Chapter 47 Tie Tu Visits Xia Family

"Report, all of them have been slaughtered." 

"Report, there's not a single being alive." 

"From the clues, the fight occurred a week ago." 

"What a ruthless method, they didn't even spare the mortals."

Tie Tu listened to the reports from his subordinates, his expression growing colder and colder as time passed.

"Hmph! This is the work of a demonic Cultivator! The clues lead to the nearby families. We will go and question them." Tie Tu snorted coldly.

With that, Tie Tu, as the leader, and another ten false Core Formation Cultivators departed. Their next target was the Xia Family.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Zheng Family, Shangguan Yi continued to visit two other high-grade families. This time, without wasting much time, he spent only a few minutes dealing with them before leaving. 

When Shangguan Yi was five miles from the Xia Family, he unexpectedly encountered Tie Tu's group. Of course, they couldn't see him.

[Hm? One level 3 Core Formation Cultivator and another ten false Core Formation Cultivators. What a force.] Shangguan Yi observed them briefly and then walked past them into the Xia Family unnoticed.

When Shangguan Yi arrived at the Meditation Garden, he quickly used his Divine Sense to inform Xia Zu, Xia Fu, Xia Feng, and Xia Kun to meet him.

Meanwhile, Tie Tu's group had already arrived at the front gate of the Xia Family estate, where they saw two mortal guards standing watch.

Tie Tu was too lazy to speak with them himself, so he let his subordinate handle it.

"Go and tell your Patriarch that we, the City Security Guards, want to ask something," one of the subordinates stepped forward and said.

As City Security Guards, they had full authority to barge into a mid-grade family estate like the Xia Family's. However, Tie Tu's reputation was for never bullying the weak, and the fact that he waited here showed a level of respect for the Xia Family.

The two guards recognized the City Security Guards' uniforms and didn't dare delay. One of them bowed and entered the Xia Family estate.

After a while, he returned with a group of elders, led by a middle-aged man, Xia Feng.

"Lord Tie Tu has visited my humble family. It is a great honor for me to welcome you," Xia Feng said loudly when he saw Tie Tu. His person had not yet arrived, but his voice already reached Tie Tu.

"Welcome, Lord Tie Tu," the Xia Family Elders said in unison.

"Alright, Patriarch Xia, I have something to ask you. I hope you can cooperate with me," Tie Tu said, his gaze falling on Xia Feng.

Xia Feng felt cold sweat running down his spine, as if his secret had been seen through by the man before him. Still, upon recalling Shangguan Yi's instructions, he felt somewhat reassured.

Xia Feng tried his best to stay calm and replied, "Of course, our Xia Family is willing to help with all the effort we can."

With a glance, Tie Tu could see that Xia Feng was hiding something, which confirmed his suspicions.

"Oh, really? Then, does Patriarch Xia know that the Zhang Family and Guan Family have been completely wiped out?" Tie Tu asked, his gaze never leaving Xia Feng as he secretly activated his technique.

Xia Feng couldn't help but jump in fright. "What? When? How?"

He threw out three questions at once, his reaction filled with fear and surprise.

However, his pitiful actions couldn't escape Tie Tu's sharp eyes.

"Hmph! Still unwilling to accept it? Before, I might have just suspected, but after seeing you, I now have more than enough reasons to believe it. The Xia Family is meddling with demonic cultivators. Capture them!" As an experienced Core Formation Cultivator, Tie Tu's perception was keen. Just now, through his technique, Tie Tu saw the blood threads of the Zhang Family emanating from the Xia Family Cultivators.

Xia Feng's expression turned ugly. He had failed the Great Ancestor's task, but at this critical moment, he didn't hesitate to retreat back into the family estate. The elders behind him did the same.

Upon hearing Tie Tu's command, the City Security Guards sprang into action, leaping at the Xia Family Cultivators. Tie Tu didn't idle either; he charged straight at Xia Feng.

However, Xia Feng was too close to the family's protective array. Within three steps, he had entered the array. The elders, being even closer, managed to step inside just before Tie Tu's group reached them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Tie Tu was the first to clash with the protective array, the Great Turtle Shell. It felt like hitting iron. His hands went numb, and his bones nearly crushed under the impact.

Following him, many false Core Formation Cultivators also clashed with the Great Turtle Shell. It was as if they were smashing against an iron wall; the array completely stopped them. Moreover, the reflected force hit them hard.

