Chapter 14 – Heaven-Devouring Divine Art
Translator: Mr Voltaire
Editor: Master Shadow
Fang Hao’s coldly spoken words reverberated throughout the Xiao family’s residence, causing many of the people to feel quite anxious.
Everyone had a serious expression on their faces, and felt as if a giant mountain was weighing on their chests.
Even the Xiao family’s old patriarch frowned.
“Heaven Origin Sect?” Xiao Yun’s eyebrows were raised, and his eyes glinted.
As a descendant of the main house of the Xiao family, he wasn’t unfamiliar with the Heaven Origin Sect.
It was a sect that reigned above the kingdom and gathered all sorts of experts. Powerful experts were common as clouds within that sect.
For the cultivators in the Moonwind Kingdom, the Heaven Origin Sect was a holy land.
Although Fang Hao had left, the waves within the Xiao family had not yet settled. The group of elders gathered around the old patriarch, discussing what should be done. Even a retired grand elder came out – it was evident how serious this was.
The Xiao family’s old patriarch sat at the main seat in the discussion hall. All of the elders looked extremely worried as they talked.
“Fang Hao’s being looked on favourably by an elder in the Heaven Origin Sect. What do we do?”
“If we don’t do as he wishes, our Xiao family will be doomed when he enters the Heaven Origin Sect,” one of the elders said. To them, the Heaven Origin Sect was simply too terrifying.
The rest of the Xiao family was gathered around the outside of the discussion hall, listening in.
“Should we give Xiao Yun to the Fang family?” one of the elders suddenly asked.
Hearing this, the look in the Xiao family’s old patriarch’s eyes became serious, like a vicious lion. However, he didn’t rebuke that elder.
Xiao Yun was sitting next to his grandfather. Hearing the discussions going on, he didn’t feel angry, but could only bitterly smile.
He knew that this was no small matter, and it could affect the entire Xiao family’s future.
As such, it was only natural for these elders to be worried.
“I think that’s the only thing we can do to calm down the Fang family’s flames of fury. It’s not worth it to give up the entire family for this trash. Yuan Shan, as the leader of the family, you need to think of the bigger picture.”
“That’s right, you need to think about the bigger picture.”
“It’s not worth it to send the whole family to its death over Xiao Yun that trash!” The other elders all voiced their a.s.sent.
Apart from a few people, almost everyone in the hall was yelling for Xiao Yun to be handed over to appease the Fang family.
“The bigger picture?” Seeing the majority of the elders act like this, Xiao Yuan Shan’s expression darkened as he coldly harrumphed, “If that’s the case, this old man would rather not be the leader of the family. I’ll take Yun’Er and leave the Xiao family, and hide at the end of the world. Whoever wants to take care of this mess of a family can do it.”
“What?” Everyone in the discussion hall stared in shock.
“Grand elder, you’re a person of great virtue and standing. How about you take this position?” The Xiao family’s old patriarch looked at the white-haired elderly man.
“This old man will be dead in 2 years. How can I shoulder such a responsibility?” The grand elder’s eyes slightly twitched as he frowned.
“The head elder – how about you do it?” Xiao Yuan Shan turned to look at the head elder.
It was he who had started calling for Xiao Yun to be handed over.
“I’m only at the ‘complete’ stage of the Innate realm. How could I suppress all of the other factions?” the head elder questioned as his face twisted.
Xiao Yuan Shan stood up as his eyes flashed. He looked around him as he declared, “If anyone dares to take this position, this old man will immediately retire.”
The Xiao family’s people were sent into a frenzy.
Xiao Yuan Shan was one of few True Essence realm experts within the Violet Cloud County and was extremely powerful. There was no one more powerful than him within the Xiao family.
It could be said that without Xiao Yuan Shan standing guard over the past few years, much of the Xiao family’s businesses and a.s.sets would have been devoured by other families.
If Xiao Yuan Shan really took Xiao Yun elsewhere, how would they maintain their standing within the Violet Cloud County?
“Family leader must be joking – there’s no one more suited than you for this position.” The people who had ben clamouring for Xiao Yun to be handed over didn’t dare to say anything else as they gave forced smiles. After all, the Xiao family wouldn’t be able to survive without this old man!
Hearing that his grandpa would even give up his position to take him elsewhere, Xiao Yun felt incredibly moved.
In this world, who would be willing to sacrifice as much as this old man was willing to for his sake?
“G.o.ddamit. None of you dare to shoulder this responsibility? Then what are you all yelling about?” As he looked at all the elders smiling apologetically at him, Xiao Yuan Shan’s beard bristled and he couldn’t help but curse, “If this old man, as the family leader, couldn’t even protect his own grandson, who will take the Xiao family seriously in future? Do you think the Xiao family can survive independently?”
“This…” The elders were all speechless.
“A bunch of short-sighted fools!” The Xiao family’s old patriarch’s gaze became sharp as he chided, “Why has our Xiao family been able to establish itself for hundreds of years in the Violet Cloud County without falling? Because of luck? Because of our ancestors’ protection?”
None of the people in the discussion hall dare to answer and continued to listen.
Almost everyone in the Xiao family knew that the old patriarch only cursed when he was truly furious. They definitely couldn’t allow themselves to become the target of his fury.
“If a family wants to prosper and not fall, it must become strong through all of the family members working together in unity, and not fearing enemies or death. Every family member should be a true man or woman with bones of iron, causing those who hear of them to shudder. Look at you all – does that sound even remotely like you?” The Xiao family’s old patriarch paused then continued, “A mere Fang Hao has scared you all like this. How are you meant to survive in future? If you want to live, then toughen up!”
