Chapter 75: Fifth-Grade Talisman

Did Huayang Sect want to monopolize the entire Northern Region’s Mortal World? Was Huayang Sect unafraid of Taixuan Sect? Suddenly, Han Yue’s heart jolted violently, and a terrifying thought uncontrollably surged into his mind…

Could something have happened to Taixuan Sect?

Only Huayang Sect could force the Zhou Family of Canglang City and the Yang Family of Nanlin City to form an alliance. If it were a conflict initiated by the Mortal World itself, those Sects wouldn’t care. But if a Sect started a conflict in the Mortal World, would the other Sect sit back and do nothing? Even if the Mortal World truly had nothing to tempt the Sects, it was a matter of face. How could you pretend not to know and not fight back when someone reached into your territory?

So, something must have happened to Taixuan Sect. Was this Huayang Sect’s attempt to test Taixuan Sect, or was it the prelude to an all-out attack?

For a moment, Han Yue was deeply troubled. If a major conflict broke out between Sects, the Mortal World would inevitably face a violent shake-up and a complete reshuffling. Where would his family go then?

But Zhou Yao across from him didn’t give him time to think, and directly asked his second question:

“What was the content of that letter?”

Han Yue shook his head and said distractedly, “I don’t know the specific contents of the letter, but I know the general meaning. It’s no secret in our Han Family. The gist was that our Family Head wanted to schedule a meeting with the Xu Clan’s Family Head to discuss forming an alliance.”

“An alliance?” Zhou Yao slightly frowned and asked, “Why would you form an alliance? Oh, this is the third question. It’s your turn to ask.” Zhou Yao smiled faintly.

Han Yue looked seriously at Zhou Yao and cautiously asked, “Was the alliance between your Zhou Family and the Yang Family ordered by Huayang Sect?”

“I don’t know!” Zhou Yao shook his head as he said.

Han Yue thought for just a moment and understood. Something so secretive would be beyond someone of Zhou Yao’s level. So he settled for a different question:

“Then, have you seen any Disciples from Huayang Sect in your family recently?”

Zhou Yao’s expression cleared, and he looked at Han Yue with admiration in his eyes. “Yes, I have seen them.”

“Good, I’ve finished asking. You have one more question.” Han Yue said straightforwardly.

Meanwhile, Xu Ziyan, hidden in the wind and snow, felt her heart tense up. She was now certain that Xu Yundong was from her Xu Clan, and Han Yue was representing the Han Family by delivering a letter to the Xu Clan. She fully believed the conversation between Han Yue and Zhou Yao, and she’d come to the same conclusions internally as Han Yue.

So, both individuals were very important to the Xu Clan. Losing either would be a blow to them. Xu Ziyan’s mind stirred, and she glided from the air down to the ground, blending in with the snow. Her hands moved slightly as she pulled several Fifth-Grade Talismans she had crafted over the past couple of days from her Storage Pouch, gripping them tightly in her hands.

The snow fell heavier, the wind howled, and the blizzard thickened. The open wilderness held no one else but the four people present. With the fierce wind and dense snow, even those nearby were becoming hard to see. Hearing Han Yue’s words, Zhou Yao slowly asked:

“Why does your Han Family want to ally with the Xu Clan?”

“Heh,” Han Yue gave a bitter laugh and said, “The reason’s actually quite simple. Nowadays, both our Han Family and the Xu Clan are declining in strength. Not only is our high-level power slightly weaker than your Zhou Family and Yang Family, but more importantly, our younger generation is even worse off.

Your Zhou Family’s Zhou Hao is only eighteen years old and has already reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. Yang Linglong from the Yang Family of Nanlin City is also eighteen and has reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. And the Xu Clan’s younger generation? Only Xu Tianlang has reached the peak of the Second Layer of Qi Refining Stage. Our Han Family’s younger generation is even worse than the Xu Clan’s.

This way, who knows if in a hundred years the Han and Xu names will still exist on this continent. At this rate, the gap between our Han and Xu Families and your Zhou and Yang Families will undoubtedly widen. So, seeking an alliance between our Han Family and Xu Clan is a last resort. We hope that by joining forces, we can resist your Zhou Family or Yang Family in the future!”

At this, Han Yue gave another helpless bitter smile and continued, “But our Family Head didn’t expect that your Zhou Family and the Yang Family would form an alliance first. Is heaven destroying our Han Family?”

“Then why didn’t your Han Family seek an alliance with our Zhou Family or Yang Family? As you said, Zhou or Yang are stronger than the Xu Clan in strength.”

Han Yue gave Zhou Yao a strange look and said flatly, “Our Han Family decided to ally with the Xu Clan because our strength is comparable. Allying with your Zhou or Yang Family? Wait to be swallowed up?”

By this point, Han Yue had given up any thought of escape, because he realized that Zhou Yao had not only been locking onto him all along but had also enveloped him with his aura. If he stayed put, he could hold on a bit longer; if he ran, he’d only die faster.

Hidden in the wind and snow, Xu Ziyan could already feel Zhou Yao’s killing intent. She quickly threw the four Fifth-Grade Talismans in her hand at Zhou Yao and Zhou Qiang, who stood together.

A violent fluctuation abruptly appeared. Zhou Yao and Zhou Qiang’s hearts jolted. Just as Zhou Yao was about to ask who the expert was, the four Fifth-Grade Talismans appeared above their heads.

Xu Ziyan only knew Talisman Crafting but had no idea how powerful a Fifth-Grade Talisman was. One Fifth-Grade Talisman could already injure a high-level Qi Refining cultivator at the Seventh Layer or above. And now Xu Ziyan had thrown four Fifth-Grade Talismans. Not to mention, the targets—one at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and the other only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage—were far below that level.

This was a complete waste! If anyone else had known, they would have stamped their feet and cursed Xu Ziyan to death! She was just a spendthrift.

After a dazzling blast and roar, Zhou Yao and Zhou Qiang were blown to bits, leaving only a patch of red on the snowy ground. Han Yue and Xu Yundong stared blankly at the crimson stain ahead, completely stunned. Such a violent explosion, in their understanding, could only be unleashed by a high-level Qi Refining cultivator. Due to the fierce wind and thick snow, they hadn’t seen that it was Talismans; they thought a high-level Qi Refining or Foundation Building Stage expert had intervened.

Suddenly, a Sword Flight sound from the sky snapped Han Yue and Xu Yundong out of their stupor…