Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Hou Yuxiao slowly walked through the path that the crowd had cleared for him.

Dressed in blue, his gentle face still bore a faint smile, making it hard to believe that just moments ago, he had personally crushed a skull.

At that moment, Shengxin Residence was plunged into a deathly silence, with only the resounding footsteps of Hou Yuxiao and the rustling sound of a long stick dragging across the ground…

The leaders of the seven major powers had already jumped up from their seats in shock, and everyone's gaze—whether joyful, gloomy, or murky—was uniformly filled with intense shock.

Hou Yuxiao had indeed killed Cheng Yue!

......

In fact, even without his master, Divine Illumination Law King Ding Dian, Cheng Yue could rely solely on his own strength, and no one in Tongling County would dare to underestimate him.

A young official disciple of the Holy Church, at the Gang Qi Second Realm, Collecting Evil Phase in cultivation, with an astonishing martial talent, the sole disciple to inherit Ding Dian's Divine Gang Qi, Cheng Yue had long been hailed as the next Divine Illumination Law King…

Before Cheng Yue took up the post of Warden Chief in Zhaoyang County, he was acclaimed as the number one genius of Tongling County, where the standard for a genius was to fight across levels!

Even Nie Xinchuan, Zhao Mansha, Yu Guixin, Tong Yun, these leaders of third-rate powers, all at the Gangqi Third Realm Bao Dan Period, would not dare say they could definitely defeat him.

Who was Hou Yuxiao?

Three months ago, no one had heard of this name, and if one didn't mention that he was the son of Black Ape Demon Hou Tong, many wouldn't even know he was from Zhaoyang County.

After last year's Zhaoyang Disturbance ended, Hou Yuxiao's name gradually spread to the county because of his victory over Tian Linong, becoming known to many people.

But in reality, not many took this seriously, as anyone slightly well-informed could find out that Hou Yuxiao's reputation was attained through sheer luck and picking up a great bargain.

On the contrary, the strength displayed by Cheng Yue in that battle was even more stunning.

So, when the news of this great battle began seven days ago, almost everyone had the same thought—the victor would definitely be Cheng Yue.

The scene before them was like a harsh slap to everyone's faces…

Not only did Hou Yuxiao win, but he also killed Cheng Yue with a stick in the pouring rain, as casually as one would crush a stray dog by the roadside, without any difference.

Even if the Heaven King's father came today, he couldn't save you!

Everyone's mind flashed back to this sentence Hou Yuxiao had just uttered, almost simultaneously turning their heads to look at Ding Dian on the second floor, their faces showing schadenfreude.

Ding Dian, nicknamed the Divine Illumination Law King, holding the position of Deputy Warden of Tongling County, was also the Religious Protector King of the Rakshasa Holy Sect.

The "Heaven King's father" in Hou Yuxiao's sentence, was clearly pointing at him!

"Good, good, such courage, truly remarkable courage…"

Ding Dian's gaunt face turned abnormally flushed, his expression dark as if dripping blood, his eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent, and even the True Qi he had just retracted seemed slightly out of control as it leaked out.

If Peng Yuhu wasn't present, he would definitely have acted recklessly, without a second thought, and killed Hou Yuxiao on the spot, thought almost all the thousands present.

And when this thought arose, the look in everyone's eyes when they gazed at Hou Yuxiao was tinged with an even stronger sense of schadenfreude.

Hou Yuxiao had now thoroughly offended Ding Dian. Peng Yuhu could protect him for a moment, but could he do so for a lifetime?

After all, Peng Yuhu was the Governor of Xingnan Prefecture and could not stay in Tongling County forever. Once he left, Hou Yuxiao and his Hou Clan, would face dire circumstances…

Yet, facing the many malicious gazes, Hou Yuxiao's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, only gently looking up towards Peng Yuhu above, his hands clasped in a bow, and respectfully said, "Subordinate Hou Yuxiao, pays respects to Official Peng!"

As soon as these ten words left Hou Yuxiao's mouth, everyone present suddenly showed a flicker of astonishment…

Typically, those who could refer to themselves as subordinates in front of a Prefectural Governor were of two kinds, either disciples of the Rakshasa Holy Sect or those holding local official positions.

The great disturbance in Zhaoyang County two months ago had not yet led the county to dispatch a new County Lord or Magistrate, which was no secret, so Hou Yuxiao definitely held no such position.

Therefore, his referring to himself as a subordinate meant…

He, too, was a member of the Rakshasa Holy Sect?

People's gazes shifted towards the second floor, seeing that Peng Yuhu, Fan Longhe, and Ding Dian did not exhibit the same surprise upon hearing this phrase. They immediately realized, Hou Yuxiao wasn't spouting nonsense.

He truly was a member of the Rakshasa Holy Sect…

Hou Yuxiao, with a somber look, after paying respects to Peng Yuhu, stood up and also slightly bowed towards Fan Longhe and Ding Dian, then spoke loudly, "Two months ago during the great disturbance in Zhaoyang, I was favored by the Holy Maiden and was fortunate to join the Rakshasa Holy Sect. I have joined the sect for many days but have not visited and paid respects to everyone in the county, which is truly a sin!"

The fact that he joined the Holy Church New Moon Division couldn't be disclosed openly, something Sikong Yue had explained to him. He shouldn't forget this, so he mentioned joining the Holy Church, which did not violate the rules.

Since the moment Hou Yuxiao planned to kill Cheng Yue, he began thinking about how to ensure his own safety under Ding Dian. Needless to say, the protection Fan Longhe, Ding Buhai, and Peng Yuhu could offer was very limited or not long-term.

