The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Hurry! Run! That old man Wang Qinglin has gone mad and is killing everyone in the city!"

"Gone mad? What happened?"

"I heard someone killed Wang Liyuan.

Wang Qinglin can't find the murderer, so he's lost his mind. He's killing indiscriminately, anyone he sees—no exceptions!

Even some rogue cultivators and spiritual root talents from the Upper Three Families have been killed by him!"

"Wang Qinglin is one of the few Qi Refinement stage experts left. If he goes on a rampage, there's hardly anyone in this city who can stop him!"

"Exactly! Run now! If that madman Wang Qinglin finds us, we're as good as dead!"

In Tongshan County, news of Wang Liyuan's death and Wang Qinglin's murderous rampage spread quickly.

Terrified by the reports that he was killing everyone he encountered, many rogue cultivators abandoned their search for the treasures and legacies left by the Xia family. They fled the city in droves, prioritizing their lives over potential gains.

"Wang Liyuan is dead?"

In a nearby pavilion, Yun Yantian, Yun Yanshuang, and Yun Wenxuan were sorting through the treasures they had managed to scavenge.

Hearing the fleeing rogue cultivators talking about Wang Liyuan's death and Wang Qinglin's rampage, Yun Yantian furrowed his brows.

"It seems my brother might have succeeded," Yun Yanshuang thought silently, a glimmer of understanding flashing in her eyes.

"Wang Liyuan, a man blessed with incredible fortune, survived an ambush by the spiritual root talents of the Upper Three Families during the Hundred Clans Assembly.

"And yet, he's now dead in Tongshan County? I wonder who could have pulled it off?" Yun Yantian murmured, his voice tinged with amazement.

"Yes! And wasn't Wang Qinglin said to have been guarding Wang Liyuan closely?

For someone to kill Wang Liyuan right under Wang Qinglin's nose, they must be incredibly skilled. I wonder which senior cultivator could have accomplished such a feat!" Yun Wenxuan exclaimed, equally astonished.

Yun Yanshuang, however, remained calm and silent, methodically packing away their haul of spiritual treasures.

"Yantian, we should leave as soon as possible! Those rogue cultivators said Wang Qinglin is on a rampage, killing indiscriminately.

If we stay here, we could end up being collateral damage!"

Having packed their spoils, Yun Yanshuang voiced her concern.

"Shuang'er is right. Preserving our lives is the most important thing. We've already gained a lot this time—enough to be satisfied," Yun Yantian agreed. He knew the city's current chaos made staying dangerous, and leaving quickly was the wisest choice.

Splurt!

Ye Xiaolin spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flung through the air like a broken kite.

Around him lay the corpses of several Ye family rogue cultivators. Even his cousin Ye Xiaomo had been killed earlier by a single palm strike from Wang Qinglin.

"You've harmed my Liyuan... all of you from the Upper Three Families must die!"

Wang Qinglin's bloodshot eyes radiated unrelenting fury, his entire being emanating murderous intent.

Since Wang Liyuan's death, he had been unable to uncover the killer. Enraged, he began slaughtering anyone in sight, sparing no one.

His fury was particularly directed at members of the Upper Three Families.

Before his death, Daoist Mu had claimed that the Upper Three Families had secretly orchestrated the distraction that lured Wang Qinglin away from Wang Liyuan's side.

"Wang Qinglin! Are you really going to lose all control?!"

"Lose control? When my elder brother was alive, he may have shown restraint and avoided conflict with you Upper Three Families. But I am not so patient!"

"For years, you've schemed against the Yulin Wang family, and now you've conspired to kill my grandson Wang Liyuan.

I swear, I will see your Upper Three Families destroyed!" Wang Qinglin roared, his voice shaking the very earth.

The force of his anger caused the nearby buildings to collapse, and Ye Xiaolin, already severely injured, was sent flying again. His chest caved in as ribs snapped like dry twigs.

"Wang Qinglin, cease this madness!"

A streak of light shot from the Xia family's ancestral grounds and descended in front of Ye Xiaolin.

The newcomer was none other than the Ye family patriarch, Ye Wansheng, a Qi Refinement Stage 6 cultivator.

"Ye Wansheng, do you truly think you can stand against me?"

Wang Qinglin's icy gaze fixed on the Ye patriarch, his tone dripping with disdain.

"And what if I'm not alone?"

From the Xia family's ancestral grounds, another streak of light shot into the air, quickly heading toward Tongshan County. It was Lin Chuqiu, the current patriarch of the Lin family, also at the Qi Refinement Stage 6.

"And me!"

Moments later, yet another figure descended—it was Lu Yurong, the current patriarch of the Lu family, also at the Qi Refinement Stage 6.

The three had originally been leading their family forces to lay siege to the Xia family's ancestral grounds, and victory had seemed imminent.

