Chapter 384: Interception

"Fluctuations in providence?"

Deep within the Great Liang Imperial Palace.

Liu Qiankun, who was in secluded cultivation, suddenly felt the Nine Dragons Seal tremble slightly within his body.

This seal was a national treasure, nurtured by national fate.

It would only show abnormal signs when the providence of Great Liang fluctuated.

Forming a hand seal, he willed the Nine Dragons Seal to fly out from his dantian. The phantom of the nine dragons on it had actually dimmed a fraction.

"Someone is defecting?"

"Moreover, given such a disturbance, the defecting family must be extremely powerful. The only possibilities are..."

"Shadow Guard!"

The man appeared middle-aged, dressed entirely in black with a veiled face and ruthless, piercing eyes. Arriving before Liu Qiankun, he knelt on one knee and asked, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"Go and investigate if there is any unusual activity within the Zhao family."

"Understood."

The sinister middle-aged man cupped his fists, then transformed into a shadow and quietly departed.

Although this secret method was eerie, it had not yet reached the level of a divine ability.

If someone covered the area with their divine sense, he would be completely unable to hide.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

The Zhao Clan Estate.

Mid-morning.

Three slender Azure Magic Boats, each over forty meters long and a dozen meters wide, hovered silently above the flat valley outside the Zhao Clan Estate.

The hulls glowed with a faint spiritual light, and many late-stage Qi Condensation disciples of the Zhao family stood on the decks.

A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator stood at the helm of each vessel.

Inside the cabins were children and cultivators with lower cultivation bases at the early and mid-stages.

Around them, seven or eight Zhao family Foundation Establishment cultivators were scattered on both sides of the magic boats.

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard perched atop one of the boats, its eyes shining with vibrant spiritual light as it thought, 'I wonder if I will get to see Boss Moyue on this trip.'

"Set off."

Zhao Qingran gave the command.

The spiritual light of the magic boats intensified as they slowly ascended into the sky.

Adjusting their direction, they began to sail toward Dongxi.

However, the convoy had barely traveled a few dozen miles from the clan territory.

Suddenly, the clouds in the sky ahead, to the left, to the right, and even behind them began to churn like boiling water!

"Rumble—"

Muffled, thunderous drumbeats echoed without any warning.

They were accompanied by the clatter of shifting armor and the humming of converging spiritual power.

Profound Black Battle Flags, embroidered with ferocious dragon patterns and the character Liang, pierced through the clouds and fluttered violently in the wind.

Densely packed soldiers clad in uniform heavy armor, wielding long halberds and strong crossbows, revealed themselves from all directions like an iron curtain that had long been lying in ambush.

They completely surrounded the three magic boats and the Zhao family guards!

A chilling aura of slaughter soared into the sky, stirring the wind and changing the color of the clouds.

What made their hearts tighten even more were the three exceptionally formidable auras rising from the military formation. They belonged to three generals clad in heavy armor, their faces cold and hard as iron.

Astonishingly, all three were at Foundation Establishment Perfection!

They acted as three sea-stabilizing divine needles, completely locking down the main escape routes.

Immediately after, an imposing, overbearing emperor's pressure descended upon them like a crushing mountain.

With a flash of bright yellow dragon imagery, the Great Liang Emperor, Liu Qiankun, materialized in front of the army.

He still wore his imperial crown with hanging beads and a dazzling dragon robe. However, his face lacked its usual deep majesty; all that remained was a cold, scrutinizing gaze and a trace of suppressed anger.

His gaze swept across the three magic boats like a tangible blade.

Ultimately, it landed on Zhao Qingran.

"Esteemed Minister Zhao, with such a grand procession, where exactly is your Zhao family headed?"

Liu Qiankun's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the howling wind and fell into everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable tone of interrogation.

"Could it be you wish to betray my Daliang and seek refuge elsewhere?"

Zhao Qingran's heart jolted violently.

'How does Liu Qiankun know about this?'

'Our Zhao family's actions should have been extremely covert.'

'Is it possible that an ignorant clan member accidentally leaked the information?'

Zhao Qingran forced himself to remain calm on the surface. Cupping his hands, he replied neither arrogant nor humble, "Your Majesty's words are too severe. Our Zhao family has resided in Great Liang for generations; our loyalty can be seen by all.

