“Get out of the Ancestral Martial Starfield?”
At these words, everyone was stunned.
The members of the Linghu Heavenly Clan could hardly believe their ears.
Being expelled from the Ancestral Martial Starfield would be an unimaginable humiliation for their clan.
Where could they go? No matter where they went, they would become a laughingstock.
Leaving on their own was one thing, but being driven out was entirely different.
“A clan like yours doesn’t deserve to stay in the Ancestral Martial Starfield,” Long Daozhi said. “You have one month to leave. If any of your clan remains after that, I’ll kill every one I see.”
“City Lord Long, please have mercy, please!” Suddenly, with a thud, someone knelt on the ground. It was Linghu Yuhua, a Supreme Elder of the Linghu Heavenly Clan.
Following her, many others from the clan knelt as well.
Tears streamed down Linghu Yuhua’s aged face.
“City Lord Long, our Linghu Heavenly Clan has been in the Ancestral Martial Starfield for generations,” she pleaded. “We know we’ve made grave mistakes, but we beg you to give us a chance to make amends. Punish us however you see fit, but please don’t drive us out. The Ancestral Martial Starfield is our clan’s root.”
Led by Linghu Yuhua, the clan members begged desperately.
“You’ve made mistakes, and you must pay the price. The clan leader’s wrongs are the clan’s to bear,” Long Daozhi replied.
“Why are you crying? Our roots aren’t in the Ancestral Martial Starfield. Our roots are wherever our clan leader is,” some clan members rebuked, scolding Linghu Yuhua and the others.
At this, many stood up, but most remained kneeling, still pleading.
“City Lord Long, please, we beg you to let us stay,” Linghu Yuhua and the others continued, their tearful, heartbroken expressions genuine.
Seeing this, Chu Feng felt moved.
He noticed that when the Linghu Heavenly Clan faced life-threatening danger earlier, many had knelt and begged for mercy.
But those begging then weren’t the same as those begging now.
The earlier group begged to survive.
Now, Linghu Yuhua and the others begged not to leave their homeland, the place their ancestors had rooted themselves.
“You may stay, but on two conditions,” Long Daozhi said.
“First, if you stay, you may only remain in the upper realm of your Linghu Heavenly Clan. For ten thousand years, no one may leave. I’ll send people to monitor you, and if anyone disobeys, they’ll be executed immediately.
“Second, Linghu Zhishi must leave the Ancestral Martial Starfield.”
As he spoke, Long Daozhi looked at Linghu Zhishi.
“What?” The crowd stirred at these words.
They understood Long Daozhi’s meaning.
He was giving Linghu Yuhua and the others a choice: either leave with Linghu Zhishi or stay in the Ancestral Martial Starfield under surveillance, like prisoners.
Faced with this choice, Linghu Yuhua and those kneeling fell silent.
Their silence made Linghu Zhishi realise their decision.
They chose to stay in the Ancestral Martial Starfield rather than follow him.
“Elder Yuhua, I won’t blame you for your choice,” Linghu Zhishi said. “But without me, the Linghu Heavenly Clan will no longer be the true Linghu Heavenly Clan. I hope you won’t regret this.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.
As he left, his voice rang out, “Those who still recognise me as clan leader, follow me.”
Immediately, most of the clan chose to follow Linghu Zhishi.
Even among those kneeling, a few, after a difficult decision, stood and joined him.
But most, including Linghu Yuhua, remained kneeling.
“Elder Yuhua,” a voice suddenly called out, and a figure appeared beside her.
It was Linghu Yueyue.
Her eyes were red, her face streaked with tears.
Though she wasn’t crying now, her haggard expression showed the inner torment she’d endured.
This was understandable. Too much had happened today, dealing heavy blows to the Linghu Heavenly Clan. If elders like Linghu Yuhua struggled to bear it, how much harder was it for a junior like her?
“Yueyue, don’t try to persuade me,” Linghu Yuhua said, a smile on her face. “I’m old and won’t live much longer. I only want to die within our clan.”
Seeing her smile, Linghu Yueyue seemed to understand something.
“Senior, take care,” she said, then turned to follow Linghu Zhishi.
As she turned, her gaze swept over Chu Feng.
Her eyes held deep resentment, but no killing intent.
Linghu Zhishi led most of the clan away, not toward their clan’s territory but directly out of the Ancestral Martial Starfield.
“You may leave as well,” Long Daozhi said to Linghu Yuhua.
“Thank you, City Lord Long,” they replied, rising and departing.
Soon, the Linghu Heavenly Clan split into two groups, both disappearing from Chu Feng and the others’ sight.
“City Lord Long, a dragon cannot be without a head, nor a starfield without a leader,” someone suddenly said, half-kneeling and offering a deep bow to Long Daozhi.
Almost everyone followed suit, including the Chu Heavenly Clan’s leader.
Only Chu Feng, Gu Mingyuan, Chu Lingxi, and a few others remained standing, stunned.
“Please, rise,” Long Daozhi said, lifting his arm, and an invisible force raised everyone to their feet.
“You all know that my Three Cities never interfere in the Ancestral Martial Starfield’s affairs. I acted today out of necessity, as I couldn’t stand by and watch our starfield become a territory of the Zhutian Starfield,” Long Daozhi said. “But my Three Cities swore never to rule the Ancestral Martial Starfield.”
“City Lord Long, you can’t abandon us now…” Hearing this, the crowd knelt again, pleading desperately.
Having witnessed Long Daozhi’s strength, they all hoped he would lead the Ancestral Martial Starfield.
His leadership would be a guarantee for them.
But if Long Daozhi and the Three Cities refused to take charge, who in the current Ancestral Martial Starfield could bear that responsibility?
Letting the various forces fight for it would only lead to another bloodbath.
The starfield had already lost the Nameless Clan and the Linghu Heavenly Clan, two major powers.
It could no longer withstand war.
As if understanding their thoughts, Long Daozhi spoke again.
“In truth, I have someone in mind for the new leader of the Ancestral Martial Starfield. I just don’t know if you’ll agree.”
