After Zhang Pinglu drove back the remaining masters, they understood that despite their greater numbers, the strength of their side was far inferior to the opposition.

Their side had only four people, but the weakest among them was already at the Fourth Layer, not to mention the terrifying spirit beasts accompanying them.

Since their own Grand Elder and the Ancestral Guardian had already failed, these remaining people had no power to resist.

It could be said that at this moment, their fate rested entirely in Zhang Yang's hands.

"Old sir, just abolish all their internal energy; let them become ordinary people!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Yang spoke softly.

Zhang Yang was not a pedantic person. The conflict with the Huyan family was irreconcilable; this clan could not be allowed to remain, or it would only leave future troubles.

However, killing so many people at once made Zhang Yang feel somewhat unwilling, which led him to propose the request to cripple their internal energy.

Once their internal energy was abolished, they would all become ordinary people, posing no further threat to the Zhang family.

Zhang Yang's words turned the faces of all the Huyan family disciples deathly pale.

Abolishing internal energy was tantamount to a death sentence for them, cultivators of internal energy. Having practiced diligently since childhood, they possessed little other value besides being internal energy cultivators.

Without it, they didn't even know how they were supposed to survive.

"Is that your decision?"

Zhang Pinglu asked again, his smile receding slightly, though his attitude remained amiable.

"Yes. Last time I went to the Southern Frontier, I encountered a similar situation..."

Zhang Yang nodded heavily, then slowly began to speak. Back when he went to save Wu Zhiguo, Zhang Yang and Long Feng had traveled to the Southern Frontier where they encountered a very powerful old hag.

The current situation was somewhat similar to that time, the difference being that the old hag was only at the peak of the Third Layer, while Huyan Feng was at the Great Perfection stage.

After killing the old hag back then, Zhang Yang had abolished the internal energy of all the ordinary disciples, letting them live as commoners; he adopted the same measure this time.

"Your choice last time was correct, but this time is somewhat different!"

Zhang Pinglu suddenly laughed again, shaking his head as he did so. "As you said, those disciples of the old hag couldn't truly be called disciples; they were merely servants. They didn't have much recognition or sense of belonging to the old hag, which is why some disciples followed you out!"

Changing his tone, Zhang Pinglu's smile vanished entirely, replaced by an incomparably sharp intensity. "But these people are different. Every millennium-old aristocratic family possesses a strong sense of family honor; their sense of belonging to the clan is incredibly powerful. Those who harm their family will be viewed by them as their ultimate enemies, and they will constantly seek revenge against such foes!"

Zhang Pinglu shook his head slightly and continued, "Never assume that just because they lose their internal energy, they become harmless or incapable of taking revenge. Once a person's mind is clouded by hatred, they can become terrifyingly potent. Even a frail woman or a child can erupt with unimaginable strength; there have been many such instances!"

Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yun'an nodded silently.

The greatest difference between the Zhang family and other clans was their integration into the world; they had never underestimated ordinary people. Many minor figures, driven by vengeance, had stirred up colossal waves.

Zhang Yang nodded thoughtfully. He understood these aspects, but simply lacked the ruthlessness.

"Perhaps you think that because your strength is immense, they cannot deal with you. But what about Xiaoxue? Your father? Or perhaps Mi Xue's parents, and your classmates and friends? You cannot imagine the methods they might use to approach these people, exploit them to strike back and retaliate against you. It's highly likely that one of your own family or friends could be harmed or killed by one of them!"

Zhang Pinglu continued. Zhang Yang's expression tightened slightly. He knew that although Zhang Pinglu seemed to be warning him, these things were genuinely possible.

No matter who it is, if their mind is solely focused on revenge, they can achieve what many others cannot.

Hatred can even change a person; Zhang Yang had heard countless examples of this.

To speak of a recent example, in the hospital where one of his friends worked, an intern doctor once unleashed the power of vengeance. That intern was training alongside his girlfriend, who was a nurse. They were overjoyed to be at the same hospital, though not for long.

Unfortunately, the department director was a lecher who had set his sights on the girlfriend.

Ultimately, the director used despicable means to steal the girlfriend and framed the doctor as a thief, resulting in his dismissal and a three-year prison sentence.

That was only half the story. Three years later, when the intern was released, he began his revenge.

The director never imagined that the person he had tormented so severely could become so fearsome. The doctor managed, in just one year, to successfully seduce the director's daughter, all without the director realizing anything.

Two years later, he then seduced the director's wife, maintaining secret relationships with both mother and daughter.

When the director's daughter became hopelessly infatuated, he deliberately let her discover his relationship with her mother. The enraged and desperate daughter lost control, pushing her mother off the balcony with her own hands, resulting in the mother's death.

