Chapter 623: Chapter 384: Blood Elixir_2

“Five million spirit stones, you you you… you are the Corpse Hand Man Slaughter…”

In just an instant, Xu Qiu was completely numb, his face filled with the color of death.

Su Jie’s name resonated far too loudly in Qingzhou. He had slain Wei Ji, the righteous sect’s Immortal Seed, during a sect battle, and he had the feat of single-handedly killing five cultivators from the Secret Realm. Thus, the bounty of five million spirit stones on the head of Su Jie, the Ghost Ridge Palace’s Immortal Seed, was unparalleled in Qingzhou.

Han Ruyan stared at the go board for several seconds, her face expressionless as she set down the black piece in her hand, saying, “I lost.”

No sooner had she spoken than Han Ruyan’s deadly, ice-cold eyes turned towards the three people inside the room, as if deeming them the prime culprits for her loss at the game.

Crack!

Bolts of thunder burst out from Han Ruyan’s red clothes. These were the heavenly tribulations that Han Ruyan had absorbed, as thunderbolts thick as fingers struck down.

The two maidservants, with first and second level Yunling Realm cultivation, were instantly reduced to ash, leaving only their clothes falling to the floor.

Xu Qiu didn’t even have the time to flee; as he turned around, hundreds of pale Corpse Hands grabbed hold of him. Wrapped entirely by the Corpse Hands, only his head was left visible. As the Corpse Hands exerted force, the terrifying strength crushed his bones. He wanted to scream, but Corpse Hands even emerged from his mouth, rendering him silent.

“Wasn’t I invited to your Xu Family for a visit and to play? Since you’re so keen on it, I might as well take a trip there.”

Su Jie slowly stood up and walked towards the window, leaving behind the terrified and desperate gaze of Xu Qiu.

But he couldn’t even utter a plea for mercy, could only watch helplessly as his body was torn and compressed by the Corpse Hands into a mess of bloodied flesh and bones, leaving only his head intact.

In the next moment, Su Jie had already flown out of the window, carrying the head, and rushed into the sky.

Halting only a step behind, Han Ruyan extended a finger and gently tapped it. The innkeeper below, who was anxious and trembling, had his head suddenly explode, spattering the counter with the gore of red and white.

…

The Xu Family’s residence was located on the southern side of Xia Guang City, spanning an area of seventy to eighty thousand square meters, accommodating dozens of courtyards and hundreds of houses.

Everywhere, one could see ancient trees reaching for the heavens, green vines entwining, ponds rippling with clear waves, vibrant bamboo groves, and pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters, showcasing the grandeur of a noble family.

However, unlike what one might imagine, an opulent and refined sight, there were cries of woe echoing on a clearing within the estate.

Thousands of refugees were being slaughtered en masse, much like how one would kill chickens or butcher dogs.

The Xu Family disciples were sharpening their knives keenly, swinging gleaming blades at the bound refugees.

Blood and innards spread in all directions, the stench of blood overwhelming, making it seem like one was in the middle of a slaughterhouse.

These refugees, who had received porridge from the Xu Family during the day, couldn’t have imagined that the charitable and sincere Xu Family, which had welcomed them into the residence, would treat them like animals to be butchered.

At the center of the clearing was a huge pit of tens of meters in diameter, with blood-red flames burning inside. Corpses of the slain were being thrown into it.

Upon closer examination, one would notice a giant cauldron within the pit, which swiftly melted the corpses thrown into it.

At the bottom of the cauldron were dozens of blood elixirs the size of fingertips, with the elixirs gleaming and exuding a faint aromatic fragrance, with no hint of the gruesome materials they were made of.

Not far from the clearing, in a building enveloped with the scent of sandalwood and decorated with brocade, sat a jade bottle on a stand, filled with blooming peonies demanding attention. On the wall hung a landscape painting, the ink vivid and swirling with mist, as if cranes could fly out at any moment.

Xu Liangpan, the head of the Xu Family, sat here. His gaze was directed below at the butchering and killing, as he instructed his eldest son, Xu Juyi, “With these refugees, we should have just about enough for a hundred blood elixirs. You’ll personally escort this batch of blood elixirs to Liuyun Manor. With Elder Zhuang’s introduction and care, perhaps you could become Elder Zhuang’s disciple, and our family could grow even stronger.”

“Thank you, Father, thank you for giving me this opportunity,” Xu Juyi’s face lit up, understanding that this was a chance his father had fought for him.

Although he was also a disciple of the Guan Chao Pavilion, he was just an ordinary inner disciple there, with no way of connecting with Elder Zhuang.

This opportunity, if grasped, could benefit him for a lifetime.

After all, he would be befriending none other than Guan Chao Pavilion’s Supreme Elder!

Xu Liangpan nodded slightly and said, “This family will be yours to manage in the future. You must cultivate good relationships with your fellow disciples and elders at the Guan Chao Pavilion. In the future, these will become the backing for our family. Do not slack off.”

“Son understands. I’ve always been good at fostering relationships with the fellow disciples and seniors,” Xu Juyi replied.

“As long as you know what’s important. Speaking of which, your younger brother has been out for quite some time tonight, why hasn’t there been any movement?”

Xu Liangpan felt somewhat uneasy as he brought up another matter.

“Father, Xia Guang City is our turf, and besides, Ah Qiu has Fifth Level Yunling Realm cultivation; you’re still afraid something will happen to him?” Xu Juyi was dismissive, but seeing his father Xu Liangpan’s face, he quickly added, “I’ll go out and look for him then, and bring him back to see you.”

As Xu Juyi was about to head out, a disturbance suddenly arose outside.

“What in the world, where did all these papermen come from?”

“Ghost, it’s a ghost!”

“Grab your weapons; a demon cultivator is making trouble in our Xu Family, seeking death!”

“We… we can’t fight it, can’t fight at all, please don’t kill me, it has nothing to do with me!”