3668

Chapter 2198.2: Undercurrents

“Three hundred and sixty five restrictions… in an ordinary stick of bamboo? Is this what the sect uses to test disciples?” Kong Mengqian’s eyes shone with expectation. “Then you need to keep your word, master!”

She skipped off. Meanwhile, Lu Yun held his head. He probably should’ve taught his disciple how to respect others first, hmm?

“Maybe the issue’s with my cultivation. It’s so low that my disciple is more like a younger sister.”

“When do we begin, young master?” Terra Demon approached the young man. They were to destroy the true immortal in three days, of which two had passed.

Lu Yun tossed a storage ring to him. “Here are one hundred and eight Transfer Talismans that I refined over the past two days. They can be assembled into a talisman formation. Go place them where the true immortal is.”

Terra Demon left to carry out his orders. With the nascent soul of an immortal king and the fortification of the Hongmeng Fruit, a minor true immortal wouldn’t discover him if he set his mind to staying invisible.

Fighting a true immortal in the capital would level the entire city. Thus, Lu Yun wanted to move the man elsewhere first before killing him.

The only thing he was worried about was if the Origin Sect would send out higher level immortals against him. He could manage empyrean, true, and even august immortals. As immortals were divided into nine ranks, those three indicated lower rank immortals. But once a mid rank immortal appeared, Lu Yun’s hands would be tied. He’d have to flee with the entire family if that was the case.

……

The Zhao Clan, one of Darklake’s seven great families and oldest aristocracies.

Everyone of note in the family was gathered in the visitor’s hall, including representatives from the Yuwen and Yu Clans.

“What are your thoughts, Patriarch Zhao?” The patriarch of the Yuwen Clan, mid nascent soul Yuwen Zhi, merrily stroked his beard. “Patriarch Yu has already decided to give us Yu Shuai.”

“There is no room for discussion in this,” Zhao Hongtu shook his head. “Chenguang is my son. As useless as he is, he is still my son.”

“We don’t want his life,” Yuwen Zhi chuckled. “Plus, your son is already golden core, isn’t he? Golden core at less than twenty years of age… and that is someone useless in your view!”

“Zhao Hongtu’s son is Zhao Hongtu’s son! He will not be one of your bargaining chips, no matter what!” The Zhao patriarch’s cold snort indicated the end of the matter.

“Brother Zhao, wise are those who recognize the times we’re in!” Patriarch Yu Chengze on the other side tried to convince his friend. “Seniors from the Nineheavens Pavilion have already arrived and it is the end of the road for the Lu Clan. Chenguang and Shuai’er will only be guests at the Yuwens’ for a few days, nothing will happen to them…”

“Shut up!” Zhao Hongtu sneered. “Yu Chengze, how dare you run your mouth when you can’t even protect your own son? Seniors from the Nineheavens Pavilion? The Nineheavens Pavilion of the Dark Orchid Empire has already been razed to the ground by a combination powerhouse! The ones here are defeated losers!”

Yu Chengze shut his mouth as Yuwen Zhi’s expression cooled. The latter closed his eyes and spoke no more. An awkward atmosphere descended on the scene.

A Zhao servant suddenly ran in. “Senior elder, the matter is done. Young master Chenguang has been delivered to the Yuwen Clan.”

“What?!” Zhao Hongtu surged to his feet. “What did you say?!”

The servant ignored Zhao Hongtu and remained looking at the highest ranked senior on the other side, Zhao Lingyue.

“Hongtu, you are no longer suited to be the patriarch. Upon deliberations by the council of elders, we have removed you from your position. The family will be overseen by the council from henceforth.” Zhao Lingyue was a very old man with white hair and so many wrinkles crossing his face that his skin looked like shriveled bark. But it was this latter nascent soul elder whose cultivation was second only to Zhao Hongtu.

“Hongtu, you are indeed unfit to be patriarch.” More people walked in after the elder spoke. They were all soul projection powerhouses—the heavyweights of the Zhao Clan who’d joined Dark Orchid after breaking through.

