Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Establishing Authority

Bang bang!

At that moment, a sound came from the door.

Lu Xuanji opened the door and saw Ye Feixue.

“Come in.”

Lu Xuanji said.

Ye Feixue replied, “Father is already old; it’s best if he doesn’t go. I’m already at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment; let me go instead.”

“If you go, our Lu Family will be exterminated the next day.”

Lu Xuanji angrily said, “Look at you, your cultivation speed is too fast. Entering Foundation Establishment in your thirties, advancing a layer every two or three years, and already at the sixth layer at just forty-six, you’re progressing too quickly. Many with Celestial Spirit Roots can’t match your speed… If you respond to the enlistment and go to the battlefield, as long as they’re not blind, they will see you have issues.”

“The best outcome then would be that you disappear halfway, killed in secret by some people; the worst outcome would be our entire Lu Family being wiped out because of you.”

“I’ve cultivated a secret technique that can hide my realm and cultivation.”

Ye Feixue weakly said.

“Come on, hiding your realm and strength on the battlefield is almost the same as courting death.” Lu Xuanji directly said, “You’ve practiced some secret techniques, but they can only hide you from those of the same realm. Facing a Purple Mansion Ancestor or a Golden Core Ancestor, you will definitely be exposed.”

Ye Feixue helplessly said, “So, I just watch as you fight and risk your life outside, doing nothing?”

“Before you have the ability to protect yourself, avoid high-level cultivators whenever possible, and stay away from crowded places to prevent exposure.”

“Understood!”

Ye Feixue helplessly replied.

After a few comforting words from Lu Xuanji, Ye Feixue finally went down.

…

After half a day’s preparation, the Grand Elder, Father Lu Jinwen, Lu Xuanji, and three others left Changyuan Mountain and headed towards Purple Sun Mountain.

By the time they arrived at Purple Sun Mountain, cultivators had already gathered there.

There were maids to greet them and lead them into the estate.

Inside the estate, there were three reception desks, mainly responsible for registering participating cultivators and collecting exemption payment.

The Lu Family had two hundred and fifty-eight Qi Cultivation cultivators, and since two Foundation Establishment cultivators were needed to guard the home and couldn’t participate, a total of fourteen thousand nine hundred Spirit Stones were required as exemption payment.

After paying the exemption money and registering the participating cultivators, they received a contract.

The contract recorded the rights and obligations of both sides.

After joining the battle, without a direct order from the Golden Core Ancestor or unless he perished, no retreat was allowed without reason, otherwise execution without mercy.

After joining the battle, injured cultivators would be compensated according to the severity of their injuries, with Spirit Stones or Spirit Medicine; for Foundation Establishment cultivators who perished, compensation would be given with a Foundation Establishment Pill, or resources from the Merit Hall, or Points; on the battlefield, killing a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast would result in a reward of twenty thousand Spirit Stones or equivalent items.

Killing a Purple Mansion Demon Beast would result in a reward of two hundred thousand Spirit Stones or equivalent items.

All spoils of war were to be submitted publicly and distributed fairly, with no private hoarding allowed.

The distribution would prioritize the fallen cultivators first, followed by those who achieved battle merit, and lastly those who contributed nothing.

The contract clearly stated clauses about battlefield discipline, injury compensation, death compensation, and distribution of spoils of war.

Soon, under the arrangement of a maid, they went to rest in nearby cave mansions.

Not long after, Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Two Commanderies came to accept the conscription and pay the exemption money.

Three days later, 380 Foundation Establishment cultivators and 15 Purple Mansion cultivators gathered at the estate in response to the Golden Core Ancestor’s call for enlistment.

Lu Xuanji watched secretly, amazed.

Usually, many cultivator clans keep low profiles, claiming poverty and lack of experts; but in response to the Golden Core Ancestor’s call, many hidden cultivators were entirely exposed.

“Which families haven’t shown up?”

The Golden Core Ancestor asked.

Long Xuan said, “The Ye Family of Ye County, the Li Family of Tianxing Mountain, the Yun Family of Beichen County… these eight families all found various excuses, not sending any cultivators or claiming insufficient numbers.”

“Exterminate them!”

The Golden Core Ancestor said.

“Yes!”

Long Xuan arranged for the disciples of the Golden Core Ancestor to move out, turning into beams of light to carry out exterminations on those cultivator clans.

About two hours later, those disciples returned, each exuding a fierce aura.

“Hang the heads of these cultivators who refused the summons on stakes outside to warn others!” the Golden Core Ancestor ordered.

Soon, on the stakes outside the marketplace, hung a series of heads.

Cultivators who saw the scene and the heads felt a chill in their hearts but also a slight sense of gratitude.

More than fifty heads hung there, most being Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Among them, two heads exuded an intimidating aura, surpassing many Foundation Establishment cultivators, and were actually Purple Mansion cultivators.

“The Golden Core Ancestor is truly ruthless, exterminating eight cultivator clans.”

“Before the battle even begins, he has already killed over fifty people.”

“One of those cultivator clans was the Ye Family of Ye County. It is said to be a branch established by a descendant of Dan Yang Sect’s Golden Core Ancestor. They are usually arrogant and only sent half their clan this time, thinking they could get away with it! In the end, they were wiped out by the Golden Core Ancestor.”

“Haha, the Ye Family of Ye County produced two Purple Mansion Ancestors, thinking they were untouchable, but now they are completely wiped out!”

“The Ye Family is finished. We just hope for a taste, a bit of chicken soup is enough!”

The onlooking cultivators pointed and whispered, their faces showing a mix of joy and relief.

As a whale falls, all creatures thrive.

With the fall of a giant, the nearby cultivator clans feasted abundantly.

None blamed the Golden Core Ancestor for being ruthless with those eight clans, but instead blamed those clans for not recognizing the situation. They truly believed that by relying on connections and sentiment, the Golden Core Ancestor would show them leniency. But the Golden Core Ancestor directly shattered their illusions and eradicated them.

Cultivators in their hearts cheered and felt gratitude.

Walking out of the cave mansion, Lu Xuanji looked at the stakes with over fifty human heads hanging there, feeling a chill in his heart and even beneath his feet.

In the past, the Lu Family relied on a Purple Mansion Ancestor, dominating as a tyrant in Qingshui Commandery.

But now, two Purple Mansion Ancestor heads were hung on stakes.