Chapter 245 - 245 245 Refusal to Pardon

Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Refusal to Pardon Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Refusal to Pardon Time had flown, and five days had passed.

Chi Huang and Wuqing had returned to Unmatched City from Jiuzhou.

After five days of investigation, they had found out Feng Zhengxiong’s whereabouts.

“Pavilion Master, we have confirmed that Family Head Feng is in Zangling Valley!” Chi Huang reported respectfully.

“Zangling Valley?” Feng Wuchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a terrifying murderous aura flashed by in an instant.

“Absolutely certain. I even sneaked into Zangling Valley. Family Head Feng is safe and sound, just imprisoned in a dungeon,” Duan Wuqing answered.

Hearing this, Xiao Qingqing finally felt completely relieved, she cried tears of joy, and upon receiving the precise news about Feng Zhengxiong, the Feng family also breathed a sigh of relief.

“How strong is Zangling Valley?” Feng Wuchen asked.

“Extremely terrifying. There are four Tianyuan Realm powerhouses. The Valley Master’s aura is even stronger than the Pavilion Master’s, I fear he might be at the Fifth Grade of the Tianyuan Realm, but the specifics are unclear to me,” Chi Huang reported, shuddering at the thought.

“Tianyuan Realm Fifth Layer?” The Feng family members were filled with horror. How terrifying would that be?

Liu Qingyang spoke with a trembling voice, “The power of Zangling Valley is too fearsome, isn’t it? How will we rescue him? Are we really going to hand over the Nine Layers Qiankun Tower?”

A Tianyuan Realm Third Layer powerhouse like Murong Tianlie was already capable of suppressing two empires, let alone a Fifth Layer powerhouse!

Feng Qianyang frowned deeply and said, “Truly a terrifying strength capable of annihilating an empire. Rescuing the Family Head will be no easy task. If we have no other choice, we might indeed have to hand over the Nine Layers Qiankun Tower!”

“As long as it saves my father, what does it matter if we temporarily hand over the Nine Layers Qiankun Tower to them? I will take it back one day!” Feng Wuchen said coldly.

The power of Zangling Valley was fearsome, a direct confrontation was simply impossible, and Feng Wuchen wasn’t yet capable of that.

Of course, this was only for now. Feng Wuchen was not yet capable!

“What if they kill to silence us? By then, not only will lives be at risk, but they will also take the treasure,” Duan Wuqing asked with a furrowed brow.

What Duan Wuqing said was reasonable. If Zangling Valley got their hands on the Nine Layers Qiankun Tower, with their terrifying strength, it was not impossible for them to kill Feng Wuchen, at the very least to prevent the news of the Qiankun Tower from leaking and inciting a struggle for it.

“Wuchen, to be on the safe side, let’s wait until Xiao Xiao exits her cultivation retreat, then you can go to the valley together with her. At least they won’t be able to break her barrier,” Feng Qianyang suggested.

“That’s all we can do,” Feng Wuchen nodded, not yet confident enough to confront Zangling Valley.

Feng Wuchen had only just consolidated his position at the First Layer of the Tianyuan Realm. His true combat strength was at most sufficient to deal with a Third Layer opponent. As for the Fourth Layer, he was no match, let alone the Fifth Layer.

All in all, the fact that Feng Zhengxiong was still alive was good news for the Feng family.

“Madam, Young Master, that Xiao Qingshan has come again!” At that moment, a guard entered the hall to report.

“Xiao Qingshan?” Feng Wuchen’s brow furrowed slightly, a surge of inexplicable anger welling up inside him. He had no affection at all for the people of the Xiao family.

Just as he was troubled about Feng Zhengxiong’s situation, Xiao Qingshan’s timing for visiting could not be worse.

Xiao Qingshan entered the hall directly, still carrying an arrogant air, but the look of disdain in his eyes had lessened.

