Chapter 21

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

…

Lin Commandery, Mt. Shaoyan.

This was where the Zhang family was located.

Since the decline of the Lin family twenty years ago, the Lin Commandery had fallen into great chaos. A large number of the first-class forces in the Lin Commandery had participated in the Anti-Lin War due to their own objectives.

At that time, the Zhang family was just a small and inconspicuous second-rate force within the Lin Commandery.

However, since that radical overhaul of an event, the Lin family had come out victorious, and several powerhouses from the first-rate forces were annihilated. As a result, the traitors fled the Lin Commandery collectively, freeing up a large area of territory resources. The Zhang family and other forces that had not participated in the Anti-Lin War greatly benefited from this and rapidly grew.

In recent years, development had been prosperous, and powerhouses have emerged from the clans one after another. The younger generation continued to produce prodigies with promising potential, and the people were thriving and developing in a positive direction under this peace.

However, the Zhang family’s peace was shattered today!

A group of mysterious figures clad in black robes forcibly broke into Mt. Shaoyan.

Just like clearing a series of game levels, the intruders disposed of the ordinary disciples at the foot of the mountain, and after infiltrating the mountain they defeated the direct disciples who hurried over after receiving the news, and then they went straight to the back of the mountain and pummeled all the clan elders to the point of vomiting blood.

Even the current head of the Zhang family, who had appeared last, was now clutching his chest, his face covered in bruises, his injuries severe.

“Who the hell are you? Why did you come to the Zhang family?!”

Zhang Tai, the head of the Zhang family, asked in a deep voice, gripping his chest and staring at the group of black-robed figures who stood before him.

The strength of this group of people was unfathomable.

They had enough power to annihilate the Zhang family, but they only shot and wounded their people without killing them, so it was obvious that they had something planned.

“Do you guys know what this is?”

The leader of the black-robed men took out a black token with an evil spirit symbol on it, and with just a glance, the malevolent aura assaulted his senses. It was evident at first sight that it was something unholy.

“The Mei clan token!”

At the sight of the token, the expressions of the head of the Zhang family, as well as the elders who were still coughing blood, drastically changed.

Within the Zhang family, there was a huge secret that had been passed down through word-of-mouth.

This secret was only known to those who were the head or an elder.

The Zhang family elder had once been an illustrious figure, but the reason behind that illustriousness would tarnish their name for thousands of years to come if it were to be known, and might even put them at risk of extermination.

It was because their elders were members of a sect that had colluded with the foreign clans.

The Guxin Sect—a notorious group that was still on the Xia clan’s kill list to this day.

“Are… are you guys from the Mei clan?”

Zhang Tai’s voice started to waver and turn hoarse.

Ever since a major incident hundreds of years ago, the Guxin Sect was destroyed, and the Zhang family elders left the sect, went incognito, and had long cut ties with the Mei clan.

Although they fell from power and lost their prestige because of this, they were able to lead a new life.

They had never expected that the other party would one day track them down through whatever method they used and come knocking on their door.

“That’s right, we’re from the Mei clan!”

The black-robed figure nodded as he calmly answered.

“Wh—what business do you have with us now?!”

Zhang Tai’s expression darkened.

No matter what intentions the foreign clan had, he could not imagine they would be anything good.

Everything was currently going well for the Zhang family, and they were getting stronger and stronger. Regardless of what had happened in the past, now he did not want to be associated with the foreign clans any longer.

“I am the protector of the Mei clan. By order of the clan elder, I have hereby come to assume control of the Guxin Sect’s former followers and revive the Guxin Sect once more, so that you may return into the embrace of the Mei Deity!”

Just as expected!!

The light in Zhang Tai’s eyes faded abruptly.

The Mei clan’s intentions made his heart chill.

Had they made up their mind to not let go of the Zhang family? Or did they think the Zhang family made good pawns? Were they such easy pawns?

They managed to track them down the moment they entered human territory.

‘If you guys are that powerful, why not get yourself new disciples instead?’

Or just go look for someone else!

Back then, many people had fled from the Guxin Sect.

Hundreds of years have passed, so why were they still thinking about the Zhang family?!!

Bastards!

“I went through the records before I came here, and it said that the Zhang family’s past elder had been one of the pillars of the Guxin Sect. Why is it that so many years later, his descendants are so incompetent? Never mind demi-kings, there isn’t even an ultimate precelestial within your family; there’s only a Ninth Precelestial Grandmaster. Weak! Too weak!”

The black-robed figure shook his head in disappointment as he spoke.

Zhang Tai’s ashen face flushed blood-red, making the look on his face even uglier.

Not only were they going to be used, but they were also humiliated.

If it had not been for the fact that he was no match for them, he would have exploded by now!

He did not have that good of a temper!

“Now, you have two choices. One—surrender, or two—death!

“The choice is yours!”

The black-robed figure spelled out their options one after the other.

His voice was cold and ruthless.

Silence!

The Zhang family exchanged glances silently.

After a moment, they lowered their heads helplessly, expressing their willingness to return into the embrace of the Mei Deity.

The situation was not in their favor.

They were practically being held at knifepoint, so they did not have a choice.

“This time, my clan has returned to the Xia clan to utilize the large community resources of you humans to build the foundation for my clan’s top ten Holy Sons and Daughters. I’m sure you have not forgotten what you have to do!”

The black-robed figure sat on the main seat, looking down at Zhang Tai and the group of elders who stood obediently in two rows.

Zhang Tai hesitated, and finally shook his head bitterly.

He was being honest.

They did not know what to do!

Their alliance with the Mei clan and Guxin Sect had ended centuries ago, and time had passed. If it were not for the long lives of the precelestial powerhouses, perhaps none of them would have even known about this!

As for the specific details, those in the Zhang family’s generation who had allied themselves with the Mei clan while being part of the Guxin Sect had kept everything a secret and were not willing to bring it up much. After their deaths, not a single person knew about the details!

“Hmph!”

The black-robed figure harrumphed coldly.

He felt dissatisfied that the Zhang family had forgotten about the duty that the Mei clan had bestowed upon them, but he did not mind it too much.

His group came to the Zhang family to make them do their bidding. Now was not the time to settle old scores.

“Powerful soul bodies brimming with desire, that is what our clan needs. I need the Zhang family to go outside and cultivate soul bodies like these for our clan. When they mature, bring them back here and present them to our Holy Children to enjoy!”

There was a faint glint in the exposed eyes of the black-robed figure which betrayed his inexplicable evil intentions.

His voice was harsh and disturbing to the ears.

Zhang Tai and the others could not stop the racing of their hearts.

Although he had no idea how to cultivate soul bodies full of desire, just hearing the name was enough for one to know that this was not a good thing.

Moreover, they were for the Holy Children to enjoy, no less. Did that mean it would be for consumption?

If the Xia Clan were to catch wind of this news, the Zhang family would really die terrible deaths.

As expected, no good would come from working with the foreign clans.

“Of course, you’ll receive benefits for working for the Mei clan. Those of you currently present will achieve the status of an ultimate precelestial before long, I guarantee that. Even reaching the level of a demi-king would not be impossible!”

If you want a horse to run, obviously you have to feed it!

The black-robed figure made a promise.

Zhang Tai and the other elders felt slightly better.

Although it made them furious that they were forced to do someone else’s biddings, it gave them some comfort to know that they would be rewarded with a sweet treat in the end!