Chapter 98: Clan Protection Grand Formation

At this moment, aside from the Clan Leader Xu Haoran who was extremely excited, the other clan members also looked at Xu Ziyan with gratitude. Sixty Top-grade Fifth-rank Talismans directly shocked them.

They had never seen so many Top-grade Fifth-rank Talismans in their whole lives!

Now, Xu Ziyan simply handed over these sixty Top-grade Fifth-rank Talismans. They asked themselves, if it were them, would they hand them out?

Their hesitation showed their true hearts. Because of this, they sighed even more at Xu Ziyan’s actions, and from deep inside, they felt respect for her.

Xu Haoran carefully put the talismans he held into his Storage Pouch. Then, his gaze swept over each person present and he said seriously to them:

“Everyone, Yan’er’s act is a huge help to the clan. Although Yan’er did not agree to become a full clan member, only willing to be a Guest Elder, I think this is not fair to her. Just for these sixty Top-grade Fifth-rank Talismans, I believe we should give Yan’er the treatment of an inner clan member. What do you think?”

The clan’s top people were all very smart. Xu Ziyan first took out sixty Fifth-Grade Talismans, but they did not forget that Xu Ziyan herself was a Talisman Master. Though they thought she couldn’t make Fifth-Grade Talismans, she could at least make top Second Grade ones! Also, Xu Ziyan’s bravery and courage were exactly what the clan needed now. For such a person, giving her the inner clan member treatment to win her over was definitely a great gain.

Without doubt, everyone nodded together, even Xu Haoliang nodded with a dark face. Seeing their reactions, Xu Haoran nodded with satisfaction. He felt that with Xu Ziyan’s appearance, the clan was starting to unite and becoming strong as one block; this was Xu Haoran’s lifelong goal. Now seeing this goal almost achieved, he felt deep thanks inside. Looking affectionately at Xu Ziyan, he said,

“Yan’er, I still think you should live the normal life of a clan disciple. That way, you won’t stand out in the clan. If we do as you said, when other clan members ask, it would be hard for us to explain.”

Hearing this, Xu Haoliang’s face turned very red. He now realized his own awkward situation. If word got out that today he lost to Xu Ziyan, then from now on, he truly wouldn’t face the clan members. He might just need to go to the Rear Mountain for Closed-Door Cultivation with his father. To keep Xu Ziyan quiet, having her live a normal clan disciple life was most basic. Thinking of this, he had to be bold-faced and say awkwardly,

“Yan’er, please don’t ignore your elders’ kindness. Even if you don’t want to join the clan fully, you still carry the Xu Clan blood. This can never change!”

The people and Xu Ziyan were stunned at first by what Xu Haoliang said—it was such a big change. But they quickly understood and knew what he feared. Xu Haoran kept a straight face but felt like laughing inside. Holding back his smile, he went on to Xu Ziyan, saying,

“Yan’er, besides, if your father asks why you’re not going to the Inner Hall, you can’t tell him the truth, right? If you did, how could your parents feel safe living in the clan?”

Xu Ziyan agreed inside. She had only been showing a stance earlier. She expected that after giving the sixty Top-grade Fifth-rank Talismans, the clan would react. Now seeing everyone had spoken out, she nodded politely. Seeing Xu Ziyan’s polite look, others weren’t bothered, but Xu Haoliang felt very annoyed inside. Yet, to save face later in the clan, he pretended not to see it. Slightly lowering his head, he stared at the ground before him.

Seeing Xu Ziyan nod in agreement, Xu Haoran secretly relaxed a little. Softly, he asked,

“Yan’er, how high of a grade can you make talismans now?”

Suddenly, everyone focused their eyes on Xu Ziyan, including Xu Haoliang, who lifted his gaze from the ground to stare at her standing in the center. After all, in the Mortal World, having a First Grade Talisman Master was already a sign of a big clan. They were all very curious about Xu Ziyan’s Talisman Crafting Art and wanted to know her actual level. They didn’t hope too high—talisman crafting needed talent and deep understanding, not every cultivator could do it. So in their hearts, they thought Xu Ziyan was just a Second Grade Talisman Master. As for the Third-Grade Talismans she used against Xu Haoliang, those must have been gifts from the Female Immortal who taught her Talisman Crafting Art.

