It was swift.
The Liu Family was annihilated! Not a single soul survived. They were completely rooted out. The Cai Family met the exact same fate.
The people of Cangzhou were stunned into silence. The killing intent radiating from the white-robed powerhouse was overwhelming. He had wiped out two Emperor-tier factions in the blink of an eye!
At this point, no one dared to probe the void with their divine sense. This white-robed Great Emperor was a ruthless man, and they were truly terrified.
Was this white-robed Great Emperor planning a city-wide massacre?
They had only dared to peek a few times!
Instantly, every faction in Cangzhou, large and small, sealed off their territories. No one dared to let their divine sense or spiritual perception venture out even an inch. The entire city became a ghost town. No one even dared to breathe too loudly.
Only the people of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion remained frozen in place.
Just then, several Quasi-Emperors staggered out of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. They were trembling violently, but one of them gritted his teeth, attempting a desperate bluff: "We have already submitted to the Heavenly Net Hall! Their experts will arrive soon! If you dare destroy our Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the Heavenly Net Hall will avenge us..."
Before he could finish, Lu Xuan expressionlessly brought down a single palm. The strike blotted out the sun, a terrifying, absolute force.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion members watched, their faces turning ashen. They knew this day would be the end of their faction.
Suddenly, the dying Quasi-Emperors snarled, "If we die, we all die! The Xiao Family and the Lin Family were also preparing to attack! If you have the guts, wipe them out too! If you have the guts, slaughter the entire city!"
At that sound, every cultivator in Cangzhou was utterly dumbfounded.
What the actual hell? They had seen plenty of living Buddhas, but this was the first time they had encountered a living King of Hell! The Drunken Immortal Pavilion was going down, and they wanted to drag everyone else into the abyss with them? Those absolute bastards!
In that moment, the Xiao Family and the Lin Family, from top to bottom, were cursing. The Xiao Family ancestor and the Lin Family ancestor were so enraged their cultivation nearly regressed. They hadn't participated in any of this, yet the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had dragged their names into this disaster! They had done nothing wrong! That damned Drunken Immortal Pavilion!
Boom!
In the next instant, everyone at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion headquarters was crushed by Lu Xuan's palm. Blood splattered, forming rivers of crimson.
Just then, a Two-star Great Emperor emerged from the Xiao Family territory, his body hunched and his face ashen. He was utterly servile. "Senior, my Xiao Family welcomes your arrival in Cangzhou. To show our sincerity, we are willing to offer two One-star Emperor Weapons, one hundred million top-grade Spirit Stones, and vast cultivation resources!"
On the other side, the Lin Family ancestor, his face pale, crawled out of his ancient tomb, radiating a deathly aura. He had been in death seclusion, but the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's desperate act forced him to risk a severe cultivation backlash and emerge. Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, his body trembling, he bowed respectfully to Lu Xuan. "Senior, my Lin Family offers the same."
Both men desperately suppressed their fear. This One-star Great Emperor before them wiped out entire clans without a word. They were terrified Lu Xuan would turn his attention to their families. They couldn't possibly resist him!
Lu Xuan paused, slightly bewildered. Huh? He hadn't planned on pursuing the Lin or Xiao families at all. After all, they hadn't harbored any killing intent toward him. He was invincible in Cangzhou, but his Invincible Stance had its own Dao. He didn't enjoy killing and had no interest in massacres.
However, since the Xiao and Lin ancestors were being so generous, who was he to refuse?
Lu Xuan's moment of contemplation, however, sent shivers down the spines of the two Great Emperors. He's clearly dissatisfied with our compensation! they thought, terrified. If he wiped them out, all their treasures would be his anyway!
With that thought, the Lin Family ancestor and the Xiao Family ancestor's knees buckled. They immediately dropped to the ground.
Thump! Thump!
Lu Xuan looked at the two Great Emperors, even more confused.
"My Lin Family swears allegiance to Senior! Let Heaven and Earth bear witness, we will never harbor any second thoughts!"
"My Xiao Family, too!"
In an instant, the two Great Emperor ancestors swore a Heavenly Oath, submitting to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan's face twitched.
Alright. That was an unexpected bonus.
Lu Xuan looked at Ji Fuyao. "Fuyao, the Lin Family and the Xiao Family will now fall under your command."
Ji Fuyao's delicate body trembled, and she looked at Lu Xuan in shock. "Master, this..."
The Lin Family ancestor and the Xiao Family ancestor secretly glanced up at Ji Fuyao, seeing a stunningly beautiful, delicate woman. They felt utterly miserable. They had sworn allegiance to the terrifying white-robed Great Emperor, only to be immediately handed over to a mere Profound Saint?
They didn't even know the white-robed Great Emperor's name.
"Senior," the Lin Family ancestor ventured, "perhaps you could visit my Lin Family for a brief rest?"
Lu Xuan nodded. "Very well, but my time is limited."
His One-star Great Emperor experience card only lasted for three hours. He still had to visit other cities in Cangzhou to wipe out the remaining Drunken Immortal Pavilion branches.
Lu Xuan reached out his right hand and grabbed toward the ruins of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Instantly, a massive pit appeared where the headquarters had been. Lu Xuan collected all the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's accumulated wealth, sealed it into a storage ring, and handed it to Ji Fuyao. "Fuyao, this is for you."
Everyone soon followed the Lin Family ancestor to the Lin Family's main hall, where the Lin Family experts respectfully bowed. The Xiao Family members also arrived.
Lu Xuan revealed his identity.
The Lin and Xiao families were dumbfounded.
"Lu Xuan? Peak Master Lu?"