"This time, it is merely an internal family adjustment. We are separating a portion of our branch family members to go elsewhere and establish a new foundation, thereby expanding our family heritage.

"The main branch foundation of the Zhao family, along with the vast majority of our clan members, still remains in Great Liang. Where does this talk of betrayal come from?"

"Establish a new foundation?"

A cold, mocking arc formed at the corners of Liu Qiankun's mouth. "Going where? The Dongxi Xu Clan?"

Zhao Qingran remained silent for a moment before frankly admitting, "Exactly. The Xu family and our Zhao family have always shared a good relationship, and we are allies. The Zhao family has decided to have this portion of our clan members relocate there."

A fierce light flashed in Liu Qiankun's eyes. "And if I... am unwilling to let you leave? What will you do?"

The atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point.

The aura of the surrounding army grew denser, the cold light of their weapons glinting sharply.

Zhao Qingran took a deep breath and straightened his back, his voice also turning cold. "Your Majesty, this is an internal, private matter of the Zhao family. Our clan members have the freedom to stay or leave.

"Moreover, how our Zhao family arranges its own disciples does not seem to require reporting to Your Majesty, does it?"

"Roar—!"

Sensing the enemy's hostility, the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard took a sudden step forward and let out a deep, violent roar.

Dark clouds churned around its body as the fierce might of a Tier 3 Demonic Beast was released without reservation, faintly clashing against Liu Qiankun's emperor's pressure.

Liu Qiankun's expression thoroughly darkened, as if covered by a layer of frost.

"Zhao Qingran, in the past, I have yielded to your Zhao family in many aspects out of consideration that you are an important subject of Great Liang.

"Do not think for a second that I am truly afraid to deal with your Zhao family!

"I will give you one last chance to choose. Turn around, go back, and tear up your vassal treaty with the Xu clan.

"I can treat this incident as if it never happened.

"If you refuse to come to your senses, do not blame me for disregarding our past ties!"

"So Your Majesty already knows everything."

"As for the matter of becoming a vassal, our Zhao family disciples wouldn't leak such a thing. It seems the imperial family has a method to monitor all large and small families in Daliang?"

Liu Qiankun did not respond; he merely stared at Zhao Qingran with ice-cold eyes.

Zhao Qingran threw caution to the wind, laughing out of extreme anger. "Although our Zhao family is not a true Golden Core Aristocratic Family, we are no soft persimmon that anyone can easily crush!

"If Your Majesty wishes to force us to stay, I am afraid you will have to pay a price!"

"Relying on this beast?!"

Liu Qiankun finally lost his patience. Golden radiance exploded in his eyes. Without another word, he raised his hand and struck out with his palm through the air!

"Roar—!"

Boundless Imperial Dao magic power surged forward, instantly transforming into a golden flood dragon measuring over forty meters long.

With distinct scales and bared fangs and claws, it carried a terrifying might capable of suppressing mountains and rivers as it lunged directly toward the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard high in the sky!

This strike was as swift as rolling thunder!

Liu Qiankun was clearly truly enraged, intending to first eliminate the Zhao family's strongest combat power!

The Zhao family defecting from Great Liang would cause a loss of imperial qi luck.

Since they remained unrepentant even until death, they were no longer of any use to his Liu family.

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard growled deeply, the dark clouds around its body condensing into a shield as it built up momentum to pounce.

Zhao Qingran and the other elders also suffered drastic changes in expression. One after another, they channeled their magic treasures, preparing to fight to the bitter end.

Right at this moment of hanging by a hair—

"Swish—!"

A piercing shriek of something tearing through the air, seemingly arriving from beyond the nine heavens, instantly drowned out all the sounds on the battlefield!

A golden streak of light pierced through the clouds and tore across the sky.

It was an arrow!

And the target of this arrow was that golden flood dragon!

"BOOM—!!!"

The golden flood dragon was actually forcefully blasted apart by this single arrow, disintegrating into a sky full of golden motes of light that scattered in all directions!

Blinding cyan-gold spiritual light erupted like a miniature sun. The violent energy shockwave expanded madly in a ring, completely sweeping away all nearby clouds.

The residual ripples of spiritual light crashed into the military formation and the protective barriers of the magic boats, stirring up violent ripples.

Everyone, including Liu Qiankun, was shocked by this sudden, unparalleled arrow, their movements stalling for a moment.

