Chapter 100: I Won’t Go!

“The plan must go ahead! We’ve been planning this for so many years, and now is when the Xu Clan is at its weakest. I heard that Xu Lin from the Xu Clan has broken through the Second Layer of Qi Refining Stage and reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage. Let’s not forget the Xu Clan also has that genius Xu Tianlang, and Xu Qi is no weakling either. If we wait for those young talents of the Xu Clan to grow stronger, we’ll have even less of a chance. The elixirs we obtained from the Ancient Cave Mansion years ago are almost used up. We don’t have time to wait any longer.” Li Wanpeng said coldly.

Xiao Rugui also said gloomily, “What’s more, even if the person from last night was a disciple of the Taixuan Sect, it wouldn’t pose any threat to us. Everyone in the secular world knows that sects don’t interfere in worldly conflicts. As long as we eliminate the Xu Clan and continue to honor the Taixuan Sect as our leader, they won’t care who destroyed whom as long as they receive their annual tribute from the secular world!”

“You’re right!” Wu Meng nodded with a look of relief.

“We have made complete preparations. Even if the Xu Clan has some trick up their sleeve, in the face of absolute power, everything is futile!” Li Wanpeng curled his lip and spoke with full confidence.

Xiao Rugui frowned slightly and said, “It’s just that recently the Xu Clan has been spreading the word that on the tenth of next month, they will form an alliance with the Han Family of Juque City. I wonder if this is true or not?”

As soon as Xiao Rugui said this, Li Wanpeng and Wu Meng’s expressions changed, their faces so dark it seemed like water was about to drip from them. The atmosphere in the study became so tense it felt as if it were about to freeze, giving everyone a suffocating feeling.

“If the Han Family of Juque City really forms an alliance with the Xu Clan, then we…”

Li Wanpeng trailed off, but Xiao Rugui and Wu Meng both understood what he meant. For a moment, they felt extremely discouraged. Their years of planning were on the verge of succeeding, but now it had turned into bubbles. Each of them thought that as a large clan, the Xu Clan’s foundation and connections were truly incomparable to their own families. But at the same time, a relentless thought sprouted in their hearts: They must elevate their own families to the status of major clans in the Northern Region within their lifetimes.

Li Wanpeng slapped the table and said solemnly, “Let’s wait until the tenth of next month. If the Xu Clan really forms an alliance with the Han Family of Juque City, then we will have to postpone our plan. In the future, we will add another step—sabotaging the relationship between the Xu Clan and the Han Family, causing their alliance to break. Then we can start our plan to deal with the Xu Clan. In short, one thing is certain: The Xu Clan of Zhongdu City must be destroyed. The future of Zhongdu City belongs to our three families!”

“Yes! The future of Zhongdu City is ours!” Xiao Rugui and Wu Meng also slammed the table and shouted.

“Can we find a way to sabotage their alliance now?” Wu Meng suddenly brightened up.

Li Wanpeng shook his head and said, “Impossible. They have just decided to form an alliance and must have detailed plans and conditions in place. Right now, they are in their honeymoon phase. If we act recklessly without understanding the situation, not only will they not believe that the other would sabotage the alliance, but they will immediately start an investigation. We will be their prime suspects. At that point, not only would we fail to break their alliance, but we would also put ourselves in danger.”

“Then let’s wait and see what happens on the tenth of next month!” Xiao Rugui nodded with a dark expression.

Li Wanpeng and Wu Meng also nodded grimly. In any case, all three of them looked extremely displeased.

On the steps of the Council Hall of the Xu Family Clan, Xu Ziyan slowly opened her eyes. She saw that all the elders of the clan were gathered around her, protecting her—even Xu Haoliang was no exception. A warm feeling rose in her heart. She stood up slowly from the steps, bowed to everyone around her, and said softly:

“Thank you, elders, for protecting Ziyan!”

All the Xu Clan elders had now turned around, looking at Xu Ziyan with excitement, as if they wanted to say something but were too embarrassed to speak. It was Xu Haoran who spoke first:

“Yan’er, you’ve recovered!”

“Yes,” Xu Ziyan nodded gently.

“Then… could you show us the power of the Talisman Array?”

Looking at Xu Haoran’s eager gaze and the excited expressions of the other elders—like children seeing their favorite toys—Xu Ziyan couldn’t help but feel amused. She pressed her lips together and said with a light laugh:

“Let’s go inside the Main Hall. I was just about to teach you all the control method for the Talisman Array.”

“Good! Good! Good!”

Xu Haoran said “good” three times in a row, taking the first step into the Council Hall. Everyone else excitedly followed him inside. Once in the hall, they all stood to the sides, watching Xu Ziyan. Xu Ziyan gracefully walked to the front of the center seat where the Clan Leader usually sat. She took out a Talisman and said to everyone in the hall:

“This is the main control Talisman I created for the array.”

