Big Data Cultivation
Chapter 1182: Turning Hostile Without Mercy

Chapter 1182: Chapter 1182: Turning Hostile Without Mercy

Manager Tang immediately nodded without hesitation, "As you say, Chairman Huang Fu. I’ll do whatever you command."

Feng Jun heard this and couldn’t help but cough dryly. Since the two of them had gone this far, he couldn’t remain completely indifferent. "If there aren’t enough people to help, you can go find combat cultivators. Just tell them Mount Zhige’s Master Feng Jun said no one should work for free."

"You’re Mount Zhige’s Mountain Master... Ji PingAn’s backer?" The long-silent Wu Shangren suddenly exclaimed in shock.

After all, Ji PingAn had made such a name for himself that even Wu Shangren found it startling to hear his name.

Actually, Ji PingAn was merely at the Qi Refining Initial Stage. Wu Shangren could kill him with a sneeze, but Ji PingAn’s backing—millions of combat cultivators—gave Wu Shangren a headache. No one dared to confront him head-on—a porcelain plate smashing against a tile? Not worth it.

If "assassination" is even a concept in the cultivation world, eliminating Ji PingAn wouldn’t be difficult.

But the real issue was Ji PingAn’s alliances, sustained by bonds of camaraderie. Killing one Ji PingAn would simply mean another ten or even a hundred Ji PingAns could be pushed forward—all comrades-in-arms.

That was the real terror.

Feng Jun gave Wu Shangren a light glance and said indifferently, "Who I am is irrelevant. What I care about is how the three Lu brothers plan to explain themselves."

Ah, the Ashen-Hued Assembly. Feng Jun wasn’t unfamiliar with them, nor did he care about the cultivation levels of the three Lu brothers.

This wasn’t arrogance on Feng Jun’s part—he had to establish dominance in the area near the oilfields. This was something only Earthlings cared about, but challenge their dominion near the Spirit Stone mines? Try acting out there and see what happens.

The cultivators guarding those mines would teach you respect in mere moments. Apologies or excuses wouldn’t even matter—there wouldn’t be time to plead "It’s a misunderstanding."

To establish a lasting foundation, tough battles were unavoidable.

Deep down, Feng Jun even felt that this battle had come at the perfect time—without a hard fight, there was no way to intimidate petty troublemakers.

This was his belief, but Wu Shangren crumbled entirely. He dropped to his knees and pleaded, "Immortal Feng, I beseech you to discern the truth! The Sun family kid went gambling; it has nothing to do with the Wu family. I beg Immortal Feng for clarity."

Pan Shangren gave him a cold glance, thinking to himself, "Clearing yourself now—will that help at all?"

Nevertheless, Wu Shangren’s kneeling was profoundly sincere. "Those three Lu brothers were indeed part of the Ten Directions Platform Orthodoxy. So while Daoist Pan fabricated information about the Ten Directions Platform, it wasn’t entirely unfounded... I’m willing to eliminate this scoundrel for Daoist Feng!"

Pan Shangren froze at those words—switching sides, and so decisively? Really?

The next moment, Pan Shangren pinched a spell and attempted to Blink twenty li away. The Pan family’s Blink technique was quite renowned.

However, upon Blinking, Pan Shangren noticed there was still half a body left behind on-site—a lower half remained, while the upper half of the cultivator’s body was gone... Wait, why does this lower half look so familiar?

In the next moment, he understood the reality behind the severed body—this was his own body!

Unable to contain his fury, he roared, "The Sword of Horizon’s End... Wu, you ruthless scoundrel!"

Yet his cries served no purpose at this point—Pan Shangren fell, meeting his demise.

Wu Shangren had slain Pan Shangren with one strike. Then he bowed to Feng Jun.

There was no trace of pride or arrogance. With tears in his eyes, he declared, "Immortal Feng, we’ve suffered under the Pan family for far too long."

Oh, that line sounds so familiar. Feng Jun curled his lips in contempt and was about to speak, but he noticed that the Wu family clansmen had already rushed violently toward the Pan family clansmen.

With the Pan family’s only Out-of-Dust cultivator killed, the remaining Pan family disciples were as good as dead—what was the point in keeping them alive?

As Feng Jun listened to the chaos of murder and bloodshed, he was dumbfounded for a moment before nodding slightly. "If it makes you happy, go ahead."

In truth, the earlier conflicts between the Wu family and Sun family were conventional squabbles—regular probing, a few fights here and there, all within normal bounds. The Wu family was slightly excessive, but given they had an Out-of-Dust cultivator, their arrogance was expected.

However, the Pan family’s arrogance had crossed a line. They brought in outsiders, using gambling schemes to entrap their fellow villagers—something no one could endure.

Before Feng Jun could speak, Wu Shangren approached Sun Daqi. "Daqi, let’s seize control of the Pan family."

Wu Shangren fully understood Feng Jun’s disdain for Sun Daqi and dissatisfaction with the Sun family’s actions. But regardless, the Sun family carried Feng Jun’s mark—an undeniable connection.

Sun Daqi was truly perplexed. He blinked sluggishly and then looked towards Feng Jun. "Take over... the Pan family?"

Feng Jun cast an icy glare at him and thought to himself, "This idiot—why are you staring at me?"

In any case, now that Feng Jun was here, his primary goal was to ensure production and prevent excessive disruptions in the region. He was also prepared to use thunderous means to suppress local forces and set an example for others.

