Chapter 1323: Betrayal

Chapter 1323: Chapter 951: Betrayal

Third Uncle’s words were overbearing, his voice filled with evil qi.

Hearing Third Uncle’s words, the Patriarch of the Lei family let out a cold laugh: “Your Zhang Family has lost its clan-suppressing Divine Artifact, you’ve long since no longer deserved to be one of the Eight Great Clans. Since you say you don’t care about the sentiment of the Eight Great Clans, then I’ll make things clear today: Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is the last bargaining chip of our Eight Great Clans to oppose the Northern Land—how could we possibly allow your Zhang Family to act recklessly? If your Zhang Family hands over Zhang Chen and calms Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s fury, then fine, you good, me good, everyone good. Otherwise, we’ll expel your Zhang Family from the Eight Great Clans!”

Over there, Zhang Chen, who was holding a wine cup, heard the Lei Patriarch’s words; a flash of insight passed through his mind and he instantly understood the man’s meaning.

The Zhang Family was controlled by himself; offending Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was already a nailed-down fact. Prince Pingbian’s Mansion would inevitably lean toward the Great Victory royal clan. Without Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s support, on what basis could the Eight Great Clans contend against the Great Victory royal clan? So the other families were clearly planning to kick the Zhang Family out of the Eight Great Clans; then the remaining six families could continue to maintain relations with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and still treat the Prince’s Mansion as their final chess piece.

The Gong Family had already thrown in with the Great Victory royal clan. If they then removed the Zhang Family—who had lost the Life and Death Record—from the Eight Great Clans, the remaining six families joining hands with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion might well still be able to stir up storms.

After Zhang Chen had figured out the key to it all, he raised his hand to cut off Third Uncle’s words. His gaze swept over the people of the six great families in the venue, cold smiles curling at the corners of his lips, and finally he turned his eyes on the Lei Patriarch: “This isn’t just your own idea, is it? This should be a decision made by all six of you together, right?”

“Correct, it’s a decision made by we six families together. Your Zhang Family now has only one choice: either push you out to go plead guilty to Prince Pingbian, or from today onward the Zhang Family will be expelled by our six great families and will no longer be a member of the Eight Great Clans. All you old and young lords of the Zhang Family, you’d better think this through: once you’re expelled from the Eight Great Clans, without the support of our six families, without Prince Pingbian’s Mansion backing you up, your Zhang Family will be facing encirclement and suppression from the Great Victory royal clan and the Gong Family—will you be able to withstand it?”

Zhang Chen gave the Lei Patriarch a look, then swept his gaze across the people of the six great families, and finally across the Zhang Family’s various elders who sat unmoving like mountains. A touch of smugness appeared at the corner of his mouth. In the past, if the other six great families forced the Zhang Family’s hand, for the sake of unity the Zhang Family might have chosen to yield, expelling him from the family and handing him over to Prince Pingbian’s Mansion for disposition. But now he controlled the Yellow Spring Water, grasping the future lifeline of the Zhang Family. If he died, the Zhang Family would disband on the spot.

“There’s no need to think about it. From today on, my Zhang Family draws a line with your six great families. In the future, you’ll walk your broad sunny road, I’ll tread my narrow single-plank bridge. We will no longer be part of the Eight Great Clans, and our ten-thousand-year friendship ends here. Everyone, please go back.” Third Uncle stepped forward, his voice firm as he shot the retort back.

“Your Zhang Family truly has gone mad. For the sake of one insignificant clansman, you’re actually willing to abandon your own foundation. You’ll regret this sooner or later!” After receiving the answer, the Lei Patriarch’s eyes showed a trace of disbelief. The other five families also opened their mouths one after another to persuade, but unfortunately they were all blocked by Third Uncle and the others and, in the end, could only leave the Zhang Family with helpless, gloomy faces.

With the departure of the six great families, the subordinate forces attached to them also left one after another, and the whole Zhang Family instantly became half empty.

“They’re nothing more than jumping clowns, no need for you all to care. I can suppress even Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, let alone six mere families. Ever since the Gong Family took refuge with the Great Victory royal clan, the Eight Great Clans were already only nominally existent. Everyone, drain this cup and continue the banquet. I’ll shoulder everything—no need to worry.” Zhang Chen spoke confidently to reassure the Zhang Family’s guests.

