A soft sound rang in the air when Leylin, the patriarch of the Barker family, fell on his behind on the deck of his flying vehicle. He watched the god-like purple figure in the video in a daze. His heart almost gave out in shock.
Meanwhile, the members of the Barker family’s faces had turned as white as a sheet of paper. Their legs felt like jelly, and their bodies were trembling. How did their humble family offend a being as powerful as this?
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Duan Ling Tian’s cold eyes bore down on Leyno as he held Leyno high up in the air in a chokehold. He asked, “Tell me again, did you really go to earth with good intentions?”
Leyno seemed as though he had lost his soul when he saw Duan Ling Tian take control of his family’s 37 Transcendent-level Battleships as though they were toys. At that moment, he knew his family did not remotely stand a chance of defeating this cultivator at all. He was in a stupor when he saw the purple-clad young man easily destroying a Disaster-level Battleship and was unaffected by the onslaught of attacks from the remaining 17 Disaster-level battleships.
Leyno was panicking at this moment. ‘He’s not human! There’s no way he’s human! He must be the devil himself!’ His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. He relented out of fear and said haltingly, “N-no… I… I didn’t go there with good intentions… I planned to colonize earth and let the Barker family rule over the planet. I plan to use the inhabitants as slaves…”
Duan Ling Tian was not surprised.
However, Long Zhen Guo and the others were suitably alarmed by this revelation. If Duan Ling Tian did not return to earth, earth would not have been able to escape a terrifying and grim fate!
Meanwhile, the expressions of the members of the Barker family had darkened. They were so vexed, they felt as though they were going to faint. Naturally, they understood Leyno’s intention. It was common to venture into the galaxy to search for backwater planets and enslave the planets’ inhabitants. However, they had always been prudent and had always chosen planets with little to no civilization. At this moment, they understood that the planet Leyno discovered might be lacking in regard to technology, but it was not without powerful cultivators. In other words, Leyno had fallen into his own trap.
One of the elders from the Barker family cried out instantly, “Sir, whatever deeds Leyno committed are based on his own accord. It has nothing to do with the Barker family! We weren’t aware of his actions!”
“It’s true, sir! We were unaware of the child’s actions.”
“You may do as you please with Leyno. However, please take into consideration that the family has nothing to do with this and spare the family!”
More and more high-ranking members of the Barker family echoed the elder’s sentiment. It seemed like they were willing to sacrifice one to protect the herd.
Duan Ling Tian ignored all of them. Instead, he looked at Leylin, the patriarch, and asked with a mirthless smile, “What do you say, patriarch of the Barker family?”
“Sir.” Leylin had risen to his feet despite how unsteady they were. He said with a sigh as he looked at Duan Ling Tian, “Leylin might have acted on his own, but there’s no denying he had done it for the sake of the Barker family. For this reason, I, Leylin, the patriarch of the Barker family, will bear the consequences of his actions.”
Leylin’s words shocked the other members of the Barker family. It was the best for them to sever ties with Leyno. How could their patriarch tie the fate of the doomed child to the family?
“P-Patriarch!”
“Patriarch, I understand you owe Leyno’s parents a life debt… I know they died saving you. However, this matter concerns the survival of our family! As the patriarch of the family, you must reconsider your decision!”
“That’s right! You cannot confuse your personal matters with the family matters. This concerns the fate of the entire family!”
Many of them decried Leylin’s decision and were looking at him with eyes that were filled with hostility. It was clear they were trying to pressure him into changing his mind.
“Uncle!” Leyno did not expect his uncle would choose him over the family’s wellbeing. This revelation moved him so much that he began to tremble. As though he had made up his mind, he said through gritted teeth, “Please, sir! The matter regarding earth is all my fault. It’s mine and mine alone. It has nothing to do with my family! You can punish me however you see fit, I’m willing to bear it all!” His voice was filled with determination when he spoke.
A solemn expression appeared on Duan Ling Tian’s face as his eyes darted from Leyno to Leylin. “It seems like both of you share a strong bond.” He released his grip on Leyno’s neck and gently returned him to his flying vehicle.
