Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Blood was still flowing on the stone steps.

Two elders of the Jiang family collapsed in front of the treasure vault, their eyes wide open.

They never understood it until they died.

How dare Gu Changjin kill them?

A son-in-law who lives with his wife's family.

A person from another family who was supported by the Jiang family for thirty years.

Even if they are at the peak of Foundation Establishment, even if they are about to form their core, it was all thanks to the support of the Jiang family.

How dare he kill an elder of the Jiang family in the inner mountain of the Jiang family, in front of so many Jiang family members?

The surroundings were deathly silent.

The Jiang family members looked at Gu Changjin with pale faces and their legs going weak.

Gu Changjin stood on the stone steps, glanced down at the two corpses, and snorted coldly.

"Two old dogs, how dare they stop me from taking my things?"

"He died a just death."

He said it too casually.

It was as easy as if he hadn't just killed a Foundation Establishment elder of the Jiang family, but simply stepped on two insects.

Then, he looked up and scanned his surroundings.

"What are you all standing there for?"

"Why haven't you paid your respects to the Ancestor yet?"

Upon hearing this, the Jiang family members were all shaken.

Some people's lips trembled, and they instinctively knelt down.

"Greetings...Greetings, Senior Gu."

Those nearby realized what was happening and quickly knelt down as well.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

Some called him Senior Gu.

Some call them "ancestor".

The sounds were chaotic, but no one dared not kneel.

Because the two corpses on the ground were still warm.

Gu Changjin burst into laughter upon seeing this scene.

Laughter echoed across the stone steps in front of the treasure vault.

That smile held no trace of gentleness, nor any of its usual composure.

Instead, he resembled a petty person who was about to gain power and no longer wanted to tolerate things.

The Jiang family members felt their scalps tingle.

They had never seen Gu Changjin like this before.

In the past, even when people spoke sarcastically to him, he would only frown.

Even if offended by a junior member of the clan, they would let it go for Jiang Zhaoyue's sake.

But now, it's as if he's completely ripped off that layer of skin.

Gu Changjin knew perfectly well what was going on.

He saw through the Jiang family's old tricks at a glance.

Right now, he is the absolute core of the Jiang family.

The patriarch of the Jiang family was nearing the end of his lifespan, and his remaining elixir was decaying.

Jiang Zhaoyue's cultivation stagnated, and her foundation was damaged.

There is no one in the Jiang family this generation who is truly capable of taking on the main responsibility.

If they want to prolong their lives, they can only rely on their own "nourishing elixir".

Therefore, before the ceremony, no matter how outrageous his behavior was, the Jiang family had to tolerate it.

Kill two Foundation Establishment stage elders?

Does it hurt?

It will definitely hurt.

Compared to a new Golden Core cultivator, and compared to the Jiang family's reputation as an immortal clan, what is this little bit of pain?

Gu Changjin finished laughing, and his eyes turned cold again.

However, the resentment in his heart had not subsided.

Killing two old dogs isn't enough.

Far from enough.

Thirty years of pent-up frustration, thirty years of life-and-death struggles, thirty years of being used as a furnace for alchemy—these cannot be compensated for by the lives of two old dogs.

Just then, a whooshing sound came from afar.

Several beams of light streaked towards the inner mountain.

The leader has the strongest aura.

Late stage of foundation building.

Following behind were four Foundation Establishment cultivators and more than a dozen late-stage Qi Refining Jiang family guards.

This is the Jiang family's patrol team.

Normally they are responsible for guarding the inner mountain and the clan's storehouse, and they will not easily go out unless there is an invasion from outside enemies.

The spiritual energy fluctuations in front of the treasure vault are too great today.

More importantly, the life tablets of the two elders guarding the treasury had just shattered simultaneously in the Life Tablet Hall.

The message was immediately relayed from the Fate Tablet Hall.

The patrol team naturally assumed there was a surprise attack by an enemy and rushed over.

When the result landed, everyone was stunned.

There are no external enemies.

Only Gu Changjin.

There were also the corpses of two elders of the Jiang family on the ground.

The young cultivator at the head of the group immediately turned pale.

He wore a blue-gold robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and his eyebrows and eyes bore a resemblance to Jiang Zhaoyue.

