In the hall of the Wu family, Wu Hao, the head of the Wu family, sat tall at the head. Sitting below were several elders and the family steward. Today, he felt much better than the past few days because he could avenge his son.

"Three more days until the Chen family's coming-of-age ceremony. My Wu family and the Li family are going to join forces to eradicate the Chen family during the ceremony. Does anyone have any objections?" Wu Hao said to everyone.

"Master, at this point, we have no retreat. The family's mines are about to be depleted. Even if we join forces with the Li family, the head of the Chen family is at the mid-level of the Spirit Martial Realm. Do we have the means to directly wipe out the Chen family? Even if we try our best, we will have to pay a hefty price," a middle-aged man sitting below said.

"Please rest assured, I have already invited an expert to help our Wu family deal with the Chen family. This time, we must drive the Chen family out of Hongling Town no matter what. Why hasn't Wu Peng returned yet?" Wu Hao said impatiently.

"Servant!" A servant came in from outside.

"What orders do you have, Master?" The servant asked respectfully.

"Go and see if the second young master has returned yet," Wu Hao ordered.

The Li family's meeting hall was also brightly lit. Li Yuan, the head of the Li family, sat at the head, and the elders of the Li family were present.

"This time, we are going to join forces with the Wu family to deal with the Chen family. For the past few years, our three families have been fighting each other, attacking each other's disciples. This time, we and the Wu family are going to wipe out the Chen family during the Chen family's coming-of-age ceremony. Do you all think this plan is feasible?" Li Yuan said to everyone.

"Master, we will do as you say. Hongling is such a small place; one family is enough. Three families are too many, and resources are severely limited. But if we eliminate the Chen family, who will own their property and mines?" A rugged middle-aged man expressed concern about resources.

"I have discussed this with the head of the Wu family, Wu Hao. We won't take a single penny of the Chen family's property. It will serve as a reward for the high-level expert who is helping us this time. The Chen family's restaurants and tea houses will be split evenly between the Li family and the Wu family. As for the mines, if it's difficult to divide, I and Brother Wu have agreed to split the profits fifty-fifty," Li Yuan explained to everyone.

...

Chen Xuan arrived at his grandfather's courtyard and saw his grandfather sitting in the garden, staring blankly at the rockery.

"Grandpa, I'm back," Chen Xuan called softly.

Only then did Chen Xuan's grandfather come to his senses.

"You're back, Xuan'er," Chen Xuan's grandfather turned around and saw Chen Xuan walking towards him.

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"Yes, Grandpa. I just came back. I heard from my father that you were looking for me, so I came over," Chen Xuan said.

"Tell me about your experience in the Sunset Mountains," his grandfather said.

Chen Xuan briefly recounted his experience in the Sunset Mountains, omitting the details about the Fire Dragon Fruit and the essence blood of the Jiao. As for the martial arts and techniques, Chen Xuan said he obtained them in a cave.

Chen Xuan didn't want to lie, but he couldn't reveal his cultivation techniques. Once exposed, it would attract covetous eyes from the entire Northern Region. At that time, the family wouldn't be facing small families like the Wu and Li families anymore.

Chen Xuan's rapid advancement in cultivation was all thanks to absorbing spiritual energy from the demon beasts' inner cores using the Devouring Heaven Technique. Even the disciples of major sects and families couldn't achieve a six-rank advancement in half a year. Before he could protect his family with strength, Chen Xuan wouldn't reveal his cultivation plans.

After listening to Chen Xuan's account, his grandfather fell silent for a while. He knew Chen Xuan was hiding something, but he didn't intend to pry further. Since his grandson said so, there must be a reason for not saying it all.

"Grandpa, I saw you lost in thought when I came in. Do you have something on your mind?" Chen Xuan asked.

"I have a bad premonition. These past few days, I've been restless. I feel that the Wu and Li families are going to make a move against our Chen family. After the coming-of-age ceremony, the family will send your group of disciples away. Our older generation will stay in Hongling Town. The family's assets cannot be taken away just like that," Chen Xuan's grandfather said with a hint of sadness.

"Grandpa, don't worry. If the Wu and Li families dare to target the Chen family, I won't let them go back intact," Chen Xuan said confidently.

The old man ignored Chen Xuan's statement, thinking it was just impulsive words from a young man. But Chen Xuan himself knew that if they dared to come, he would make sure they knew that the Chen family was not just his grandfather alone at the Spirit Martial Realm. Although he wasn't at the Spirit Martial Realm, he was confident in facing one.

"Child, you are still young and don't understand the difference between the Spirit Martial Realm and the postnatal stage. When you reach the Spirit Martial Realm someday, you will know. Although I am at the mid-level of the Spirit Martial Realm, Wu Hao and Li Yuan are also seasoned Spirit Martial Realm experts. Moreover, they have invited a Spirit Martial Realm expert to assist them this time. Dealing with two Spirit Martial Realm experts is already my limit, but if these two families have another Spirit Martial Realm expert, no matter how many postnatal ninth ranks we have, it won't be enough to kill him. So, the family has decided to send your group of disciples away to continue the family bloodline."

"Grandpa, do you think you can safely send us away? The Wu and Li families won't hesitate to send people to intercept us on the road. If we don't eliminate them at the root, they will come back stronger. I believe the Wu and Li families understand this too," Chen Xuan said.

"I will arrange for a caravan, and you will blend in with the caravan to leave Hongling Town," his grandfather replied.

Chen Xuan didn't argue further. No matter what he said, he couldn't change his grandfather's attitude. Chen Xuan had already made up his mind. This time, he planned to take the initiative. After the coming-of-age ceremony, Chen Xuan wanted to take the initiative to attack these two families. But for now, he didn't say it out loud. Even if he did, his grandfather wouldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, in the Wu family hall, they were still discussing how to deal with the Chen family. At this moment, a servant rushed in from outside.

"Master, it's... it's bad. Second... second..."

"Speak properly, what's the matter?" Wu Hao snapped.

"Yes, after hearing the master's order, I went out to see if the second young master had returned. The servant said the second master hadn't returned since he left. I went to the alley where Chen Xuan was ambushed to take a look. I saw more than a dozen family warriors and disciples lying on the ground, all dead, and not a single one was intact," the servant said, clearly frightened by what he had seen.

"Where's the second master?" Wu Hao asked.

"Master, there was one body on the ground with its limbs chopped off, covered in knife wounds, and its original appearance was unrecognizable. I'm afraid..." the servant said, but didn't dare to continue.

"Take us there to have a look," Wu Hao said, getting up from his chair, and everyone in the hall followed suit.

Wu Hao led a dozen men to the alley and was surprised by the scene. Several bodies lay scattered on the ground, all dressed in Wu family clothes.

Wu Hao checked the body with severed limbs and, upon flipping over the clothes, saw a red birthmark. He shouted, "Second brother, who killed you!"

Wu Peng had a birthmark on the back of his head that only his big brother knew about, so Wu Hao immediately recognized him.

"Whoever killed my second brother, I will dismember them!" Wu Hao roared in the alley.

At this moment, an elder of the Wu family approached.

"Master, do you think it's possible that the head of the Chen family did it? The second master is at the postnatal ninth rank. Only the head of the Chen family, Chen Batian, who is also at the postnatal ninth rank, could easily kill the second master in Hongling Town. Chen Batian's son, Chen Yumu, is also at the postnatal ninth rank, but his strength is not enough to kill the second master," the elder analyzed.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Only a Spirit Martial Realm expert could have killed all of them, so guessing it was Chen Batian was not unreasonable.

"Chen Batian, I will make the Chen family bury my second brother and son!"