At this time, the guests remaining in the hall were all forces directly tied to the Zhang Family’s direct lineage, and of course Zhang Chen had to win them over properly.

He then spoke to Third Uncle at his side: “Third Uncle, please take good care to comfort the guests. Don’t let any trouble arise.”

“Rest assured. The ones left are all our diehards, tightly bound together with my Zhang Family. Our losses are their losses, our glory is their glory. If my Zhang Family is destroyed, they won’t escape either; they’ll definitely face reckoning. So you don’t need to worry about what they think. Whatever they may feel in their hearts, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re bound to my Zhang Family.” Third Uncle replied to Zhang Chen, and after saying this his voice paused for a moment before he continued:

“What you need to consider is the pressure coming from the Great Victory royal clan. Now that my Zhang Family has been pushed out of the Eight Great Clans, how are we to survive in the chaotic times to come?”

“I might as well give you a little hint: I’ve long since planned everything out for the Zhang Family. No one can shake my Zhang Family’s foundation, not even the Great Victory royal clan!” At this point Zhang Chen’s voice spread slightly, loud enough for everyone present to hear:

“Besides, I’m on good terms with Chen Sanliang and have long prepared a retreat for our Zhang Family. If we can’t make it among the Human Race, we can simply defect to the Demon Race instead. Now that the Demon Race already occupies half of the Divine Land under heaven, even if we throw ourselves into their camp we can still maintain a transcendent status and preserve my Zhang Family’s immortality through the ages.”

Zhang Chen’s words were full of pride. He deliberately lowered his voice, yet he used a thread of the Law of Sound, enough to send the sound waves into everyone’s ears.

On hearing Zhang Chen’s words, all the Zhang Family guests secretly let out a sigh of relief. It was good that the Zhang Family had made preparations. As for taking refuge with the Demon Race, no one really objected. For great aristocratic clans, the notion of “race” didn’t truly exist.

What mattered was continuation—incense passed down through thousands of years and generations. That was the mainstream thinking of great clans. For the sake of the continuation of their heritage, great clans could sacrifice anything.

At this moment, the tense atmosphere in the hall gradually calmed. Zhang Chen began to continue making rounds with the wine. He saw Xie Lingyun, and in Xie Lingyun’s eyes there seemed to be a faint, different glimmer flashing. Unfortunately, Zhang Chen couldn’t read it.

“Congratulations.” Xie Lingyun said to Zhang Chen.

“Hahaha, a person only marries once in a lifetime. Young Lady, you must drink more of my wedding wine!” Zhang Chen filled Xie Lingyun’s cup and offered his blessing: “And I also wish the Young Lady immortality through the ages, never-ending Changsheng, and a glimpse of the scenery above the Great Dao.”

“Thanks.” At his words, Xie Lingyun let out a bitter smile.

After Zhang Chen finished toasting, he turned and left. Xie Xuan sat beside Xie Lingyun, his eyes resting on her as he caught that faint change of emotion in the depths of her gaze: “Regretting it?”

At his words, Xie Lingyun lifted her head and looked at Xie Xuan, then firmly shook it: “For me, the Great Dao of Changsheng is what I pursue. On the path of seeking Changsheng, I have never regretted.”

Seeing this, Xie Xuan simply shook his head, knowing his girl was just a stubborn duck with a hard mouth—who’s hurting, only they themselves know.

Zhang Chen went over to the Elder Grandmaster’s table and saw the Elder Grandmaster and Ji Feihua. After more than a month of recovery, Ji Feihua was no longer that skeletal frame she had been; her whole figure had filled out, her tall, perky figure forming a perfect curve, and her looks were top‑tier and striking, no worse than Zhong Xiang’s or Xie Lingyun’s. Paired with that golden robe she wore, she looked all the more noble to the extreme.

Ji Feihua was dressed as a man. Her eyes swept over Zhang Chen, and looking at him in his bright‑red wedding robe, a hint of unwillingness flickered in her gaze: “Zhang, congratulations.”

