Chapter Seven : Ashes in The Wind
Just as Zou Kui gave the order, the elders from both clans behind him rushed forward eagerly.
But the moment they activated their spiritual power, all of them suddenly felt dizzy and weak, a stabbing pain erupting in their dantian as though a blade had pierced through it.
Then—
"Pfft!!"
The elders of the two clans coughed up blood almost in unison and collapsed to the ground, unconscious and unmoving.
Zou Kui and Wei Sanyuan were dumbstruck.
What just happened?!
They had been perfectly fine moments ago—how did they suddenly collapse like they'd suffered heavy injuries? No one even saw an attack!
Soon, the two most powerful among them—Zou Kui and Wei Sanyuan—also began to feel the world spinning. But since they hadn't yet activated their spiritual power, they managed to stay on their feet for the time being.
Wei Sanyuan suddenly realized something and cried out in horror, "It's poison! We've been poisoned!"
"You… when did you poison us?!" Zou Kui's glare bored into Fang Ting, fists clenched, veins bulging with fury.
Fang Ting looked innocent as he replied, "I didn't poison anyone. There were just a few bottles with poison stored on the flying ship. You broke them when you destroyed it. The gas spread on its own."
"This type of poison is colorless and odorless. Anyone below Violet Palace can't resist it. If you just stand still and don't circulate your spiritual energy, you'll live a little longer. But the moment you activate your powers, the poison will rush into your dantian and your organs. Even the gods won't be able to save you then."
Wei Sanyuan and Zou Kui's faces turned deathly pale. What they thought was a foolproof plan had somehow devolved into a complete disaster.
"Then why… why are you fine?!"
Fang Ting replied matter-of-factly, "Good looks come with perks."
Huh?
Wei Sanyuan and Zou Kui nearly coughed up blood from rage.
Damn him! Even now, he's mocking our ugly faces?!
Thud...
Wei Sanyuan fell to his knees, sobbing and begging, "Patriarch Fang, I was wrong! I never should've listened to that old brute Zou Kui and gone along with his plan against you. Please, spare my life! I'll give you everything the Wei Clan owns—just let me live!"
It wasn't remorse—it was fear of death.
Fang Ting looked at him with a calm smile and turned his gaze to Zou Kui.
Zou Kui's face was ashen, his body trembling—whether from fury or poison, it was unclear.
"You bastard! I'll take you down with me!"
Zou Kui tried to activate his weapon, but just like the others, he vomited black blood and collapsed.
Wei Sanyuan continued to plead.
Fang Ting said gently, "It's not that I don't want to spare you. It's that… I didn't prepare an antidote."
"You—!"
Wei Sanyuan's face flushed red with fury. He pointed at Fang Ting, but before he could utter another word, he too fell limp to the ground.
He thought Fang Ting was lying—if there was no antidote, how had he survived?
Little did he know, Fang Ting wasn't immune because of any antidote. He was immune because of his innate Flawless Spirit Body.
Neither Zou Kui nor Wei Sanyuan ever figured out how Fang Ting had known of their plan.
Had they known the outcome would be like this, they'd have rather packed up and moved their clans elsewhere.
But it was too late.
Thus, all six Core Formation cultivators of the Zou and Wei clans lay dead. Fang Ting hadn't even lifted a finger—all it took were a few calm words and some poison.
A battle full of peril, but ultimately exhilarating.
The only pity was the loss of a high-grade Yellow-tier flying artifact. Still, with the extermination of the Zou and Wei clans, replacements would come easily enough.
Before he left, Fang Ting delivered the finishing blow.
He gathered their magical weapons and storage rings, then raised his palm.
Boom!!
A massive fire palm, over hundred and ten hundred feet wide, descended from the sky, engulfing all six corpses in a blaze.
Moments later, they were nothing but ash. A breeze swept through the canyon, scattering them into the wind.
Fang Ting gazed across the picturesque valley and sighed.
"You really did pick a beautiful place for your graves."
—
Fang Ting arrived at the mining area.
The elders had already taken care of the demonic beasts. Seeing him return so quickly, they were visibly surprised.
"Patriarch, did you not run into the Zou and Wei clans?"
Fang Ting replied calmly, "All six Core Formation cultivators from the Zou and Wei clans have been dealt with. In a bit, you'll head to their homes and root them out completely."
His tone was relaxed, as if he'd swatted a few flies rather than wiped out two entire clans' elite forces.
The elders exchanged looks, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
It wasn't that they didn't believe Fang Ting—but this was simply beyond what they could comprehend.
Barely a stick of incense had burned—how could Fang Ting have taken down six Core Formation cultivators alone?
Fang Ting then took out the magical weapons that had belonged to Zou Kui and Wei Sanyuan.
"…!"
The elders were stunned into silence.
They recognized those artifacts—there was no doubt.
After a long moment, it was the experienced First Elder who recovered first. He cupped his hands and shouted:
"Patriarch Fang is mighty!!"
The others followed suit in unison, voices full of genuine admiration.
They had fought the Zou and Wei clans for centuries, never able to break the stalemate. Past patriarchs and elders had dreamed of dominating Yunshan City, but none had succeeded.
And now, just like that, both rival clans were leaderless—wiped out so casually it felt surreal.
Dominating Yunshan City was now within reach.
It was almost too good to be true, like a dream.
Their reverence for Fang Ting had reached an all-time high.
Once the Fang clan became Yunshan City's number one power, Fang Ting's standing would rival even that of their ancestral founder.
Fang Ting spoke: "Let's go, everyone. It's time to take care of real business back in the city."
"Yes! I've waited eighty years for this day!"
"Let me take point when we attack the Zou Clan! I've dreamed of it!"
"If you're taking the Zou Clan, then I'll lead the charge into the Wei Clan!"
The seven elders were overjoyed, giddy like children about to receive candy.
For centuries, the three clans had clashed constantly. During the fiercest conflicts, blood was spilled on both sides—if you killed two of mine, I'd kill four of yours. No one backed down.
If not for the fear of the third clan taking advantage, someone would've long since gone all out.
There had always been deep grudges between the three.
And now that Fang Ting had created the perfect opportunity, of course they would seize it.
Strike while the iron's hot. Finish them while they're down.
—
After returning to Yunshan City, Fang Ting and the seven elders split into two groups, leading their clan members toward the Zou and Wei residences, murderous intent radiating from them.
Each of the three clans had similar peak forces: a mid-stage Core Formation patriarch and two early-stage Core Formation elders.
To ensure the ambush against Fang Ting was foolproof, all six of the Zou and Wei clans' Core Formation cultivators had participated.
No one expected all six to be wiped out in one stroke—without even forcing Fang Ting to lift a hand.
Back in their homes, the remaining cultivators—Body Tempering, Qi Gathering, and Essence Cultivation stage—were unaware of what had happened.
So when the Fang clan came knocking, they responded not with fear—but outrage.
"How dare they?!"
A Zou elder pointed at Fang Ting and roared, "Fang Ting! What is the meaning of this?! Are you declaring war on the Zou Clan?!"
Fang Ting couldn't be bothered to answer. He simply waved his hand, and the Fang clan charged forward, weapons and magical artifacts drawn.
The exact same scene unfolded at the Wei residence.
The thunderous commotion shocked all of Yunshan City.
A new era had begun.