In fact, it didn't matter that Hou Qiang was dead, Hou Dongjun wouldn't risk his life against Lin Mo over a third-generation junior, the key was that Lin Mo was so young yet possessed such great strength and had no affiliation with any sect or school, which meant he must definitely have some overwhelming Cultivation Technique or Treasure on him, and that was what truly captivated them.
At that moment, Tan Songtao stepped forward with a severe expression and said, "Elder He, what do you mean by this?"
He Hongmiao sneered coldly, shook his head, and then slowly said, "Elder Tan, don't you understand yet? Only if you bring out the Tan Family's ancestral treasure will we be able to coexist peacefully."
"Our three families originally came from the same lineage, and when facing outsiders we should band together against common enemies. Yet you dare to betray our Tan Family and join forces with the people from the Black Witch Clan?" Tan Songtao was seething with anger.
"What a joke! Elder Tan, since when did we become vassals of your Tan Family to speak of betrayal? It's just that your Tan Family has hidden too deep, keeping your secret treasures to yourselves instead of sharing with us." He Hongmiao said coldly.
The faces of Tan Songtao, Tan Ji Yong, Tan Yong, Tan Xiang, and the other members of the Tan Family turned pale. Against the alliance of the Hou Family, the He Family, and the Black Witch Sect, their small Tan Family was no match.
Hou Dongjun snapped back to reality. With He Hongmiao's help, along with the High Priest from the Black Witch Sect, even if Lin Mo was formidable, he would fall here today.
"Hehe, it's not only about that secret ancestral treasure. This young expert from Jiangzhou has also turned out to be a pleasant surprise. If you're willing to tell us everything about the Treasures and Cultivation Techniques you have, we'll let you leave today." Hou Dongjun looked at Lin Mo, saying with a cold laugh.
Lin Mo was incredibly powerful; though they were not afraid of Lin Mo when combined, if it came to a fight to the death and Lin Mo took someone down with him, that person would surely be gravely injured, and nobody wanted to be that unfortunate one.
Thus, using threats was the most appropriate method.
"Today, all comers shall be slain!"
Lin Mo stood with his hands behind his back, his expression still detached as he declared.
His voice was overbearing and coldly merciless!
"Truly ignorant of life and death," said He Hongmiao in a chilly voice.
After speaking, He Hongmiao and Hou Dongjun exchanged glances, both entertaining the same thought in their minds—if they waited for the Great Sacrificial Rite to arrive, with the power of the Black Witch Sect, it would be enough to crush their two families, and even if they killed Lin Mo, they wouldn't get to enjoy the spoils.
It would be better to take advantage of the High Priest's absence to slay Lin Mo and divvy up his possessions.
Hou Dongjun took out a Spirit Sword about one foot long from his bosom and threw it into the air, where it quickly grew with the wind, transforming into a three-foot-long Spirit Sword that gleamed with a Cold Light.
He Hongmiao spat out a black Bead and commanded in a deep voice, "Rock Bind!"
A strange light emitted from the black Bead, and immediately Lin Mo's body sank, his feet plunging three inches straight into the ground, as countless rocks gathered around Lin Mo, binding and trapping him completely.
"Kill," Hou Dongjun's eyes flashed with a gleam of icy Cold Light, as he manipulated the Spirit Sword to swoop down from the Void.
"Elder He, Elder Hou, our three families were always on good terms, living in harmony without conflict for a century, but today you've chosen to side with the Black Witch Sect against our Tan Family. Don't blame me, Mr. Tan, for being heartless."
As Tan Songtao spoke, his hands swung fiercely, sending Breaking Wind Blades tearing towards He Hongmiao.
He Hongmiao hastily freed one hand and threw another Bead into the air, which hovered above his head; a pale golden, transparent bell inverted down, ensnaring him within as a Protective Shield. The Wind Blades struck it, giving off a metallic clanging resonance.
"Elder Hou, let's finish this quickly!" he shouted coldly at the same time.
A hint of disdain curled on Lin Mo's lips, and with a slight tremor of his body, the dirt beneath his feet shattered instantly, and his form dashed out.
He Hongmiao and Hou Dongjun both were stunned; He Hongmiao had even cursed Lin Mo. An ordinary person would not have been able to move, possibly being squeezed to death, but Lin Mo's figure ran like the wind, completely unaffected.
