Chapter 317: Ashcort Clan

"A wise decision," John replied. 

The Whitecrest City Leader sighed once again upon announcing his surrender. However, a thought crossed his mind regarding his new superior. John had revealed his combat prowess to be absolutely amazing, and surely he would flourish within the Bloodfiend Sect.

'Perhaps such an arrangement isn't such a bad thing after all,' the Whitecrest City Leader mused to himself.

When John soared in the future, he would also potentially be able to reap those benefits. With this in mind, the Whitecrest Leader fully accepted his new fate.

"What is your name?" John asked.

"Xavier," the Whitecrest City Leader replied.

"Well Xavier," John said. "From now on, the Aderite Mines are back in my control. You and Hanze will take over the mining operations from the Ashcort Clan. Hanze will stay behind to instruct you on the further details," John instructed.

He turned to leave, at which point Xavier called out to John.

"Where are you going?" 

John stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I still have to clean up this Ashcort Clan mess. I will return shortly."

…

In the Harel mountain range, several dozen miles away from the Aderite Mines, a horde of people could be seen scurrying about, as if in a panic. They all rushed towards the largest building in the area, and gathered there with looks of uncertainty on their faces.

"Listen up," a man standing at the front of the group said. "The Patriarch's soul jade had shattered. He is dead."

"What? The Patriarch is dead?"

"How is this possible?"

A commotion erupted out within the group upon hearing the news, as the Patriarch was the lifeblood of the Ashcort Clan. He was the strongest of them all, and ensured that they were able to maintain their domain over the nearby lands. 

The man standing at the front addressing the crowd was the Patriarch's first son, who had now assumed leadership of the Ashcort Clan. 

"What are we going to do?" A panicked cry echoed out from the crowd. 

"Do not panic," the new Ashcort Leader instructed. "We will investigate this matter carefully, and proceed as needed in order to ensure the survival of our Clan."

Replies erupted from within the crowd, but a booming voice sounding down from above drowned out all of them.

"There's no need to investigate," the voice sounded out.

All those within the large building quickly rushed outside and looked to the sky. Above them, a lone boy, clad in blood red robes floated.

The new Clan Leader rushed outside as well, and narrowed his eyes as he saw John. The blood red robes were a giveaway as to his status, and the power John was emanating was beyond what he could contest against.

"Who are you?" the man spoke up. "Why are you invading my Ashcort Clan?"

Although the man had an idea who John was, he still asked for clarity on the situation. A misunderstanding with a Bloodfiend Sect disciple was not something he wanted to have on top of his current situation.

"I'm sure you've already guessed it. I'm the one who just slew your Patriarch," John's voice boomed out. His introduction left no guesses as to who he was anymore.

Looks of anger, hate, and many other emotions immediately broke out within the crowd, as several members shot up into the sky, prepared to kill John for his actions.

"Halt!"

A loud shout boomed out from the new Ashcort Clan leader, his commanding voice causing all those rushing forward to stop. They all turned around to look at their new Clan Leader, confused as to why he wasn't joining them to help slaughter their Patriarchs killer.

"Clan Leader, he's only in the Core Formation Realm. We have three Late Core Formation experts on our side. Join us and help us avenge your father!" one of them cried out in protest.

"Do you think I don't know that?" the Clan Leader shouted out loudly. "Our Patriarch, my father, was at the Meridian Forging Realm, and was meeting with the Whitecrest Leader as well, and yet he still fell. I'm not sure of the details, but clearly we are no match for this boy before us."

John raised his eyebrows in slight surprise at the man's assessment of the situation. He had arrived at the clan, ready to eliminate any and all possible future headaches, namely the main lineage of the clan. However, this man before him seemed to be quite sensible.

"You seem to be quite a clever man," John spoke out to the man. "I had come here with the intention of destroying half your clan for your Patriarch's actions, but maybe such a thing is not needed after all," John's voice boomed out over the crowd.

John's voice angered the crowd once more, as his words were looking down on the entire clan. However, they listened to their new leader's instructions, and did not lash out at John. 

The Ashcort Clan Leader looked back up to John, who stood there with a calm face. He could tell that John was not bluffing, and that he truly did have the power to bury the entire Ashcort Clan. However, he still wanted answers to his fathers death.

"For what reason did you kill my father?" the man asked, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

"I was ambushed by a group of men, who intended on killing me and taking my belongings. One of those men was from your clan, the second son of the patriarch I believe. Since they made such a foolish decision, I helped each of them leave this world permanently" John began to explain.

Angered looks appeared on many faces in the crowd once again at the news, and the Ashcort Clan leader frowned upon hearing this. His brother's death was a mystery to him, but hearing about the reason for it, he started to put two and two together.

"I'm assuming my father tried to kill you for your actions?" the Clan Leader asked.

"That is correct," John confirmed. "As such, I had no choice. However, you seem much more reasonable, and I'm sure you can see the bigger picture of what would happen if you tried to get vengeance for your fathers death."

The Ashcort Clan leader frowned upon hearing this, because what John said was the ugly truth. He did want to avenge his fathers death, but knew his clan was too weak to do so. Trying to do such a futile thing would only result in its complete destruction.

"What do you want then?" the Ashcort Clan Leader asked.

"I came here to make sure your clan wouldn't be a future threat, but I can see that should no longer be an issue. As long as you stay in line and do not seek vengeance, I will allow your clan to continue to exist," John replied. "The Aderite Mines have been reacquired by me and my city. You will leave them alone, and make a living another way. If not...I'm sure you can fill in the rest."

The Ashcort Clan leader frowned once again upon hearing this. The Aderite Mines were a great source of revenue for the clan, and losing it would hurt them greatly. However, it was still better than being wiped out.

"You have my word. We will make no more claims to your mines," the clan leader confirmed.

"Good. See that it stays that way, or I will return to this clan of yours to finish what I had intended on doing in the first place," John replied.

After glancing down at the clan below him one last time, John sped off into the distance. The Ashcort Clan leader sighed a sigh of relief, as he knew his clan had just escaped a great calamity.