Chapter 122: Mutual Destruction

Looking across Huanglong City, remnants like you—old, stubborn cultivators at the late Condensation Core stage—are nearly extinct. And my very existence is to eliminate anomalies like you.”

The silver-robed man’s words had barely fallen when he struck suddenly.

A dazzling golden streak, nearly a zhang thick, sliced through the void like a golden meteor blazing across the night sky. Even the myriad flying artifacts atop Star Feather Mountain dimmed in comparison. Everyone’s minds were shaken by the brilliance and might of that flash.

Within a few breaths, the silver-robed man appeared before the white-haired elder. A burst of golden light flared, crackling like thunder, enveloping the surrounding area.

Two afterimages clashed in the air with rapid succession—the golden brilliance crashing against pale azure radiance so fast that onlookers could hardly discern the movements.

Above Star Feather Mountain, the thunderous clashes echoed through the peaks. Gale-force winds swept across ten miles, causing countless cultivators to tremble in fear.

Suddenly, a roar as heavy as Mount Tai tore through the void. From the palm of the silver-robed man emerged a fierce, roaring yellow dragon phantom spanning dozens of zhang. The heavens echoed with the dragon’s terrifying roar, its formidable martial will soaring skyward. The entire assembly of cultivators felt their spirits stagger, as if crushed beneath an immense mountain.

In the next moment—

“Bang!”

A staggering figure was flung from the clash of radiant phantoms, crashing harshly into the mountainside.

“Pfft!”

The white-haired elder spat blood, his form sunken into the rock. His eyes glimmered with shock and disbelief. “Your strength surpasses late Condensation Core—have you already stepped into the second stage of the Golden Core Dao?”

The duel between two Condensation Core masters ended decisively within mere breaths.

This outcome greatly boosted the morale of the Dongfang family, while the two factions of Star Feather Mountain held their breath in anxiety.

Originally, even united, the two small town-level sects of Star Feather Mountain could not hope to match the powerful clans of Huanglong City. Although they had a Condensation Core patriarch from an earlier generation, he was now suppressed.

At this moment, the leaders of Star Feather Mountain—the Starfire Sword King and the Star Feather Sect Master—were grievously wounded in battle, their lips curling bitterly. As an ancient family with millennia of heritage, how could the Dongfang clan lack Condensation Core elders? Even the once-peaking Star Feather Sect lagged behind the Dongfang family. How could the present day be any different?

“The three realms of the Core Refining Dao are each harder to cross than the last. With the bloodline inheritance of the Dongfang family, if I had reached the second step of the Core Refining Dao, wouldn’t I have already dominated Huanglong City, perhaps even vied for supremacy over the ‘Fangtian Heavy City’? Old relic, your lifespan is nearly spent, your magic exhausted—your strength is simply no match. Had I known this, I wouldn't have come in person!”

The silver-robed man sneered with disdain, then flashed again toward the white-haired elder. The latter summoned his remaining magic to resist and retreat but was powerless to strike back.

“Dongfang family disciples, obey my command! Launch the final assault—exterminate Star Feather Mountain and seize the secret realm…”

Dongfang Wei shouted fiercely, charging again at the heavily wounded Star Feather Sect Master.

“Hahaha! The reclusive patriarch of Star Feather Mountain is nothing more than this!”

Dongfang Ba laughed coldly, returning to the small boat where the half-draped Lotus Moon Fairy sat, preparing to act once more with beastly intent.

“I will kill this beast!”

Le Feng’s eyes burned crimson with fury as he charged back.

But at this moment, a booming cry echoed from high above—the Star Feather patriarch’s thunderous command:

“All disciples of both factions, obey! Break through the encirclement with all your might! If you are willing to fight to the death, a thousand years hence we will annihilate the Dongfang family, avenge today’s disgrace, and rebuild Star Feather Sect!”

The words struck like a sudden wake-up call, stirring the disciples half-way up the mountain.

In the next instant, violet-blue flames blazed around the Star Feather patriarch’s body. His magic surged to a new level, radiating blinding brilliance and earth-shattering pressure, forcing the Dongfang elder to retreat briefly.

“Hah!”

The Star Feather patriarch let out a thunderous roar. A pale azure energy wave surged outward, killing more than a dozen cultivators aboard a nearby flying artifact, including a Divine Refining stage Immortal Master.

“Ah!”

Dongfang Ba spat blood as the energy wave surged toward him, wounding him instantly.

At the same time, the Lotus Moon Fairy beneath him was affected by the wave, her sealed magic weakening—clearly an intentional act by the Star Feather patriarch.

Master He’s eyes flashed with profound hatred and humiliation. Gathering her remaining power and blood essence, her face instantly turned pale.

“Pfft!”

She spat a blood arrow, aiming straight for Dongfang Ba’s head.

“Ah!”

Dongfang Ba screamed in agony, unable to dodge. The blood arrow pierced his eye.

“Kill this wretch!”

Clutching his bloodied eye, Dongfang Ba cried out pitifully, then tumbled down.

“Danger! Quickly save the young lord!”

Several Divine Refining Immortal Masters rushed over.

An elderly Divine Refining cultivator guarding nearby changed expression, unleashing a powerful strike at the pale Lotus Moon Fairy.

Knowing she was outmatched and humiliated, Master He summoned her remaining magic, her gentle voice carrying across the mountain range:

“Disciples of the Wind Feather Sect, break through the encirclement. Avenge this hatred in the future!”

With those words, she raised a hand and used her last strength to slit her own throat, falling lifeless from midair.

“Star Mo Sword Sect disciples, break through and return! Even if only one escapes, we shall rise again one day.”

