Gou Zai created a blessed land in the immortal abode

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenshan not only showed no fear, but instead burst into laughter.

"Outnumbered?"

His laughter ceased, and his gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept over Kong Shaoping and An Mingxin.

"Kong Shaoping, take a look behind you."

Kong Shaoping felt a chill and turned around abruptly.

A streak of earthy yellow light was hurtling towards them from the horizon, moving at an astonishing speed. In a short while, the light was right in front of them, revealing a burly figure.

He was a middle-aged cultivator with a square face and a resemblance to Zhao Zhenshan in his features. His aura was as thick as a mountain, indicating that he was also at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Zhao Zhenyue!" Kong Shaoping's pupils contracted slightly.

The Zhao family actually has two Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Zhao Zhenyue stood in mid-air, cupped his hands in greeting to Kong Shaoping, his tone polite but utterly devoid of warmth:

"Brother Kong, it's been a long time."

Kong Shaoping remained calm, but was secretly alarmed.

When did Zhao Zhenyue break through to the Foundation Establishment realm? Why hasn't there been any news about it?

Zhao Zhenyue's appearance undoubtedly disrupted Kong Shaoping's plans, tilting the balance of power in favor of the Zhao family.

"Kong Shaoping, I'll give you another chance out of consideration for our past relationship."

Zhao Zhenshan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent and cold.

"Retreat! I will only take the Liu family. If you do not retreat, the Kong family will be wiped out along with the Liu family today."

Liu Wenyuan, who was on the summit, heard it clearly. His face turned ashen, and he shouted urgently:

"Brother Kong! The Zhao family harbors wolfish ambitions; if they destroy my Liu family today, they will surely take the Kong family tomorrow! If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold!"

Kong Shaoping remained silent, his gaze shifting back and forth between Zhao Zhenshan and Zhao Zhenyue, his mind racing with calculations.

Zhao Zhenyue should be at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, but the Zhao family cultivates the Earth Virtue path and is particularly skilled in shield techniques, so Liu Wenyuan will probably have a hard time defeating him in a short time.

Even when he and An Mingxin joined forces, they were no match for Zhao Zhenshan, who was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Without a quick way to win, the chances of victory in this battle are slim.

However, if we don't help the Liu family, once the Liu family is destroyed, the Zhao family will consolidate the resources of both families, and their next target will inevitably be the Kong family.

Kong Shaoping took a deep breath, his gaze hardening.

"Brother Zhao, you have a clever trick up your sleeve."

His tone was calm, but his fists, clenched in his sleeves, were white.

"Brother Kong!"

Liu Wenyuan's voice already carried a hint of pleading, "My Liu family is willing to form a life-and-death alliance with the Kong family, to be friendly for generations, and never betray them! We only ask that Brother Kong lend a helping hand today!"

Kong Shaoping closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. When he opened them again, his eyes showed a clear decision.

He looked at Zhao Zhenshan and said in a deep voice:

"Brother Zhao, my Kong family can do without the Liu family's talisman inheritance. But the people of the Liu family, my Kong family must protect."

"Oh?" Zhao Zhenshan raised an eyebrow.

"The conditions are simple." Kong Shaoping held up one finger. "The Liu family will hand over the talisman inheritance, the Zhao family will withdraw their troops, the three families will renew their contract, and continue a century of peace."

"Kong Shaoping! You!"

Liu Wenyuan roared angrily from the summit.

Brother Liu.

Kong Shaoping turned to look at him, his gaze calm yet unwavering:

"The talismanic tradition can be found again if it is lost, but if the person is gone, then everything is gone."

Liu Wenyuan opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head in dejection.

He knew that Kong Shaoping was telling the truth.

This is the only way for the Liu family to survive right now.

Zhao Zhenshan laughed, his laughter tinged with mockery.

"Kong Shaoping, you certainly know how to calculate."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd from his superior position.

"However... I can withdraw my troops, but my Zhao family not only wants the talisman inheritance, but also the spiritual veins of the Liu family's mountain. Moreover, Liu Wenyuan, I want you to commit suicide."

Liu Wenyuan shuddered and stared intently at Zhao Zhenshan.

"You old scoundrel Zhao, you..."

"What?" Zhao Zhenshan interrupted him, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Unwilling? Then there's no need to talk."

He raised his hand and pointed to the main peak of the Liu family, and the illusory image of the giant loess peak behind him solidified again.

"I will give you ten breaths to consider. After ten breaths, if Liu Wenyuan does not commit suicide, the entire Liu family will be wiped out."

As soon as he finished speaking, the mountain wind howled, but no one dared to utter a sound.

The Liu family cultivators were deathly pale, and some of them had weak legs and could barely stand.

Kong Shaoping frowned deeply, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

An Mingxin glanced at him, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Time slipped away, breath by breath.

"one."

Zhao Zhenshan began to count, his voice not loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

"two."

"three."

Liu Wenyuan stood on the altar atop the peak, his beard and hair disheveled by the mountain wind, his face flickering in and out of focus under the lightning.

His gaze swept over the Liu family members gathered on the mountainside.

Those faces showed fear, anger, resentment, and pleading.

The younger one is his great-grandson Liu Zhiyuan, who is only seven years old this year and has just started cultivating. Just a few days ago, he was still clamoring to become the second Foundation Establishment cultivator in the clan.

At this moment, the boy bit his lip tightly, his eyes reddening, but he held back his tears.

Liu Wenyuan withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.

"seven."

Zhao Zhenshan's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"eight."

Liu Wenyuan opened his eyes and looked at Kong Shaoping.

Brother Kong.

His voice was hoarse, yet surprisingly calm.

"The Liu family's descendants are entrusted to you."

Kong Shaoping's expression changed: "Brother Liu, you..."

"There's no need to persuade her anymore."

Liu Wenyuan smiled bitterly, turning his gaze to Zhao Zhenshan, his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred.

"You old scoundrel Zhao, today I, Liu Wenyuan, will commit suicide here, but don't be smug. Heaven is watching what people do. You eat people to make elixirs, and one day you will be punished."

"retribution?"

Zhao Zhenshan scoffed, unconvinced.

"I am the ruler of this vast area, who can repay my debt?"

"Nine."

Liu Wenyuan took a deep breath and placed his hand on his dantian.

The spiritual energy reversed within his body, causing his meridians to break inch by inch.

He groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he stubbornly refused to collapse.

"Ancestor!"

The Liu family members all knelt down, their cries of sorrow filling the air.

Liu Wenyuan took one last look at his clansmen, then his spiritual power exploded, his dantian shattered, and his aura vanished abruptly.

Thunderclouds rolled across the sky, flashes of lightning, then vanished abruptly, turning into drizzling raindrops that fell to the earth.

Zhao Zhenshan watched all this indifferently, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Liu Wenyuan is dead. The Liu family's talisman inheritance and the spiritual veins of Ling Mountain belong to the Zhao family from this day forward."

He looked at Kong Shaoping, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Kong Shaoping, take your men and leave. Remember, you can take the Liu family members with you, but you are not allowed to touch a single thing belonging to the Liu family."

Kong Shaoping remained silent for a long time, his face as still as water, before finally nodding slowly.

"it is good."

He turned around, looked at the Liu family members, and said in a low voice.

"Liu family members, listen to my command. Those who wish to leave, come with me."

The Liu family cultivators looked at each other, some struggling, some gritting their teeth and getting up, and some kneeling on the ground refusing to get up.

At that moment, a treasure ship sailed in from the horizon; it was the treasure ship of the Kong family.

A few monks were standing on the ship, including Kong Chengli and Li Chengming.

He had witnessed the confrontation between the Foundation Establishment cultivators.