Chapter 120: Brothers

"Bang!"

Lei Gongwang casually tossed Cao Feng to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He did not kill Cao Feng outright; he merely intended to teach him a lesson. When a True Immortal arrived in person, how could Cao Feng possibly refuse?

Lei Gongwang’s tone was indifferent. "Li Guanxuan wiped out the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators of my Thunder-Fire Sect. A gentleman does not leave such a grudge unavenged. I only want his life; if any unrelated parties interfere, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

As he spoke, the aura of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator quietly permeated the air.

The Golden Core True Immortal currently in Star-Fall Valley—or perhaps, the Golden Core True Devil—was a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties. She possessed both the intellectual air of a professional woman and the allure of a beautiful matron; the two temperaments were balanced so perfectly that one could almost taste both tea and wine in her presence.

The woman felt a chill in her heart. She looked toward Silver Maple City with a solemn expression and remarked, "No wonder Lei Gongwang dared to be so arrogant, showing no regard for the Cao family. So, he has already stepped into the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm..."

Her name was Sui Lan, a Golden Core early-stage cultivator at the first layer, having formed a True Core. A True Core cultivator who reaches the mid-stage can truly be called a Golden Core True Immortal. At this level, the gap in magic power between her and others who had formed Golden Cores was not vast; it was merely a matter of the quality of the core and individual aptitude, meaning their strength was nearly equal.

"This favor is not easy to return," Sui Lan whispered, shaking her head with helplessness. With Lei Gongwang having reached the mid-stage, she was no longer his match. Furthermore, True Immortal Bi, who had previously been stationed in Silver Maple City, had since departed.

Sui Lan let out a long sigh and vanished from her spot. Demonic energy surged from her body, reaching across the sky toward Cao Feng. Lei Gongwang glanced at her with cold indifference.

"Cao Feng cannot die. If he dies, the Cao family will be able to ruin your well-laid plans," Sui Lan said calmly. "I do not wish to be at odds with you, but if you insist on breaking the city today, I will have no choice but to invite a few more friends to stand guard."

Lei Gongwang stared at her, his hands behind his back. "Very well, I will give you this face. But I must take Li Guanxuan's life."

"As you wish." Sui Lan was indifferent. The only person she needed to protect was Cao Feng; Li Guanxuan meant nothing to her.

Back in the city, Cao Feng, his face pale and blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, roared with all his might toward the inner city: "Go!"

He could no longer protect Li Guanxuan. The only way to survive now was to flee.

Seeing this, Li Guanxuan’s heart was filled with complex emotions. He turned his gaze toward the Number One Marketplace. In the sky, the sea of spiritual energy was slowly condensing, blooming with auspicious clouds and radiant light. But at this moment, Lei Gongwang had already arrived outside Silver Maple City, and his mid-stage Golden Core aura was already affecting Liu Xiaoxian, who was in the midst of forming his own core.

"Li Guanxuan, you cannot escape!"

Even with the grand pavilions and towers standing between them, Lei Gongwang locked onto Li Guanxuan with ease. His murderous intent was palpable. Without hesitation, Lei Gongwang smashed a fist against the defensive array of Silver Maple City!

"Boom!"

A massive explosion rang out, and the terrifying shockwave rippled outward. Panic filled the hearts of many cultivators within Silver Maple City. Even though Cao Feng had constantly reinforced the defensive array, it was ultimately only a second-tier high-grade formation, completely unable to withstand a mid-stage Golden Core True Immortal.

Three strikes later, the defensive array shattered. The formation patterns vanished, and the starlight formed by the vast mana slowly dissipated. In that instant, it was too late for Li Guanxuan to escape.

He was locked in place by an irresistible, inescapable divine sense. The pressure was like a mountain, suppressing his body and soul. Blood surged within him, and his temples throbbed painfully—his body was sounding a crisis warning.

Li Guanxuan’s eyes were bloodshot. Just as he was on the verge of collapse, a flash of sword light rose from within his body and soared into the sky! The pressure upon him vanished in that instant.

"Whoosh!"

In the blink of an eye, as the sword light merged with the sky, a sword intent that made one's heart tremble descended from the horizon.

What was happening?

Li Guanxuan’s expression shifted slightly. He had already summoned sixty flying swords imbued with the Sword Intent of Life and Death. He was prepared to use every last resort he had... He looked toward the horizon, sensing a familiar sword intent.

The Azure Profound Sword Intent.

"Husband!" At that moment, Qin Jiyue arrived at Li Guanxuan’s side. Finding him unharmed, she finally let out a breath of relief.

"Let's go," Qin Jiyue said, attempting to lead Li Guanxuan away, but he replied: "No need to go... The Li family has arrived."

The Li family? Qin Jiyue paused, looking toward the horizon. Lei Gongwang no longer had time to spare for Li Guanxuan. His expression turned grave; feeling the unique Azure Profound Sword Intent of the Li family of the Great Heng Sword Immortals, a deep sense of dread rose in his heart.

