"It seems that the Liu Family's princely heir, Liu Yu, also died at his hands!"

From the Great Elder's words, Lu Liancheng had already guessed some facts. As he turned certain thoughts over in his mind, he suddenly stood up, indicating that in that brief moment, he had made a decision.

"No matter what, that Yun Xing also represents the Lushan City branch of the Meridian Refining Master Guild. We can't let him die at the hands of those Liu Family guys!"

Lu Liancheng clapped his hands together, then turned his head and said to the person in front of him: "Great Elder, accompany me for a walk, won't you? Liu Qiguang really thinks that in Lushan City, the Liu Family reigns supreme!"

In the tone of this branch chairman, there was a strong sense of dominance, but to the Great Elder beside him, it carried an inexplicable meaning.

After all, the Meridian Refining Master Guild from its headquarters at Lianyun Mountain typically doesn't meddle in mundane affairs unless provoked. Usually, no one dares to trouble them, so it was indeed unusual for Lu Liancheng to say such things.

However, the Great Elder quickly understood the chairman's intentions. Although strictly speaking, Yun Xing had killed the two elders of the branch, the fault primarily lay with Wu Jia and Liang Li. Moreover, Yun Xing's status now was vastly different.

Since the two elders were beyond resurrection, Lu Liancheng was a person who knew when to take things up or put them down. He believed that with Yun Xing's extraordinary talents, he would definitely shine brightly in the upcoming selection of Refining Cloud Mountain disciples, and likewise, the Lushan City branch would also gain prestige.

A small Liu Family, though powerful in Lushan City, was only so due to the indulgence of the Meridian Refining Master Guild and Spirit Fighting Commerce branch. Once these two major forces intervened, the Liu Family would be insignificant.

"But we may not need to intervene immediately, let's first see what means Yun Xing has before making a decision!"

After Lu Liancheng spoke, he walked towards the door, with the Great Elder quickly following behind. In truth, they were both very curious about how Yun Xing managed to kill Wu Jia and Liang Li, the two elders.

After all, setting Liang Li aside, Wu Jia was a genuine Origin Seeking Realm Middle Stage expert and an Earth Rank Low-Level Peak Poison Vein Master. His combat power would certainly be stronger than ordinary Origin Seeking Realm Middle Stage experts.

So although Lu Liancheng had decided to help Yun Xiao, he would first watch Yun Xiao's vein energy combat power as long as the latter didn't encounter a mortal threat.

After all, Lu Liancheng had some understanding of Yun Xiao's meridian refining technique, but his strength in vein energy was purely speculative. Would this guy called Yun Xing give him another surprise? He was quite looking forward to it!

......

Crackle!

North of Lushan City, several hundred miles away, within a mountain range, a bonfire was particularly clear in the dark night. A figure in black sat cross-legged by the fire, with a palm-sized fiery red mouse quietly lying on his shoulder, looking somewhat odd.

This figure in black was naturally Yun Xiao, who had disguised himself. It had been seven days since he left Lushan City, but with still nearly half a year until the selection of Refining Cloud Mountain disciples, he was not in a hurry.

"Crossing this mountain should lead to the territory of Sky Thunder Valley!"

Yun Xiao spread out a map he purchased in Lushan City, seeking his location, and murmured to himself. When the name of a first-class force surfaced in his mind, he couldn't help but have some thoughts.

Back at Thunder Mountain's Sky Thunder Valley, Yun Xiao had some interaction with the Sky Thunder Valley prodigy, Five Thunder Child, Li Qingran. It seemed even the former master of Thunder King Valley was connected to Sky Thunder Valley.

Although Li Qingran eventually died at the hands of that strange spirit's corpse, outsiders probably attributed Li Qingran's death to him, Yun Xiao, considering he was the biggest winner of Thunder King Main Hall.

Moreover, after Yun Xiao's impressive showing outside Thunder King Valley, defeating one Killing Heart Sect genius to death and making another flee, the belief that not even the Half-step Origin Seeking Realm Li Qingran was a match for him became even more solidified.

Thus, inadvertently, there was now this inexplicable grudge with Sky Thunder Valley which had previously been nonexistent. Yun Xiao wanted to pass through Sky Thunder Valley's territory to reach Lianyun Mountain in the Southeast center of the continent, which undoubtedly introduced more variables.

On the Tenglong Continent, the Thirteen Major Forces are spread around the periphery, almost surrounding the four top forces at the center. From Yun Xiao's current position, if he didn't pass through Sky Thunder Valley's territory, it would likely take at least twice the time.

