Hu Chang’an and his two siblings were beset with such sinister gazes. Their backs were pricked with pins and needles, and their hearts were cold. Hu Changbi and Hu Changfeng looked at their eldest brother with some hesitance. Meanwhile, Hu Chang’an suddenly furrowed his brows as he watched Gu Zuo. Then, he took another look at the attitude of the person in the portrait he once witnessed, and recalled how coercive the Hu Clan’s cadet branches were… The next moment, Hu Chang’an steeled himself, grabbed his two siblings, and dashed towards Gu Zuo’s location!
Originally, when Gu Zuo ran over, he didn’t receive any obstructions because the members of the cadet branches were still shocked. But now, it was different. Hu Chang’an and his siblings were clearly part of the Hu Clan. If the cadet branches wanted to usurp the direct branch’s position, they couldn’t allow them to get away. It was only natural that they promptly sent out many people to block the way.
Just then, Hu Chang’an was impeded by all kinds of moves. Even though, no matter how benevolent his nature, he was also extremely angry. Now, he lashed out, and used the power of his newly awakened Myriad Leaking Body. He reached out a hand, and made a forward slashing motion — In the blink of an eye, a tumultuous qi wave surged out violently. In the air, it formed a half moon-shaped wave, and instantaneously wounded quite a few martial artists who were raised by the cadet branches. It sliced off their arms, split open huge gashes along their flanks to expose their intestines, or shredded their flesh to reveal ghastly, white bones. It was terrifying.
Hu Changbi and Hu Changfeng saw that their eldest brother had such power, and their eyes gleamed with happiness. Soon after, they followed suit. Under Hu Chang’an’s protection, they rode the wind and waves, and swiftly advanced.
They made their way past several people in this way, but the strength of the cadet branches wasn’t merely at the Immortal Realm. In a split second, two Atomic Realms blocked Hu Chang’an.
When comparing Atomic Realm martial artists to Immortal Realm martial artists, the difference was like that of heaven and earth. Let alone that Hu Chang’an had only just broken through. Even with the help of the Myriad Leaking Body, he couldn’t respond to their attacks.
All of a sudden, Hu Chang’an was suppressed. Those two Atomic Realm martial artists reached out their arms. One wanted to contain Hu Chang’an, while the other wanted to capture Hu Changbi and Hu Changfeng.
Hu Chang’an’s heart lurched. His eyes unknowingly revealed a trace of despair.
At first, it seemed like he could’ve soon escape the humiliation of the cadet branches. And now, who would’ve thought that —
Gu Zuo looked at this situation. He had already turned towards his family’s big brother as early as when Hu Chang’an first took the initiative to act. Merely, the speed of those few hindering battles was too quick. Before his big brother replied, the two Atomic Realms had stopped Hu Chang’an. Gu Zuo couldn’t help becoming worried.
Immediately after this, that familiar voice resounded once more: “Ao Ying, take care of them.”
The next instant, a streak of shadow bounded out like a gale-force wind. In the blink of an eye, that shadow had reached the front!
At this moment, just as the two Atomic Realms extended their hands, they let out miserable shrieks. Agony ripped through their abdomens, and their minds felt lightheaded and dizzy. Soon after, their entire bodies were racked with pain, and they fell the ground without any strength! What was even more frightening was that they could sense that their qi oceans were bursting like dams. The profound qi within their bodies was washing away like an errant flood. It seemed that they would be completely crippled in a short while!
Their resentment skyrocketed: What ruthless intentions!
However, following right after were waves of panic… This was tantamount to falling into the mud from high up in the clouds. In this world, without any martial strength, what should they do in the future?
But at this moment, no one had any thoughts of taking care of those two former powerhouses. Ao Ying similarly reached out a hand, instantly rolled up those three siblings, and directly landed before his master.
As for those insignificant and foolish clowns of the Hu Clan? Ao Ying didn’t care the slightest bit.
Afterwards, Ao Ying withdrew to the back like a taciturn shadow.
