The earth trembled.
A dangerous aura permeated the air.
All the warriors of the Li family in Tianfeng City.
All the warriors of the Shi family in Tianfeng City.
Including a ten-thousand-strong warrior army controlled by the city lord Shi Long.
Though most of this army consisted of warriors below the third level of the Martial Vein, their sheer numbers and possession of powerful weapons like crossbows meant that even stronger warriors would likely be turned into pincushions under a hail of bolts.
Additionally, there were a hundred hidden ninja guards with strength above the fifth level of the Martial Vein.
This was the force that had surrounded the Ling family, leaving no gaps.
Of course, the strongest among them were ten individuals.
They were Shi Long and Li Yunsheng, along with three Supreme Elders from each family, all at the seventh level of the Martial Vein.
Then there were Fei Mu and Fei Yun.
It could be said that the Ling family was now in a situation where even wings wouldn’t help them escape, let alone fly, especially since few among them could even traverse the air.
Seeing this terrifying scene, many Ling family disciples trembled uncontrollably.
Their earlier fervor felt as if it had been doused with cold water, chilling them from head to toe.
Even a fool could see that today’s events wouldn’t end well, the ninja clan was truly capable of wiping out an entire family.
Panic spreads.
One person’s fear gradually became the fear of the majority.
The Ling family, from top to bottom, had fewer than five thousand members, with the vast majority below the third level of the Martial Vein.
With such strength, facing off against this aggressive coalition was clearly like an egg striking a rock.
Seeing the Ling family’s trembling figures, Shi Long felt immense satisfaction.
For years, he’d dreamed of this scene, and now, with the ninja clan’s help, it had come to pass, it seemed submitting to them was indeed a wise choice.
Standing there, Shi Long suddenly smashed a fist into a building within the Ling family courtyard.
With one punch, his fierce energy erupted, nearly exploding outward.
The building instantly turned to rubble.
Such terrifying power could only be wielded by a martial master above the seventh level of the Martial Vein.
“Hahaha, everyone in the Ling family, listen up!”
Hands behind his back, his voice laced with dominance, he shouted, “The ninja clan hails from the overseas immortal islands, fighting to protect our human territory. Today, they invited the Ling family to join them, but Ling Xiaotian, that old fool, harbored treacherous intentions and rejected the offer.”
“Today! This city lord, alongside two emissaries, has come to take that old fool’s wretched life and erase the Ling family from Tianfeng City forever!”
Erase the Ling family from Tianfeng City?
Wasn’t that a declaration of annihilation?
It seemed Ling Xiaotian’s refusal to ally with the ninja clan had truly enraged these barbaric ninjas, they could no longer tolerate the Ling family’s existence.
“No, I can’t die yet, I’m still young!”
“Yeah, I don’t want to be buried with the Ling family!”
“Why should we suffer just because the patriarch offended the ninja clan?”
Discontent.
Panic.
These emotions grew even stronger.
Shi Long, of course, saw it all.
He chuckled lightly, “This city lord has said it, today we’re here to execute Ling Xiaotian and his stubborn ilk, it has nothing to do with the rest of you. If others are willing to leave the Ling family and submit to the ninja clan, the ninja clan will treat you generously!”
“Even the Ling family’s own kin can join?” a loud voice asked.
“Of course, even if you’re Ling Xiaotian’s own son, as long as you submit to the ninja clan, there’s no issue,” Shi Long replied.
At those words, chaos erupted within the Ling family.
Tianfeng City had been at peace for many years.
Most of the younger generation had never experienced the ancient War of Ten Thousand Races, nor even smaller-scale conflicts with foreign tribes.
They didn’t understand how hard-won the establishment of the Human Sacred Dynasty had been.
They were even less aware that before the Sacred Dynasty, humans were mere vassals and slaves to other races.
They could be auctioned off at will.
They could be killed on the streets with the only compensation perhaps being a few taels of silver, or maybe nothing at all.
That dark era was so distant that people now failed to grasp the Sacred Dynasty’s significance.
Even if the dynasty had weakened, humanity must never yield its territory, or that dark age would swiftly return.
Ling Xiaotian’s face darkened.
But he was powerless.
The situation was beyond salvaging.
The enemy was too strong.
Their momentum was overwhelming.
Though he despised those with wavering resolve, it was too late to say anything now.
“Now, those willing to submit to the ninja clan, step out from the Ling family ranks and stand over there,” Shi Long pointed to a spot directly in the line of fire of the Tianfeng City army’s crossbows, “If these people dare to act out, I’ll order their immediate execution without hesitation.”
“Don’t be afraid, as long as you genuinely pledge loyalty, no one will harm you. Of course, if you refuse to leave the Ling family, that’s fine too, you can join Ling Xiaotian in hell today.”
Some hesitated in the crowd.
Some were still afraid.
The Ling family had always dealt with traitors ruthlessly.
Of course, some were simply torn between loyalty and survival.
“Whoever dares betray the family at a time like this, I, Ling Wuhen, will kill them!” Suddenly, the Ling family’s Second Master, Ling Wuhen, roared, drawing his longsword and pointing it skyward.
“When you joined the Ling family, they treated you well. Now, in the family’s time of crisis, abandoning it is disloyal and dishonorable!”
His words rang true, even Ling Xiao had received much from the Ling family.
Ling Xiao had faced grievances and unfairness, no doubt, but when he joined, the family at least fed and housed him.
They gave him the chance to cultivate martial arts.
Not to mention, most others received far better treatment than Ling Xiao.
Betraying them now would indeed mark them as shameless and disloyal.
“Hmph, Second Brother, you talk a good game. If you want to die with that old fool, go ahead, but we’re not joining you,” At that moment, Ling Jiu stood up, casting a disdainful glance at Ling Wuhen before walking toward Shi Long’s designated spot.
“Ling Jiu, you bastard!” Ling Xiaotian was so furious he nearly spat blood.
He never imagined the first to betray the Ling family wouldn’t be an outsider disciple but his own son.
“Old man, you want to die, but I’m not going with you. As the saying goes, a wise man adapts to the times. I see nothing wrong with joining the ninja clan, it could not only preserve the Ling family but even elevate it!” Ling Jiu sneered, “Your way is just an egg smashing against a rock.”
“Father’s right!” Ling Chong quickly followed Ling Jiu to the spot.
With this father and son leading the way, many who had been hesitating stopped wavering.
In a short time, thousands of disciples crossed over, and the numbers kept growing.
Among them were both recruited disciples and a significant number of Ling family kin.
Honestly, Ling Xiaotian hadn’t expected much from the recruited disciples, their abandoning the family now was understandable.
After all, they lacked true blood ties to the Ling family.
But the betrayal of his own kin cut him to the core.
His body visibly trembled with the pain of it.