Jiang Chengze.

Jiang Zhaoyue's younger brother.

In other words, he is Gu Changjin's nominal brother-in-law.

Late stage of foundation building.

In this generation of the Jiang family, he can be considered the most outstanding person.

Of course, she was just the most outstanding member of the Jiang family.

They are not even in the same league as Gu Changjin, a peak Foundation Establishment sword cultivator who fought his way up through countless life-and-death battles.

But Jiang Chengze has always looked down on Gu Changjin.

In his eyes, Gu Changjin was just a live-in son-in-law.

Even if one has a high level of cultivation.

Even if he had rendered meritorious service to the Jiang family.

That was because the Jiang family gave him the opportunity.

Without the Jiang family, he, a poor, wandering cultivator, would have long since died inside some monster's belly.

Ironically, the old Gu Changjin would actually have considered Jiang Zhaoyue's feelings.

No matter how bad Jiang Chengze's attitude was, Gu Changjin would still think, "The child doesn't know any better."

When they go out to train, if they encounter any magical artifacts, pills, or spiritual herbs that are suitable for Jiang Chengze, they will bring them back to him.

Jiang Chengze always put on a disdainful look.

"Who wants your stuff?"

But where are the things?

He turned around and took it.

They look down on it, but still take it without hesitation.

Gu Changjin felt nauseous at the thought.

To be both right and wrong.

The people in the Jiang family are all cut from the same cloth.

Jiang Chengze glanced at the corpse, then looked at the Jiang family members kneeling on the ground, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"Get up, all of you!"

Those members of the Jiang family dared not make a move.

They all secretly glanced at Gu Changjin.

Seeing this, Jiang Chengze's anger flared even more.

"Gu Changjin!"

"What exactly happened here?"

His voice was cold, with a clear accusatory tone.

The Foundation Establishment guards behind him also frowned.

Some people saw the state of Jiang Wangsong and Jiang Wangbai's deaths, and even their eyes flashed with anger.

But they did not act immediately.

After all, the person standing in front of him was Gu Changjin.

Peak of Foundation Building.

Three days later, the core will be formed.

His identity is very delicate.

Gu Changjin looked at Jiang Chengze and said calmly, "Is this how you talk to your brother-in-law?"

Jiang Chengze was taken aback, then sneered.

"Brother-in-law?"

"You really think you're part of the Jiang family?"

The atmosphere around them froze instantly.

That's too harsh a statement.

Gu Changjin smiled.

"I've risked my life for the Jiang family for thirty years, and this is the first time I've heard you speak so clearly."

Jiang Chengze also realized that he had spoken too quickly and almost missed something.

His expression changed slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

"What I mean is, you haven't reunited with my sister yet, and you haven't become a Golden Core Ancestor, yet you dared to kill a clan elder in front of the Jiang family's treasure vault."

"Gu Changjin, do you even respect the rules of the Jiang family?"

Gu Changjin took a step forward.

"rule?"

"I will soon form my core and become the new ancestor of the Jiang family."

"These two old dogs are blocking my way to obtain Core Formation resources, showing disrespect to the future ancestor."

"I killed him, is there a problem?"

Jiang Chengze laughed in exasperation.

"The future ancestor?"

"You, a mere son-in-law, dare to act like an ancestor here?"

"Gu Changjin, don't forget, you are where you are today because of the Jiang family's generosity."

"My sister has treated you well, and the Jiang family has treated you even better."

"If you have even a shred of conscience, kneel down and admit your mistake now. Perhaps when the Ancestor comes out of seclusion, he might still spare you some dignity."

Gu Changjin's eyes finally turned cold.

"Save my dignity?"

"You?"

Jiang Chengze's face was gloomy.

"Because I am a direct descendant of the Jiang family."

"Because my sister is Jiang Zhaoyue."

"For the past thirty years, you have eaten the food of the Jiang family, used the food of the Jiang family, and practiced the laws of the Jiang family."

"Gu Changjin, don't think you can act with impunity just because you're at the peak of Foundation Establishment."

"In the end, you're nothing more than a lackey raised by my Jiang family—"

He suddenly stopped speaking at this point.

But it was too late.

Gu Changjin looked at him, his smile growing even colder.

