Why does Han Li spare the mortals?

He only eliminates threats. Mortals without spiritual roots cannot cultivate or seek revenge, so they are not tactical loose ends.

How did Han Li find the Fu Clan so easily?

He has been tracking the Li Clan's enemies and political infrastructure; the Fu Clan's involvement in the Yellow Maple Valley incident was already mapped in his intelligence.

Why does the Fu Clan Ancestor flee immediately instead of fighting?

He instantly recognizes Han Li as a Nascent Soul cultivator; a Core Formation cultivator's only viable option against that power gap is immediate, desperate escape.

A Name That Shakes the Region—Clan Annihilation (Part 1)

1,855 words

Chapter 662: A Name That Shakes the Region—Clan Annihilation (Part 1)

The Fu Clan Ancestor was not near the main hall at this hour. Instead, he sat within a secluded pavilion deeper in the fortress, studying a faintly glowing jade slip in his hand.

As the guest of honor at his own birthday celebration, he naturally intended to appear before the guests only at the very last moment.

In the meantime, as the Fu Clan's ruler, he still had an urgent matter to handle.

Aside from the Fu Clan Ancestor, the pavilion also held a second man—a robust, dignified figure with bronzed skin and a cultivation at the early Core Formation stage. Several pouches of varying sizes bulged at his waist.

"Hmph! This isn't the Golden Purple Nation. Their Imperial Spirit Sect actually expects us to provide manpower and resources just to gather intelligence for them, acting as if they're searching for something. They treat the Fu Clan like one of their subordinates. Utterly absurd!" The Fu Clan Ancestor suddenly slammed the table, his voice low and cold as he scowled.

"Uncle Seventh, no need to be agitated. Does the jade slip specify what they're looking for? Something that has the Imperial Spirit Sect's cultivators this tense must be of no small importance!" The large man rubbed his chin with considerable interest.

"That's precisely what infuriates me. They want to use us, yet they remain evasive and refuse to mention what they're searching for. They only instructed us to keep an eye out for any strange occurrences around Yuanwu Nation and report to them immediately if anything happens."

"Oh? So the Imperial Spirit Sect doesn't want the Blazing Flame Sect to know about this matter. That's why they approached our Fu Clan and spoke so vaguely." A glint of sharp light flashed in the large man's eyes as he spoke thoughtfully.

"Xiao San, you've hit the mark. To be safe, our Fu Clan has done everything to fawn over the Blazing Flame Sect, while secretly currying favor with the Imperial Spirit Sect on the side. But from the look of things, despite our repeated overtures, the Imperial Spirit Sect still doesn't fully trust our clan. It seems we need to adjust our strategy. I wonder if the Ghost Spirit Sect—the weakest of the Six Sects—would be easier to befriend." The old man stroked his beard, mulling it over.

"That could be arranged..."

"Heh heh! I wouldn't have guessed that the Fu Clan, aside from latching onto the Blazing Flame Sect's leg, also has dealings with the Imperial Spirit Sect. No wonder you've managed to thrive so well over the last century!"

Just as the large man was about to say something more, an unfamiliar male voice suddenly drifted in from outside the window, laced with a hint of mockery.

"Who? Which esteemed guest honors the Fu Clan with their presence? Fu Tianhua failed to welcome you from afar; I beg your forgiveness!"

The Fu Clan Ancestor and the large man shot up from their chairs as if they had been stung. After exchanging a terrified, bewildered glance, the Fu Clan Ancestor called out in a voice filled with shock and uncertainty.

Both of them were utterly shaken that someone had approached so close without their detection.

"No need for such formalities. I suppose you could say I've come uninvited today."

As the voice from outside the window finished speaking, a brilliant azure light suddenly flooded the pavilion.

Startled, the Fu Clan Ancestor and the large man instantly blurred into motion, each retreating to a corner of the room. A crystalline protective barrier flickered to life around them.

The Fu Clan Ancestor spat out a white flying sword, which circled defensively before him. The large man, his expression grim, snatched a black, unremarkable beast-taming pouch from his waist.

The light converged, and a green-robed cultivator materialized in the center of the room. He looked ordinary, young—perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

It was Han Li, who had infiltrated the fortress unnoticed.

Han Li clasped his hands behind his back, sweeping his gaze over the wary Fu Clan Ancestor and the large man before speaking slowly:

"I swept this area with my divine sense just now. There are only three Core Formation cultivators in the entire Fu Fortress. You two have the highest cultivation among them. I take it you are the clan's leaders?"

Han Li's expression was utterly calm, revealing nothing of his intentions.

"So an elder of the Nascent Soul stage honors us! May this humble one ask what the Fu Clan can do for you, Senior?"

Han Li had not concealed his cultivation base, and the old man sensed the unfathomable depth of his power. His face drastically changed as he forced out an uneasy smile, his heart pounding with dread.

"So you are the Fu Clan Ancestor?" Han Li narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on the purple-robed old man in the corner.

