Chapter 61: Swift Attack
Yang Xin's voice revealed a determined, ruthless edge as she communicated certain aspects to the Patriarch of the Divine Flames Family.
"Although I don't support senseless killing, the Silver Winged Family needs to be completely eliminated or we're asking for trouble in the future. The Patriarch and his daughter, along with all their Black Gold Ranked experts need to be taken out."
"I would like the Divine Flames Family to take control of any blood crystal mines because this is a cultivation resource that would be highly valued in my world. However, the miners cannot be slaves or be forced to work anymore, they will be workers that willing come and receive a fair wage. I've heard of the Silver Winged Family's evil practices using slave imprints!"
"There's not enough fresh food in this realm to support your current population and that is why so many in the towns and those who are not in the nobility are starving to death out there. There is more than sufficient food in my world for them if they would like to come over and provide labour in return. However, we need to work out how the migration works in case too many go over too quickly and completely unsettle the society over there."
"Any talented younger generation can come over and come under the covering of our sects. Based on merit, if they prove themselves with their talent and contributions, the sects will provide them will precious cultivation techniques and martial arts, as well as valuable elixirs such as those you have seen."
Patriarch Li Xiao's face was impassive as he heard each of these points one by one, from time to time nodding in approval and understanding. None of them seemed unfair and if anything, it would be those in his realm benefitting. Rather than starving in this godforsaken realm, the commoners would have a better chance trying to make a living in the other world.
After Yang Xin concluded, Patriarch Li Xiao asked, "What about the Ash Wolves Family? Although they are not as powerful as the Silver Winged Family or my own, they still hold considerable strength and influence in this realm."
Yang Xin thought for awhile and asked him, "What do you suggest, Patriarch? You understand the situation here better than me? Is the Ash Wolves Family more similar to the Silver Winged Family or the Divine Flames Family in their principles?"
Li Xiao appreciated Yang Xin acknowledging his deeper knowledge in this matter. "Although this family has had to be very ruthless to gain and hold on to their position, they haven't engaged in any unnecessary brutality or violence. I think that as long as they see that our Divine Flames Family is not trying to absorb the other families, or to unfairly exploit the resources they currently possess, they will not retaliate."
"All right, so we'll leave them be unless we have to respond in self-defence." Yang Xin agreed.
"I have one question. Why the big rush to attack the Silver Winged Family immediately?" Li Xiao asked.
"We have a prisoner we need to rescue."
.....
The next morning, they climbed up a large tree together with a formidable group from the Divine Flames Family. They were curious when the Patriarch had mentioned some sort of flying transportation that they would take because it was practically impossible to attack the Silver Winged Family from the ground since they had fortified their base and structures at the top of gigantic trees.
Ning'Er's eyes widened in shock as she vaguely recognised the demon beast that they were climbing on. It was the predator who feasted on Netherlamp Behemoths, an massive creature who looked a little like a flying fish in the sky. The back of the creature could easily fit the fifty of them that their attacking force consisted of. The Divine Flames Family had figured out how to tame this beast through capturing it as a baby, and nurturing it by feeding it succulent beast meat laced with calming drugs. Because of the exorbitant cost of raising such a creature, even this major family could only afford having two of these beasts at one time.
They spent half a day soaring through the skies where the flying beast was deceptively fast through the air despite its slow-looking, lumbering movements. By the time they came close to the trees containing the enemy's base, there was no longer any sunlight and they slipped in under the cover of darkness.
In the meeting hall, the Silver Winged Family's Patriarch, Sikong Yi was meeting with his key advisers to discuss the clan's current situation as usual.
"How's our mining operation today?"
"Young Mistress Hongyue is overseeing our main mine today and as always when she's around, the slave miners not allowed to slack off. Our production was at 120% today!"
"Very good. I can always rely on her." His voice was filled with pride as he thought about his daughter. "How is the expedition we sent out to uncover a new mine?"
"No fresh deposits have been found but our team are optimistic that they are on the right track."
"I see...any movement from any of the other families that I should be aware of?"
"No, Patriarch. Both the Divine Flames Family and the Ash Wolves Family haven't taken any noticeable actions lately."
"Divine Flames Family." Sikong Yi spat out this name in disgust. "Over and over, they block my plans directly pretending to be the saviour to the other families. Just wait, once I call that meeting and force them to take the Abyss Essence Pill, then our Silver Winged Family will rule over this realm with an iron fist!"
"Patriarch, are you sure you want to activate that forbidden technique? You won't be able to survive for long after..."
"If it continues like this, we'll be in a stalemate for a long time, and as the other families unite against us, we lose more and more influence and power. I need to do this soon so that I can ensure the future for the glory of my clan before it's too late!" he declared with a firm resolve as he envisioned the future that his precious daughter would lead.
Suddenly, there were shouts of alarm from outside.
"We're under attack!"
Even though the guards positioned around the Silver Winged Family's base had scrambled into position, they had not anticipated the sheer aggression and strength of their attackers. Ning'Er's entire team had transformed into ten formidable demon beasts, causing the defenders to be stunned in fear because they had not encountered demon spiritualists in their lifetime. They were even more terrified as mysterious abilities started to be used in the onslaught against them.