"Well, no matter how strong Sky Thunder Valley is, finding me in this vast Southern Domain isn't that easy!"

After pondering, Yun Xiao stroked his greatly altered face, finally kindling a bit of confidence. Folding the map, he intended to enter a state of cultivation.

Flap flap flap...

However, at this moment, Yun Xiao suddenly sensed something, directing his gaze to the south, where dozens of birds seemed startled by something in the dark night, all at once taking off with quite an impressive momentum.

"Hmm?"

At the same time, Yun Xiao's eyes flickered because he suddenly discovered that there was some movement not only in the south, but also in the north, west, and east directions, and he knew that he must have been surrounded unexpectedly.

In fact, Yun Xiao had always been vigilant, and even Chi Yan's sensing ability was extremely keen, yet he had not expected to fall into a trap despite his precautions.

However, Yun Xiao was not too worried. As long as the attacker was not a Peak of the Seeking Origin Realm expert like Xia Yong back in the day, and didn't know some of his special trump cards, even if he couldn't prevail, it should still be easier to escape.

A silver light flashed past beneath Yun Xiao's shoulders, and soon ten figures appeared in his sight. These figures stood apart in the four directions of southeast, northwest, making Yun Xiao, in the center, appear quite isolated.

"Cursed fellow, it really took me a lot of effort to find you!"

The leading man on the southern side was an imposing middle-aged man. Taking a step forward, he looked at the shadow of a person still seated by the bonfire and spoke with not a single trace of politeness.

"You are... the Tomb Master of the Liu Family?"

With Yun Xiao's shrewdness, he already guessed some things from the first words of the newcomers, especially seeing in the dim firelight that the middle-aged man somewhat resembled Liu Yu, who died by his hand, further firming his thoughts.

"You're quite astute. Since you've recognized me, you must know why I'm seeking you out, right?"

Noticing that the other party recognized him at first glance, Liu Family Master Liu Qiguang's face showed a hint of surprise, but his voice quickly turned icy as he thought of his beloved son who was killed by the other.

"Don't blame me for not warning you, but if you're here to avenge that worthless Liu Yu, I'm afraid from tonight onwards, there will no longer be a Liu clan in Lushan City!"

Yun Xiao continued to sit by the bonfire, even playing with it with his right hand, as if trying to make it burn brighter. Such actions, combined with his somewhat threatening words, made all the Liu family experts extremely furious.

This time, Liu Qiguang had brought with him a group of experts, half of whom were at the Early Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm. Most notably, he himself had walked far along the path of the Middle Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm.

For this reason, a guy merely at the Peak of the Qi Seeking Realm had no right to speak with such impudence. The gap between their ranks was so vast that special techniques couldn't possibly bridge it.

Although Liu Qiguang knew that the Early Stage Origin Seeking Realm expert Liu Gen likely died at Yun Xing's hands just like Liu Yu, the Liu Family's superiority in both numbers and quality was overwhelming, rendering any comparison meaningless.

"You impostor!"

Overwhelming hatred and anger clouded Liu Qiguang's mind, making him disregard why Yun would act so fearlessly. Once the icy words fell from Liu Qiguang's lips, he motioned with his large hand, and nearly ten Liu family experts surrounded the bonfire.

"Ignorant fool, in your next life, remember to keep your eyes open, lest you provoke someone you shouldn't and lose your life over it!"

Seeing that Yun Xing was cornered with no chance of escape, Liu Qiguang believed he would soon avenge his son's murder. His words reflected the high and mighty demeanor of a family master, at least in his mind, considering the Liu Family an entity not to be provoked.

"If you're talking about your worthless son, then I happen to agree!"

No sooner had Liu Qiguang's words dropped than a voice emerged from the encirclement, followed by a sight that sent him into a furious rage.

Crack crack crack!

With strange sounds, one of the Liu Family members, merely at the Peak of the Qi Seeking Realm, found his feet enveloped by layers of crystalline ice.

In just a few breaths, this Liu Family member was encased in an exquisitely lifelike human-shaped ice sculpture. The others seemed to see his utterly terrified face through the translucent ice surface.

Meanwhile, the black-clad figure surrounded in the center seemed not to have moved a muscle, with his right hand still holding a piece of wood, poking at the bonfire as if he hadn't witnessed the outcome of the Liu family member.

"You don't understand what true power is!"

Yun Xiao, holding the piece of wood, didn't even lift his head, softly speaking once more before slightly raising his right hand. The piece's end seemed to still carry a spark, pointed directly at another Peak of Qi Seeking Realm Liu Family cultivator with a light motion, as though without a trace of anger.