79 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 79: City Walls The question of truth no longer mattered; what was crucial now was Xiang Shiyan's dominating presence, as she aimed to extract some valuable information from Zhu Cheng. He knew her objectives well, but had no means to expose her true intentions—anything he said would inevitably put him at a disadvantage. Even when Xiang Shiyan produced that ominous black scale steeped in demonic aura, Zhu Cheng doubted her intentions were so straightforward. Her words and actions clearly targeted the Zhu family, and himself. The explosion from the other day must have been orchestrated by Xiang Shiyan and her accomplices. If he were to fabricate an artifact haphazardly, and should Xiang Shiyan later frame him for lying to protect criminals, he would have no defense. Thus, Zhu Cheng had to reveal something that Xiang Shiyan wanted to hear. He spoke out, unable to resist—not just due to Xiang Shiyan's aggressive interrogation, but because this might be his only path to survival. He hoped the person who had originally given him the gu poison would divert some of Xiang Shiyan's wrath, and perhaps even come to his rescue. However, Bai Jingyi seemed oblivious to his silent pleas, likely uninformed about the situation. Zhu Cheng paled and withdrew his gaze. “The Soul Devouring Gu?” Xiang Shiyan's expression darkened. “Such a domineering object must not be ordinary. How did the Zhu family come across it?” “My father discovered it by chance within secret ruins...” Seeing his response, Xiang Shiyan grew even more certain that the matter of the Soul Devouring Gu involved more people. Nonetheless, she understood Zhu Cheng wouldn't dare reveal names in front of witnesses, so she tempered her emotions for the time being. Having detained the spokespeople from the three families long enough, Du Ruo likely had things settled by now. Xiang Shiyan's eyes flickered, enhancing her senses to catch the hurried footsteps outside the door. Earlier, a red-clad guard who had greeted Xiang Shiyan barged in urgently, brushing aside the Bai family guards at the door. Zhu Cheng was about to reprimand the intrusiveness but was halted by the guard's pale and anxious expression: "Patriarch, a mob is gathering outside the Zhu mansion! Among them are rogue Nascent Soul cultivators. The two elders cannot hold them off, and a few have already broken into the mansion." Even Bai Jingyi and Xu He showed surprise. It was unexpected for the Zhu family, however diminished, to be overcome by a group of rogue cultivators. Although Zhu Cheng had struggled up to the Nascent Soul stage with massive resources due to his poor aptitude, there were also elders from the family and two Tribute elders who were Grand Completion stage cultivators... Zhu Cheng broke out in a cold sweat, turning swiftly to the placid Xiang Shiyan at his side. Her expression remained unmoving, seemingly unsurprised by this development. Ever since rumors started circulating in the city, Zhu Cheng had been wary, discreetly informing the Grand Completion stage elder hidden in the mountains. He was the sole person aware of this, making it impossible for Xiang Shiyan to intercept—she didn't even know how he sent the message! "Why panic? It's just a disorderly crowd." Zhu Cheng steadied himself, unwilling to show weakness in front of fellow family heads or Xiang Shiyan. “Has Third Elder been informed?” The guard trembled as he replied: “Patriarch... the Clan Leader left for a journey outside the city nearly two weeks ago—did you forget?” Zhu Cheng felt an invisible blow had struck him. Indeed, his relations with the collateral family branches had been so strained that when he had invited them to counter Xiang Shiyan, they mistakenly thought he intended to trick the clan into acknowledging Zhu Yun's inheritance rights. Consequently, the Clan Leader, Zhu Feng, found an excuse to leave Huaihai City to avoid entanglements with Xiang Shiyan, leaving Zhu Cheng to negotiate with her alone. This way, Zhu Cheng couldn’t drag the collateral branches into the fray, whether or not he was allied with her. He thought bitterly, It’s no surprise the Zhu family has declined, given how its members, sharing the same ancestry, distrust each other, concerned solely with power struggles. The Grand Completion elder from whom assistance was expected offered no response, and the Clan Leader who should guard Huaihai City slipped away. Now, the Zhu family was left with him, a useless patriarch... Zhu Cheng staggered to his feet, face sullen, as he excused himself to his peers eyeing him around the table. "Forgive my early departure. The matter remains unresolved, and I hope we reach a suitable conclusion next time." He hoped these ineffectual people would muster some courage, instead of continually being led by Xiang Shiyan. With a final glare at the unperturbed Xiang Shiyan, he swept his sleeve and left. Both the Bai and Xu family heads appeared grim. A leaderless mob was no threat to them, and the three families initially believed they could easily resolve matters after persuading Xiang Shiyan. Though this was indeed the case, forceful suppression from the outset would appear as covering up the truth. They never anticipated the mob could achieve much. Xiang Shiyan, upon entering, noticed no rogue representatives sat at the stone table, confirming that her plan was unfolding smoothly. Those sitting too high see only those at their level, ignoring the vast throng supporting them. Even as the city boiled with anger over the mistakes of the three families, they refused to let rogues be seated in their presence—just as they wouldn’t let female clan members hold