Chapter 1297 - 925: Unexpected Interruption

What is the most exhilarating thing in life?

The most exhilarating thing is to seize the moral high ground from someone else, then turn the tables and occupy that moral high ground yourself, waving the banner of righteousness and causing the other party to suffer the consequences of their own misdeeds.

It’s just like now, Zhang Chen raised the flag high, stood at the pinnacle of morality, and trampled the entire Zhang Family’s elder council underfoot, pointing fingers and cursing furiously at them, while the others found it hard to justify themselves, silently enduring Zhang Chen’s fury.

"If there’s nothing else, esteemed elders, I must bid farewell. I hope you can quickly recover the Zhang Family’s legacy to comfort the spirits of our ancestors," Zhang Chen said, then swept his sleeves grandly and walked out of the ancestral hall, leaving behind a group of elders stunned like wooden chickens.

As he left the Zhang Family’s mansion, Zhang Chen silently exclaimed in his heart, "Exhilarating! Utterly exhilarating!"

"But I must add fuel to the fire. I want to destroy the Gong Family; I must incite a clash between the Zhang Family and the Gong Family," Zhang Chen walked to an isolated spot, and with a flicker, transformed into a hummingbird, flapping away and reappearing inside the Gong Family. There, the atmosphere was stern and heavily guarded, with Gong Family guards wielding knives, covering every corner without a blind spot.

However, Zhang Chen had the Invisibility Rune. No matter how many guards were inside the Gong Family, they couldn’t stop Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen selected an empty room, then transformed into a stream of water to flash inside, and the next moment pulled out the Life and Death Record, activating its Qi Mechanism, which soared to the heavens and startled all the cultivators in Kyoto.

After revealing the Qi Mechanism of the Life and Death Record, Zhang Chen disappeared instantly, reappearing as an inconspicuous mosquito landing on a large tree in the courtyard, quietly watching the subsequent developments.

Shortly after Zhang Chen disappeared, a group of Gong Family members rushed over, bursting into the room but finding it empty, leaving everyone bewildered.

"The Life and Death Record’s aura really appeared in our Gong Family; now we are at a loss for words. Could it be true that someone from our Gong Family stole Zhang Family’s Life and Death Record?" The Gong Family patriarch’s voice was filled with disbelief.

"The Life and Death Record’s aura did appear in our Gong Family, there must be a significant issue within our family," an elder remarked.

"Who was the audacious one that disregarded the sentiment among the Eight Great Clans to do such a thing?" someone angrily cursed.

Though the Life and Death Record is valuable, the Gong Family genuinely doesn’t care!

This is a dire situation! If a rift appears among the Eight Great Clans leading to a clash, it would provide an opportunity for the Great Victory royal family to exploit, and everyone would perish.

"Did anyone enter this room just now?" The Zhong Family patriarch asked the guards at the door.

"Reporting, sir, this room has remained empty without anyone entering," a guard respectfully replied.

As these words fell, everyone inside the room changed their expressions, realizing the severity of the situation. The room was clearly vacant, yet the aura of the Life and Death Record leaked out, what does this imply? Someone intentionally leaked the Life and Death Record’s aura, deliberately causing trouble for the Gong Family.

What is the other party’s objective?

The answer is obvious!

"Immediately seal off the entire estate; no bird should escape!" The Gong Family patriarch sensed something amiss and quickly ordered his men to seal the gate.

"The thief must still be inside the Gong Family estate; find them and bring them to me," the Gong Family patriarch instructed.

Watching the Gong Family’s actions, Zhang Chen shook his head secretly; he mastered the Invisibility Technique. What use is the Gong Family sealing the gate?

The Gong Family was in chaos, while the elders of the Zhang Family’s ancestral hall slowly emerged, their eyes catching sight of the Life and Death Record’s aura soaring from the Gong Family ancestral residence, causing the Zhang Family elders, who had just been scolded by Zhang Chen, to turn red-eyed.

"The Gong Family still refuses to admit they stole the Zhang Family’s Life and Death Record. Now that the Record’s aura has leaked, how can they cover it up? Quickly assemble all clan members, have everyone bring weapons; we must demand an explanation from the Gong Family!" The Zhang Family’s Second Master had red-eyed fury.

Zhang Chen was brazenly flipping over the Gong Family courtyard wall when he coincidentally encountered the advancing Zhang Family members, tens of thousands of them, young and old, brandishing weapons. Without a word, they arrived at the Gong Family estate and immediately began smashing the door.

Zhang Chen watched the Zhang Family’s large contingent, his eyes scanning the crowd, not seeing Zhang Gaoqiu. His mind moved and transformed into the likeness of Zhang Gaoqiu, quietly blending into the crowd.

Maintain restraint between the Zhang Family and the Gong Family?

What if I add fuel to the fire behind the scenes?

Just then, Zhang Chen transformed into Zhang Gaoqiu’s appearance and watched the crowd trying to smash the door. The Gong Family’s main gate was made from unknown wood, resistant to the axes and knives of the crowd, remaining untouched.

"People of the Gong Family, open the door and give us an explanation!"

"The Life and Death Record’s aura is right in your Gong Family! Hand over the Life and Death Record immediately!"

