CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 364: CONFRONTATION

"I dare not."

The Cui Family Ancestor said, "The court governs all under heaven, and though we are a noble family, we are also under its jurisdiction. However, with so many of our cultivators from the Cui Family having fallen during the battle at the Divine Wood Mountain Villa, we naturally need to find out what happened to prevent any villainous conspiracies from succeeding."

Upon hearing the words of the Cui Family Ancestor, the crowd was even more abuzz. Was the Cui Family Ancestor suspecting Prince Qinghe? Did he even think the affairs of the Divine Wood Mountain Villa and the demon unrest were part of a conspiracy?

An Lu narrowed his eyes and stared at the Cui Family Ancestor, smiling as he said, "The Cui Family has been in Qinghe County for many years, with industries spread across every corner of the county. Outsiders say the Cui and Xie families are the true local emperors of Qinghe County, and it seems you even disregard the court. As it stands now, Senior Cui, is it that you don’t intend to cooperate with the court to capture the demon? Is the Cui Family’s interest above all else?"

With that, a coldness like a blade emanated from An Lu’s eyes, and an invisible pressure enveloped the land, leaving no trace of his previously kind demeanor.

In an instant, the atmosphere within the Prince Manor grew extremely oppressive, and as they looked again upon that corpulent figure, it felt like a mountain pressing down on everyone’s heart.

Indeed, not only had the Princely Heir An Shicheng hidden his strength, but Commandery Prince An Lu had hidden his even more. At this moment, one could feel the powerful aura, this corpulent prince’s strength surely not below that of the Cui Family Ancestor.

So, was the demon unrest truly a conspiracy, or were the Cui and Xie families unwilling to give up their family interests?

"The Cui Family’s interests above all else, and like the Commandery Prince, wait for the court to first eradicate the demons before we step in to rally the heroes. Why would it be like now?" The Cui Family Ancestor snorted coldly, with a pointed hint.

"You actually portray Cui Family’s incompetence as such righteousness?" The old Daoist sneered, "If not for the Commandery Prince’s intervention, the Divine Wood Demon would still be causing chaos. Relying on your Cui Family to slay demons?"

"Old Daoist, who are you really, putting on airs in Qinghe County?" The Xie Family Ancestor coldly shouted, his eyes fixated on that Cold Crow Taoist.

"The Daoist was invited by me to capture the demons. Thanks to the Daoist’s assistance, we were able to successfully subdue the Divine Wood Demon," An Lu said.

"Is that so?" The Xie Family Ancestor gazed sharply at the old Daoist, "I heard the Daoist excels in various spells, possessing great powers, able to be both divine and ghostly. So, I suppose you are also adept in sorcery?"

"Presumptuous." The Cold Crow Taoist shouted in anger, raising his eyes to gaze at the Xie Family Ancestor, "A cowardly man dares to suspect me, who aids in capturing demons for Qinghe County?"

The Cold Crow Taoist’s towering figure stepped forward, his cold fury and shout startling the crowd below, many whispering, "The Daoist is a person of immortals, how could he possess sorcery."

"Indeed, I have personally seen the Daoist cure the sick and save the dying, someone who was already near death revived by the Daoist. That Elder Xie would slander the Daoist so, truly chilling."

"The Commandery Prince is indeed impressive, inviting the Daoist to Qinghe County just as the demon unrest began. Was it premeditated, knowing the demon unrest would occur, or did the demons only start causing chaos after the Daoist arrived?"

The Xie Family Ancestor cared nothing, continuing coldly, that day in the wilderness battle, he was severely wounded, and afterwards upon reflecting, he always felt something was amiss.

Prompted by others, he realized the Cui and Xie families were already facing a life or death crisis.

"Does the old fool dare speak further?" The Cold Crow Taoist’s voice boomed like a great bell, echoing through Prince Manor. His wide robe billowed, and his pressure swept towards the sky.

"Why would I not dare?" The Xie Family Ancestor shouted in response, "Old and decrepit I may be, but today I will see once and for all, if you, this trickster Daoist, are man or ghost."

As his words fell, it was as if a blazing sun appeared in the sky, an extraordinarily brilliant solar beam spilled from the sky, bathing the Xie Family Ancestor as though he was a radiant sun.

In his hand appeared a divine bow, the sunlight falling upon it as if it were bathed in a golden divine fire, enveloping an infinity of space. In an instant, everyone felt a powerful surge of scorching air, as though the whole Prince Manor was about to blaze.

The Xie Family Ancestor drew his bow, and immediately a destructive golden flame shot forth, even before the arrow was released, those nearby were already alarmed.

"Come forth and battle." The Xie Family Ancestor shouted as he soared into the sky, bathed in sunlight.

"Fool courting death." The Cold Crow Taoist’s mighty form shot into the sky, arriving in an instant at high altitude, releasing a powerful aura.

"Die." The Xie Family Ancestor roared, an arrow released, and the crowd saw only a beam of light tearing through space, the sky splitting with a solar beam blinding to the eyes.

