Chapter 100: Breaking the Formation

Liu Junhuai did not leave the city. Instead, he turned back to a secluded spot in the sixth courtyard and entered the chaotic space.

Everyone inside the space was waiting at Qingyun Lake. Liu Junhuai hurried over and recounted everything that had just happened.

“Don’t waste time on training,” Liu Junhuai said. “The little Shen family isn’t worth all of you sticking around. The Shen family compound has already descended into chaos. We are currently in the sixth courtyard; their people should gather here. I’ll go check out the commotion first.”

Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini insisted on going to see as well, but Bian Yanshan stopped them. “Junhuai’s divine perception can’t sense others here. Why bother stirring up trouble? Even your grandfather Fang and I dare not lightly send out our divine senses; it’s too easy to be discovered.”

By now, the Shen family compound was densely packed with people. If not for the city lord’s mansion dispatching a large contingent of Imperial Guards to maintain order, even more would have flooded in.

In the sixth courtyard, all the outside reinforcements hired by the Shen family had arrived. Dozens of them sat around the main hall, engaged in heated discussion.

Cheng Kelei, sitting arrogantly in the central seat, spoke with a hint of disdain: “This kid isn’t as powerful as you say. I thoroughly searched the scene. It’s true the victims were all killed with a single slash, but clearly it was a sneak attack. He must possess some invisibility technique to act so recklessly. Have you noticed the obvious traces of climbing on the outer wall and several cracks on the roof? That shows his lightness technique isn’t very refined. This sneak attack targeted the third courtyard directly, proving his divine sense is weak or he dares not use it to scout the entire Shen compound. I didn’t set up divine sense restrictions in the compound to avoid alerting him. Since he failed last night, he will surely come again tonight. We just have to wait and catch him!”

Yun Jiezi added, “So far, no suspicious cultivators have been seen entering or leaving at the city gates. Even if Liu Junhuai has helpers, there won’t be many—that makes hiding easier.”

Zhang Shizhuo said, “Judging by the traces, only one infiltrator was involved last night. All techniques used were blade arts. The killer made no sound at all—definitely a sneak attack. His methods were meticulous, targets clear, and the kills clean without hesitation.”

Shen Ao said, “I fear tonight he’ll bring more men. The Shen compound has many elderly, women, and children. Should we relocate them?”

Cheng Kelei waved his hand. “Lord Shen, no need to panic. I’ve already sent word to Yanfu Palace. Tomorrow, over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators will arrive. If he appears tonight, he’ll still use sneak attacks. His numbers won’t be large, and not everyone will have invisibility techniques. If he shows up tomorrow, our forces will be ready—we won’t fear him. Moving the family now would only make protection more difficult.”

Shen Jin asked, “Should we invite my master tonight?”

Cheng Kelei smiled, “No need. Golden Core cultivators can cover most of Pingdu City with their divine senses. If there’s danger here, Senior Pa will sense it and appear.”

After a long silence, Zhi Xiaojian interjected, “Given this kid’s stealth techniques, why don’t we set up more formations, especially in hidden corners? We should hide several mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators there. Once his movements are detected, send messages immediately. We can’t fight him head-on.”

Liu Junhuai cursed silently—this fellow was the most insidious. He couldn’t act against him now, or he’d be the first to be targeted.

Zhi Xiaojian’s proposal was immediately approved by all, and all turned to Cheng Kelei to organize the formation deployment.

After a moment’s thought, Cheng Kelei said, “Yanfu Palace has a second-level formation master. I’ll call him here. Do you have formation experts?”

Zhi Xiaojian replied, “I’m one—a third-level formation master. Just one more is enough. We should lay out more trap formations. Lord Shen needs to provide some spirit stones, preferably mid-grade ones. That will greatly improve the formations’ effectiveness!”

At this, Shen Ao no longer cared to argue. His gaze turned to his eldest son, Shen Hengyi. After some hesitation, Shen Hengyi took out a storage pouch and handed it to Zhi Xiaojian.

As the others went out one by one to set up formations, Liu Junhuai wasn’t too worried. He himself was a fourth-level formation master; even a single level difference made a world of difference. To be safe, Liu Junhuai’s divine sense kept a close watch on Zhi Xiaojian.

Watching Zhi Xiaojian lay down two formations, Liu Junhuai chuckled inwardly. He wondered how this guy ever ascended to third-level formation master. The two formations looked dazzling and densely sealed but were actually simple in technique and incantation. Both used low-grade spirit stones as the activation source. The mid-grade stones Shen Hengyi gave were mostly pocketed by Zhi Xiaojian.

