Chapter 63: Crushing the Luochen Clan!

Li Qinghou arrived in an instant, standing within the formation with a face as dark as thunder. His entire being exuded killing intent, like an unsheathed blade thirsting for blood.

Ouyang Jie glanced at him, his pupils narrowing slightly. Among the three Peak Lords of the South Bank, the one he valued most was this very Li Qinghou. In fact, Li Qinghou was someone the entire Spirit Stream Sect regarded with great importance.

Aside from being a skilled apothecary, Li Qinghou's talent was exceedingly rare. In just a hundred years of cultivation, he had already reached late Foundation Establishment. He was hailed as one of the sect's greatest hopes of advancing into Core Formation. If he could do so within two life cycles (i.e., 120 years), he would rise above the current Peak Lords, perhaps even above the Grand Elders, and enter the sect's **Inheritance Sequence**, becoming one of the sect's core pillars.

The Spirit Stream Sect operated under two systems. One managed the sect's internal governance and protection. The other constantly worked to raise the sect's status and build its true strength.

Below Qi Condensation level 3, one was a menial servant. Below level 8, an outer sect disciple. Upon reaching level 8, one could apply for the inner sect trial. Succeed, and they would become an inner sect disciple.

Achieving Foundation Establishment granted the title of elder, and with time, possibly Peak Lord. And if one reached Core Formation within 120 years of age, they could become a **Grand Elder**, guardian and manager of the sect. This was the first system.

But the **second system**—the **Inheritance Sequence**—was far more elite.

There was only one qualification: **achieve Core Formation within 120 years**. Succeed, and one would transcend the rest, becoming a cornerstone of the sect's ambition to rise in the cultivation world, earning unprecedented resources and recognition. This was the sect's true **legacy**.

But becoming a Core Formation cultivator within 120 years… was unimaginably difficult.

"I heard… one of the four outer sect disciples has a connection with Li Qinghou…" Ouyang Jie mused aloud, deep in thought.

Suddenly, the formation surrounding them roared to life. Blinding lights flashed as a thunderous boom echoed. In the blink of an eye, over two thousand people, including Ouyang Jie and Li Qinghou, were swallowed in light and vanished.

The place Bai Xiaochun and his group had taken months to reach was now traversed in just a few breaths through the teleportation array.

A deafening rumble echoed across the sky above the unconscious Du Lingfei. The clouds darkened instantly, torn apart by invisible hands. Amid the thunderclaps, a massive formation shadow appeared in the sky and crashed to the ground with overwhelming force.

A colossal formation imprint was burned into the earth, shaking the land within a hundred-mile radius. Cracks spread like wildfire, mountains crumbled, trees and rocks turned to ash—**nothing survived** the arrival of this devastating power.

Only the area around Du Lingfei was protected at the moment the formation descended. She remained unharmed.

As the trembling ground settled, countless blurry figures rapidly came into focus—**over two thousand inner sect disciples of the South Bank** emerged, still cloaked in residual teleportation energy that allowed for one more jump.

Ouyang Jie and Li Qinghou rushed out immediately toward the unconscious Du Lingfei. Several inner sect female disciples were already tending to her—feeding her pills, covering her with clothing, and using spiritual energy to nourish her.

Du Lingfei slowly opened her eyes. At first, she was disoriented, but as she recognized the familiar faces of her sect, she broke down in tears, overwhelmed by emotion.

As an outer sect disciple of Xiangyun Peak, the moment she saw her Peak Lord—Li Qinghou—her emotions surged. Supported by her fellow disciples, she anxiously cried out:

"Peak Lord, please… save Junior Brother Bai…"

Her face was pale, and her voice trembled with desperation.

"What happened to Bai Xiaochun!?"

Li Qinghou immediately appeared before her, his voice heavy with suppressed rage and worry.

"Junior Brother Bai… to save me and Senior Brother Hou Yunfei… he flew out alone and led the Luochen Clan's pursuers away…"

Du Lingfei wept as she recounted everything that had happened on the journey.

The surrounding two thousand disciples, most of whom had never heard of Bai Xiaochun, listened silently. As her story unfolded, their expressions changed. The tragic tale left them shaken.

Feng Yan died protecting his companions. Hou Yunfei and Du Lingfei had fled for their lives. And the Luochen Clan… had sent two waves of pursuers, including multiple Qi Condensation level 8 and 9 cultivators.

Such a manhunt would've spelled certain death for even most inner sect disciples.

Yet Bai Xiaochun—an **outer sect disciple**—chose not to flee but to **return** and **rescue** his comrades, defeating powerful enemies along the way. Carrying two wounded companions, he had escaped for more than half a month, traveling nearly ten thousand miles.

In the end, he had **sacrificed himself**, luring the enemies away to give his comrades hope of survival. Without him, Du Lingfei could not have sent her message—**the sect might still be unaware of the Luochen Clan's betrayal**.

Gradually, Bai Xiaochun's image took shape in everyone's heart. A man of loyalty, courage, and righteousness. A towering hero, full of honor and strength.

