Chapter 82: Fury

At this moment, Gu Xiaopang, who had intended to leave, came to a sudden halt and sat heavily opposite Bai Ling’er in the courtyard. Though the art of divination at Celestial Pivot Pavilion was renowned across the continent, even Bai Ling’er, still at the Disciple Realm, could not discern which of his family or friends had met with disaster.

Knowing that a loved one or friend was in peril, Gu Xiaopang mentally reviewed all those dear to him. He was certain that everyone within the Misty Sect should be safe—so could it be his father, who had set out years ago in search of a divine healer for him? Or perhaps it was Ouyang Shuai and the others, who had arranged a banquet at the Gilded Tower, awaiting his arrival after their trials? Or could it be his friend Li Haisong, who had recently returned to the imperial capital?

“That’s right, Li Haisong!” he exclaimed to himself. “Though I didn’t notify him directly about coming to the capital for the ceremony, given my recent rise to fame, he must have heard. Why hasn’t he shown up?”

“Ling’er, I need to go to the Li family estate.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Alright.”

Ordering the guards to inform Ouyang Shuai and the others at the Gilded Tower that he would not be joining them for the time being, Gu Xiaopang raced through the bustling city, weaving rapidly through the crowds toward Xuanwu North Avenue.

His hurried, anxious figure drew the curious eyes of countless onlookers, who trailed after him, eager to see what excitement might unfold.

When Gu Xiaopang and Bai Ling’er arrived at the gates of the Li residence, they were warmly received by the steward. Yet, all members of the Li family, including the steward himself, insisted with one voice that Young Master Li Haisong had not returned home in the past half year.

“Master, please, help me investigate the Li estate inside and out. My instincts tell me something is wrong.”

“Boy, your instincts are correct! In the deepest part of the Li family’s rear courtyard, there are several prison cells underground. Your friend Li Haisong and a few others, old and young, have all had their cultivation sealed. They are barely human—iron hooks pierce their shoulder blades, chaining them inside, their auras faint and weak.”

As Old Qin projected his findings into Gu Xiaopang’s mind, Gu Xiaopang’s eyes instantly reddened with fury. He unleashed his spiritual power, and countless spirit dragons of various colors shot forward, bombarding the dozens of Li family members who stood deliberately blocking his path.

“Ah!”
“My hand!”
“Gu Changqing, what are you doing?”
“Why are you attacking the Li family?!”

“If anything happens to my friend Li Haisong, I, Gu Changqing, swear I will wash your Li family in blood! Out of my way—all who stand before me will die!”

The crowd that had followed, thinking there would be nothing to see, suddenly heard explosions and screams erupting from within the Li residence. Before they could make sense of what was happening, or why Gu Xiaopang was attacking the Li family, his furious roar echoed out.

“Li Haisong? I remember him—the eldest son of the Li family, a kind man... From what Gu Changqing said, has something happened to Li Haisong? And inside the Li estate, no less?”

Voices of speculation and debate arose as the daring among the crowd leapt or soared to catch a glimpse inside.

Though they had only known each other a day, sometimes friendship needed no more.

As Gu Xiaopang blasted open his way, he startled countless Li family members, especially the high-ranking elders racing toward him—several at the Golden Core stage, and even one at the Nascent Soul stage.

“Li family—let them out at once!”
“Insolent wretch, what are you talking about? But since you dare to cause trouble in my Li family today, you’ll have to stay here!”

Before the Golden Core elder could finish his words, Gu Xiaopang unleashed multiple spirit dragons of the five elements, besieging him, while simultaneously brandishing his rhinoceros horns and launching himself at the elder’s dantian with savage speed.

“Ah! Pfft! You...”

The Golden Core elder, having underestimated the battle prowess of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was defeated in a single exchange—his golden core shattered by Gu Xiaopang, leaving him speechless and utterly crippled for life.

Without pausing, Gu Xiaopang, having struck down one foe, charged at the next group of Li family powerholders racing toward him, slicing toward the depths of the rear courtyard like a blade.

“That was the Fifth Elder, right?”
“Yes, seems so... but wasn’t he mid-Golden Core stage?”
“How could he be defeated by Foundation Establishment Gu Changqing in a single move? Did I see that right?”
“I wish we were mistaken—it’s just too unbelievable...”

“Block me, and you die!”
“You arrogant brat! Watch how I deal with you!”

As they spoke, Gu Xiaopang clashed head-on with another new arrival, a late Golden Core elder.

“Pfft!” “Pfft!”

Both spat blood—Gu Xiaopang was knocked back several meters by the force, but his iron body caused the Li elder to stagger, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

“Master, lend me a bit more strength.”
“Alright.”

