At this moment, outside the Qin Residence, a large crowd stood with solemn expressions, arrayed in battle formation and waiting.
The Third Elder Qin Fengyun and the Fourth Elder Qin Fengshang led over a hundred elite guards of the Qin family, standing outside the gates. Atop the walls, archers had their bows drawn, aiming outward.
Meanwhile, outside the Qin Residence, more than a hundred people had gathered, forming layers upon layers that tightly surrounded the estate.
The man leading them had a grief-stricken expression, but his eyes burned with even greater fury.
He was none other than the patriarch of the Shen family, Shen Chengfeng.
Flanking him were two other men.
These two were Shen Chengfeng's elder brothers, Shen Chenglong and Shen Chengyun.
In the Shen family, Shen Chengfeng served as the patriarch, while Shen Chenglong and Shen Chengyun assisted him.
Although the Shen family was not among the four great families of Lingyun City, their foundation and strength were not inferior to them in the slightest.
At this moment, Shen Chengfeng stood at the forefront, holding a long spear. Surrounding him were the elites of the Shen family, clutching spears and weapons with fierce expressions.
"Patriarch, it seems the news is not false. Qin Cangsheng and Qin Yuanshan have indeed entered death seclusion!"
Shen Chenglong whispered, "Otherwise, they would be here. Those two old foxes couldn't possibly not show themselves."
"Hmph!"
Shen Chengfeng snorted. "In that case, let's not waste any more time. We attack!"
"Ling Shicheng, Chu Shanhe, and Lin Zhantian are truly too slow. What do they mean by 'not fully prepared'? If they don't strike now, how are we going to kill Qin Ning!"
"Indeed!"
Shen Chengyun also spoke up, "As long as Qin Cangsheng and Qin Yuanshan are no longer around, the Qin family won't be able to withstand our assault."
Shen Chengfeng nodded.
In that case, kill!
Raising his spear high, amidst a chorus of battle cries, the elite forces of the Shen family surged forward.
*Creak...*
At that moment, the main gates of the Qin Residence suddenly swung open. A figure slowly walked out.
He wore a white robe embroidered with gold trim. His handsome face carried a look of resolve, giving off a refreshing and comfortable aura.
It was Qin Ning!
"Patriarch Shen, long time no see. Your white hair looks rather weathered!"
Qin Ning smiled faintly. "But I wonder, what brings you to the Qin family with such a grand display of force?"
"You brat, cut the nonsense!"
Shen Chengyun immediately roared, "You dared to kill my son, a descendant of our Shen family! Allowing you to live until now is already a mercy from heaven!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Qin Ning said in mock surprise, "I, Qin Ning, have always been very reasonable. If others do not cross me, I do not cross them. But if they do, I simply kill them."
"Your son... Ah! So Shen Huo was your son!"
"You..."
"What a fool. I hadn't even gone looking for your Shen family yet, and he had to deliver himself to me to be killed!"
As soon as Qin Ning finished speaking, the faces of all the Shen family guards darkened.
This Qin Ning was far too arrogant.
He treated everyone as if they were nothing.
Utterly conceited!
"Qin Ning, I didn't expect you to reach the eighth gate in just a dozen days!"
Shen Chengfeng sneered. "Had I known, I should have killed you that day!"
"But it's still not too late."
Shen Chengfeng felt a pang of regret in his heart. However, Qin Ning was currently only at the Jingmen Realm. If the three brothers of the Shen family joined forces, Qin Ning might not be able to stop them.
If this continued, it would become completely unmanageable.
"Not too late?"
Qin Ning folded his arms, stepped forward, and said calmly, "You are wrong. No matter when, it is already too late!"
"From the moment the Shen family and the Ling family joined forces to plot against my Qin family, it was already too late!"
Qin Ning took another step forward.
Seeing this, Shen Chengfeng was instantly reminded of a month ago.
Back then, Qin Ning had also approached him like this, step by step.
But back then, Qin Cangsheng had stood behind Qin Ning, so Shen Chengfeng had not dared to make a move.
Today, there was no one behind Qin Ning, yet he still did not dare to take the risk.
"Damn it!"
Shen Chengfeng roared, "Where are the archers? Kill him!"
Instantly, the wall of spears parted, allowing the archers to step forward and loose their arrows.
"Protect the Third Young Master!" the Fourth Elder immediately bellowed upon seeing this.
"No need!"
Qin Ning waved his hand and said, "Save your spiritual energy to deal with those behind them. This Shen family is nothing but a pack of stray dogs. I alone am enough!"
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The moment Qin Ning finished speaking, the Shen family archers released their volley.
Seeing this, Qin Ning stepped forward and spread his arms wide.
*Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!*
Arrows capable of piercing even a Zimen realm martial artist drew close to Qin Ning's body, only to be deflected away.
With the Gang Feng Spirit Body Art activated, even Ling Du could not breach his defense, let alone a mere volley of arrows.
"Shen Chengfeng, what's the matter? Do you not dare to fight me alone?"
Qin Ning laughed. He caught a handful of arrows with both hands and flung them back.
Dull thuds echoed continuously as the immense force easily claimed the lives of the Shen family guards, regardless of whether they carried shields.
Fresh blood sprayed everywhere, and Shen Chengfeng's face turned deathly pale.
Was this... still the Jingmen realm?
Qin Ning's combat strength was completely mismatched with his cultivation level!
"Kill him!"
Shen Chengfeng shrieked in panic.
The sound of rushing wind filled the air as figure after figure charged forward.
Hundreds of cultivators at the Dumen realm and above surged forward—all of them elites of the Shen family.
Over a dozen experts of the sixth and seventh gates brandished their swords and sabers, lunging at Qin Ning.
"I'll handle this!"
Seeing the Third Elder and Fourth Elder preparing to make a move, Qin Ning immediately called out.
It was not that he wanted to show off, but the Shen family was merely the opening act; his true opponents were the Ling, Chu, and Lin families.
Although he did not know why they had not come along with the Shen family, they were clearly preparing something.
The Qin family guards were outnumbered by the other three clans, so if they could avoid fighting now, they should.
Besides, Qin Ning had the confidence to take on a hundred enemies alone!
A wooden staff appeared in his hand.
Seeing the staff, everyone was stunned.
What was this? Qin Ning's weapon?
It was just an ordinary, thin wooden stick, wasn't it?
Only Xiao Qing, standing at the mansion gates, felt its rump tremble at the sight of the staff.
Although it had never been disciplined by that staff itself, its ancestors had been beaten by it plenty of times!
With a sharp *whoosh*, the wooden staff danced.
Qin Ning struck with the staff. There seemed to be no elaborate technique to his movements, yet every swing unleashed a violent gust of wind.
The mortal-grade swords and sabers that clashed with the staff were bent or snapped by the sheer force of the impact. Blood sprayed from the neck of a seventh-gate expert.
This sight struck terror into the hearts of everyone present!