The Starfire Sword King let out a mighty roar, channeling his lifelong power. One man, one sword, merging with soaring sword intent, transforming into a radiant starry sword glow that pierced through the Divine Refining Immortal Masters ahead, charging toward the central Thousand Feather Sailing Ship.

Boom!

The Starfire Sword King’s starry sword glow spanned dozens of zhang, burning his life force and sword intent to the limit. The violent sword qi exploded outward like heavenly thunder and fire, shattering the formations on the ship.

“Ah…”

Dozens of Dongfang family disciples aboard the Thousand Feather Sailing Ship died or were wounded, fleeing in chaos.

This sight shook the Sword Sect disciples retreating on the mountain.

“Nie Han, don’t act rashly! Our Sword Sect only needs you to escape. Years from now, there will be hope for revenge.”

Yu Mo barked, leading the few remaining core disciples down the mountain.

“But… Starfire Sword King, I’ll accompany you!”

The Wind Feather Sect Master smiled bitterly, burning his life energy to withstand Dongfang Wei’s strike, crashing headlong into the Thousand Feather Sailing Ship.

Boom!

The ship’s array shattered under the blast, powerful shockwaves sweeping the surrounding large flying artifacts. Many Dongfang family disciples died or were injured amid the chaos.

Both sect masters exploded in succession, disrupting the Dongfang family’s attack formation.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Ba, blinded in one eye, fell into the valley, throwing his disciples into disarray.

“Everyone, escape with all your might! Don’t let our sect’s sacrifice be in vain!”

Yun Yuanhang led the disciples toward the mountain’s base.

“Old man, are you not planning to survive at all...?”

Meanwhile, thunderous blasts continued above as the Star Feather patriarch unleashed a desperate attack, burning his life force to double his power in a short time.

The leaders of both factions sacrificed themselves to buy precious moments for the fleeing disciples.

After a while, Yun Yuanhang, Le Feng, Yang Xiaoqian, Xu Xuan, Yu Qin, and others finally reached the mountain foot, temporarily out of danger.

“Fellow disciples, today the Wind Feather Sect was exterminated. If any of you survive, one day you must avenge this hatred.”

Yun Yuanhang inhaled deeply, his eyes burning with a death-defying resolve. He raised a hand and vowed:

“If I survive, I swear to devote my entire life to destroying the Dongfang family.”

“I, Le Feng, swear by my inner demons to use this life’s power to kill Dongfang Ba and avenge our master.”

Le Feng’s eyes shimmered with deeply engraved humiliation. His hatred and murderous intent eclipsed all others present.

For the Lotus Moon Fairy was his master.

With that, Le Feng slowly raised a finger, the blade gleaming. On his fair, elegant face, he carved a blood-red slash.

Yang Xiaoqian’s heart trembled beside him. The handsome face that had made countless women’s hearts flutter was now marred by a gruesome blood scar, stretching across half his visage.

In that instant, the once-handsome countenance grew fierce and grim, beauty utterly vanished.

The surrounding disciples felt a chill spread through their hearts. They never expected the usually gentle youth to become so ruthless once his mind was made.

“As long as Dongfang Ba lives, this scar will remain forever,” Le Feng’s eyes froze with chilling hatred.

One after another, the other disciples raised their hands to swear.

Yu Qin’s eyes reddened, moist with tears, as she prepared to make a vow, but Xu Xuan stopped her.

Not only did Xu Xuan refuse to swear himself, he blocked Yu Qin as well, drawing the attention of Yun Yuanhang and Le Feng.

“Revenge must be shown through deeds, not empty words. I, Xu Xuan, will watch keenly to see who will one day kill Dongfang Ba, and who will uproot the Dongfang family completely.”

A fierce light flickered in Xu Xuan’s eyes.

His hatred for Dongfang Ba went far beyond this massacre—his father’s legs had been crippled by that man.

“Well said!”

Along another mountain path, four or five Sword Sect disciples approached. The speaker was none other than Nie Han.

His cold, marble-like face was filled with bone-chilling coldness and murderous intent.

“Today’s humiliation, I, Nie Han, will repay tenfold one day!”

Every word was laced with terrifying resolve.

“Everyone, hurry and flee Pinghua Town. The only family in Huanglong City capable of opposing the Dongfang clan is the Zhang family. If you cannot join the Zhangs, then leave Huanglong City altogether.”

Yu Mo urged rapidly.

The remaining disciples of both factions—only a dozen or so—fled outside Star Feather Mountain.

No sooner had they descended several li from the mountain than the sound of pursuit echoed behind. Clearly, Dongfang family Divine Refining Immortal Masters were chasing after them.

Yun Yuanhang and Yu Mo exchanged a glance. The latter clenched his teeth.

“I and Senior Brother Yun will lead the enemy away. You all hurry up.”

The senior brother and sister of the two factions drew the pursuers away, allowing the others to escape further.

Just as they neared safety outside the mountain, Nie Han suggested, “Let’s scatter. Whoever escapes is a winner.”

“Tsk tsk tsk… Trying to run? No one gets away!”

A sharp sound cut through the air.

Whoosh!

A yellow-faced martial cultivator shot onto a large tree ahead. With a flick of his arm, a bloody severed head dropped down.

“Senior Brother Yun!”

The remaining disciples gasped in horror, staring at the head of Senior Brother Yun, a chill running down their spines.

If memory served, this yellow-faced cultivator was a Divine Refining martial cultivator who had assisted Dongfang Ba in besieging Master He.

At this moment, with these disciples all below the seventh stage of Qi Refining, facing Divine Refining Immortal Masters, how many would survive?