Chapter 633 355: Decapitation Tactic

The upper echelons of the Taiqing Divine Dynasty have yet to respond. It's possible they intend to completely abandon all their operations in Yuzhou.

"Patriarch, the circumstances are beyond our control. To ensure the family's line isn't severed, we may... have no choice but to find another way out!"

Another Elder, Cui Zhenghong, pursed his lips and spoke softly.

"What do you mean?"

Cui Qianyou froze slightly, his face devoid of expression as he shot the man a sideways glance.

"Arrange for a portion of our Direct Lineage members to secretly evacuate, carrying the family's Heavy Artifacts and the contents of our treasury."

Cui Zhenghong said in a deep voice, "They can go to other major prefectures, or even another continent! As long as they don't stay in Yuzhou, they'll be safe!"

Life wouldn't be easy for them. They'll have to live in obscurity and keep a low profile, but it's better than being wiped out all at once.

Cui Qianyou lowered his eyes, his hands tucked into his sleeves. "Besides this, are there any other options?"

"Yes. We could surrender and submit to the Ling Family!"

Cui Zhenghong's words made the other Elders turn to look at him in unison.

But no one spoke up to rebuke him.

To put it bluntly, the family was at the end of its rope. Contemplating pointless what-ifs was meaningless now.

Even many of the high-ranking Elders were already secretly planning their own ways out, looking out for themselves and their immediate descendants.

Few were willing to concern themselves with the family's greater good anymore.

"Can't we take all our assets and our most outstanding Direct Lineage members and retreat into the Taiqing Divine Dynasty's territory in Yaozhou?"

Elder Cui Wuji couldn't help but ask.

In truth, the Cui and Mu Families were vassal powers of the Taiqing Divine Dynasty, which was theoretically obligated to protect them.

Of course, theory was one thing, but how it would work in practice was another.

Cui Qianyou sneered. "And what good would that do? Before long, they'd devour every resource we brought with us, and our people would be used as cannon fodder and servants. We might as well just surrender to the Ling Family!"

"…"

The Elders exchanged glances, but no one dared to respond.

They knew all too well what the higher-ups of the Taiqing Divine Dynasty were like. To say they'd devour you whole, bones and all, was an understatement.

Cui Qianyou sighed and waved his hand wearily. "Go and make the arrangements. Take inventory of the treasury and select the clan members and children who are worth protecting."

"A great calamity is upon us. We can't count on anyone. From now on, we can only rely on ourselves!"

The Elders exchanged a look, then cupped their fists and assented.

However, before they could rise to leave, a clear, placid voice rang out leisurely:

"Is submitting to the Ling Family really so difficult to accept? And here I was, wondering if I should offer you preferential treatment."

Cui Qianyou whipped his head around in shock to see a handsome young man in magnificent purple robes, exuding an air of sublime grace. He was seated at the table, elegantly sampling the Spirit Wine and refreshments on a tray.

"Who are you?!"

Cui Zhengxiong demanded, his aura surging as the Lifebound Spiritual Treasure within him gathered power, ready to strike.

'Ling Changqing?'

Cui Qianyou roared with fury. "So it's one of those bastards from the Ling Family! Seize him for m— Huh? Wait…"

It suddenly dawned on him. He stared at Ling Changqing in disbelief, his eyes widening. His expression was a mixture of shock and undisguised, ecstatic greed.

"A-are you the legendary Child of Destiny?"

Elder Cui Zhenghong's voice trembled as he asked. The others had also realized the truth.

'In these troubled times, if the Cui Family could get their hands on the Child of Destiny, wouldn't they have a chance to reverse their decline and revitalize the family?'

'Perhaps in a hundred years or so, the Cui Family wouldn't even need to spare a glance for their former masters, the Taiqing Divine Dynasty.'

"Who else?"

Ling Changqing's tone was placid. He continued to leisurely sample the Spirit Wine, a look of satisfaction on his face. 'The things a Patriarch gets to enjoy are certainly on another level.'

Cui Qianyou took a sharp step forward, but then forcibly suppressed his impulse. He asked in a low voice:

"Why have you appeared here? Back during the Dragon Soul Valley trial, our family had intended to recruit you with lavish gifts, but then you disappeared…"

Among the Nine Great Cultivation Families of Yuzhou, the Cui Family's ranking was on the lower end, but that didn't stop them from coveting Ling Changqing. They had even made extensive preparations to win him over back then, but the opportunity never arose.

The clan's young women, specially selected for their exceptional beauty and character, were still being raised in comfort. And now, the man himself had finally arrived at their doorstep.

Now the Child of Destiny had appeared before them, perfectly fine, but his Cultivation Realm… Back then, he was at Foundation Establishment; now, he was already at Divinity Transformation.

"I am the Patriarch of the Ling Family."

Ling Changqing replied succinctly.

Cui Qianyou's expression changed drastically. With his intellect, it only took a moment of thought for him to grasp the full picture.

'No wonder that Ling Family from the outer seas of Yuzhou rose so quickly, their power growing so terrifyingly. I had assumed they were a vassal of Lu Hua Palace, but it seems that's not the case at all.'

'It made sense, thinking about it. The power of Lu Hua Palace alone would never have been enough to push the Cui Family to this point, especially when even the Taiqing Divine Dynasty had suffered a major loss at their hands.'

'Only this legendary Child of Destiny could have produced so many High Level Female Cultivators, allowing them to steamroll the surrounding powers.'

"So, our only option is to surrender unconditionally?"

Cui Qianyou's expression was bitter. He had no other recourse. An unknown, immense power had already sealed this space off from the outside world, rendering all of their secret communication methods useless.

Then again, even if all of the Cui Family's top combatants were present, it wouldn't solve the problem.

"If you surrender, at least you'll live. Once you're dead, nothing else matters."