"Argh! My arms!"

"This… a level 3 protection array!"

"How?! How could a mere mid-grade family have it? Even our Manor City Lord only has one!"

"Is this what a mid-grade family is supposed to have?"

"The Xia Family must be controlled by demonic cultivators, and this is their base!"

Despite the agony of their injuries, they quickly connected the dots.

Tie Tu's expression was grim. Even with his level 3 Core Formation Realm, breaking the level 3 protection array was no easy task. In fact, even if they combined all the Core Formation Cultivators in Red Maple City, it might take months to breach it.

He intended to retreat and combine forces to formulate a plan. The enemy was more prepared than he had anticipated. They even had a base protected by a level 3 array. Lingering any longer would be fruitless.

Tie Tu looked deeply at the Xia Family Cultivators before giving the command, "Retreat!"

The rest shared the same thoughts. When they clashed with the level 3 array, they realized retreat was their best option. So, upon hearing the command, they nodded immediately.

Shangguan Yi, hiding inside the array, sighed, "It seems I underestimated them. They didn't follow Xia Feng into the array."

He had arrived at the Xia Family slightly before Tie Tu's group and had a simple plan to lure them inside the array and take action. Who knew Tie Tu would see through Xia Feng's deception?

Shangguan Yi only sighed briefly before his eyes turned cold. His core essence was consumed greatly as the condensed flame core formed. Upon activating his technique, the aura of a Core Formation Cultivator couldn't be hidden anymore.

"Hm? This aura!" The false Core Formation Guards turned their heads in fright simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Tie Tu's eyes brightened, "You finally decided to appear!"

"Since you have come, why hurry to leave?" Shangguan Yi's voice echoed from within the Xia Family grounds. Several flame wisps flew out toward the group of false Core Formation Cultivators.

"Hmph! Same trick!" Tie Tu activated his technique, causing the ground to tremble as the ruins floated into the air and condensed into a soil wall, protecting the group of false Core Formation Cultivators.

Simultaneously, the false Core Formation Cultivators didn't panic. One by one, they activated their techniques—water, earth, wind, and fire. 

As the flame wisps approached, the wall was already more than half-formed. However, they still underestimated the flame wisps, which flew past the soil wall before they could fully activate their techniques.

"Not good!" Tie Tu hadn't expected his technique to be ineffective against the flame wisps.

"Quick! Scatter!"

Feeling the threat, they acted swiftly.

"Argh! My legs!"

"My arms!"

"My shoulder!"

Three of them were still hit by the flames, which spread quickly.

"Quick, help and defend!" Tie Tu shouted as he took the lead in creating more soil walls.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In just three seconds, three complete soil walls were created. Meanwhile, the others began activating water techniques to extinguish the flames. But to their despair, the water techniques were barely effective—the flames continued to burn.

Shangguan Yi had already formed the condensed flame core. Despite not seeing his targets directly, he blinked to the solid walls and sent the flame wisps and flame core toward them simultaneously.

"What the dense core essence! No, I must create more soil walls." Tie Tu felt the imminent threat. He didn't dare linger and activated three techniques simultaneously.

Two more soil walls were created, followed by a giant mouth at the front. At the same time, a thick arrow was formed inside the giant mouth. The mouth opened and released the thick arrow toward the incoming flame wisps.

Clash!

The flame wisps collided with the thick arrow, but just three seconds later, the thick arrow was completely engulfed by the flame and vanished.

"Damn it, this again!" Tie Tu felt the danger intensifying. As a level 3 Core Formation Cultivator, his core essence was much denser than his enemy's, but his technique still couldn't stop the flame wisps. This could only mean the flames were extraordinary.

The flame wisps didn't stop as they flew toward the soil walls. When they reached the first soil wall, the giant mouth opened again and engulfed the wisps of flame. However, just five seconds later, the first wall had completely melted. Still, four more soil walls remained.

"Five seconds, this is enough time for us to retreat," Tie Tu said to the false Core Formation Cultivators.

They all nodded and retreated quickly. However, the three false Core Formation Cultivators that had been burned earlier couldn't be saved; they turned to ash, leaving nothing behind. Even the white flame wisps didn't remain, as Shangguan Yi hadn't used his cultivation technique to refine them in time. Therefore, nothing was left.

Tie Tu gritted his teeth in anger.

Boom!

Suddenly, the condensed flame core exploded, creating a sea of flames right there.