Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 133

Wei Shuofeng was a master of arcane arts who had reached the peak of Tongxuan. He had even used his ancestral treasure to summon the profound earth energy from a hundred miles around Tingchao Mountain, condensing it into a mighty earth dragon to suppress Jiang Tian. How could he possibly be dead?

Yet, no one dared to ask.

A battle between masters was inherently unpredictable, changing in the blink of an eye—a life-or-death struggle of profound mystery. Since Jiang Tian had walked down alive, the one who must have died was undoubtedly Wei Shuofeng.

Little did they know that the Xuanhuang Earthenware Pot was an ancient treasure, rumored to have been used by the Earthly Sovereign Fuxi himself. It contained immense magical power, but it could only be properly wielded by someone who had reached the Daoti level. Desperate for victory, Wei Shuofeng, at the peak of Tongxuan, had forced its activation. The backlash of power shattered his organs and meridians long before Jiang Tian shattered the earth dragon and reached him. In the end, Jiang Tian had merely swatted him to death with a single, effortless slap.

“Elder Wei is dead!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Wenjie, Tao Fangshi, and the others could no longer hold themselves together. They fell to their knees, weeping and wailing.

Though Wei Shuofeng had never formally accepted them as disciples, he had offered them much guidance. His kindness weighed as heavily as a mountain. The devastating news left their minds utterly blank. They felt like melons severed from the vine, completely adrift and without support.

“Master Jiang, we beg for our lives!”

Suddenly, the head of the Bai family was the first to react. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, lowering his once-arrogant head in a pitiful plea. “We merely attended the Feast of Bliss hoping to acquire magical artifacts! We harbor no hostility toward you whatsoever!”

Though he struggled to maintain composure, his trembling legs betrayed the terror in his heart.

“We submit! From this day forward, we honor Master Jiang as our leader. Your every command will be obeyed without question!”

Fear spread like a contagion. Family heads and powerful figures scrambled to kneel, kowtowing and bowing in worship, terrified that a moment’s delay would mean execution at Jiang Tian’s hands.

Jiang Tian was far too powerful. He had even killed Wei Shuofeng, who had used his ancestral treasure. If Jiang Tian decided to kill everyone present, it would be as easy as cutting grass. Moreover, magical killings were different from martial arts—unpredictable, varied, and capable of striking unseen from a hundred miles away. If Jiang Tian wanted them dead, they wouldn’t even know how it happened. Who wouldn’t be terrified?

In truth, their reverence for Wei Shuofeng had been much the same—a mix of admiration and fear.

“I, Jiang Taichu, have always acted decisively. Though my methods are ruthless and I have killed countless enemies, I understand right from wrong. I do not kill indiscriminately,” Jiang Tian said casually, picking up a glass of red wine and taking a comfortable sip as he looked down upon the crowd. “I came to the Wei family this time solely to avenge the heroes of Jiangbei. I know you had no part in the Wei family’s actions. This matter has nothing to do with any of you.”

“Thank you, Master Jiang, for sparing us!”

The crowd kowtowed in gratitude, as if granted a pardon from death, yet a wave of bleak despair washed over them. From now on, Jiangnan would no longer have the Wei family. It would become a scattered, leaderless mess.

Cao Shixiong had arrived by then. Witnessing the scene, he gave a slight nod but offered no other reaction.

After speaking, Jiang Tian’s gaze swept over the practitioners of the Southern Feng Shui and Arcane Arts community.

Their hearts clenched.

Most of them had received favors from the Wei family and could be considered Wei Shuofeng’s disciples or students. Had Jiang Taichu not only destroyed the Wei family but now intended to purge its remaining allies as well?

A few of the bolder ones secretly formed hand seals, preparing either for a desperate fight or a frantic escape.

“Do not be nervous,” Jiang Tian said with a gentle smile. “My visit to Yangcheng is also to gather materials for formation arrays. If you have any, we can trade. You can ask for money, or perhaps cultivation techniques.”

The hall was filled with most of Jiangnan’s masters of arcane arts, along with practitioners from other provinces who had come for the Feast of Bliss—a true gathering of masters and recluses.

If Jiang Tian had said this earlier, these masters from all corners would likely have scoffed. But now, his words felt like winning the lottery. Joy spread across their faces, and some even felt like cheering.

Jiang Tian was a master of both martial and arcane arts. He had killed martial arts experts like Hong Tianzhao and Mo Haoxiong, and now he had slain Wei Shuofeng. His mastery of arcane arts was undoubtedly beyond Tongxuan. It was clear that his knowledge of arcane arts, martial arts, and alchemy was unimaginably profound.

“Could it be that Master Jiang is also versed in the study of formation arrays?” Xu Wenjie suddenly asked, utterly astonished.

The study of formation arrays was the most profound and difficult.

Formation arrays utilized elements like mountains, rivers, terrain, metals, stones, water, and wood, arranging them in specific combinations to harness the power of heaven and earth. They could achieve various effects—killing, amplification, healing, summoning, sealing, or enhancement.

Legends said that Jiang Ziya of ancient times had comprehended the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation and the Ten Kings Formation, using them to defeat 170,000 of King Zhou’s troops at the Battle of Muye. Though likely exaggerated, it showed the potential power of formations.

Unfortunately, the art of formation arrays had been lost for many years in China, surviving only in the protective formations of some hidden sects.

Feng Shui and arcane arts were actually a variant or branch of formation arrays. Feng Shui masters used compasses and magical tools, relying on the layout of residences, ley lines, and water flows to set up various formations for attracting good fortune, avoiding disaster, adjusting Feng Shui, gathering spiritual energy, or attacking enemies.

