Chapter 1340 - 968: Take Action

Each of the Eight Great Clans has an Innate Spiritual Treasure of its own, only the quality of these treasures differs. For example, the Zhang Family’s Book of Life and Death is an Eleventh Tier Innate Spiritual Treasure, which can only bind cultivators below the Eleventh Tier, and cannot even restrain a Twelfth Tier Quasi-Immortal.

But a Spiritual Treasure being below the Twelfth Tier does not mean it is weak, because in this world, among Twelfth Tier experts, aside from the already known Great Virtuous Master, Hu Li the Immortal, and the Peacock Ancestor, there are only a scant few Divine Spirits.

Divine Spirits are raised up by the Power of Incense. Although they are Twelfth Tier, their flaws are enormous, their limitations far too great, and they are further restricted by their own domains, so they are nothing to fear.

Zhang Chen, hearing this, said helplessly, "I am willing to follow the Great King’s commands. I will only lead the clan to charge forward with our heads down; as for matters that require thinking, I must trouble the Great King and the honored ancestors to consider them."

On the other side, the Patriarch of the Gong Family also said, his expression unchanged, "My Gong Family is willing to obey deployment. Matters that require thinking, let the Great King and the Ancestors handle them."

The Great Victory Human King exchanged a glance with the Seventh Ancestor upon hearing this, and then the Seventh Ancestor said, "I have been in seclusion for several thousand years and am unfamiliar with the Great Victory Dynasty. Better that the Human King handle it."

The Great Victory Human King nodded and began to reason and analyze: "Among the Twelfth Tier experts in our Royal Family’s camp, we have exactly six: Mr. Da of the Academy, Ancestor Chai Zhu who is restraining the Peacock Ancestor, three Innate Divine Spirits, and you, Ancestor."

Hearing that the Seventh Ancestor was actually an old monster at the Twelfth Tier, Zhang Chen could not help but be secretly shocked in his heart; the Great Victory Dynasty’s foundations were indeed terrifying.

"We also have two Innate Spiritual Treasures protecting the Imperial Palace. Ancestor Chai Zhu cannot be redeployed because he must restrain the Peacock Ancestor, but we can have another person wield an Innate Spiritual Treasure in his stead. In this way, the six of us will each lead a large army and, with the force of thunder, annihilate the six great clans, using the opportunity to sweep across the realm and slaughter all the experts under those six clans." The Great Victory Human King spoke.

The Seventh Ancestor nodded at these words. "Agreed!"

The Great Victory Human King turned his gaze to Zhang Chen and the Patriarch of the Gong Family. "For now, return and mobilize the forces under your command. Tomorrow someone will naturally come to your doors to call on you for assistance."

Zhang Chen bowed upon hearing this and said, "I will return at once to mobilize the troops and horses."

Zhang Chen and the Patriarch of the Gong Family took their leave together. The Great Victory Human King and the Seventh Ancestor watched their retreating backs in silence. Only after a long while did the Seventh Ancestor say, "The Gong Family and the Zhang Family cannot be trusted. Once we have cleared out the other six families, they must not be allowed to remain! We will uproot them along with the rest."

The Great Victory Human King hesitated visibly at these words. "The Gong Family and the Zhang Family wield tremendous power. If we can keep them and make them ours, they will be two blades in the hands of our Royal Family. To discard them like this—isn’t that too great a waste?"

The Seventh Ancestor shook his head at that. "The Eight Great Clans are far too frightening. The slightest carelessness and they will bite back at us. They absolutely cannot be kept! Right now, while we old fellows are all still here, we can trade pieces with the Eight Great Clans. If, in the future, when we old fellows are gone, you then wish to wipe out the Zhang Family and the Gong Family, who knows what price you will have to pay? If, because of this, our Great Victory Royal Family suffers a grievous blow, giving others the chance to seize the moment and overturn the dynasty, you will regret it too late."

The Human King could only say, "In that case, this grandson will have them eliminated together. Fortunately, the Zhang Family and the Gong Family turned their coats and came to us; otherwise we would not even have enough manpower to spare under our command."

Zhang Chen made his way back to the Zhang Family, his expression stern as he entered the ancestral hall. He said to the guard beside him, "Go invite all the masters over for a meeting."

