Chapter 379

Chapter 379: Unleashing Carnage

As predicted by the wise Mo Qianxun, everything came to pass.

After returning to Ten Thousand Flower Valley, Fang Lie began handling numerous follow-up matters, particularly investigating the state of the Green Fox Demons.

Though mentally prepared, the reality left him seething with anger.

Nearly all able-bodied fox demons had vanished, leaving only the elderly, weak, and infirm. Fortunately, the Green Fox Clan’s elders had secretly preserved some young fox demons – without this precaution, their lineage would have been severed.

Unlike the fast-breeding Human Tribe, fox demons require two to three hundred years to reach adulthood, with elders boasting Lifespans spanning millennia.

This tribe of one hundred thousand had once flourished as a thriving community, gradually increasing their numbers. Given time, they would have prospered.

But now, with their strongest members gone, decades would pass before new breeding adults emerged.

Most remaining fox demons were helpless children requiring care. The few surviving adults, mostly aged and frail, struggled to tend this multitude.

The Green Fox Clan’s settlement now swarmed with filthy, malnourished children roaming unsupervised, many visibly ill.

Fang Lie remembered visiting years ago – a picturesque town of neat streets and elegant fox demons. Now, words failed to describe the squalor. The survivors lived in terror, their eyes hollow with despair like withered trees.

The once-charming settlement resembled haunted ruins. Formerly vibrant flower-adorned dwellings stood empty, infested with vermin.

When Fang Lie and Uncle Qing revealed themselves, the lifeless survivors suddenly stirred. They clustered around, weeping bitterly while denouncing the Jin Family’s atrocities.

Only then did Fang Lie grasp their full suffering.

After seizing control, the Jin Family immediately suppressed the demons. Their first act slaughtered over a thousand rebellious fox demons, publicly skinning them until streets ran red. The victims’ anguished howls shook heaven, their tears forming flowing streams – yet this failed to curb Jin greed.

Over ten thousand fairest fox demons were then taken and sold.

The Jin Family sealed the town with a Formation, penning remaining fox demons like livestock. They periodically harvested more captives at whim.

Within a decade, the population halved to fifty thousand – deliberately preserved for gradual exploitation.

But Fang Lie’s unexpected resurgence shocked Mo Sect. His undying nature and Benevolence Token’s protection rendered him untouchable, forcing Jin retreat.

Anticipating Fang Lie reclaiming Ten Thousand Flower Valley, the Jin Family intensified their cruelty. Within months, only ten thousand fox demons remained.

The valley itself suffered equally. Ancient spirit flowers of incalculable value were plundered. Precious blooms vanished, while treasures spirited away the finest Jade Peak colonies – reducing production by seventy percent and quality drastically.

Ten Thousand Flower Valley now stood ruined. Restoring the Green Fox Clan, Jade Peaks, and spirit flowers would require millennia.

Fury consumed Fang Lie upon realizing this. His mother’s dowry, temporarily managed by the sect, had been ravaged beyond recognition. This insult demanded vengeance.

Without hesitation, Fang Lie turned his wrath upon thousands of Jin captives.

At his order, they hung from trees outside town. Every surviving fox demon – young and old – took up whips, lashing the prisoners until the air crackled with vengeance.

Fang Lie issued a single order: "Beat them to death without hesitation, whip them all!"

Those cultivators immediately found themselves in deep trouble. Often, several people would surround one man, taking turns to vent their anger – when one grew tired, another would step in.

At times, multiple people whipped a single target simultaneously. These unfortunate souls were usually direct descendants of the Jin Family.

The Green Fox Demons’ mercilessness was understandable – these scoundrels had accumulated decades of hatred through their despicable acts. How could they show mercy now?

Particularly the Jin Family members. While other cultivators were merely invited guests guilty of secondary crimes, the Jin Family were undeniable masterminds who received special "attention".

Fortunately, the remaining Green Fox Clan members were mostly elderly or infirm. Even wielding whips strained them, requiring frequent rest breaks.

The few stronger ones could inflict severe pain but struggled to deliver fatal blows.

These cultivators possessed at least Golden Pool cultivation levels, their bodies hardened beyond ordinary vines’ killing power – even with sealed magic.

Yet the punishment remained excruciating. Each lash drew blood, compounded by public humiliation and verbal abuse from enraged Green Fox Demons – pure hellish torment.

Fang Lie showed no leniency. Continuous day-night torture would break even the toughest men.

After three relentless days, dozens with weaker constitutions perished. Several others bit their tongues to escape the shame.

Even this failed to satisfy Fang Lie’s wrath. The corpses remained hanging, ignored and decaying.

The situation only eased when Fang Lie received Mo Wanfang’s message about the Mo family’s peace efforts. Ordering temporary respite for the near-dead, Fang Lie’s command saved many lives – though stronger cultivators kept suffering lashes until Mo Wanfang arrived with the Jin Family Head, Mo Wanqing, and thousands of rescued Green Fox Demons for negotiations.

Aboard the Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship, Fang Lie received the delegation while maintaining visible anger. He remained seated imperiously, denying chairs to the Jin Family Head and Mo Wanfang’s group. "Explain yourselves," he coldly demanded.

Under Fang Lie’s furious gaze, the group silently pressured Mo Wanfang to speak first. Reluctantly, he stepped forward: "The Sect Leader offers deepest apologies for this oversight to you and the Green Fox Clan."

"Hmph!" Fang Lie retorted, "So-called wiseman couldn’t detect schemes under his nose? Should rename himself ‘Old Fool’!"

The barb stung Mo Wanfang and Mo Wanqing, but they swallowed their pride given Fang Lie’s justified fury.

"Still," Fang Lie conceded, "A Sect Leader’s apology holds weight. But words won’t redress our suffering!"

"Understood," Mo Wanfang hurriedly replied. "We’ve freed all Mo Sect’s Green Fox Demons. Those wishing to return are here. Others formed attachments and wish to stay – surely you won’t separate lovers?"

As Fang Lie pondered, Mo Wanqing interjected: "Young Master Fang, I’ve cherished two Green Fox concubines for years. I seek formal marriage to keep them by my side."

After scrutinizing the earnest-looking man, Fang Lie decreed: "If they consent freely, I’ll sanction the union. But they must return first for verification."

"Thank you!" Mo Wanqing bowed deeply. "They’ll confirm their willingness personally!"

Mo Wanfang pressed: "May others follow this precedent?"

"Approved," Fang Lie agreed, "provided all returnees confirm voluntary choice without coercion."

Changing tone, Fang Lie demanded: "Now report exact numbers – purchased, returned, deceased."

Mo Wanfang hesitated: "Over 7,300 purchased… 500+ deaths, mostly suicides."

"Suicides?" Fang Lie’s rage erupted. "Does self-death absolve your sins?"

"The Mo Sect has bad elements," Mo Wanfang conceded weakly, "but merely purchasing slaves isn’t illegal, even if…"

"Enough!" Fang Lie slammed the table. "I can’t punish Mo Sect, but the Jin Family caused this! Guards! Execute 500 Jin Family scoundrels!"