Chương 166: The Council of Seven

The next morning, at dawn's first light! Huaijin and Ning Nanzhi departed from Purple Cloud Peak. Their destination: Qingtai city. The Azure Ink Dragon had been advancing at a remarkable pace, its cultivation now perched at the peak of the first level of Tier 3. It wouldn't be long before it broke through to the second level. Even if another spirit beast tide erupted and the monsters dared to assault Purple Cloud Peak, they'd simply be delivering themselves to slaughter.

The two of them traveled in leisurely comfort atop their spirit beasts. Three days later, they arrived at Qingtai city! Huaijin made straight for his family's shop and spent some time with his father, Liwei. He received a full briefing on their ongoing feud with the Jin Clan. The conflict remained deadlocked. The Zhang Clan's Tier 1 cultivators were growing more formidable by the day, and their numbers continued to swell.

Now, Liwei himself had personally entered the fray, escalating the struggle to battles between Tier 2 cultivators. In Huaijin's eyes, the Jin Clan had become nothing more than a whetstone for his family. A few casualties were an acceptable price for sharpening the clan's combat instincts. The Tier 2 cultivators of the Zhang Clan shared this view. For a battle-hungry warrior like Liwei, this was pure exhilaration. Skirmishing with rival cultivators was far more thrilling than hunting mindless spirit beasts.

Zhang Lixian was more circumspect, but even he couldn't hide his pleasure at seeing Ning Nanzhi. After all, Su Xuiqi's only remaining wish was to see Huaijin settled in marriage. If he could produce an heir, that would be even better, a profound comfort to her aging heart. Zhang Rende and Yunli spent most of their time on Purple Cloud Peak. Huaijin suggested that Su Xuiqi relocate there as well, but she gently refused. She still had Miao Linhui for companionship.

After a brief stay, Huaijin and Ning Nanzhi proceeded directly to the Fang Clan estate! News of Huaijin's arrival sent shockwaves rippling through the entire Fang compound. The Zhou Clan's Tier 3 cultivators had also arrived. This was Huaijin's first public appearance since his legendary feat, slaying a demonic cultivator in the Purple Mansion realm. Everyone was eager to lay eyes on this unparalleled genius.

At just the seventh level of Tier 2, he had killed a demonic cultivator at the third level of the Purple Mansion realm. Whatever methods he had employed, the achievement stood undeniable. Even the Tier 3 cultivators were compelled to treat him as an equal. The Fang Clan sent their newly ascended Purple Mansion cultivator, Fang Tinjue, to welcome Huaijin. He was the current leader of Fang Tao's faction.

He had lost the last power struggle to Fang Tianyu, who had secured the clan's Purple Mansion treasures and successfully broken through. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Fang Tinjue had believed his chance was gone forever. But then Fang Tianyu fell in battle, Blood Lion Mountain was lost, and Qingtai Prefecture suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the beast tide.

The Fang Clan, desperate for a Tier 2 cultivator to reclaim Blood Lion Mountain, had tapped into their clan's deepest reserves and produced another set of Tier 3 treasures. And Fang Tinjue had seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Established Tier 3 clans never depleted their entire treasury of treasures. They always kept reserves hidden away, prepared for emergencies. Other cultivation powers followed the same principle. It was the foundation of family survival.

But obtaining those treasures required fierce competition. In the world of cultivation, a single step behind meant falling forever behind. Destiny and fortune were everything. Fang Tinjue had lost to Fang Tianyu. He had even been counted among the dead in the beast tide, or so everyone assumed. But he had been granted a second chance. In the end, it was simply Fang Tianyu's fortune that had run dry.

"Fellow Daoist Huaijin! Though we've never met, your legend precedes you!" Fang Tinjue's face radiated a warm, welcoming smile. There was not a trace of the usual Purple Mansion arrogance about him. Fang Tao stood respectfully behind him. Huaijin's expression remained composed.

"Senior Fang, you flatter me."

"Oh, please! Fellow Daoist Huaijin, you do me too much honor! Let us simply address each other as fellow Daoists." Fang Tinjue wasn't about to put on airs. He was a Tier 3 cultivator, yes, but he felt no superiority over Huaijin. He knew full well he was no match for him. Huaijin had killed the Blood Infant Elder, a third level Tier 3 demonic cultivator. Fang Tinjue had to admit that he himself would count himself fortunate just to escape with his life from such a monster.

And now, Huaijin had advanced to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, making him even more formidable. Rumor had it that the young prodigy was also a terrifyingly powerful body cultivator. After all, his Earthly Fiend Spiritual Body was the perfect constitution for that brutal path.

"Then I'll follow your lead, Brother Fang," Huaijin said with a slight smile. Huaijin briefly introduced Ning Nanzhi. When Fang Tinjue learned she was from the Ning Clan of Guiyun prefecture, his enthusiasm redoubled. The Ning Clan was an established Tier 3 power, renowned for their mastery of array formations throughout Bing Province and well-connected across the cultivation world. It was a connection Fang Tinjue was eager to cultivate. More importantly, Ning Nanzhi was traveling with Huaijin.

The nature of their relationship spoke for itself. The Langya Zhang Clan's influence was not to be underestimated. Led by Fang Tinjue, Huaijin proceeded to the Fang Clan's main council hall. The Zhou Clan's Tier 2 cultivators were already assembled. Huaijin remained at ease; the purpose of this gathering was clear to everyone present. They had convened to exterminate the demonic cultivators plaguing Qingtai Prefecture. He did not anticipate any treachery from the Fang Clan.

All four of the Fang Clan's Tier 3 cultivators were seated in attendance. The Zhou Clan's three had also arrived. Even a brief absence of a few days from their posts was manageable for them. Seven Tier 2 cultivators, gathered in one hall, the atmosphere was thick and heavy with restrained power. Huaijin was treated as their equal. Once their deliberations concluded, they would notify the Tier 2 forces under their command.

"Everyone! The purpose of today's gathering needs no introduction," began Fang Jisheng, the most powerful cultivator in Qingtai Prefecture at the eighth level.

"We are here to destroy the demons! We are Qingtai's strongest, and we must lend our full strength to the Prefecture." His voice was measured and steady, carrying the weight of authority.

"Our Fang Clan has pinpointed the location of the White Bone Demon Cave! The only question now is how we can completely annihilate every demonic cultivator hiding within its depths." Zhou Yuezi of the Zhou Clan spoke up: "The demons can certainly guess our intentions. The question is one of efficiency, how swiftly we can strike."

"And how well we can safeguard the secrecy of our operation." Fang Xinjin of the Fang Clan added, "If we can eliminate the three Tier 3 demonic cultivators in the White Bone Demon Cave, the rest will crumble like paper." Fang Xinjin spoke the truth. With their leaders destroyed, the White Bone Demon Cave would cease to be a major threat.

"But here lies the critical issue: while we've located the lair, we have no idea what lies within. If there are other exits, they won't stand and fight. They'll flee. And once we've scattered them, hunting them down again will be a nightmare." Fang Jisheng's words silenced the chamber. Demonic cultivators were far more skilled at survival and escape than orthodox cultivators. If they were alerted and managed to slip through the cracks, finding them again would be nearly impossible, like chasing shadows in the dark.