The guard accepted the order and left. Before long, everyone had gathered; all the various stewards and old masters of the Zhang Family assembled in one hall.

"We don’t know why the Patriarch has summoned us. What matter is at hand?" Third Granduncle asked.

"The Great Victory Royal Family is about to move against the Eight Great Clans. Tomorrow is the time they will make their move." Standing there, Zhang Chen opened his mouth with an earth-shattering bombshell.

"How can this be? How does the Great Victory Royal Family dare move against the Eight Great Clans? Where did you get this information from? Could there be some mistake?" Zhang Gaqi’s pupils shrank as he questioned Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen explained, "Today the Great Victory Human King summoned me into the palace and forced my Zhang Family to pledge allegiance to the Royal Family. I had no choice but to feign agreement. The Great Victory Human King already set the tone in the palace today: tomorrow is the time to act. There can be no mistake in this."

At Zhang Chen’s words, the ancestral hall instantly erupted. Everyone broke into heated discussion.

Eighth Granduncle stepped forward and said, "Patriarch, this is something we are ill-suited to take part in. If the Great Victory Royal Family harbors ill intent and has us and the other six clans fight each other to mutual destruction, then, when the time comes, they’ll wipe us all out in one sweep. That would be the real trouble."

"Of course I know we are ill-suited to get involved. Otherwise, if we fight to mutual destruction and are seized upon by the Royal Family in the Imperial Palace and wiped out together, wouldn’t we become a laughingstock? The reason I agreed to the Great Victory Royal Family at the time was because I had no choice and wanted to use the chance to extricate myself." Zhang Chen said with a bitter smile.

"In such a storm of raging waves, our Zhang Family has nowhere to hide and nowhere to flee. Had I not agreed earlier, I fear I would never have walked out of the Inner Royal Palace." Zhang Chen swept his gaze over the elders present in the hall.

"Since the Patriarch already comprehends the stakes involved, I assume you also have a plan to counter this?" Zhang Gaqi looked at Zhang Chen. Being familiar with his abilities, he posed the question.

Zhang Chen nodded to Zhang Gaqi at those words. "Correct. I’ve long made preparations. The world all thinks that Prince Pingbian and I are at daggers drawn, yet they do not know that I had already secretly reached an understanding with him. Prince Pingbian’s Mansion has long been under my control. The Zhang Family’s final retreat lies in Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Once everyone falls back to Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, my Zhang Family will be able to rely on it for preservation. As things stand, the destruction of the Eight Great Clans is a foregone conclusion. Retreating to Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is the only correct path for my Zhang Family."

"The problem is, our entire clan, young and old, is in Kyoto. To flee to Prince Pingbian’s territory right under the Royal Family’s nose—there will be countless hardships and dangers along the way. It will be very difficult." Zhang Chen voiced his concern.

On the other side, after hearing Zhang Chen’s words, everyone’s eyes lit up. Especially when they learned that Zhang Chen had secretly formed an alliance with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion—their eyes shone like little light bulbs.

At this moment Third Granduncle took over the conversation. "Never would I have thought you were actually putting on a show with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, tricking all of us. Since you’ve already settled things with Prince Pingbian, there’s no need for you to worry about what comes next. Our Zhang Family has been rooted in Kyoto for five thousand years and has long prepared thoroughly for this day. Naturally, we have our means of escaping Kyoto. Though the Great Victory Royal Family is strong, it cannot possibly attend to every corner. We have long had covert countermeasures in place."

Third Granduncle pointed at the ancestral hall. "Our Zhang Family already dug a secret tunnel long ago. This tunnel leads to a canal a thousand li away. After we escape, we can take the waterway to flee to the Northern Land."

"Immediately gather the clan disciples and flee overnight today. Any later and it will be too late." Zhang Chen gave an order.

"We must not gather all the clan members in Kyoto on a large scale. We only need to gather a few hundred core direct descendants. The rest must remain in Kyoto to continue misleading the Great Victory Royal Family." Zhang Gaqi spoke up, cutting Zhang Chen off.

