Lakir estate. Dadangar five-kingdom subcontinent.
About twelve hours after Aksai’s confrontation with Haisha and Lian, chaos and destruction gripped the region.
The day dawned amidst the clamor of clashing weapons reverberating throughout the estate, punctuated by sorrowful cries and hideous laughter echoing in every direction.
Spirit cultivators fled in disarray, clutching their most precious possessions, while others, possibly opportunistic thieves, pursued them relentlessly.
Amidst the turmoil, weaker Spirit farmers pleaded for aid from passersby, while more capable cultivators banded together to repel the raiders who had infiltrated the Lakir estate with malicious intent.
Some desperate Spirit farmers, emboldened by the absence of Lakir family authorities, resorted to acts of robbery and plunder themselves, seizing the opportunity presented by the chaos. For some it was a choice that came easy to them while the others were compelled by their own reasons.
Fires raged unchecked in various quarters, ignited by the rampant use of Spirit spells, consuming Spirit farms and homes alike, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky from multiple directions.
Both young and old fell victim to the brutality unfolding around them, as the chaos continued to escalate with each passing moment. Everything was a bloody mess.
This was the truth of the world. In this unforgiving realm of cultivation, the weak found themselves trampled underfoot, while the strong imposed their own brand of justice upon the world.
***
Those fortunate enough to escape the carnage were left adrift, unsure of where to turn.
News spread of the Wilben family’s attack on Lakir City, accompanied by reports of support from Purple River Sect elders in besieging the city.
Lakir City boasted the protection of a 2nd-order Array Formation, shielding it from various threats. However, the formation proved powerless against the onslaught of attacks by multiple Foundation Building Experts.
The isolation barrier, erected by the Array Formation, quickly succumbed to the relentless barrage of potent Spirit spells unleashed by the assailants in the 2nd realm. With the barrier shattered, chaos erupted both within the city and the Lakir estate.
Facing overwhelming odds, the Lakir Family’s lone Foundation Building Expert opted to flee rather than confront the enemy.
Recognizing his inferiority against the amassed Spirit cultivators, the grand elder abandoned his family and fled from their onslaught.
Following suit, the enemy Foundation Building Experts pursued the fleeing grand elder, his fate thereafter remaining shrouded in mystery for the masses.
With their backbone gone, confusion and dread engulfed the Lakir clan members. Despite their valiant efforts, they found themselves outmatched by the preparedness of the Wilben family and their mercenary allies.
Some clan members, emulating their grand elder, attempted to escape the turmoil. However, few were as fortunate as the Foundation Building Lakir, with many succumbing to death or severe injury amidst the chaos.
In mere minutes, Lakir City was transformed into a scene of utter turmoil.
The Wilben family breached the city gates, seizing control of the black market zone and conducting a ruthless purge. Sealing off the area for themselves and the Purple River Sect elders, their true intentions remained veiled in secrecy.
In the wake of the city’s defenses crumbling, the hired mercenaries showcased their prowess. With Lakir family enforcers either fleeing or falling in battle, the mercenaries and marauders treated the city as their domain, indiscriminately pillaging and slaughtering with impunity.
The weak capitulated to the mercenaries without hesitation. Rather than fighting to defend their possessions, they surrendered them willingly, using their belongings as currency in exchange for safety and favors. Merchants fled, shielded by their bodyguards, while county administrators attempted to extricate themselves from the chaos by offering hefty payments to the sellswords.
Shops were ransacked, and the gardens of Spirit herbs were looted, leaving behind only destruction and scorched earth. The residential areas of Lakir City fared even worse.
With the Lakir family’s enforcement hall unable to protect the city, safeguarding their interests in the Lakir estate and the Spirit families residing there became an impossible dream. Robbers and rogue cultivators, uncertain of their survival amidst the chaos in Lakir City, turned their sights on the Lakir estate.
While the Spirit farming families held little of substantial value, the plunderers prioritized quantity over quality. Even if there was little else of worth, robbing the Spirit farmers of their accumulated wealth and Spirit grains proved lucrative.
Items like Spirit rice, typically expensive when purchased from local shops, could be acquired for free through robbery. This mindset drove most of the plunderers in their campaign against the Lakir estate.
Moreover, some Spirit cultivators seized the opportunity presented by the chaos to exact revenge on their enemies. With the Lakir family’s enforcement hall absent, they faced no repercussions for their actions.
Violence, looting, and pillaging erupted simultaneously across various parts of Wuyum County, affecting even the most influential organizations and their spheres of influence.
With no entity willing or able to come to the aid of the Spirit farming families on the Lakir estate, they were left to fend for themselves in the turmoil.
***
Aunt Reta’s house. Aksai’s neighborhood.
In the dimly lit confines of her home, Aunt Reta, a formidable mid-stage Spirit Refining cultivator, stood ready to defend herself and her son against the band of robbers who had launched a brazen attack on their sanctuary.
“Woman, you better give us all that you have and your talisman inheritance. Cooperate with us and we might let you and your son go. Otherwise, don’t blame us. Hehehe,” one of the robbers laughed evilly.
The air crackled with tension as the intruders sought not only the accumulated wealth of spirit stones but also the precious talisman inheritance left to her by her late husband.
“Hmph! In your dreams,” Aunt Reta retorted, her face filled with a mix of fury and worry about her own son. She knew that her and her son’s safety wasn’t guaranteed even if she were to give the robbers what she wanted.
“Hehe. Suit yourself,” the robber who had taken charge to lead the robbery spoke in a serious tone before clutching onto his sword’s hilt.
In the next moment, Aunt Reta’s skills as a talisman user were put to test.