Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 163: Giant Wood Peak

Giant Wood Peak was the Si family’s home. It stood over three hundred zhang high and more than thirty li long and wide. Its middle-tier second-grade spiritual vein was not large, but had nourished abundant resources.

After gaining much from the Gu family, Lei Liheng was in high spirits as he led over thirty cultivators against Giant Wood Peak.

The flying wheel artifact in his hand spun and multiplied: one became two, two became four, and soon hundreds of wheels shot forward.

“Shatter!”

At Lei Liheng’s command, the wheels struck the formation’s barrier in rapid succession.

The others attacked with spells and artifacts as well. Colored light flashed amid constant rumbling.

The formation soon broke.

Seeing only a few panicked Si family Qi Refining cultivators running about, Lei Liheng smiled contemptuously. “The old men of the Si family have gone to Double Dragon Mountain after all.”

He cast several spells and killed them.

He turned to his people. “Fellow Daoist Zhao, take people to the spirit fields and move all the medicinal plants. Fellow Daoist Cheng, find the storehouse and empty it. I’ll take people to the scripture pavilion.”

Lei Liheng was over one hundred and eighty, cautious and shrewd. Even though he believed the Si family’s main force was absent, he searched for any remaining members with his divine sense.

Only after the Zhao and Cheng families landed did he tell his own clansmen to descend.

He looked at the three-story scripture pavilion with satisfaction. “Take the collection inside.”

“Yes, Clan Head!” Another Lei family Foundation Establishment cultivator led his clansmen into the pavilion.

As soon as they entered, something changed.

The sky rippled, and a blue barrier reappeared. Outside it, a flying boat came slowly out of the clouds.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators stood at its prow. One was a grim-faced old man in a purple robe holding a black array disk. Thirty Si family cultivators stood behind him, ready to fight.

“You dared to attack the Si family. Kill them all!”

“Yes, Patriarch!”

The thirty Si cultivators were among the family’s best, almost all at the late Qi Refining stage. Their first attack killed some of the three families’ unprepared cultivators.

The purple-robed old man worked the array disk. At his hand seal, clouds gathered above Giant Wood Peak and fireballs fell on the intruders.

Lei Liheng’s face darkened.

The Si family had prepared an ambush in its own home.

Even if the Sis won, the battle would cause considerable damage to Giant Wood Peak. Lei Liheng wondered whether that was worth it.

He did not know that Si Zhijie, the family head, planned to seize a spiritual mountain in Green Bull Market and move the family there. Without an upper-tier second-grade mountain, the Sis were constrained.

If they could kill one or two Green Bull Market Foundation Establishment cultivators here, they would have a stronger claim when dividing the conquered mountains. Si Zhijie did not expect to kill all six opponents with only two of his own, even with the formation. Instead, he aimed to kill one early-stage Lei cultivator and briefly trap the rest.

“Attack the formation with all your strength!” Lei Liheng said, knocking aside an attack aimed at his clansmen.

He knew the longer they remained trapped, the more casualties they would suffer.

He looked coldly at the barrier. A Proto-Magic Treasure spun furiously in his hand, emitting a piercing metallic whine and powerful spiritual pressure.

“Break!”

Flying wheels poured from his hand, grew larger, and slammed against the barrier.

“A Proto-Magic Treasure?” Si Zhijie’s face darkened.

His formation was only middle-tier second-grade. Even with him controlling it, it could not endure the Proto-Magic Treasure’s attacks.

After a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and ordered his people, “Focus on killing that Foundation Establishment cultivator. Ignore the others. We retreat as soon as he is dead!”

Dozens of attacks flew toward the other Lei family Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At Double Dragon Mountain, meanwhile, cultivators from several families had gathered.

The mountain was lively. A tournament was taking place on a training field halfway up its slope.

The family heads had grown bored and decided to let their young cultivators practice and compete. They could not fight one another themselves, but someone had to lead. No one said it openly, yet the family whose people won first place would gain more influence.

Ji Shuguang sat on a raised platform, chatting and drinking spirit wine. The family juniors’ methods seemed ordinary compared with the fierce competition in a sect, so he soon lost interest.

He noticed an empty seat. “Why hasn’t Si Zhijie arrived? Does his family not want to participate?”

Gu Lizhan answered, “The Si family head sent word a few days ago. He sensed a chance to advance and is preparing for a breakthrough, so he cannot come yet. He promised to arrive before the attack begins.”

“Cultivation is important,” Ji Shuguang said. “I can understand that, as long as he comes this month. If not…” His eyes chilled. “He’ll learn the consequences.”

“Si Zhijie understands,” Ye Jingshan said for him. “He’s reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and his family’s spiritual mountain is no longer enough. We have no spare mountain at Maple Leaf Market. He’ll fight hard for a better one at Green Bull Market.”

Ye Jingshan hoped to keep the families united for the coming attack.

Two ninth-layer Qi Refining youths were fighting in the arena when a black speck appeared in the distance and flew toward them with a sharp whistle.

“Who goes there? How dare you trespass on Double Dragon Mountain!”

Ye Jingshan, watching from the head seat, rose angrily. Such an intrusion before so many people embarrassed his family.

“Brother Ye, that is one of my people,” Gu Lizhan said, apologizing. “There may be an urgent matter. I’ll scold him afterward.”

Ye Jingshan snorted. “My family opened Double Dragon Mountain to everyone for the sake of this alliance. Your people should still obey our rules and not come and go as they please.”

Gu Lizhan agreed and smiled placatingly. His family was slightly stronger than the Yes, but not by much, and supplies for the coming attack had to pass through Ye family territory. He could not afford to anger Ye Jingshan now.

The newcomer’s robe was stained with blood, and his face was injured. Seeing this, Ye Jingshan said nothing more.

Gu Lizhan’s heart skipped a beat.

It was Gu Lizhan’s younger male cousin, Gu Liyong. He landed unsteadily and shouted, “Big Brother, something terrible has happened!”

Gu Lizhan wanted to stop him. He was worried, but did not want family matters discussed before everyone.

Gu Liyong missed his warning glance. After catching his breath, he spoke.

“The Lei, Zhao, and Cheng families of Green Bull Market attacked Red Maple Lake together. So many of our people have been killed!”

“What?” Gu Lizhan was shocked.

He forgot everything else, flew down from the platform, and seized Gu Liyong’s hand.

“Tell me clearly. What happened at Red Maple Lake?”