Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 26 Azure Scales Devour at Night, Meng Family Crisis

[Daily Divination, Today's Hexagram: Inauspicious. The Eye of Devouring Spirits has already glimpsed the source; it is advisable to analyze one's gains and secretly plan for a chance to survive. Fortune is moderate; avoid going out and acting rashly, as this will invite disaster and misfortune.]

The moment Meng Xihong saw the divination result at dawn, alarm bells rang in his mind.

Having seen through the source, it seems that his plan to "shift the blame eastward" has been exposed.

With a soft scoff tinged with self-mockery, Meng Xihong frowned deeply: "I originally thought the Lin family members were all as foolish and dull as Lin Fei, but I underestimated the heroes of the world. Underestimating the enemy is a grave mistake! From now on, we must be more meticulous in our actions."

Since things have come to this point, the only option is to make plans as soon as possible.

Meng Xihong turned around and summoned Zhang Xianghua, another trusted confidant he had secretly cultivated besides Ji Beichuan.

"There may be a major change tonight, and we will need your help, brothers." Meng Xihong's voice was very low, but his eyes held a sharp edge.

"Before midnight, you and the brothers will lie in ambush in the shadows. You and Ji Beichuan have just been promoted to second-rate experts, so pay close attention to the surrounding movements and issue a warning if there is any unusual activity. Today, you will lead the brothers to set up the defenses while I go home to make some preparations."

"Don't worry, Mengtou!" Zhang Xianghua patted his chest. "Tonight, all the brothers will follow your orders. We won't flinch even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of ​​fire!"

Meng Xihong felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this. He usually only shared some martial arts insights and gave small favors, but he never expected that these brothers would be so loyal and righteous, still willing to stand firmly by his side in times of crisis.

Through his experiences over the years, Meng Xihong has come to know that human relationships in this world are as thin as paper. "Helping is a favor, not helping is one's right." He hadn't had high hopes, but at this moment, he was moved to tears by this burning promise.

"Thank you, brothers!" He nodded solemnly. "If we can survive this ordeal, I, Meng Xihong, will protect you with my life and will never let you down!"

After returning home, Meng Xihong went straight to the front yard.

He took out the Shadow Dagger, its dark blade gleaming coldly in the morning light.

He then walked to the old locust tree in the courtyard, and using the extraordinary comprehension and keen perception brought by [Literary Mind and Spirit], he condensed spiritual energy patterns at his fingertips.
The Shadow Spike is slowly embedded into the prepared array hub, turning it into a hidden killing move of the protective array, waiting for the enemy to walk into the trap.

He then moved to the inside of the gate and took out a small bag of Intoxicating Grass powder that he had seized from the Black Snake.

With earth-elemental spiritual power swirling around his fingertips, he used the Locust Wood Concealing Technique to silently hide the powder underground, and then used spiritual power to set up an imperceptible trigger mechanism.

After doing all this, he went into the inner room, looked at Bai Muyun and the child, and said in a deep voice, "There may be enemies attacking tonight. You should hide in the room and not go out no matter what noise you hear."

Bai Muyun's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around the children.

Although she was extremely worried, she also knew that with her cultivation at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining, and Meng Yanqing at the peak of Ming Jin, they were completely helpless in this storm.

Looking at her husband's tense jawline, she bit her lip and nodded: "You...you must be careful in everything you do."

The night was thick and dark, pressing down heavily on Wufeng County. For some reason, the chirping of insects and birds was scarce today, as if they were being choked by this invisible pressure and had fallen silent early on.

Beyond the walls of the Meng residence, in the deepest shadows.

Dozens of figures, like shadows crawling out of hell, blended perfectly into the night.

Their breathing was deep and synchronized, their movements as coordinated as a single person, their cold eyes piercing the darkness, fixed intently on the Meng residence, like a pack of wolves eyeing their prey. The elite Qinglin Guards had been mobilized in full force.

The leader was Lin Bao.

The scars on his face reflected a chilling light in the thin moonlight, and his burly body leaned slightly forward, like a ferocious beast poised to pounce.

