"Here they come!" Qin Wang felt a surge of excitement as he spotted five figures approaching, instinctively gripping the two bags of Disabling Incense and his fire striker. He was ready to sit back, watch the fight, and find the right moment to strike. Any weakening of the Chen family's power would be a significant gain.
"Big brother, second uncle, second brother, fifth brother, the poison that afflicted Tianyu is identical to that of Su Dingfeng's Jinghong Flying Dagger!"
"Moreover, it's time to reallocate the family interests in Yan Yun County!"
"Later, we will concentrate our power to catch them off guard!"
"First, we'll surround and kill Su Dingfeng, their most powerful member!"
Chen Kun instructed his team, consisting of two white-haired elders and two men in black, his eyes gleaming with venomous intent.
Following Chen Kun's lead, the five of them leapt over Su family's wall and launched their attack.
"Bang, bang, bang!!"
"Ah!!!"
"Who are you? Why are you attacking my Su family in the dead of night?!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Qin Wang observed from his perch in the camphor tree, peering through the leaves at the fierce battle taking place a hundred meters away. The clash of weapons and bursts of energy echoed loudly, accompanied by shouts of anger and cries of pain. Su family members were awakened from their sleep, fighting desperately. Many were killed before they could even get out of bed.
In the midst of the chaos, a bag emitting sparks was thrown into the melee.
"Purple Que Sword Technique! You... you're Chen Kun!"
"You Chen bastard! I didn't kill your son! I never even went to Qingfeng Forest! Why are you pushing me?!"
"Why?!"
A medium-built, lean middle-aged man gripped a pair of glistening flying daggers, his body trembling with rage. His ears were filled with the sounds of his family's screams. Su Dingfeng's heart bled, recognizing his fifth brother's anguished cry among them. Previously, he had swallowed his anger due to the Chen family's youngest son's entry into an immortal sect. But now, Chen Kun had brought the fight to their doorstep!
"Humph! Su Dingfeng! Stop trying to deny it!"
"The poison in my son's body matches your Jinghong Flying Dagger! Tianyu is dead, and your entire Su family must pay!"
"Kill!"
Chen Kun snorted coldly, his sword transforming into a streak of lightning aimed at Su Dingfeng. Having been recognized, he saw no reason to continue his pretense.
"Father!"
At that moment, a scream pierced Su Dingfeng's ears. He glanced over to see his youngest son impaled through the chest by a sword, and he roared, "Yue'er!"
"Chen Kun, if not for your son's luck getting into the immortal sect, would I have let you run rampant?!"
Su Dingfeng glared at Chen Kun with bloodshot eyes. The Chen family's relentless provocation had pushed him to his limit. Now, with Chen Kun attacking, the situation had escalated beyond endurance.
"Jinghong Blade Strike!"
Su Dingfeng roared, his eyes red with fury. Blood surged through his veins, radiating a terrifying and fierce aura. His cultivation suddenly surged, breaking through the second-tier realm and stepping into the first-tier realm. He raised his right hand, and a dazzling flying dagger shot towards Chen Kun like a shooting star.
"Snow Lotus Sect, Blood Explosion Technique?!"
Chen Kun's eyes narrowed as he recognized the technique. He wielded his sword, forming a shield of purple light that clashed with the flying dagger. His black robes flapped in the intense energy, but he stood firm. The dagger rebounded into a rockery, shattering it.
"You've reached the first-tier realm!"
Su Dingfeng's shock was evident as he tightened his grip on his other dagger. He had assumed Chen Kun's prowess came solely from his formidable Purple Que Sword Technique, not realizing he had advanced to the first tier.
Su Dingfeng now understood: regardless of whether he had killed Chen Kun's son, the blame would have fallen on the Su family as an excuse for this attack. Chen Kun's relentless ambition and lack of familial bonds were clear, exemplified by his ruthless pursuit of power, even at the cost of self-castration to practice his swordsmanship.
"Su Dingfeng! Let's see how long you can hold out!"
Chen Kun's eyes narrowed as he unleashed a surge of sword light. Despite Su Dingfeng's unexpected connection to the Snow Lotus Sect, which allowed him to temporarily boost his strength, the Blood Explosion Technique came at a steep cost of ten years of lifespan per use and only lasted a quarter-hour. Chen Kun, bolstered by his new mastery of the Purple Que Sword Technique and his first-tier breakthrough, was determined to dominate Yan Yun County. He was confident that Su Dingfeng's temporary boost was no threat.
"Big brother! There's... there's poison!"
Just then, Chen Kun heard a panicked voice. He turned to see his second brother, Chen Xiao, collapsing in fear. His two uncles and cousin Chen Yun were also falling to the ground, helpless.
The Su family members were similarly affected, their strength drained as they lay scattered, terror in their eyes.
"Poison!"
Chen Kun's heart sank as he felt his internal energy stagnate and a growing weakness spread through his body. He quickly activated his Purple Yang Art, temporarily alleviating the symptoms. But as he continued to breathe the air, the weakness returned, stronger than before. He decided to retreat.
"Die!"
Seeing Chen Kun attempting to flee, Su Dingfeng summoned his remaining strength and hurled his last dagger at him.
The flying dagger, shining like a shooting star, streaked towards Chen Kun. He countered with the Purple Que Sword Technique, deflecting the dagger and using the recoil to leap out of the Su family compound. He glanced at his fallen relatives, then staggered away, realizing he was the prey of an unseen hunter.
His first thought was to escape and expel the poison from his body. Staying would mean certain death. He could return for his family later.
"Which senior has aided us? Please show yourself!"
"Su Dingfeng is deeply grateful!"
Su Dingfeng felt his energy draining rapidly. He called out but received no response. He turned and fled the battlefield, knowing the poison was more potent than the Su family's usual weakening toxins.
Only four of the Chen family's second-tier experts, along with three from the Su family and over ten other members, lay on the ground as moonlight bathed the scene.
At that moment, a masked figure in black landed lightly in the Su family courtyard. Picking up a sword, the figure approached the fallen Chen family members, slit their throats one by one, and then disappeared into the night.
"Yes! I took out four of the Chen family's second-tier experts!"
Three hundred meters away, Qin Wang stood, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. His plan with the Disabling Incense had worked. Although Chen Kun escaped, the significant loss of Chen family power was a major victory.
Qin Wang estimated that the Chen family had only two or three second-tier experts left. Once they were all dealt with, even if he couldn't kill Chen Kun, he could use the information to lure him out, infiltrate the Chen family estate, and rescue his sister.
Half an hour later, a hundred meters from the Su family compound, Chen Kun had purged the poison from his system, his energy restored. He returned to the scene, determined to save his uncles and brothers, who were critical to the Chen family's strength and his leadership.