Battle slaves originally had unparalleled fighting power. What’s more, Ao Ying had come from Ten Ultimates Sect, and had received special battle slave training. Compared to ordinary Ascendant Realm martial artists who were good at fighting, Ao Ying was several times stronger. Entering the scene like this was truly awe-inspiring. Due to the ferocity of his aura, a person would already be dispatched by him before one could get a clear look at his appearance.
The complexions of the Hu Clan’s cadet branches became even more unsightly.
Immediately following this, the thinning clouds and mist that seemed to constantly enshroud the area behind that handsome young man suddenly dispersed. A dense crowd of shadows was made visible.
The Hu Clan’s cadet branches all sucked in cold breaths.
As it turned out, that side wasn’t limited to just the Wu Clan Head, Wu Xing, and several lofty martial artists with indistinct appearances. Dropping down from above and standing uniformly behind that handsome young man were well over a hundred members of non-human races!
Just the dog-eared battle slaves numbered a hundred-something. There were also members of the ox, monkey, and mouse races. Some were in front, while others were behind. Their numbers couldn’t be counted. What’s more, it wasn’t only Wu Xing and a select few from the Wu Clan. Rather, there were two hundred people altogether. Included among them were several young masters of the direct line. All of them were calm and unruffled in the back as they watched the Hu Clan’s cadet branches.
This kind of force was like a huge monster.
Under such a giant force, if the Hu Clan’s cadet branches dared to make any sudden moves, they would be ground to dust in the blink of an eye!
Hu Jun’s eyes clouded over with a gloomy haze.
It was clear that he would’ve soon taken and replaced Hu Chang’an, but Hu Chang’an had such good luck! When all of the strength of the Hu Clan’s cadet branches were added together, they couldn’t compare to that ruthless and vicious battle slave legion. Even when compared to the people brought by the Wu Clan, they were a little inferior. Could it be that this day was truly their predestined fate?
The rest of the members of the Hu Clan were as silent as cicadas in winter. When they got a clear look at the true strength and numbers of those who arrived, they obediently retracted their heads, and didn’t dare to prattle on self-importantly like before.
Hu Jiao, the Grand Elder, was inconsolably aggrieved. That mass of fury from being humiliated earlier was thoroughly pushed down into his heart. Smothering it was extremely painful. He almost had to vomit blood.
On the other side of things, Hu Chang’an and his siblings had escaped the deadly sting of the cadet branches, but they also didn’t dare to get close to that handsome young man like Gu Zuo. After exchanging glances, they stepped forward one after another to courteously express their gratitude: “Young master, many thanks for saving us.”
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes.
Gongyi Tianheng’s palm was still holding onto Gu Zuo’s shoulder, but his mouth bore a smiling expression: “My younger brother was saved by Young Lord Hu, and was treated so thoughtfully. Right now, I’m simply raising a helping hand. How is this worth mentioning?”
Hu Chang’an didn’t feel it was like this.
He wanted to say that saving Brother Ah Zuo was merely taking a person along on his carriage. It was too farfetched to say that he had tended to his charge. Brother Ah Zuo had woke up on his own. Once they returned to the household, Hu Chang’an had only arranged a dwelling place. Nevertheless, without waiting for any reception, Brother Ah Zuo had helped him awaken his Myriad Leaking Body.
Furthermore, Brother Ah Zuo didn’t hesitate to take the risks to spar in a pill battle on his behalf and intrude into the restricted area… All be told, Hu Chang’an owed Brother Ah Zuo even more. Currently, these three siblings had avoided disgrace due to Brother Ah Zuo’s prestige. How could they treat this as a non-issue?
Then, Tianheng spoke a few more polite and amiable words to Hu Chang’an. Most of which were questions about Gu Zuo’s situation while he was there. Hu Chang’an answered him honestly. As Hu Chang’an’s gaze roamed, he suddenly met Wu Xing’s visage.
Wu Xing glanced at him, and wore a smile that wasn’t a smile.
Hu Chang’an was greatly embarrassed in his heart.
