Chapter 35: The Ironwood Clan Moves

The Ironwood Clan Head sat alone in the same chamber where he had met with the City Lord several days ago

However, this time it was empty

There were no ministers, no other clan representatives, and no servants carrying wine or tea. Only a handful of Ironwood Clan elders surrounded the long table.

The clan head had spent the morning reviewing all the information they had on Ao Kuiba.

There was not much.

That was the problem.

"He appeared in Azure Cloud City less than a month ago," one of the elders said, standing beside the table. "There is no record of him in any of the clan archives. No sect has acknowledged him either. We even scoured the merchant guilds, but they don’t have any substantial information regarding Ao Kuiba’s origins."

The clan head placed a hand on the armrest of his chair.

"And his wealth?"

"Still unexplained."

"How much did he spend at the Violet Cloud Summit?"

"Enough to raise some eyebrows. He purchased the Void Crystal and later the ancient Dragon Bone for three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones."

One of the older elders frowned. "Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones for a Dragon Bone is ridiculous, especially since nobody knew what it was."

The clan head glanced at him.

"Perhaps he knew."

The elder fell silent.

The clan head leaned back.

He had already considered that possibility.

Ao Kuiba had appeared in Azure Cloud City with no background, vast wealth, and an uncanny ability to recognize valuable items.

Strange, but not necessarily dangerous.

Not to someone of his stature at least.

"What about his cultivation?" the clan head asked.

"Early Core Formation."

"Certain?"

"Yes. We’ve had several people observe him. His spiritual fluctuations are consistent with Early Core Formation."

The clan head’s face relaxed.

"Then it is simple," one of the elders said.

The clan head paused.

There was still the matter of Elder Han.

The room fell silent.

The clan head turned to where Elder Han was sitting at the end of the table. His arm was still recovering from the injuries he sustained at the Lin residence.

The clan head studied him for a moment before speaking.

"What happened?"

Elder Han’s jaw tighten.

"I underestimated him."

"I understand," the clan head said.

The clan head wanted to know why.

Elder Han inhaled sharply.

"He was faster than I anticipated and far stronger than an average Core Formation cultivator. I couldn’t predict his movements."

"Did he use any techniques you could identify?"

"No," Elder Han replied.

This garnered the attention of several in the room.

"No techniques?"

"None that I could identify."

The clan head’s fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.

He recalled what the City Lord’s jailer had said when Ao had entered the facility.

Ao had entered,

defeated the Ironwood cultivators,

freed Lin Zhengyuan,

and then left

The clan head had decided not to pursue the matter.

The City Lord was already in an uproar, and it would have been unwise to continue pressing the issue. After all, the Ironwood Clan had already gone too far by involving the city’s jail in their affairs.

However, that was before.

The clan head turned to the elder beside him.

"And what have we learned about his connection to the Lin family?"

"He isn’t one of them."

The clan head gave a small laugh.

"So that is all this is about?"

The elder nodded.

"Apparently so."

"A debt."

The clan head turned toward the window.

Beyond it the city was just beginning to stir.

"It isn’t about the Lin family’s Spiritual Spring," the clan head said. "He simply doesn’t enjoy owing people."

"Seems that way," the elder replied.

The clan head pondered this for a moment.

Then he rose to his feet.

"Then let us remove the thing he owes."

A few of the elders exchanged glances.

"We have wasted enough time," the clan head said. "The Lin family has refused to comply with our demands. The Spiritual Spring is located on prime land, and they both lack the power or influence to stand against us."

The clan head walked slowly around the table.

"We have wasted enough time," he said. "Today we remove the Spiritual Spring from their possession."

A few of the elders understood what he meant.

"You want it taken today," one said.

"Yes," the clan head replied.

"And Ao Kuiba?" the elder asked.

The clan head turned to face him.

"I will deal with him personally."

A few more exchanged glances before one of the elders spoke.

"Personally?"

"You seem surprised," the clan head said.

"Considering he has already defeated Elder Han."

The clan head’s eyes narrowed.

"Elder Han is Core Formation," he said. "So is Ao Kuiba."

The clan head stepped closer.

"I’m Nascent Soul."

Nobody said anything.

It wasn’t necessary.

The clan head turned to face Elder Han.

"You were careless," he said.

Elder Han lowered his head.

"Yes, Clan Head."

"Don’t misunderstand me," the clan head said. "I am not criticizing you for losing."

His expression darkened.

"I am criticizing you for allowing a young Core Formation cultivator to leave thinking he could challenge us again."

Elder Han clenched his fist.

"I understand, Clan Head."

"Good."

The clan head turned to the others.

"You will accompany me to the Lin residence."

One elder nodded.

"How should we deal with them?"