At those words, Zhang Chen’s brows furrowed. "They are all sons and daughters of the Zhang Family. How can we abandon them at will? Besides, there’s no need for them to stay behind to mislead the Great Victory Royal Family. Right now all of the Royal Family’s attention is on me. As long as I remain, they naturally won’t grow suspicious."

"You are the Patriarch of the Zhang Family; the clan’s future rests on you. How can you be the one to stay behind and cover the retreat? You go, I’ll stay and draw the Great Victory Royal Family’s gaze." Zhang Gaqi fixed his eyes on Zhang Chen, his words firm as iron, leaving no room for doubt.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at Zhang Gaqi, whose sleeve on one side hung empty, and could not help but feel a surge of emotion. Zhang Gaqi truly lived up to his name; even now he had not disappointed him. At this moment Zhang Chen acknowledged in his heart that Zhang Gaqi was genuinely single-mindedly devoted to the family.

"You don’t carry enough weight. You’re leaving with the others." Zhang Chen said.

"No. I stay, you go!" Zhang Gaqi retorted. "You are the Zhang Family’s hope for the future. You cannot be allowed even the slightest mishap!"

"I am the Patriarch. I have the final say!" Zhang Chen raised his hand to cut Zhang Gaqi off. "Summon all Zhang Family disciples within five generations to assemble."

"Listen to the Patriarch. Since the Patriarch dares to stay, he naturally has means to get through this. You don’t actually think he’s the sort to sacrifice himself for the whole clan, do you?" Third Granduncle patted Zhang Gaqi’s shoulder from the side.

Zhang Gaqi froze for a moment at those words, then suddenly understood. The Zhang Chen he knew was not someone who would sacrifice himself for others.

The clan members quickly dispersed. Zhong Xiang came to Zhang Chen’s side. "Has the situation already become this serious?"

"You needn’t worry. I naturally have ways to deal with it." Zhang Chen rubbed Zhong Xiang’s head. "You go with them as well. Prince Pingbian has already become my puppet. Now Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is our final foundation. After you arrive, guard that foundation well for me—don’t let anyone ruin our grand plan."

"Are you sure? How about I stay to help you, so that when we flee later, at least there’ll be someone to coordinate with you." Zhong Xiang hesitated, giving Zhang Chen a look. She feared Zhang Chen might not be able to cope alone against the Great Victory Royal Family.

Zhang Chen smiled at her words. "My methods are not something you mortals can measure. This trifling Kyoto is nothing more than an ordinary place to me. If I want to leave, no one can stop me."

Zhong Xiang hesitated slightly. "Should we inform Grandfather of this? Have the Zhong Family withdraw from Kyoto together with the Zhang Family?"

Zhang Chen shook his head, refusing. "The Zhong Family will not leave together with the Zhang Family. The Zhong Family hasn’t committed any crime; there’s no reason for the Great Victory Royal Family to target them."

"Besides, the disciples and retainers of the Zhong Family would not be willing to abandon their own foundation." Zhang Chen kept reassuring Zhong Xiang.

In fact, there was one thing he did not say: if two diehard loyalists of the Great Victory Royal Family appeared within the Zhong Family and leaked the news, wouldn’t the Zhang Family be in for a disaster?

"You just take Zhang Tuowei and the others and leave. With me watching over things in Kyoto, I absolutely won’t let anything happen to the Zhong Family. Moreover, I’ve long prepared a backhand against the Great Victory Royal Family. The reason I’ve yet to use it is simply because I wanted to borrow the Royal Family’s hand to get rid of the Six Great Clans. The Six Great Clans want to deal with me—am I, Zhang Chen, the sort to swallow such an insult? The Great Victory Royal Family is nothing more than a knife in my hand. Once the Six Great Clans are wiped out, that will be when I play my trump card and strike a heavy blow against the Great Victory Royal Family!" Zhang Chen did not mind revealing a bit of his background to the woman who shared his bed.

Hearing this, Zhong Xiang instantly relaxed, then widened her eyes and stared at Zhang Chen. "I knew it. How could a rotten scoundrel like you be willing to flee in disgrace? You must have had a backhand prepared. You were born bad—who could ever let you suffer a loss?"

Hearing Zhong Xiang’s words, Zhang Chen was inwardly speechless. He couldn’t tell whether she was praising him or scolding him.