The members of the Barker family were confused by Duan Ling Tian’s action. They watched in a daze as Duan Ling Tian led Tang Xiao Xiao, Long Zhen Guo, and the warriors to the enormous castle. At the same time, the 37 Transcendent-level Battleships returned to the warehouse located at the back of the castle under Duan Ling Tian’s control. Naturally, the warehouse was in ruins now.
Duan Ling Tian looked back at Leylin and said calmly as he hovered in the air, “I’ll take up your invitation and stay here as your guest. You have no objections, do you?”
“What?” Leylin was bewildered. However, he quickly regained his senses. He understood Duan Ling Tian was giving them a way to solve this without a bloodbath. He quickly nodded his head like a hen pecking grains on the ground. “Of course! Welcome, welcome! It’s an honor for our family to have a guest as amazing as you!”
As they entered the castle, the members of the Barker family crowded around Duan Ling Tian and his companions.
…
“What just happened?”
“I think the cultivator is showing mercy?”
“You think? He can destroy the Barker family with just a flick of his hand. Since he’s not doing that, he’s obviously showing mercy!”
The entire planet let out a collective sigh of relief. The inhabitants had been extremely worried that Duan Ling Tian would destroy the Barker family. The family was extremely influential, their business ventures and properties reached every corner of Planet Lissa. If the cultivator destroyed the Barker family, everyone else would suffer as well. It was only natural that they had hoped for a peaceful resolution.
…
The members of the Barker family warmly welcomed Duan Ling Tian, Tang Xiao Xiao, Long Zhen Guo, and the ten warriors into the castle and led them to the family’s largest conference room.
Unsurprisingly, Duan Ling Tian was given an esteemed guest’s seat. He said candidly, “To be frank, I planned to appropriate all of your Transcendent-level Battleships and take all of your lead scientists and researchers away. I don’t care if the Barker family survives or not.”
The expressions of the members of the Barker family changed. They knew if Duan Ling Tian had carried out his initial plan, the family would only be a husk of its former self. The nine influential families in the galaxy would undoubtedly seize the chance to annex them. After all, without the Transcendent-level Battleships and their lead researchers and scientists, the Barker family was just like a toothless tiger.
“Naturally, I changed my mind…” Duan Ling Tian said.
The Barker family members sighed in relief.
Duan Ling Tian continued to say, “Still, what I’m about to say next is non-negotiable. I don’t care if you’re willing or not, the outcome would be the same.” At this point, his tone had turned authoritative.
The members of the Barker family only smiled weakly. At this moment, they were in no position to choose. No matter how unfair or ludicrous this young man’s conditions were, they could only swallow their frustration and accept it if they did not want the cultivator to kill them.
“I’m going to place a restriction on every high-ranking member of the Barker family,” Duan Ling Tian said as he raised his hand. Streaks of sword qi shot out of his palm into the members of the Barker family who were present in the room.
Their expressions turned grim. This meant they no longer had free will.
“I’m appointing this man as the arbiter of the restrictions. His name is Long Zhen Guo, he’s the Director of the Special Unit in Hua nation,” Duan Ling Tian said as he turned to look at Long Zhen Guo. “In the coming 100 years, if he wills it, the restriction will be able to kill all of you instantly!”
The expressions of the high-ranking members of the Barker family turned even more unsightly.
“Don’t even try to probe the restriction in your bodies with your technology. Not only will you fail, but you might even trigger it and cause your own death!” Duan Ling Tian said to prevent some members of the family from scheming.
“T-then, what do you want us to do during these 100 years, sir?” As the patriarch of the Barker family, Leylin, naturally, understood Duan Ling Tian wanted something from them, based on his action. He knew Duan Ling Tian placed the restrictions on them as a precaution in case they decided to rebel.
“I want you to make Hua that’s located on earth into the most scientifically advanced place within 100 years. I want the nation to be so technologically advanced that it rivals the Barker family. I want Hua to become the eleventh leading nation in the Milky Way after a hundred years. I want Hua to become a force that can stand on equal footing with the ten leading families in the galaxy!” Duan Ling Tian said calmly.