Their speaker was Zhao Hongtu’s grandfather, Zhao Lingfei.

“Grandfather, you…”

“Greetings to the patriarch!” Zhao Lingyue and the other elders rose to their feet and bowed in unison.

“Despite his average potential, Zhao Chenguang was able to successively break through in a short period of time and form his golden core. There must be a reason for anything out of the ordinary. This matter must be fully investigated,” Zhao Lingfei said coldly. “Additionally, Lu Tianling of the Lu Clan is controlling the emperor and seeks to overthrow Darklake Empire. Such a viciously ambitious character should be hunted down by all! We Zhaos will naturally not shirk our duty.”

Yu Chengze smiled ruefully at the stunned Zhao Hongtu. The same circumstances had taken place with him as well, but the seniors of his clan didn’t strip him of his patriarch position. They’d only forced him to submit.

For clans such as the Yus and Zhaos, someone broke through to soul projection once every thousand years and was brought to Dark Orchid Empire.

Today, these family seniors returned to their original clans and immediately assumed the reins of power. The position of family patriarch had long been turned into a mere figurehead. Not only did the seniors of the Yu and Zhao Clans return, but so did those of the Ouyang, Yuwen, Ling Clans, and even Darklake royalty!

“Grandfather, Marshal Lu Tianling has rendered great deeds to the nation and committed no faults. The battle of Tiger Suppression Pass twenty years ago…”

“Shut up!” Zhao Lingfe sneered. “You do not need to speak of these things and you no longer need to worry about family affairs. Focus on cultivation and break through to soul projection so you can follow me to Dark Orchid.

“Zhao Lingyue, you will handle the family’s affairs from now on.”

“Yes, senior patriarch!” The elder hastily bowed.

“Why do I feel like this isn’t a very nice course of action?” rang a clear voice. Light flurried in front of the assembly’s eyes as a young man dressed in long ivory robes walked in through the door.

“Who are you?” Zhao Lingfei frowned at the newcomer.

“Lu Yun?” Yuwen Zhi recognized the young man and subconsciously rose to his feet.

“So you are Lu Tianling’s grandson? Good timing, this saves me some time.” Zhao Lingfei reached out a hand to grab Lu Yun’s head.

The young man snorted and waved his in return, sending the old man flying with a wave of dense qi.

Bam!

The hall shook when Zhao Lingfei stopped. He was embedded in the wall.

“I should be the one saying that. Since you’re all gathered together, this saves me some time.” Lu Yun curled his lip and smiled at Zhao Hongtu. “My late arrival has caused Uncle Zhao some suffering.

The others on the scene sucked in sharp breaths to see Lu Yun casually rebuff the mid soul projection Zhao Lingfei. Zhao Hongtu, however, was unperturbed. “Please spare my family’s seniors, young master Lu.”

“But of course,” Lu Yun waved off his concerns. “I will not touch the Zhao and Lu Clan out of consideration for Chenguang and Yu Shuai.”

Zhao Hongtu breathed out more easily upon hearing this, while Yu Chengze looked at his fellow figurehead with bafflement.

“But the Yuwens must die. I said I would exterminate their bloodline if there was a single hair missing from my second uncle’s head. I, Lu Yun, am a man of my words.” He turned a cutting glare at Yuwen Zhi.

“You…” The man was flabbergasted. If the mid soul projection Zhao Lingfei was no match for the young man, then a latter nascent soul cultivator would just be a baby to Lu Yun!

Hum!

Lu Yun formed a massive hand from Hongmeng qi with a push of his hand and smacked Yuwen Zhi into a cloud of bloody mist.

The Yu and Yuwen Clans gaped; Zhao Lingfei struggling down from the wall was also horrified. Smacking a latter nascent soul cultivator into bloody mist with one slap?

Not even latter soul projection powerhouses could manage such a feat!

Meanwhile, Zhao Hongtu was as pale as a sheet. He inwardly celebrated that he’d visited Immortal Burial Valley a few months ago and personally witnessed Terra Demon holding off one hundred thousand immortals.

