Chapter 154 Seeking refuge

"I am Xu Xuanting, the eldest elder of the Xu family, and a close friend of your Dian family patriarch. If you trust me, then come with me without worry."

Taking advantage of the gaps in their battles against the monsters, they finally discovered traces of the Dian family members in an ordinary, desolate mountain about ten miles east of the Dian family.

Upon receiving the message, the Grand Elder rushed over immediately and identified himself. The Dian family cultivators inside the cave hesitated for a moment before obediently walking out of the cave.

"Are you the only ones?"

The First Elder looked at the fewer than twenty survivors of the Dian family who had come out, and a look of heartache flashed across his face.

"Uncle Xu, apart from those in the market, only we seedlings are left in the Dian family."

"Alright, come with me."

"Uncle, where's my dad?"

The elder fell silent. He looked at Dian Xinxiu, who was staring at him eagerly. He wanted to change the subject, but when it came to the last word, he decided to tell the truth.

"Your father... is dead. We rushed here after receiving the news, but it was too late."

Dian Xinxiu's pupils dilated violently. She screamed, shook her head desperately, and muttered "Impossible" to herself before finally fainting.

"Sister!"

"Xin Xiu!"

The two hurriedly released their spiritual power to investigate and found that she had fainted due to a blood rush to her heart, which relieved them.

"Who are you……"

"Junior Dian Xinqu greets Senior Xu."

"I have a close relationship with your clan leader, so I'll be frank with you. It's not safe here, so you should come back to Wuliang Mountain with me first."

What to do next is up to you to decide.

Dian Xinqu accepted the proposal almost without hesitation. The Grand Elder breathed a sigh of relief and led the group back to Wuliang Mountain.

At this time, the situation on Wuliang Mountain was not bad. With Xu Zhenqie, a great cultivator in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, in charge, and with the mountain-protecting formation, they gradually stabilized their position.

"Greetings, Clan Chief Xu!"

Upon arriving at Wuliang Mountain, Dian Xinqu immediately paid his respects to Xu Zhenqie, the clan chief.

"Well, my dear nephew... Xin Qu... never mind, let's just call each other by our own names."

The two families have intermarried for generations. If we consider the relationship between the Grand Elder and the Dian family patriarch, the patriarch and Dian Xinqu are of the same generation.

However, if we consider Xu Yuanmiao as the elder, he was momentarily at a loss for how to address him.

"Senior Xu, I am a junior. Please give your instructions."

Dian Xinqu seemed to have guessed what Xu Zhenqie was thinking. In the past, he wouldn't have cared, but now that all of his family's Foundation Establishment elders were missing, the Xu family was already taking a huge risk by taking him in, so he naturally couldn't be ungrateful.

"Alright, my dear nephew, you should know the current situation of our Xu family. We are temporarily unable to spare any manpower to avenge your Dian family. Please forgive us."

However, we can assure you that everything will be arranged as soon as possible after the beast tide.

Xu Zhenqie's solemn promise deeply moved Dian Xinqu, who, as a cultivator, knew very well how rare such a promise was.

"We are already grateful to the nobles for saving us. As for revenge, we would never dare to trouble the nobles with that."

Although I am young, I have never forgotten the hatred of my family. I hope Senior Xu can tell us who is so ruthless as to attack our Dian family this time.

Dian Xinqu, though barely twenty, calmed himself with remarkable experience and composure, and asked the question without revealing his true feelings.

"hehe!"

Xu Zhenqie suddenly laughed, which made Dian Xinqu feel uneasy.

"Clan Chief Xu, did I say something wrong?"

"No, my nephew's calmness and resourcefulness far surpass those of ordinary people. I think if Chief Dian were still alive, he would be extremely gratified."

Dian Xinqu said he dared not, then bowed solemnly. Seeing his calm demeanor, Xu Zhenqie told him everything without hesitation.

"Although we didn't see it ourselves, we speculate that the Li family was the ones who attacked your Dian family."

Dian Xinqu's expression remained unchanged, as if he had already guessed it.

"You guessed it?"

"Yes, within a thousand miles, the only cultivators capable of killing a clan leader are you and the Li clan leader. If you were to make a move, none of us would have a chance to survive."

After much thought, it could only be the Li family, who have always been our enemies, who were responsible.

Seeing that Dian Xinqu was able to analyze the situation so calmly, the clan leader exclaimed in astonishment.

"clever!"

After thinking for a moment, the clan chief spoke again.

"Although it's just speculation, it's probably pretty close to the truth. Elder Dian Xinjun of the Ling clan has likely sided with the Li family."

"Whoosh!"

Dian Xinjun, in a moment of panic, knocked over the table in front of him, then stood up abruptly and shook his head frantically.

"That's impossible!"

Seeing Dian Xinjun, who always maintained a calm demeanor, break down like this, the clan leader sighed. Traitors are just that despicable. No matter how calm and quick-witted you are, it's impossible for anyone to suddenly accept the fact that the person you've spent decades with is a traitor.

Moreover, for these Foundation Establishment families, most Foundation Establishment cultivators also serve as teachers, smilingly instructing and teaching their skills. If an elder betrays the family, their first reaction is to deny it.

"Your clan leader died from an attack by his own formation. Also, I haven't found Dian Xinjun's body."

Once this beast tide has passed, you can go and check it out yourselves.

The clan chief spoke slowly, and Dian Xinqu closed his eyes before finally speaking slowly.

"Yes! However, I hope Senior Xu can let me help defend Wuliang Mountain. Although our strength is weak, I would like to do my part."

"Just do what you can."

At the same moment, Dian Xinxiu slowly woke up, and her movement was noticed by Xu Yuanmiao, who was guarding the bedside.

"Elder, Xin Xiu has woken up!"

"Xinxiu, don't move. Lie here and rest for a while longer."

When Dian Xinxiu saw the Grand Elder's concerned face, and considering that he was an elder she knew very well, the composure she had been maintaining crumbled instantly, and two lines of tears fell like raindrops.

"Uncle Xu, our Dian family has suffered a great calamity. Thank you so much for your help. And what about my father? Is he injured?"

The elder's expression changed drastically. It seemed that there was something wrong with the girl's skills, and he hurriedly began to investigate.

"My dad... his injuries are very serious?"

Dian Xinxiu still held a sliver of hope in her heart. She looked at the Grand Elder with anticipation, hoping to hear some comforting news from him.

"We did not find your father's body."

The elder breathed a sigh of relief; the surge of qi and blood had confused her memories.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness!"

Dian Xinxiu wore a mechanical smile as she muttered to herself.

"My father must still be alive, he must be."