The daughter was subsequently imprisoned for manslaughter.

With his family ruined, the director's retribution was not over. Evidence against him was submitted, and he was finally jailed, facing ten years behind bars.

The intern doctor, having served three years, took only another three years after release to strip the director who had wronged him of everything.

That intern doctor was despicable and shameless, but in the end, he committed suicide.

Having achieved his revenge, he had no regrets. Only when his suicide note was published did many people understand everything.

The reason for his cruel retribution, aside from being framed and imprisoned, was that his mother, his only mother, had suffered a heart attack and died from the shock after he was imprisoned. It was the director who had caused his family's destruction and his loss of everything, so he wanted the director to taste all those bitter consequences.

This was the power of hatred, and it was merely one example.

Zhang Pinglu's words truly awakened Zhang Yang; he could not ignore these people just because they became ordinary. Anyone harboring hatred in their hearts must not be overlooked.

Furthermore, with the Huyan family destroyed and their internal energy crippled, only hatred remained in their hearts. So many seeds of hatred, once they sprouted, would be terrifying.

"Old sir, I understand!"

Zhang Yang nodded slowly, and a chilling cold began to radiate from him, causing the eighty-odd Huyan disciples to feel a corresponding chill.

"Yang Yang, it's good that you understand. However, since you have already made your decision, proceed as you intended!"

Zhang Pinglu suddenly said something else. This time, not only Zhang Yang but also Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yun'an looked at him with surprise.

Zhang Pinglu’s previous words implied executing all of them to cut the roots.

Zhang Pinglu smiled and continued, "I am actually quite satisfied with Yang Yang's decision. We are the lineage of the Medical Saint, establishing our family through medicine and martial arts. While formidable power is important, we must not forget the foundation of the medical arts—a healer's heart must maintain compassion and avoid wanton killing!"

Seeing the three of them nodding, he continued, "These people only have their internal energy abolished, but they cannot be granted freedom. During my travels long ago, I discovered a deserted island overseas. There is an ancient formation left by the Qimen Dunjia school there. Fortunately, I had detailed explanations of the formation outside, allowing me to enter. Inside, I found a world of its own; the environment is quite good, but it is extremely inconvenient to travel to and from due to its distant location in the outer sea. However, it is the optimal place to dispose of these people!"

Zhang Pinglu’s words made Zhang Yang and the others' eyes light up slightly. Not killing these people and sending them to this island was indeed an excellent alternative.

Listening to Zhang Pinglu, the expressions on the faces of the eighty-odd Huyan disciples grew much more complex.

At first, they thought they were beyond salvation, but now things had taken a turn—they wouldn't die.

They wouldn't die, but they would be permanently confined, locked away overseas. This outcome wasn't much better.

The formation left by the Qimen Dunjia school was far superior to current arrays. Even someone as powerful as Zhang Pinglu needed the explanatory guide to enter; breaking it was impossible to even contemplate.

Not to mention that they would all lose their internal energy.

This was equivalent to living together in a lifelong prison. When they all grew old and passed away, there would be no one left in the Huyan family to seek revenge.

There, they couldn't even think about passing down their lineage.

These eighty-odd people were all male disciples brought here for the purpose of a resurgence through diligent cultivation, but unexpectedly, they were facing extinction.

"Old sir, we will do as you say!"

Zhang Yang nodded again. Zhang Yun'an stepped forward. Many of the remaining Huyan disciples still harbored thoughts of resistance, but their struggles were futile against the might of several Fourth Layer experts.

Zhang Daofeng followed suit. Soon, all the Huyan disciples were knocked unconscious and had their internal energy crippled.

The Huyan family could officially be declared extinct.

"Daofeng, find something to transport these people. Take them to the coast of northern Zhejiang to wait for me first. The Huyan family still has one hidden threat; I will eliminate it before joining you!"

Zhang Pinglu gave a final instruction. The hidden threat he referred to was the Huyan family patriarch, Huyan Baisheng.

Although there were no outstanding disciples there, the clan still had an heir in Huyan Baisheng.

With him present, the lineage could continue, and perhaps one day, they might re-emerge—which would certainly not be good news for the Zhang family.

A family hiding deep desires for vengeance, once they reappear, would inevitably seek retribution against them.

Cutting the grass at the roots, Zhang Pinglu already knew where that remaining faction was and naturally would not let them escape.

After giving instructions, Zhang Daofeng immediately left. Zhang Pinglu, accompanied by Zhang Yun'an, stayed behind with Zhang Yang to scour the premises. The millennium-old Huyan family had accumulated quite a few treasures, and now all these things became their spoils of war.

Third update, the next chapter will be released around five o'clock! RQ

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