Liu Qiankun abruptly whipped his head around, his lightning-like gaze shooting toward the distant horizon where the arrow had originated.

His voice was laced with shock and fury. "Xu Mingwei! You dare to intercept this emperor?!"

Dozens of miles away.

Above the pinnacle of the clouds.

A figure dressed in a black and gold robe materialized there.

His posture was as straight and tall as a pine tree, a longbow held in his hand, and his face exuded an imposing might without showing any anger.

Who else could it be but Xu Mingwei!

He slowly lowered his longbow, his gaze calmly gazing over from afar, and said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Liu, since the Zhao family has become a vassal of my Xu Clan...

"...they are not someone that just anyone can touch."

"You!"

Liu Qiankun was beyond enraged, the skin on his face twitching slightly, yet he did not make any rash moves.

He truly hadn't expected the Xu family, located tens of thousands of miles away, to actually dispatch Xu Mingwei, nor had he anticipated him arriving so punctually.

The battle where Xu Mingwei defeated Cao Jiyi was still vivid in his memory.

'This is troublesome!'

Liu Qiankun thought inwardly.

Although Xu Mingwei was only at the Early-Stage Golden Core, he had achieved Divine Ability Core Formation. His combat prowess was far beyond what an ordinary Golden Core cultivator of the same realm could compare to.

Compared to Liu Qiankun's Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, Xu Mingwei was not weak in the slightest.

This place was not the Imperial City. Although he could still borrow the Imperial Dynasty's Fortune, the enhancement was nowhere near as immense as it would be within the capital.

'Should I fight or not?'

He hesitated in his heart.

Xu Mingwei transformed into a golden rainbow, arriving a few miles opposite Liu Qiankun moments later.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, the Zhao family hasn't done anything to betray your Great Liang. Their main branch is still remaining within Great Liang's borders. They are merely sending a branch lineage into my Dongxi. Why must you make such a massive fuss over this?"

Hearing this, Liu Qiankun remained silent.

Naturally, it was impossible for him to tell Xu Mingwei that the departure of aristocratic families would shake Great Liang's imperial qi luck.

If the Xu family were to instigate the numerous families within Great Liang's borders to do the same, it would even cause his own strength to plummet, and the grade of the Nine Dragons Seal would drop.

He was tied too closely to providence.

Ultimately, his success was due to providence, and his failure would be as well.

If Liu Qiankun's realm hadn't already stabilized at the Mid-stage Golden Core—had the Zhao family pulled such a move when he had just broken through to the mid-stage—he might have even regressed a level.

"You absolutely insist on protecting them?" Liu Qiankun stared fixedly at Xu Mingwei.

Xu Mingwei smiled. "Even if you want to make a move to teach them a lesson, you must at least give a justifiable reason. Otherwise, this one will not comply with your wishes."

"Fine, fine, fine!"

In the end, Liu Qiankun's reason won over his fury. Flinging his sleeve robe, he declared coldly, "Today, I will give your Xu family a small bit of face.

"However, this emperor will be watching the Zhao family. If they do anything to betray my Great Liang...

"...then do not blame this emperor for disregarding our past ties."

He turned to look at Zhao Qingran and continued, "Esteemed Minister Zhao, did you hear me clearly?"

Zhao Qingran cupped his hands and bowed. "I shall strictly obey Your Majesty's commands. Our Zhao family has been rooted in Great Liang for generations; we will absolutely never commit treason."

Liu Qiankun's eyes flickered slightly. Then, he ordered, "Move out. We return to the imperial palace!"

He took the lead, transforming into a streak of golden light as he headed back to the Imperial City. The rest of the soldiers also withdrew rapidly like a receding tide.

Zhao Qingran, Zhao Qingyan, and the others all cupped their hands. "Thank you for your assistance, Elder Mingwei. Otherwise, our Zhao family would have been in grave peril today."

"With today's display, as long as you mind your own business, the Great Liang imperial family will not easily make a move against your Zhao family."

"We understand," Zhao Qingran replied.

"Aside from the branch family members, everyone else should head back. This one will personally escort the convoy."

"Thank you, Elder Mingwei."

"What about me?" the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard asked suddenly.

Xu Mingwei looked over in surprise.

