Conflict Breaks Out — Su Qing Displays Her Might
"Young Lord is right. Second Family Head Zhang Yunfeng has always acted for the good of the Zhang Family, never seeking anything in return."
A Zhang Family outsider stepped forward, his eyes red with emotion.
"Before I joined the Zhang Family, I was dressed in rags. It was the Second Family Head who personally gave me a set of clothes."
"After I entered the family, it was also the Second Family Head who advanced my first month's salary out of his own pocket, just so I could properly arrange my deceased mother's funeral."
"The Second Family Head is a good man!"
His words stirred a wave of murmurs.
"But his betrayal was personally uncovered by the First Family Head. How could that be false?"
Another Zhang Family member stepped forward and loudly refuted him.
"That's right! Everyone, don't be fooled! This Zhang Lingxiao is lying!"
For a moment, the Zhang Family courtyard erupted into chaos.
Some recalled Zhang Yunfeng's kindness with conflicted expressions, while others recounted his supposed crimes, mixing truth with falsehood until the lines blurred.
Grand Elder Zhang Qingshan frowned deeply but remained silent.
He had always been close to Zhang Yunfeng.
The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became. Zhang Yunfeng had worked tirelessly for the Zhang Family for decades, never seeking personal gain. Such a man truly did not seem like someone capable of treason.
Just as doubt crept into his heart, a series of hurried footsteps echoed from behind Zhang Lingxiao.
The First Family Head had arrived—along with the Second, Third, and Fourth Elders, as well as a group of Zhang Family members dispatched earlier to apprehend Zhang Lingxiao.
Even the First Family Head had come in person.
At this point, nearly all Zhang Family members—aside from the women and a few young geniuses cultivating outside—had gathered.
"Nephew Zhang Lingxiao," a deep voice rang out coldly,
"Surely you're not implying that the villain who framed your father… is me?"
Zhang Yuntao stepped forward.
Tall and powerfully built, with a large black mole on the left side of his face, he looked more like a butcher than a clan leader. A massive saber—half a zhang long—hung at his waist, radiating a fierce, oppressive aura.
It was a High-Grade Yellow Rank Spiritual Saber.
Though Zhang Yuntao and Zhang Yunfeng were cousins, their appearances could not have been more different. One was rough and domineering, the other refined and scholarly.
Zhang Lingxiao resembled his father.
"Yes," Zhang Lingxiao said calmly.
"Uncle, I suspect it was you who framed my father."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
No one expected Zhang Lingxiao to say it so bluntly—to Zhang Yuntao's face.
His confidence came from the red-clothed woman standing quietly beside him.
With a Tianwu Realm expert backing him, who here would dare touch him?
"Impudent!"
Zhang Yuntao exploded in rage.
"Men! Seize Zhang Lingxiao—the son of a traitor! Today, I, Zhang Yuntao, will uphold justice over blood ties!"
"Yes!"
Several Zhang Family cultivators at the Middle Stage Qi Wu Realm immediately stepped forward, surrounding Zhang Lingxiao.
Zhang Lingxiao could handle multiple opponents—but only those at the Early Qi Wu Realm.
No one believed he could withstand several Middle Qi Wu Realm experts at once.
"Zhang Lingxiao, surrender obediently and stop this pointless resistance," the leading cultivator sneered.
Zhang Lingxiao crooked his finger at him.
"Enough talk. If you want to fight, then fight."
He then turned toward the gathered clan members, his voice ringing out clearly:
"Today, those who seek my life—I will kill without mercy."
"Those who believe me will become the Zhang Family's true core in the future. I, Zhang Lingxiao, will reward them generously."
"The choice is yours."
"I do not slaughter the innocent… but I will never spare an enemy."
As he spoke, Zhang Lingxiao released his Spiritual Qi.
His aura erupted outward like a tidal wave, carrying his voice to every corner of the Zhang Family estate. Even those hiding indoors—women and children alike—heard him clearly.
"Hmph! What are you pretending for?"
A man in his thirties stepped forward, his aura surging.
"Even if you've been hiding your cultivation, you're at most a Middle Qi Wu Realm martial artist."
"This realm is impressive for your age—but in our eyes, you're nothing."
He was at the Peak Qi Wu Realm.
"It's Uncle Zhang Zhong!" someone exclaimed.
"Qi Wu Realm Perfection! The strongest Qi Wu cultivator in the family—on the verge of breaking into the Lingwu Realm and becoming the Fifth Elder!"
Zhang Lingxiao sneered inwardly.
He was no Middle Qi Wu cultivator.
He had already reached the Seventh Heaven—Late Stage Qi Wu Realm.
More importantly, anyone with sharp eyes could see it clearly: although Zhang Zhong stood at Qi Wu Perfection, the density of his Spiritual Qi was not much stronger than Zhang Lingxiao's.
This "waste" who once couldn't cultivate possessed terrifying martial talent.
Zhang Yuntao's expression darkened.
As the highest-realm cultivator present, how could he fail to sense it?
Zhang Lingxiao's Spiritual Qi was nearly on par with Zhang Zhong's.
A killing intent flashed through Zhang Yuntao's eyes.
This brat cannot be allowed to live.
Otherwise, he would become a catastrophic threat in the future.
Suppressing Zhang Zhong with a gesture, Zhang Yuntao stepped forward himself.
"I'll handle this scoundrel personally!"
Zhang Zhong immediately retreated.
Just then—
A soft giggle echoed.
The red-clothed woman beside Zhang Lingxiao stepped forward.
In the next instant, her aura erupted.
An overwhelming pressure descended like the heavens collapsing.
She released her cultivation without restraint—
Tianwu Realm.
"Earth Martial Realm?!" someone screamed.
"No—wait!" the Second Elder cried out in horror.
"I've seen this aura before—from afar—on the Human Emperor himself!"
"This is… Tianwu Realm!"
Zhang Yuntao froze.
His mind went blank.
Run.
That was his only thought.
A Tianwu Realm expert was something he could never contend against—not even as a Lingwu Realm cultivator.
The only reason he had defeated Zhang Yunfeng back then was due to betrayal and a sneak attack.
"Don't panic!" Zhang Yuntao shouted desperately.
"This demoness is bluffing! It must be an illusion created by a secret technique!"
"Everyone, attack together!"
For a brief moment, hesitation flickered across the elders' faces.
Then they convinced themselves it was impossible.
The Tianhuo Country had only one Tianwu Realm expert—the Human Emperor.
How could one appear in Qingyun Town?
The Second, Third, and Fourth Elders—along with Zhang Zhong—charged forward together.
Zhang Lingxiao snorted coldly and stepped back, clearing the field.
"Beautiful lady," he said softly.
"I'll leave it to you."
"Mm."
Su Qing nodded.
She raised her jade hand and grasped the void.
A crimson longsword materialized from nothingness, radiating terrifying power.
Swish!
"Pfft!"
The Second Elder—strongest among them—was pierced through the throat before he could even react.
The Third and Fourth Elders' pupils shrank violently.
"Run! She's real!" the Third Elder screamed in terror.
"Pfft!"
Before his words faded, his vision spun.
A headless corpse fell to the ground.
Only then did he realize—it was his own.
Zhang Zhong turned pale and fled without hesitation.
They only then noticed—
Zhang Yuntao was already gone.
He had fled long ago.
At the same time, Zhang Lingxiao vanished from his spot.
He had already chased after Zhang Yuntao.
This time—
He would personally avenge his father.
And clear his name.
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