"Forgive me, Senior. Before you, this junior dare not claim such a title. I am Fu Tianhua, the current head of the Fu Clan." Hearing Han Li's emotionless inquiry, the Fu Clan Ancestor replied with feigned deference, though his internal unease grew sharper. He had a creeping feeling that this Nascent Soul cultivator's intentions were far from benign.

"Good. Since you are the Fu Clan Ancestor, I haven't come to the wrong place. Since I'm here to collect a debt, it's only proper that I inform you first." A strange, almost amused expression flickered across Han Li's face as he looked at the old man.

"A debt? Senior must be joking. This junior doesn't seem to have ever met you before. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding?" The Fu Clan Ancestor's heart plummeted into an abyss of dread at Han Li's words.

The large man beside him, who had remained silent until now, also turned deathly pale, his grip on the beast-taming pouch tightening involuntarily.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator to speak of collecting a debt—however one interpreted it, it boded ill.

"A misunderstanding? Of course not. I should explain things clearly so that you won't die as confused ghosts. But you two are making too many small moves; you've left me no time for idle chatter. The two of you will go first. I'll see the remaining Fu Clan members off along the way." Han Li glanced casually in the large man's direction, then broke into a faint smile.

"What? You intend to massacre the entire Fu Clan!" the Fu Clan Ancestor roared, feigning fury.

But in the same instant, a yellow talisman appeared in his hand. A flash of yellow light, and his figure shot backward, vanishing through the wall as if he had passed straight through it.

A rare Earth Escape Talisman.

"Run? Where do you think you're going?"

Han Li sneered. Instead of pursuing the Fu Clan Ancestor, he casually flicked a finger in the other direction.

A streak of azure light materialized and vanished in an instant. A moment later, it pierced the chest of the large man in the opposite corner of the room. His protective barrier shattered instantly, offering no resistance.

The beast-taming pouch in the man's hand had just begun to emit a dark light, but it flickered and dimmed the moment its owner died. A furious roar echoed faintly from within.

The large man's corpse crumpled to the floor, but Han Li didn't spare it a second glance.

Destroying an early Core Formation cultivator was, to him, a trivial matter. Still, he was somewhat interested in the beast-taming pouch. With a flick of his hand, he drew the pouch to him and tucked it away.

Only then did Han Li turn his gaze to the wall where the Fu Clan Ancestor had vanished, a cold smirk curling his lips.

With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of white shot out, and a small fox appeared before him.

"You have mastered the Earth Escape technique. I'm leaving the Fu Clan Ancestor to you. Given your cultivation as an artifact spirit and your mastery of illusions, dealing with a mere mid-Core Formation cultivator should be effortless," Han Li instructed the white fox calmly.

"Naturally. Master, wait a moment. I'll be back shortly!" A hint of pride flickered in the fox's eyes. A flash of yellow light, and its form vanished from the pavilion.

Han Li then patted one of the beast-taming pouches at his waist. A torrent of tri-colored Gold Devourer Beetles poured out, coalescing into a massive, three-colored insect cloud that swirled above his head.

"Go," Han Li said softly.

At his command, the swarm split into countless smaller groups, instantly condensing into dozens of small tricolored swords, which then surged out through the window like a swarm of hornets.

Han Li sat down cross-legged in the pavilion. Activating the Great Derivative Art, his divine sense spread out to envelop the entire Fu Fortress.

The direct bloodline of the Fu Clan was easy to identify. Whether by their attire or the similar cultivation techniques they practiced, they were fully exposed under Han Li's divine sense.

He ignored the mortal Fu Clan members in the outer fortress who lacked spiritual roots and magical power. Guided by his divine sense, the tricolored flying swords began to seek out the Fu Clan cultivators one by one.

Screams and cries of alarm erupted abruptly. A thick stench of blood instantly shrouded the entire fortress.

Meanwhile, deep underground, the Fu Clan Ancestor fled at full speed using the power of the Earth Escape technique.

His only thought now was to escape this place as far as possible. He refused to think about the fate of the other disciples and juniors back in the fortress. He did not want to.

Though he hadn't witnessed the fate of his nephew, the large man, he could imagine it clearly.

Even if the man possessed the Fu Clan's guardian spirit beast, expecting him to escape from a Nascent Soul cultivator was pure fantasy. If the man could buy him even a few moments, the Fu Clan Ancestor would be satisfied.

As for the rest of the Fu Clan, even if he wanted to save them, his strength was insufficient. More likely than not, he would be throwing his own life away. In that case, he had to look after himself first.

As long as he, the Fu Clan Ancestor, survived, the Fu Clan was not truly destroyed.

Besides the main fortress, the Fu Clan still had other holdings scattered across Yuanwu Nation. If he could reach those places, the clan would always have a chance to rebuild.

His only source of bitterness was the question of how they had offended this unnamed Nascent Soul fiend. The man had declared his intention to annihilate the entire Fu Clan without so much as a proper explanation.

