Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
When he arrived at the Upright Morality Hall, from the Chief to the core disciples, a majority of them had arrived. Another small portion was also on their way.
“Junior Brother Wushuang, this way,” Qin Taichong’s straightforward voice sounded next to him. Although the atmosphere was serious at this moment, it caused Qin Taichong’s voice to stand out somewhat.
However, as these two were the most popular people at the Qin Clan and since they had made a great contribution to the Qin Clan recently, naturally no one felt he had stood out too much.
“Senior Brother Taichong, what’s happened?” Qin Wushuang asked with a low voice.
“I also don’t know. I got here as soon as I received the news. However, it appears to not be a small matter.” Qin Taichong was used to big scenes and knew something wasn’t right.
In a moment, everyone had arrived. After the two chiefs arrived majestically, Qin Chongyang still revealed that scholarly, yet stern expression.
And for Second Chief Qin Yunran, he also displayed more seriousness than usual.
Qin Chongyang didn’t hesitate to get straight to the point. “Everyone, this time we have important things to talk about by summoning you all here urgently.”
When everyone heard the Chief speak with such a tone, they felt apprehensive and looked at Qin Chongyang attentively.
“The Heavenly Emperor Gate has just issued a summoning order. They’ve asked us to bring the Supreme Dao Fruit and head to the Heavenly Emperor Gate at noon tomorrow for a celebratory banquet. It would be to let the Heavenly Emperor Eight Gates witness the Supreme Dao Fruit together.”
“This surely would not be a banquet!” Qin Yunran gave a long sigh.
Everyone was feeling apprehensive. The Supreme Dao Fruit belong to the Qin Clan. As the Heavenly Emperor Gate has played this move, their intention was vile. Per the usual relationship held between the Heavenly Emperor Gate with the Qin Clan, how could they set up some celebratory banquet for the Qin Clan?
As long as no one had been dropped on their heads, they would all know that certainly the Heavenly Emperor Gate did not have good intentions with this invitation.
Honored Warrior Zhi Song was the first one to cry out, “Two Chiefs, even for someone as careless as me, I know that the Heavenly Emperor Gate would not possess such good intentions. I see that most likely, they are going after our Supreme Dao Fruit!”
“That’s right… Besides the totem powerhouses, ordinary sects, even the Heavenly Emperor Gate would not see one for every few hundred years. Certainly they do not harbor good intentions.”
“Second Chief, let’s deny it!”
Qin Wushuang had an unpleasant feeling with this situation. This Heavenly Emperor Gate did not possess good intentions for sure. This move played by the Heavenly Emperor Gate was especially sneaky. Tomorrow they would be hosting the banquet, yet they only inform the Qin Clan today. They have not given them the time to prepare. It could be said that they have played this tactic to catch the Qin Clan off guard.
Qin Taichong mumbled a curse under his breath. “What scheme is the Heavenly Emperor Gate plotting?”
Qin Wushuang raised his head and asked, “Chief, has the Heavenly Emperor Gate specified who must go?”
“For such circumstances, certainly they would be asking for our Chief to attend. Also, they specifically said that we must bring our great heroes, Wushuang and Taichong.”
Qin Wushuang frowned. “The Heavenly Emperor Gate harbors an ulterior motive! Chief, this is a setup by the Heavenly Emperor Gate.”
Qin Chongyang raised his eyebrows and exhibited an astonished look. “Wushuang, tell us what you think.”
“This scene set by the Heavenly Emperor Gate is an evil scheme. If they truly wanted to set up a banquet to celebrate us genuinely, they would never inform us today. I think that they only told us now, to catch us off guard. As we do not have the time to prepare, in a rushed situation, we would fall into their trap. If I’ve guessed correctly, certainly it is a banquet to take out their enemies. They don’t wish to celebrate us, they wish to deal with us directly or they’ll send a punitive expedition!”
“Send a punitive expedition on us?” Qin Taichong felt somewhat confused. “Have they not already used this move at the Karakorum Immortal Clan? Would they not find it useless to use it again?”
“At the Karakorum Immortal Clan, all totem powerhouses were present. And for some unknown reason, that divine beast white tiger had spoken the opposite testimony. However, now that we’re back at the Heavenly Emperor Mountain, it’s a territory belonging to the Heavenly Emperor. In this place, they have absolute ground to speak whatever they want. By that time, most likely we could not stand our ground even if we tried to reason with them!”
Qin Chongyang and Qin Yunran nodded with gratification. Before coming here, they already discussed such a possibility. Inwardly, they also thought it this way.
It was rare that despite Qin Wushuang’s young age, he was able to achieve a thorough analysis. It seems that indeed, this young man had potential to be cultivated!
Qin Taichong said with a muffed sneer, “This way, we cannot even go. Or else, if we directly walk into their trap, wouldn’t it be giving ourselves away?”
Qin Wushuang shook his head dispirited. “If we do not go, the Heavenly Emperor Gate would also have a statement. One, they could say that we are guilty. Or, they could make up an accusation that we did not obey the order of the Heavenly Emperor. By that time, if the Heavenly Emperor Gate joins hands with the other seven gates to send out a punitive expedition against us, that would be a major problem.”
As soon as he spoke these words, the complexion of everyone in the Qin Clan had changed. Clearly, through Qin Wushuang’s words, everyone felt that this matter was possible.
With the caution the Heavenly Emperor Gate had with the Qin Clan, they could do it one-hundred percent.
Not to mention that since the Qin Clan had acquired the Supreme Dao Fruit, the more the Heavenly Emperor Gate felt restrained and jealous. The Supreme Dao Fruit were enough to make the Heavenly Emperor squirm with worry.