"How could a Golden Core True Immortal from the Li family come here?" Lei Gongwang’s eyes were filled with disbelief. According to his investigations, Li Guanxuan was merely an exiled member of the Li family, one who was held in no regard; no one would care if he died elsewhere... So what was this? Was his intelligence wrong?

***

As Lei Gongwang pondered, a beam of sword light crashed directly toward him! In a panic, Lei Gongwang deployed a third-tier puppet to block it.

"Bang!"

Before the sword light even reached the third-tier puppet, terrifying sword energy shredded it to pieces. Fragments drifted in mid-air. The unstoppable sword light finally struck Lei Gongwang, and in an instant, he was slammed deep into the earth amidst a cloud of dust.

The world fell silent.

The Master of the Water-Ink Pavilion, who had assumed Li Guanxuan would surely die, felt her heart tremble. Her chest heaved, and a flicker of worry appeared in her cold, beautiful eyes.

"Damn it, didn't you say the Li family wouldn't care about such an exiled member?!" The Master of the Water-Ink Pavilion lost her usual elegance and poise, roaring in frustration at Yan Shikui.

Yan Shikui was stunned into silence. A Li family Golden Core True Immortal had come here...

"No!" Yan Shikui seemed to see hope, exclaiming in wild joy, "The other party is just a True Immortal who has just formed their Golden Core!"

An early-stage Golden Core! And a newly ascended one at that—certainly no match for their ancestor!

"Fool." The Master of the Water-Ink Pavilion gave a cold snort. Ignoring Yan Shikui, she took the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Water-Ink Pavilion and departed. She knew very well that once a Li family True Immortal had noticed the situation, killing Li Guanxuan would be nearly impossible. It might even be entirely out of reach! If she couldn't kill Li Guanxuan and use it as a pretext to start a massive war, her Water-Ink Pavilion would gain nothing. It was better to leave quietly to avoid further losses.

...

When Li Guanxuan saw the man who bore a slight resemblance to him and wore a cold, handsome face, a smile appeared on his lips.

"I'm saved..." Li Guanxuan gently took Qin Jiyue’s hand and looked at the man.

The newcomer was Li Guanyuan. But he was now a Golden Core True Immortal, no longer the peak Foundation Establishment cultivator from over a decade ago. As Li Guanxuan looked at Li Guanyuan, the other man was looking back at him.

In his cold, stern gaze, he tried to appear indifferent, and his words remained filled with disdain: "So many years have passed, and you still haven't made any progress. To be pushed to such a plight... useless."

Qin Jiyue frowned slightly, looking displeased. This Li family True Immortal was far too insulting.

Li Guanxuan smiled, squeezed Qin Jiyue’s hand slightly, and introduced them: "Don't mind him. This is my brother, my biological older brother, Li Guanyuan. He's been sharp-tongued like this since we were children—a classic case of a harsh mouth but a soft heart. He acts like he despises me, yet he always tries his best to look after me, worried that I'll suffer."

"Who wants to look after you?!" Li Guanyuan glared, and a chilling sword intent swept forward. However, when he saw that Li Guanxuan didn't flinch, he huffed and withdrew the intent.

Qin Jiyue was slightly stunned. It seemed that from the moment he arrived at Silver Maple City, Li Guanyuan’s gaze had never left Li Guanxuan, not even glancing at Lei Gongwang, who had been hammered into the ground. Only after confirming Li Guanxuan was unhurt did he show his usual disdain.

"Qin Jiyue greets you, Brother," Qin Jiyue said, bowing respectfully. Li Guanyuan had not intended to acknowledge her, but realizing she was the wife of his "useless" younger brother, he gave a slight nod without speaking.

Suddenly, Li Guanyuan noticed something strange about the sixty flying swords. With a frown, he reached out and grabbed one to examine it carefully. The sword intent was fierce and domineering, several times stronger than the Azure Profound Sword Intent, containing both vitality and death; it could grant life and cut life away. Finding no other issues, Li Guanyuan tossed the sword back to Li Guanxuan.

"Sword Intent of Life and Death, developed on my own," Li Guanxuan explained with a smile. He knew Li Guanyuan was worried he might be practicing some evil art.

"A bit of talent, but not much," Li Guanyuan commented flatly.

Li Guanxuan didn't mind. He introduced Cao Feng to him: "This is the City Lord of Silver Maple City, Cao Feng. If not for his help these past years, the ancestor of the Thunder-Fire Sect would have likely entered the city to kill me."

"Greetings, Senior," Cao Feng bowed.

Li Guanyuan did not hesitate. He flicked a flying sword toward him and said, "The Li family of Great Heng never owes a debt of gratitude. If you are ever in trouble, no matter how far away, you may seek help from the Li family."

Cao Feng looked at Li Guanyuan, and seeing the man nod slightly, he accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Senior."

At that moment, Lei Gongwang charged out from the ground, his body wreathed in thunder and fire, his hair disheveled, his eyes fixed firmly on Li Guanyuan. Li Guanyuan sensed him but merely turned his head to glance at him.

Cao Feng warned quickly: "Senior, this man is Lei Gongwang, the ancestor of the Thunder-Fire Sect, a mid-stage Golden Core. Do not underestimate him!"

