The air around Shadow Mountain was crisp, a slight breeze swaying the spirit trees under the early morning sun. Birds chirped harmoniously, and mist floated lazily over the peaks.
Inside the grand hall, Xuan Long sat leisurely upon his elevated throne, sipping a spiritual tea brewed from thousand-year-old herbs. The hall was calm, filled with a tranquil aura – until the gates were flung open.
Ten figures in black and gold uniforms stepped in with arrogance that reeked of blind confidence. Each of them was at the Core Formation level, the insignia of the Lu Family's main branch stitched boldly on their robes.
One of the guards stepped forward and barked, "Xuan Long! We are here on behalf of the Lu Family Main Branch. You annihilated one of our subsidiary families. You must compensate us."
Xuan Long raised an eyebrow, calmly setting his cup down.
"And how much do you want for the life of a bunch of scum?" he asked lazily.
Another guard, taller and more arrogant, stepped out and sneered, "We want 100,000 mid-grade spiritual stones and all treasures you looted from our branch. Or... give us those two women – the fox and the alchemist girl. We'll keep them for seven days. After that, maybe we reduce the compensation."
The hall fell silent.
Shadow guards stiffened. Lin Qian, who stood near a pillar, clenched her fists. Yue Li, standing just outside the hall, went pale with fury.
But Xuan Long remained still.
Then he smiled.
A dark, slow, terrifying smile.
"Enough of your barking."
Before anyone could react, shadows surged around the ten Lu family guards. Their bodies stiffened as their spiritual cores were locked. Xuan Long stood, stepped down, and extended his hand.
A deep vortex formed in his palm. A devouring force that could make even Nascent Soul cultivators tremble.
"Since you like to demand compensation... I shall offer you the only thing you're worth."
In a blink, their bodies twisted and melted into spiritual essence. Ten Core Formation cultivators were devoured like insects.
The hall grew darker.
Xuan Long turned to his subordinates. "Bring me every detail about the Lu Family. One hour."
---
Exactly one hour later, the reports came flying in.
The Lu Family Main Branch was located at the heart of the city. Its head was a Nascent Soul Realm Level 8 cultivator, and it commanded twenty branch families scattered across the city's districts. The branches consisted of hundreds of Core Formation and Foundation cultivators, all involved in business, trade, or shady political dealings.
Xuan Long's eyes gleamed.
"Leave the Main Branch. For now. Exterminate the rest."
---
Hei Mo was dispatched to the southern sector. Mu Chen headed east. The two demi-humans spread west and north.
Each had their orders.
No mercy.
Every hour, a Lu Family branch fell. Foundations were shattered, treasure halls looted, and spiritual veins claimed.
Hei Mo, riding his corpse puppets, danced through the Lu family's southern defenses like a phantom.
Mu Chen poisoned the water supply of an eastern branch, turning their cores brittle before personally executing the elders.
The demi-humans used illusions and soul arts to confuse, trap, and massacre. Their elegance and cruelty merged in a symphony of destruction.
By nightfall, twenty Lu branches had vanished from the city map.
Only the main branch remained.
---
Back on Shadow Mountain, Xuan Long stood on the open cliff, watching the distant city lights flicker.
He laughed softly. "I wonder if the Lu Family patriarch will enjoy this little gift."
Behind him, Yue Mei tugged his sleeve. "Brother, where did all the tail people go? I want to play with them!"
Xiao Xue ran beside her. "Brother, why is the mountain so empty?"
Xuan Long crouched and picked them both up.
"They're doing work for me, princesses. And they're not toys," he said, amused.
Yue Mei pouted. "They're my toys! They're cute."
He chuckled, lifted both of them into the air, and flew up, soaring above the peaks.
"How's the view from up here?"
"So pretty!" the girls squealed.
---
By the time the stars glittered overhead, Hei Mo, Mu Chen, and the demi-humans had returned.
In the grand hall, they knelt.
Hei Mo spoke first. "Mission complete. All twenty Lu branches have been cleansed."
Mu Chen added, "Treasures have been secured. Resources counted. Slaves freed. Rebels eliminated."
The two demi-humans bowed. "Minimal resistance. Maximum destruction."
Xuan Long nodded slowly, eyes gleaming like stars.
"Good. Let the Lu patriarch feel the isolation. Let him drown in his pride and arrogance. We will come for him last."
He glanced at Yue Li, who stood behind the throne.
"Prepare the city. Spread the rumors. Let the world know: Shadow Mountain does not forgive."
Everyone bowed.
And in the distance, within the grand fortress of the Lu Family Main Branch, alarms began to ring.
Fear had arrived at their doorstep.
And it wore the name of Xuan Long.