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

Chapter 29 Silver Spear Pierces the Night, Spirit Emerges

"A villain? A treasure?" Xiao Jingzhan seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and let out a short, cold laugh.

The laughter was particularly jarring in the silent night sky.

"What a Lin family! What a blatant distortion of the truth! You, Lin Lang, coveted the immortal bones of a child and committed this heinous act of slaughtering mortals, yet you still dare to invoke the covenant between immortals and mortals? Do you really think that the Lin family can control everything in Yunzhou?"

"Besides," Xiao Jingzhan's voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling aura, "what gives you the right to speak to me like that, you mere Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator?"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Jingzhan's dark purple cloak began to flutter wildly without any wind.

A powerful, majestic, and righteous aura suddenly erupted from his body. This aura was as deep as an abyss, as heavy as a mountain, and as fierce as thunder. It instantly broke through the blockade of Lin Lang's cold and oppressive aura, like the bright sun dispelling the haze, and enveloped the entire Meng residence.

Foundation building period!
Moreover, he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with an incredibly solid foundation and an extremely profound aura!
"What?" Lin Lang's dark red eyes narrowed sharply, and for the first time, true horror appeared on his handsome face.

He never expected that Xiao Jingzhan, this seemingly ordinary county magistrate, would actually possess such terrifying cultivation.

That majestic and righteous aura subtly restrained the sinister and evil techniques he was practicing.

Lin Bao and the group of Qinglin Guards were struck dumb, their faces turning deathly pale. Under the terrifying pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage, they even had difficulty breathing, and their legs involuntarily went weak. Their previous arrogance was instantly crushed.

“This is under the jurisdiction of this county! Meng Xihong is the head of this county government. He is responsible for apprehending bandits and protecting the local area. What crime has he committed? His wife and children are even more innocent.”

Xiao Jingzhan's voice was like thunder from the heavens, carrying a hint of majesty that resonated with the heavens and earth.

"Lin Lang, take your men and get out of Wufeng County immediately! Otherwise..."

He made a fist in the air with his right hand!
"Zheng——!"

A clear, resounding gunshot, like the roar of a dragon, tore through the sky.

A long spear, entirely silver and with fine purple lightning patterns wrapped around its shaft, appeared out of thin air in his hand!

A cold glint appeared at the tip of the spear, its sharp aura piercing the night sky and pointing directly at Lin Lang. Purple lightning crackled and popped across the spear shaft, radiating a destructive aura.

"...Don't blame me for being merciless with my gun!"

Lightning illuminated Xiao Jingzhan's cold and stern face. The spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage mixed with the fierce spear intent swept out like a storm.

The will to fight soared to the heavens!

Lin Lang's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with a mixture of greed, shock, and rage.

He stared intently at the Jingzhe Spear in Xiao Jingzhan's hand, then glanced at the direction of the private room. He sensed that the immortal bone essence seemed to become even more alluring under the pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage, yet it was as if there was an insurmountable chasm between them.

"Well... well, what a cunning and unassuming Magistrate Xiao!" Lin Lang spat out the words through gritted teeth, his voice icy and chilling. "I'll remember what happened today! We... will meet again!"

He knew that with Xiao Jingzhan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, wielding his spear, there was absolutely no chance of success tonight.

If I force a conflict, I might be able to escape, but the Qinglin Guards and Lin Bao I brought with me will surely die under gunfire. This debt can only be settled later.

"Retreat!" Lin Lang roared unwillingly, his figure transforming into a dark red blood shadow, instantly disappearing from the rooftop and merging into the vast night, as if he had never existed.

Lin Bao felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and dared not linger. He didn't even dare to utter any harsh words. He waved to the remaining Qinglin Guards, and with a heart full of fear and resentment, he hurriedly left the Meng residence like a stray dog, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

As Lin Lang and Lin Bao retreated, the terrifying pressure and bloody killing intent that had enveloped the Meng residence receded rapidly like a tide.

All that remained was a devastated front yard littered with corpses, and shattered earthen walls.

Inside the side room, Madam Bai, barely breathing, collapsed into her children's arms.

Meng Yanqing and Meng Yanwei held their mother and younger brother tightly, their small bodies still trembling with a mixture of bewilderment and immense grief after surviving the ordeal.

In the courtyard, Meng Xihong leaned on the Shadow Thorn, his body covered in blood, his breathing labored.

He looked at the dark figure holding a gun standing upright on the roof, and his tense nerves finally relaxed a little. An indescribable fatigue and a feeling of exhaustion after surviving a disaster instantly washed over his body.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by a clot of blood.

Xiao Jingzhan slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Meng Xihong, then sweeping over the tragic scene in the room. A subtle, complex emotion flickered in his deep eyes. Then, the lightning on his Jingzhe Spear vanished.