Seeing that he was losing the advantage, and with a Nascent Soul cultivator about to join the fray, Gu Xiaopang secretly borrowed another trace of Old Qin’s unfathomable power. Pretending to swallow some unknown pill, he let out a furious roar as his aura soared, instantly reaching late Golden Core power.

The sudden clash between the Li family’s Golden Core elders and Gu Xiaopang quickly drew the attention of countless clans and experts throughout the imperial capital. Even His Majesty Zi Qiankun, in the royal palace, was no exception—he turned his gaze toward North Avenue and summoned the commander of the guards with instructions.

In the Southern Governor’s Mansion, Song Wuji and Shadow Elder also took note of the unexpected battle, hurrying toward the Li family at once. Many others from various prefectures, nations, and sects likewise fixed their attention on the Li family estate.

As it became clear that the famed Gu Changqing from the competition was single-handedly taking on the Li family, the crowd buzzed with excitement and speculation.

“This is bad—stop him quickly!”
“Too late. Today I’ll ruin your Li family for good.”
“Old fool, take this!”

With a roar, Gu Xiaopang, his aura now at late Golden Core, flashed behind the Golden Core elder. Before the man could react, Gu Xiaopang’s arm, sharp as a blade, plunged into his lower back.

“Crack!”
“Ah!...”
“You dare!”

The elder’s face twisted in agony, his body curling into a ball as he watched Gu Xiaopang yank his golden core out and crush it to dust.

The Nascent Soul elder, who arrived just then, was a step too late.

“You wretch! How dare you insult my Li family! Prepare to pay with your life!”
“Hmph. Old man, if you don’t want your family’s power wiped out, let Li Haisong go now!”
“Li Haisong? Song’er is back? Release him?”

The Nascent Soul elder was left momentarily stunned by Gu Xiaopang’s furious demand. Looking at the other elders, and seeing their eyes dart away guiltily, he knew something terrible had indeed happened to Song’er.

“Hmph! What is going on? Where is my Song’er?!”

In his rage, the Nascent Soul elder roared at the rest of the Li family.

“Old fool, are you still in my way?”
“Hmph! The Li family will handle its own affairs. There’s no need for an outsider like you to interfere. You’ve injured countless of our people and crippled two of our Golden Core elders. Let’s see if I don’t detain you right here and now!”
“Hmph! Stubborn old man!”

With those words, the two clashed.

To the shock of all watching, the Li family’s strongest, a Nascent Soul elder, could barely hold his own against Gu Changqing, who had somehow reached late Golden Core level. As their close combat grew fiercer, the elder’s defense weakened.

The Li family began to quake with fear; the onlookers were stunned yet again; even the emperor in the palace was left speechless with shock.

“Young friend, stop! Please, stop!” Within the time it would take to drink a cup of tea, the Nascent Soul elder had taken a blow full of Gu Xiaopang’s wrath. As Gu Xiaopang, still fuming, gripped his rhinoceros horns and pressed the attack, the elder, now afraid, shouted for him to stop.

“Hmph! You think you can just call for a halt and save face for me?”
“Changqing, my friend—spare us, will you?”
“Why should I?”
“The family treasury—choose ten treasures!”

Seeing that Song Wuji had just arrived and spoken up, Gu Xiaopang had no choice but to give him this favor.

“I am Li Daochen. Thank you, Brother Song, and thank you, young friend, for showing mercy.”

Ignoring the others, Gu Xiaopang, while the borrowed strength still lingered, soared swiftly toward the depths of the Li family’s rear courtyard.

“Tell me, Li Daochen, how did your family provoke such a fiend?”
“Judging by his direction, he’s heading for your back courtyard... Wait, is that an array concealing it?”
“Li Daochen, what are you hiding back there?”

Realizing he could not see through the distant restriction, the Nascent Soul elder seized a Golden Core elder to question him, but before he could say a word, countless members of the Li family collapsed to their knees, trembling like leaves.

In the far reaches of the Li estate’s rear courtyard, Gu Xiaopang unleashed his late Golden Core power, sending five spirit dragons crashing into the five-element array with a thunderous boom. The invisible barrier quivered and dissolved into nothing.

With a series of metallic snaps, Gu Xiaopang tore apart the chains and iron hooks that pierced the nearly lifeless Li Haisong.

“You... you’ve come?”
“Yes. I’m late.”
“No... not too late.”
“Save... my family.”
“I will.”

At that moment, the Nascent Soul elder in the front courtyard finally saw, as the barrier shattered, the underground cells where several members of the clan—tortured beyond recognition, barely clinging to life—endured the agony of hooks through their shoulder blades. Not even children under the age of ten had been spared.

“Well done... well done... you’ve truly outdone yourselves...” The Nascent Soul elder coughed up mouthfuls of blood, the light fading from his eyes, muttering in despair as he stumbled backward, only to be caught by Song Wuji.

...