Though the other party had maintained a calm demeanor throughout, every time the old man recalled his expression, a chill ran down his spine.

(Having stayed up several nights in a row, I'm a bit tired. I'll take a short break. Only one chapter tonight!)

(End of Chapter)

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Reading Guide Decoding

When the Predator Stops Hiding

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

Earth Escape Talismans: In xianxia, Earth Escape is a rare and high-tier technique that allows the user to merge with the earth and travel underground. The fact that the Fu Clan Ancestor possesses one as a Core Formation cultivator is a sign of his clan's wealth and connections—but also of his desperation. Against a Nascent Soul cultivator, even this trump card is merely a temporary delay. The talisman's existence underscores the Mortal Stream's resource logic: rare items are hoarded for emergencies, and emergencies come in the form of superior enemies who simply ignore your best tricks.

Clan Politics and the "Three-Faced Hedge": The Fu Clan's strategy of secretly maintaining ties with three different sects (Blazing Flame, Imperial Spirit, and attempting Ghost Spirit) is a classic minor-power survival tactic in the cultivation world. It is also a classic way to get annihilated once the wrong party finds out. In the Mortal Stream, there is no such thing as "harmless hedging"—every secret alliance is a potential leak, and every leak is a death sentence. The Ancestor's death is not a tragedy; it is a logical consequence of playing a high-stakes game without enough power to enforce the rules.

Sparing Mortal Kin: Han Li's decision to leave the Fu Clan's mortals alive is not mercy. It is tactical cleanliness. Cultivators who pose a future threat or possess cultivator-level knowledge are the targets; mortals who cannot cultivate and have no spiritual-root network are irrelevant. This aligns perfectly with the Dark Forest logic of the novel: you eliminate threats, not bystanders—unless the bystanders become loose ends.

Chapter Overview

Welcome back, fellow Daoists! The quiet before the storm is officially over. In this chapter, Han Li stops playing the cautious observer and starts playing the grim reaper. Forget the subtle scheming and careful negotiations—this is a cold, surgical extermination mission. We watch from a bird's-eye view as Han Li methodically dismantles a minor noble clan, silencing them not out of anger, but because they happen to sit on information he cannot let escape. The tone shifts from political tension to horror-movie efficiency, and the message is unmistakable: the Mortal Stream's protagonist is done being underestimated.

Key Plot Points

The Fu Clan Ancestor, Fu Tianhua, is revealed to be a cunning political operator—publicly loyal to the Blazing Flame Sect, secretly cozying up to the Imperial Spirit Sect, and considering a deal with the Ghost Spirit Sect. His survival strategy was three-faced hedging, which is exactly the kind of complexity that gets a minor clan killed.
While reading an encrypted jade slip from the Imperial Spirit Sect (who want the clan to investigate "strange occurrences" without explaining why), the Ancestor and his Core Formation nephew are interrupted by a voice from outside the window. The intruder is Han Li, who makes his entrance with casual menace.
Han Li immediately declares he is here to "collect a debt" and announces his intention to annihilate the entire Fu Clan. No negotiation. No trial. Just a flat statement of intent.
The Fu Clan Ancestor attempts a desperate escape with a rare Earth Escape Talisman, but Han Li is not even mildly impressed. He kills the Core Formation nephew with a single flick of a finger (the man's protective shield and beast-taming pouch do nothing), then dispatches the white fox spirit to hunt down the fleeing Ancestor.
Han Li releases the Gold Devourer Beetles, which split into dozens of flying swords and systematically begin hunting the Fu Clan's cultivators under his divine sense guidance, while sparing the mortal members of the outer fortress. The massacre is chilling in its clinical precision.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a tone shift checkpoint for the novel. Up until now, Han Li has survived by dodging, negotiating, and hiding his power. Here, for the first time in a while, he walks into a fortified enemy stronghold and simply takes control. The way he kills a Core Formation cultivator with a casual finger-flick is meant to send a clear signal: Han Li is no longer a prey animal. He is a predator calibrating the distance between himself and his targets. If you have been wanting to see the "dark, calculating, efficient" side of Han Li that the guide keeps promising, this chapter is where it finally steps on stage. Pay attention to the coldness of the narration—there is no anger, no satisfaction, no drama. Just procedure. That is the Mortal Stream's true face.

Quick Q&A

Lore recap (TL;DR) drawn from this chapter's Cultural / Xianxia Notes — same text as the FAQ structured data on this page.

Why does Han Li spare the mortals?: He only eliminates threats. Mortals without spiritual roots cannot cultivate or seek revenge, so they are not tactical loose ends.
How did Han Li find the Fu Clan so easily?: He has been tracking the Li Clan's enemies and political infrastructure; the Fu Clan's involvement in the Yellow Maple Valley incident was already mapped in his intelligence.
Why does the Fu Clan Ancestor flee immediately instead of fighting?: He instantly recognizes Han Li as a Nascent Soul cultivator; a Core Formation cultivator's only viable option against that power gap is immediate, desperate escape.