Honored Warrior Zhi Song swore, “Darn the Xin Clan! We are like trapped mice. Regardless of where we go, we will have a lot of troubles. If we go it would be a trap, but if we don’t go, we will give them more of an excuse to prosecute us.”
Everyone felt as if a giant stone pressed against their heart as they were incredibly depressed.
All turned to look at the two major chiefs. Clearly, they wanted to see the grand answer given by the two chiefs.
Qin Chongyang said with a low voice, “Everyone, regardless of how we will deal with this, I will say again. In the next three or five years, the Qin Clan will be in an incredibly tough situation. Everyone must be prepared to fight tough battles. Perhaps, this moved played by the Heavenly Emperor Gate is the start of a great war!”
“Let’s fight! Humph, what is the Xin Clan!? In terms of foundation, they do not even deserve to be servants of our deep-rooted clan!”
“Yes, we are not afraid of them, at most, we will just fight!”
For these people of the Qin Clan, regardless if they were old or young, all had a strong backbone. Especially when dealing with the Heavenly Emperor Xin Clan, they had a form of unconvinced strength of character deep in their bones.
It would have been alright if it were the Yun Clan ruling the position of the Heavenly Emperor. The Qin and the Yun were both old sects. They had respected each other and did not quarrel too much.
However, for the Xin Clan, they encountered great fortune when the Qin and the Yun clan were in their lowest point!
In their bones, the disciples of the Qin Clan had a burning desire to fight for the Heavenly Emperor Gate. Since the Xin Clan at the Heavenly Emperor Gate were being bullies, it stimulated their resistance even more.
The Xin Clan was not even a totem clan, why would they be afraid of them?
Qin Chongyang intended to pry on Qin Wushuang as he asked, “Wushuang, what do you think?”
Qin Wushuang said, “As the Xin Clan has made this move, I am afraid it’s unavoidable for the great war. For our Qin Clan, we need to focus on conserving our strength and choose our battles wisely. We cannot give the Xin Clan an excuse to collude with the other six sects to deal with us together! To speak honestly, the powerhouses that are not friendly with the Qin Clan are the Xin Clan, the Heavenly Punishing Villa, the Sound of Thunder Sect, and also the Heavenly Luo Daoist Sect that is on the verge of dying! Certainly, the other sects would not be willing to get associated with the evil Xin Clan. After all, when they fight the Qin Clan today, most likely they will still be fighting them tomorrow.”
“Yes, now the problem is how to exert our efforts to prevent other neutral sects from also participating.” Qin Chongyang blinked his eyes and tested Qin Wushuang again.
“We must go, and we must send someone that can suppress the scene and can come and go! This person must be the Head Chief! Based on their despicable plan, if we send anyone else, certainly they will be captured at the scene. By that time we would lose our forces and enter a state of panic causing us to become utterly disorganized.”
Qin Wushuang said straightforwardly, “I am afraid it would not work if just the Head Chief goes. This is because the Heavenly Emperor Gate has specified that me and Senior Brother Taichong attend. Therefore, I am willing to accompany the Head Chief.”
“You will go?” Qin Chongyang had a trace of doubt.
“I am the main character, if I do not go, the Xin Clan will blame us for being guilty. Only when I go, I will go face to face with them! This could dissolve the suspicion of the other neutral sects. Plus with the power of the Head Chief, we can intimidate them. Even if the other sects have to send their forces, they would not be giving their efforts fully. This is crucial to the Qin Clan’s survival.”
Qin Chongyang and Qin Yunran shot a glance at each other and were both extremely satisfied. Besides the aspect of Qin Wushuang leaving, for the other problems, these two Chiefs held the same opinion as him.
They all felt that only the Head Chief could deal with this situation by going!
He swept across the entire scene and Qin Chongyang asked indifferently, “Does anyone have any better ideas?”
Everyone looked at each other, but only shook their heads. Even Zhi Huai, whom Qin Wushuang never had a good impression of, had to admit that his ideas were indeed the most appropriate. It seemed to be the only choice.
Vividly, Qin Wushuang’s position at the Qin Clan had raised to a certain level. He had reached the height to be on equal ground with many of the Honored Warriors.
Qin Yunran jumped up like a spring from his chair. He belted out, “Everyone, we must all make some preparations. Starting tomorrow, the Aspiring Throne Mountain will be prepared for war and lock down! All the defenses for each pass will be activated. For the disciples outside of the grounds, they must head back as soon as possible. Those who cannot make it back should all head to the branches at different locations to stay in hiding. All the seniors of each house will be in charge of counting and informing them. Whether the Qin Clan makes a come back or falls in defeat, it will all depend on this battle!”
Qin Chongyang also encouraged, “Everyone, for the tens and thousands of years of inheritance for the Qin Clan, our glory depends on our performance in this battle. Perhaps, in this battle, many of us will pay our life as the price. However, the rise of a sect will always cost the lives and blood of countless warriors. Since fate and fortune has bestowed you and me this responsibility, in this battle, let us exert all our efforts!”
“Defend the Qin Clan, we must fight to the death!”
“No one shall be spared for this battle to the death!”
All the disciples of the Qin Clan exhibited the same expression. It was solemn and stirring, yet there was also a form of indescribable determination.
The tens and thousands of years of inheritance would not allow them to have the reason to shift the blame. Their ancestors deserved their lives and complete service. Everyone felt worthy to give their life and blood to protect their people.
The heroic souls in the Sacrificial Valley would never be alone and would never be forgotten by their descendants.
Fight!
Since a powerful bully was at their front door, only a fight to the death could clear this scene once and for all.
To the Qin Clan, shrinking and surrender was more unacceptable than death. The glory and inheritance of the Qin Clan had even surpassed one’s life and death!
Qin Wushuang squeezed his fists as his eyes filled with determination and the desire to be rid of his enemies.