Ever since he learned of Feng Wuchen’s identity, Xiao Qingshan had nearly been scared to death. Once the news was sent back, it also shocked the Xiao family.

The identities of a Fifth Grade Artifact Refiner and a Fourth Rank Alchemist were more than enough to dwarf the Xiao family.

The Feng family today was definitely not the same as it had been in years past!

With a cold glance at Xiao Qingshan, Feng Wuchen asked indifferently, “If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost!”

Seeing the expressions of Feng Wuchen and the others, Xiao Qingshan laughed and said, “What? Is the Feng family so unwelcoming to me?”

“You’d leave quickly if you had any sense!” Liu Qingyang scolded rudely and coldly.

Suppressing his rage, Xiao Qingshan sneered and said, “Feng Wuchen, I know you’re a big deal now, whether as an Artifact Refiner or an Alchemist, and the Divine Skills of Thought-Forming Instrumentation are well known throughout Jiuzhou, but it seems there are no shortage of people who want you dead.”

“Are you finished?” Feng Wuchen said coldly.

Xiao Qingshan ignored Feng Wuchen and turned his gaze to Xiao Qingqing, saying, “Qingqing, you haven’t forgotten, have you? In twenty days, it will be our father’s seventieth birthday. He said, considering Feng Wuchen’s achievements, your offenses are forgiven. As of today, you are once again a member of the Xiao family. He hopes you will return for the celebration.”

“Forgiveness? Hah!” Feng Wuchen couldn’t help but burst into laughter, then he said icily, “That’s laughable. Does the Xiao family patriarch think he is someone so important? To cast out and then to forgive as he pleases? What does he think my mother is? And considering my achievements? What do my achievements have to do with the Xiao family? The affairs of the Feng family are none of his business; he has no right to interfere! If he wants to celebrate his birthday, let him enjoy it himself. It has nothing to do with the Feng family!”

Feng Wuchen grew increasingly angry as he spoke, his terrifying murderous aura spreading uncontrollably, causing Xiao Qingshan’s heart to tremble in fear.

“You!” Feng Wuchen’s words were cold-blooded and merciless, infuriating Xiao Qingshan until his face turned iron blue, and he angrily retorted, “Feng Wuchen, don’t forget he’s your maternal grandfather!”

“Maternal grandfather? Xiao Qingshan, has your head been kicked by a donkey? Now you’re talking to me about family affection?” Feng Wuchen’s face was full of disdain and contempt as he looked at Liu Qingyang and asked, “Qingyang, did your grandfather not visit you for eighteen years? Did he completely ignore you for eighteen years? Acted as if you didn’t exist?”

Upon hearing Feng Wuchen’s words, tears flowed from Xiao Qingqing’s eyes.

Liu Qingyang sneered, “My grandfather treated me even better than my father. He would visit me every day, backing me up in everything.”

“Xiao Qingshan, did you hear that?” Feng Wuchen sneered, “I, Feng Wuchen, have no grandfather! Only a father and a mother! Go back and tell that old thing, my mother doesn’t need his pardon, she belongs to the Feng family, not the Xiao family! Don’t think your Xiao family is so great!”

He paused before continuing, “Also, go back and ask him what he’s been doing all these years, has he fulfilled his responsibilities as a father? If it weren’t for my mother’s sake, you wouldn’t even have the right to step into Feng’s household.”

“Good! Very good! Feng Wuchen! Don’t think too highly of yourself just because you’ve achieved a little!” Xiao Qingshan was so furious that veins throbbed on his face.”

Xiao Qingshan’s face was incredibly gloomy. He had thought that by the Xiao family lowering their stance, it would move Feng Wuchen, but to his surprise, Feng Wuchen was so unappreciative, not taking the Xiao family seriously at all.

“That’s the Xiao family’s business, which has nothing to do with the Feng family. No matter how strong the Xiao family is, it has nothing to do with me,” Feng Wuchen replied indifferently, “However, I can tell you this, the Feng family will eventually surpass the Xiao family!”

