Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 302: 168, Third Grade, Indestructible Realm

```

Hou Yuxiao's loud shout was not meant for Zhan Taiqing to hear.

Even when battling Gu Tianyun, this woman had spare moments to watch him; there was no need for him to shout loudly to attract attention since his aid to Fan Longhe surely didn't escape her eyes.

The purpose of that shout was mainly to deter Lu Guanqing!

Under the East City Gate, Lu Guanqing's Sword Qi had forced Fan Longhe into a desperate situation, and under the relentless attacks of Sword Qi, numerous breaches appeared in the East City Gate.

Even though Fan Longhe was fighting with all his might, risking his life to hold off Lu Guanqing, a small number of the Xuzhou Army managed to break through those gaps and stormed into the city.

At the same time, the Righteous Qi of Confucianism released from the scriptures in Tian Fazheng's hands further shrank his space to dodge, repeatedly nearly placing him in mortal peril.

What prompted Hou Yuxiao to speak out and deter was the sight of a beam of Sword Qi released from the Sacred Canon Sword Book in Tian Fazheng's hands, aiming directly for Fan Longhe's forehead at a moment when he was preoccupied with resisting Lu Guanqing's attacks and couldn't dodge in time.

In the nick of time, fortunately, his shout had an effect.

Feeling the rush of a staff wind from behind, Tian Fazheng frowned sharply, retracted the Sacred Canon Sword Book, and from his Eighth Orifice, an outpouring of Vast Righteous Qi emerged, forming a Protective Light Shield.

Boom...

A tremendous force surged into his chest, and Tian Fazheng's face slightly tensed as he looked up at Hou Yuxiao behind the golden staff, his expression first revealing recognition, then turning to shock as he recognized him, with his pupils contracting in horror.

"A Second Realm Grandmaster, how is that possible?"

Tian Fazheng was deeply impressed by the Zhaoyang Disturbance, which he had orchestrated himself. He distinctly remembered that at that time, Hou Yuxiao was merely at the Gang Qi Gathering Evil Phase, and now, in just half a year, a Second Realm Grandmaster—it seemed impossible!

As the Saint Heir of the Yangzhou Academy and the closed-door disciple of Ji Yanzhi, Tian Fazheng might not claim to know everything ancient and modern, but he at least could pride himself on being well-informed. Even if someone were to break through from the Dan Embracing Phase to the Grandmaster Realm in seven months, it would be utterly astonishing, not to mention that Hou Yuxiao had advanced from the Gang Qi Second Realm, Collecting Evil Phase to the Divine Communication Phase of the Grandmaster Realm's Second Realm.

Impossible, impossible!

The horror on Tian Fazheng's face had faded, but deep down he kept telling himself it was an illusion, it couldn't be possible.

Yet, seeing the Demon Ape Martial Spirit slowly rising behind Hou Yuxiao, no matter how inconceivable it was, he had to accept it.

As if needing to adjust his mental state, Tian Fazheng withheld his inner shock for a dozen or so breaths before finally lifting his head to face Hou Yuxiao directly.

At that moment, Hou Yuxiao's lips curled into a cold smile as he looked at Tian Fazheng, not bothering to hide the disgust and contempt in his eyes. Including the old grudge from the Zhaoyang Disturbance, the new hatred from today's attack on the city, and both his and Ji Yanzhi's actions, Hou Yuxiao naturally wouldn't show a good face to such a person.

However, Tian Fazheng acted as if he hadn't seen the look in his eyes at all, instead, he saluted Hou Yuxiao with a gentle fist and revealed a warm smile.

"Who would have thought, Master of Hou Family possesses such talent, I, Tian, truly admire you!"

This flattery during the battle made Hou Yuxiao's brow furrow slightly, and soon after, he understood something and a peculiar expression crossed his face.

This lad, he couldn't be planning to persuade me to surrender, could he?

"With such talent, why bother aiding the Demon Sect, Master of Hou Family? Why not abandon the darkness for the light, join The Righteous Path, rise up against the Demon Sect, and restore peace to the people of Yongzhou?"

He really guessed it...

Before Hou Yuxiao could speak, Old Fifth Hou Yuduan, who had come down with him, couldn't hold back anymore. He stepped forward and rebuked:

"Aiding a tiger, abandoning darkness for light—Who is the tiger, who represents the light, who the darkness, and who is just, who is evil? Is it up to you to decide with your mere words?

Just by looking at what you and your master have done, it's clear that the so-called Bailu Academy is utterly hypocritical and not at all qualified to claim themselves as The Righteous Path, as for being a Holy Land of the Confucian Sect, it's entirely laughable, not fit to be mentioned!"

Although Tian Fazheng maintained his composure, a flicker of anger passed through the depths of his pupils, possibly because Hou Yuduan's denunciation of the academy had touched a nerve.

He stared at Hou Yuduan, noting the Confucian and Daoist Righteous Qi rising around his body with some surprise, but he quickly remembered and showed recognition, saying, "So it's you!"

He remembered Hou Yuduan also rebuked him during the Zhaoyang Disturbance and was disrespectful towards the Bailu Academy. Someone like this, capable of cultivating Confucian Righteous Qi and moreover to a level equivalent to a Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist with the Righteous Heart Realm...

Tian Fazheng dismissed the surprise in his eyes, laughed gently, and calmly said, "As you have said, good and bad, light and darkness cannot be simply defined in a word. So why can you, based on what you know alone, pronounce me not just and not enlightened?"

This statement made Hou Yuduan falter, for although he was well-read, he understood the implied meaning of Tian Fazheng's words. Yet after pondering for a moment, he quickly realized the sophistry of the other party and scoffed, "Are you suggesting that what I know is erroneous?"

"Not at all!"

"Then the deeds of you and your master, wouldn't you admit they merit the labels of 'evil' and 'darkness'?"

Ji Yanzhi, in order not to lose Zhaoyang, sent his sister into the hands of bandits, and Tian Fazheng, in order to justify the Zhaoyang Disturbance, killed Tian Honglu with his own hands.

Clearly, what Hou Yuduan referred to as the actions of the teacher and student were these deeds.

"You would not understand the severity of the Wuzong's last years' banditry. Had my teacher not used his sister as bait to incite infighting amongst the bandits, the people of the entire county of Zhaoyang would have lost their lives long ago; the Demon Sect disregarded cultural teachings and proprieties, leaving the people of Yongzhou in dire straits. By sacrificing the life of Honglu, I sparked unrest in two provinces to save the countless people of Yongzhou. How could you fathom that?