"Why did you stop talking?"

"A dog?"

Jiang Chengze's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, so he simply stopped pretending.

"If you continue to act recklessly, then so be it!"

"Today I will teach you a lesson on behalf of my sister, so you will know that the kindness of the Jiang family is not something you can turn your back on!"

As he raised his hand, the jade pendant at his waist suddenly lit up.

A beam of azure light transformed into a wooden dragon, coiling around him.

This jade pendant was a protective artifact that Gu Changjin brought back from the Blackwater Marsh years ago.

At the time, Jiang Chengze said he didn't care.

It's working quite well for me now.

Gu Changjin almost burst out laughing.

"You're using the magical artifact I gave you to lecture me?"

"Jiang Chengze, you're even more shameless than your sister."

Jiang Chengze's face flushed red, and he roared angrily.

"Shut up!"

He made a hand seal, and a blue wooden dragon soared into the sky.

At the same time, the four Foundation Establishment Guards behind him also unleashed their magical artifacts.

Clearly, they had no intention of standing by.

Jiang Chengze was very confident.

In the past, when Gu Changjin sparred with him, they always stopped short of a direct confrontation.

They might even let him have a few moves.

Over time, he really did think that Gu Changjin wasn't so scary.

So what if you're at the peak of Foundation Establishment?

This is the Jiang family home.

He possesses magical artifacts, guards, and formations.

Can't they even control a live-in son-in-law?

But the next moment, he realized he was wrong.

Gu Changjin moved.

There are no extra techniques.

Not a single word wasted.

With a flick of his finger, fiery red sword energy burst forth from his fingertip.

The sword energy split into seven strands in mid-air.

Three slashes were aimed at the wooden dragon.

Two sweeps were directed at the patrolling guards on the side.

The last two strikes went straight for Jiang Chengze's brow and dantian.

fast.

too fast.

This is a sword forged in life-or-death battles.

It's not just a showy display at the Jiang family's martial arts training ground.

The azure wooden dragon was cut into several pieces by three sword energies just as it pounced halfway.

The protective jade pendant cracked open with a snap.

Jiang Chengze's expression changed drastically.

"How is that possible?"

He wanted to quit.

But Gu Changjin had already appeared in front of him.

He slapped down with his palm.

The fire elemental energy transformed into a palm print and slammed into his chest.

Jiang Chengze was sent flying backward, crashing through two stone pillars and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Upon seeing this, the four Foundation Establishment Guardians immediately took action.

But as soon as they moved, Gu Changjin swept his sleeve.

Sword energy swept across the sky.

The two magical artifacts were severed.

A guard in the early stages of Foundation Establishment had his arm fly off on the spot.

Another person was slashed open in the chest by the sword energy and screamed as he staggered backward.

The remaining two were so frightened that they stopped in their tracks.

I don't dare go on anymore.

I really don't dare to go on anymore.

Jiang Chengze struggled to his feet, his face filled with terror.

"Gu Changjin, how dare you hurt me?"

"I am Zhaoyue's younger brother!"

"If you dare touch me, my sister won't let you get away with it, and neither will our ancestor!"

Gu Changjin walked over step by step.

"Weren't you just going to lecture me?"

Jiang Chengze finally panicked.

"I...I was just saying that in anger."

"Brother-in-law, I was just saying that in anger!"

"You're about to reach the Core Formation stage, and the Jiang family still needs you. You can't kill me!"

Gu Changjin looked down at him.

"You're right."

"The Jiang family still needs me."

"So it's okay for me to kill you."

Jiang Chengze's pupils suddenly contracted.

"No--"

The fiery red sword energy fell.

Click.

His voice abruptly stopped.

The head rolled to the ground.

Blood splattered onto the stone gate of the treasure vault.

Everyone froze.

Those Jiang family members who had originally wanted to see Jiang Chengze teach his son-in-law a lesson now had all lost their color in their faces.

The patrol team was dumbfounded.

Jiang Zhaoyue's younger brother.

The current direct descendants of the Jiang family.

Jiang Chengze in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

He was killed on the spot by Gu Changjin.

Only one thought remained in their minds.

No.

This son-in-law of the Jiang family is defying the heavens!