power. Once a path was opened, its existence couldn’t be hidden; brambles could not stop determined souls from following. Huaihai City, the largest city of cultivators on the Great Continent, attracted myriad rogue cultivators, promising asylum and minimal restrictions. Among them, more than ten had grown stronger than Nascent Soul, despite lacking resources, due to sheer numbers. Many had performed valiantly in past sieges, repelling demonic cultivators several times and even defeating a Grand Completion stage power. The complex defense formations on the city walls were designed for such larger-than-life cultivators. Sadly, the aspirations of the city's builders were trampled upon by their descendants. After fighting, those experienced rogue cultivators, deprived of deserved rewards and honor, eyed the wealth seized by major families as they bore lifelong injuries that hindered cultivation. If told now they could seize the opportunity to regain a seat at the decision-making stone table, how would they choose? The three families claimed the defensive formations were their ancestors’ work, that lofty walls were raised by their forebears, that the city was their ancestors' creation. Without it, how could scattered forces withstand demonic invasions? Xiang Shiyan informed them instead that the walls' strength depended on the entire city's cultivators rotating spiritual energy supplies monthly. Even if the three families exhausted their essence, only half of the defensive formations could be activated. Transaction taxes and resource purchases by rogue cultivators accounted for 40%-60% of the families' revenue. Without these city dwellers, the families were left with worthless paintings, a breakable earthen wall, and a desolate, worthless city. Upon hearing the Zhu family's involvement in abducting female cultivators—perhaps with more to follow—enraged citizens directed their fury at the Zhu family. Organizing the otherwise cautious was done deftly by the three rogue Nascent Soul cultivators. Sensing now was the opportune moment to ride the revolt’s wave, they seized it. Although the Zhu family’s personal guards strove to block entry, rogue Nascent Soul elders promptly reached the gate, confronting the emerging Nascent Soul cultivators supporting rogues. Yet the sheer number of rogues opposing the three families led to heavy concentration at the Zhu family's gate, stretching the red-clad guards too thin for reinforcements. Among the red-clad guards, three Nascent Soul cultivators, defying the city’s anti-flight rule, hurried to the Zhu mansion, barely stabilizing the situation. But the rogues, numerous and standing in moral right, remained cautious with high cultivator numbers balanced. Only minor clashes flared at the Zhu mansion gates. The Zhu family, steering Huaihai City, stood for the three families’ ethos. Now isolated, they dared not act against the just cause before them. Besides, this uproar upset many loyal to the families, heightening chances for eventual reconciliation with rogues. It was evidently a time for self-preservation; who would want to become a target? Knowing this, rogues felt emboldened, persistently testing the waters and confirming only the Zhu personal guards responded. The three Nascent Soul elders, wary of leaving grounds for criticism, refrained from harm. Thus reassured, they yet pressed their advantage while guards remained dispersed elsewhere. The fighting was intensely one-sided when Zhu Cheng finally arrived to see the entrance just demolished, six Nascent Soul cultivators locked in furious mid-air combat over the Zhu mansion. Bai Jingyi increasingly realized that if the upheaval wasn't swiftly resolved, it could spiral beyond the control of the three families. After Zhu Cheng left, he sat in contemplation for a moment at the stone table before deciding to head to the Zhu residence to assess the situation, wary of any unforeseen developments. Though the Zhu family lacked a Grand Completion stage cultivator for immediate defense, several Nascent Soul cultivators fostered within the city should be able to respond quickly. The mob was unlikely to act rashly. Under such circumstances, the conflict could easily escalate into an irreconcilable clash. Neither side wanted injuries, and the current standoff was likely intended to force Zhu Cheng out to address the issue. Xu He silently rose to join him, followed by the Xu family head, who threw a veiled glare at Xiang Shiyan before exiting. Xiang Shiyan met his gaze indifferently, prompting him to avert his eyes and step heavily on the floor in frustration. As they descended the tower stairs, a loud roar erupted in the distance. For those with advanced cultivation, it was not just the explosion's sound that struck them, but an all-encompassing spiritual energy ripple. Everyone turned fearfully towards the source of the spiritual wave and noise, watching as the yellow-white smoke and dust dissipated. A massive breach marred the unscathed city wall of Huaihai City, which had stood undaunted for a millennium. Author's Note: The daily updates were possible earlier due to holidays/school starting, so things have slowed down recently. I'm trying my best to maintain an update every two days QAQ If time permits, I'll update more frequently, but today was still quite rushed. I’ve already caught up on a day’s worth of homework. I intended to wrap up this arc in one chapter, but it ended up being too rushed, so I'm releasing part of it first. I've come to realize I'm a bit of a mess, and that practice works shouldn't involve so many characters and events... It's currently very challenging for me. 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