Even the Law Enforcement Hall disciples were moved. Qian Dajin, among them, stood stunned. He couldn't reconcile the brave figure Du Lingfei described with the person he had once framed. Driven by jealousy and a narrow mind, he had nearly had Bai Xiaochun killed. Now, he felt both relief and guilt. With Feng Yan dead, his involvement might remain undiscovered.

Even the cold-blooded "Jackal Daoist" Ouyang Jie took a deep breath, respect flashing in his eyes. With his cultivation, he could easily tell Du Lingfei was telling the truth—and even suspected she had understated the truth.

"A disciple like this… the Spirit Stream Sect will **not** allow him to die here!"

Ouyang Jie waved his sleeve, immediately dispatching **hundreds of inner sect disciples** to search for Bai Xiaochun and Hou Yunfei with all their strength.

Li Qinghou remained silent, slowly raising his head. Bloodshot eyes reflected his inner bitterness. Bai Xiaochun's actions proved he had not misjudged the boy, but he also knew—**surviving in that situation was nearly impossible**.

"You were the one I brought into the sect…"

Killing intent erupted from Li Qinghou as he took a step forward. His body lit up. Using the residual teleportation energy, his form blurred—and shot off **straight toward the Luochen Clan**.

Ouyang Jie sighed, understanding in his heart that Bai Xiaochun's chances were grim. His body flashed, and he led the remaining two thousand disciples in teleportation.

Thunder shook the heavens as Li Qinghou and Ouyang Jie, along with the army of disciples, appeared **above the Luochen Clan estate** in the Falling Star Mountains.

This time, the clouds shattered on arrival. A shockwave spread in all directions, and spiritual energy surged. Cries of alarm rang out from below as a formation shadow descended like judgment from heaven.

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

The formation smashed into the ground, reducing the greenstone plaza to ash. The estate trembled, then **collapsed entirely**.

Angry, terrified roars erupted from within. Cultivators flew out, their faces twisted in despair.

Two stone lions at the gate and a few fruit trees within the estate **transformed into puppets**, launching attacks. But Li Qinghou stepped forward first—**with a wave of his sleeve**, the stone lions shattered. The trees trembled, their fruits fell, and as the puppets fled, they were instantly annihilated.

The battle became a **massacre**. Spirit Stream Sect disciples completely surrounded the area, striking with unstoppable force.

Li Qinghou flew into the ruined estate. With a single hand seal, a **blue flame** appeared in his palm. His hair rose as a world-shaking force exploded.

Flames surged outward, sweeping through the ruins. The entire estate was engulfed, and the Luochen Clan members inside were burned alive—**dead in the blink of an eye**.

Li Qinghou lifted his foot and stomped. The earth cracked apart, revealing an **underground palace**.

From it, a **blood lake** surged out. The Luochen Clan's **old ancestor** shot into the air.

When he saw Li Qinghou, despair filled his face. His ritual had been moments from completion. If it had been anyone else, he might have managed a counterattack. But it was **Li Qinghou and Ouyang Jie**!

He screamed in anguish:

"Escape! Whoever can escape—run!!"

Inside the underground palace, the remaining clan members trembled in fear, fleeing in all directions. But they were surrounded. With a single gesture from Ouyang Jie, all inner sect disciples charged to kill.

Li Qinghou's eyes narrowed. He looked at the blood lake swirling around the ancestor and grew furious. Ouyang Jie too was enraged by the sight.

"Slaughtering mortals… if this clan survives, heaven has no justice!"

Li Qinghou waved his sleeve—**a sea of fire** exploded outward.

Screams echoed endlessly. This wasn't a battle—it was **annihilation**.

**Two thousand** disciples versus **a few hundred**. The Luochen Clan never stood a chance.

Family members died one by one—sons, grandsons, all of them perished under the Spirit Stream Sect's overwhelming force. The old ancestor screamed in despair and fled faster.

But in that instant, a wall of flames surged from all directions, faster than the wind, covering the sky and engulfing him.

Li Qinghou's face was ice. He raised his hand and clenched his fist.

**BOOM!**

The Luochen ancestor let out a final, piercing scream. His body was consumed in flames—**instantly reduced to ash by a single blow!**

The scene made every disciple gasp. Even Ouyang Jie's eyes widened in shock, looking at Li Qinghou with awe.

Li Qinghou stood in midair for a long moment. Then, with a wave of his hand, fire surged once more, completely **burning the Luochen Clan to the ground**.

He looked into the distance, a touch of sorrow in his eyes, and sighed softly.

"Bai Xiaochun… I, Li Qinghou… have failed your Bai Clan."

Bitterness in his voice, he turned and flew away. He could not trust anyone else to search for Bai Xiaochun. **Even if there was only a sliver of hope**, he had to search for the boy himself.

As Li Qinghou disappeared into the distance, firestorms raged behind him.

The disciples stood amid the flames, their faces gradually showing renewed passion—

**The stronger the sect… the brighter their future.**