"Clean up the scene and treat the injured." Magistrate Xiao's voice returned to its usual calm. Before he finished speaking, his figure appeared at the door of the side room like a ghost.

The azure light swirling around her fingertips, like the gentlest spring rain, carried a vibrant and pure life force, slowly seeping into Bai Shi's brow.

The light was not dazzling, but it contained the Foundation Establishment cultivator's profound understanding and control over the essence of life.

Bai Shi, who was originally barely breathing and like a candle flickering in the wind, finally regained a faint hue on her deathly pale face under the nourishment of this gentle yet powerful force. Her breath, which had been so weak as to be almost stagnant, also became longer and more even.

Although he remained unconscious, the deathly aura was forcibly suppressed, allowing a glimmer of hope to be maintained.

“Mother…” Meng Yanqing and Meng Yanwei hugged their mother’s arms tightly. The faint but real body temperature came through, and their tense little faces finally relaxed a little.

Large tears rolled down silently, landing on the blood-stained clothes.

Meng Yanning's little hands gripped her mother's clothes tightly, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with helpless confusion and deep guilt.

Meng Xihong, leaning on the Shadow Thorn, dragged his heavy steps into the side room.

He was covered in blood, and several wounds had reopened after the fierce battle, the seeping blood staining his tattered clothes even more.

Every step felt like stepping on a red-hot iron; the intense pain and the exhaustion from overexertion assaulted his nerves like a tidal wave.

Looking at his wife's pale face and the children's terrified eyes, a torrent of hatred, fear, and heavy responsibility surged within him, threatening to overwhelm him.

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

He walked to the bedside, his gaze sweeping over his wife and children before turning to Xiao Jingzhan. His hoarse throat moved with difficulty, finally culminating in a deep, heavy bow with clasped hands.

"This humble servant... Meng Xihong, thanks Your Excellency for saving my life! This kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by the Meng family!" Every word seemed to be squeezed out from his blood-stained lungs.

Xiao Jingzhan withdrew his finger, and the blue light at his fingertip slowly faded away.

His gaze fell on Meng Xihong, his deep eyes seeming to penetrate the skin and look straight into the soul.

He did not immediately respond to Meng Xihong's gratitude, but remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"You, Meng Xihong with your thick eyebrows and big eyes," Xiao Jingzhan's voice carried a hint of coldness, a half-smile, "I, the magistrate, trusted you so much, and you did just that, you turned all my people against me and made them your confidants? And you even secretly hid your cultivation level, pretending to be weak while actually being strong?"

Before Meng Xihong could come up with an excuse, Xiao Jingzhan's tone suddenly changed.

"However, you are very good. You are at the peak of martial arts and the fourth level of immortal cultivation. Your foundation is far more solid than ordinary people."

What's even more remarkable is that, in the face of dire circumstances, he was able to unleash such unwavering willpower, protecting his wife and children, and fighting to the death without retreating.

If I had had your strength and will back then, A-Miao wouldn't have..." The last part turned into an almost inaudible sigh, filled with deep pain.

Meng Xihong was slightly shaken, wondering whether the other party was genuinely praising him or had something else in mind.

However, Xiao Jingzhan changed his tone again, his voice suddenly becoming serious and carrying an invisible pressure: "However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Although you repelled the powerful enemy and protected your family tonight, you also completely exposed your trump card that you should not have revealed."

His gaze was tangible, possessing an all-seeing penetrating power, and finally settled on Meng Xihong, each word clear and distinct.

"A literary spirit and integrity, a noble and righteous character. Such talent is the foundation of literary excellence, a rare find in a thousand years. If it were used by a dynasty, it would be a blessing to the nation and a glory to the literary world. If it were coveted by evil, it would be a source of utter calamity!"

The words "literary spirit and integrity" struck Meng Xihong like a thunderclap, causing his pupils to contract sharply and his muscles to tense instantly.

This is one of his biggest secrets!

The extraordinary comprehension and natural affinity for righteousness brought by his "literary spirit and integrity" are the core reliance of his self-created techniques, his ability to perceive crises, and even his skillful arrangement of formations tonight. Yet, Xiao Jingzhan saw through it at a glance.
A chill instantly shot up my spine and spread throughout my body!

When did the other party realize it? Was it when he used his literary understanding to control the Shadow Thorn and integrate it into the locust wood formation? Or was it during the bloody battle when he was fighting against the round-faced old man's evil arts?
Meng Xihong's mind raced, filled with surprise and uncertainty, and his hand unconsciously tightened its grip on the cold handle of the Shadow Thorn.

Is it a blessing or a curse?
(End of this chapter)