"Wait, isn't Peak Master Lu widely rumored across the Southern Wilds to be a waste?"
Ye Chen's name had recently shaken the Southern Wilds, and Lu Xuan's name had followed, but his reputation was infamously bad. Good news: Lu Xuan was famous. Bad news: he was famous for being a joke.
The Lin and Xiao families stared at Lu Xuan in profound shock. "Peak Master Lu, you are truly a divine figure! To have ignored the outside world's opinions for so many years!"
Ji Fuyao smiled faintly. "My Master is transcendent and detached. He stopped caring about the opinions of the mortal world long ago."
It was difficult for them to process. Misunderstood by the Southern Wilds for years, Peak Master Lu had never refuted the rumors or displayed his true power! Was this the true demeanor of a supreme expert?
The Lin Family ancestor and the Xiao Family ancestor exchanged a glance, then addressed Ji Fuyao. "Empress, we have now offended the Heavenly Net Hall. How should we proceed?"
Ji Fuyao was about to speak when Wang Man scoffed. "Hmph! If the Heavenly Net Hall dares to attack us, or you, that would be a blatant act of bullying the weak! If Peak Master Lu is angered, he will simply storm their headquarters and wipe out their entire lineage!"
At the sound of that, the Lin and Xiao families were stunned. C-could that really be true?
They still had a sliver of doubt. After all, Lu Xuan was only a One-star Great Emperor right now.
Ji Fuyao produced the six-star Emperor Weapon, Heaven-Rending, and spoke slowly. "This was merely a casual gift from my Master. Such Emperor Weapons are nothing in his eyes."
Everyone stared at Lu Xuan in shock. Did Peak Master Lu truly regard a six-star Emperor Weapon as trash?
Lu Xuan, looking utterly serene and profound, gazed at the Lin and Xiao families. He was painting a grand picture. "Just perform well. A mere six-star Emperor Weapon? You'll have plenty more in the future."
The Lin Family ancestor and the Xiao Family ancestor's eyes instantly gleamed with excitement. They bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Peak Master Lu!" The sight of the six-star Emperor Weapon had convinced them.
Lu Xuan spoke slowly. "For now, you will remain in Cangzhou. In the future, you will obey Fuyao's commands."
The two ancestors nodded frantically.
Lu Xuan looked at Ji Fuyao and the others. "Let's go. We need to continue eradicating the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!"
As they left, Wang Man and Qing Yan secretly transmitted a message to the two Great Emperor ancestors: "Remember one thing: Peak Master Lu prefers to be low-profile. You must never proactively reveal his true strength!"
The Lin Family ancestor looked at the Xiao Family ancestor, then nodded to Wang Man and Qing Yan. "Understood!"
In the next instant, Lu Xuan activated a corner of a supreme Great Emperor formation pattern.
Boom! An incredibly terrifying spatial power condensed in the area. Lu Xuan waved his sleeve, and he, Ji Fuyao, and the others vanished.
The Lin and Xiao families watched, dumbfounded.
The Xiao Family ancestor's eyes gleamed. "Peak Master Lu is truly terrifying! That was the formation pattern of a peerless Great Emperor!"
The Lin Family ancestor's body trembled. "Who would have thought that we would gain such a terrifying backer!"
The two exchanged glances and immediately ordered everyone in their respective families to swear a Heavenly Oath of eternal loyalty to Ji Fuyao and Lu Xuan.
The Great Era of the Southern Wilds was descending! Perhaps they could truly follow Peak Master Lu and claim a piece of the pie!
Soon after, Lu Xuan led Ji Fuyao and the others across the void. The Drunken Immortal Pavilion still had several branches left.
Lu Xuan arrived and wiped them out instantly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion branch in Cloud City: Annihilated!
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion branch in Wind City: Annihilated!
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion branch in Kun City: Annihilated!
Annihilation after annihilation! Like a storm sweeping away autumn leaves, Lu Xuan finished his task, collecting all the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's cultivation resources and handing them over to Ji Fuyao.
The harvest was immense! The Drunken Immortal Pavilion had developed in Cangzhou for three thousand years, accumulating countless resources, far surpassing the Lin and Xiao families.
Ji Fuyao now possessed a mountain of top-grade Spirit Stones and over a dozen Emperor Weapons! In addition, there were countless talismans and pills. She had won big!
Ji Fuyao divided the massive haul, giving a portion to the Ye Family ancestor and the Imperial Dragon Guards.
After a short time, Lu Xuan looked at the group. "I'll send you all back now."
With that, Lu Xuan activated the Great Emperor formation pattern, bringing everyone back to the Ye Family.
Boom!
In the main hall, the Ye Family Patriarch and the elders were stunned to see a thousand powerful figures materialize out of thin air. What was happening? They had just been discussing the Ye Family ancestor's progress in Cangzhou.
In the next breath, Lu Xuan had returned with everyone!
The Ye Family Patriarch and the elders rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Ye Beichen smiled. "We're back! Peak Master Lu saved the Empress and all of us!"
Ye Beichen quickly recounted the events that had transpired in Cangzhou.
The Ye Family members were utterly shocked, their gazes toward Lu Xuan becoming intensely fervent.
"I was here all along!"
That phrase, though they hadn't heard it directly, echoed in their hearts like a great bell. Peak Master Lu had been watching over them all along! This was the power of a peerless Southern Wilds expert! Moreover, he had acquired two Emperor-tier factions and casually placed them under Ji Fuyao's command, making them part of the Fuyao Dynasty's forces!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. "Alright, Wang Man, do you all want to stay in Qingcheng or return to the Black Flame Mountain Range?"
...