CHAPTER 258: 258- UPDATED*

Fang Yuan hovered in the air, his robes stirring in the rising heat of the pyres. His voice was light, almost calm.

"I need to release some stress... disciple."

And in the next breath, he was gone.

But not a second had passed when the air rippled in front of Fang Lian and from within Fang Yuan reappeared, on his hand, held a head dripping with fresh blood.

Gasps erupted. The Fang family members froze, shock written across their faces.

"What...?"

Fang Yuan tossed the head aside with a flick of his wrist, his eyes never losing their cold gleam.

"Can you count them for me, Lian’er. Will you?"

Fang Lian swallowed hard, her throat dry, but nodded quickly. "Y-yes, Master."

Fang Yuan’s smile was faint, chilling.

Then his figure blurred once more.

And again.

And again.

Each time he reappeared, another head dangled from his grip before being discarded like refuse.

His movements were effortless, relentless, like a phantom of death weaving between realms.

It continued for ten minutes straight. One head per reappearance, one life severed with every flicker of his shadow.

By the end, the ground was littered with the grisly harvest of heads, all dying with their eyes opened, unknown how they had died.

The Fang family stood rooted, unable to decide whether to tremble or bow deeper, as they watched their Clan Head reap vengeance with unflinching precision.

After one more head hit the ground, Fang Yuan turned to Lian’er.

"Lian’er... how many?"

She swallowed, her voice trembling slightly.

"Ah... Master, it’s 328."

"Good." Fang Yuan’s gaze swept across the courtyard. "And how many are missing?"

Her throat tightened.

She hesitated before whispering, voice trembling, "One of them."

Fang Yuan’s smile was thin. "And do you know why I didn’t take his head?"

She swallowed hard. "Master... you didn’t kill the old man not because you couldn’t, but because you wanted him to return. Since he’s likely an elder, his words will carry weight. If he tells them you’re dangerous, then you are. So the Fang family won’t be attacked no more by the Feng clan?"

Fang Yuan nodded slowly. "Good. You’re paying attention. But..."

His eyes narrowed, amusement glinting within. "...you’re only half right."

His lips curved into a faint, chilling smile. "Say... do you want to join me in massacring the Feng Clan this afternoon?"

Fang Jingyi suddenly leapt forward, her voice cracking with shock.

"Heavens! She’s too young for this, nephew!"

Fang Yuan only smiled at her, calm and unshaken.

"My dear aunt... as her master, I only want what’s best for her. My disciple is strong enough to fight Nascent Soul Realm experts, and from the looks of it, the Feng family has more than enough of them to spare. They’ll make excellent target practice."

Fang Jingyi’s lips pressed into a thin line, reluctant, unsure how to argue further.

Lian’er, however, stepped forward with resolve in her eyes.

"It’s okay, Auntie Jingyi. I... I also want to do this."

Fang Jingyi’s heart sank. She muttered under her breath, "Where the hell is Lin Zhaoyue when you need her?"

There was nothing more she could think of to stop Fang Yuan, and the fire in Lian’er’s eyes made it clear that resistance would be futile.

Fang Yuan’s eyes swept the courtyard, lingering on the grieving and the resolute alike.

He turned to elder Sun, "Elder Sun, may I ask something of you?"

Fang Sun straightened immediately, wiping the tears from his eyes.

His grief was still fresh, but he nodded firmly.

"Absolutely, Clan Head. I’m at your service."

Fang Yuan with a smile began, "I want you to hang all these heads along the paths to the north, where the Tharz Kingdom army will likely come from... and to then south, where the Azure Phoenix Kingdom army will likely advance. Can you do it?"

Fang Sun’s eyes ignited with fury, a blaze replacing the sorrow. He gripped his staff tighter.

"Absolutely, Clan Head! I’ll do it, even at the cost of my own life!"

Fang Yuan’s expression softened slightly, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips.

"Good. But Elder Joshua is already missing, we don’t know where he is. So I can’t have another of our elders disappearing. If you die without my permission... I’ll kill you myself, personally."

A flicker of surprise, then a quiet warmth passed over Fang Sun’s features.

For the first time in the day, he allowed himself a small, genuine smile.

"I... I’ll remember that, Clan Head."

Fang Yuan nodded once, satisfied and then he gave one last glance at the smoldering pyres, the acrid scent of ash and flesh still heavy in the air.

His eyes lingered not on the flames, but on the empty spaces they now represented.

Then, without a word, he turned and drifted away, his figure rising slowly above the spirit pond.

Fang Lian hurried after him, her steps quick and unsteady at first, then firm as she caught up, her small frame trailing in his shadow.

The Fang family remained behind, silent beneath the heat of the pyres and the mountain of heads, their gazes fixed on the departing figure of their Clan Head.

After Fang Yuan and Fang Lian got out of sight away from the Fang family, he slowed his pace, allowing Fang Lian to draw closer until she was floating by his side.

His expression then suddenly softened into something almost casual.

"Disciple," he said evenly, "I’ve just decided on the perfect name for the Golden Shell Armor’s third form. ’Take Back What’s Yours’ is far too long. So, I’ve taken the liberty to be name it... Audacity."

Fang Lian blinked, caught completely off guard.

First... she hadn’t even known there was a third form of the Golden Shell Armor.

And second... how in the world had the Clan Head’s mood improved so suddenly.

Fang Yuan turned to her, one brow lifting.

"You don’t like it?"

"Huh? N-no, I like it," Fang Lian stammered, then lowered her voice, almost whispering.

"I just... don’t know what it is."

"Oh." Fang Yuan gave a small nod, as if that explained everything. His tone was calm, almost casual.

"It’s called Audacity because that technique has the audacity to strike back despite it being a defensive move."