Otherwise, he would’ve made the same decision as Yu Chengze this time.

Lu Yun swiftly dispatched the rest of the Yuwen clan members who’d come with Yuwen Zhi.

“Uncle Zhao, Uncle Yu, it would be best to not let your family walk around too much these days. Your clans do not have the right to participate in the upcoming turmoil, and you may face annihilation if you do not handle the situation properly.” Lu Yun swept a look at Zhao Hongtu. “I will save Chenguang and Yu Shuai.”

He turned left without a trace.

“Was that… really Lu Yun?” Yu Chengze swallowed hard.

“Of course it was. If it wasn’t for a trip I made to Immortal Burial Valley and seeing their steward hold off one hundred thousand immortals by himself, including a few awakened powerhouses… I would’ve made the same decision as you,” Zhao Hongtu chuckled ruefully. “To think that young master Lu would also be a heavyweight so far ahead that we are unable to look upon him!”

“What?!” Yu Chengze’s eyes went round. “One versus one hundred thousand? Isn’t that the ability of real immortals? The Lus have an immortal with them…”

……

Lu Yun visited the Yus after leaving the Zhaos and found that Zhao Chenguang and Yu Shuai were indeed missing. They’d been taken to the Yuwen Clan.

He didn’t care about the situation at the Yu Clan. If it wasn’t for Yu Shuai, he wouldn’t be bothered with this family. They knew his stance, so it was up to them how they handled it.

In either case, he wasn’t planning on sitting around. He was going to counterattack the Yuwen Clan.

“Brother Ouyang, long time no see.” When Lu Yun arrived at the Ouyang Clan, he found Ouyang Shengtian being harassed by some family elders.

“Hahaha, well met young master Lu!” Ouyang Shengtian heaved a long sigh of relief to see Lu Yun. “Help me settle these old guys.”

“There’s no rush,” Lu Yun waved a hand. “Bring me all the spirit stones in your family vaults, I’m borrowing them and will return them after the fact.”

Chapter 2198.2: Undercurrents

“Three hundred and sixty five restrictions… in an ordinary stick of bamboo? Is this what the sect uses to test disciples?” Kong Mengqian’s eyes shone with expectation. “Then you need to keep your word, master!”

She skipped off. Meanwhile, Lu Yun held his head. He probably should’ve taught his disciple how to respect others first, hmm?

“Maybe the issue’s with my cultivation. It’s so low that my disciple is more like a younger sister.”

“When do we begin, young master?” Terra Demon approached the young man. They were to destroy the true immortal in three days, of which two had passed.

Lu Yun tossed a storage ring to him. “Here are one hundred and eight Transfer Talismans that I refined over the past two days. They can be assembled into a talisman formation. Go place them where the true immortal is.”

Terra Demon left to carry out his orders. With the nascent soul of an immortal king and the fortification of the Hongmeng Fruit, a minor true immortal wouldn’t discover him if he set his mind to staying invisible.

Fighting a true immortal in the capital would level the entire city. Thus, Lu Yun wanted to move the man elsewhere first before killing him.

The only thing he was worried about was if the Origin Sect would send out higher level immortals against him. He could manage empyrean, true, and even august immortals. As immortals were divided into nine ranks, those three indicated lower rank immortals. But once a mid rank immortal appeared, Lu Yun’s hands would be tied. He’d have to flee with the entire family if that was the case.

……

The Zhao Clan, one of Darklake’s seven great families and oldest aristocracies.

Everyone of note in the family was gathered in the visitor’s hall, including representatives from the Yuwen and Yu Clans.

“What are your thoughts, Patriarch Zhao?” The patriarch of the Yuwen Clan, mid nascent soul Yuwen Zhi, merrily stroked his beard. “Patriarch Yu has already decided to give us Yu Shuai.”

“There is no room for discussion in this,” Zhao Hongtu shook his head. “Chenguang is my son. As useless as he is, he is still my son.”