"If you don’t hand over the Book of Life and Death today, it won’t be over between us!"

"Gong Family, are you really going to force the Eight Great Clans into a life-and-death confrontation?"

...

The Zhang Family crowd shouted accusations while trying to smash the door.

"We can’t break through the Gong Family’s gate, why not just tear down their courtyard wall? I refuse to believe their walls are as sturdy as their gate!" Zhang Chen shouted while mingling with the crowd.

He could tell the Gong Family’s courtyard walls were protected by a Feng Shui Grand Array, but so what? Would Zhang Chen really be unable to break a mere Feng Shui Grand Array?

"Brothers of the Zhang Family, follow me!" Zhang Chen arrived outside a section of the courtyard wall, found the node of the Feng Shui Grand Array, and struck with a hammer. After three swings, the Feng Shui Grand Array was destroyed. As the Feng Shui Grand Array was broken by Zhang Chen, the Zhang family disciples smashed open a hole in the wall, and the Zhang Family crowd surged in like a tidal wave.

Gong Family members saw the wall being breached and immediately panicked, rushing to pick up weapons to defend. Just as conflict was about to erupt between the two sides, the Patriarch of the Gong Family came out from the rear courtyard: "Brothers and elders of the Zhang Family, don’t act impulsively! Hear me out before you decide!"

"The aura of the Life and Death Record appeared in your Gong Family; we’re no fools. What do you have to say? If time drags on and your Gong Family ends up refining our Zhang Family’s Life and Death Record, we won’t stand a chance against you. Where will our chance to reclaim the treasure be then? The fate awaiting the Zhang Family would be the extinction of our bloodline." Zhang Chen hid in the crowd, angrily reproaching, stirring the emotions of the spectators.

Indeed, as Zhang Chen’s words fell, the Zhang Family crowd became anxious and followed with more shouting:

"The aura of the Life and Death Record has already appeared in your Gong Family, what do you have to say?"

"Exactly! They’re stalling for time; we must not fall for the Gong Family’s trick!"

"Either hand over the Life and Death Record now, or we clash, fighting until both sides are thoroughly damaged; while the Zhang Family still has power to fight, let’s finish this together!"

...

The Zhang Family crowd kept clamoring, refusing to hear the Gong Family’s explanation.

Fortunately, Zhang Shenqi remained somewhat rational, and he gestured to suppress the Zhang Family’s shouting, his eyes fixed on the Gong Family members: "Speak quickly if you have anything to say, this is your last chance! If you can’t convince the elders of the Zhang Family, today won’t end well."

The Patriarch of the Gong Family heard this and let out a bitter laugh: "I understand the Zhang Family’s urgency, but don’t rush. Our Gong Family has also been schemed against. The aura of the Life and Death Record suddenly appeared in our Gong Family, catching us off guard. We’re currently sealing and searching the entire estate. Please give the Zhang Family some time, since the Life and Death Record is indeed in our old residence; we’ll find and return it to you, even if we have to turn over the foundations."

"Your words sound nice, but how would we know if your Gong Family isn’t just stalling to refine the Life and Death Record? The Life and Death Record is in your Gong Family; are you claiming ignorance of its whereabouts? You’re just fooling ghosts." Zhang Chen wasn’t about to relent, inciting discord within the crowd.

"To show the sincerity of the Gong Family, we invite members of the Zhang Family to search with us. If the Life and Death Record is found, the Zhang Family can simply take it back!" The Patriarch of the Gong Family spoke, displaying his sincerity.

"This is your Gong Family’s old residence, filled with countless traps and mechanisms. How would the Zhang Family know where you’ve hidden the treasure? Stop wasting time, and if you can’t hand over the Life and Death Record, it won’t end between us." Zhang Chen shifted positions in the crowd, changing his appearance once more, inciting the crowd continuously.

Zhang Shenqi’s face darkened as he spoke: "Patriarch of the Gong Family, I may refuse to give face, but the aura of the Life and Death Record is irrefutable; if you don’t provide an explanation, we won’t be courteous. Don’t blame us for disregarding the centuries-old friendship between the Eight Great Clans."

Seeing Zhang Shenqi unyielding, the Gong Family members grew increasingly frustrated. Just then, other members of the Eight Great Clans arrived, as the Patriarch of the Lei family stepped forward saying: "Gentlemen, we are branches of the same Eight Great Clans. What misunderstanding can’t be resolved? Why resort to weapons? Let’s not damage the bond of the Eight Great Clans."

"It’s not me trying to damage the Eight Clans bond; it’s the Gong Family’s excessive actions, treating the Zhang Family as fools. The Life and Death Record has clearly appeared in the Gong Family, known throughout Kyoto, yet they deny it outright. They’re the ones disregarding the centuries-old bond of the Eight Great Clans. If we don’t get an explanation today, the Zhang Family won’t let this go!" Zhang Shenqi spoke in a cold tone.

The Patriarch of the Lei family looked to the Patriarch of the Gong Family, who replied with a bitter smile: "There are indeed hidden circumstances. I invite all members of the Eight Great Clans to search my Gong Family’s old residence together. How about that?"