He gripped a heavy demon-headed sword tightly in his hand, and blood seemed to flow in the dark red blood groove, greedily craving fresh blood.

Beside him stood two elderly men with profound and unfathomable auras. In the withered palm of one of them lay an ancient compass, about the size of a palm, covered with tadpole-like runes.

A scarlet needle in the center of the compass was trembling violently, relentlessly targeting the location of Meng Yanning and Meng Xihong deep within the Meng residence.

A wisp of black energy, visible to the naked eye, swirled around the tip of the pointer, greedily licking the air. "Found it!" The gaunt old man's voice was hoarse and dry, tinged with a chilling excitement.

"Such pure innate essence! What a piece...it seems there's more than one. Flawless immortal bone! Although it's locked by some kind of wood-type barrier, this aura can't be hidden from my 'Spirit Devouring Disc'! I can't tell them this."

"Hehe, there's an unexpected bonus. Lin Fei's death was not in vain... Young Master Lang is indeed a brilliant strategist!"

Lin Bao's eyes flashed with a fierce light, like two burning will-o'-the-wisps. He glanced at the trembling blood-red pointer, and his breathing became heavier.

Immortal bones! The "resources" that Young Master Lang desperately needs! If we can acquire them, immense merit will be within our grasp.

He suddenly raised his ghost-headed sword, the blade slicing a cold arc in the darkness.

"Listen to my command!" His voice was extremely low, yet it resounded like muffled thunder in the hearts of every Qinglin Guard, carrying a bloody fervor.

"Leave no one alive! But any survivors with traces of primordial energy must be captured alive. Anyone who dares to hinder Young Master Lang's important matter, I'll have their entire family skinned alive! Charge!"

The last word "up" is like the sounding of a horn from hell.

A chilling killing intent pierced the fragile tranquility of the Meng residence in an instant, and the air froze completely.

In the quiet room in the backyard, Meng Xihong, who had just stabilized his fourth level of Qi Refining and was feeling the surging spiritual power within his body, suddenly opened his eyes.

Two beams of light, solid as solid and sharp as lightning, instantly pierced through the wall and stabbed fiercely towards the front yard where the killing intent and greed were most intense.

It's here! Faster than expected.

"on!"

Lin Bao's low growl, filled with bloodlust and murderous intent, was like a chilling wind blowing from hell, instantly shattering the last vestige of false tranquility outside the Meng residence.

Dozens of Azure Scale Guards, blending into the night, suddenly sprang up from the shadows outside the courtyard wall like arrows released from a bow.

Instead of clumsily scaling the wall, they moved with astonishing coordination, in groups of three. Two of them would suddenly crouch down and exert force, while the third would use the momentum to leap into the air, stomping hard on their partner's shoulder or clasped hands, and their bodies would leap over the ten-foot-high wall like a stone being thrown. Their movements were clean and efficient.

"Enemy attack!"

Almost the instant the first Qinglin Guard figure appeared above the courtyard wall, Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua's warning cries pierced the night sky, urgent and filled with undisguised killing intent.

"Boo! Hah! Hah!"

Their response was a barrage of ice spikes and fireballs shot from outside the wall, their angles tricky, precise, and ruthless.

The constables who had just rushed out from the shadows didn't even have time to draw their swords before their foreheads and throats were instantly pierced, and flames erupted from their bodies.

Fresh blood mixed with brain matter splattered violently onto the bluestone ground.

On the wall, the first group of Azure Scale Guards leaped over like vultures pouncing on their prey. Some held up hand seals, while others picked up poisoned crossbows and aimed them at the other servants and guards who rushed out of their rooms in panic upon hearing the noise.

"Pfft!" "Ah—!"

Screams, the sound of blades piercing flesh, and the whistling of crossbow bolts mingled together in an instant.

Caught off guard, the servants and guards fell like wheat that had been cut down.

Blood splattered in the dim light of the lanterns, and the heavy stench of blood quickly filled the cold night air.

(End of this chapter)