Feng Wuchen, with the memories and experiences of the Evil Dragon God, knew that once he had sufficient power, he could do whatever he wanted.

“Such arrogance!” Xiao Qingshan was so enraged that he felt like his lungs would explode, but it also allowed him to see how arrogant and conceited Feng Wuchen was.

Previously, Xiao Qingshan had approached the Feng family with overbearing arrogance, dismissive of them entirely.

Yet, after learning of Feng Wuchen’s identity, now he came offering to pardon Xiao Qingqing’s crime and restore her status in the Xiao family.”

If they wanted to pardon Xiao Qingqing, why hadn’t they done it earlier? Why pardon her at this juncture?

Anyone with a brain would guess the Xiao family’s intentions.

Feng Wuchen had achieved great success in the fields of Artifact Refining and Alchemy. Did the Xiao family have a Fifth Grade Thought-Forming Instrumentation Artifact Refiner? Did they have a young Fourth Rank Alchemist?

No! The Xiao family did not!

Now that the Xiao family wanted suddenly to pardon Xiao Qingqing, how could Feng Wuchen not know their intentions?

“Is the Xiao family trying to mend ties now? Don’t you think it’s too late?” Feng Qianyang asked coldly.

“Qingqing, the Xiao family is giving you a chance, don’t be ungrateful!” Xiao Qingshan glared at Xiao Qingqing angrily.

“A chance? My mother doesn’t need the Xiao family’s chance! What’s so good about the Xiao family? To go back and be mistreated or to slave away for you?” Feng Wuchen’s disdain grew, the more the Xiao family held themselves above others, the more he detested them.

“Brother, you can go back. I will definitely attend father’s birthday as his daughter, but I will go as a member of the Feng family, not the Xiao family,” Xiao Qingqing spoke up, her expression neither happy nor sad, and after speaking, she turned and left.

Xiao Qingqing had been cast out from the Xiao family years ago, they cut off relations with her, not inquiring about her for eighteen years, too great a blow for her.

Xiao Qingqing’s words indicated her refusal of the Xiao family’s pardon!

Watching Xiao Qingqing’s retreating figure, Feng Wuchen felt a complex mix of emotions. He knew this wasn’t what Xiao Qingqing wanted, but he had to stand firm, otherwise, the Xiao family would always trample on the Feng family, never allowing them to hold their heads high.

“Xiao Qingshan, go back and tell Xiao Tianchen not to bother my mother again, or else don’t blame me for not being polite!” Feng Wuchen’s fierce gaze pinned Xiao Qingshan with a bone-chilling coldness.

Xiao Qingqing was already worried and troubled by Feng Zhengxiong’s matter, and now Xiao Qingshan was adding salt to her wounds!

“Hmph! Without our Xiao family, just wait for your death! Ungrateful!” Xiao Qingshan roared fiercely, casting an angry look at Feng Wuchen before storming off.

“I forgot to tell you, the Junior Sect Master of Tai Xu Sect, Murong Tian, is the maternal grandson of the Nangong family head. The Hupao family has received the assistance of Xiewang Sect. I’d like to see how your pitiful Feng family will struggle in its death throes!” A few steps out, Xiao Qingshan added coldly.

Feng Wuchen responded unabashedly, “Then keep your eyes wide open and watch how I trample them under my feet!”

“Murong Tian is the maternal grandson of the Nangong family head! As one of Jiuzhou’s five major forces, the Nangong family has terrifying strength!” Feng Qianyang’s face turned very ugly.

The Feng family now faced three major powers in Jiuzhou – Zangling Valley, the Nangong Family, and Xiewang Sect – a precarious position indeed.

Even with the Yanhuo Empire’s backing, it was useless; any one of these three powers possessed the terrifying capability to annihilate the Yanhuo Empire!

These three major forces were colossal; could the Feng family really contend with them?