The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Brother Qingshan, do you truly think the measures you've considered are beyond my preparation?"

Bai Li Qingsun took a calm sip of tea, his eyes fixed on Wang Qingshan as a cold smile crept across his face.

Wang Qingshan's expression darkened immediately.

"Brother Qingshan, accompany me on this journey to the underworld. Of all the ten of you, I appreciate your temperament the most—steady and unpretentious," Bai Li Qingsun said, his voice eerily composed.

"He's a lunatic! The man's completely mad!"

"If he wants us dead, we can't let him have his way so easily. Everyone, attack together! If we combine our strength, we can kill him and shatter this barrier.

Once we escape, we'll lead our families in rebellion against the royal family of Yue!"

"No more talking—strike now!"

The Ye clan patriarch roared, activating his spiritual core as he launched the first strike against Bai Li Qingsun.

The celestial platform within him expanded rapidly under his control, radiating a blazing light and exuding an aura of desolation and decay.

From the platform emerged the manifestation of Autumn in the Forest, a deathly force that surged toward Bai Li Qingsun, capable of rapidly draining the life force of anyone it touched.

This was one of the Ye patriarch's most powerful divine abilities, an extension of his celestial platform.

"According to our agreement, I've brought you the feast. Now, it's your turn to act," Bai Li Qingsun muttered, showing no sign of concern as he sat unmoving in the pavilion.

From his sleeve, tendrils of black mist surged forth, writhing like living shadows.

The mist engulfed Autumn in the Forest in an instant, consuming the deadly attack completely.

"What… what is this?"

The Ye patriarch's face twisted in shock as he watched his technique vanish into the black mist.

Before he could react further, the mist surged toward him with astonishing speed.

The Ye patriarch attempted to summon another divine ability to defend himself, but the black mist moved too swiftly. It enveloped him entirely, binding his body in a suffocating grip.

As the mist tightened its hold, the light of his celestial platform dimmed, and its divine power faded.

Stripped of his spiritual strength, the Ye patriarch stood helplessly, his eyes wide with terror and despair as the black mist began to devour him bit by bit.

"Heh heh… the taste of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is a bit lacking, but it's decent enough," a voice cackled.

The black mist coalesced, transforming into a figure clad in a black robe. The man's face radiated an aura of malice and wickedness.

He strode to Bai Li Qingsun's side, sitting down casually and flashing a sinister smile.

"I trust you're satisfied," the black-robed man said.

Bai Li Qingsun's expression remained impassive, as though he had anticipated this.

"There are still nine more," he replied calmly.

"Three at the Foundation Establishment stage and six at the peak of Qi Refinement… not ideal, but they'll suffice for now," the black-robed man said, his eyes gleaming with malevolence as he surveyed the remaining nine patriarchs.

The sight of the black-robed man's gaze sent a chill through the group. The memory of the Ye patriarch's effortless demise was still fresh, and they felt a growing sense of dread.

"Bai Li Qingsun, must you truly go to such extremes?"

The Lin clan patriarch's voice trembled as he spoke, his fear evident.

He had believed that among Yue Kingdom's cultivators, only Bai Li Qingsun, the Ye patriarch, the Lu patriarch, and Wang Qingshan could match him.

Yet this black-robed figure was far more terrifying than any of them had anticipated.

"Not eating the rest of them?" Bai Li Qingsun asked, ignoring the Lin patriarch's protests as he looked at the black-robed man.

"I've only had one Foundation Establishment cultivator so far. My stomach's feeling a bit full. Let me empty it first," the man replied with a twisted grin.

Suddenly, his chest split open, revealing a grotesque maw. From the bloodied cavity emerged the Ye patriarch's lifeless corpse, covered in sticky black ichor.

Thud!

The corpse fell to the ground before the black-robed man, the stench of decay permeating the air.

Wang Qingshan and the others stared in horror, unable to tear their eyes away.

"Attack together!"

The black mist began to shift again, surging toward the group. The nine patriarchs acted quickly, unleashing their most powerful divine abilities in unison in a desperate attempt to repel the black mist.

Yet, like before, their techniques were rendered useless. The mist consumed everything it touched, leaving the patriarchs powerless to stop its advance.

Not only did the black mist consume their attacks, but it seemed to grow even stronger as it did so.

"Bai Li Qingsun, even in death, I won't let you get away with this!"

The Lu patriarch, now entangled by the black mist, struggled fiercely. His face twisted with fury as he roared at the calm and composed Bai Li Qingsun.