“Hahaha, the fact that Miss Ji is here to show support is my honor. Please, have a few more cups.” Zhang Chen filled Ji Feihua’s cup with wine.

Ji Feihua drew a breath, raised the cup at his words, clinked it, then downed it in one go.

“Zhang the Kid, congratulations!” The Elder Grandmaster also spoke up at this time to offer Zhang Chen his blessings.

“I thought you wouldn’t come.” Zhang Chen said.

The Elder Grandmaster smiled. “I’ve lived through three reigns; I don’t fear gossip. Besides, public is public and private is private. This old man still knows how to keep them clearly apart.”

Hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded slightly and didn’t say much more to the Elder Grandmaster. At this time Zhang Chen was still in service to the Great Victory royal family; for the moment, the two sides could barely be counted as allies in the same camp.

On Ji Feihua’s side, the Big Black Dog was staring blankly at Zhang Chen as if it had seen a ghost, frozen on the spot: Zhang Chen had actually completed the Nine Revolutions Profound Skill!

Zhang Chen also noticed the Big Black Dog, this bastard sitting like a person beside Ji Feihua, with Ji Feihua picking dishes for it. It had actually taken a seat at the banquet.

Ever since the Big Black Dog had resolved Ji Feihua’s tribulation, Ji Feihua had treated the Big Black Dog like an ancestor to be worshiped.

“Dog Lord, care for a drink?” Zhang Chen walked up to the Big Black Dog, smiling as he looked at it.

The Big Black Dog was roused by Zhang Chen’s voice, looking at him as if it had seen a ghost. The next instant it stretched out its neck and lunged to bite Zhang Chen, only to be pushed down by the nearby Ji Feihua.

“You damned black dog, you really can’t recognize good intentions.” Zhang Chen knocked it on the head, then moved on to offer wine to the next guest.

After Zhang Chen finished a round of toasts, he headed toward the back courtyard, leaving Ji Feihua gripping the Big Black Dog by the neck, staring in a daze at Zhang Chen’s red‑robed back.

In this era, a woman’s chastity was greater than the heavens. Zhang Chen had already seen her body; how was she supposed to marry anyone now?

“Stop looking. He’s already a married man now! The girls of our Ji family do not become concubines, and not even equal‑status wives!” The Elder Grandmaster, seasoned and shrewd, had sensed the infatuation in Ji Feihua’s eyes and spoke quietly at her side.

“Grandfather.” Ji Feihua lowered her head in shame at his words. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“How could I not understand you?” The Elder Grandmaster Ji Zun sighed softly, his voice full of emotion.

Then the Elder Grandmaster lowered his voice and said, “Besides, the Eight Great Clans have already been cut apart by the Great Victory royal family; a purge is only a matter of time. As someone of the Zhang Family, Zhang Chen will inevitably be dragged in. You’d best not get involved.”

Ji Feihua fell silent at his words.

In the back courtyard

Zhang Chen arrived at his own bridal chamber and lifted Zhong Xiang’s red bridal veil, only to see Zhong Xiang in her bright‑red wedding robe, more beautiful than any flower, enough to stir all kinds of desire in a man’s heart.

“I heard people say something happened in the front courtyard? Did the Seven Great Clans come to disrupt our wedding?” Zhong Xiang did not have the usual shyness of a bride; instead she took the initiative to ask.

“Just the Seven Great Clans—nothing but jumping clowns. With a flick of my fingers they’re dust in the wind, not worth mentioning!” Zhang Chen smiled. “Pay them no mind. Let’s consummate our marriage first. You know, a fine moment is worth a thousand in gold.”

Zhang Chen stepped forward, wrapped Zhong Xiang in his arms, and pressed her down onto the bed.

After a night of spring passion, Zhang Chen opened his eyes and looked at Zhong Xiang, still asleep, a subtle look appearing in his gaze. “Creation really toys with people. Before, I’d been wondering why, after meeting Zhong Xiang, I didn’t hesitate at all to settle a marriage with her. I didn’t expect there to be another cause behind it—Zhong Xiang is actually formed from a broken fragment of Lady Biyun’s True Spirit.”