Father Vegeance

"He really did break through to Qi Refining 8 Layer!"

Years ago, Chen Jinshu had met Chen Wenshan once. Back then, his aura hadn't carried this suffocating pressure that now made her heart pound.

Ahead, two cultivators stood with even higher cultivation than Chen Wenshan, while the fourth was Chen Shan-shi—Chen Jinli's mother. Her cultivation hadn't improved, but her eyes burned with hatred, radiating palpable malice.

"Chirp! Chirp!"

The Shadowpeak Finch in her spirit beast pouch sensed its master's tension and frantically demanded to be let out.

"BZZZZZT—"

The deafening hum of spirit wasps grew louder, the swarm engulfing their spirit vessel like a living dome.

Most were at Qi Refining second layer—far deadlier than locusts.

"These wasps are more aggressive than the locusts. Defensive formations—now!" Chen Huaiyang's voice was steel as he locked onto the four figures ahead.

"CLANG! CLANG!"

Despite the ship's barrier, the wasps slammed relentlessly against the spiritual shield.

Just as Chen Jinshu reached for her sparrow, Chen Huaiyang snapped, "Jinshu! Stay behind us. You're too weak for this fight."

"Right! We may not be late-stage cultivators, but we can hold them off. You're only Layer 3—you'll get torn apart," a farmer added.

Nodding, she released the sparrow but kept it clutched in her hands.

She didn't know if it could repel wasps like it had locusts—she wouldn't risk it recklessly.

Chen Huaiyang's Stand

"I'll stall them. Clear the wasps—they fear fire!"

His deep-blue longsword gleamed, its edge humming with lethal intent. The pressure it emitted made Chen Jinshu's breath hitch.

"That's at least a peak Grade-1 Superior weapon!"

With a pivot, he launched into the air, sword carving a blinding arc. The blade's shriek split the wind as he shot toward the ambushers.

"Chen Wenshan! You dare attack your own clan's farmers?!"

Recognition flickered—they'd once been acquaintances. Now, they were enemies.

"My 'own clan'? The clan that exiled my family to save face?" Chen Wenshan's voice dripped venom. "Where was their 'kinship' then?"

"Take it up with the elders! Why target innocents?"

"Innocents?" Chen Wenshan's laugh was jagged. "That girl—Chen Jinshu—is the one who ruined my daughter!"

Chen Huaiyang's jaw tightened. "Your daughter broke market rules. She brought this on herself."

"I DON'T CARE!" Chen Wenshan's eyes flared crimson, his rage tipping into madness.

Suddenly, Li Chenliang—the wasp-controlling cultivator—stiffened.

"My spirit wasps—!"

His spiritual sense shuddered as fist-sized wasps began raining from the sky, their bodies dropping like black hail. The survivors scattered in panic, breaking formation.

"WHAT IS THIS?!"

His gaze snapped to the tiny black sparrow circling above Chen Jinshu's head.

"A spirit beast that counters insects?!" Fury melted into greed.

With a snarl, he lunged for her.

While the sparrow decimated the swarm, Chen Jinshu and the farmers fought back:

Her Plum Rain Fan unleashed razor-edged gales, slicing wasps mid-air.

Farmers hurled fire spells, exploiting the insects' weakness.

But Li Chenliang was closing in—a Layer 9 cultivator, equal to Chen Huaiyang.

"Not so fast!"

Chen Huaiyang twisted mid-air, his sword slashing a tidal wave of blue energy to intercept Li Chenliang.

"SCRREE—!"

The blade's edge nearly grazed Li Chenliang's throat, forcing him to block with a golden shield. His glare promised murder.

"Quit stalling!" he roared at Chen Wenshan.

"Let's settle this, Huaiyang!" Chen Wenshan ignited his crimson saber, flames licking its length.

"Layer 9 isn't enough to crush me." Chen Huaiyang vanished, reappearing inches from his foe.

"CLANG—!"

Steel shrieked as blade met saber. Chen Wenshan's arms trembled under the impact, his face paling.

"How…?!"

Gritting his teeth, he channeled fire qi into his weapon.

"Blazing Sunder!"

A volcanic burst of heat repelled Chen Huaiyang, buying Chen Wenshan space.

"You've improved. But not enough."

Panting, Chen Wenshan barked at his allies: "Wife! Li Chenliang! HELP ME!"

Li Chenliang broke toward the ship—its farmers defenseless against a Layer 9 assault.

Chen Huaiyang whirled, sword hurling a crescent moon slash to stop him—

"BLOCK!"

The golden shield absorbed the blow, but Chen Jinshu was already moving.

A scarlet talisman—her mother's last gift—shot from her fingertips like a bullet.