“We don’t want his life,” Yuwen Zhi chuckled. “Plus, your son is already golden core, isn’t he? Golden core at less than twenty years of age… and that is someone useless in your view!”

“Zhao Hongtu’s son is Zhao Hongtu’s son! He will not be one of your bargaining chips, no matter what!” The Zhao patriarch’s cold snort indicated the end of the matter.

“Brother Zhao, wise are those who recognize the times we’re in!” Patriarch Yu Chengze on the other side tried to convince his friend. “Seniors from the Nineheavens Pavilion have already arrived and it is the end of the road for the Lu Clan. Chenguang and Shuai’er will only be guests at the Yuwens’ for a few days, nothing will happen to them…”

“Shut up!” Zhao Hongtu sneered. “Yu Chengze, how dare you run your mouth when you can’t even protect your own son? Seniors from the Nineheavens Pavilion? The Nineheavens Pavilion of the Dark Orchid Empire has already been razed to the ground by a combination powerhouse! The ones here are defeated losers!”

Yu Chengze shut his mouth as Yuwen Zhi’s expression cooled. The latter closed his eyes and spoke no more. An awkward atmosphere descended on the scene.

A Zhao servant suddenly ran in. “Senior elder, the matter is done. Young master Chenguang has been delivered to the Yuwen Clan.”

“What?!” Zhao Hongtu surged to his feet. “What did you say?!”

The servant ignored Zhao Hongtu and remained looking at the highest ranked senior on the other side, Zhao Lingyue.

“Hongtu, you are no longer suited to be the patriarch. Upon deliberations by the council of elders, we have removed you from your position. The family will be overseen by the council from henceforth.” Zhao Lingyue was a very old man with white hair and so many wrinkles crossing his face that his skin looked like shriveled bark. But it was this latter nascent soul elder whose cultivation was second only to Zhao Hongtu.

“Hongtu, you are indeed unfit to be patriarch.” More people walked in after the elder spoke. They were all soul projection powerhouses—the heavyweights of the Zhao Clan who’d joined Dark Orchid after breaking through.

Their speaker was Zhao Hongtu’s grandfather, Zhao Lingfei.

“Grandfather, you…”

“Greetings to the patriarch!” Zhao Lingyue and the other elders rose to their feet and bowed in unison.

“Despite his average potential, Zhao Chenguang was able to successively break through in a short period of time and form his golden core. There must be a reason for anything out of the ordinary. This matter must be fully investigated,” Zhao Lingfei said coldly. “Additionally, Lu Tianling of the Lu Clan is controlling the emperor and seeks to overthrow Darklake Empire. Such a viciously ambitious character should be hunted down by all! We Zhaos will naturally not shirk our duty.”

Yu Chengze smiled ruefully at the stunned Zhao Hongtu. The same circumstances had taken place with him as well, but the seniors of his clan didn’t strip him of his patriarch position. They’d only forced him to submit.

For clans such as the Yus and Zhaos, someone broke through to soul projection once every thousand years and was brought to Dark Orchid Empire.

Today, these family seniors returned to their original clans and immediately assumed the reins of power. The position of family patriarch had long been turned into a mere figurehead. Not only did the seniors of the Yu and Zhao Clans return, but so did those of the Ouyang, Yuwen, Ling Clans, and even Darklake royalty!

“Grandfather, Marshal Lu Tianling has rendered great deeds to the nation and committed no faults. The battle of Tiger Suppression Pass twenty years ago…”

“Shut up!” Zhao Lingfe sneered. “You do not need to speak of these things and you no longer need to worry about family affairs. Focus on cultivation and break through to soul projection so you can follow me to Dark Orchid.

“Zhao Lingyue, you will handle the family’s affairs from now on.”

“Yes, senior patriarch!” The elder hastily bowed.

“Why do I feel like this isn’t a very nice course of action?” rang a clear voice. Light flurried in front of the assembly’s eyes as a young man dressed in long ivory robes walked in through the door.

“Who are you?” Zhao Lingfei frowned at the newcomer.

