Chapter 131: The Fall of the Wei Family

Everyone gazed at Gu Feng, who stood surrounded by coffins, as if looking at a monster. It was not just shock; it was pure, unadulterated awe.

Spirit-grade weapons were rare enough as it was. Even for a standard, low-tier Spirit weapon, a master craftsman could not guarantee a hundred percent success rate; a single failure meant a fortune lost in materials. Yet, what was Gu Feng wearing? A full set of Spirit-grade armor.

A set! The complexity of forging such a set was dozens, if not hundreds, of times greater than that of a single weapon. For a master craftsman, forging just one piece of such a set could take months, or even years. While this was partly due to the limitations of the Great Wilderness’s forging techniques, it underscored just how incredibly difficult it was to craft a Spirit-grade set. More importantly, Spirit-grade sets had never appeared in the Great Wilderness before. No one knew what functions they possessed beyond defense.

The Han family patriarch had been a genuine fourth-level Spirit Venerable. Everyone had heard a thunderous explosion and assumed Gu Feng had detonated himself. Yet, the result before them was Gu Feng standing there, completely unscathed, now adorned in a Spirit-grade suit. This led them to believe the suit’s power was so immense that the Han patriarch had been obliterated, leaving not even a scrap of flesh or bone behind.

The onlookers, who had no stake in the matter, remained indifferent. Whether Gu Feng was strong or weak, mysterious or not, did not concern them so long as they hadn't offended him. Thus, they watched the spectacle without a hint of fear.

However, for the three great families, it was a different story. The Han family, in particular, was devastated; their most powerful ancestor had been killed. They were filled with both hatred and terror. What could they do? Their patriarch had been destroyed—to seek revenge would be nothing short of a death sentence.

Seeing the Han family's patriarch dead, the Du and Mo families felt a sense of relief; at least their own patriarchs were still alive. Yet, the fate of the Han family, now lacking an ancestral pillar, was clear: their status would inevitably suffer a crushing blow.

Gu Feng waited for a moment before calling out, "Next..."

He drew out the word, scanning each Spirit Venerable before finally resting his gaze on the Mo family patriarch. The patriarch felt a shiver run through his body as Gu Feng’s eyes locked onto him. The fate of the Han patriarch was a grim precedent—this was a man who truly killed.

Struggling internally, the Mo patriarch spoke before Gu Feng could: "Young hero, ten million spirit stones is truly impossible. Although we have controlled the Great Qin for three years, we only obtain about ten million in total. Most of that must be paid to the Imperial Court, and family expenses take a large portion. The Mo family has a total reserve of over six million spirit stones. We are willing to hand it all over to you, only asking that you spare us."

Six million spirit stones—six million points. Gu Feng was ecstatic, though he feigned a thoughtful frown. Seeing this, the Mo patriarch panicked and upped the ante, "The Mo family also possesses a seven-thousand-year-old spirit mushroom; we are willing to offer that to you as well."

A smile finally graced Gu Feng’s face. He walked toward the Mo patriarch, intending to pat his shoulder and offer a word of praise. The patriarch retreated in sheer terror, wondering if even this was not enough. Gu Feng stopped, looking helpless.

Seeing him pause, the patriarch stammered, "Young hero, the Mo family truly has nothing else of value!"

"I agree," Gu Feng said, shrugging. "I’m just here to collect."

"Ah! Young hero, please wait, I will go fetch it personally."

Gu Feng nodded in approval. After all, there were seven or eight other Spirit Venerables from the Mo family present; he wasn't worried they wouldn't return. As the Mo patriarch departed, Gu Feng turned to the remaining Spirit Venerables of the Du and Han families. "The Mo family is sensible. Then, the next coffin shall go to..." He looked at a second-level Spirit Venerable from the Han family, the strongest survivor of their clan.

With their ancestor dead and no hope of revenge—their very lives hanging by a thread—the Han representative spoke hurriedly: "The Han family is in a similar situation to the Mo family. I am willing to offer all our six point five million spirit stones, plus our family's greatest treasure, the Earth-element Gem. Please, young hero, spare the Han family."

The Han family members were the most miserable of all. They had lost their patriarch and still had to pay. If only they had surrendered earlier, none of this would have happened. But regret was a bitter medicine.

Gu Feng nodded. "I expect the money and the Earth-element Gem within an hour. If the Han family dares to move against me, or if I don't receive the goods in an hour, the coffins will be delivered to your doorstep."

Terrified, the Han family head flew off personally to retrieve the assets. With the Mo and Han families compromised, only the Du family remained. They were equally wretched; having gained nothing from the three years of control over Great Qin, they had now offended a god of slaughter.

The Du patriarch smiled at Gu Feng. "Young hero, the Du family truly cannot produce six million. We can offer three million spirit stones and ten medicinal herbs over a thousand years old, including a five-thousand-year-old ginseng. I hope you will show mercy and grant the Du family a chance to survive."

Gu Feng frowned, unsatisfied. "Your Du family members in Great Qin have made me quite unhappy. I’m afraid this coffin might just..." He dragged out the words again.

The Du patriarch, pale with fright, quickly interrupted, "The Du family has an ancestral stone. We have never known what it is, but we are willing to offer it to you as well."

Gu Feng’s interest was piqued. He smiled. "Bring the stone, the stones, and the herbs for me to see. If I am satisfied, this matter with the Du family will be settled."

The Du patriarch also left to retrieve the items. Gu Feng then tapped his head, as if suddenly remembering something, and addressed the remaining members of the three families: "The Wei family—who among you will go and invite them over? I have matters to discuss with them."

Having suffered such heavy losses, how could the three families let the Wei family stay out of it? Immediately, each family sent a Spirit Venerable toward the Wei estate.

The onlookers gazed at Gu Feng, viewing him now as a deity. A single man had forced the four great families to surrender. More importantly, aside from his mysterious aura, he hadn't even unleashed his full power. It felt surreal, like a dream.

While waiting, Gu Feng walked toward Xuan Lingyu with a smile. The Mo and Han family members blocking his path scrambled to make way. They felt no hatred, only a profound, paralyzing fear.

Xuan Lingyu stared at Gu Feng, her hands clutching her robes so tightly her knuckles turned white, at a loss for what to do. Seeing Gu Feng approach, Feng’er panicked and cried out to her mistress, "Miss, he’s walking toward us!"

The crowd’s eyes followed Gu Feng. Some recalled the rumors behind the four families' bounty on him—that he was a criminal. Looking at the petite, youthful Xuan Lingyu, they whispered, "Could Gu Feng have taken a liking to her?"

In truth, Xuan Lingyu’s stature and appearance were remarkably similar to Gu Feng’s sister, Gu Yan, which sparked a sense of familiarity in him. As he neared, Xuan Lingyu did not retreat, though she was clearly flustered. Feng’er, however, displayed great courage; she stepped in front of her mistress, arms spread wide, and blocked Gu Feng. "You villain! Don't you dare hurt my mistress!"

Just then, the Spirit Venerables sent to the Wei family returned, reporting to Gu Feng: "The Wei family refuses to come. They have declared that Gu Feng will die a miserable death."

The next moment, as if to confirm the Wei family’s words, a terrifying pressure descended from the horizon, shrouding the entire city of Wanfang.