Gradually, his voice faded into silence as the black mist engulfed him completely. Like the Ye patriarch before him, only a cold corpse remained—coated in viscous slime and blood, his face frozen in terror and despair.

"Senior Bai Li, spare me! My Lou clan swears eternal loyalty to the royal family and harbors no rebellious intent!"

The black mist turned its sights on the Lou patriarch next, wrapping around him as he screamed and begged for mercy. But Bai Li Qingsun remained unmoved, watching impassively.

"Is there truly no way out?"

The Xia clan elder, witnessing the fates of the Ye, Lu, and Lou patriarchs, felt a deep chill of despair. Her aged face was pale with fear.

For as long as she had ruled her family, she had always controlled the lives and deaths of others. Never had she experienced such utter helplessness and dread.

And she wasn't alone. Wang Qingshan, the Lin patriarch, and the others were equally consumed by terror.

What is this black mist?

They had thrown every divine technique, every ounce of power at it, and none of it had worked. Even the might of their celestial platforms had failed to leave the slightest mark on the mist.

"Stop struggling. This entity is not of the human realm. No techniques or divine abilities from this world can harm it," Bai Li Qingsun said coldly as he watched Wang Qingshan and the others continue their futile resistance.

"Senior Bai Li, is there truly no room for negotiation?"

Wang Qingshan looked at Bai Li Qingsun, his expression grim. He had struggled so hard to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. How could he accept becoming mere sustenance for this monstrous mist?

"Brother Qingshan, give up," Bai Li Qingsun replied with a sigh.

Even as they spoke, the black mist had ensnared the Lin patriarch. In desperation, the Lin patriarch detonated his celestial platform, but even this suicidal move failed to harm the mist.

Seeing this, Wang Qingshan's hope crumbled completely. He ceased his resistance, realizing that the black mist was indeed not of this world, just as Bai Li Qingsun had claimed.

What kind of monster did Bai Li Qingsun summon?

"Brother Wang, save me! Save me!"

The Xia clan elder's voice rang out, trembling with fear as the black mist engulfed her.

"Senior, I know I'm about to die. But before I go, can you tell me where you found this creature? Let me die with some understanding," Wang Qingshan asked, forcing himself to suppress the fear gnawing at his heart.

"Wanlong Mountain," Bai Li Qingsun replied succinctly.

"So, the royal family sealed Wanlong Mountain all these years to trap this thing?"

"That's part of it. As I've said, it isn't of this world. No techniques or divine abilities here can affect it."

"Then why does it obey you? How did you come to control it?"

"If you've had this creature all along, why not use it to wipe out the three major families and seven clans outright? Why resort to such methods?"

"The details are unnecessary to share. Brother Qingshan, it's time for you to go. I'll join you on the Yellow Springs Road shortly."

Bai Li Qingsun poured himself another cup of tea, raised it in a gesture of farewell to Wang Qingshan, and then slowly poured it onto the ground.

In the distance, Wang Qingshan let out a bitter laugh as the black mist engulfed him.

Soon, another corpse, coated in foul-smelling slime and blood, fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Heh heh heh… as promised, I've killed all ten of them. Now, it's time for you to fulfill your end of the deal," the black mist coalesced once more, forming the sinister figure of the black-robed man.

"Our agreement still holds. I've dissolved the contract. Devour me, and you'll be free," Bai Li Qingsun said.

"Heh heh heh… in that case, I won't hold back!"

The black mist cackled wickedly and surged toward Bai Li Qingsun, enveloping him completely.

A gruesome chewing sound echoed, and moments later, Bai Li Qingsun's lifeless body fell to the ground.

"Finally… finally, I'm free! Without a host or restrictions, who can stop me now? Heh heh heh!"

The black mist laughed maniacally, its voice filled with unrestrained glee as it loomed over Bai Li Qingsun's corpse.

But in the next moment, a fragment of a shattered mirror slipped from Bai Li Qingsun's robes, catching the black mist's attention.

Before it could react, the mirror shard emitted a blinding beam of light that enveloped the mist. Slowly, inexorably, the light began to pull the mist into the mirror, no matter how violently it struggled.

"Damn it! Damn it! Bai Li Qingsun, you traitor! You liar! You broke your promise!"

The black mist screamed in fury, but its resistance was futile. It was drawn into the mirror piece, which glowed briefly before falling silent.