But they didn’t know that the Talisman Crafting Art came to this world with Xu Ziyan’s Soul. That art was deeply imprinted in Xu Ziyan’s Soul and became an essential part of her. It was almost like her natural instinct, so there were no understanding barriers like others. Though she still needed to learn, it was much easier.

“I can currently make top Third-Grade Talismans,” Xu Ziyan said plainly.

“What?”

Xu Haoran’s body trembled. He straightened his back. The other Xu Clan top members were even worse—some stared blankly, some shot up from their chairs, eyes locked on Xu Ziyan. Xu Haoliang wasn’t much better, thinking nonstop inside,

“So when she fought me earlier, those Third-Grade Talismans were all ones she made herself! If she laid out hundreds of Third-Grade Talismans in a big array, I would lose even more easily?”

“Yan’er, you can really make Third-Grade Talismans?” Xu Haoran managed to calm his excitement but his voice still shook as he asked.

“Yes!” Xu Ziyan nodded firmly.

“Then that means, from today on, the talismans you give to the clan are top Third-Grade ones?”

Xu Haoran’s eyes shone with excitement. Everyone else looked at each other with relief. Their eyes said only one thing—luckily they hadn’t argued with Xu Ziyan earlier, and the Clan Leader’s giving her inner clan member treatment was very wise. Now, Xu Haoliang, who no longer wanted to be Clan Leader, saw things differently. Looking at the outcome and recalling Xu Haoran’s actions, he secretly sighed that his elder brother was better suited to lead the clan than he was.

“No, from today on, I won’t give the clan any more talismans!” Xu Ziyan slowly shook her head as she spoke.

Everyone’s faces changed at once. They looked at Xu Ziyan in confusion. Even if she didn’t accept the inner clan member treatment, as a Guest Elder hired by the clan, shouldn’t she give talismans?

“Yan’er, what do you mean…” As Clan Leader, Xu Haoran couldn’t stay calm—it was Third-Grade Talismans after all.

Xu Ziyan’s gaze swept over them. Calmly, she said, “Earlier I heard Eldest Uncle say you thought the Zhou Family from Canglang City and the Yang Family from Nanlin City would come to test our clan’s alliance while we bonded with the Han Family from Juque City?”

“Correct!” Xu Haoran nodded.

“But how do you plan to make Canglang City and Nanlin City believe the real power behind us is the Taixuan Sect?”

“When talking to them, we’ll speak vaguely to make them doubt us. That way, they’ll believe it somewhat.”

Xu Ziyan shook her head, serious as she said, “Eldest Uncle, if it were you, would you believe it? Just with vague words and no Taixuan Sect disciples in sight, they’d probably send people to test us immediately. Then the vague words would be exposed and couldn’t buy time until Taixuan Sect responds.”

“But… there’s no choice! We sent the Flying Sword Messenger a while ago, and Taixuan Sect hasn’t replied. The clan must go step by step.”

Xu Haoran showed helplessness. The clan’s top members looked even worse. They felt like seeing Canglang City and Nanlin City folks attacking their clan soon. Fear showed on their faces.

“Eldest Uncle!” Xu Ziyan said calmly, “I have a plan. It can make Canglang City, Nanlin City, and even the Huayang Sect truly believe Taixuan Sect fully backs us. That way, they won’t dare attack our Xu Clan or even test us.”

“What’s your plan?” Xu Haoran perked up. His bright eyes fixed on Xu Ziyan.

“Eldest Uncle, you should have heard from Senior Sister Xu Wenli and Senior Brother Xu Lin, and also saw just now—I can set a Talisman Array with talismans. This Talisman Array has very strong power.”

“Yan’er, you mean we build such an array inside the clan? Then later, we show it a bit to scare off the Zhou Family and the Yang Family?”

“That’s roughly it, but it’s not just to scare them. We truly set a Grand Array as the clan’s support. So even if the Huayang Sect behind them sends people later, they’ll get badly hurt.”

“You’re saying we set a Grand Array for the whole clan?”

Xu Haoran was now shaking all over with excitement. Other top clan members nearly passed out. A Clan Protection Grand Formation! This was only possible for a Sect; now their clan would have one. Their eyes glowed greenly, like starving wolves seeing meat. They stared straight at Xu Ziyan…