“Lu Yun?” Yuwen Zhi recognized the young man and subconsciously rose to his feet.

“So you are Lu Tianling’s grandson? Good timing, this saves me some time.” Zhao Lingfei reached out a hand to grab Lu Yun’s head.

The young man snorted and waved his in return, sending the old man flying with a wave of dense qi.

Bam!

The hall shook when Zhao Lingfei stopped. He was embedded in the wall.

“I should be the one saying that. Since you’re all gathered together, this saves me some time.” Lu Yun curled his lip and smiled at Zhao Hongtu. “My late arrival has caused Uncle Zhao some suffering.

The others on the scene sucked in sharp breaths to see Lu Yun casually rebuff the mid soul projection Zhao Lingfei. Zhao Hongtu, however, was unperturbed. “Please spare my family’s seniors, young master Lu.”

“But of course,” Lu Yun waved off his concerns. “I will not touch the Zhao and Lu Clan out of consideration for Chenguang and Yu Shuai.”

Zhao Hongtu breathed out more easily upon hearing this, while Yu Chengze looked at his fellow figurehead with bafflement.

“But the Yuwens must die. I said I would exterminate their bloodline if there was a single hair missing from my second uncle’s head. I, Lu Yun, am a man of my words.” He turned a cutting glare at Yuwen Zhi.

“You…” The man was flabbergasted. If the mid soul projection Zhao Lingfei was no match for the young man, then a latter nascent soul cultivator would just be a baby to Lu Yun!

Hum!

Lu Yun formed a massive hand from Hongmeng qi with a push of his hand and smacked Yuwen Zhi into a cloud of bloody mist.

The Yu and Yuwen Clans gaped; Zhao Lingfei struggling down from the wall was also horrified. Smacking a latter nascent soul cultivator into bloody mist with one slap?

Not even latter soul projection powerhouses could manage such a feat!

Meanwhile, Zhao Hongtu was as pale as a sheet. He inwardly celebrated that he’d visited Immortal Burial Valley a few months ago and personally witnessed Terra Demon holding off one hundred thousand immortals.

Otherwise, he would’ve made the same decision as Yu Chengze this time.

Lu Yun swiftly dispatched the rest of the Yuwen clan members who’d come with Yuwen Zhi.

“Uncle Zhao, Uncle Yu, it would be best to not let your family walk around too much these days. Your clans do not have the right to participate in the upcoming turmoil, and you may face annihilation if you do not handle the situation properly.” Lu Yun swept a look at Zhao Hongtu. “I will save Chenguang and Yu Shuai.”

He turned left without a trace.

“Was that… really Lu Yun?” Yu Chengze swallowed hard.

“Of course it was. If it wasn’t for a trip I made to Immortal Burial Valley and seeing their steward hold off one hundred thousand immortals by himself, including a few awakened powerhouses… I would’ve made the same decision as you,” Zhao Hongtu chuckled ruefully. “To think that young master Lu would also be a heavyweight so far ahead that we are unable to look upon him!”

“What?!” Yu Chengze’s eyes went round. “One versus one hundred thousand? Isn’t that the ability of real immortals? The Lus have an immortal with them…”

……

Lu Yun visited the Yus after leaving the Zhaos and found that Zhao Chenguang and Yu Shuai were indeed missing. They’d been taken to the Yuwen Clan.

He didn’t care about the situation at the Yu Clan. If it wasn’t for Yu Shuai, he wouldn’t be bothered with this family. They knew his stance, so it was up to them how they handled it.

In either case, he wasn’t planning on sitting around. He was going to counterattack the Yuwen Clan.

“Brother Ouyang, long time no see.” When Lu Yun arrived at the Ouyang Clan, he found Ouyang Shengtian being harassed by some family elders.

“Hahaha, well met young master Lu!” Ouyang Shengtian heaved a long sigh of relief to see Lu Yun. “Help me settle these old guys.”

“There’s no rush,” Lu Yun waved a hand. “Bring me all the spirit stones in your family vaults, I’m borrowing them and will return them after the fact.”