Before Lin Xiao and Zihuang attacked the Jin family, the three major families of Cao, Xu, and Lu, along with the experts in that region, stayed in the area, seeking opportunities to kill Lin Xiao and waiting to see if the Jin family would secretly eliminate him. None of them left.
However, when the Jin family made a move against Lin Xiao in secret, no news of Lin Xiao leaving reached them. Instead, they heard that Lin Xiao, accompanied by Zihuang and others, had stormed into the Jin family.
Later, they had hoped Lin Xiao would fall at the hands of the Jin family, but no such news came. Instead, word spread that Ling Xiao had broken through to the Martial Emperor realm.
As soon as this news broke, the forces outside the three major families immediately withdrew, returning to their bases and vanishing completely.
They all knew the relationship between Ling Hu and Lin Xiao. Trouble for Lin Xiao meant trouble for Ling Hu, and Ling Xiao, as Ling Hu’s father, would never allow anyone to harm his son.
To continue targeting Lin Xiao was tantamount to opposing a Martial Emperor, which was no different from seeking death.
Not only would they risk their own lives, but they could also drag their families down with them.
Thus, they abandoned all thoughts of targeting Lin Xiao.
Some even prepared to apologise to the Ling family.
Unlike the three major families, these forces, though they had lost their most elite talents in the Yuanling Pool secret realm, hadn’t suffered total losses. Their enmity with Lin Xiao and Ling Hu wasn’t as deep.
Apologising now might lead Ling Xiao to overlook past grudges, and there was even a chance they could become vassals of the Ling family.
After all, while the Ling family had a weak foundation, a new Martial Emperor had emerged. To grow stronger, they would need the support of several vassal forces.
Pledging allegiance to a newly risen Martial Emperor force was entirely different from serving a mature force like the Jin family.
Meanwhile, upon hearing that Ling Xiao had become a Martial Emperor, the members of the three major families, Cao Tianchao, Xu Zilan, and Lu Yuan, trembled with fear.
They were well aware of the bond between Ling Hu and Lin Xiao, especially the Cao family, who had threatened Lin Xiao using the Ling family. Their grudge with Lin Xiao and Ling Hu was irreconcilable.
After hearing the news, they didn’t wait to learn whether Ling Xiao, Zihuang, and Yinhuang could kill the Jin Emperor. Instead, they hurriedly activated the Xutian Phoenix Wings and returned to their families at top speed.
Naturally, Cao Tianchao took Xu Zilan and Lu Yuan with him. The Xu and Lu families’ enmity with Lin Xiao was nearly as deep as the Cao family’s, making reconciliation impossible.
Moreover, they realised that if they didn’t return to their families quickly, other forces, upon learning of Ling Xiao’s rise to Martial Emperor, might attack them to curry favour with the Ling family, even before Ling Xiao himself acted.
Their first action upon returning was to disband their families, fleeing as far and as fast as possible, taking their most outstanding young talents with them.
This way, they could avoid total annihilation.
News of the Jin Emperor’s fall and Jin Zhi’s rise to Emperor spread immediately to the Jin family members across their various cities.
All members of the Jin family were both shocked and stunned, but ultimately, they felt a sense of relief.
Had Jin Zhi not broken through to Emperor, the Jin family might have been finished.
No one dared mention Jin Zhi’s betrayal of the family.
They all knew that, from now on, the Jin family would have a new master.
The entire Jin family would now depend on Jin Zhi.
Naturally, Jin Zhi’s faction rejoiced, while the direct descendants of the former Jin Emperor and factions at odds with Elder Jin Zhi began to worry.
In one of the Jin family’s cities, a young man in golden robes sat in a room. Upon hearing the news of the Jin family’s change in leadership, he was both shocked and furious.
In his rage, he smashed the table and chairs.
This young man was none other than Jin Yuxuan, the Jin family’s second genius, aged twenty-five and at the second level of Martial Lord.
“Jin Yong, at twenty-nine, only reached the fourth level of Martial Lord and isn’t of the Martial Emperor’s direct bloodline. Originally, he posed no threat to my future position,” Jin Yuxuan said coldly. “But now, with Great-Grandfather fallen and the Great Elder becoming Emperor, Jin Yong, as the Great Elder’s grandson, will surely take the heir’s position, even though I’m of the Martial Emperor’s direct bloodline.”
Jin Yuxuan clenched his fists tightly. With the Jin Emperor’s fall, he had lost a protector.
Moreover, Jin Yong, now the top cultivator among the younger generation, had become the Martial Emperor’s direct heir.
Deep down, Jin Yuxuan looked down on Jin Yong, who wasn’t of the Martial Emperor’s direct bloodline and had only reached the fourth level of Martial Lord at nearly thirty.
In contrast, Jin Yuxuan, at just twenty-five, had reached the second level of Martial Lord, far surpassing Jin Yong in talent.
But now, the Martial Emperor’s favour had shifted to Jin Yong, threatening Jin Yuxuan’s position.
“Young Master, although the Great Elder has become Emperor and will take over as patriarch, given his character, he’s unlikely to suppress the Jin Emperor’s heirs. He’ll likely just focus on nurturing Jin Yong,” an old man beside Jin Yuxuan said. “Moreover, no matter how close Jin Yong is to the Great Elder, he’s lost the chance to participate in the Southeast Region Youth Summit. If Young Master enters one of the eight major sects and becomes a disciple of a Martial Emperor elder, even with Jin Yong’s connection, you might still compete for the heir’s position.”
Jin Yuxuan’s expression hardened, a cold glint in his eyes. “I originally had little interest in joining a sect, but now, I have no choice. I must enter one of the eight major sects and become a Martial Emperor’s direct disciple. I must rank in the top fifteen in the grand competition!”
The eight major sects were stronger than Martial Emperor forces, but not every disciple who joined them received personal training from a Martial Emperor.
For those of Martial Emperor direct bloodline, staying in the family, where they could receive direct training from a Martial Emperor, was often better than joining a sect, where growth might be slower.
Moreover, the relationship between the eight major sects and the three major families was complex. Since they would eventually return to their families, a Martial Emperor with no close ties might not train them wholeheartedly.
Thus, the most talented direct bloodlines of the three major families rarely joined the eight major sects.
Unless, like Jin Yuxuan, special circumstances forced them to.
Joining a sect was better than being suppressed within the family.
“With Young Master’s strength, entering the top fifteen should be no problem,” the old man nodded, his face brimming with confidence.
…
A few hours later, Lin Xiao and a group of people returned to the Zi family headquarters.
Before entering the Zi family, Lin Xiao suddenly remembered something and turned to Zihuang. “Um, Zihuang, could we borrow a Yutian Boat? There’s an urgent matter I need to handle.”
“Hm?” Zihuang was slightly taken aback. Ling Hu immediately guessed what he meant and said, “You’re planning to deal with the three major families, aren’t you?”