Although the old man was rebuking them, his words were absolutely correct and cut deep into their hearts.
This was especially so for the youths. They were all hot-blooded; how could they allow others to bully them?
When Fang Hao was acting arrogantly towards the Xiao family, many of them wanted to give him a beating. However, it was a pity that no one within the younger generation could contend with him.
“The old patriarch’s right. How can our Xiao family’s people be so gutless?”
“We definitely can’t lower our heads towards the Fang family. Otherwise, we will suffer in the future.” Outside the discussion hall, the youths loudly yelled.
“Tell me – would you rather become the Fang family’s slaves, or fight for your honour and dignity?” the Xiao family’s old patriarch asked as he looked around him, like a general talking to his soldiers. Each of his words resounded within their hearts like thunder.
“We’ll never give in!”
The youths outside yelled and shouted, their morale greatly bolstered. No one wanted to live their lives with their heads lowered.
“Do you want to die standing or live like a dog?” the Xiao family’s old patriarch asked as he nodded in satisfaction.
“We’d rather die standing than live in humiliation!” Outside the discussion hall, the youths immediately replied, their voices filled with vigour. One could almost sense the youths’ boiling blood, which was incredibly infectious.
All those who had been worried forgot all about it and started to feel indignant. None of them wanted to live under the pressure of the Fang family.
Under such an infectious atmosphere, even the elders within the discussion hall were moved.
“Grandpa’s so amazing.”
Xiao Yun shrugged as he looked at his grandpa’s domineering self. In just a few moments, he had pacified the elders who were adamant on handing him over.
This sort of method was even more powerful than fighting with martial arts.
After all, they were part of the same family. Mere martial arts weren’t enough to change so many people’s minds.
“Does the family leader have any ideas to deal with the Fang family?” Although the elders within the discussion hall were starting to be swayed, they still felt quite conflicted. After all, there was an elder of the Heaven Origin Sect standing behind the Fang family!
“I naturally have a method,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch replied.
“What is the family leader thinking?” The elders politely smiled as they tried to ask him to disclose his idea.
“Doesn’t the Fang family only have a Fang Hao? So what? As long as we also have someone enter the Heaven Origin Sect, all the problems will be solved. When that time comes, why would we fear them? The sect’s members can’t casually interfere in mundane matters within the kingdom. We just need to not offend them,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said.
Everyone nodded upon hearing this.
The super sects that reigned above entire kingdoms couldn’t act so casually.
If anyone attacked a secular cultivator without any reason and was discovered by the Emissaries, the entire sect would be beset with trouble.
All of this was to protect the balance in heaven and earth. Otherwise, if experts from large sects could kill as they wanted, how would there ever be peace?
“Do you think it’s that easy to join a large sect?” some of the elders replied.
Those powerful sects with deep foundations only accepted genius disciples. Candidates had to pa.s.s many tests in order to step through their doors.
“You don’t need to worry about that – you can all go now.” Xiao Yuan Shan waved his hand as he said to the youth next to him, “Yun’Er, come with grandpa.” After saying this, the Xiao family’s old patriarch took the youth with him and left the discussion hall.
“Could it be that he wants to rely on that trash?” Everyone was quite surprised. However, no one dare to ask this out loud.
Xiao Yun followed his grandfather, and could see how weathered and worn his face looked. He thought, “I wonder what grandpa wants to talk to me about.”
From the old man’s expression, Xiao Yun could tell that it wouldn’t be so simple to rid themselves of the threat from the Fang family.
The Xiao family’s old patriarch brought Xiao Yun to a study and took out a dark, glossy iron box.
There were mystical symbols carved on the iron box and there was a lock on it, making it look quite mysterious.
“What is this?” Xiao Yun’s heart jumped, and he felt that there was some sort of connection between this box and himself.
“This is something your father left behind,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said as he gazed at the box with an expression of sadness on his face.
“Father!” Xiao Yun’s heart leapt as he felt his blood mysteriously started to roll about. “Did father leave something for me?”
Over the past 10 or so years, Xiao Yun had heard very little about his father, and people from his family very rarely mentioned him.
Every time he asked his grandpa, the reply that he received would be that he would tell him more when he reached the Innate realm.
It was a pity that after his cultivation stopped progressing 8 years ago, he had stopped asking.
“Mmm.” The Xiao family’s old patriarch nodded. “It’s time to give you this.”
As he spoke, he took out a key and slowly opened the box.
Whoosh!
As soon as the box was opened, a scarlet beam of light and an immense shockwave was sent out. The shockwave made Xiao Yun trembled in fear and insecurity, as if he was going to be devoured.
“What’s inside there?” Xiao Yun took the box and looked inside it, and found that it contained a yellowed, old ma.n.u.script.
“Heaven-Devouring Divine Art!” As he read out the words on the ancient ma.n.u.script, Xiao Yun’s eyes lit up.
Just its name alone showed that it was an incredibly domineering art!
Just as Xiao Yun was feeling incredibly shocked about the name of this ancient ma.n.u.script, his eyes were drawn to something else as his heart involuntarily tightened.
Beside the ancient ma.n.u.script was a bright red bead that was as big as a fingernail. The boundless shockwaves were being sent out from this pearl. After examining it closely, he found that there seemed to be something akin to a heartbeat within it.
“What is this pearl?” Xiao Yun felt incredibly excited; the things that his father had left behind definitely weren’t ordinary.