear instantly swept the entire area. Everyone felt cold all over, their hands and feet icy, as they stared deathly at the red-robed figure high in the sky, even their breathing becoming cautious.

They had originally thought that with Ancestor Zhang presiding, they would be able to contend with the powerful enemy, but the crushing defeat before them completely shattered all of their confidence.

In the center of the courtyard, Ancestor Zhang, who had just been full of self-conceit and completely confident, had the pride on his face instantly freeze, as a thick wave of panic suddenly flashed in his eyes, his mind heavily shaken.

He knew the strength of his Disciples better than anyone else.

These few were all Personal Disciples he had carefully nurtured for many years. Each of them had solid cultivation, firmly residing in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, with a stable Foundation and decent combat strength. Working together, even against an ordinary Cultivator of the First Layer of Golden Core, they could entangle them for several rounds and hold on for dozens of moves without being defeated.

Just now, he had tacitly assumed in his heart that even if the opponent's cultivation was profound, his Disciples, even if they were defeated, would definitely be able to hold on for a moment to test the other's depth.

But the reality was terrifyingly cruel. The crowd of Disciples he took pride in had actually failed to hold on for even a single round against this red-robed elder, all of them falling to a casual blow, completely powerless to resist.

At this moment, the conceit in Ancestor Zhang's heart shattered with a bang, and he finally truly felt the terrifying Foundation of a powerhouse of the Golden Core Stage 5, as well as the chasm-like Realm gap between them.

However, Ancestor Zhang still believed in his Golden Core Divine Ability.

He believed that as soon as his Golden Core Divine Ability was unleashed, he would definitely be able to easily defeat the red-robed elder.

He took a deep breath of cold air, forcing down the panic in his heart, as all the spiritual energy around him began to boil.

Swoosh—a clear, bright longsword broke through the air from his Storage Pouch, landing steadily in his hand.

Ancestor Zhang gripped the sword and raised his arm, the tip of the sword pointing directly at the red-robed elder standing high in the sky. With a cold and stern expression and a freezing voice, he shouted in a deep tone filled with anger: "Your Excellency's actions are ruthless, harming the Disciples of my Sect, and your methods are too overbearing! Since you leave absolutely no room, today, do not blame this old man for being impolite!"

As his voice fell, he no longer hesitated, immediately activating his bottom-of-the-box trump card, that Golden Core Divine Ability that was sufficient to fight across Realms.

Obscure and ancient incantations were rapidly chanted from his mouth. The spiritual energy around him surged wildly, and the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth was instantly drawn, all gathering and surging in front of him.

Buzz—! A piercing sword hum resounded in all directions, causing the entire Wu Family residence to tremble slightly.

As the hand seal was completely formed, the clouds high in the sky surged, and a giant sword shadow with a black body and golden edges slowly condensed into shape.

This sword was a full dozens of feet long, its body heavy and majestic, its blade cold and fierce, with deep and ancient patterns. Every inch of it flowed with pure and overbearing Golden Core spiritual energy.

The giant longsword hovered in the sky, instantly spreading a vast and boundless terrifying Pressure. Its powerful Aura swept in all directions, forcing the wild winds to a sudden halt and the heat waves to recede, faintly suppressing the fiery wave Aura brought by the red-robed elder.

This was the Golden Core Divine Ability that Ancestor Zhang relied on for his self-conceit. Its power far exceeded ordinary Golden Core techniques, and it was his greatest confidence to boldly strike a powerful enemy.

The members of the Wu Family below, who were originally panicking and desperate, instantly changed their expressions upon seeing this earth-shattering scene, the fear on their faces swept away entirely.

Looking at the giant longsword high in the sky that awed the heaven and earth, the hearts of everyone that were hanging in their throats fell completely back into their chests. Intense hope was rekindled in their eyes, and excited smiles emerged on their faces one after another.