"Hm." Li Guanyuan nodded slightly, his figure transforming into an unstoppable beam of sword light as he shot forward.

"Arrogant! If not for your sneak attack, I would not be in such a sorry state!" Seeing a mere early-stage Golden Core dare to attack him, Lei Gongwang was enraged. He summoned a massive seal, and the heavens began to rumble with terrifying power as he hurled it toward Li Guanyuan.

"Oh," Li Guanyuan responded indifferently. He held his sword in his right hand and slashed forward in a plain, unremarkable motion. The sword movement was slow and seemed clumsy, yet it contained terrifying power. The monumental seal was sliced clean in two, losing all its power, and the sword light continued on to strike Lei Gongwang.

***

"What?!" The onlookers saw the deep, bone-cutting wound on Lei Gongwang and felt their hearts jump, their eyes filled with shock.

An early-stage Golden Core injured a mid-stage one with a single strike? What kind of monster was this Li family sword cultivator?!

Li Guanyuan remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, his sword intent materialized into a cage, sealing off all of Lei Gongwang’s escape routes.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Seeing the terrifying Azure Profound Sword Intent surrounding him on all sides, Lei Gongwang’s heart trembled, and he immediately begged for mercy: "Spare, spare my life!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. With just this sword intent, the mid-stage Golden Core Lei Gongwang had actually begged for mercy? He had even discarded the dignity of a mid-stage True Immortal?

However, outsiders would never understand what Lei Gongwang was feeling at that moment. He felt as if he were trapped in a mountain of swords and a sea of fire; his life and death rested entirely on Li Guanyuan’s whim, and he was completely unable to resist.

"Spare you? Outsiders have no right to pry into the affairs of Li family members practicing abroad."

As the words fell, Li Guanyuan gathered his sword intent and swung once more. The sword light was like a rainbow, piercing the firmament. Even as Lei Gongwang burned his essence blood to resist, his mana frantically gathering to block the strike, it was all in vain...

As the sword light washed over him, Lei Gongwang’s body was covered in bloody lacerations. A moment later, his body was torn asunder. The ancestor of the Thunder-Fire Sect, Lei Gongwang, had fallen!

Watching this scene, Yan Shikui was horrified. Only one thought remained in his mind... It was over! The Thunder-Fire Sect was completely finished! Without the protection of a Golden Core ancestor, they could never withstand the wrath of their other enemies! He knew that his sect had offended countless people and factions over the years... including the Hua family, the former masters of Huajing Immortal City!

Yan Shikui no longer had any intention of collecting Lei Gongwang’s remains. With disaster looming, he only wanted to rush back to Huajing Immortal City, pack his belongings, and flee!

At that moment, sixty flying swords imbued with the Sword Intent of Life and Death descended from the sky like a rainstorm, piercing and cutting Yan Shikui’s body to ribbons. The Sect Master of the Thunder-Fire Sect, Yan Shikui, had fallen!

"Run!!!"

The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Thunder-Fire Sect fled in a panic, scattering in every direction. They could all feel that the divine senses of numerous demonic cultivators were already locked onto them! With both their ancestor and sect master dead, no one could save them now. Old debts and new grievances would all be settled at once!

...

Seeing Yan Shikui executed by the sixty flying swords, Li Guanyuan retracted his gaze with satisfaction and looked at his "useless" younger brother. Li Guanxuan stood on the city wall, exhaling a breath of stale air as he returned the sixty swords to their case.

"Your divine sense is not bad." Li Guanyuan gave him a rare compliment.

"It was only because Brother scared the wits out of him that he couldn't detect me, allowing me to land the final blow," Li Guanxuan said with a chuckle.

"You're not bad at flattery, either," Li Guanyuan sneered. The Li Guanxuan of the past had been the most arrogant and domineering person imaginable, daring to shout "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" at the clan leader. Now, he had actually learned to be sycophantic.

Li Guanxuan didn't care. He had been naive as a child, but he had grown mature and steady with age.

"Are you leaving? Won't you stay for a drink? We haven't spent much time together since we were kids; let's have a meal before you go," Li Guanxuan said, sensing his brother's intention to leave.

Li Guanyuan replied indifferently, "I'm not used to the wine outside. Come home; there's plenty there."

Li Guanxuan smiled and waved his hand in farewell. Li Guanyuan said nothing more, turning and speeding off toward the Chi Lian mountain range.

A month later.

Above Silver Maple City, purple energy swirled, stars shifted, and an omen descended from the heavens! A thunderous sound echoed through the city as the sea of spiritual energy condensed, falling as a purple-gold light into the Wanshang Pavilion in the Number One Marketplace.

Liu Xiaoxian had successfully formed his core. The quality of his core: Purple-Gold Core!

...

Furthermore, Li Guanxuan received news. After entering the Chi Lian mountain range, Li Guanyuan had slain two third-tier demon kings and gifted their remains to a second-tier late-stage Flame Demon Bear... only then leaving the Immortal Ruins to return to Great Heng.