Yet, when the Cold Crow Taoist waved a hand, a massive talisman paper appeared before him, burning with golden divine fire. In an instant, it transformed into a huge golden stone stele spanning between heaven and earth.

"Boom..." A thunderous explosion sounded, the violent arrow striking the huge stone stele, shattering it, yet the arrow pierced on. The Cold Crow Taoist raised a hand to strike, a massive hand seal emerged to finally intercept the arrow.

"Such a fiery temperament." The crowd raised their heads to gaze at the two in the sky, both were Seventh Realm Practitioners, and at a mere disagreement they had directly engaged in combat, both appearing extraordinarily fiery.

"Courting death."

Cold Crow Taoist stepped forward, and as he waved his hands, numerous runes appeared in the sky, emerging out of thin air. They turned into talismans hanging from the heavens, and as the runes lit up, massive stone tablets materialized. The stone tablets erupted with brilliant light, unleashing a colossal force, shooting out inscriptions across the sky like a heavenly phenomenon, blasting towards the Xie Family Ancestor.

"A mere trick."

The Xie Family Ancestor sneered coldly, and behind him appeared a similar heavenly phenomenon. A boundless divine bow phantom appeared. As the Xie Family Ancestor pulled the bowstring, countless arrows manifested. As soon as these arrow phantoms shot out, they collided with the stone tablet phantoms, producing a violent rumbling sound, making the surrounding sky seem like it exploded.

The hearts of the people below were all in shock; the current explosion, not even being a real attack yet, was already so terrifying.

Seventh Realm, Myriad Phenomena Realm, Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, Master Wan Xiang.

"Combine!" Cold Crow Taoist shouted fiercely, and all the celestial runes lit up simultaneously, pressing towards the Xie Family Ancestor, sealing the heavens and earth, an overwhelming heavenly might suppressing and killing.

"Buzz..." The Xie Family Ancestor drew the bow fully, and the divine sunlight fell upon the bow and arrow, emitting majestic radiance.

"Go." He released his arm, and the numerous arrows transformed into one arrow, crashing onto the inscription in front.

A cracking sound was heard, and the inscription showed cracks before shattering into pieces. The splendid divine light continued forward, attacking Cold Crow Taoist.

The divine light was extremely fast, killing in an instant. Cold Crow Taoist seemed to have no time to react, but he punched forward, and that casually thrown punch destroyed the divine light, blocking the divine arrow attack.

"This physical attack."

The crowd looked up in shock at the scene before them. Even though the divine arrow had been weakened and blocked, its power was still terrifying, yet it was stopped by a punch, showing Cold Crow Taoist’s fearsome strength.

This Daoist not only possesses powerful spells, but unparalleled physical strength as well?

As he blocked this arrow, Xie Family Ancestor continuously shot the Sun-breaking Arrows with terrifying speed. Each eruption produced a cracking sound, destroying all the inscriptions being suppressed.

However, Xie Family Ancestor’s eyes were fixed on Cold Crow Taoist, without any trace of pride, but rather coldness and a hint of seriousness.

"Your physical strength is comparable to a demon." Xie Family Ancestor stared at Cold Crow Taoist and said, "That night when I fought Old Hound, the opponent’s strength was equally domineering, a flesh-and-blood body shaking my divine arrow."

Cold Crow Taoist raised his eyebrow, staring at Xie Family Ancestor, "A demon? How am I like a demon?"

"Did I say you look like a demon?" Xie Family Ancestor looked at Cold Crow Taoist, "Why expose yourself?"

The people below were puzzled by these words.

Cold Crow Taoist’s response just now was indeed a bit odd. Xie Family Ancestor merely mentioned his physical strength was comparable to a demon, similar to Old Hound, but did not explicitly say so. The people below had not associated Cold Crow Taoist with being a demon, so why did Cold Crow Taoist himself think of it?

Could it be there is really something strange?

Li Fan raised his eyes towards Cold Crow Taoist, his eyes turning golden. There was no abnormal phenomenon on Cold Crow Taoist’s body, nor any trace of demonic aura.

At least, he could not see it at all.

Moreover, Prince Qinghe, being a Commandery Prince of the court, shouldn’t dare to openly invite demons to catch demons.

His senior brother asked him to observe, so what really is the truth?

"Senior Xie, I call you senior, yet you cause trouble on the day of slaying demons, aren’t you being disrespectful to me? If you repent now, the court will not pursue the matter," An Lu said, interrupting the confrontation between the two.

The Xie Family Ancestor glanced down at An Lu but did not respond. From another direction, Cui Family Ancestor picked up the conversation, saying, "Why is the Commandery Prince anxious? This Daoist’s abilities are unpredictable; we don’t even know if he’s human or ghost. Does the Commandery Prince know?"

"I invited the Daoist to subdue demons, naturally, I know. Is there a problem?" An Lu also seemed to be angered, shouting, "Are the two seniors determined to cause trouble?"

"If the Commandery Prince watches properly, there will be no issue," Cui Family Ancestor replied, leaving the people below in shock.

Today, Qinghe County is bound to be turned upside down.