After much deliberation, he could only think of Sikong Yue…

The number one in the world, the daughter of Sikong Xingzhou, the Sect Master of Rakshasa Holy Sect, her status was almost unbeatable in Yongzhou, except for the Sect Hierarch. Such a mighty shield, it would be a huge waste for Hou Yuxiao not to use!

If Peng Yuhu's support was his guarantee to kill Cheng Yue, then the Holy Maiden he mentioned now was key to restraining Ding Dian…

Sikong Yue had taken a liking to me, and it was she who personally recruited me into the Holy Church.

"Old dog Ding Dian, do you dare to risk the ire of all Yongzhou and offend Sikong Yue?"

Although Hou Yuxiao felt he could control Ding Dian, he was still slightly nervous inside; after all, he was staking his life on that woman's approval. If Ding Dian couldn't handle it, he'd have to flee with Peng Yuhu.

......

On the second floor of the Shengxin Residence, aside from Ding Buhai, the other three immediately detected the underlying message in Hou Yuxiao's words, and each showed a different expression.

Peng Yuhu and Fan Longhe, who stood beside him, looked at Hou Yuxiao with clearly apparent admiration, especially Peng Yuhu, who seemed to find it amusing, a slight, scholarly smile curling the corners of his mouth.

But their expressions were the complete opposite of Ding Dian's...

After hearing the words "Holy Maiden," his face gradually stiffened, and the relentless ferocity that characterized him also subdued somewhat.

He surveyed the thousands of people inside Shengxin Residence with his gaze, the seven third-tier force leaders below, as well as Peng Yuhu, Fan Longhe, and Ding Buhai—three grandmasters beside him. Finally, his gaze rested on Hou Yuxiao, realizing that he had been played by the youngster before him, darkened his expression even further.

"Now that you have gained the favor of the Holy Maiden, you should think carefully about how you can serve our Holy Church. Be wary of playing with fire with your petty schemes that can't see the light of day.... Hmmph..."

The tension that had always been tight inside Hou Yuxiao finally relaxed completely with Ding Dian's cold snort!

He had won the gamble...

Ding Dian seemed unable to face staying here any longer; after the cold snort, he turned around and walked towards the exit of Shengxin Residence.

But before he could even leave the building, a voice rang out from behind him.

"Magistrate Ding, please sign the Hou Family's list of flowers and the document for requesting an official seal."

The tone of Fan Longhe's voice carried a hint of mockery, clearly pleased by seeing Ding Dian defeated. He even stepped forward a few steps and handed the two documents to Ding Dian, relishing the grim expression on his face.

On the first floor, Hou Yuxiao watched as Ding Dian, with a darkened face, signed his name on the prepared documents, finally feeling like a huge stone had been lifted from his heart.

And as Ding Dian finally exited the Shengxin Residence, everyone gathered there today, whether spectators or the members of the seven third-tier forces, suddenly burst into a frenetic buzz of discussion...

"He just left like that?"

"What does this mean? Didn't Cheng Yue die in vain?"

"Deputy Magistrate Ding... yielded?"

"Idiots, Hou Yuxiao, no... Family Head Hou even brought out the Holy Maiden, do you think Ding Dian would dare to openly oppose the Holy Maiden's person in front of so many people?"

"With Governor Peng, Fan County Magistrate, and Head Ding, three great masters backing Family Head Hou, and then the Holy Maiden, even if Ding Dian is reluctant, what can he do?"

"Calling him Family Head Hou every time, you all are too polite. I guess offending Ding Dian to this extent is just flexing temporary power. Even if Deputy Magistrate Ding doesn't dare to oppose him openly, can't he move against him in secret? Dead without a witness, can the Holy Maiden still blame him?"

"Stupid, if you can think of it, don't you think they can? By mentioning the Holy Maiden in front of so many people in Shengxin Residence, Family Head Hou not only warned Ding Dian, but also effectively insured himself. During this time, Ding Dian wouldn't dare operate against Family Head Hou; in fact, he'd even have to guard against someone wanting to harm him!"

"Sss... I get it now, Family Head Hou is brilliant!"

.........

They say that the wise always blend in with the crowd, Hou Yuxiao did not pay attention to the numerous discussions ringing by his ears as he walked toward the Hou Family members.

Unlike others who viewed the event with mere curiosity, the emotions of the Hou Family warriors today were exceptionally turbulent.

From the initial worry over Hou Yuxiao facing Cheng Yue, to the surprise of seeing Hou Yuxiao defeat Cheng Yue.

Then the tension brought by Ding Dian's intervention, the hope when Peng Yuhu appeared, and finally the relief when Hou Yuxiao managed to deter Ding Dian from making a move using the Holy Maiden.

Their emotions were so fluctuating that describing them as merely turbulent was insufficient...

Regardless, the very moment Ding Dian himself had signed the two Hou Family documents, and then when Fan Longhe handed those documents to Governor Peng Yuhu, that scene they witnessed, they clearly understood what it meant...

As Hou Yuxiao slowly approached, sheer joy and excitement crawled across everyone's faces.

Hou Yucheng had been holding back his excitement and agitation; as Hou Yuxiao came within five meters, he couldn't hold back any longer and burst into a roar.

"Family Head, powerful!"

This shout seemed contagious, instantly causing over a hundred Hou Family warriors, all above the five levels of body refinement, to surge with energy and roar out their emotions uncontrollably.

Everyone followed Hou Yucheng's lead and bellowed out four words.

"Family Head, powerful!!!"

The voices of over a hundred martial artists, rallying their energy and roaring together, were as shaking as thunder, instantly drowning out even the sound of rain outside, drawing the eyes of thousands inside Shengxin Residence.

February 24, New Yu Era 1322

On this day, the Hou Clan of Zhaoyang resounded throughout Tongling!