The other two formation masters’ skills were even less impressive. The third one barely managed to set up a first-level formation, sweating nervously.

Liu Junhuai lost interest in watching and withdrew his divine sense back to Qingyun Lake.

He recounted what he had seen and heard, causing Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini to burst into laughter, with everyone else smiling broadly.

Liu Junhuai looked at Mo Sitong and said, “Sitong, it’s your turn tonight. You must train seriously and get into the best state. Then we’ll coordinate. Big brother, be ready too. We might act during the day tomorrow. They’ll have reinforced their numbers. Yanfu Palace alone will add more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. We’ll adjust the plan according to the situation.”

Fang Keyin said, “Yan Shan and I will watch the city outskirts tomorrow, preventing those three suspects from escaping.”

Liu Junhuai replied, “For now, that’s the plan. Many Shen family members will try to flee tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll try to kill those who came to my home that day. Others, I’ll avoid killing if possible.”

Wu Yaohan interrupted, “Junhuai, I don’t know if I should say this, but I think your mindset has changed. If you’ve decided to kill, don’t hesitate or show mercy. Some Shen family members didn’t appear in your home, but no one helped you then. I think only your Uncle Huan treats you differently. Over the years, he told me everyone else bullied you.”

Liu Junhuai’s eyes dimmed slightly, a trace of sorrow flashing, then cleared. “Grandpa Wu is right. Let’s see how they handle this matter first.”

He said no more, shook his head, and took Mo Sitong into Residence Number One.

Watching Liu Junhuai’s somewhat desolate back, Liu Qingman whispered, “Junhuai’s life isn’t easy—alone facing his former family, torn between countless grievances and a thread of blood ties. He’s still too sentimental. Do you think coming to the Shen family was too cruel for him? On one side, blood-deep hatred; on the other, kinship by blood.”

Bian Yanshan said, “Madam, don’t interfere with his thoughts. This is something he must understand on his own. Perhaps crossing this threshold will elevate his state of mind.”

Fang Keyin nodded and patted Bian Yanshan’s shoulder. “Brother, your insight is sharp. Listening to you, I understand better now. This state of mind is both torment and training for the boy. Whatever he chooses—merciless slaughter or magnanimous mercy—as long as he feels no guilt, his heart will grow broader.”

Night finally fell.

What kind of night was this? A pitch-black night, as if an endless, heavy ink had been daubed across the sky, without even a glimmer of starlight.

Liu Junhuai held Mo Sitong’s soft, bone-like hand and silently walked toward the entrance of the chaotic space. No one disturbed their silence, quietly watching their figures vanish into the void.

In a corner of the sixth courtyard of the Shen family compound, Liu Junhuai and Mo Sitong’s figures appeared.

As they activated the Shadowless Wind Technique, their forms gradually blurred until they vanished without a trace.

Liu Junhuai’s divine sense swept over the corners and moved toward the first formation.

In the sixth courtyard, a dozen rooms were brightly lit, and faint voices of Shen family members drifted over. Liu Junhuai moved like an oblivious infiltrator, not even glancing toward the source of the voices.

Beneath an artificial hill in the courtyard, Zhi Xiaojian’s third-level formation was plainly visible under his divine sense. A late Foundation Establishment cultivator lay motionless ten or so meters away in a flowerbed.

Liu Junhuai gently squeezed Mo Sitong’s hand. She nodded knowingly, released his hand, and stealthily moved toward the flowerbed.

Liu Junhuai went straight to the formation. Keeping his divine sense on Mo Sitong, he made hand seals continuously. The formation suddenly flickered with a faint light, then lost its spiritual energy.

The cultivator in the flowerbed looked horrified at the faint figure in the shimmer. Just as he tried to crush his communication jade talisman, a sharp pain shot through his throat. Opening his mouth to call out, no sound emerged. He then lost consciousness.

After retrieving the cultivator’s storage ring, Liu Junhuai and Mo Sitong regrouped and moved toward the second formation.

This one was on the outer wall of the courtyard, covering half the wall. Ten or so meters away, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator lurked in a dark corner, his whole body immersed in shadow, only the faint light in his pupils betraying his presence.

Again, Liu Junhuai and Mo Sitong cooperated to silently slay the cultivator.

As the night deepened, the two gradually dismantled seven formations around the sixth courtyard, slitting the throats of six Foundation Establishment cultivators and one Qi Refinement ninth stage cultivator.

By now, Liu Junhuai’s gaze had grown increasingly cold, his aura more murderous than ever.