The clan head turned to the other elders.

"Give them one last chance to surrender the property," the clan head said.

"What if they refuse?"

The clan head didn’t hesitate.

"Take it."

The elder nodded.

"What about Lin Qingshan?"

"He is Early Core Formation. Don’t kill him unless it is absolutely necessary."

The elder raised an eyebrow.

"You expect resistance?"

"I expect stupidity," the clan head said.

Lin Qingshan had refused them twice.

The clan head turned to the others.

"Take enough of you to deal with the entire family."

The doors opened.

Before exiting the chamber the clan head turned.

"Don’t wait for me."

The elders bowed.

"Understood."

---

The Lin family was having breakfast when the first Ironwood cultivator arrived at their gate.

Lin Zhengyuan recognized the folds in the man’s robes as soon as he saw them.

His expression darkened.

"They came."

Lin Yuanhong stood beside him.

"How many?"

The servant who had delivered the message gulped.

"There are more than twenty of them."

Lin Yue exited the main house.

Her gaze swept past the open gate and toward the approaching figures.

"Is the Ironwood Clan Head with them?"

"No," the servant said.

"But there are several elders among them,"

Lin Qingshan slowly rose from his seat beneath the old tree.

His expression remained neutral.

"They’ve decided to stop pretending this is a negotiation,"

Lin Zhengyuan looked at him.

"Can we hold them off?"

Qingshan considered the question.

"For a while,"

Lin Yuanhong frowned.

"And after that?"

Qingshan turned toward the entrance.

"That depends on if they brought anyone stronger than me,"

Lin Yue’s expression changed.

"Father, what about Ao?"

Lin Zhengyuan looked at his daughter.

"We don’t know where he is,"

"He knows the Ironwood Clan wants this property,"

"Knowing isn’t the same as owing us a life,"

Lin Yue lowered her eyes.

She understood.

Ao had made that clear.

He had helped because she had helped him.

He didn’t owe them anything.

Lin Qingshan walked toward the gate.

"Come,"

Lin Yue followed him.

The gate opened.

Several Ironwood cultivators stood on the other side.

Their leader stepped forward.

"Lin Zhengyuan,"

Lin Zhengyuan met his gaze.

"You’ve come again,"

"This time we aren’t here to discuss the property,"

Lin Zhengyuan’s expression hardened.

"Then why have you come?"

The elder looked past him at the estate.

"The Ironwood Clan has decided to take the Spiritual Spring."

Lin Qingshan stepped forward.

"Decided?"

The elder’s gaze settled on him.

"You must be Lin Qingshan,"

"I am,"

"I suggest you don’t make this difficult,"

Qingshan gave him a measured look.

"You came onto my family’s property with more than twenty cultivators and told us to give you the property. You might want to be a little more careful about who’s difficult you’re addressing,"

The elder’s face twisted in anger.

"You have no idea who you are talking to,"

"I know exactly who you are," Qingshan said evenly. "That is why I suggest you leave,"

The gathered cultivators exhaled, releasing a wave of spiritual pressure that sent the Lin family’s formation quivering.

Then another pressure rolled over them, stronger than the first.

Everyone turned toward the road.

The Ironwood Clan Head was walking down it, alone.

He passed the Lin family, his gaze lingering on Lin Qingshan for a long moment before he spoke.

"Early Core Formation,"

Qingshan’s expression tightened.

"Nascent Soul,"

The clan head halted a few paces away.

"You understand the situation,"

"I do,"

"Then step aside,"

Qingshan looked at him.

"This is my family’s home,"

The clan head’s expression didn’t change.

"What makes you think that changes anything?"

Before Qingshan could respond the clan head turned toward Lin Yue and smiled.

She knew who he was.

He had been at the City Lord’s banquet.

The same man who had stood silently while the City Lord grilled him about Ao.

His gaze returned to Qingshan.

"Where is Ao Kuiba?"

Nobody answered.

The clan head waited a moment longer before nodding.

"Fine,"

He turned toward the road leading back toward the city.

"I’ll find him myself,"

He turned to the elders.

"Take the property,"

The Ironwood Clan began to move.

Lin Qingshan raised a hand.

"Stop,"

The clan head didn’t turn around.

"You should think very carefully before you try to fight people you cannot defeat,"

Qingshan’s eyes narrowed.

"And you should think very carefully about what you know about the people you are trying to kill,"

The clan head turned back to face him.

A smile touched his lips.

"I know enough,"

He turned away.

"That will be sufficient,"

The Ironwood Clan moved.

Lin Qingshan’s formation vibrated.

And somewhere in Azure Cloud City Ao Kuiba continued on his way, completely unaware that the head of the Ironwood Clan had finally decided to come for him personally.