After saying this, she activated the Talisman, making it float in the air three feet in front of her. Xu Ziyan’s hands quickly formed a series of intricate Hand Seals, moving faster and faster until they created countless afterimages, continuously imprinting toward the main control Talisman in front of her. Finally, Xu Ziyan’s hands suddenly stopped, and the afterimages in the air instantly vanished. Her palms, filled with Mighty Pressure, flipped sharply, and a shadowy form shot from her palms, imprinting onto the main control Talisman. In an instant, the Talisman shone brightly, illuminating the entire hall.

The Talisman slowly descended toward the ground and finally disappeared into the floor. The light faded, and the hall returned to its original appearance.

Everyone stared blankly at Xu Ziyan, waiting to see what she would do next. Xu Ziyan withdrew her hands, cupped her fists toward Xu Haoran, and said:

“Eldest Uncle, this Talisman is the hub that controls the Grand Array outside. From here, you can activate the entire array. But only up to five people can control this main control Talisman. Please, Eldest Uncle, choose the control personnel!”

Xu Haoran’s gaze swept over everyone one by one. Each face showed eager hope. Xu Haoran pondered for a moment and then said slowly:

“Yan’er set up the array. If there are any changes in the future, we will still need Yan’er to handle them. So Yan’er must have one of the main control slots.”

Everyone nodded in unison, looking as if this was only natural. Because in their hearts, they all knew that this Grand Array could not do without Xu Ziyan.

“Good!”

Xu Haoran nodded happily and continued, “That leaves four slots. I think the following four people should serve as the main controllers: Me, the Hall Master of Talisman Hall, Second Brother Xu Haobo. The Punishment Hall Master, Fifth Brother Xu Haocang. The Teaching Hall Master, Ninth Brother Xu Haoliang. What does everyone think?”

Those whose names were called were naturally pleased. Those who were not chosen showed disappointment on their faces, but in their hearts, they felt the Clan Leader’s distribution was very reasonable and couldn’t argue against it. So they all nodded in agreement, and the matter was settled. Seeing that no one had objections, Xu Haoran turned to look at Xu Ziyan. Xu Ziyan nodded slightly and said softly:

“Please, you four elders, come stand before me.”

Xu Haoran, Xu Haobo, Xu Haocang, and Xu Haoliang stepped out from the crowd and stood in front of Xu Ziyan. Each of them looked both excited and nervous, like disciples meeting their Master for the first time. Xu Ziyan raised her hands again, quickly forming a dazzling series of Hand Seals. She pushed and pulled toward the spot where the main control Talisman had sunk into the ground. Suddenly, five points of light flew out from the ground and floated in front of Xu Ziyan. Xu Ziyan flicked her fingers, sending four points of light toward Xu Haoran, Xu Haobo, Xu Haocang, and Xu Haoliang. The light flashed, and the four points of light entered the bodies of the four men. They immediately felt a spiritual connection with the main control Talisman. Finally, Xu Ziyan reached out and beckoned, and the last point of light flew toward her, disappearing into her body.

Once they had established a connection with the main control Talisman, controlling the array became very simple. Xu Ziyan taught the four of them the simple Hand Seals for controlling the array, then stepped aside with a smile, watching the four men standing in the center of the hall.

At this moment, the four of them were like children who had received new toys. They looked at each other, each wanting to try it first. Finally, Xu Haobo, Xu Haocang, and Xu Haoliang cupped their fists together toward Xu Haoran and said:

“Please, Eldest Brother, control the array!”

Xu Haoran nodded reservedly, but his face flushed with excitement. This was his first time doing something like this! In a daze, Xu Haoran felt like the leader of a sect. He brought his hands together in front of him, extended an index finger from each hand, and drew a circle in the air. Immediately, a Water Screen-like scroll appeared in front of everyone. The Water Screen showed the scenery around the Xu Family Clan.

Everyone in the hall stared with flushed faces at the Water Screen in the air. Xu Haoran moved his fingers continuously through the air, and the scene in the Water Screen kept changing. Soon, they had viewed all the scenery around the clan.

“Clan Leader, try the array quickly?” Xu Haobo couldn’t resist saying excitedly.

“Alright!”

Xu Haoran readily agreed, but then he froze for a moment. He turned to look at everyone, squinted his eyes, and said with a smile:

“Then who will test the array?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Xu Haoliang. It couldn’t be helped—who else in the hall besides the Clan Leader had a higher Cultivation Level than Xu Haoliang? Seeing everyone looking at him, and remembering how he had been defeated by Xu Ziyan’s array earlier, Xu Haoliang couldn’t help but shudder. Without thinking, he blurted out:

“I won’t go!”