Yet these were only minor arts within the broader study of formations. True formation arrays were like the legendary Two Forms Microdust Formation of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect or the Zhou Heavenly Star Formation in the Kunlun Mountains’ rear peaks.

Such formations could mobilize the power of stars, space, and ley lines. Even a grandmaster could be shattered with a single strike, and a divine-level expert would have to retreat. Who wouldn’t want to command such immense power? Hearing that Jiang Tian understood formation arrays, how could they not be excited?

“What’s so strange about formation arrays? If you have materials that satisfy me, what harm is there in teaching you a thing or two?” Jiang Tian said with a faint smile, clicking his tongue.

The study of formation arrays was a pinnacle, unattainable art for Chinese practitioners. But in the world of cultivation, it was fundamental knowledge. Jiang Tian knew everything from small-scale spirit gathering arrays and reversal killing arrays to mid-scale mountain protection arrays, field arrays, and even large-scale astral arrays. He could easily teach them a few basics.

No matter how powerful the formations they set up, they couldn’t compare to the protective formation of the Shennong Sect, which Jiang Tian could break with a few kicks. Besides, if he wanted to set up a spirit gathering array, he could use some free labor. Bringing them along wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Master Jiang’s magnanimity truly commands our respect!”

“A true grandmaster! This is the bearing of a real grandmaster!”

The crowd was completely awestruck, filled with gratitude. Even Hongye Zhenren, the highest-level cultivator present, looked at Jiang Tian with reverence.

Jiang Tian nodded, then suddenly smiled at Tang Shaoze in the crowd. “Young Master Tang, I heard my wife owes you tens of millions for goods. Please give me your account number; I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“He’s finally coming for me after all,” Tang Shaoze thought.

Seeing Jiang Tian’s half-smile, Tang Shaoze felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head, chilling him from head to toe. Fear seeped from the depths of his heart.

He was utterly terrified. He had witnessed Jiang Tian’s power with his own eyes—even the earth dragon summoned by Elder Wei had been shattered by Jiang Tian’s fists. How terrifying was that? It was like facing a demon god.

The current Jiang Tian could easily annihilate not just him, but his father, the head of the Tang family, and the entire Tang clan with a wave of his hand. And he had once been foolish enough to covet Jiang Tian’s wife? Wouldn’t Jiang Tian toy with him to death?

At this thought, Tang Shaoze’s legs turned as soft as noodles. He could no longer stand and fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing like he was grinding garlic. “Master Jiang, those medicines are miraculous elixirs! How could I ask for a refund?”

“Oh? So they’re miraculous elixirs?” Jiang Tian clasped his hands behind his back, smiling playfully. “Then did you pay enough with just tens of millions? Miraculous elixirs are worth far more than that, aren’t they?”

“You scum! You’ve lived too long and grown tired of life, daring to provoke Master Jiang! You have no idea what death awaits you!”

“Master Jiang’s power reaches the heavens. Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering chickens or dogs! If not for Master Jiang’s mercy, you would have died long ago at the Feast of Bliss!”

“Exactly! These spoiled young masters are good for nothing. They think a little money lets them do whatever they want? How dare they offend Master Jiang!”

“They must be severely punished! Make them pay! Break their dog legs as a warning to others!”

Unnoticed, the wind had changed direction. Upon learning that Jiang Tian intended to teach them arcane arts, the Southern practitioners had all shifted to Jiang Tian’s side, now scolding young masters like Bai Choufei.

Hearing this, Tang Zhenye, the head of the Tang family, turned pale with horror. It seemed his son had offended Master Jiang, which meant offending all these powerful figures. Who could withstand such pressure?

He too fell to his knees, trembling. “Master Jiang, please forgive my son for his blindness! He failed to recognize a true master! I am willing to offer half the Tang family’s assets in exchange for my son’s life!”

“The death penalty may be spared, but living punishment will not be waived! Gui Jiaoti, break his dog legs! Let him remember this lesson!” Jiang Tian’s expression remained calm and composed, a faint smile on his lips.

“Yes, Master!” Gui Jiaoti responded without hesitation, stepping forward and delivering two swift kicks to Tang Shaoze’s thighs.

Crack! Crack!

The sound of breaking bones echoed clearly. Tang Shaoze hugged his legs, howling in agony. Tears streamed down his face as he rolled on the ground.

Nearby, Cao Shixiong and the other military officials didn’t even flinch, as if this were entirely expected.

This was the authority of a martial arts grandmaster and a true arcane master. The secular world dared not offend them, and even the military turned a blind eye. Otherwise, the world would fall into chaos.

Hearing the agonized screams, Tie Minghuang, Bai Choufei, and the other young masters felt a chill run down their spines. A sense of mourning for the loss of one of their own washed over them.

“Master Jiang, please forgive us for our blindness and our offenses! We admit our guilt!”

“Master Jiang, you are magnanimous! Please spare us this once! We won’t dare again!”

“Yes, Master Jiang! Please think of us as nothing but farts and let us go!”

“Master Jiang, from now on, we are willing to follow you! Your every command will be obeyed without question!”

Without waiting for Jiang Tian to speak, the pale-faced young masters scrambled to kneel, kowtowing incessantly.

They were scared out of their wits, trembling like leaves in the wind. The more timid ones were already crying, tears and snot streaming down their faces.

“Master Jiang, we are willing to pay! Even half our family assets! We only beg you to spare their wretched lives!”

“Master Jiang, it’s our fault for failing to discipline them properly!”

Their elders also knelt one after another, pleading on their behalf.