Chapter 648 479: Return (Mo Wen Chase Regret Alliance Leader Added Update (2/2))

Secret Forest County.

Secret Forest County was the stronghold of the Yu Family, as well as the most fertile land around Wangyue Lake, sustaining five hundred and sixty thousand people at its peak. Now, after several decades, only two hundred and twenty thousand remained.

The terrain here was flat, the soil fertile, a true plain of rich fields. Unfortunately, with the loss of Mugao's control, the status of the commoners plummeted into an abyss; most of the land and mineral resources were seized by the Clan Elders and outside surnames.

An Zhiyan arrived, riding the wind, and despite being an old man, he couldn't help but feel triumphant.

It really wasn't his fault, after a life of dramatic ups and downs, bursting through adversity, blessed with a Qilin child, soaring to the peak, only to be cast down by Mugao and Xiaogui's genocidal vendetta, forced to hide among the commoners for survival.

Finally joining the Li Family, breaking through barriers one after another, he started afresh, took a new wife, had children, and now here he was, returning to the Yu Family's land with a great number of Cultivators, sixty-seven years passing like a dream, leaving him teary-eyed.

"Jingming… although it was with the support of the Li Family, the humiliation was indeed returned in full… In a few more years, I will repay these blood debts one by one!"

He murmured to himself:

"It was you who had the foresight…"

His prodigious son had insisted he enter the Secret Passage and repeatedly told him to seek the Li Family. Zhiyan had at first thought it was walking into a trap, but over time, he resigned himself, and even felt fortunate.

The peak of Secret Forest was gradually coming into view, and several Yu Family Cultivators flying about were promptly halted at the perimeter. Zhiyan approached boldly, head held high and proud, deliberately silent, stopping right in front of the Great Formation.

He glanced over and smiled:

"Who would have thought."

From within the silvery-white Great Formation, an old voice emerged, sounding humble:

"Greetings, Lord An… May I ask the purpose of your visit? The vow of the three families is still before our eyes… I fear it may not be appropriate!"

Zhiyan was about to speak when suddenly, a muffled grunt came from inside the formation, followed by an unbelieving scream of agony. He watched in astonishment as the main Yu Family formation was effortlessly opened.

A figure flew up from below, hands outstretched, dragging a complex and mysterious Array Plate, and said respectfully:

"I am of the Chi Clan from Mount Download, greeting the noble Immortal Clan. The Yu Clan's Great Formation is here, and the great Clan Elder Muli has been slain by this lowly one!"

Several Jade Courtyard Guards looked at each other in bewilderment, and Zhiyan, momentarily stunned, didn't say much more and descended with the wind.

The Chi Family member, holding the Array Plate with both hands, followed behind him. As everyone landed, it became apparent that the Jade Courtyard Guards had as many as twenty-two Qi Cultivators, which was more than those of the Yu Family on the mountain top.

In full view of the Yu Family members, Zhiyan took out the "Six-Stone Cloud Plate" and sneered:

"The Yu Family conspired against our Family Head back in the day, and now karmic retribution has befallen Muxian. I imagine he was a heroic figure, so I offer this Spiritual Artifact to accompany his body in burial, sparing him the fate of having no remains."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Wushao, who was dressed in a black robe, silently rolled his eyes. He had explored the lake's veins with Zhiyan in the past and knew him well, thinking to himself:

"He must've picked up that line somewhere, this blockhead couldn't have come up with it on his own…"

Still, Wushao played along perfectly, his expression dark, shadows underneath his cloak flitting back and forth, exuding a vigorous Foundation Establishment aura that made the opposing Yu Family Cultivators involuntarily step back.

People were panic-stricken, and none dared to take the battered "Six-Stone Cloud Plate" from his hands. It wasn't out of grief for Muxian but fear that their support had crumbled while the Li Family proved to be so dominant.

Having made his statement, Zhiyan gave the Chi Family member a look of approval. Everyone rode the wind and dispersed into the sky, seemingly washing their hands of the affair and departing.

With his exit, everyone sighed in relief, turning their collective gaze toward the Chi Family member holding the Array Plate, their faces showing a mixture of emotions.

The member of the Chi Family paused for a moment, his expression unchanged as he stood brazenly back in the courtyard, smilingly cupping one hand in the other towards the person standing at the center and said amiably:

"So Yu Muxian has died... Family Head... how could you not report such news!"

These words caused Yu Chengyi, the person in the center, to look uncomfortable. Yu Chengyi, already a middle-aged man with a mediocre cultivation level, suppressed his anger and fear and said in a low voice:

"What is Elder Chi talking about... I wasn't aware of this matter, how could there be any failure to report..."

He had barely finished speaking in a low voice when suddenly someone rushed up to him, looking terrified, and said hastily:

"Family Head! Family Head! Lu Kexing is supporting the third son and has seized control of the Immortal Mountain outside!"

The expressions of both Elder Chi and Yu Chengyi changed drastically, and they looked at each other, not knowing what to do, when someone else approached, calling out:

"Family Head... the allied families outside... they have all started fighting!"

Yu Chengyi looked distressed and turned to Elder Chi, saying softly:

"Elder Chi, given the current situation... only by joining forces can we protect ourselves..."

...

An Zhiyan soared into the sky, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions. Looking back, he wanted to say something but choked up, unable to speak.

After receiving a glare from Li Wushao, he let out a sheepish laugh and reluctantly rode the wind back home, soaring until he was above a forest. Suddenly remembering something, he said awkwardly:

"Sir, I shall descend for a moment."

Li Wushao, couldn't bother with him, and with a slight nod watched as An Zhiyan descended, landing in a courtyard full of orange trees.

He had once passed by this place, hiding himself here, and vaguely remembered receiving a bowl of duck soup from a mortal couple living here. He still remembered the taste and couldn't resist coming down to investigate.

To his surprise, the house was derelict, covered in dust and cobwebs. An Zhiyan thought to himself:

"After getting that gold piece from me, they must have moved downtown to enjoy their lives."

Not wanting to keep that gloomy hook-snake waiting, he prepared to leave, but a sweep of his Spiritual Sense made him stop in his tracks and kick the door open.

"Boom!"

As he kicked open the door, the inside conditions rapidly became clear, dust everywhere, weeds strewn all over the courtyard, and a few wild rabbits running through. An Zhiyan strode in, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Several hoes were scattered in the yard, surrounding a small but deep hole that seemed to have been used for burial.

He pushed the kitchen door open to find a skeleton lying on the stove, smaller in size with both hands wedged in the crevices of the rocks, flesh already rotted through, and the iron lock still hanging from the window.

An Zhiyan didn't speak, turning to enter the inner room, where another skeleton lay on the bed, which had rotted through. This skeleton was slightly larger, bones scattered about, the spine in several pieces, with evidence of being hacked by a blade.

An Zhiyan silently left the yard, waved his sleeves, and in an instant, the whole courtyard collapsed. He soared on the wind, his expression turning ghastly.

Without uttering a word, he led people flying away, while Li Wushao watched clearly from the air but remained silent.

An Zhiyan, on this day, had partially avenged his great grudge, yet felt no joy. His cheeks drooped like an old dog's, eyes dim, he flew into the mountains, and only after entering the Formation did he finally let out a sentence.

"Cursed be this world!"