"Quanmie Canghe," Lin Mo's expression was detached, the brilliant and surging Gang Qi around his fist seemed to set it ablaze as he sent it vibrating towards the longsword flying towards him.
The blood-colored longsword instantly froze as if solidified, trembled for a moment, and then spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the blade, shattering it piece by piece, leaving Hou Dongjun's face deathly pale as he violently coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
"This... My sword, this is impossible," Hou Dongjun's face was filled with shock and terror.
Hou Hexuan was even more heartbroken, as that was the Blood Sword handed down through the Hou Family, known for its extremely strong defense capabilities, yet Lin Mo had shattered it with a direct punch!
"It's your turn," Lin Mo turned his indifferent gaze, and with a flicker of his shadow, he threw another punch at He Hongmiao.
He Hongmiao's face showed a look of surprise, but he stood within the light of the Golden Bell Shield, confident that even a Broken Martial Bomb would not necessarily harm him, but the next moment, he regretted it.
Lin Mo's fist was even more ferocious than a Broken Martial Bomb, smashing through the light of the Golden Bell Shield and crushing it against his chest; He Hongmiao was sent flying, the earthy yellow bead in his hand instantly shattered.
Although the Punch Light was mostly blocked by the light of the Golden Bell Shield, the residual force that hit He Hongmiao still sent him flying more than a dozen meters away, his entire body's qi and blood boiling, with dozens of ribs fractured.
With two punches, He Hongmiao and Hou Dongjun were defeated, and a deadly silence fell over the entire venue.
"So weak!" Lin Mo shook his head faintly.
Yet, everyone looked at him as though they were beholding an exceptional demon.
"The High Priest has arrived." Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, the voice penetrating into everyone's ears.
Everyone snapped back to reality and looked outside, seeing a group of people walking towards the gate. Eight women dressed in ethnic minority clothing, each with a remarkable demeanor, were actually carrying a palanquin, and at the forefront walked a black-robed old man, leaning on a wooden cane, with black fog coiling around his body like silkworm threads, giving off an extremely ominous feeling.
"The High Priest," Hou Dongjun, He Hongmiao, and the rest of the Hou and He Families all bowed and respectfully greeted.
The High Priest nodded, his brow furrowed as he asked in a cold voice, "What's going on?"
"Reporting to the High Priest, the Tan Family brought a young man over from Jiangzhou, he's very strong, we..." He Hongmiao began to explain.
The High Priest looked at Lin Mo and was about to speak, but then a detached male voice came from within the palanquin, "Even Elder Hou and Elder He have been defeated by him; he must be an expert from Jiangzhou."
With that, a man dressed in ancient attire flew out of the palanquin; his features were sharp, and his eyes narrow. He looked at Lin Mo with a touch of surprise and lightly smiled, "I didn't expect the expert from Jiangzhou to be a youth, I'm the Young Sect Master of the Black Witch Sect."
As the Tan Family entered Cold Pond, even the Young Sect Master of the Black Witch Sect had personally arrived.
Elder Liao and Liao Wen were even more hidden within the crowd, not daring to show themselves; after all, the White Witch and Black Witch Sect had always been adversaries, with the White Witch constantly suppressed by the Black Witch Sect.
"If you're a wise man, you should understand that having one more friend is better than one more enemy. As long as you don't get involved in this affair, our Black Witch Sect will not be your enemy," the Young Sect Master spoke again, his tone full of confidence.
The Black Witch Sect was one of the most powerful organizations in the Southern Sichuan Region; he believed that if Lin Mo were not a fool, he should understand the consequences of offending the Black Witch Sect.
"I've said, all who come will be cut down," Lin Mo stated coolly, with his hands behind his back.
The Young Sect Master, however, furrowed his eyebrows and his gaze turned icy, "What did you say? Do you wish to be hunted down by the Black Witch Sect?"
"Noisy!"
Lin Mo clenched his hand in the void, and a streak of white Gang Qi instantly condensed into a substantial black long spear in his palm, which he hurled with great force, piercing directly through the Young Sect Master's shoulder blade, and with the spear, he was flung over a dozen meters away.