Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 341: 182, The Unbearable Power Move

New Yu Era 1322, August 3rd, Tongling City

The demon attack brought devastation that was undoubtedly ruinous. Although the corpses on the ground had been cleared and the bloodstains on the streets had been scrubbed clean, the city was still filled with buildings that were damaged beyond repair. Only a bit deeper into the core urban area could one see some repaired buildings.

By this time, the Hou Family had mobilized over ten thousand martial artists who had assisted the townsfolk in reconstruction work tirelessly for three days and nights, and only then had they achieved these results.

Though located on the eastern fringe of Yongzhou, Tongling was still a prefectural city with a population of over two million spread over an area of about forty square miles. This demon upheaval had led to the loss of eighty percent of the population, leaving only about four hundred thousand survivors. The city was in mourning, with scarcely a household that had not suffered a death.

The demons not only killed people, but the number of buildings they destroyed was uncountable. Had it not been for the assistance of the Hou Family's warriors, the reconstruction work relying solely on these townsfolk might have been indefinitely delayed.

The once bustling eastern gate of Tongling was now deserted, with very few people entering or leaving the city. The iron city gate still bore the mottled bloodstains, which could still evoke the horrors of the night of the Rakshasa Festival in many people's minds.

At the city gate, about ten black-clad martial artists were carefully inspecting the passing pedestrians. Whether due to the scarcity of pedestrians or some other reason, these black-clad martial artists were exceptionally thorough in their checks, to an almost severe degree. They not only checked their travel permits but also interrogated them about their origins and their reasons for entering the city.

Having just suffered a disaster, those entering or leaving the city were either frightened individuals looking to flee or people who had relatives in the city and were coming from other places to visit. These pedestrians were naturally displeased with such scrutiny, and a small number of them began to whisper among themselves.

"Who do those black-clad martial artists think they are, being so arrogant!"

"Shh... Didn't you see the black and white lotus insignia on their chests? They are warriors from the Hou Clan of Zhaoyang, they've been in charge of Tongling City for these past three days."

"The Hou Family's Warriors? Wasn't it said that on the night of the Rakshasa Festival, none of the Mansion Army died? I heard that Fan County Magistrate is also still alive. The Hou Family's third-rate clan, at most ruling over Zhaoyang, how have they started managing Tongling?"

"Keep your voice down, do you want to die?"

"Don't you know? On the night of the Rakshasa Festival, the Hou Family had already annexed the Hongdao Gang, Bai Clan, and Medicine Dust Sect, three second-rate powers. Hou Yuxiao, the Family Head of the Hou Family, also joined hands with Fifth Master Hou Yuduan, and killed Ding Dian, the traitorous Divine Illumination Law King. He is highly regarded by Master Fanyin, and I've heard that now, every corner of Xingnan Prefecture knows of Hou Yuxiao, even the high ranks of the Holy Church in the Main Altar at Yongdu have taken notice of him!"

"Really... Is it that exaggerated?"

"It's more than that, I heard that Liu Jianghong, the head of the West Cloud Escort Agency, also visited Hou Yuxiao yesterday. It looks like the West Cloud Escort Agency will join the Hou Family, too. The Hou Family swallowed four second-rate powers overnight, with tens of thousands of sect members, and with the Grandmasters, Hou Yuxiao and Fifth Master Hou, sitting in command and the support from Master Fanyin, their status in Tongling is now much stronger than that of the former Great Luo Sect!!"

"Not only that, have you not noticed? In these three days, both Fan County Magistrate and Leader Gui have disappeared, and even the Mansion Army has started following the commands of the Hou Family, tsk tsk..."

"I know, my brother is in the Mansion Army and knows some information, it seems that on the night of the Rakshasa Festival, the Hou Family had already led over a hundred thousand townspeople out of the core urban area—none of the family members of the Mansion Army died. Those five thousand soldiers of the Mansion Army now feel a deep gratitude toward Hou Yuxiao, and I've heard many are considering leaving the Mansion Army to join the Hou Family."

"On the night of the Rakshasa Festival, both the Great Luo Sect and the Prison Admin Department rebelled, and since Fan County Magistrate also didn't play a significant role, the sentiments of those from the Mansion Army are understandable. But for so many people to switch allegiances and join the Hou Family, isn't this a bit like treason? Even if Master Fanyin can tolerate it, what will the Holy Church do once they find out? Aren't these members of the Mansion Army who joined the Hou Family afraid of being pursued by the Holy Church?"

"Foolish; didn't the events of that night enlighten you? When real power comes into play, never mind the Mansion Army, what can a Grandmaster do? Take Ding Dian, for example, who betrayed his faith to save his life. Those joining the Mansion Army did so originally for a protector, only to find that even this status wasn't reliable.

During this upheaval in Tongling, the only second-rate power, the Great Luo Sect, was destroyed for betraying its faith, and Ding Buhai also fled. Additionally, out of the eight remaining second-rate powers, seven were obliterated—only the Hou Family suffered minimal losses and even managed to annex four second-rate powers. Anyone sensible can see that the Hou Family is poised to take control of Tongling. Moreover, Hou Yuxiao isn't just powerful and intelligent; he's also able to protect his sect members' lives, making joining the Hou Family an absolutely wise choice at this time."

"This time, in the upheaval of Tongling, eighty percent of the county perished. How could the Holy Church even consider pursuing them? Besides, they don't have the capacity, with the Mansion Army still battling in Wanyang County; Huangfu Xing tore up the treaty of Jin Capital. Who knows how much the war might expand, potentially escalating to full-scale warfare between two states; whether the Rakshasa Holy Sect can hold its ground is uncertain..."

"Shush... hold your tongue, you dare to say such things, haven't you any regard for your life?"

......

Outside the eastern gate, Fan Longhe and Gui Yutang walked together. Just as they reached the gate, they could hear the chatter of the pedestrians.