He had long known that the Wu Clan treated the Hu Clan like how a tiger watched its prey. He didn’t expect that Wu Xing would rely on the support of Tianheng. Meanwhile, not only couldn’t he save the Hu Clan, he was instead overthrown by the Hu Clan’s cadet branches. Even his position as the young lord had been lost. He didn’t know what status this Tianheng had to make Wu Xing take the initiative to work for him like this. Did no one in the entire Wu Clan have any objections?
What made him even more depressed was that he didn’t have any ground to stand on in the Hu Clan. Now, he had no other choice but to rely on Tianheng for protection — Still, this depended on Brother Ah Zuo’s prestige. How couldn’t he feel ashamed after running into the Wu Clan like this? If he only said that he had been forced into a difficult situation with a spirited voice, then that would be enough to strip him of any and all face!
At this time, he increasingly felt that he was useless. Compared to Wu Xing, the differences between them…were truly too numerous.
Fortunately, although Wu Xing looked down upon Hu Chang’an, he didn’t speak any mocking words. He only turned a blind eye.
Hu Chang’an sighed in relief, and didn’t dare to meet Wu Xing’s gaze again.
As for Tianheng, he gently said: “Young Lord Hu, how do you want to deal with these rebellious people?”
Hu Chang’an stared blankly.
There was a smile on Tianheng’s face as he said encouragingly: “Regardless of what request this Young Lord Hu has, there’s no harm in saying what one thinks.”
Hu Chang’an immediately understood. In other words, no matter what he wanted to do, this big brother of Brother Ah Zuo was willing to handle it on his behalf?
In a split second, his mind was locked in a struggle.
This was an enormous temptation. He could rely on Tianheng to thoroughly suppress the cadet branches, and retake the authority to control the Hu Clan. From Tianheng’s tone, he also realized that he could even have the cadet branches completely exterminated, or have them utterly repressed such that they would never be able to rise up against him again! As for the external threat of the Wu Clan, although Wu Xing and the others followed Tianheng, Tianheng could also restrict them from laying a hand on the Hu Clan.
Such conjectures caused his heart to boil with wave after wave of fiery passion. If he really did this — He wouldn’t need to worry about his younger siblings anymore. Their Hu Clan would still be the ruler of Xuanwu City!
Almost subconsciously, Hu Chang’an was about to make a decision —
But then and there, he looked once more at Wu Xing.
Wu Xing seemed to see right through his thoughts, and a hint of ridicule flashed across Wu Xing’s face.
It was like Hu Chang’an’s head had been splashed with a bucket of icy water. He felt cold to his bones.
He suddenly recalled a question that had flitted through his mind before — Why did the entire Wu Clan take refuge in Tianheng? They followed him over, so they certainly knew about the relationship between Brother Ah Zuo and Tianheng. They could guess what Tianheng would do, but the Wu Clan was still so deferential and obedient. There wasn’t the slightest trace of resentment. What was Wu Xing thinking? Did he simply not care about the Hu Clan and Xuanwu City?
After this, Hu Chang’an’s mind, which had almost lost its rationality in the excitement, became clearheaded. He turned to look at the Hu Clan’s cadet branches on the side. He discovered that they were silently fuming, but they had no way to do anything about it.
If he regained control over the Hu Clan, how could he be stronger than these people when facing external enemies? It would only be once he gained mastery over the Myriad Leaking Body, but who knew how many years that would take?
Hu Chang’an had never understood something so clearly.
The Hu Clan…was too weak.
This weakness made him feel that the entirety of Xuanwu City wasn’t actually worth much.
Hu Chang’an pondered. Soon after, he finally made a firm resolution. He lifted his head: “Although the Hu Clan’s cadet branches have rebelled, in the end, it was caused by my incompetence. This Hu requests to follow the young master. In the future, after I’ve made some achievements, I’ll naturally return and personally take back the Hu Clan!”
In a flash, his expression became unprecedentedly determined.
Tianheng raised an eyebrow. In his consciousness, he suddenly sent out his voice.
[Ah Zuo, what do you feel about this?]
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