CHAPTER 224: A NEW PARTNERSHIP

Gu Yu froze for a moment. He didn’t know any of these people. At most, he vaguely recognized a few members of the Chen clan.

But why did it seem like they all knew him?

Could it be that I really came to help yesterday?

But what could he have possibly helped with? Surely nothing that would make them this enthusiastic. In that enthusiasm, was there even a trace of respect?

"Mr. Gu, could you toss me that stone? Yes, that one right there!"

At that moment, a clansman standing on top of the wall pointed to the stone beside Gu Yu and called out.

Gu Yu’s gaze shifted toward the massive stone beside him, which easily weighed twice as much as he did. His body stiffened for a moment before he turned a puzzled look toward the clansman who had spoken.

"Yes, Mr. Gu, that's the one! If you could, please!”

"I...I'm a little inconvenienced right now!"

Gu Yu's expression turned strange. Just lifting that boulder would take all his strength. And they wanted him to throw it up there? He was a scholar and a teacher at the academy. How could they even say something like that? They might as well toss him up there instead!

At that moment, however, everyone around him was looking at him expectantly, making it impossible for him to back down.

Gu Yu froze, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, his body trembled and a voice rang out:

"Young man, you lack martial virtue! Here—catch this!"

Swoosh!

Those who had been skeptical just moments ago all sucked in a sharp breath when they saw what happened.

Clearly, anyone who could join the Chen family was extraordinary!

Not far away, Ma Heng, who had been about to come over and help, stood rooted to the spot, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

Did he see that wrong?

Was that really Mr. Gu, who usually had to stop and rest just from walking?

Mo Si, who had planned to come check things out, immediately turned and walked away.

There was no way he could lift that boulder.

...

"Hmph! Xie Yanmo has already broken through to the Inner Gang Realm!"

"If not for this little test, he probably wouldn't have revealed himself so soon. The Xie family must have other schemes in play for hiding this news. We can’t afford to let our guard down!" ṞΑƝộᛒЕs̈

The core members of the Shi family had gathered in the grand hall, their expressions solemn as they discussed the matter at hand.

For an ordinary family, having a few Innate Realm martial artists would be remarkable. But for a clan like theirs, which had been established in Yong’an City for many years, they boasted no fewer than ten Innate Realm experts, including several at the late stage.

Yet, despite their strength, not a single Inner Gang Realm expert had emerged among them. This alone showed just how difficult it was to reach the Qi Manipulation Realm.

The clan had previously managed to obtain a Wind Immortal Herb. Unfortunately, the clansman who consumed it failed to sense any trace of Gang Qi. Had the herb not been purchased from the Zhou family, the clan might have demanded an explanation.

"I've also looked into that shop. Those people are from the Chen family of the Chaotic Burial Mountains. From the looks of it, the Xie family has really bought up all the Chen family’s Blood Rice.”

"With the aid of Blood Rice, it won't take more than a few years before Yong'an City belongs to the Xie family alone."

"We absolutely cannot allow the Xie family to continue growing stronger. Otherwise, our clan will be in grave danger!"

As the gravity of the situation sank in, everyone’s expressions grew heavier.

This matter was even more critical than avenging the Chen family feud. After all, the former concerned the clan’s future and survival, while the latter involved only the loss of two Innate Realm experts.

"But the Xie family is already powerful, and now they have an Inner Gang Realm expert among them. How should our clan respond?”

"Even the Chen family, with their Blood Rice, has the Zhou family backing them. They’re hard to touch, and now that the Chens have allied with the Xies, are we supposed to just sit back and watch their two clans rise unchecked?"

At the head of the hall, Shi Chenghong’s expression darkened. Although Shi Pojing had laid out a plan earlier, and word was that the Liu family had set things in motion, the Xie family’s new alliance cast doubt on the success of that plan.

For now, the clan’s focus had to shift toward the Xie family. The Chen family, by comparison, was hardly worth worrying about.

However, as the clansmen had said, the Xie family was already powerful, and now they had gained a Qi Manipulation Realm expert. The Shi clan had no way to deal with that.

For a long moment, the patriarch fell silent.

"Right now, there are only two possible solutions."

At that moment, an elder stepped forward and spoke.

Everyone turned their eyes toward him. Shi Chenghong also said

"Let's hear it."

"The first solution is for our clan to produce a Qi Manipulation Realm expert. If that happens, the gap between us and the Xie family will return to what it was before.”

Several clansmen turned their heads at those words.

If breaking through to the Inner Gang Realm were that easy, the clan wouldn't be in this situation. That suggestion was hardly worth mentioning.

“What’s the second solution?”

A clansman asked.

“The second solution is...”

“Patriarch! We just received a secret letter from the Shen and Gan families!”

The elder who had been speaking fell silent. At that moment, the others understood the second solution.

It was to form an alliance with the other two great families.

“What do you all think?”

Shi Chenghong didn’t rush to reply. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the other elders in the hall.

"Patriarch, I believe we should cooperate. Currently, the Xie family is the only clan at the top. The other two clans surely don't want that to happen either. Forming an alliance with them is definitely a good strategy.”

“I agree. Even though Xie Yanmo has broken through to the Inner Gang Realm, the three great families could overpower one Inner Gang expert.”

Many clansmen nodded in agreement. If a single clan tried to oppose the Xie family, it would surely be outmatched. However, with the combined strength of the three great families, not even an Inner Gang Realm martial artist could turn the situation around. At the same time, they could use this alliance to suppress the Xie family and stifle its growth on all fronts.

"But if we do this, won't it mean completely severing our relationship with the Xie family? The other two clans might not truly stand with us either.”

This concerns the survival of our clan! So what if we tear things apart? As for the other two families, I’d wager they’re even more worried about what will happen if we don't cooperate!"

Seeing that the discussion had reached its conclusion, Shi Chenghong lightly tapped the table and said

"Send word to them. Tell them our clan is willing to cooperate, but we need to meet in another location to discuss the details. As for the place, let’s choose…”

…

"Heh... Cooperation, is it?"

At the Xie family estate, Xie Yanmiao let out a soft chuckle, though he never stopped playing with the bird in its cage.

"Yes, Patriarch. According to the information our people gathered, the three great clans are arranging to meet at the Huayun Residence tomorrow at noon. Should we send someone to disrupt their alliance?"

"No need. If they want to cooperate, let them. Our clan isn't strong enough yet—we'll endure a little longer."

Also, send word to Hong Yuan. Tell her to get more Blood Rice from the Chen family. That grain will benefit us greatly.”

“Yes, Patriarch. I’ll see to it immediately!”

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

After the clansman left, Xie Yanmiao continued amusing himself with the bird in the cage before him.