Several days later, in the Hun Family's main Discussion Hall.
The hall doors were tightly shut, and the atmosphere was solemn and murderous.
Hun Qianxue sat with a calm expression, his gaze as sharp as a torch.
Behind him stood several guards with deep, profound auras.
In the center of the hall, three people knelt on the ground, their hands bound by Spiritual Power Chains. Their clothes were disheveled, and they looked utterly wretched.
Hun Cangfeng knelt at the very front, his back held straight. There was no fear on his face, only unwillingness and anger.
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen knelt behind him, his whole body trembling, not even daring to lift his head.
The Guest Elder knelt at the very back, his face ashen and his eyes hollow.
He was a close friend of Hun Cangfeng. Although an outsider, he had reaped many benefits within the clan over the years by using Hun Cangfeng's name. However, after Hun Qianxue rose to power, his minor schemes were quickly discovered and punished.
He hadn't hesitated for long before agreeing to participate in the decapitation plan. Now that the plan had failed, he didn't know what would happen to Third Young Master Hun Qianchen and Hun Cangfeng; he only knew that he likely wouldn't escape death.
On both sides, dozens of clan Elders sat in rows.
Ancestor Fenxue had a deep gaze and a livid expression.
"Hun Cangfeng."
Hun Qianxue spoke. His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"You colluded with the Tianwu Sect, intending to intercept and kill the Family Head to seize the position for yourself.
Do you plead guilty?"
Hun Cangfeng looked up at Hun Qianxue, his lips curling into a mocking arc.
"Plead guilty? The winner takes all; what's there to be guilty of?
I lost, and I accept that, but I don't regret it."
The hall broke into an uproar.
"Unrepentant until the end!"
One clan Elder slammed the table and stood up.
"Cangfeng, I watched you grow up. How could you be so foolish!"
"Colluding with outsiders to murder the Family Head—this is a capital offense!"
"Heh."
Hun Cangfeng gave a cold laugh and said nothing.
After a long while, he slowly said,
"I want to know, how exactly did you find out about all this? Did someone betray me?"
Hun Qianxue didn't answer, merely saying leisurely,
"Just be a clueless ghost."
Then, his gaze turned toward Third Young Master Hun Qianchen.
"Qianchen, do you plead guilty?"
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen's whole body jolted. He jerked his head up, his eyes filled with tears.
"Big Brother... Big Brother, I was wrong! I didn't mean it, it was Elder Cangfeng... he forced me!
He told me that as long as I cooperated, the position of Family Head would be mine... I was momentarily confused, I..."
"Enough."
Hun Qianxue interrupted him, his tone icy.
"As the son of the Family Head, instead of thinking about serving the Family, you colluded with outsiders to plot a shared usurpation. How do you think Father would look at you?"
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen's crying stopped abruptly, his face turning as white as paper. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he couldn't utter a single word.
Finally, Hun Qianxue's gaze fell upon the Guest Elder.
"And you? Anything to say?"
The Guest Elder looked up, glanced at Hun Qianxue, then at the clan Elders on both sides who used to call him brother, and finally lowered his head, hoarsely saying two words: "I plead guilty."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Ancestor Fenxue spoke slowly, his voice aged and majestic.
"For the crime of betraying the clan, what is the punishment according to clan rules?"
A clan Elder stood up and said deeply,
"Traitors shall die."
Ancestor Fenxue nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three kneeling in the hall. His tone was as flat as if he were discussing a trivial matter.
"Then proceed according to the clan rules."
Hun Cangfeng closed his eyes.
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen suddenly began to struggle, screaming hoarsely,
"Big Brother! Big Brother, spare my life! I am your biological younger brother! You can't kill me! You can't kill me!"
Two guards stepped forward and pinned him down.
His screams grew more distant, finally vanishing outside the hall doors.
The Guest Elder did not struggle or scream.
He simply lowered his head and silently followed the guards out.
The hall doors closed once again.
Inside the hall, the clan Elders looked at each other, and for a time, no one spoke.
Hun Qianxue stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone calm.
