Cutting off the feng family's Roots

Witnessing Lu Qing's attitude toward Yue Qingyin, the crowd's view of her completely changed.

Who exactly was this woman, that even an elder of the Qingchen Sect treated her with such reverence?

"Elder Lu!"

Seeing that Lu Qing was about to leave, Feng Changgen quickly tried to stop him.

"Even if Feng Wuchen has no spiritual veins and is practically a cripple, my nephew Feng Mo has a genuine Heavenly Spirit Vein! He even caused a phenomenon between heaven and earth! Elder, perhaps you could—"

Before he could finish, Lu Qing shook his head repeatedly.

"Although the Heavenly Spirit Vein is genuine, his cultivation base is empty and clearly pill-forged. His temperament is also lacking. With such a flawed foundation, his future in martial arts is limited. As for the phenomenon, it must have been a mere coincidence."

With that, Lu Qing motioned for the Qingchen Sect disciples and left the Feng family.

Lu Qing's departure made Feng Changgen's face grow increasingly gloomy. He then redirected his attention to Yue Qingyin.

"Since Elder Lu did not accept Feng Wuchen as a disciple, he is not part of the Qingchen Sect. Miss Yue, do you still intend to protect him?"

Yue Qingyin's eyes flashed, and half of her longsword was already drawn from its sheath.

"It doesn't matter whether he was accepted as a disciple by that old man or whether he's part of Qingchen Sect. What matters is that he is my friend. Touch him if you dare!"

Her words silenced the entire crowd. What right did this young man have to gain Yue Qingyin's favor?

"Miss Yue!" Suddenly, Feng Wuchen spoke up.

"This is my problem. I don't want you to get involved."

"What?" Yue Qingyin's eyes flickered. Was he planning to face the entire Feng family alone? He was only at the Innate Realm!

"If you really wish to help me, please take care of my little sister! Thank you!"

Yue Qingyin's expression became grave. "As a sword cultivator, once you give your word, there is no turning back! Think carefully. If they kill you, I won't intervene."

"Don't worry! This trash won't be able to kill me!"

Feng Wuchen drew his sword, exuding a sharp, fearsome aura that struck terror in anyone who saw it.

"Feng Wuchen! What do you think you're doing? Are you planning to attack me?"

Feng Wuchen stared directly at Feng Changgen, a mocking smile in his eyes.

"Since this is a life-or-death arena match, one of us—Feng Mo or I—must die. Such a simple rule, and yet the family head pretends to be unaware?"

Feng Changgen's face grew even darker. Rules were rules, but too many Feng family experts had already perished. Today, he would sacrifice his pride if it meant saving Feng Mo.

At that moment, a disturbance rippled through the Feng family crowd. Shortly after, an elderly man with silver hair and simple brown robes stepped forward.

Seeing this person, all the servants of the Feng family knelt. "Old Master!"

Feng Changgen paused for a moment before addressing him, "Father! You… you've come out of seclusion?"

This old man was the previous head of the Feng family, Feng Tianrui.

"You unfilial son!"

Slap!

An invisible force struck Feng Changgen across the face.

"I only entrusted the family head position to you a few years ago, and you've already made such a mess. Had I come out of seclusion any later, you would have ruined our century-old family legacy!"

Feng Changgen lowered his head, remaining silent.

Feng Tianrui stepped onto the stage, standing before Feng Wuchen. His restrained yet formidable presence made it difficult to gauge his true strength.

"Born of the same root, why the eagerness to harm each other? Both you and Feng Mo are talented members of the Feng family. Why reach this point? From today onward, I restore your status as heir and increase your privileges. Let this matter end here."

Hearing his decision, the Feng family members exchanged glances. This youth had killed two of their Core Condensation experts, yet Feng Tianrui not only refrained from punishing him but also restored his status?

However, they quickly understood Feng Tianrui's reasoning. The value of a sword cultivator was simply too great.

"Born of the same root?" Feng Wuchen chuckled. "Who shares a root with you?"

"What do you mean?" Feng Tianrui's face darkened.

"Old dog, don't pretend to be clueless! Even though you officially stepped down, didn't every major family affair still pass through your hands?"

"When they colluded with the Lin family to extract my spiritual veins and discarded me as a cripple, where were you? When they betrothed my underage sister to that Lin family fool, where were you? When my sister and I were on the brink of death, suffering oppression and injustice, where were you? And now, you show up and want everything to be forgiven? Isn't that a joke?"

A fierce glint flickered in Feng Tianrui's eyes. "You've already killed two of our Core Condensation experts. Your grudge should be settled by now."

Feng Wuchen only laughed more.

"You're as shrewd as ever. Despite not being of the Feng family's main bloodline, I became heir thanks to the prestige of my departed parents, didn't I?"

"What are you implying?"

"Ha! You made me heir not because of my talent but to curry favor with my parents who had left the Feng family. Yet, they never returned, and perhaps they never will. So you began to think differently, didn't you? When Feng Mo, another genius, appeared, you needed resources to cultivate him. You thought it was time to discard me. So, you used my spiritual veins as a bargaining chip with the Lin family for resources!"

Everyone was stunned as Feng Wuchen continued.

"Even you never imagined that having my spiritual veins extracted wouldn't cripple me but instead turn me into a sword cultivator! Only then did you remember my lineage, and you began to wonder if my parents had left me any means of protection. That's why you stood by as I killed Feng Changyi, and why you didn't interfere when I killed Feng Changyun. You let me vent my anger so you could swoop in later, play the kind elder, and make me serve your interests. Isn't that right?"

Feng Tianrui's head snapped up, his aged eyes flashing with shock.

"You saw through everything!"

He could hardly believe that this sixteen-year-old boy had such piercing insight, seeing through the intricacies of the family's schemes.

Feng Tianrui's face grew ashen.

"Make your choice! Support the Feng family alongside Feng Mo, and both of you will be its pillars. Or sever all ties, and I will execute you on the spot!"

"Heh…" Feng Wuchen sneered. "Old Master, every mistake has a price! Feng Changyi assaulted my sister for her Cold Marrow, and the price was his life. Feng Changyun colluded with the Lin family to steal my spiritual veins, and his life was the price. You treated my sister and me as pawns. What price should you pay?"

"What do you intend to do?"

"I'll end the Feng bloodline!"

In an instant, Feng Wuchen's aura surged, and his sword intent erupted, making even Feng Tianrui tremble.

"You dare!"

"Old dog! If you dare to stop me, I'll kill you too!"

"What—"

Before the words finished, Feng Wuchen unleashed his lethal sword strike.

Engulfed by murderous sword intent, Feng Mo collapsed, sobbing and sniffling.

"Grandfather, save me!"

"No one will save you today!"

As Feng Wuchen's blade descended, Feng Tianrui instinctively moved to block it. But feeling the overwhelming killing intent, even he felt a chilling sense of doom.

A voice echoed in his mind: If he blocked this, he would die.

Terror gripped him, and he stepped aside. In a heartbeat, Longyuan Sword sliced past his face.

Slash!

The sound of the blade cutting flesh was crystal clear. In the next moment, Feng Mo's head flew into the air.