High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery Chapter 790 - 616: All for the Elder Council

Like a raging blaze, dreadful news raced across the entirety of Yan Country the following day.

Over the course of just one night, the Song Family, Liu Family, Bai Family, and Liang Family appeared to have been erased completely from the world.

Barring only a handful of peripheral relatives, every member of these clans perished, their bodies shriveled like desiccated husks in a nightmarish fashion, utterly devastating.

The sole connection binding these clans together was their involvement in the assault on the Jiangnan Martial Arts Association.

Furthermore, countless residents of Jiangnan City had caught wind the previous day of Chen Fan's plans to confront these families, leading nearly all to pin the blame squarely on him as the perpetrator.

From taverns and tea houses to secluded gatherings, discussions about this incident buzzed everywhere among the crowds.

"This is outrageous. The Liu Family was merely following commands, and he already slew some of their members. Was it necessary to eradicate them entirely?"

"Exactly. I visited the Bai Family myself. The sight was utterly terrifying. Calling it a hellish nightmare wouldn't overstate it at all."

"What's the Elder Council waiting for? A bloodthirsty monster like that, and they still haven't taken him down? Are they planning to let him keep slaughtering innocents?"

"You shouldn't even bring it up. The moment you do, it jogs my memory. Word is, a couple of minor clans met the same gruesome end last night. They're just not as prominent as the Song Family, so the news hasn't spread widely yet."

"What? Even more victims?"

Upon hearing that, one individual grew visibly alarmed.

"Isn't he just going after those who've wronged him?"

"I have no idea what's happening."

Shaking his head, that individual replied, "I dismissed the rumor at first when it reached me. But then I confirmed it was real. If you're skeptical, go verify it yourself. Fresh reports should surface any moment now."

Silence descended over the gathering.

Waves of anxiety rippled through the group.

"That madman won't turn his sights on us next, will he?"

At last, one person voiced the fear gnawing at their heart. Their clan's influence was modest at best; boasting a Celestial Human Realm elder was already impressive.

Yet for that formidable foe, dispatching mid-stage Celestial Realm warriors came effortlessly. An early-stage Celestial Realm expert amounted to little more than an ornament.

Should that monster set his gaze upon them...

The fates of the Song Family and Liu Family stood as grim warnings.

"Probably not. We've got no grudge against him."

"Neither did those minor clans, but look what happened to them anyway."

"To me, rather than guess wildly like this, we ought to press the Elder Council to eliminate that fiend without delay. With him still breathing, none of us can rest easy."

"You're right. Let's head to the Elder Council as a group."

Come midday, throngs had already packed the Elder Council headquarters.

Up in the uppermost meeting chamber, four elders gathered solemnly around a conference table.

Dark expressions clouded their features.

Within a single evening, the majority of members from the Song Family, Liu Family, and the rest had met their doom!

An event of this magnitude hadn't occurred in nearly a decade.

The repercussions were shockingly severe!

Crucially, these leaders weren't naive.

While the public outside unanimously suspected Chen Fan as the culprit.

In truth, they grasped full well that another force was responsible.

Take the Liu Family, for instance.

Just the day before, they'd spoken by phone, insisting Chen Fan had departed. How then could a man who'd left return to annihilate the entire Liu Family?

The Bai Family faced the identical puzzle.

They'd reached out via calls to inquire.

And received matching responses.

Right then, a holographic image of an individual flickered to life on the wall.

"What's going on?"

The projection inquired.

It belonged to Su Ming himself.

"Brother Su, we've got a crisis on our hands."

Xu Hu blurted out hastily, "Overnight, the Song Family members and the others were massacred."

"What? This truly took place?"

Stunned for a beat, Su Ming then let out a frigid huff, declaring, "That insolent Chen Fan pup has some nerve! Stealing their cultivation techniques was bad enough, but exterminating them too? He's begging for his end!"

"Brother Su, I suspect there's deeper intrigue here." Zhao Chunyuan intoned solemnly, "Our communications with those clans occurred before any incident unfolded. Take the Song Family: even after Chen Fan's visit, they dispatched a messenger with updates. If his goal was elimination, why go through such formalities?"

"Indeed, Brother Su, I share the view that this isn't straightforward. Reports indicate the victims were drained of life essence, resembling withered mummies. In my eyes, this reeks of the Ogre's handiwork." The Yan Family elder chimed in as well.

"What?" Su Ming exclaimed in astonishment, "You believe it was them? That can't be, can it? Do they possess such audacity?"

"Brother Su, I'm convinced this was probably their scheme, deliberately pinning it on Chen Fan." The Qin Family elder added at that juncture.

"Is that so?"

At last, Xu Ming's countenance grew grave, "Fine, I'll confront them right away to uncover if they're behind it. If they are, they've got some gall pulling this without my knowledge."

Glances darted between the room's occupants.

"Brother Xu, there's a point I'd like to raise, though I'm unsure if it's appropriate." Zhao Chunyuan wavered.

"Hehe," Xu Ming chuckled lightly, "No need for such reservations, Younger Brother Zhao. Speak freely."

"Very well."

Drawing in a steadying breath, Zhao Chunyuan declared, "In my view, sending those two after Chen Fan is akin to unleashing a tiger upon a wolf— one wrong move, and the tiger escapes back to the wild.

Certainly, Chen Fan defied the Elder Council's prestige and warrants death. Yet he showed a shred of mercy, seizing only the cultivation techniques without needless slaughter. Those two, however, are merciless beasts, obliterating the Song, Liu, Bai, and Liang families—thousands upon thousands lost. Additional clans have fallen victim too. Claiming Chen Fan orchestrated this defies all logic, Brother Xu. Those two have utterly descended into madness."