The feeling of being manipulated was really unpleasant, Shen Wang wanted to break through to the Golden Core right now and kill this guy.
"This time, I have to go undercover in the Celestial Travel Sect, and my time to return home will be even more compressed."
With helplessness in his heart, Shen Wang could only deal with this temporarily for the peace of his family.
His own Jia’Er was already pregnant with a second child, and Zheng Yunshu’s little one in her belly was also due soon. Even if he didn’t often stay home to brush his cultivation rewards, his cultivation would increase significantly once the children were born.
Moreover... Xue’Er had now reached the late-stage Qi Cultivation, and after a while, would be able to establish the Foundation. The boost to his cultivation was becoming more and more apparent, and it wouldn’t take long to deal with the Black Death Blade King.
Consoling himself in his heart, Shen Wang charged towards his family without using any magical treasures, but instead using magic.
On his way forward, he encountered an advancing army. Shen Wang formed seals with his hands and snorted coldly, "Thorny Bushes!"
This was a Wood Attribute magic, and although it wasn’t of high grade, this type of basic magic had greater power and a larger coverage area with higher cultivation.
Green Wood Attribute Spiritual Essence condensed into a bud the size of a head, which he flung out.
The leading members of the Demon Suppression Department, not realizing Shen Wang was on their side, were first startled to find there was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Shen Family. When they saw him performing magic, they quickly put up defenses.
The green bud landed in their midst without exploding, but unfolded upon touching the ground, releasing green brilliance, and thorns sprouted right from the ground, entangling anything they saw.
Several ordinary Demon-Banning Guards were entwined in an instant. Although they were prepared beforehand and nothing major happened to them, many soldiers screamed in despair.
The means of a cultivator were beyond what ordinary people could resist. Even clad in armor, their skin and flesh were pierced by the thorns, causing blood to flow freely. Although they didn’t die, they were so wounded that moving was difficult.
As the green light spread, thorns sprouted across a ten-zhang radius, and the thousand troops were mostly entangled by the thorns and posed no threat.
A single magical spell resolved the threats of a thousand soldiers, showcasing the might of a cultivator, a true thousand-to-one enemy.
The Shen Family, who had been retreating from the mountain due to the attack, were thrilled to find someone assisting and scrutinized Shen Wang closely.
"Is it really the sixth son from the clan leader’s house?"
"Shen Wang? The one whose Dantian was damaged and exiled to guard the tombs?"
"That’s him, they say his Dantian was restored. I didn’t expect he advanced to Foundation Establishment."
"The Second Elder said he wouldn’t return and had already left the family, but it seems that’s not the case."
The Shen Family guards recognized Shen Wang, filled with both surprise and delight.
Shen Wang coldly glanced at those restrained by his magic there was no time to linger; he stepped on grass without looking back and reached the mountainside within a few breaths.
"Brother Wang, you actually returned. Do you remember me? I am Shen Jie."
Someone greeted him excitedly, his age slightly older than Shen Wang. The two knew each other before, though Shen Jie’s talent was slightly inferior. Now his cultivation had only reached the Tenth-Layer Qi Cultivation, but he was still a vital force of the family, charged with guarding the entrance here.
"There’s no need to guard here anymore, go back and inform the others. If you don’t want to be annihilated, prepare to flee with the entire clan."
Shen Wang said coldly, understanding that with the Shen Family’s resources, they couldn’t possibly withstand the Demon Suppression Department and a hundred-thousand-strong army. The fact that the Clan Protection Array was constantly compressing showed they couldn’t hold out.
"We have no issues, but we need the Clan Leader and various elders to notify us, otherwise leaving rashly is very dangerous."
Others nodded as well because given Shen Wang’s high level of strength, they naturally had no objections, but an escape for the whole clan wasn’t something Shen Wang could decide with just one word.
Shen Wang didn’t say much more, asked, "Is the clan leader in the Council Hall?"
"Should be. With the enemy’s attack, the clan leader and others must be discussing countermeasures."
Shen Jie replied uncertainly.
"Let’s go, head back inside the array."
Shen Wang glanced up the mountain. An Array Barrier blocked various flying arrows; ordinary arrows shattered upon impact, but some specially made ones pierced through it.
It was evident that the ordinary army was there to consume and leverage numerical superiority, while the decisive force remained the Demon-Banning Guards with magical artifacts.
"Why not take the opportunity to kill them."
Shen Jie gazed coldly at the trapped enemies.
"If you’re not afraid of even more formidable ones jumping out later, feel free to stay here," Shen Wang replied coldly, taking out the family’s access token as he walked toward the array.
Several people refrained from taking further action, feeling Shen Wang made sense. Since the opponent had opted for a large-scale attack, there must be further plans, and perhaps, at this moment, escape might be the only option.
Furthermore, they had come out here to deal with this area’s enemies and relieve pressure off the Clan Protection Array. Now that Shen Wang had already entrapped the foes, leaving them fundamentally incapacitated, no one could criticize them for retreating—better to exercise caution and preserve strength as much as possible.
Once inside the array, Shen Wang moved adeptly towards a cluster of buildings, and many who saw him along the way were quite amazed.
"Why has Shen Wang returned?"
"Coming back at such a time, isn’t he looking for death?"
"Pay attention to sensing the pressure. He seems to have reached Foundation Establishment."
"Indeed, it’s the Foundation Establishment Stage, no wonder he dares to come back. Unfortunately, the family’s crisis isn’t something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can resolve."
People sighed and discussed, their expressions complex. It should be said that Shen Wang was someone the family had given up on, yet he came back at this moment, which could be considered quite loyal and righteous.
In the Council Hall, the clan leader and six elders’ expressions were all grim.
The family was now at a critical juncture of life and death as they deliberated on how to respond.
"Hesitation will lead to disaster, we can’t waver any longer," the clan leader said in a grave tone. "We all know the strength of the Demon Suppression Department. Now that they are attacking, even though this has been the Shen Family’s domain for hundreds of years, we can’t withstand for much longer."
"But clan leader, you said it’s a legacy of hundreds of years. If we leave now, we will surrender it all," the Great Elder clutched his beard, face full of agony.
What everyone was debating was whether to abandon the centuries-old foundation and become lost dogs, a decision many, who had grown accustomed to a stable life, struggled to accept.
At that moment, a guard at the door suddenly exclaimed, "Shen Wang, why are you back? The clan leader didn’t allow you to enter, who let you in?"
The shout was quickly interrupted by a thud; the guard was thrown into the Council Hall, and Shen Wang exuding powerful energy barged in, addressing those startled several, "No more debates. If you don’t want to be wiped out, hurry up and leave."
The clan leader looked at Shen Wang in surprise, "Why have you come back?"
The youngest elder nodded at Shen Wang, he was Shen Wang’s brother, Shen Nian.
The Great Elder, however, was displeased, "Shen Wang, do you know the family’s rules, being away for years, and now this rudeness?"
"I don’t have time to waste words with you. Anyone who wants to live, follow me. Those who want to die can stay here,"
Shen Wang said impatiently. The Black Death Blade King, that old bastard, already clearly stated. Killing half of the Shen Family and there being no mercy wasn’t possible. The sooner they prepared, the sooner they could leave.
"Shen Wang, don’t disrupt the morale!"
Second Elder reprimanded, "The decision to flee has not been made yet."
Shen Wang frowned, these guys still harboring illusions at a time ? ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel[f]ire.net
A loud bang was heard from outside, and a giant blade a hundred meters long spanned the sky, crashing down with a roar.