Zhao Qingran sent a voice transmission to the leopard: "Lord Black Cloud, you will naturally stay. Our Zhao family's main branch still needs you to hold down the fort. But if one day, our Zhao family's momentum is gone...

"...you can go seek out the Xu family and become the protective spiritual beast for our Zhao family's branch."

The Black Cloud Spirit Leopard had, after all, been raised and nurtured by the Zhao family until now; naturally, there was a deep emotional bond.

"I understand," the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard responded.

Zhao Qingran smiled at Xu Mingwei and said, "Lord Black Cloud will, of course, remain with our main clan."

Xu Mingwei nodded, then instructed, "Let us depart."

Under Xu Mingwei's escort, the Zhao family branch convoy set out for Dongxi.

These magic boats could not even be mentioned in the same breath as those crafted by Xu Deling. Their journey took a full four or five days.

Only then did they arrive at Dongxi.

"Such rich Spiritual Qi! It truly is comparable to a Secret Realm Grotto-heaven!"

Many of the Zhao family disciples wore expressions of deep enjoyment as they felt the dense Spiritual Qi surrounding them.

Zhao Qingyan coughed a couple of times, signaling for them to mind their image. He then cupped his fists toward Xu Mingwei. "Elder Mingwei, thank you for your hard work along the way.

"This old man will take them to get settled now."

Xu Mingwei nodded slightly, then transformed into a streak of escaping light, heading toward the Jade Cold Pool.

The distance of a few miles was crossed in merely a few breaths.

"Father." Xu Mingwei bowed respectfully to Xu Chuan.

"You've returned."

Under the Withered Glory Tree.

Xu Chuan opened his eyes, looking over with a smile. "Did you exchange blows with Liu Qiankun?"

"I did not. He simply struck out at the Zhao family in anger, and I intercepted his attack with an arrow," Xu Mingwei explained, then added, "However, this was all thanks to Father's brilliant calculations.

"Otherwise, your son definitely would not have made it in time."

"Under the current grand trend of the world, my Heavenly Secrets Deduction is also heavily restricted. Only matters connected to our Xu Clan can still be calculated somewhat clearly."

"Under the Great Tribulation, all living beings will suffer. Being able to shelter ourselves and those closely connected to our Xu Clan is already enough.

"Father, when we were young, you warned us not to act brave, that we must endure and bide our time.

"The poor benefit themselves, the rich benefit the world.

"As long as we have a clear conscience, that is all that matters."

"How did you end up comforting your father?" Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "Do you think of your father as a melancholic and sentimental person?"

"I don't," Xu Mingwei replied, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.

"How goes the relocation of the other vassal families?"

"The Commandery City Yang Family and the Chang Clan have already selected their elites and children with good aptitude to enter Dongxi.

"The Qingjiang Li, Bai, Chen, Gu Four Families do not have a large population, and their core clan members have also finished relocating.

"All that is left is the Guangling Branch.

"When does Father think it would be best for them to set out?"

"There is no rush. Let us wait until Mingyuan and the others complete their Core Formation."

"I understand. Then your son shall take his leave."

Xu Mingwei cupped his hands and departed.

Returning to his own courtyard, he saw Yang Ronghua.

Upon seeing Xu Mingwei, she immediately walked toward him with graceful steps.

"Husband, recently many Yang clan disciples have come to visit, including young children. Have they been specially recruited into the Xu family?

"Or has some unforeseen event occurred?"

Although Yang Ronghua did not meddle in Xu family affairs, she still knew a thing or two about their usual style.

The current Xu family was long past the era when they needed the assistance of other families. They had no need to recruit large numbers of outsiders into Dongxi.

Unless they possessed excellent aptitude or innate talent, they would not catch the Xu family's eye and be absorbed as disciples.

Xu Mingwei thought for a moment and did not hide it from her. "A Great Tribulation is descending, and the outside world will become a land of blood. Father is benevolent and cannot bear to see the bloodlines of our Xu Clan's vassals severed.

"He has given them a sliver of hope for survival, preserving their family heritage and bloodlines."

"A Great Tribulation? What will happen?" Yang Ronghua's face instantly turned pale.

"Whether it's the various commanderies of the Immortal Martial Alliance, or Great Wei, Great Liang, or even Great Jin... billions of lives will be reduced to white bones.

"Those capable of surviving will be few and far between."