Chapter 78: Then Please Go Die

Su Jian smiled faintly, his expression ambiguous. “So, how do you intend to deal with this matter?”

The head of the Bai family hesitated, replying tactfully, “For the greater good... it would be best to kill him.”

[Task completed. Infinite Summoning Player Mode Ultimate Edition now permanently enabled.]

At last, the wretched task was finished.

His patience had nearly worn thin; he had no interest in probing further into these trifling details. He merely wished to understand the cause and effect behind it all.

“What role does this Young Master Hua play in the Academy of Humanity?” Su Jian, committed to drawing out the other’s value, asked patiently.

Though he was careful not to get himself entangled, it was necessary to clarify the situation’s origins.

“You haven’t heard of Young Master Hua?” The Bai family head’s expression changed again; unease crept in. If Su Jian were truly a senior of the Righteous Alliance, how could he not know the name of Young Master Hua?

Su Jian displayed the characteristic arrogance of the Righteous Alliance. “And who is he, that I should know of him?”

The Bai family head’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re not from the Righteous Alliance. Who are you, really?”

“And how are you so certain I’m not?” Su Jian, sensing he’d been exposed, made no effort to explain further.

He hadn’t rushed to investigate the matter precisely because he knew little of the Academy of Humanity and feared revealing a flaw. The Bai family was but a minor player; he hadn’t expected to learn any secrets from them.

Since this Young Master Hua was so renowned, his identity should not be difficult to uncover.

The Bai family head’s voice trembled. “How could a senior of the Righteous Alliance not know that Young Master Hua is the son of the Northern Alliance’s leader?”

Su Jian replied politely, “In that case, please die.”

Summoning the strength rewarded to him, Su Jian raised his fist and struck the Bai family head’s forehead. It was the first time he had used his newfound power in real combat.

With that blow, the Bai family head’s body was smashed against the bedrock behind him—simple and brutal.

His skull caved in slightly, eyes nearly bursting, his whole body seeming on the verge of collapse.

Su Jian sighed inwardly in regret; he hadn’t killed the man with a single punch. Perhaps it was due to the man’s late Nascent Soul cultivation.

Then, Su Jian took out a bottle of Five Poisons Powder, seized the Bai family head’s scattered silver hair, and deftly forced the poison into his mouth.

The Bai family head, already at his last gasp, had no strength left to resist. The Nascent Soul within his purple talisman wilted instantly, its spiritual essence utterly extinguished.

Moments later,

He gathered all the storage rings from every member of the Bai family.

Next, he hung the entire Bai family upon his own courtyard wall.

Each was granted a bottle of Five Poisons Powder.

Su Jian suddenly remembered he had some loose ends to tie up, so he spared two sturdy-looking Bai family members.

This scene naturally drew the attention of the nearby villagers.

They first wore expressions of terror, then promptly fled.

Su Jian: “……”

This, indeed, was the reaction expected of ordinary folk.

Initially, he’d considered gathering all the villagers, revealing the Bai family’s sins in the name of a righteous hero.

After all, it was the truth; with undeniable evidence, he could easily clear his own name.

Then he could quietly return to the life of a commoner.

This time, he had saved an entire village.

But now, it seemed unnecessary. The fleeing villagers had already seen his face.

That was enough.

After some thought, Su Jian drew his sword and inscribed the Bai family’s misdeeds upon their green stone wall.

“The Bai family fell to evil ways, committing atrocious deeds, feeding the villagers spirit rice mixed with Soul-Strengthening Powder for decades.”

“Had I not discovered this in time, the entire Lingxiu Village would soon have perished at their hands, their souls devoured through poisonous arts, with no hope of reincarnation.”

This time, he would play the role of a righteous hero who draws his blade against injustice.

Though cultivators need not explain themselves to mortals, without clarification, the ignorant would only see him as a ruthless murderer.

In the end, it would backfire—perhaps the villagers would even praise the Bai family, for decades of spirit rice was indeed a tremendous favor.

Especially rice laced with Soul-Strengthening Powder; taken over time, it would grant mortals clarity of mind and boundless energy.

He then searched the Bai estate thoroughly, digging three feet deep.

It was easy to discover a hidden chamber underground.

Perhaps the Bai family head had never imagined such a calamity would befall them.

Thus, this chamber was far less concealed than the one beneath the city lord’s mansion in Lingzhou.

Su Jian, ever cautious, had prepared a Grand Transference Talisman beforehand.

Places like hidden chambers were often fraught with danger.

But as it happened, his worries were unfounded.

The chamber was spacious, almost empty, save for a massive bronze cauldron at its center, from which a strange, ghostly blue light occasionally flickered.

[Medium-grade spiritual artifact Soul Refining Cauldron detected. Convert to spiritual energy value?]

Su Jian did not rush to convert it, but peered inside, finding dozens of souls drifting within, instinctively struggling to escape the cauldron’s grip.

Yet clearly, all their struggles were in vain.

These souls seemed well-maintained, likely nourished by the Bai family head for many years.

“These must be the villagers who died naturally in Lingxiu Village,” Su Jian murmured as he chose to convert the cauldron.

[Current remaining spiritual energy: 84,035]

In an instant, the Soul Refining Cauldron lost its spiritual essence, the trapped souls freed.

Suddenly, Su Jian sensed something—an intangible feeling, as if several thoughts were reaching out to him.

He could not describe it, but he felt their goodwill.

“It seems their spiritual intelligence has not faded yet...” Su Jian gladly accepted their goodwill.

Before leaving, he remembered to deal with the bedrock in the Bai family’s courtyard. Otherwise, it would surely cause endless trouble.

He had not forgotten how the hidden hand and the Righteous Alliance had quarreled fiercely over that bedrock.

Though it was of little use, to cultivators it appeared to be an indestructible treasure, impervious to all magic.

At that moment, the two Bai family members he had spared became useful.

Following Su Jian’s instruction, the two began digging in an inconspicuous corner outside.

He had no better way to handle it—so long as it wasn’t in plain sight, it would suffice.

Besides,

It was essentially worthless... even if it surfaced again in the future, it would mean nothing.