Chapter 462 - 624 : The Cautious Ancestor
"Sima Qinfeng, Sima Wuzhen, and seven elders at mid Foundation Establishment or above, including thirty late Qi Refining disciples, are suspected to have died at the hands of the Great Wei Jianyi family."
"What happened?"
Sima Wuwu explained the matter of Sima Qinfeng joining hands with Xue Wuxiu to make trouble for the Jianyi family, including sending a letter to the Cao family and having them turn a blind eye.
After pondering for a moment, the Sima family ancestor said, "Only suspected? It cannot be confirmed?"
"Everyone who went died, so it cannot be confirmed."
"How similar this is to what happened in the Wuhua Secret Realm back then!"
"Ancestor's words are reasonable. Then how should my Sima family act next? Should we go to the Jianyi family and investigate?"
"My Sima family can afford the deaths of a mere seven elders at mid Foundation Establishment or above and thirty late Qi Refining disciples. But the Xue family is different.
"With Xue Lingshang's temperament, he will be interested in the Jianyi family. Let him test the waters for my Sima family."
"Understood, Ancestor."
Sima Wuwu left, and the great hall returned to deathly silence once more.
Xue family.
After the matter occurred, the Xue family's Second Elder went to the forbidden stone cave and reported it, only to draw the Xue family ancestor Xue Lingshang's scolding.
"A group of fools. They did not investigate the other side's strength before rushing over eagerly to deliver their lives. They deserved to die at others' hands.
"Right, what are you called?"
"Replying to Ancestor, this disciple is Xue Wulei."
"Xue Wulei, from this moment on, you are my Xue family's Great Elder."
"Many thanks, Ancestor!" Xue Wulei was pleasantly surprised.
Immediately afterward, a soft sound of surprise came from the stone cave.
"But this Jianyi family is truly unexpected. Tell this ancestor more about the Jianyi family's situation. I seem not to have heard much about them."
"Yes, Ancestor." Xue Wulei immediately began explaining what he had heard about the Jianyi family.
After half an incense stick's time,
"The Jianyi family rose only forty or fifty years ago? Its founder has not even passed a hundred years old?"
"Yes, Ancestor."
"Are these matters all verified, or are they merely things you heard?"
"The time of their rise should have been verified, and their development is more or less so as well. Only their strength is uncertain, with all sorts of claims."
"What claims?" Xue Lingshang became interested.
"The Jianyi family's people have a relatively profound method of concealing their realms. They are used to hiding, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot see through them. As for how many realms they can conceal, no one knows.
"Some say that the Jianyi family has more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Others say that the cultivation levels the Jianyi family Foundation Establishment cultivators show before others should all be raised by two or three realms when viewed."
"Interesting, truly interesting."
The Xue family ancestor's laughter once again came from the stone cave.
"If these rumors are true, then the Jianyi family is truly interesting. Their secrets are probably not small."
"Ancestor, the Sima family sent people over earlier to ask about this matter. It seems that all the people they sent also fell."
Xue Wulei spoke again.
"Normal. The strength of the people the two families sent was equal. Since my Xue family's disciples all died, the Sima family's naturally did as well."
Xue Lingshang's tone was indifferent. Then he said again, "From now on, you will have full authority over the clan's affairs. There is no need to report minor matters like disciples dying to me."
"Understood, Ancestor."
Xue Wulei cupped his fists, then turned and left.
A short while later,
The stone cave's gate opened, and a blood shadow darted out.
With a wave of his hand, the entire stone cave was enveloped by a pale red formation restriction light screen.
"That old ghost Sima probably will not act. A mere few mid Foundation Establishment cultivators and Qi Refining disciples are nothing at all to the Sima family, which has controlled Great Jin for so many years.
"As for the Xue family..."
The corners of Xue Lingshang's mouth lifted, and he smiled wickedly. "So what if they all die?"
"With five hundred long years, at worst, I can just establish another clan!"
"Great Wei... I indeed have not gone there in a long time."
Xue Lingshang abruptly turned into a crimson streak of light, like an arrow leaving the string as it pierced the firmament. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the clouds.
Great Wei.
Guangling Commandery.
Outside the Jianyi family's Guangling branch.
"A second-rank high-grade formation, built upon this place's earth vein as its foundation. It would be difficult for anyone who is not a top formation master to lay down."
Xue Lingshang observed the cyan light curtain for a moment and murmured to himself, "If the Jianyi family arranged a second-rank high-grade sealing formation, then those little brats of my Xue family indeed would have had difficulty escaping."
"Forget it. With a second-rank high-grade grand formation, it is impossible to sneak in without making a sound. I will go look at the Yueling Alliance."
A second-rank high-grade defensive grand formation would require two or three attacks even from a Golden Core cultivator to break.
With the grand formation obstructing him, Xue Lingshang could not investigate the entire Jianyi branch either.
Thus, he went to the Yueling Alliance.
But when he arrived, it was still the same.
The entire Yueling Alliance was enveloped by a formation, with only one entrance and exit. Four late Qi Refining disciples guarded it, and only by controlling formation tokens could they open the entrance.
A market of considerable scale had already formed around the Yueling Alliance headquarters.
The earlier markets of Guangling Commandery had all moved to this place.
Xue Lingshang found a restaurant in the market and gave a waiter a spirit stone. The other party then told him everything about the establishment, structure, and development of the Yueling Alliance.
"An alliance leader faction that operates the alliance, an Enforcement Hall with independent criminal law authority, and an Elder Council that holds high status yet only possesses the power to appoint and dismiss important alliance positions.
"What a fine three-legged structure, mutually restraining one another.
"This Wentian's mind is indeed very agile.
"And the academy plan. First starting with the low-aptitude disciples of the various aristocratic families greatly reduces the rejection in the hearts of those aristocratic families.
"If the academy's training proves effective, the aristocratic families may then send in core disciples.