The eerie screams of the Dark Banshee shocked the souls of those who heard it, where those in the direct zone of the sound waves were either knocked unconscious or had their souls reaped from their beings directly, unless they were at Black Gold Rank. From time to time, a monstrous shadow would appear seemingly out of thin air behind a powerful expert, a stab through his heart with its extremely lethal, sickle-like bladed arms.
Before the guards could even orient themselves, there was even a beautiful, naked lady who suddenly appeared in front of them, with her hands desperately trying to cover her more private parts. But a moment later, she would transform into a hideous plant monster with intimidating vines that kept creeping closer to them. Nie Li seemed to understand the psychological terror that the defending forces were experiencing and played on it even more with a combination of lust and horror. His naked lady impression had been so distracting that even Lu Piao had forgotten to keep attacking for a few moments before focusing again!
All in all, the mental fortitude of the Silver Winged Family was quickly eroded as they descended into a panicky, halfhearted defence. The forces of the Divine Flames Family quickly overwhelmed the scattered combatants whose hearts had already lost the will to fight these horrifying and ghostly foes.
Once the main defences had been defeated and either killed or securely tied up in chains, the strongest of the attacking forces regrouped to face the strongest hidden strength the Silver Winged Family possessed. According to Li Xiao's intelligence, Sikong Yi would have four deathsworn guards of peak Black Gold Rank near him, along with three key advisers who were also each at various stages of Black Gold Rank themselves. This meant that they would face one Legend Ranked fighter, and seven Black Gold Ranked warriors!
"Patriarch Li Xiao, as discussed, leave Sikong Yi to me. Yang Xin and yourself will fight off one deathsworn each, and the rest of my team will split into two units of four, where they can block off a deathsworn each as well with their formations. You may be the only one who can defeat your opponent in a short time, where we'll be relying on you to support the rest as well. The rest of your forces will need to hold off the three advisers." Ning'Er stated assertively.
Li Xiao responded curtly, "I understand." However, he still could not understand why this girl could claim that she could handle a Legend Ranked Fighter herself. The others around her didn't think she was insane so he could only play along. But he had decided that while he was fighting off the deathsworn guard, he would keep part of his attention on stepping in to save Ning'Er if she were being overwhelmed. He just hoped he would be fast enough.
The doors of the main hall opened with a loud crash, and the attacking group carefully came in, ready for any sneak attacks. They had only lost three of their weaker members to injury with no deaths yet.
"So it is you, Li Xiao, who has the audacity to come into my home today! Wait till the other families hear of this. What do you think they will think of their noble saviour, who is trying to stamp out the one family who can stand against them?" Sikong Yi sneered at the other Patriarch.
Li Xiao didn't even bother to cast a glance at the fat, winged man mocking him as he took his position next to Ning'Er and got ready for the final operation to begin. Once again, Yang Xin was impressed at the composure and steadiness of this man.
Ning'Er transformed into the Panterran as Sikong Yi's eyes opened wide in complete amazement. "Demon Spiritualist!! Where...what...you...?" He took a few steps back as the panther-like beast prowled closer, ominously growling with fury at the back of its throat. She remembered the suffering that she had seen this family inflict on Duan Jian, and felt a pain in her heart as she wondered what state she would find him in the jailed cell they undoubtedly had him in.
As Sikong Yi felt the sense of threat grow even more intense, a sudden burst of black energy abruptly burst out of the Panterran's mouth. Caught by surprise, Sikong Yi could not move out of the way but managed to place both his arms in a cross-like maneuver in front of him in time to brace against the ball of condensed lightning. He felt the sharp pain as the berserk energy pushed him so hard that his feet slid back a few feet, but beyond that, the flickering electricity writhed around his arms trying to burrow through his skin.
Fortunately, with his Legend Rank cultivation, he used his soul force to repel the vigorous energy that had been shot out, and then suppressed and dissipated the remnant force that had tried to break through his skin's defences. However, an extreme sense of danger hit him as he suddenly realised that he had lost sight of the beast in front of him while dealing with its mysterious projectile.
He managed to begin turning his head to the side as he tried to anticipate where the inevitable attack would come from but an instant later, immensely powerful jaws clamped down on the back of his throat, snapping his spinal cord in the next moment.
It had happened too quickly for anyone to respond but as the sharp crack of his neck was heard echoing through the hall, Ning'Er heard the battle cries of four powerful experts and she sensed attacks targeting her vital spots.
Even her comrades had been momentarily stunned at the incredible speed, efficiency and bloodthirsty attack shown by their friend but they quickly sprang into action to defend her blind spots from the approaching enemy strikes.
Li Xiao felt foolish as he effortlessly fended off the deathsworn guard assigned to him, decapitating his foe after a few strategic swings of his sword. He shuddered in fear as he realised he would be no match for the peerless speed of the panther beast in front of him, nor be able to defend against its devastating power and abilities.
And he had been imagining that he could swoop in to heroically save her! He chuckled deprecatingly to himself as he glided in to chop off the leg of Yang Xin's opponent, whom she was having some trouble defending against. After all, she was just at early Black Gold Rank when her opponent was at the peak of Black Gold Rank, although the difference was not large once she merged with her demon spirit.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AerynSun
AerynSun Oops, am I making the MC too OP? That battle felt rather quick but I wanted to move on to meeting Duan Jian! :)
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