"Cangfeng and Qianchen have been executed, but this matter is not yet over. The Tianwu Sect must pay the price."
"Qianxue is right."
Ancestor Fenxue nodded. "The Tianwu Sect dared to interfere in our Hun Family's internal affairs. If we don't teach them a lesson, outsiders will think our Hun Family is an easy target."
"Exactly."
A clan Elder chimed in.
"The Tianwu Sect was already on the decline, barely hanging on. Now that they've bitten the hand that feeds them, we absolutely cannot show leniency."
"I propose a total purge of the Tianwu Sect."
Another clan Elder stood up, his tone sharp.
"Wipe them out completely to serve as a warning to others."
Hun Qianxue raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"Purging the Tianwu Sect is imperative."
His tone was neither rushed nor slow. "But this matter requires careful planning. Although the Tianwu Sect has declined, they still have some foundation. We must not be careless.
Moreover, it's best not to make too much of a scene to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the outside world."
He paused and added, "I already have a plan. I gathered you all today first to deal with the traitors and second to inform you of this matter.
As for the specific action plan, allow me to discuss it further after I return."
The clan Elders all nodded in agreement.
...
One month later.
The news quickly spread throughout Qianhun City.
The Hun Family's public announcement was harshly worded: 'Wu Tianqiong, the Sect Leader of the Tianwu Sect, led a group to attack the Hun Family Head with ill intent and was killed on the spot. The Hun Family reserves the right to pursue further action regarding this matter.'
Anyone with half an eye could see that this was just the Hun Family's version of events.
As for the truth, although people weren't entirely clear on the inner details, they knew that some people from the Hun Family had gone missing.
Of course, no one was foolish enough to ask questions.
The Tianwu Sect had operated in Jiuxuan Prefecture for many years. Although it had declined in recent times, it was still a regional power and held many properties in Qianhun City. Once the Hun Family's announcement was made, the Tianwu Sect's properties in the city were seized by the Hun Family in the name of the City Lord's Mansion. Its Disciples either joined other sects or fled to distant lands; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
As for the deaths of Hun Cangfeng and Third Young Master Hun Qianchen, the Hun Family's announcement didn't mention a single word. Internal Family struggles were always kept secret.
Qianhun City returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened.
...
Time flowed slowly.
Purple Soul Grotto-Heaven.
When Han Xuanji emerged from the cultivation chamber, a year had already passed.
He stood at the entrance of the Immortal Cave, hands behind his back, gazing at the distant horizon as he let out a long breath.
"It's time to go to the Life and Death Ravine."
Han Xuanji looked at the Property Jade Talisman for the Purple Soul Grotto-Heaven in his hand and couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
He had performed such a great service, but Hun Qianxue couldn't openly publicize it. He could only compensate him: first, by opening the Life and Death Ravine as soon as possible and meeting all of Han Xuanji's requests, and second, by directly gifting the Purple Soul Grotto-Heaven to Han Xuanji.
As an Advanced cultivation cave, it was worth a fortune. It was originally a fixed asset of the Hun Family, but now Hun Qianxue had given it directly to Han Xuanji.
This grotto-heaven covered a vast area with dense Spiritual Qi. Its Formations and Restrictions were personally set up by generations of Hun Family experts; it was no exaggeration to say it was priceless.
After it was given to him, if Han Xuanji left the Hun Family, the Family would have no right to dispose of the cave. If Han Xuanji no longer wanted it, the Hun Family would have to buy it back from him.
Of course, Hun Qianxue also knew this didn't amount to much; it was merely a token of his gratitude.
The Communication Token lit up, and a message from Hun Qianling popped out:
"The matters regarding the Life and Death Ravine have been arranged. When are you setting off?"
Han Xuanji glanced at it and replied with two words:
"Immediately."
For a Cultivator who walks the Way of Laws, to achieve a Breakthrough, they must condense their own Eternal Dao Principle. It becomes increasingly difficult the further one goes, as they must consider not only the compatibility of various principles but also their own capabilities.
"The version of me in the simulation could succeed, so the version of me with cheats shouldn't have any problem..."
Han Xuanji wasn't worried about failing.