Chapter 203: One Punch to Shatter the World’s Unbreakable Fortress (I)

Inside the grand hall, Fu Zhang’s sudden outburst of fury sent a ripple of shock through the gathered Fu family cultivators.

Elder Fu Jinqiu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Patriarch, why are you so enraged?"

Fu Zhang's expression darkened as he tossed the letter from Luo Tian Society onto the table in front of him.

Fu Jinqiu skimmed through the letter at a glance. The next moment, his face twisted in fury as well. "What do they take our Fu family for? They actually dare to demand the Patriarch to return Sikong Shoujia's relics!"

The moment those words left his mouth, the other Fu family cultivators were visibly taken aback.

Had that Dan Chenzi gone mad? Sikong Shoujia had been nothing more than an aging, withering old man. His death at Fu Zhang's hands had been part of solidifying the Fu family's reputation.

Dead men had no claims his belongings naturally belonged to the patriarch now. Who had ever heard of someone demanding the return of a dead man’s possessions?

No wonder Fu Zhang was furious, it was completely justified.

"Our Fu family may no longer be a Foundation Establishment Family, but even so, some mere Qi-Refining sect has no right to dictate terms to us!

"Return the relics?

"Offer an apology?"

What was even more infuriating was the righteous, condescending tone of the letter—it was unbearable.

"This is an insult!

"A blatant insult to both me and the entire Fu family!"

Fu Jinqiu, seething with anger, added, "That’s not all. They are condemning our Fu family for participating in the attack on Crescent Moon Valley, demanding that as compensation, we not only return Sikong Shoujia’s relics but also hand over three blood talismans!

"They have gone too far!

"He already wiped out the Poshan Gang, yet he still brings up the former Alchemy Hall elder? Why doesn't he demand justice from the Foundation Establishment cultivators who truly had a hand in Mi Shuhua’s downfall?

"Blood talismans?" Does our Fu family truly possess blood talismans?"

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The earlier discussions had been heated, but when that last sentence was uttered— the atmosphere in the hall turned strangely tense.

Fu Zhang froze for a moment before his gaze turned sharp and ruthless as he scanned the faces around him.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

The one who had spoken chuckled awkwardly.

Though Fu Zhang had only held the position of patriarch for a little over ten years, he had already weathered the passing of their Foundation Establishment Grand Elder, the fierce internal struggles of Tianlan Immortal City, their voluntary withdrawal from Tianlan, and the arduous relocation to Dahe Market. His accumulated prestige was not to be underestimated.

Upon arriving in Dahe Market, he had taken the initiative to establish ties with the Nangong family, forming the Xuanyi Society alongside the Duan and Li families, using the three newly relocated families as leverage.Through the Xuanyi Society, he had steadily expanded the Fu family’s talisman market. And not long ago, by participating in the annihilation of Poshan Gang, he had secured the Fu family’s foothold in Dahe Market once and for all.

One could say that, aside from lacking the cultivation realm to completely dominate the family, Fu Zhang’s influence and momentum had garnered him the full confidence of most Fu family cultivators.

Seeing the nervous laughter among his kin, Fu Zhang let out a cold snort. "I will say this once more, and it will be the last time!

"Before our Grand Elder’s passing, he never passed down any blood talisman techniques to me. Furthermore, our Fu family has never had any dealings with blood talismans whatsoever!"

The man hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.

Fu Zhang shook his head and let out a deep sigh. Sinking back into his chair, he spoke with concern, "I know you've all heard about the power of the blood talisman last night. If we truly possessed such a thing, our Fu family could stand on equal footing with the other Foundation Establishment families even without a Foundation Establishment cultivator of our own.

"But have you considered the consequences?

"If we truly had blood talismans, the righteous sects would never let us go unpunished. Not only that, those Foundation Establishment families would have the perfect excuse to move against us.

"It took us great effort to finally settle down here, to establish our stronghold. What we truly need now is to recuperate, to nurture the next generation of our family. If we can produce a Foundation Establishment Initiate within a hundred years, only then can the Fu family ensure its lasting legacy."

His words flowed smoothly, measured and deliberate. The underlying concern for the family’s future, the weight of his worries, resonated deeply even those among the Fu family’s higher-ups who had harbored doubts couldn’t help but be moved.

Fu Zhang had sacrificed too much for the family. It was rare for the leader of any power to personally take risks, to fight and bleed on the battlefield.

But the Fu family was too weak, too few in number. Each time, they had no choice but to send their strongest, Fu Zhang himself to face the dangers. Over time, this made the smaller rogue factions see them as less formidable, less worthy of respect.