However, news of Wang Qinglin's rampage in Tongshan County, especially his targeted slaughter of members of the Upper Three Families, had forced their hand.

The three patriarchs hastily left their forces behind, instructing them to continue the assault on the Xia family, and rushed to Tongshan County to confront Wang Qinglin.

"Excellent! You're all here," Wang Qinglin said, his face contorted in rage. "Perfect. We'll settle all our old and new grudges today!"

"If I have to, I'll drag my Yulin Wang family down with your Upper Three Families. Let's see who loses more!"

Behind Wang Qinglin, a large contingent of Wang family cultivators and spiritual root talents had gathered, including Wang Lilong.

"Wang Qinglin, are you truly determined to act recklessly?" Ye Wansheng frowned deeply.

He had assumed that Wang Qinglin would hesitate when faced with the combined presence of three patriarchs, reigning in his rage.

Yet it was becoming clear that Wang Qinglin was entirely beyond reason.

"Hmph! Haven't your Upper Three Families always wanted to destroy the Yulin Wang family?

"Well, here I am, standing before you with my people. Today, let's fulfill your wish!

"If you want a war, we can start right now!

"Unlike my brother, Wang Qingshan, I don't waste time overthinking!"

As Wang Qinglin finished speaking, he prepared to launch an attack, and the killing intent emanating from him made the air feel heavy.

Ye Wansheng, Lin Chuqiu, and Lu Yurong immediately tensed, their expressions grim as they braced for a potential clash.

"Senior Qinglin, please, calm yourself!"

A calm voice rang out from the skies, and a streak of light descended between the two opposing sides.

The newcomer was Li Qing, one of the imperial court's revered cultivators.

"Oh? The imperial court wishes to play peacemaker now?" Wang Qinglin sneered coldly upon seeing Li Qing.

"Senior Qinglin, surely we can discuss this calmly? Is there truly a need for such a violent confrontation?" Li Qing asked gently, his demeanor serene and composed.

"Discuss calmly? The Upper Three Families have gone too far. How do you expect me to discuss this calmly?"

Wang Qinglin's voice was filled with rage, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Li Qing.

He had long suspected that the imperial court's cultivators, including Li Qing, had been secretly observing the events in Tongshan County.

This confirmed his belief that the assault on the Xia family by the Upper Three Families and the Six Clans had been tacitly approved by the imperial court.

Now, with the Yulin Wang family on the brink of war with the Upper Three Families, the imperial court was stepping in as a supposed mediator.

Wang Qinglin scoffed at their hypocrisy. He understood that the imperial court's true aim was to prevent large-scale conflict between major clans, which could weaken the nation and invite foreign threats.

"Perhaps there's been some misunderstanding?" Li Qing suggested, his voice calm and measured.

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?

"I was protecting my grandson Wang Liyuan, but these scoundrels hired rogue cultivators to lure me away. Because of their schemes, my grandson was brutally murdered!"

The image of Wang Liyuan's lifeless, decapitated body flashed in Wang Qinglin's mind, and his grief and fury surged anew.

"Senior Wansheng, would you allow one of your family's disciples to clarify the situation?" Li Qing turned to Ye Wansheng.

"Xiaolin, step forward and explain the matter to Lord Li," Ye Wansheng ordered.

"Yes, Patriarch."

Suppressing the pain from his injuries, Ye Xiaolin staggered to his feet and respectfully saluted Li Qing.

"We did hire those rogue cultivators," Ye Xiaolin admitted. "However, it was not the Upper Three Families who proposed targeting Wang Liyuan. The instigator was Wen Ruli of the Qishan Wen family!"

"Ye brat, don't you dare spout nonsense!"

A thunderous voice boomed from above, and another figure descended—it was the current patriarch of the Wen family.

Having overheard Ye Xiaolin's accusation, Wen Ruli's face darkened.

The Qishan Wen family was already weakened, and they could not afford to provoke the wrath of the Yulin Wang family.

Especially not Wang Qinglin, whose temper and impulsive actions were infamous. Unlike his brother Wang Qingshan, who had been cautious and calculating, Wang Qinglin was unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts.

His willingness to lead the Yulin Wang family into direct conflict with the Upper Three Families was evidence enough of his recklessness.

"Wen Ruli, don't think you can get away with this!" Wang Qinglin's eyes burned with rage as he fixed his gaze on the Wen patriarch.

"Lord Li, this is slander! My Wen family had no part in this!" Wen Ruli protested, his voice quaking slightly under Wang Qinglin's intense scrutiny.

"Enough! All of you think you can push the blame around? Do you take me for a fool?!"

Wang Qinglin's aura surged violently, causing the ground beneath him to tremble.

"If you think I'll let this go, you're sorely mistaken. Today, none of you will leave this place unscathed!"