Given the current situation, it seemed he didn’t need to intervene anymore. So, with a casual gesture, he forcibly recalled two escaped Pan family disciples, pulling them back.

This was a clear signal. Yang Shangren, who had initially planned to visit the Fang Market, acted decisively when he saw this. He waved his hand and sent a fireball flying, scorching two Qi Refinement Pan family disciples into charcoal. "Daring to show disrespect to Out-of-Dust cultivators!"

Wu Shangren saw this and immediately slapped a Pan family disciple, leaving him flattened like a pancake.

Jing Qingyang followed suit and launched a frenzied attack—he was on a mission; killing opponents counted toward his contribution.

Chen Junwei reacted slightly slower, but upon charging forward, he managed to decapitate a fleeing cultivator with one swift strike.

Among the Pan family cultivators present, there were only a dozen or so. Their numbers couldn’t withstand such slaughter—they were annihilated in mere moments.

Wu Shangren and Sun Daqi exchanged a knowing glance and shouted in unison, "Rally the disciples... Attack the Pan family!"

To prevent unforeseen events, Yang Shangren accompanied them.

Jing Qingyang wanted to follow as well. But upon casting a glance at Feng Jun and noticing his lack of response, he ultimately restrained himself—his participation, though likely fruitful, would appear as snatching spoils of war. While Yang Shangren could act this way, it wasn’t appropriate for him.

How fast can a clan’s downfall occur? Simply observe the Pan family.

Three hours later, all major Pan family combat forces were wiped out, and a large number of prisoners were being escorted out.

Feng Jun felt a bit sentimental while watching. Not long ago, Pan Shangren had been confidently negotiating with him over buying his land. In the blink of an eye, the entire Pan family had fallen—to none other than their longtime neighbors.

Wu Shangren respectfully presented the loot seized from the Pan family’s secret vault, including over thirty thousand Spirit Stones, cultivation techniques, elixirs, weapons, talismans, and countless other items.

Traditionally in the cultivation world, those who act reap the rewards. Yet Wu Shangren dared not keep these treasures—Feng Jun had yet to fully forgive his family.

Feng Jun claimed the majority of Spirit Stones and left ten thousand for Yang Shangren. He collected all cultivation technique manuals, then allowed them to divvy up the remaining items.

Yang Shangren, unrestrained, swept away sixty percent of the leftover goods—it was known his life was short, so he sought to secure wealth for his kin by any means necessary.

Still, Yang Shangren offered an explanation. "I’m only taking portable valuables. The bulk lies in fixed assets, which benefit the two of you."

And indeed, his words weren’t untrue. Could an Out-of-Dust clan only hold thirty thousand Spirit Stones? Impossible.

Most wealth in Out-of-Dust clans resided in fixed assets—land, homes, storefronts, goods. Without such resources, how could they sustain large families?

Wu Shangren didn’t mind his statement but cautiously asked Feng Jun, "Immortal Feng, any further instructions?"

Feng Jun looked deeply into his eyes and remarked, "Wu Shangren, you really know how to act decisively when it counts."

Not long ago, Pan Shangren had been advocating for the Wu family. Yet Wu Shangren turned against him without hesitation.

Wu Shangren responded casually, "Relations between our clans have never been harmonious. When external enemies arise, we join forces briefly. After all, people may not feel kinship, but the land does..."

"However, he conspired with outsiders to harm Lantern Town and offended you, Daoist. I wouldn’t let my clan bear the consequences or risk Wu family extermination."

"See, that’s why you’re clever and know when to make sacrifices," Feng Jun sighed softly, then asked, "Wu Daoist, I’d like you to answer truthfully—at White Pebble Beach, what treasures has the Wu family gained?"

"Well... truly, nothing noteworthy," Wu Shangren felt deeply wronged. While the Wu family hadn’t come away empty-handed from White Pebble Beach, their finds were limited to Spirit Plants and wild creatures—mentioning these would insult Feng Jun.

But midway through his explanation, Wu Shangren steeled himself and said, "If there’s anything worth mentioning... well, it would be one Youthening Herb."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Huang Fu WuXia and Kong Ziyi turned their heads simultaneously. "You said what—a Youthening Herb?"

When cultivators enter the Core Formation stage, they can adjust their appearance. Certain cultivation techniques even allow Out-of-Dust cultivators to do this. Nevertheless, rejuvenation pills remain highly coveted among female cultivators—and even many male cultivators care about it.

The Youthening Herb is the key ingredient for crafting these rejuvenating pills. Though not particularly high-grade as Spirit Grass, it is exceedingly rare in the cultivation world, occasionally appearing in auctions.

Refining the Youthening Herb into rejuvenation pills maximizes its medicinal potential. However, one herb yields at least six pills, meaning consuming an herb whole is far superior to taking a single pill.

"Indeed," Wu Shangren said expressionlessly with a nod. "We’re willing to offer it up in hopes Immortal Feng will show mercy."

Even while uttering the words, his heart was bleeding. This herb wasn’t collected at White Pebble Beach but instead obtained by his father during a perilous expedition in the Endless Sea.

Though the Wu family always maintained only one or two Out-of-Dust cultivators, ensuring they had no shortage of necessities, the herb sat unused in their vault. Now, offering it up was solely an attempt to appease Feng Jun.

Of course, Feng Jun’s travel companions included two female cultivators. Otherwise, this herb alone might not have sufficed.

Before Feng Jun could reply, Huang Fu WuXia interjected first. "Bring out the item for inspection."