It was indeed the time to recuperate, to avoid further unnecessary conflict. However, though the tree desires calm, yet the wind does not cease [1].

The Fu family cultivators soon realized that when they ventured outside, others were looking at them differently.

There was curiosity, but also fear.

Rumors began to spread—claims that the rogue cultivators who had been found burned beyond recognition were actually victims of the Fu family, skinned alive to destroy evidence.

Upon hearing such slander, the Fu family cultivators were absolutely furious.

"If we really wanted to destroy evidence, wouldn’t we have burned the entire body?"

And yet, people believed it.

To make matters worse, an unexpected incident occurred.

A Fu family cultivator at the fifth stage of Qi-Refining had tried to pass off an ordinary talisman, stained with beast blood, as a blood talisman selling it at an exorbitant price to an outsider rogue cultivator.

The buyer, realizing the deception, stormed into the Fu family's shop in the inner city.

A massive commotion erupted.

Fu Jue, who was overseeing the shop, was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood.

How could someone be so foolish at a time like this and greedy enough to try and pull such a scheme?

To settle the matter, he not only refunded the spirit stones but also compensated the buyer with several high-quality talismans. Even so, the Fu family’s talisman business took a serious hit. Meanwhile, business at the neighboring Chen family’s shop began to thrive.

It was under these circumstances that Luo Tian Society’s second "letter" arrived at the Fu family. Or rather, it was not delivered to them, it was spread throughout the city until it reached them.

Outside the sealed Debate Platform, on the jade plaque, Luo Tian Society had left a message addressed to the Fu family:

As cultivators from afar, we had hoped for mutual benefit, to seek the Great Dao together. Yet you have acted with reckless arrogance, indulging in bloodshed, inciting the wrath of the people to the heavens.

Our Luo Tian Society has inherited the legacy of the Poshan Gang and must serve as an example. Yet our esteemed elder, Sikong Shoujia, was treacherously assassinated by the scoundrel Fu Zhang, leading to his untimely demise."

We now demand that the Fu family return Sikong Shoujia’s belongings within the allotted time, so that he may rest in peace.

If you refuse, you will suffer the consequences. Do not say you were not warned!

When this "letter," summarized so concisely, reached Fu Zhang’s ears, his rage erupted like a storm, his furious roars echoing through the hall. Disciples and elders alike whispered in hushed, indignant tones, their faces dark with anger.

"Reckless arrogance? Public outrage?!" someone scoffed, his voice edged with disbelief. "Who do they think they are to accuse us?!"

A deep murmur spread among the gathered cultivators.

"Since when did the patriarch of the Fu family become a 'scoundrel'?" a younger disciple muttered, his brows furrowing in frustration.

"And now they’re 'ordering' us to return the belongings, or else we'll 'suffer the consequences'?" his voice laced with disdain.

More voices joined in, rising like a wave of discontent.

"‘Do not say you were not warned’?" A cold laugh echoed through the hall. "Ha! I’d like to see exactly what kind of ‘consequences’ they’re talking about!"

Another elder shook his head. "Ignore them. If we actually return anything, wouldn’t that just confirm our so-called 'crimes'?"

A cultivator standing near the doorway clicked his tongue. "That Dan Chenzi must think he’s so righteous—has he never killed anyone in his life?"

Tension thickened in the air as one of the Fu family’s cultivators spoke gravely. "Let them come! If it comes to a fight, so be it! The other families also have outsiders. They know well enough that when one rabbit dies, the fox grieves [2]; when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold [3]. They won’t stand idly by.

"And besides, who does Luo Tian Society think they are? A newly formed faction dares to challenge the Fu family?"

1. [ref] 树欲静却风不止 (shu yu jing que feng bu zhi, A proverb conveys a sense of helplessness in the face of uncontrollable external forces no matter how much one seeks peace or stability, external circumstances often disrupt it. This phrase is frequently used in literature, philosophy, and emotional reflections, often implying regret over lost opportunities or the inevitability of fate. ☜

2. 兔死狐悲 (tu si hu bei), a Chinese idiom describes a shared fate between similar groups—when one falls, the other feels sorrow or fear, knowing they might be next. It often implies a sense of sympathy or unease when witnessing the misfortune of others, especially those in the same trade or situation. ☜

3. 唇亡齿寒 (chun wang chi han) a Chinese idiom that emphasizes interdependence—if one part falls, the other is inevitably affected. It is commonly used to describe alliances or relationships where the survival of one depends on the other. ☜